Jump to content

Eravikulam National Park: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 10°12′00″N 77°04′59″E / 10.2°N 77.083°E / 10.2; 77.083
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
FrescoBot (talk | contribs)
Bots
1,135,457 edits
 
(201 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|National park in India}}
{{Infobox Indian Jurisdiction |
{{EngvarB|date=May 2014}}
native_name= Eravikulam National Park|
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
other_name = |
{{Infobox protected area
type= national park |
| name = Eravikulam National Park <br>
iucn_category = II |
| alt_name =
latd = 10.2|longd=77.083|
| iucn_category = II
locator_position=left|
| photo = Kurunji. ..jpg
inset_map = yes |
| photo_alt =
inset_map_size = 75px |
| photo_caption = ''[[Strobilanthes kunthiana]]''
inset_map_x = 175px |
| photo_width =
inset_map_y = 225px |
| map = India Kerala#India
inset_map_marker = yes |
| map_alt =
inset_map_marker_size = 4x4px |
| map_caption = Location in Kerala, India
inset_map_default = yes |
| map_width =
skyline = Eravikulam National Park.jpg |
| location = [[Idukki District|Idukki]], Kerala, India and [[Pooyamkutty]] forest, [[Ernakulam district]], Kerala, India
skyline_caption = '''[[Neelakurinji]] flowers in bloom and [[Anamudi]] mountain''' |
| nearest_town = [[Munnar]], [[Palani]], [[Theni]], [[Kothamangalam]], [[Adimali]]
state_name= Kerala |
| coordinates = {{coords|10.2|N|77.083|E|display=inline, title}}
district=&nbsp;&nbsp;'''[[Idukki District|Idukki]]''' |
| area_km2 = 97
nearest_city = [[Ernakulam]]|
| established =
altitude=2000 |
| visitation_num = 148,440
area_total=97 |
| visitation_year = 2001
precip= 3000 |
| governing_body = [http://www.keralaforest.org/html/general/wildlife.htm Department of Forests and Wildlife], [[Kerala#Government and administration|Government of Kerala]]
temp_summer= 25|
| world_heritage_site =
temp_winter= 17|
| url = http://www.eravikulam.org/
established_title = Established |
established_date = [[31 March ]], [[1978]] |
blank_title_1 = Visitation # Year |
blank_value_1 = 148,440<br /> 2001 |
blank_title_2 = Governing body |
blank_value_2 = [http://www.keralaforest.org/html/general/wildlife.htm Department of Forests and Wildlife], [[Kerala#Government and administration| Government of Kerala]] |<ref>{{cite web
<!-- -->|title = INTRODUCTION TO THE AREA
<!-- -->|publisher = Department of Forests and Wildlife, Government of Kerala
<!-- -->|url= http://www.eravikulam.org/managementplan.htm
<!-- -->|accessdate = 2007-06-19 }}</ref> |
website= http://www.eravikulam.org/index.htm |
footnotes = '''Home of the largest population of the endangered Nilgiri tahr'''|
}}
}}
'''Eravikulam National Park ''' is a 97&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> [[national park]] located along the [[Western Ghats]] in the [[Idukki]] and [[Ernakulam district]]s of [[Kerala]] in India. The park is situated between 10º05'N and 10º20' north, and 77º0' and 77º10' east and is the first national park in Kerala. It was established in 1978.


Eravikulam National Park is administered by the Kerala Department of Forests and Wildlife, [[Munnar]] Wildlife Division, which also runs the nearby [[Mathikettan Shola National Park]], [[Anamudi Shola National Park]], [[Pambadum Shola National Park]], [[Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary]] and the [[Kurinjimala Sanctuary]].<ref>K.S. Sudhi (3 November 2006) The Hindu, retrieved 21 June 2007 [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930235251/http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/03/stories/2006110300820200.htm ''New lives bloom in Rajamala'']</ref>
'''Eravikulam National Park''' is a 97 km² [[national park]] located along the [[Western Ghats]] in the [[Idukki]] district of [[Kerala]] in [[India]], between 10º05'N - 10º20'N latitude and 77º0'E - 77º10'E longitude. See:[http://idukki.nic.in/map.htm map].

