Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

About Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

• This region is part of the corridor that connects the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) to the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Tiger Reserve and the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, and plays a crucial role in maintaining a viable tiger population.
• These forests occupy a prominent position in the Eastern Ghats as they merge with the Western Ghat at the Nilgiris.
• The vast landscape is home to diverse flora and fauna, making it an ideal habitat for various life forms.
• The landscape is interconnected to the Kollegal forests of Karnataka and the Nilgiris, creating one of the most diverse habitats in the region. 
• It is one of the tiger corridors identified by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
• The region is also part of the Nilgiris Elephant Reserve and is home to a healthy population of large herbivores including elephants and the Indian Gaur.
• Also, the landscape is the catchment of the Palar River that drains into the Cauvery River and is a crucial source of water for agricultural activities.
• It is also of cultural and historical significance to tribal and local communities who depend on these ecosystems for their livelihoods and traditional practices.

 Q1) What is the type of vegetation in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve?

The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve comprises substantial unspoilt areas of natural vegetation ranging from dry scrub to evergreen forests and swamps thus contributing to highest biodiversity. The altitude and climatic gradients support and nourish the different vegetational types.

Source: T.N. gets its 18th wildlife sanctuary in the reserve forests of Erode district