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Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve

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Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve
Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary
Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (proposed)
Wildlife sanctuary
Map
Established2008
[ ]
A Bengal tiger in the Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary
(Sathyamangalam photo needed)

Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve is a proposed Tiger Reserve located in Sathyamangalam, a taluk (subdistrict) of Erode District, Tamil Nadu, South India. This sanctuary is contiguous with the 540 square kilometres (208 sq mi) Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary in south-eastern Karnataka, to the north. In a recent wildlife survey, 46 tigers have been sighted directly in Sathyamangalam forest area. [1] The Sathyamangalam forest is the only reserve forest in South India with a significant presence of Tigers, that is not yet declared as one of the Tiger reserves in India. [2]

Location

There is a total of 145,530.92 hectares (562 sq mi) in the Sathyamangalam forests, of which The Government has declared 52,434.94 hectares (202 sq mi) (36%) as a sanctuary. The tiger reserve's core area is likely to be in the Moyar valley [3] , centered about 11°33′51″N 76°59′42″E / 11.56417°N 76.99500°E / 11.56417; 76.99500.

The sanctuary is within the Sathyamangalam Forest Division comprised of 5 forest ranges. The first area is in the Thalavady range (Palayam, Belathur, Gettavadi) and the Bhavanisagar range (Thengumarahada, a part of Thalamalai, Gejalatti, and Peerkadavu, the entire Kothamangalam and a part of Bannari). This area of the sanctuary comprise over 22,325.63 hectares (86 sq mi).

The second sanctuary area is the Guthiyalathur and Guthiyalathur extension, which comprises Sathyamangalam range (Thimbam, Vadavalli, Chickarasam palayam, Kondappanaicken Palayam and Kembanaiken Palayam) and T.N. Palayam (a part of Kadambur forests, Vilankombai, Kongarpalayam, a part of Kovilur, entire Bungalow Pudur, Kanackampalayam and a part of Kundri). The Guthiyalathur area is about 30,109.31 hectares (116 sq mi). [4]

The Sathyamangalam forests connect to the 321 square kilometres (124 sq mi) Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, the 872.24 square kilometres (337 sq mi)Bandipur Tiger Reserve and the 643.35 square kilometres (248 sq mi) Nagarhole National Park Critical Tiger Habitats (CTHs). All that remains to complete a continuous protected area of multiple contiguous Tiger reserves is declaration the 344 square kilometres (133 sq mi) Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary also as a Tiger Reserve. This will constitute the largest tiger and elephant habitat in the country.[5]

Elevation in the sanctuary ranges from 400 metres (1,300 ft) to 1,200 metres (3,900 ft). Southwards, the heights decrease into the arid Coimbatore plains and the Palakkad Gap before rising again into the Nilgiris to the north and Anamalais to the south.

Fauna

In 2011, it was reported that the Sathyamangalam forest is home to over 850 elephants. The 2010 survey counted 12 tigers. [6] The 2009 wildlife survey enumerated 10 Tigers, 866 Elephants, 672 Gaur, and 27 leopard. The survey party observed 4 additional species of horned antelope including 2,348 Spotted deer, 1,068 Blackbuck, 304 Sambar deer, 77 Barking deer and Four-horned antelope, 843 wild boar, 43 Vulnerable Sloth bear, 15 striped hyenas [7] Many Treepies, Bulbuls, Babblers, Mynahs and Crows were seen.[8] [9]

As of 2010, A small population of Threatened Vultures were well re-established in the Moyar river valley near Mangalapatti in Sathyamangalam Forest Division. 20 nests have been sighted and about 40 vultures could be in the area. Vultures were last seen here in the 1970's.[10] In 2010 the first ever bird survey in Santhyamangalam Forest Division was conducted in Bhavanisagar, Sathyamangalam, Talavadi, T.N. Palayam and Hassanur Ranges. A total of 230 species of birds were recorded in the survey.[9]

The Sathyamangalam forests link the Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats allowing gene flow between diverse populations of the two habitats. [11]

Flora

The Sathyamangalam forest is tropical dry forest, part of the South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests ecoregion. It includes thorn forest, dry deciduous forest, and tropical hill forest. Many of the higher elevations of the Bilgirirangan range have shola, or dwarf moist deciduous forest, and montane grassland habitats. About 65% of the forest division is under forest cover. Significant areas of mixed Shrubland and grasslands support a large population of herbivore ungulates, the preferred prey of Tigers.

