Anamalai (Indira Gandhi) Wildlife Sanctuary
Anamalai
wildlife sanctuary is about 90-kms from Coimbatore and is situated at an
altitude of 1,400 meters in the Western Ghats near Pollachi. The area of the
sanctuary is 958-sq-kms. An ecological paradise, this sanctuary encompasses
a National Park. It has just recently been renamed as Indira Gandhi Wildlife
Sanctuary.
Fauna :
It has various kinds of fauna like Elephant, Gaur, Tiger, Panther, Sloth
Bear, Deer, Wild Bear, Wild Dog, Porcupine, Flying Squirrel, Jackal,
Pangolin, Civet Cat and birds like Rocket-tailed Drongo, Red Whiskered
Bulbul, Tree Pie, Black Headed Oriole, Spotted Dove, Pigeon, etc. The
Amaravati reservoir in the Anamalai has large number of crocodiles.
Attractions At The Place :
There are many places of scenic beauty such as Karianshola, Grass hills,
Anaikunthi Shola, waterfalls, groves, teak forests, dams and reservoirs.
Arrangements are available at Top Slip to take tourists around the sanctuary
on elephant back or by van.
How to get there ?
Air - Peelamedu airport is 10-km from Coimbatore city.
Rail - From Pollachi, there are trains to Coimbatore and
Dindigul.
Road - There are regular buses from Coimbatore and Palani
to Pollachi, which is the nearest big town. There are two buses a day from
Pollachi to the park, at 6.00 am and 3.00 pm. The bus returns to Pollachi at
8.00 am and 6.00 pm. Tourists can also hire a taxi from Pollachi.
Anna Zoological Park
Situated
in Vandalur, about 35-km from Chennai, the Anna zoological park is one of
the latest and modern zoos of India and the biggest in South East Asia.
Spreading over an area of 510 hectares of dry evergreen forests with gently
undulating terrain, the specially created open island type enclosures with
wet and dry moats and enclosures with hidden walls and simulated natural
environment make the animals, feel in their natural environment.
It's Establishment :
The Anna zoological park situated in the outskirts of Chennai was created
out of the Reserve Forests of Vandalur. The forests are of dry deciduous and
dry evergreen scrub type. It was in the year 1855 the first Zoo in India was
established in Chennai; later on in 1979 it was shifted to its present
location at Vandalur.
After initial constructions the zoo was
opened to public in 1985. After the zoo was inaugurated in 1985, it has
undergone a lot of improvement, with new animals making their home and
breeding and more and more features like the Jurassic Park, Nocturnal
section, reptile section, aquarium, etc.
Attractions Within The Zoo :
More than 170 species of mammals, aviaries and reptiles are exhibited. Lion
safari vehicle, Elephant ride, battery operated vehicles are some of the
facilities available inside this park.
The Zoo Animals :
Now there are as many as 81 enclosures - 6 types of deer from Barking Deer,
Sambar, Blackbuck, Nilgai, Sangai, Hog Deer, Wolf, Jackal, Hyena, Llama,
Otter, a number of Monkey species from Nilgiri Langur to the endangered
Lion-tailed Macaque, Baboon, Hanuman Langur and Leaf-capped Langur, an
aviary specially for Vedantangal birds and another for Point Calimere ones,
then the higher carnivores like the beautiful tiger, the majestic Lion,
Panther, Jaguar, etc. to the Elephants, Giraffes and Camels.
Environmental Awareness Programs :
Apart from the range of animal life, there's plenty of environment
information to be picked up by everybody. Near every enclosure, there are
stone boards talking about the zoological name, its feeding, mating and
breeding habits and seasons apart from the place where it is endemic. Trees
have placards with their botanical names and other details. A library is
also open to public on Mondays and Fridays.
Learning The Adventurous Way :
Environmental awareness and education form an integral part of the zoo's
activities. Educational programs have been launched for students
(pre-primary, primary and higher secondary and college) and teachers and
other visitors.
Apart from this, members of the `Student Zoo Club' get valuable experience
as they get exposed to adventure while getting educated about wildlife
management, conservation, animal behaviour, their habitats, ecosystems,
evolution, animal adaptations, reproduction, nutrition, animal housing and
husbandry. The membership is open for 2 years for which they also get a
certificate. The club is currently having a membership of about 150 members.
Interestingly, of the more than 8 lakh visitors to the zoo every year,
about 3 lakh are students. For those visitors who may find the long trek
inside a bit arduous, can ride on the battery vehicles plying inside for a
fee.
How to get there ?
Air - Chennai has an airport with both domestic and
international terminals. Regular flights connect Chennai with the major
cities within the country and also with countries like USA, Singapore, U.K
etc.
Rail - Chennai is well connected by rail with the
important towns and cities within and beyond the state. Vandalur also has a
railway station.
Road - State transport buses and private buses connect
Chennai with the major towns and cities within the country. For local
transportation local trains, city buses, auto rickshaws and taxis are also
available.
