Like every state in India, Tamil Nadu also hosts a great diversity of wildlife and picturesque natural areas. The state has five national parks including a marine national park. Here is the list of the same:
Mukurthi National Park (MNP)
This national park is located in the Nilgiris Plateau’s western corner in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is part of the Western Ghats region of South India. The park has an area of 78.46 square km. It was established in 2001. The Nilgiri tahr, an endangered and endemic ungulate species, is the keystone species of the national park. The Mukurthi is covered by montane shrublands and grasslands with small patches of montane forests called sholas. A number of threatened species of wildlife like the Bengal tiger, Nilgiri langur, Indian elephant, Nilgiri marten, etc., occur here. The park is also rich in birdlife. It is India’s first International Biosphere Reserve. It is also a part of the Western Ghats World Heritage Site.
Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary
This national park is located on the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri District. The park is also a tiger reserve and hence is home to the Bengal tiger. The total area of the national park and sanctuary is 321 square km. The park was established in 1940. Mudumalai hosts a great diversity of wildlife including several endemics and threatened species. The Indian leopard, Indian elephants, Bengal tiger, and gaur are some of the most notable species living here. The 266 species of birds here include the critically endangered long-billed vulture and Indian white-rumped vulture.
Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park/ Anamalai Tiger Reserve
This protected area, currently known as the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, is located in the Anaimalai Hills of Tamil Nadu. It covers parts of the Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts of the state. It was established in 1976 and currently encompasses a total area of 1479.87 square km which includes 958.59 square km core area and the rest as the buffer area. The protected area is not just significant for its rich wildlife but also for its anthropological diversity. A number of tribes reside here in 34 settlements. Wildlife here includes several threatened species like the Bengal tiger, dhole, elephant, brown mongoose, etc. Near threatened species like the Indian pangolin, Indian leopard, Indian giant squirrel also reside here. More than 250 species of birds including parakeets, hornbills, storks, egrets, kingfishers, owls, kites, and more are found here. There are 15 or 16 endemic birds species in this park. There is also a great diversity of reptiles and amphibian species in this park.
Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park
This marine national park of Tamil Nadu occupies an area of 560 square km. It encompasses 21 small islands and their surrounding coral reefs in the Gulf of Mannar in the Indian Ocean. The park was established in 1986. A rich biodiversity of flora and fauna is found here. The park’s diverse habitats include beaches, estuaries, forests, mudflats, seagrasses, seaweed communities, mangroves, coral reefs, etc. The dugong, a marine mammalian species, is the flagship species of this national park. A large number of cetacean species like dolphins and whales are also found in the marine waters of the park.
Guindy National Park
Vinoth Chandar
This is a small national park located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It has an area of only 2.7 square km, making it India’s 8th smallest national park. It is one of the few national parks that are part of a city. The park is an extension of the grounds of the state’s Governor’s residence. The park is known for its picturesque landscapes of forests, lakes, streams, and scrub lands. Both ex-situ and in-situ conservation methods are followed here. The park hosts about 400 blackbucks, 24 jackals, 2,000 spotted deer, and a variety of reptiles and invertebrate species. Many birds can also be spotted in this national park.
Mukurthi National Park (MNP)
This national park is located in the Nilgiris Plateau’s western corner in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is part of the Western Ghats region of South India. The park has an area of 78.46 square km. It was established in 2001. The Nilgiri tahr, an endangered and endemic ungulate species, is the keystone species of the national park. The Mukurthi is covered by montane shrublands and grasslands with small patches of montane forests called sholas. A number of threatened species of wildlife like the Bengal tiger, Nilgiri langur, Indian elephant, Nilgiri marten, etc., occur here. The park is also rich in birdlife. It is India’s first International Biosphere Reserve. It is also a part of the Western Ghats World Heritage Site.
Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary
This national park is located on the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri District. The park is also a tiger reserve and hence is home to the Bengal tiger. The total area of the national park and sanctuary is 321 square km. The park was established in 1940. Mudumalai hosts a great diversity of wildlife including several endemics and threatened species. The Indian leopard, Indian elephants, Bengal tiger, and gaur are some of the most notable species living here. The 266 species of birds here include the critically endangered long-billed vulture and Indian white-rumped vulture.
Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park/ Anamalai Tiger Reserve
This protected area, currently known as the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, is located in the Anaimalai Hills of Tamil Nadu. It covers parts of the Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts of the state. It was established in 1976 and currently encompasses a total area of 1479.87 square km which includes 958.59 square km core area and the rest as the buffer area. The protected area is not just significant for its rich wildlife but also for its anthropological diversity. A number of tribes reside here in 34 settlements. Wildlife here includes several threatened species like the Bengal tiger, dhole, elephant, brown mongoose, etc. Near threatened species like the Indian pangolin, Indian leopard, Indian giant squirrel also reside here. More than 250 species of birds including parakeets, hornbills, storks, egrets, kingfishers, owls, kites, and more are found here. There are 15 or 16 endemic birds species in this park. There is also a great diversity of reptiles and amphibian species in this park.
Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park
This marine national park of Tamil Nadu occupies an area of 560 square km. It encompasses 21 small islands and their surrounding coral reefs in the Gulf of Mannar in the Indian Ocean. The park was established in 1986. A rich biodiversity of flora and fauna is found here. The park’s diverse habitats include beaches, estuaries, forests, mudflats, seagrasses, seaweed communities, mangroves, coral reefs, etc. The dugong, a marine mammalian species, is the flagship species of this national park. A large number of cetacean species like dolphins and whales are also found in the marine waters of the park.
Guindy National Park
This is a small national park located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It has an area of only 2.7 square km, making it India’s 8th smallest national park. It is one of the few national parks that are part of a city. The park is an extension of the grounds of the state’s Governor’s residence. The park is known for its picturesque landscapes of forests, lakes, streams, and scrub lands. Both ex-situ and in-situ conservation methods are followed here. The park hosts about 400 blackbucks, 24 jackals, 2,000 spotted deer, and a variety of reptiles and invertebrate species. Many birds can also be spotted in this national park.
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