Conservation

The Tamil Nadu state government will soon take efforts to declare Sathyamangalam sanctuary as a tiger reserve because many tigers are consistantly being sighted in the forest here. This tiger reserve declaration is expected to strengthen wildlife conservation efforts, as the sanctuary managers will get more financial support from the central government. The Government of India may provide support to appoint an additional 30 anti-poaching watchers and fund the establishment of anti-poaching camps.[9]

on July 15, 2010, the Indian Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh, requested the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M. Karunanidhi to

"consider the possibility of proposing the Sathyamangalam Wild Life Sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve, vis-a-vis the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 as the area is contiguous with the forests of Chamrajnagar-Bandipur-Mudumalai".[5]

Incidentally,in 2008, the Karnataka forest department had sent a proposal to also make Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary, contiguous to Sathyamangalam, a tiger reserve. [11] The proposal to notify the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary as a critical tiger habitat was subsequently approved in 2010. [5]

Conservation of the Sathyamangalam Forest Division is administered by the Conservator of Forests, Erode Circle, Roja Nagar, Veerappanchatram Post, Erode 638 011 Tamil Nadu Phone : 0424-2291876 e-mail : cferd@tn.nic.in and

the Erode District Forest Officer, Sathyamangalam Division, Gopi Road, Sathyamangalam 638 402 Tamil Nadu Phone : 04295-220312 E-mail: dfosathy@sancharnet.in & dfosathyamangalam@rediffmail.com [12]

Culture

These forests are home to indigenous tribal people belonging largely to the Irula (also known as the Urali) and, Soliga communities.

The forests were also the home of the legendary Indian bandit leader, kidnapper and murderer Koose Muniswamy Veerapan, who made a living poaching ivory and sandalwood from the forests and selling them on the black market. Veerapan was killed by police in October 2004. After Veerapan was killed, people reported paranormal activities occurring in the forest such as screaming in the middle of the night and unattended lanterns seen deep in the forest. The forest of Sathyamangalam is also known for its ghost sightings and is referred to as "The most haunted place in Tamil Nadu". [13]

Visitor activities

In his press statement On May 4, 2010, Jairam Ramesh stated: "There is no proposal to ban tourism in tiger reserves." He assured that "tourism is essential" for the tiger conservation, though "tourism in the 39 Project Tiger Reserves, particularly in core areas, will be strictly regulated". [5]

National highway NH 209 connecting Erode & Coimbatore to Mysore via Sathyamangalam passes through the forests. This route has less traffic when compared to NH 47 (via Salem), however driving skills required for a hilly terrain are needed because the road has 27 hairpin bends, some of which are very dangerous.

References

  1. ^ "Over 100 tigers spotted in three tiger reserves, says forest minister -". The Times of India, Chennai. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 2010-10-24. Retrieved 2011-1-2. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ^ "Veerappan lair now a tiger den". The Times of India, Chennai. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 2010-9-30. Retrieved 2011-1-3. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  3. ^ "Veerappan's lair could soon be new sanctuary for tigers". The Times of India, Chennai. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 2010-8-27. Retrieved 2011-1-3. {{cite news}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Karthik Madhavan (2008-12-24). "A portion of Sathyamangalam forests declared sanctuary". The Hindu. Kasturi and Sons Ltd. Retrieved 2011-1-2. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  5. ^ a b c d C.R. Biloy (2010-4-1). "Good news for the tiger?". The Hindu, Chennai. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Retrieved 2011-1-2. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  6. ^ "Focus back on preventing poaching in forests". The Times of India, Chennai. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 2011-1-1. Retrieved 2011-1-2. {{cite news}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Trouble In Jumbo Land", Tehelka Magazine, Vol 5, Issue 25, Anant Media Pvt. Ltd, 2008=6=28, retrieved 2011-1-3 {{citation}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  8. ^ Sathyamangalam (2009-3-30), "Sathyamangalam Wildlife Census - March 2009", Travel Pod, TravelPod.com, retrieved 2011-1-3 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  9. ^ a b c Karthik Madhavan (2010-4-1). "Healthy tigers spotted in Sathyamangalam forests". The Hindu, Chennai. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Retrieved 2011-1-2. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "KM" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  10. ^ "Vultures' nests sighted in Moyar river valley". The Hindu, Chennai. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 2010-4-1. Retrieved 2010-4-15. {{cite news}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  11. ^ a b "Sathyamangalam could be a tiger reserve". The Times of India, Chennai. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Retrieved 2011-1-2. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  12. ^ "Contact us", Tamil Nadu Forest Department, official website, Site Maintained by National Information Centre, retrieved 1011-1-4 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  13. ^ "Sathyamangalam Forests". YourGhostStories.com. 2009-01-12. Retrieved 2011-1-3. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
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