Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Wildlife sanctuary in India

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Location| Wayanad, Kerala, India
Nearest town| Sultan Battery, Mananthavady
Coordinates| 11°38′46″N 76°21′50″E﻿ / ﻿11.646°N 76.364°E﻿ / 11.646; 76.364[1]
Area| 344 km2 (133 sq mi)
Established| 1973

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary in Wayanad, Kerala, India with an extent of 344.44 km2 (132.99 sq mi) and four hill ranges namely Sulthan Bathery, Muthanga, Kurichiat and Tholpetty. A variety of large wild animals such as gaur, Indian elephant, deer and Bengal tiger are found there. There are also quite a few unusual birds in the sanctuary. In particular, Indian peafowl tend to be very common in the area. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is the second largest wildlife sanctuary in Kerala. It is bestowed with lush green forests and rich wildlife. This wildlife area houses some of the rare and endangered species of both flora and fauna.

Established in 1973, the sanctuary is now an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It is bounded by protected area network of Nagarhole National Park and Bandipur National Park in Karnataka in the northeast, and on the southeast by Mudumalai National Park in Tamil Nadu. The Western Ghats, Nilgiri Sub-Cluster (6,000+ km2), including all of the sanctuary, is under consideration by the World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.[2]

It is part of the Deccan Plateau and the vegetation is predominantly of the south Indian moist deciduous teak forests. Also, the sanctuary has pastures of the west-coast semi-evergreen trees. The wildlife sanctuary comes under Project Elephant and one can spot herd of elephants roaming in the area. Elephant rides are arranged by the Kerala Forest Department.

Wayanad district has the largest population of Adivasi in Kerala. Scheduled tribes here include Paniyas, Kurubas, Adiyans, Kurichiyas, Ooralis and Kattunaikkans. Comprising an area of 2126 km2, Wayanad has a powerful history. Relicts and edicts found in various parts of Wayanad speak of an important prehistoric era. Historians are of the view that organised human life existed in these parts, at least ten centuries before Christ.

A monitoring programme of the Forest Department for 2017-18 has found that the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS), holds the largest tiger population in the State. Of the total 176 Bengal tigers in the State, 75 were identified from the WWS, which is part of a large forest complex holding the single largest population of tigers in India.[3]

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## History

[edit]

Map of Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve, showing Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in relation to multiple contiguous protected areas

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary was formed in 1973 and was brought under the Project Elephant in 1991–92. This sanctuary occupies an area of 345 km2. It is the second largest one in the state of Kerala. The sanctuary is separated into two disconnected parts known as the North Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and South Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. The area in between the two parts was originally a forest region, though it is now occupied majorly by plantations.[citation needed]

In 2012, a tiger was shot dead by the Kerala Forest Department on a coffee plantation on the fringes of the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. Many local political leaders applauded the killing of the tiger. Chief Wildlife Warden of Kerala ordered the hunt for the animal after mass protests erupted as the tiger had been carrying away domestic animals.[4]

## Flora and fauna

[edit]

Indian peafowl in Tholpetty area

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Flora: Moist deciduous forest consists of maruthi, karimaruthi, rosewood, venteak, vengal, chadachi, mazhukanjiram, bamboos, more, while the semi-evergreen patches comprise veteria indica, lagerstroemia lanceolata, terminalia paniculata.

Fauna: Indian elephant, Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, jungle cat, dhole, gaur, sloth bear, Bengal monitor and a variety of snakes are present.

Birds: Indian peacock, cuckoos, owls, woodpeckers, jungle fowls are a few of the various birds.

## Climate

[edit]

Treehouse at the Kattikulam area.

Wayanad climate is salubrious. Average rain fall in this district is 2322 m.m. Annual rain fall in these high rain fall areas ranges from 3,000 to 4,000 mm. High velocity winds are common during the south west monsoon and dry winds blow in March–April. High altitude regions experience severe cold. This place experiences a high relative humidity which goes even up to 95% during the south west monsoon period. Generally, the year is classified into four seasons, namely, cold weather, hot weather, south west monsoon and north east monsoon. The dale, 'Lakkidi', nestled among the hills of Vythiri taluk has the highest average rainfall in Kerala.[citation needed]

## Threatened status of vultures

[edit]

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary harbours different species of vultures like the white-rumped vulture and the red-headed vulture. The collective population of these vultures numbered around 150 in February 2016, and 17 vulture nests were counted. In March 2016, only about 11 vulture nests were seen. The banned drug Diclofenac is believed to be the reason for this fall in the vulture count.[5]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Wayanad Sanctuary". protectedplanet.net.
2. ^ UNESCO, World Heritage Sites, Tentative lists, Western Ghats sub cluster, Niligiris. retrieved 20 April 2007 World Heritage sites, Tentative lists
3. ^ "Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is tiger kingdom of the State". The Hindu.
4. ^ Manoj, E. M. (3 December 2012). "Tiger gone, but tension simmers". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
5. ^ "Vulture nests in WWS decline". The Hindu. 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.

