Eravikulam National Park is located in the High Ranges
(Kannan Devan Hills) of the Southern Western Ghats in the Devikulam Taluk of
Idukki District. Eravikulam National
Park is administered by the Kerala Department of Forests and Wildlife, Munnar
Wildlife Division, together with the nearby Mathikettan Shola National Park,
Anamudi Shola National Park, Pambadum Shola National Park, Chinnar Wildlife
Sanctuary and the Kurinjimala Sanctuary.Eravikulam National Park is a UNESCO
World Heritage Site.
The area, which was managed as a Game Preserve by the
erstwhile Kannan Devan Hills Produce Company through the High Range Game
Association was resumed by the Government of Kerala in 1971 under the Kannan
Devan Hill Produce (Resumption of lands) Act 1971.
The national park is divided into three areas - the core
area, the buffer area and the tourism area. In which, the Rajamalai is known to
be the tourism area of the park. Here, the tourists are allowed to travel deep
into the forest to explore the hidden beauty of the environment around. Private
vehicles are not allowed inside. Only few mini buses are operated inside in
order to control the environment pollution. The trips are organized by the
forest department.
The park has a rare collection of varieties of trees and
shrubs. You can find here climax grasslands. Twenty six species of mammals have
been recorded in the park including the largest surviving population of Nilgiri
tahr, estimated at about 750 individuals. The other ungulates are gaur, Indian
muntjac and sambar deer. Golden jackal, jungle cat, wild dog, dhole, leopard
and tiger are the main predators. Some little-known animals such as Nilgiri
langur, stripe-necked mongoose, Indian porcupine, Nilgiri marten, small clawed
otter, ruddy mongoose, and dusky palm squirrel are also found.
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