The landscape is interconnected to the Kollegal forests of Karnataka and the Nilgiris, creating one of the most diverse habitats in the region.
The state government’s commitment to preserving and protecting its rich natural heritage is reflected in this latest addition, aimed at safeguarding the diverse flora and fauna that call the Erode forests home. The Tamil Nadu government has declared a new reserve forest in the Bargur Hills in Erode district.
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In a significant stride towards biodiversity conservation, Tamil Nadu has added another jewel to its environmental crown by establishing its 18th wildlife sanctuary in the pristine reserve forests of the Erode district.
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The reserve forest named ‘Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary’ has a stretch of protected forests and links the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve with the Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary. This wildlife sanctuary spread across 80,114.80 hectares of land has been notified as the 18th wildlife sanctuary in Tamil Nadu.
Forest areas covering North Bargur (47,323.50 hectares), South Bargur (24,736.80), Thamaraikarai (3,037.37), South Bargur Part 844 (2,521.28), Ennamangalam (2,269.37) and the Nagalur reserve forest area (226.48 hectares) fall under the sanctuary, while six tribal habitations and roads connecting these habitations have been excluded.
A notification issued by the Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department dated January 30, 2024 said these forests occupy a prominent position in the Eastern Ghats as they merge with the Western Ghats at the Nilgiris.
The landscape is interconnected to the Kollegal forests of Karnataka and the Nilgiris, creating one of the most diverse habitats in the region. The vast landscape of the newly-announced sanctuary is home to diverse flora and fauna, making it an ideal habitat for various life forms.
The 18th wildlife sanctuary of the state is part of the corridor that connects the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) to the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Tiger Reserve and the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. This stretch plays a crucial role in maintaining a viable tiger population and is one of the tiger corridors identified by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
This landscape is also the catchment area of Palar River that drains into the Cauvery River and is a crucial source of water for agricultural activities. It is also of cultural and historical significance to tribal and local communities who depend on these ecosystems for their livelihoods and traditional practices.
