Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary

Infobox_protected_area | name =Grizzled Giant Squirrel
Wildlife Sanctuary Location map|Tamil Nadu
label=GGS WS
position=right
background=
lat=9.575
long=77.558
float=right
width=300
iucn_category = IV
location = Virudhunagar and Madurai districts
nearest_city = Madurai
lat_degrees = 9
lat_minutes = 34
lat_seconds = 30
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 77
long_minutes = 33
long_seconds = 30
long_direction = E
area = 380 km²
established = 1988
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = [http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/WildBiodiversity/ws_sgsws.html The Wildlife Warden] The Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary was declared to protect the Vulnerable Grizzled Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura). It is one of the best preserved forests south of the Palghat Gap.

Geography

The sanctuary covers 486 km² in western Tamil Nadu, South India in the eastern water-shed of the Western Ghats and consists of high hills and valleys. It is located between 9° 21' - 9° 48' N and Longitude - 77°21' - 77°46' E. The sanctuary is Bounded to the north by the Andipatti hills, south by Tirunelveli District, east by Srivilliputhur and Rajapalayam towns and west by Theni town and Theni District. It is the eastern boundary for the Periyar river watershed. The sanctuary ranges from 200 M in the plains and rises to a the highest Peak, Kottaimalai, at 2019 m. Average annual rainfall 849.1 mm varies between 700 mm - 3000 mm in different areas of the sanctuary. Water sources in the sanctuary are the Kallar and Mullaperiyar Dams and the Periyar, Naragaiar, Pachaiar, Mangar, Kovilar and Pairakudraiar rivers.

The underlying rock throughout the area is granitoid gneiss formation. The lowest altitudes have a mixture of quartz and quartzite.

Flora and fauna

In addition to grizzled giant squirrels, other animals seen here are flying squirrels, tree shrews, lion-tailed macaques, the Nilgiri tahrs, mouse deer, barking deer, wild cats, palm civets, king cobras and many varieties of birds including the great Indian hornbill. Census in 2002 indicated elephants Population of 156.

The sanctuary is a mix of tropical evergreen forests and semi-evergreen forests 69.32 km², dry deciduous forests and moist mixed deciduous forests 51.66 km², grassland152.18 km² and cultivated 121.07 km².

Conservation

Conservation problems are: Human-elephant conflict, Human encroachment, cattle grazing and forest fire. 7 to 10 important temples located within the sanctuary attract thousands of pilgrims every year. Water scarcity is a major problem here during dry season as there is no perennial water system. Conservation priorities are: Preventing the entry of cattle, particularly in Kottamalai and Watrap. The possibility of an elephant corridor here could be studied through radio collaring some elephants. [ASIAN NATURE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION, retrieved 5/12/2007 [http://www.asiannature.org/srivilliputhur.html SRIVILLIPUTHUR - WILDLIFE SANCTUARY] ]

Visitor information

There are no roads in the sanctuary so visitors must cover it on foot. Guides are available on request from the Sanctuary office to accompany tourists on treks.

The sanctuary is 45 km from Virudhunagar town and about 75-80 km away from Madurai city. Srivilliputhur railway station is 5 km from the sanctuary. There are forest rest houses at Mudungiar, Pudupatti and Mudaliaroothu. There are many private lodges near the sanctuary. [ TAMILNADU TOURISM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM, retrieved 5/12/2007 [http://www.tamilnadutourism.org/wildlife/SanctuariesParks/SGSVirudhunagar.aspx?catid=C5&subcat1id=C5S1&subcat2id=C5S1S6&sm=C5S1S6 Srivilliputhur Sanctuaries] ]

For more details contact: The Wildlife Warden, Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary, 118, North Veedi, Srivilliputhur, ph: 04563-260565. [SANCTUARY SPOTLIGHT (Oct 30, 2006) The Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary, The Hindu, retrieved 5/12/2007 [http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/10/30/stories/2006103000180300.htm The Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary] ]

References