WAYANAD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

 

WAYANAD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

GENERAL INFORMATION

Wayanad Wildlife sanctuary is having an extent of 344. 44  Sq. km with four ranges namely Suthan Bathery, Muthanga, Kurichiat and Tholpetty. The Wayanad Wildlife sanctuary is rich in diversity of flora and fauna with many endangered, threatened and rare species.  It is a constituent of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and also Elephant Reserve No 7, harbouring the world's largest recorded population of Asiatic elephant.

Wayanad Wildlife sanctuary is significant because of ecological and geographic continuity with other protected areas such as Bandipur and Rajeev Gandhi (Nagarhole) Tiger Reserves of Karnataka state in north-eastern portion and Mudumalai Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu state in southeastern side offering a unique ecosystem enriched with wildlife forming natural corridor for the seasonal migration of long ranging animals within the greater conservation unit.

Wayanad District as such is distinct with preponderance of tribes. The lifestyle of tribes revolves around forests. Many tribes and non tribes depend on forests to livelihood. There is high density settlements within the Wayanad Wildlife sanctuary with human and cattle population offering scope for full fledged eco development activities. The competing demands make the sanctuary habitat poor and associated problems leading to man-animal-conflicts, a perennial problem for the managers of the Wayanad Wildlife sanctuary.  

HISTORY

The region was known as Mayskshetra (Maya’s land) In the records.British and Pazhassi Raja had fierce encounter for Wayanad. One important characteristic feature of this district is the large tribal population consisting mainly of paniyas, kurumas, adiyars, kurichas, ooralas, kadans and kattunaikans. 30 % of population ia tribals. Wayanad has a small  jain community consisting of Gowders who came from Karnataka.

 Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary was formed in 1973 by carving areas out of the then Wayanad and Kozhikode Territorial divisons. A separate Wiildlife Division, the Wayanad Wildlife Division, was constituted in 1985. There are 13 Reserved Forests in this sanctuary. Out of the total extent of 344 Sq.Km.
the core zone consists of 111 sq. km, buffer zone 233 sq km and rest is Tourism zone.

GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES

A) LOCATION

Muthanga, Sulthan Bathery and Kurichiat Ranges are located at 11⁰ 35’ and 11⁰51’ – North 70⁰13’ and 76⁰ 27’ East Longitude. These 3 ranges are squared in Sulthan Bathery Taluk Wayanad Revenue District

Tholpetty Range is located at 11⁰50’ and 11⁰59’ North Latitude and 76⁰ 02’ and 76⁰ 7’ East Longitude. This range is situated in Mananthavady Taluk of the Wayanad district

B) YEAR OF ESTABLISHMENT

The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary was constituted vide GO(MS) 182/73/AD dated 30^th May 1973. It was declared as a Wildlife Division vide GO(MS) 125/84/AD dated 10/05/1985.  it was also declared a Elephant Reserve by GO(P) 90 /2002 dated 2/4/2002.

C) AREA

Wayanad Wildlife sanctuary is having an extent of 344.44  Sq.KM

D) ALTITUDE

The altitude varies  from 800 M to 1158 M

E) ASPECT

Mainly northern and eastern aspects

F) ANNUAL RAINFALL

Average rantais  is 2024 mm (Max 2692 & Min 1435 mm)

G) TEMPERATURE

Average temperature is 23.1°C
Mean Maximum and Minimum temperatures range from 31.2⁰c  and 15.0⁰ °C)

H) CLIMATE

Wayanad has a salubrious climate. The mean average ran in this district is 2322 mm
Vythiri and Meppady are the high rainfall areas in Wayanad.  Annual rainfall  in these high rain fall area ranges from 3000  to 4000 mm. High velocity winds are common during the south west monsoon and winds blow in March- April.  High altitude regions experience severe cold in Wayanad (Ambalavayal) the
mean maximum and minimum temperature were 29⁰ C and 18⁰ C respectively. The area experiences ahigh relative humidity which goes even up to 95 per cent during the south west monsoon period.Generally, the year is classified into four seasons, namely cold weather (December –February) hot weather (March-May) south west monsoon (June-September) and north east monsoon (October-
November) .

MAJOR PEAKS WITH ALTITUDE

Karadimala  in kurichiat Reserve , Kurichiat range - 1158 M

Narali betta in Mavihalla  Reserve,  Muranga Range-  1147m

MAJOR FOREST TYPES

As per the revised classification of forest types of india by Chandra Sekharan (1962) and Champion and Seth (1998), the natural vegetation of the Sanctuary is classified into West coasttropical semi-evergreen forests, South Indian moist mixed deciduous forests, Southern dry mixed deciduous forests and Bamboo brakes. Large extent of marshy grasslands Swamps locally nown as Vayals is also seen in the sanctuary . The sanctuary has 10386.71 ha. of plantations comprising of teak, eucalyptus, soft wood species etc.  No silvicultural operations including extraction of timber are carried out for the plantations in the sanctuary for past many years. They are allowed for conversion into natural forests .

FAUNA

 45 species of mammals,  201 species of birds 142 species butterflies and 45 species of reptiles are recorded in this sanctuary.