Indira Gandhi
Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park : Spread
over 9.58 Sq.kms., this sanctuary can be reached
through Topslip in Anamalai Hills on the Western
Ghats. An
Ecological Paradise, this sanctuary encompasses a
National Park with an Orea of 108 Sq.km. Abutting
Kerala on the West, this hill forest boasts of
thick growth of trees, folds of terrains with
evergreen sholas. About 800 species of South
Indian flora are distributed here.
Some of the many rare and endangered species of
flora are:1. Combretum Ovalifolium, 2. Dispyros
nilagrica, 3. Gymnopteris Contaimirans (Fern), 4.
Habebarai reriflora (Orchid), 5. Polypodum
pleroupus, 6. Alsophila sp, 7. Bulbophyllum sp.,
8. Lasianthus uenuloses, 9. Angiopterris Erectra,
10. Gnetum Ula, 11. Impaliens Elegans, 12.
Lycopodium cernum, 13. Ranunculus reniformis and
Osmunda Regulis.
This sanctuary nurtures Arboreal animals like lion
tailed macaque, bonnet macaque, Common Langur,
Nilgiris Langur, Malabar Giant squirrel and
Grizzled giant Squirrel. The ground animals listed
are: Tiger, Panther, Elephant, Gaur, Pangolin,
Sambar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer,
Wild Boar, Dhole, Sloth Bear, Porcupine, Nilgiris
Tahr, Civet Cat and Toddy Cat. The Avifauna
includes Racket Tailed Drongo, Black Headed
Oriole, Paradise Flycatcher, Whistling Thrust,
Emerald Dove, Green Pigeon, Tickell's Flower
Pecker, Rufus Wood Pecker, Rose Ringed Parakeet,
Black Eagle, Great Indian Malabar pied Horn Bill,
Fiary Blue Bird and green Billed Malkhoha etc.