When we hear about Tiger Reserve, the first thing that comes to our mind is Magh. And today we will talk about a forest or reserve surrounded by tigers.
From small animals to rare and threatened species animals can be seen in this tiger reserve.
A total of 14 tiger reserves in India have received the conservation assured award, Madumalai and Anamalai in Tamil Nadu being among the 14.
How Many Tiger Reserves Are There in Tamil Nadu?
India has a total of 53 tiger reserves in 2022. And out of these 53 tiger reserves, 5 are located in Tamilnadu state of India.
- Anamalai Tiger Reserve
- Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
- Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
- Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve
- Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve
Below are the details about these 5 tiger reserves in Tamil Nadu.
1. Anamalai Tiger Reserve:
From Anamalai hills to western ghat, this tiger reserve is India’s 25th global biodiversity hotspot.
This tiger reserve has wetlands, grassland, shola jungles, bamboo grove, habitats, tropical forest.
More than 350 bird species are found in this tiger reserve. Also the main animals found are tiger, gaur, deer, elephants, sloth bear, pangolins, crocodiles etc.
And the incredible place inside this tiger reserve is karian shola forest. Coimbatore airport is 75 km away from Anamalai Tiger Reserve, nearest town or railway station pollachi is 35 km away.
And the best place to see inside this reserve is topslip, which is 40 km from pollachi. Anamalai became a tiger reserve around 2007-2008.
This tiger reserve is open throughout the year, except during the heavy monsoons.
Visitors can travel to this tiger reserve on elephants or by car. Read how many jackals are left in India.
2. Mudumalai Tiger Reserve:
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is the most popular tiger reserve in Tamilnadu.
The Tiger Reserve is very popular as the name Mudumalai is beautiful enough. Mudumalai means old mountains.
It is surrounded by the ancient western ghat hills and is part of the Nilgiris biosphere reserve. This tiger reserve has big grass, rosewood, and other trees.
Apart from the tiger, all the wild animals found in this reserve are wild dogs, sambar, elephants, deer, malabar giant squirrel, gaur etc.
More than 250 bird species live here. This tiger reserve is located 240 km from Bangalore, 90 km from mysore and 68 km from ooty.
A major highway passes through this reserve, where various wild animals are occasionally seen crossing. And gudalur and masinagudi are the nearest towns from Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.
And November and March are the best times to visit this tiger reserve. Read how many royal bengal tiger are there in India?
3. Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve:
This tiger reserve was formed in 1988 by amalgamating the Kalakkad and Mundanthurai wildlife reserves.
This Tiger Reserve is also known as KMTR. Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is Tamil Nadu’s first Tiger Reserve.
KMTR is the southern part of the Western Ghats, which has evergreen forests.
It is also an area of confluence of 14 rivers. Even KMTR is a part of Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve.
Apart from Tiger, sambar, deer, elephants, wild dogs, leopards, reptiles and many species of birds are found here.
4. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve:
Since 2013, the Nilgiris have been an important site of the eastern and western ghats.
According to the 2019 census, there are 90 tigers and 111 leopards. It is a part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
All the species found in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve are spotted deer, tiger, elephants, leopards, wild pigs, 200+ bird species, and other animals.
5. Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve:
Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve (SMTR) was created in February 2021 covering Srivilliputtur and Megamalai.
It is located in the Western Ghats. Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve is the 51st tiger reserve in India and the 5th tiger reserve in Tamil Nadu.
Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve is famous for Grizzled Giant Squirrels.
Bengal tiger, gaurs, elephants, Indian giant squirrels, leopards, tahrs and other species are also seen here.
