SST Rare Project - Daniya
SST Rare Project - Daniya
SST Rare Project - Daniya
LOCATION
The reserve encompasses 5,520 km² in the states of Tamil Nadu (2537.6 km²),
Karnataka (1527.4 km²) and Kerala (1455.4 km²). It forms an almost complete ring
around the Nilgiri Plateau. The biosphere lies between 10°50′N and 12°16′N
latitude and 76°00′E to 77°15′E longitude.
The reserve extends from the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests,
tropical moist forests of the western slopes of the Ghats to the tropical and
subtropical dry broadleaf forests tropical dry forests on the east slopes. Rainfall
ranges from 500mm to 7000mm per year. The reserve encompasses three
ecoregions, the South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests, South Western
Ghats montane rain forests, and South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests.
Fauna
Fauna includes over 100 species of mammals, 370 species of birds, 80 species of
reptiles, about 39 species of fish, 31 amphibians and 316 species of butterflies. It
is home to Mammals like Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, black panther, gaur, Indian
elephant, chital deer, sambar deer, blackbuck, Indian brown mongoose, honey
badger, Malabar giant squirrel, Nilgiri marten, and Nilgiri tar. The Primates here
are lion-tailed macaque, Bonnet macaque, Nilgiri langur, and gray langur. Reptiles
found here are Indian python, king cobra, Indian cobra, and mugger crocodile.
The birds here are Indian peacock, Nilgiri pipit, Nilgiri laughing thrush, Nilgiri
flycatcher, great Hornbill, and Malabar grey hornbill.
It has the largest population of two endangered species, the lion-tailed macaque
and Nilgiri tar. The Nilgiri biosphere reserve hosts more than 400 tigers, having
more tigers than any other place on earth.
Flora
The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is very rich in plant diversity. Tropical rainforest
habitat is dominant but Montane Forest and Tropical moist forest habitats are
also found. About 3,300 species of flowering plants can be seen here. Of the 3,300
species, 133 are endemic to the reserve. The genus Pekilocerin is exclusively
endemic to the Nilgiris. Some of the plants entirely restricted to the Nilgiri
Biosphere Reserve include species of Adenoon, Cal canthus, Biolipids, Frerea,
Jardin, Wagatea, Pekilocerin, etc.
Of the 175 species of orchids found in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, eight are
endemic. These include endemic and endangered species of Vanda, Liparis,
Bulbophile and Trispermous. The Shola montane temperate grasslands of the
reserve are a treasure house of rare plant species.
About 80% of flowering plants reported from Western Ghats occur in Nilgiri
Biosphere Reserve.