The park is administered by the Kerala Department of Forests and Wildlife, Munnar Wildlife Division, together with the nearby [[Mathikettan Shola National Park]], [[Anamudi Shola National Park]], [[Pambadum Shola National Park]], [[Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary]] and the [[Kurinjimala Sanctuary]].<ref>K.S. Sudhi (Nov 03, 2006) The Hindu, retrieved 6/21/2007[http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/03/stories/2006110300820200.htm ''New lives bloom in Rajamala'']</ref>
The Western Ghats, Anamalai Sub-Cluster, including all of Eravikulam National Park, is under consideration by the [[UNESCO]] [[World_Heritage_Site#World_Heritage_Committee_Session|World Heritage Committee]] for selection as a [[World Heritage Site]].<ref name="UNESCO" >UNESCO, World Heritage sites, Tentative lists, Western Ghats sub cluster, Niligiris. retrieved 4/20/2007 [http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/2103/ World Heritage sites, Tentative lists]</ref>


==Geography==
==Geography==
The main body of the park consists of a high rolling hill plateau with a base elevation of about 2,000 m. The terrain consists of high altitude [[grassland]]s interspersed with [[shola]]s. [[Anamudi]] (2690 [[metre|m]], the highest peak south of the [[Himalaya]]s is inside this park. Many perennial streams criss-cross the park. They merge together to form tributaries of the [[Periyar river]] and [[Chalakudiyar River]] on the west and the east flowing [[Cauvery River]] in Tamil Nadu. See:<ref>Eravikulam National Park - Map (2004) Nilgiri Tahr Trust, retrieved 6/20/2007 [http://www.tahrfoundation.org/html/map.htm Map]</ref>
The main body of the park consists of a high rolling hill [[plateau]] with a base elevation of about 2,000 m. The [[terrain]] consists of high altitude [[grassland]]s interspersed with [[shola]]s. [[Anamudi]], at 2,695 meters the highest peak in South India, is inside the park. Many perennial streams criss-cross the park. They merge to form tributaries of the [[Periyar river]] in the west and of the [[Cauvery River]] in the east. The National Park is bordered by the dense [[Pooyamkutty]] and [[Idamalayar]] forests to the north-west.<ref>Eravikulam National Park – Map (2004) Nilgiri Tahr Trust, retrieved 20 June 2007 [http://www.tahrfoundation.org/html/map.htm Map]</ref> [[Lakkom Water falls]] is in this region.


