Wildlife
The Nilgiris or Blue mountains, considered as a wildlife paradise, constitute one of the most picturesque spots in South India. This is the meeting place of meeting point of both Western and Eastern Ghats which harbors a wide variety of flora and fauna enjoying tropical to temperate climate. Nilgiri plateau is one of the first areas in India to be declared under Biosphere Reserve. It has a good representation of faunal assemblage which can be compared with any of the famous reserve or sanctuary.
MUDUMALAI SANCTUARY:
This sanctuary is situated at the tri-junction of the three Southern States in the Nilgiris and covers an area of 321 square kilometers of tropical wilderness. It has an impressive range of landscapes and vegetation types with a varied animal habitat and diverse wildlife population.
MUKKURTHI NATIONAL PEAK:
It is located in the South Eastern corner of Nilgiri plateau having an extent of 78.46 square kilometers. This is one of the few areas which contain a viable population of Nilgiri Tahr. The entire tract comprises of rolling grassy downs interspersed with temperate shoals and is characterized by its endemism.
FLORA
The wide range of climatic conditions as well as the peculiar topographic features with varied combinations of temperature and moisture regime is reflected in the diversity of vegetational communities and plethora of species therein. The vegetation can be grouped into 4 categories.
- Shola - grassland vegetation of Nilgiri plateau.
- Open sandal bearing scrub of Singur plateau.
- Moist and dry deciduous teak forests of Nilgiri-Wynaad.
- Forests of the South Eastern outer slope.
The groups are characterized with distinct serial and transitional stages along with edaphic variations.
FAUNA
The diverse habitats with the ecotones provide excellent grounds where a broad spectrum of fauna can exist. Various special habitats also exist which explain for the divergent faunal types. Important species found are:
- Prey Animals: Chital, sambar, barking deer, mouse dear, chowsingha, black buck, Nilgiri tahr, gaur, wild boar, porcupine, black naped hare. Common langur, Nilgiri langur, and bonnet macaque.
- Predatory Animals: Tiger, leopard, wild dogs, jungle cat, and python.
- Scavengers: Striped hyena, jackal, and vultures.
- Others: Asian elephants, sloth bear, giant squirrel, flying squirrel, civet, striped naped mongoose, otter, pangolin, Nilgiri marten, monitor lizards, and so on.
- Avifauna: includes variety of land and water birds.
ELEPHANTS: The largest and heaviest terrestrial mammal, travel in herds with the oldest cow as their leader. Males have tusks and lead s solitary life but tusk less males called 'makhnas' also exist. Elephants chiefly frequent areas covered with tall forests where bamboos grow profusely. It has highly developed sense of smell and hearing. Search for food, water, shelter is the general reason for migration. Large herds can be seen in the Mudumalai Sanctuary and corridors of Nilgiris and Gudalur forests.
TIGER: Tiger is the chief predator in the forests leading a solitary life. Average life span is estimated to be about 20 years. It lives in humid evergreen forests, in dry open jungle and in the grassy swamps. Three things are essential to the tiger are neighborhood of large animals on which it can prey, ample shade to sleep in and lastly water to quench its thirst. They hunt on large herbivores. Its extinction has been averted by the wide conservation measures like 'Project Tiger.'
LEOPARD: A short haired animal marked with black rosettes is the second largest predator in the forests. It can climb trees with ease and will prey on anything from chital, monkeys to peafowl and near settlements on domestic animals. The panther's habit brings it into far more frequent contact with man and has become a greater potential scourge on human life and property. Nilgiris forests also harbor jungle cats and Indian civets.
CHITAL: It is perhaps the most beautiful of all deer. They are seen in herds of ten to thirty or even more which may include two or three stags. They are less nocturnal than sambar. Chital are prolific breeders; an interval of six months may see the production of a new family. They do not shun the proximity of villages and enter cultivations frequently. Other deer include barking deer and mouse in lesser number.
