Silent Valley National Park

Silent Valley National Park Latest News

Six new species of dragonflies and damselflies were found in Silent Valley National Park during an odonate survey held recently.

About Silent Valley National Park

• It is a stretch of pristine wet evergreen forest located along the southwest corner of the Nilgiris in South India, in the State of Kerala.
• It is one of the last undisturbed tracts of tropical rainforest in India. 
• It constitutes the centerpiece of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, sanctified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2012.
• It covers an area of approximately 237.52 sq.km.
• The altitude of the park varies between 658 to 2383 meters. 
• It is nourished by the Kunthipuzha River, which meanders through the dense forest.
• The valley is said to be “silent” because of the absence of the cicadas, a type of insect that produces a loud buzzing sound in many forests.
• Vegetation: It has four types of vegetation “West Coast tropical evergreen forest, southern sub-tropical broad-leaved hill forest, montane wet temperature forest, and grasslands.
• The park’s dense forests, riverine ecosystems, and high-altitude grasslands provide a habitat for a variety of species, many of which are endemic to the Western Ghats.
• Flora: 
  • The flora of the valley includes about 1000 species of flowering plants, 107 species of orchids, 100 ferns and fern allies, 200 liverworts, 75 lichens, and about 200 algae.
  • Plants of high medicinal value as well as the towering Culinea trees are also found here. 
• Fauna:  
  • The park is famous for its population of lion-tailed macaques, an endangered primate species that is endemic to the Western Ghats. 
  • Other notable mammals include the Nilgiri langur, Malabar giant squirrel, Indian elephant, tiger, leopard, and gaur (Indian bison).
  • The park is also home to over 200 species of birds, including the great Indian hornbill, Nilgiri wood pigeon, and several species of eagles and owls.

Source: TH

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