Guindy National Park

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name=Guindy National Park
other_name =
type= national park
iucn_category = II
latd = 13.00259|longd=80.23079
locator_position=left
inset_

inset_map_size = 75px
inset_map_x = 175px
inset_map_y = 225px
inset_map_marker = yes
inset_map_marker_size = 4x4px
inset_map_default = yes
skyline = Blackbuck male female.jpg
skyline_caption = Blackbuck, Guindy's flagship species
state_name= Tamil Nadu
district= Chennai
nearest_city = Chennai (Madras) | blank_title_2 = Governing body | blank_value_2 = Ministry of Environment and Forests and Tamil Nadu Department of forests
altitude=6
area_total=2.70
precip= 1200
temp_summer= 38
temp_winter= 20
established_title = Established
established_date = 1977
blank_title_1 = Visitation/year | blank_value_1 = 700,000/2006 [cite web
title = Gunidy National Park
publisher = Tamil Nadu Forest Department
url= http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/WildBiodiversity/np_gnp.html
accessdate = 2007-09-06 ]
website= http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/WildBiodiversity/np_gnp.html
footnotes = |

Guindy National Park, A 2.82 km² (1 sq mi) Protected area of Tamil Nadu, located in Chennai, South India, is the 8th smallest National Park of India and one of the very few national parks situated inside a city. The park is an extension of the grounds surrounding Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the Governor of Tamilnadu, India. It extends deep inside the govornor's estate, enclosing beautiful forests, scrub lands, lakes and streams. Guindy Park was originally a game reserve, then owned by a British citizen named Gilbert Rodericks and transferred to the Tamil Nadu Forest Department in 1958.

Flora and fauna

The Guindy National Park, Raj Bhavan and Indian Institute of Technology Madras habitat complex has historically enjoyed a certain degree of protection and has continued to support some of the last remnants of the natural habitats that typify the natural range of plant and animal biodiversity of north-eastern Tamil Nadu. [Care Earth (August 2006)"Rapid Assessment of Biodiversity on the Campus of Indian Institute of Technology - Madras", The Director, Indian Institute of Technology MadrasChennai - 600 036, retrieved 9/5/2007 [http://www.iitm.ac.in/attachments/Campus%20Biodiversity%20Report.pdf An Urban Wilderness Revisited, p. 2] ] The park has a dry evergreen scrub and thorn forest with over 350 species of plants including shrubs, climbers, herbs and grasses and over 24 varieties of trees, including the Sugar-apple, Atlantia monophylla, Wood-apple, Neem.

There are over 14 types of mammals including Antelope, 400 Black buck, Chital, 24 Jackal, Pangolin, 2000 Spotted deer, Jungle cat, Large Indian Civet, River otter, Hyena and Fox.

The park has dense forest, grasslands and water-bodies which provide an ideal habitat for over 100 species of birds including partridges, pheasants, parrots, quail, paradise fly-catcher, Black-winged kite, Honey Buzzard, Pariah kite and Eagle. Bird watchers anticipate migratory birds here like teals, garganeys, pochards, Medium egrets, large egrets, night herons, pond herons and open-billed storks every fall season. [ Oppili P. (Nov 16, 2004) The Hindu, retrieved 5/14/2007 [http://www.hindu.com/2004/11/16/stories/2004111612840300.htm "Looking for exotic species at the Guindy National Park"] ]

There are also many kinds of amphibians and snakes. Some species of tortoise and turtles- especially the endangered Star Turtle, lizards, geckos, chameleons and the common Indian monitor lizard are found here, as well as a large variety of insects including 60 species of spiders and 60 species of butterflies.

Guindy Snake Park and Children's Park

Guindy Snake Park, formerly the location of Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, is next to the Guindy National Park. There one can see King Cobra, pythons, vipers and other reptiles. 22 acres of GNP has been carved out into a children's park and play area at the northeast corner of the park with a collection of animals and birds. Animals in the children’s park include black buck, sambar, spotted deer, porcupine, hyena, jackal, python, grey pelican, night heron, cormorant, cockatiel, mongoose, bonnet monkey and common langur. The Snake park and Children’s park have separate entrances and independent entry fees. Drinking water, vendors and catering is available.

Visitor information

There is a new interpretation center about the biodiversity of the park. Entry into this protected reserve is restricted, and visitors can go into the core area only when escorted by a forest ranger from the Forests Department. [David Appasamy (April 21, 2006) "Guindy National Park: National Treasure, Metroblogging Chennai, retrieved 9/6/2007 [http://chennai.metblogs.com/archives/2006/04/guindy_national_park_national.phtml Chennai's pride"] ]

Guindy Park is behind the Gandhi Mandapam, Kamaraj Memorial and Rajaji Memorial on Sardar Patel road on the southern outskirts of Chennai. The rear southeast edge of the park adjoins the campus of Indian Institute of Technology. Guindy station (Suburban Track) is 1 km away. Chennai Egmore Railway station is 9 km away. Chennai Central Railway station is 12 km away. Chennai airport is 8 km away. For more details contact the Wildlife Warden, K.S.S.V.P. Reddy, 50 IV Main Road, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar, Chennai – 600 020.
or The Wildlife Warden, 259, Anna Salai, DMS Compound, IV Floor, Teynampet, Chennai 600 006 Phone : [phone] or the Children's Park, Guindy. [http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/Ecotourism/enquiryforall.php Enquiry Form] [Tamil Nadu forest Department, [http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/Ecotourism/guindy_np_info.html Guindy National Park] ]

References