Anamalai Tiger Reserve

By : Neha Dhyani

Updated : Feb 2, 2023, 15:30

Anamalai Tiger Reserve is a protected sanctuary located in the Anamalai Hills of Coimbatore Districts in Tamil Nadu, India. This famous tiger reserve was established in 1976 and was previously known as the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary. Anamalai Tiger Reserve is home to several species of plants and animals, including the Bengal Tiger.

Anamalai Tiger Reserve is one of the most well-known tourist attractions and a fantastic gateway for a wildlife experience. It is also home to as many as 6 indigenous tribes consisting of 4,600 Adivasis. Find out more about the Anamalai Tiger Reserve here.

Anamalai Tiger Reserve - Overview

The marvellous wildlife sanctuary, Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR), was earlier named Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park. It is a pristine reserved area in the Anamalai Hills of Pollachi in Tamil Nadu. ATR lies South of the Palakkad Gap in southwestern Ghat. Anamalai Tiger Reserve is under consideration by UNESCO.

  • This wildlife sanctuary holds the largest number of diverse flora and fauna and is present in the core area of 958.59 sq. km and a buffer area of 521.28 sq. km between the longitudes of 76° and 77° East and latitude of 10° and 10°North.
  • This amazing wildlife sanctuary is a favourable destination for tourists.
  • It is dominated by the shola forest, tropical jungle, and grassland rising to 2400m and is home to an alluring endemic reserve park.
  • It is an essential watershed for the agricultural economy and power supply in many regions of Tamil Nadu.
  • Moreover, this sanctuary is the home of many animals, birds, and floral species, making it the most appealing tourist attraction.

Annamalai National Park - Significance

Anamalai Tiger Reserve is home to an extensive wildlife and fauna. Wildlife is essential for the environment and humans to offer stability to various courses of nature. Thus, protecting wildlife is also very important for every nation. So, the Annamalai National Park is the most amazing habitat to protect animals and wildlife.

The Anamalai Tiger Reserve is blessed with various flora and fauna, pleasant topography, and a healthy climate. Moreover, it also houses several tribal communities and their unique cultures. The Annamalai National Park is a magnificent location in every sense.

Anamalai Tiger Reserve - Flora and Fauna

Annamalai National Park has many significant features, including a distinct wildlife and flora. Here, we have shared information about the flora and fauna found in the national park:

Fauna at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve

This amazing wildlife reserve is the home of 315 species of butterflies, 250 bird species, and various animal species, including tigers, leopards, spotted deer, elephants, peacocks, amphibians and lion-tailed macaques, langurs, fishes, and crocodiles. The rare and magnificent species of Bengal Tiger is also find in Anamalai Tiger Reserve.

Flora at the Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary

The ATR is the home of many florae with more than 2000 plant species. There is a rich diversity of canes, reeds, bamboo, palms, ferns, and about 400 medical plant species. When it comes to the flora of the Annamalai National Park, there is a great diversity there. There are semi-evergreen forest, wet evergreen forest, dry deciduous, moist deciduous, shola forest, savanna, marshy grasslands, and dry thorn, and montane grasslands in the national park. T

Tribal Communities at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve

Anamalai Tiger Reserve has substantial anthropological distinctions with more than 4,600 tribal people. There are six predominant tribes in the national park, including Malasars, Pulaiyars, Kadars, Eravalars, and Mudagars. This wildlife sanctuary with its diverse habitat is home to these tribes and their cultures.

Although Anamalai Tiger Reserve is a primary tourist destination, it is still first and foremost a home to these tribal communities. These tribal communities live harmoniously in the national park, using the forest’s resources for their daily living.

Anamalai Tiger Reserve - Present Tigers

The Anamalai Tiger Reserve has various fauna species. Still, the most critically protected animal is the tiger, as it is India's national animal, so reserving its species is a foremost duty of everyone. The Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary comprises the estimated metapopulation of about 42 tigers, with an occupancy area of about 3,253 sq. km.

Apart from the distinctive features of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, this wildlife sanctuary plays a vital role in protecting various habitats and offers the animals a safe and comfortable spot to survive. Undoubtedly, this wildlife reserve is a remarkable and most alluring tourist attraction.

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FAQs on Anamalai Tiger Reserve

Q.1) What is the Anamalai Tiger Reserve?

Anamalai Tiger Reserve is a pristine reserved area in the Anamalai Hills of Pollachi in Tamil Nadu. It was earlier known as Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park and was established in 1976. Anamalai Tiger Reserve is home to the Bengal Tiger, along with hundreds of other species.

Q.2) Where is the Anamalai Tiger Reserve located?

Anamalai Tiger Reserve lies South of the Palakkad Gap in the southwestern Ghats. It is located in the Anaimalai Hills of Valparai and Pollachi taluks of Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, India. Anamalai Tiger Reserve is home to thousands of species of animals and plants.

Q.3) Why is the Anamalai Tiger Reserve special?

Anamalai Tiger Reserve is a favourable destination for tourists. It is dominated by the shola forest, tropical jungle, and grassland rising to 2400m and is home to an alluring endemic reserve park. It became famous after Indira Gandhi visited the national park on 7 October 1961.

Q.4) Which animals are found in Anamalai Tiger Reserve?

Anamalai Tiger Reserve is the home of 315 species of butterflies, 250 bird species, and various animal species, including tigers, leopards, spotted deer, elephants, peacocks, amphibians, lion-tailed macaques, langurs, fishes, and crocodiles. It is also home to the Bengal Tiger.

Q.5) How many tigers are there in Anamalai Tiger Reserve?

Anamalai Tiger Reserve comprises the estimated metapopulation of about 42 tigers, with an occupancy area of about 3,253 sq. km. Although the population of the tigers at the Anamali Tiger Reserve is not much, it is still home for the tigers and other species of animals, birds and plants.