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Protected areas of Kerala

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* Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve
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Wildlife sanctuaries|

* Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary
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* Banasura Sagar Dam
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* Aanayoottu
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Forts|

* Arikady Fort
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* Dharmadam Island
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Lighthouses|

* Vizhinjam
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* Ponnani
* Beypore
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Mountains|

* Aathanad
* Agastya Mala
* Ambanad Hills
* Ambukuthi mala
* Anamudi
* Anginda peak
* Arimbra hills
* Attappadi
* Banasura Hill
* Chekkunnu Mala
* Chembra Peak
* Cheriyam hill
* Elivai Malai
* Ilaveezha Poonchira
* Illickal Kallu
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* Kunnathoor Padi
* Marayur
* Meenuliyan Para
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Museums|

* 8 Point Gallery Cafe, Kollam
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* Munnar Tea Museum
* Napier Museum
* Pazhassi Raja Archaeological Museum
* Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Police Museum, Kollam
* Teak Museum, Nilambur
* Wayanad Heritage Museum

Palaces|

* Arakkal Palace
* Aranmula Kottaram
* Bolgatty Palace
* British Residency
* Cheena Kottaram
* Halcyon Castle
* Hill Palace, Tripunithura
* Kanakakkunnu Palace
* Karimpuzha Kovilakam
* Kilimanoor Palace
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* Kowdiar Palace
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* Kuthira Malika
* Lakshmipuram Palace
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* Mattancherry Palace
* Merry Lodge Palace
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* Pandalam Palace
* Punnathurkotta
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* Shakthan Thampuran Palace
* Sri Moolam Thirunal Palace
* Thevally Palace

Ancient residences|

* Azhvanchery Mana
* Olappamanna Mana
* Poonthanam Illam
* Thunchan Samarakam
* Varikkasseri Mana

Waterfalls|

* Adyanpara Falls
* Aripara Falls
* Aruvikkuzhi Waterfalls
* Athirappilly Falls
* Ayyapanov Waterfalls
* Charpa Falls
* Cheeyappara
* Dhoni Waterfalls
* Kollam Kolli Falls
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* Kudamutti Falls
* Kumbhavurutty Waterfalls
* Lakkom Water Falls
* Manalar Waterfalls
* Marmala waterfall
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* Meenmutty Falls, Wayanad
* Meenvallam Waterfalls
* Oliyarik Waterfalls
* Palaruvi Falls
* Paloor Kotta Falls
* Panieli Poru waterfalls
* Pattathippara Falls
* Perunthenaruvi
* Perunthenaruvi Falls
* Siruvani Waterfalls
* Soochipara Falls
* Thommankuthu
* Thusharagiri Falls
* Thoovanam Waterfalls
* Vazhachal Falls
* Vazhvanthol waterfalls

Wildlife sanctuaries|

* Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary
* Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary
* Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
* Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary
* Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary
* Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
* Kurinjimala Sanctuary
* Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary
* Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary
* Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary
* Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
* Pathiramanal
* Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
* Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary
* Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
* Periyar Tiger Reserve
* Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary
* Thattekad Bird Sanctuary
* Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Zoos|

* Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre
* Parassinikkadavu Snake Park
* Thiruvananthapuram Zoo
* Thrissur Zoo
* Thrissur Zoological Park Wildlife Conservation & Research Centre

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Wayanad

History of Wayanad|

* British rule in India
* North Malabar
* Malabar Coast
* Western Ganga dynasty
* Mysorean invasion of Kerala
* Political Divisions of Wayanad

Cities|

* Kalpetta
* Meenangadi
* Mananthavady
* Pulpally
* Sultan Bathery
* Padinjarathara
* Panamaram
* Ambalavayal
* Meppadi
* Vythiri
* Nadavayal
* Kayakkunn

Transport|

| Road|

* National Highway 766
* State Highway 29 (Kerala)
* Hill Highway (Kerala)
* State Highway 54 (Kerala)

|

Education in Wayanad|

| University & colleges|

* CM College
* Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University
* Government Engineering College, Mananthavady
* Mary Matha Arts & Science College
* Pazhassi Raja College, Pulpally, Bathery
* St Mary's College, Sulthan Bathery

|

Schools|

* Meenangadi Government Higher Secondary School
* WMO English Academy, Karunyapuram

Visitor attractions|

* Edakkal Caves
* Pookode Lake
* Banasura Sagar Dam
* Karapuzha Dam
* Meenmutty Falls, Wayanad
* Karalad Lake
* Soochipara Falls
* Chembra Peak
* Kurumbalakotta
* Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
* Kuruvadweep
* Vellarimala
* Pakshi Pathalam
* Phantom Rock
* Wayanad Heritage Museum
* Krishnagiri Stadium

Places of worship|

* Thirunelli Temple
* Valliyoorkkavu
* Pallikkunnu Church
* St. Mary's Church, Meenangadi
* St.Jude’s Church, Chundale

Other topics|

* Kadamba dynasty
* Pazhassi Raja

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