Tamil Nadu eco parks serve to protect and conserve the natural resources of the state. Tamil Nadu is a home to a large variety of Indian wildlife and hence, a number of eco parks have been established in the state. Tamil Nadu eco parks are located in the major places of the state and they are quite famous for their extraordinary scenic beauty. Most of the eco parks in Tamil Nadu are preserving all the aspects of Indian wildlife like plants, mammals, reptiles and birds. However, there are a few eco parks that concentrate mainly on preserving certain species like tigers, birds, etc. Some of the Tamil Nadu eco parks are described below.
Adyar Eco Park
Adyar Eco Park, also known as Tholkappia Poonga is situated in Adyar estuary. It was established by the Government of Tamil Nadu. This eco park was set up with the aim of restoring freshwater ecosystem. Tropical dense evergreen forest spans the park. The park also comprises of a vast variety of shrubs, trees, epiphytes, lianas, tuberous and herbs. Common fauna of this park are Indian flying fox, Indian painted frog, soft shelled turtle, spotted snakehead and many more. Several endangered species are also found in Adyar Eco Park. Some of the birds which can be witnessed in the park are cinnamon bittern, yellow wagtails, pied kingfisher, black-winged stilt, blue rock pigeons and water paddy birds.
Courtallam Eco Park
Courtallam Eco Park is located in Courtallam in Tamil Nadu. It is the biggest eco park of Tamil Nadu. Situated amidst the picturesque natural beauty, the major attractions of the park are a butterfly garden, a fern garden, a sunken garden, a rock garden, a bamboo avenue, an adventure-play area, a play area for children, an eco pond, murals, royal drive and stream walk. Apart from attracting a plethora of tourists, the park also serves as an educational centre for students.
Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary
Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the north-western side of the Nilgiri Hills in Nilgiri district. It is a significant eco park of the state and has been declared as a Tiger Reserve. Mixed vegetation is prevalent in the park region. A variety of reptiles, mammals, birds, etc are the inhabitants of this eco park. Several endangered species are also sheltered in the park.
Flora of Tamil Nadu Eco Parks
Tamil Nadu eco parks are quite rich in natural vegetation. It comprises of more than 3,000 plant species. A majority of plant species are found in the deciduous forests of the Western Ghats. Floral species of Tamil Nadu eco parks that have both medicinal and commercial values include the cinchona, palmyra, rubber, sandalwood, etc. The flower species of Kurinji of Kodaikanal is one of the most noteworthy flowers in Tamil Nadu eco parks. This flower blooms once in every 12 years.
Fauna of Tamil Nadu Eco Parks
Tamil Nadu eco parks are homes to a variety of mammals including the endangered, critically endangered, threatened and endemic species. Some of the most important mammal species found in these eco parks includes the arboreal animals like lion tailed macaque, bonnet macaque, common languor, nilgiri langur, Malabar giant squirrels and grizzled giant squirrel. The important ground animals of the parks include the tiger, panther, elephant, gaur, pangolin, sambhar, spotted deer, barking deer, mouse deer, wild boar, dhole, sloth bear, porcupine, nilgiri tahr, civet cat, taddy cat, etc. Tamil Nadu eco parks provide habitat to a large number of reptile species like turtle, crocodiles, tortoises and snakes.
Avifauna of Tamil Nadu Eco Parks
Birds in Tamil Nadu eco parks include several endangered, critically endangered, threatened and endemic species. Most of the bird species are being preserved and nurtured in the bird sanctuaries of Tamil Nadu. Some of the most important and notable bird species found in the Tamil Nadu eco parks include the racket tailed drongo, black headed oriole, paradise fly-catcher, whistling thrush, emerald dove, green pigeon, tickell`s flowerpecker, rufus woodpeckers, rose ringed parakeet, black eagle, great Indian bustard, Malabar pied hornbill, fiery blue bird and green billed malkhoha.
Tourism in Tamil Nadu Eco Parks
Tamil Nadu eco parks are playing an important role in the tourism sector of the state. The eco parks are counted among the most popular tourist destinations in the state and they attract a large number of tourists from all over the world, every year. Most of the tourists are nature lovers and they mainly visit these eco parks to enjoy the extraordinary beauty of nature in Tamil Nadu.