Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

Services

State

Kerala



		Introduction

		Accommodation

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary - Kerala

The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the rain shadow region of Western Ghats of Kerala, India., 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, it has a wide array of habitat types like deciduous forests, dry thorny forest, riparian types, sholas and grasslands that are interspersed with plains, hillocks, 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 birds, Chinnar is rich in avian diversity. In association with the neighbouring PAs, Chinnar forms part of a viable conservation unit.

Location

The 90sq.km Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the eastern part of the HighRanges of southern Western Ghats of Kerala state.It is regarded as one of the unique protected areas in the whole of the Western Ghats due to its ecological, floral, geomorphological and cultural significance.The habitat types range from high altitude shoal-grassland to dry thorny scrub.The sanctuary is also contiguous to Eravikulam National Park and Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary of Thamilnadu.

Chinnar is accessible from Kochi(208 km.) and Coimbatore (115 km.) airports along main roads.The Munnar-Udumalpet road that passes through the sanctuary divides it into more or less equal parts.Munnar,the major tourists center,is 60km.from chinnar. The nearest town is Marayur

Flora & Fauna

Due to the significant variation in altitude and rainfall, Chinnar has a wide array of habitat types like deciduous forests, dry thorn scrub, riparian forests, shoals and grassland.It has about 1000 species of flowering plants and is a well known respository of medicinal plants.There are 114 endemics and Aibizia lathamii,a critically endangered tree has been recently reported from the dry frosts. Chinnar has recorded the largest number of reptilian fauna in Kerala including the mugger crocodile. With 225 recorded species of birds,it is one of the richest areas of south India in avian diversity.The riverine forests support a healthy population of the endangered Grizzled Giant Squirrel, the pride of Chinnar.The famous and extremely rare white bison has been recently reported.Other important mammals found are elephant, tiger, leopard, guar, sambar, spotted deer, Nilgiri tar, common langur, bonnet macaque etc.The phenomenon of butterfly migration occurs in between the monsoons.

How to Reach

Nearest railway station: Ernakulam about 130 km from Munnar
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Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 150 km from Munnar