CHINNAR WILDLIFE
SANCTUARY
GENERAL
INFORMATION
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the rain shadow region of Western
Ghats and represents a large number of plants and animals unique to the thorny
vegetation. Apart from the dry thorn forests, due to the significant variation
in altitude and rainfall has a wide array of habitat types like deciduous
forests, dry thorny forest, riparian types, sholas and grasslands that are
Interspersed with plains, hills, rocks and cliffs which provide microhabitats
for varied forms of life. It is an abode of reptilian fauna and the richest in
Kerala in terms of the number of species Albizia lathamii, a critically
endangered species has been reported from the dry forests of Chinnar. It is a
well known repository of medicinal plants. The riverine forests along Chinnar
and Pambar support a healthy population of Grizzled Giant Squirrel. The famous
white bison of Manjampatti has been recently reported from Chinnar. With 225
species of binds, Chinnar is rich in avian diversity. In association with the neighboring
protected areas, Chinnar forms part of a viable conservation unit. The Sanctuary
provides livelihood options and helps in maintaining the cultural heritage of
tribes such as Hill pulayas and Muthuvas. The occurrence of archeologically
significant megalithic burial sites consisting of dolmens and cysts are found
in some settlements. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary offers great opportunities for
developing a dynamic model of biodiversity conservation in a human dominated
landscape.
HISTORY
Chinnar was declared as a reserve forest in 1942.
Chinnar Reserved
Forest was a Section of Marayur range of Munnar Division and the area was
managed as per the Working Plan of Munnar Division. Parts of Chinnar plains
were felled during the 70's to raise plantations. Some of the upper reaches
have been planted with wattle and Eucalyptus The area was declared as
Sanctuary in 1984 and henceforth strict protection is enforced The
slash and
burn cultivation practiced by the tribal people, especially Muduvans has
changed the landscape a lot. Most of the revenue enclosure at Churulipetti
belonging to settlers have been acquired under Project Elephant after Chinnar
became a Sanctuary.
GEOPHYSICAL
FEATURES
a)Location
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the eastern part or the High ranges of
Southern Western Ghats. I lies in Kerala's Idukki district between
latitudes 100 15'N and 10021'N
and longitudes 77005’E and 77016’E.
b) Year of establishment
4th August 1984 as
per G.O (P) No. 229/84/AD
c)Area
90.442 Sq.Km
d)
Altitude:
The terrain is highly undulating with altitudes ranging from 500m. at Chinnar
to over 2300m. at Nandala malai.
e) Aspect
Eastern slope of Southern Western Ghats
ANNUAL
RAINFALL
The rainfall regime of the Sanctuary is characterized by the highly variable
precipitation linked with the cyclonic disturbances affecting the Bay of Bangal
during the withdrawal of monsoon. The major rainfall season is during the
northeast monsoons occurring during October-December. The rainy days in a year
range between 30 to 40 days which account for about 300-500 mm
rain in Chinnar and adjacent areas. But the higher altitude areas like Olikkudy
and Mangappara receive rain during both north-east and south-west monsoon with
comparatively much higher rainfall. On an average the region has 6-7 months of dry period in the lower reaches and a lesser
amount of dry months in the higher reaches.
TEMPERATURE
The temperature of the area is influenced by the Coimbatore Mysore thermal
regime. The mean temperature is relatively constant from July to October. The
region has 6-7 months of dry period in the lower areas and lesser dry
months in the higher altitudes. The recorded lowest temperature is 12°C and the
highest ls 38° C with mean annual temperature of 36 C.
CLIMATE
The Sanctuary is situated in the rain shadow region and hence the area
experiences prolonged hot/dry season and much less rainy days. The Chinnar plains
are generally hot, but the higher altitudes are cool.
MAJOR
PEAKS WITH ALTITUDE
The altitude range from 400 meters
(1.312 ft) at east end of the Chinnar River
to 2.522 meters (8.274 m)
at Kumarikal Malai peak. Other major peaks in the sanctuary are Nandala Malai
2,372 meters ,Kottakombu malai 2,144 meters , Vellaikal malai 1.863 meters
and Viriyoottu malai 1,845 meters
MAJOR
FOREST TYPES
1. Southern tropical thorn forest (Scrub jungle)
2.
Southern dry mixed deciduous forest (Dry deciduous forest)
3.
Southern moist mixed deciduous forest (Moist deciduous forest)
4.
Tropical riparian fringing forest (Riparian forest)
S.
Southern montane wet temperate forest (Hill shola forest)
6. Southern montane wet grassland(Grasslands).
The dominant vegetation is dry deciduous forest followed by scrub forest.
Together they constitute about 50 % of the total forest area. They are located
in the low altitude areas. The riparian fringing forests are linearly
distributed along the hill folds and occupy a small but considerable area.
Shola forests occupy a tiny fraction of the total area.
FLORA
There are 965 species of flowering plants in
the sanctuary Eco-regions of the sanctuary comprise mostly grassland and wet grasslands
vegetation and some South Western Ghats montane rain forests and high shola at
the higher western elevations. Southwestern Ghats moist deciduous forests at
mid elevations give way to dry deciduous forests and thorn scrub forests in the
lower dryer eastern edges of the valley.
Prominent
species : Albizia lathamii, a
critically endangered species has been reported from the dry forests of
Chinnar.
Major Species: The major Xerophytic species in the thorn scrub forests are Acacia Arabica,
Acacia leucophloea, Acacia concinna, Prosopis juliflora, and Opuntia
stricta.
FAUNA
34 species of Mammals live here, including many Panthers and Spotted
deer. 50-60 Indian Elephants, Gaur, Tigers,
Sambar Deer, Common langur, Bonnet Macaque. Hanuman monkey, threatened Nilgiri
Tahr, vulnerable Rusty spotted Cats and about 240 of
the only vulnerable Grizzled Giant Squirrel in Kerala. 245 species
of birds including Yellow-throated Bulbuls. 52 species of reptiles including 29
species of snakes, Indian Star Tortoise and the largest population of
vulnerable Mugger Crocodiles in Kerala live in the Sanctuary
Most common of the 42 species of fishes observed in the Chinnar and Pambar
rivers are Garra mullya minnows, River carp baril, Giant Danio and the
endangered hill stream game fish Deccan Mahseer, 22 amphibian species live in
the Sanctuary. There are 156 species of butterflies
HOW TO
REACH
The
Sanctuary is located 16 km north of
Marayoor on SH 17 in the Marayoor and Kanthalloor panchayat of Devikulam Taluk
in the Idukki district of Kerala state in South India
Nearest
Airport: Coimbatore –115 Km, Cochin: 180 Km
Nearest Railway station: Pollachi- 60
Km, Coimbatore- 115 Km , Aluva-1805 Km
Comments