SAMBAR: It is the largest deer adapted to wide variety of forest types. Old stags tend to become very dark whereas females have a lighter tone. In stags, it forms a mane about the neck with stout and rugged antlers. Forested hill sides, preferably near cultivation, are the favorite haunt. It is mainly nocturnal, alert and remains undercover. Food consists of grass, leaves and wild fruits. Hearing and smelling power are the chief defense against any danger.
INDIAN GAUR: It is one of the most impressive wild oxen with smooth cylindrical upsweeping horns. Cows and young bulls are dark coffee brown in color with distinctive white stockings. Old bulls are jet black. Associated with extensive forested hilly tracts, they are shy and retiring beasts which eat on a variety of herbs, fallen fruits and bamboo leaves. Generally found in herds of two or three animals, they are very alert for predators.
NILGIRI TAHR: Tahrs are closely allied to goats. Its short crisp coat, the rounded outer surface of its horns and the presence of single pair of teats are distinguishing characteristics. Preferred habitat in Nilgiris is scrap and crags above forest level. They associate in flocks of half a watchful against any danger from below but less conscious if coming from above. Other horned mammals include chowsingha and black buck in lesser number.
NILGIRI LANGOOR: In Nilgiris, the shoals or stretches of dense evergreen forest are the favorite haunts with early morning whooping sound. They live at levels ranging from 3000 to 7000 ft and average at 8 to 9 animals per troop. In areas planted with wattle, the flowers and buds are the major source of food. The beauty of their fur and supposed medicinal value of their flesh, blood organs have caused it to be an endangered species. Other primates are common langurand bonnet maeaque in large population.
GIANT SQUIRREL: Giant Squirrel of the genus Ratufa are the largest known tree squirrel and exhibit a striking polymorphism in coat color and pattern. They inhabit the deciduous mixed and evergreen forests and make loud alarm calls. Normally, they keep themselves to the summits of the higher trees and seldom descend to the ground. They build large globular nests for breeding and roosting. Movement is in terms of amazing leaps. Other rodents are flying squirrel, porcupine, bush rats, and so on.
DHOLE: The Indian Wild dog or Dhole is a pack hunting canid and one of the main predators in Mudumalai. It has long, lank body with shorter legs. Groups of 5 to 12 are common and rarely exceed 20. Dholes are largely social and maintain an almost constant number in a given area as breeding is restricted to one female in a pack. They feed on a wide variety of prey ranging from smaller mammals such as rodents to large deers. Other candids include jackal, fox, striped hyena, and the like.
SLOTH BEAR: They are found in the plains or low lands preferring broken rocky hill clad with dry deciduous jungle. It has long coarse hairs, irregular 'V' pattern on the chest with huge ivory claws. Food consists of fruits and insects, but termites form a significant part of bear's diet along with the desire for honey. Feeding is by suction with the help of modified lip and mouth. Other species include wild boar, black naped hare, mongoose, otter, marten, pangolin, and so on.
As an integral part of the biota, birds play a vital role in maintaining a healthy natural environment. Many species act beneficially but some have harmful effects. There has been a marked diminution in the population because of the destruction of forests and bird habitats which makes many of the species as rare and endangered one. Bird migration is an intriguing attribute in order to escape adverse life conditions due to unfavorable climate and shortage of food.
LAND BIRD & WATER BIRDS: Land birds include species of terrestrial and arboreal birds both passerine and non passerine. Common ones are babbler, barbet, bulbuls, drongo, hoopoe, hornbill, kestrel, kingfisher, lapwing, minivet, nuthatch, oriole, parakeet, robin, shrike, sunbird, swift, thrust, tit, warbler, woodpecker, and so on.
Water birds include swimming birds and shore birds such as pond heron, egret, red wattled lapwing, common and green sand piper, fantail, snipe, little cormorant, grey and yellow wagtail, and so on.
Courtesy: Wildlife Wing, HADP Ooty
