Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary

News– A recent faunal survey has reported 63 new species of odonates, butterflies and birds in the Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary of Kerala.

About Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: Located on the western slopes of Nilgiris, the Sanctuary lies in Malappuram district of Kerala. 
• It shares boundary with Mukurthi National Park (Tamil Nadu) in eastern side and Silent Valley National Park (Kerala) on southern side. 
• The name ‘Karimpuzha’ is derived from the Karimpuzha River, a tributary of the River Chaliyar.
• Conservation: It forms part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR), recognized under the Man and Biosphere Programme of UNESCO. Its forest forms part of the Nilambur Elephant Reserve (Nilambur ER), one of the four ERs notified in the country.
• Vegetation type: The sanctuary is the state’s only forest stretch where seven forest types found in the state are all present, including evergreen rainforest, semi-evergreen forest, moist deciduous forest, sub-tropical hill forest, sub-tropical savannah, montane wet temperate forest and montane wet grasslands.
• Fauna: Malabar Mahseer (Tor malabaricus), one of the endangered fishes in the world. Slender Loris, Nilgiri Tahr, Tiger, Lion tailed macaque, Gaur, etc.
• Tribes: Cholanaikans (a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group PVTG) – with a total population of 217 individuals in 56 families, depends on the forests for their livelihood by selling the Non-wood Forest Produce (NWFP).