==Fauna==
==Fauna==
[[File:Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) female head.jpg|thumb|[[Nilgiri tahr]]]]
Twenty six species of mammals have been recorded in the park including the largest surviving population of [[Nilgiri tahr]], estimated at about 750. Other [[ungulates]] are [[Gaur]], [[Indian Muntjac]] and [[Sambar Deer]]. [[Golden Jackal]], [[Jungle Cat]], [[Wild dog]], [[Dhole]], [[leopard]] and [[tiger]] are the main predators. Some little known animals such as [[Nilgiri langur]], [[Stripe-necked Mongoose]], [[Indian Porcupine]], [[Nilgiri Marten]], [[Oriental Small-clawed Otter|small clawed otter]], [[Ruddy Mongoose]], and [http://www.blackbuck.org/blackbuck/vol_15_1/article2.htm Funambulus sublineatus|Dusky striped squirrel] are also found.<ref>UNEP (05/07/2007) World Commission on Protected Areas, World Database on Protected Areas, Eravikulam National Park, retrieved 7/5/2007[http://sea.unep-wcmc.org/wdpa/sitedetails.cfm?siteid=700&level=nat]</ref> [[Indian Elephant|Elephants]] make seasonal visits.
Twenty-six species of [[mammals]] have been recorded in the park, including the largest regional population of [[Nilgiri tahr]] (''Nilgiritragus hylocrius''),<ref>{{cite web|title=Munnar|url=http://www.keralatourism.org/destination/destination.php?id=306|access-date=21 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118183559/http://www.keralatourism.org/destination/destination.php?id=306|archive-date=18 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> a rare [[highland]] [[ungulate]] related to [[Ovis|sheep]] and [[Caprinae|goats]], estimated at 750 individuals. Other local mammal species include [[chital]], [[Nilgiri langur]], [[lion-tailed macaque]]s, [[gaur]], [[Southern red muntjac|red muntjac]], [[wild boar]] and [[sambar deer|sambar]]. [[Golden jackal|Golden jackals]] and [[dhole]] are the top [[Caniformia|canine]] predators, while [[jungle cat|jungle cats]], [[Indian leopard]] and [[Bengal tiger]] are the top [[Felidae|felines]]. Some of the smaller mammals include [[Rodent|rodents]], [[Mustelidae|mustelids]] and [[Viverridae|viverrids]], such as the [[Funambulus sublineatus|dusky palm squirrel]], [[Indian crested porcupine]], [[Ruddy mongoose|ruddy]], [[Indian brown mongoose|brown]], [[Indian grey mongoose|grey]] and [[stripe-necked mongoose|stripe-necked mongooses]], [[Nilgiri marten]] and [[Asian small-clawed otter]].<ref>UNEP (05/07/2007) World Commission on Protected Areas, World Database on Protected Areas, Eravikulam National Park, Retrieved 7 May 2007 {{cite web |url=http://sea.unep-wcmc.org/wdpa/sitedetails.cfm?siteid=700&level=nat |title=India - Eravikulam |access-date=2007-07-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929140736/http://sea.unep-wcmc.org/wdpa/sitedetails.cfm?siteid=700&level=nat |archive-date=29 September 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> [[Indian elephant|Indian elephants]] make seasonal visits.


132 species of birds have been recorded which include endemics like [[Black-and-orange Flycatcher]], [[Nilgiri Pipit]], [[Nilgiri Wood Pigeon]],[[Yellow-Throated Marten]], [[Brachypteryx major|White Bellied Shortwing]], [[Eumyias albicaudata|Nilgiri Verditer Flycatcher]] and Kerala [[Laughingthrush]].
132 species of birds have been recorded, including [[Endemism|endemics]] like the [[black-and-orange flycatcher]], [[Nilgiri pipit]], [[Nilgiri wood pigeon]], [[Nilgiri blue robin]], [[Nilgiri flycatcher]] and [[Palani laughingthrush]].


Endemic butterflies confined to the shola-grass land ecosystem like the [[Mycalesis oculus|Red Disk Bushbrown]] and [[Palni Fourwing]] are among 101 species in the park.
Endemic butterflies (largely confined to the [[shola]] grassland ecosystem) include the [[Mycalesis oculus|red disk bushbrown]] and [[Ypthima ypthimoides|Palani fourring]], among 101 total [[Lepidoptera|Lepidopteran]] species in the park. Other montane species include [[Nilgiri clouded yellow|''Colias'' ''nilagiriensis'']], and the endemic ''[[Heteropsis davisoni]]''.


19 species of amphibians have been recorded in the Park.
19 species of [[amphibian]]s have been recorded in the park.


