Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National
Park
Spread
over 9.58 Sq.kms., this sanctuary can be reached through Topslip in Anamalai
Hills on the Western Ghats. An Ecological Paradise, this sanctuary encompasses
a National Park with an Orea of 108 Sq.km. Abutting Kerala on the West, this
hill forest boasts of thick growth of trees, folds of terrains with evergreen
sholas. About 800 species of South Indian flora are distributed here.
Some of the many rare and endangered species of flora are:
1. Combretum Ovalifolium, 2. Dispyros nilagrica, 3. Gymnopteris Contaimirans
(Fern), 4. Habebarai reriflora (Orchid), 5. Polypodum pleroupus, 6. Alsophila
sp, 7. Bulbophyllum sp., 8. Lasianthus uenuloses, 9. Angiopterris Erectra, 10.
Gnetum Ula, 11. Impaliens Elegans, 12. Lycopodium cernum, 13. Ranunculus reniformis
and Osmunda Regulis.
This sanctuary nurtures Arboreal animals like lion tailed macaque, bonnet macaque,
Common Langur, Nilgiris Langur, Malabar Giant squirrel and Grizzled giant Squirrel.
The ground animals listed are: Tiger, Panther, Elephant, Gaur, Pangolin, Sambar,
Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Wild Boar, Dhole, Sloth Bear, Porcupine,
Nilgiris Tahr, Civet Cat and Toddy Cat. The Avifauna includes Racket Tailed
Drongo, Black Headed Oriole, Paradise Flycatcher, Whistling Thrust, Emerald
Dove, Green Pigeon, Tickell's Flower Pecker, Rufus Wood Pecker, Rose Ringed
Parakeet, Black Eagle, Great Indian Malabar pied Horn Bill, Fiary Blue Bird
and green Billed Malkhoha etc.
OTHER ECO - CENTRES :
Equally enticing in the sanctuary are Monkey Falls at Aliyar, Crocodile breeding
centre at Amaravathi, Gran Hills, Attakatti, Nirar, Kullipatti, Manompally,
Chinnar, Thirumoorthy, Varagaliyar and Manjampathy. Trekking sheds available
at Manjapally and Varagaliyar. While a wild life interpretation Centre is at
Aliyar, a medicinal plant interpretation Centre is at Topslip.
