Eravikulam

The National Park Eravikulam is situated in the mountains in Kerala, South India, where the ranges Anamalai Hills and Cardamom Hills join Palni Hills of Tamil Nadu. It is a 97-km² area of hills and mountains covered by grass and with forested valleys in-between. The highest peak in South India, Anaimudi, (2695 meter) is situated within the park. Outside the park are numbers of tea estates. Nearest populated place is Munnar, 20 km away. The National Park is most famous for the presence of the Nilgiri Thar, Hemitragus hylocrius, a wild relative to the goat. We were not fortunate to se any Thars during our visit in 1987. We were however told, that a large herd passed the day before.

The Nilgiri Thar is a goat measuring about 100 cm at the shoulder. Maximum weights about 100 kg. Normally it occurs in groups of maybe half a dozen animals, but sometimes they merge to large herds. The specimens graze in mornings and evenings, and rest in the day. They are shy animals, watchful, and good climbers. It is distributed in the Western Ghats from the Nilgiris and southwards with a total population of only 1000-2000 individuals of which about 500-800 stay in the Eravikulam area. Its status is "Vulnerable".

Here is a link to data about Eravikulam and
her is a link to data about the Nilgiri Thar.
Here is a link to S*Poo Nai's Eravikulam.

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© 2000 Erik Åhlander & Suzanne Wejland.

Updated May 23, 2001

Text and design: Suzanne Wejland (suzanne.wejland@telia.com) and Erik Åhlander (erik.ahlander@nrm.se)