===New species of frog found===
In 2010, a new bright-reddish-orange frog, with multiple glands and extremely short limbs, was discovered in Eravikulam National Park. The newly-discovered species was said to be, apparently, restricted to less than 3 km<sup>2</sup> on the peak of [[Anamudi]], thus being deserving of immediate conservation priority, as reported by scientists S.D. Biju of [[Delhi University]] and Franky Bossuyt of the [[Université libre de Bruxelles|Free University of Brussels]] in ''[[Current Science]]''. The frog has been assigned the name ''[[Raorchestes resplendens]]''.<ref>The Hindu – New species of frog found in Eravikulam National Park dt. 6 May 2010 [http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/article422619.ece]</ref> This frog, as compared to all other members of the genus, has multiple prominent glandular swellings: laterally behind the eyes, on the side of the dorsum, on the anterior side of the vent, on the dorsal side of the forearms and shanks, and on the posterior side of tarsus and metatarsus. Additional distinguishing characteristics include the colour of the iris (which is bright red) and its extremely short legs.<ref name=Biju>{{cite journal |author1=S.D. Biju |author2=Yogesh Shouche |author3=Alain Dubois |author4=S.K. Dutta |author5=Franky Bossuyt | year = 2010 | title = A ground-dwelling rhacophorid frog from the highest mountain peak of the Western Ghats of India | journal = Current Science | volume = 98| issue = 8 | pages = 1119–1125}}</ref>

The genus ''[[Raorchestes]]'' (bush-frogs) is well represented in the park and surrounding area, with species including Beddome's bushfrog ([[Raorchestes beddomii|''R. bedomii'']]), the Travancore bushfrog (''[[Raorchestes travancoricus|R. travancoricus]]''), green-eyed bushfrog ([[Raorchestes chlorosomma|''R. chlorosomma'']]) and the Munnar bushfrog (''[[Raorchestes munnarensis|R. munnarensis]]'').


==Flora==
==Flora==
[[File:Kurunji. ..jpg|thumb|[[Strobilanthes kunthiana|''Neelakurinji'']] blooms at Eravikulam National Park.]]
Three major types of plant communities are found in the Park - grasslands, shrublands and forests. The terrain above 2000m is covered primarily by grasslands. However, there are numerous small patches of forests in hollows and gullies in these areas. The deeper valleys are extensively forested. Shrublands predominate along the bases of the cliffs and interspersed in rocky slab areas. The antibacterial [[Eupatorium]] glandulosum is found here.
Three major types of plant communities are found in the park – grasslands, shrublands and forests. The terrain above 2000m is covered, primarily, by grasslands, but there are numerous smaller patches of forest in various hollows and [[Gully|gullies]]. The deeper valleys are extensively forested. Shrublands predominate along the bases of the cliffs, and are likewise interspersed in rocky areas. The antibacterial ''[[Eupatorium]] glandulosum'' is found here. As this is primarily [[Montane ecosystems|montane forest]] vegetation, many small [[Moss|mosses]] and [[lichen]] are also found here.
==Visitor Information==
Six mini-buses are operated by park staff as part of the visitor-management programme as well as a pollution-control measure. Private vehicles are not allowed within the park. INR 35 is charged per head as an entry fee for Indian nationals. Foreign nationals are charged INR 200 per head. Littering is banned inside the park. Well formed security wing is working to protect the park day nad night. For The park is accessible from [[Kochi, India|Kochi]] ([[Kerala]]) and [[Coimbatore]] ([[Tamil Nadu]]) airports, which are located at about 148 km and 175 km respectively. [[Munnar]] is the nearest town (13 km), well connected by roads from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The nearest railway station is [[Aluva]] in Kerala (120 km from Munnar) and [[Coimbatore]] in Tamil Nadu (165 km).<ref>Eravikulam National Park - (2004) Nilgiri Tahr Trust, retrieved 6/20/2007[http://www.tahrfoundation.org/html/erav.htm details]</ref>


== References ==
==History==
Prior to 1971, the area was managed as a game preserve by the [[Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Company|Kanan Devan Hills Produce Company]]. The government of Kerala resumed control in 1971 (Kannan Devan Hill Produce (Resumption of lands) Act, 1971), and declared the Eravikulam-[[Rajamala]] Wildlife Sanctuary in 1975 to protect the habitat of the endangered Nilgiri tahr. It became a National Park in 1978.<ref>[http://www.eravikulam.org/managementplan.htm "Management Plan", Erivikulam National Park. Accessed 3 August 2014] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100404152119/http://www.eravikulam.org/managementplan.htm |date=4 April 2010 }}</ref>
{{reflist|2}}