Guindy National Park
Guindy
National Park is one of the prime visiting spots for those who come to
Chennai during vacation period. A recommended picnic spot for the entire
family to spend a day amidst nature and return home joyfully in the evening.
This National Park encompasses a snake park and a children's park as well.
Guindy National Park is botanically very interesting in as much as it is
the only one of its kind to carry even today a derelict vegetation truly
representative of the natural thorny scrub jungle of the southern dry zone
interspersed with more than 30 tree species whic h include a number of
centuries old gigantic shady banyan trees. This park with a network of
road's, footpaths, nature trails, lakes and ponds, all situated amidst
sylvan surroundings offers good opportunities for viewing wild life.
Historical Background Of The Park :
If we look into the historical background of the Guindy Park, in earlier
days it was actually a hunting preserve. Later it was known as "Guindy
Lodge" and it belonged to a British citizen named Gilbert Rodericks. In
1817, the owner died with the property heavily mortgaged.
Then in 1821, the Government of Madras
purchased it for a sum of Rs. 35,000/ or 10,000 pagodas (pagodas being the
gold currency at that time). Later in 1910, it was declared as reserved
forests. In 1947, it became the permanent residence of the Governor (400
hectares) and was called "Raj Bhavan".
The then Prime Minister Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru permitted a small area to be
cordoned off as a park for children. In 1958, it was actually handed over to
the Forest department. The land nearby was allocated for Gandhi Mandapam
(1954), IIT (1961), Guru Nanak Educational Society (1970), Rajaji Memorial
(1974), Kamaraj Memorial (1975) and Cancer Institute (1977).
Guindy Park boasts of over 24 varieties of trees, for example, Amona
Squamosa, Atlanta Monoplylla, Feronia Limonia, Azadirachta India, etc. to
mention a few. Also more than 14 varieties of shrubs are also found in the
park.
The main faunal attraction of this park is the occurrence of rare Indian
Antelope popularly known as the "Black Buck", found nowhere in the
world except India. Over 14 types of mammals like Elephant, Antelope,
Spotted Deer, Jungle Cat, Toddy Cat, Indian civet, etc. can also be seen
here.
The park also accounts for over 37 varieties of birds, like the King
Fisher, Blue Jay, Golden Backed Woodpecker, Crow Pheasant, Yellow Wattled
Lapwing, Red Wattled Lapwing, Blue Faced Malkoha, Shrikes, Koels, Doves,
Minivets, Munias, Barkets, Parakeets, Grey Partridge, Tailor Birds, Robins,
Drongos, Quails, Beak Paradise, Flycatcher, Stone Curlew and so on. There
are also many kinds of amphibians and snakes to add to the variety that is
already available.
How to get there ?
Air - Chennai has an airport with both domestic and
international terminals. Regular flights connect Chennai with the major
cities within the country and also with countries like USA, Singapore, U.K.,
etc.
Rail - Chennai is well connected by rail with the
important towns and cities within and beyond the state.
Road - State transport buses and private buses connect
Chennai with the major towns and cities within the country. Local trains,
city buses, auto rickshaws and taxis are also available for local
transportation.
Gulf of Mannar
Marine National Park
Gulf
of Mannar Marine National Park is a marine biosphere, running along with
coasts of Ramanathapuram and Tuticorin districts. The entire Gulf of Mannar
abounds in distinguished marine life covering 10,500-sq-kms and 21 islands
with continuous stretches of coral reef.
Flora And Fauna :
Gulf of Mannar is the first Marine Biosphere Reserve not only in India but
also in South East Asia. It is full of coral reefs, Dugong, Turtles and
Balano- Glossus. Dolphins could create euphoria to the tourists. The
presence of coral reef, flora and fauna here are in their virgin form. The
coral reefs, which surround the islands in the area are highly productive
and are often referred to as "Underwater Tropical Rain Forest" and
a treasure house for marine ornamental fishes.
The Marine Reserve :
This unique marine ecosystem of Gulf of Mannar is one of the richest for
biodiversity resources in the Indian subcontinent. The richness of its
biodiversity can be gauged from the fact that more than 3,600 species of
fauna and flora have been recorded in this reserve. Kurasadai Islands, off
Mandapam, boasts of a vast expanse of shallow waters.
Moreover, more than 138 villages and towns spread over five districts
depend heavily on the fishery resources of the Gulf. Commercial fishing is
done in about 5,500 sq. km. and nearly 50,000 people dwelling in 47 villages
along the coastline bordering the Gulf of Mannar depend directly on the
biodiversity resources of the biosphere reserve for their livelihood.
The establishment of the Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere reserve has
enhanced India's position as an environmentally responsible country in the
comity of nations.
How to get there ?
Air - The nearest airport is at Madurai (150-km).
Rail - The nearest railway stations are the Mandapam
railway station and the railway station at Tuticorin.