==Gallery==
{{National Parks of India}}
<gallery>
File:eravikulam 1.jpg|Trekking route in Eravikulam National Park
File:View of Munnar Mountains.jpg|View of the Munnar Mountains from the top of Eravikulam National Park
File:Nilgiri Tahr Eravikulam National Park Munnar.jpg|Nilgiri Tahr – Eravikulam National Park
File:Anamudi from Munnar Gundumalai road.jpg|Anamudi, on the right, in the Eravikulam National Park
File:Naikolli Mala near Anamudi.jpg|Naikolli Mala, near [[Anamudi]] from Eravikulam National Park
</gallery>


== See also ==
* [[List of birds of South India]]
* [[Anamudi]]
* [[Munnar]]


== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Eravikulam National Park}}
{{Protected areas of Kerala}}
{{National Parks of India}}
{{Kerala topics}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:National parks of India]]
[[Category:National parks in Kerala]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1978]]
[[fr:Parc national d'Eravikulam]]
[[Category:South Western Ghats montane rain forests]]
[[ml:ഇരവികുളം ദേശീയോദ്യാനം]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Idukki district]]
[[Category:Geography of Idukki district]]
[[Category:1978 establishments in Kerala]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Kerala]]

Latest revision as of 06:14, 23 May 2024

Eravikulam National Park
Strobilanthes kunthiana
Map showing the location of Eravikulam National Park
Map showing the location of Eravikulam National Park
Location in Kerala, India
Map showing the location of Eravikulam National Park
Map showing the location of Eravikulam National Park
Eravikulam National Park (India)
LocationIdukki, Kerala, India and Pooyamkutty forest, Ernakulam district, Kerala, India
Nearest townMunnar, Palani, Theni, Kothamangalam, Adimali
Coordinates10°12′00″N 77°04′59″E / 10.2°N 77.083°E / 10.2; 77.083
Area97 km2 (37 sq mi)
Visitors148,440 (in 2001)
Governing bodyDepartment of Forests and Wildlife, Government of Kerala
www.eravikulam.org

Eravikulam National Park is a 97 km2 national park located along the Western Ghats in the Idukki and Ernakulam districts of Kerala in India. The park is situated between 10º05'N and 10º20' north, and 77º0' and 77º10' east and is the first national park in Kerala. It was established in 1978.

Eravikulam National Park is administered by the Kerala Department of Forests and Wildlife, Munnar Wildlife Division, which also runs the nearby Mathikettan Shola National Park, Anamudi Shola National Park, Pambadum Shola National Park, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary and the Kurinjimala Sanctuary.[1]

Geography

[edit]

The main body of the park consists of a high rolling hill plateau with a base elevation of about 2,000 m. The terrain consists of high altitude grasslands interspersed with sholas. Anamudi, at 2,695 meters the highest peak in South India, is inside the park. Many perennial streams criss-cross the park. They merge to form tributaries of the Periyar river in the west and of the Cauvery River in the east. The National Park is bordered by the dense Pooyamkutty and Idamalayar forests to the north-west.[2] Lakkom Water falls is in this region.

Fauna

[edit]
Nilgiri tahr

Twenty-six species of mammals have been recorded in the park, including the largest regional population of Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius),[3] a rare highland ungulate related to sheep and goats, estimated at 750 individuals. Other local mammal species include chital, Nilgiri langur, lion-tailed macaques, gaur, red muntjac, wild boar and sambar. Golden jackals and dhole are the top canine predators, while jungle cats, Indian leopard and Bengal tiger are the top felines. Some of the smaller mammals include rodents, mustelids and viverrids, such as the dusky palm squirrel, Indian crested porcupine, ruddy, brown, grey and stripe-necked mongooses, Nilgiri marten and Asian small-clawed otter.[4] Indian elephants make seasonal visits.

132 species of birds have been recorded, including endemics like the black-and-orange flycatcher, Nilgiri pipit, Nilgiri wood pigeon, Nilgiri blue robin, Nilgiri flycatcher and Palani laughingthrush.

Endemic butterflies (largely confined to the shola grassland ecosystem) include the red disk bushbrown and Palani fourring, among 101 total Lepidopteran species in the park. Other montane species include Colias nilagiriensis, and the endemic Heteropsis davisoni.

19 species of amphibians have been recorded in the park.

New species of frog found

[edit]

In 2010, a new bright-reddish-orange frog, with multiple glands and extremely short limbs, was discovered in Eravikulam National Park. The newly-discovered species was said to be, apparently, restricted to less than 3 km2 on the peak of Anamudi, thus being deserving of immediate conservation priority, as reported by scientists S.D. Biju of Delhi University and Franky Bossuyt of the Free University of Brussels in Current Science. The frog has been assigned the name Raorchestes resplendens.[5] This frog, as compared to all other members of the genus, has multiple prominent glandular swellings: laterally behind the eyes, on the side of the dorsum, on the anterior side of the vent, on the dorsal side of the forearms and shanks, and on the posterior side of tarsus and metatarsus. Additional distinguishing characteristics include the colour of the iris (which is bright red) and its extremely short legs.[6]

The genus Raorchestes (bush-frogs) is well represented in the park and surrounding area, with species including Beddome's bushfrog (R. bedomii), the Travancore bushfrog (R. travancoricus), green-eyed bushfrog (R. chlorosomma) and the Munnar bushfrog (R. munnarensis).

Flora

[edit]
Neelakurinji blooms at Eravikulam National Park.

Three major types of plant communities are found in the park – grasslands, shrublands and forests. The terrain above 2000m is covered, primarily, by grasslands, but there are numerous smaller patches of forest in various hollows and gullies. The deeper valleys are extensively forested. Shrublands predominate along the bases of the cliffs, and are likewise interspersed in rocky areas. The antibacterial Eupatorium glandulosum is found here. As this is primarily montane forest vegetation, many small mosses and lichen are also found here.

History

[edit]

Prior to 1971, the area was managed as a game preserve by the Kanan Devan Hills Produce Company. The government of Kerala resumed control in 1971 (Kannan Devan Hill Produce (Resumption of lands) Act, 1971), and declared the Eravikulam-Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary in 1975 to protect the habitat of the endangered Nilgiri tahr. It became a National Park in 1978.[7]

[edit]
  • Trekking route in Eravikulam National Park
    Trekking route in Eravikulam National Park
  • View of the Munnar Mountains from the top of Eravikulam National Park
    View of the Munnar Mountains from the top of Eravikulam National Park
  • Nilgiri Tahr – Eravikulam National Park
    Nilgiri Tahr – Eravikulam National Park
  • Anamudi, on the right, in the Eravikulam National Park
    Anamudi, on the right, in the Eravikulam National Park
  • Naikolli Mala, near Anamudi from Eravikulam National Park
    Naikolli Mala, near Anamudi from Eravikulam National Park

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ K.S. Sudhi (3 November 2006) The Hindu, retrieved 21 June 2007 New lives bloom in Rajamala
  2. ^ Eravikulam National Park – Map (2004) Nilgiri Tahr Trust, retrieved 20 June 2007 Map
  3. ^ "Munnar". Archived from the original on 18 January 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  4. ^ UNEP (05/07/2007) World Commission on Protected Areas, World Database on Protected Areas, Eravikulam National Park, Retrieved 7 May 2007 "India - Eravikulam". Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 5 July 2007.
  5. ^ The Hindu – New species of frog found in Eravikulam National Park dt. 6 May 2010 [1]
  6. ^ S.D. Biju; Yogesh Shouche; Alain Dubois; S.K. Dutta; Franky Bossuyt (2010). "A ground-dwelling rhacophorid frog from the highest mountain peak of the Western Ghats of India". Current Science. 98 (8): 1119–1125.
  7. ^ "Management Plan", Erivikulam National Park. Accessed 3 August 2014 Archived 4 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eravikulam National Park.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Eravikulam_National_Park&oldid=1225238766"