Eravikulam National Park | Day 1 | Part 2 | VJ Explores

Dated- 07/12/2023
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Hey everyone, welcome back to the channel! Today, we're exploring Eravikulam National Park, a beautiful 97 square kilometer park located in Kerala, India. It's nestled in the Western Ghats across the Idukki and Ernakulam districts. Fun fact: this is Kerala's first national park, established back in 1978!
Location and Administration
Eravikulam National Park is managed by the Kerala Department of Forests and Wildlife, specifically the Munnar Wildlife Division. This division also looks after nearby parks and sanctuaries like Mathikettan Shola, Anamudi Shola, Pambadum Shola, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, and Kurinjimala Sanctuary.GeographyThe park features a high rolling hill plateau at about 2,000 meters elevation, with a mix of grasslands and shola forests. It's home to Anamudi, the highest peak in South India, standing tall at 2,695 meters. Numerous streams criss-cross the park, feeding into the Periyar River on the west and the Cauvery River on the east. The park is bordered by dense forests to the northwest, including the Pooyamkutty and Idamalayar forests. Don't miss the stunning Lakkom Waterfalls in the area!
WildlifeEravikulam National Park is a haven for wildlife. It hosts 26 species of mammals, including the largest population of the endangered Nilgiri tahr, a highland animal related to sheep and goats, with about 750 individuals. Other mammals you might spot include chital, Nilgiri langur, lion-tailed macaques, gaur, red muntjac, wild boar, and sambar. Top predators here are golden jackals, dholes, jungle cats, Indian leopards, and Bengal tigers. Smaller mammals include various rodents, mongooses, the Nilgiri marten, and the Asian small-clawed otter. Indian elephants also make seasonal visits.Bird lovers will be thrilled with 132 recorded species, including unique ones like the black-and-orange flycatcher, Nilgiri pipit, Nilgiri wood pigeon, Nilgiri blue robin, Nilgiri flycatcher, and Palani laughingthrush.Butterfly enthusiasts, rejoice! The park boasts 101 species, including endemic ones like the red disk bushbrown and Palani fourring. Other notable species include Colias nilagiriensis and Heteropsis davisoni.Amphibians aren't left out either, with 19 species recorded. In 2010, a new bright-reddish-orange frog, named Raorchestes resplendens, was discovered here. It has unique features like multiple glandular swellings and bright red eyes.FloraThe park's plant life is just as diverse, with grasslands, shrublands, and forests. Above 2000 meters, you'll mostly find grasslands with patches of forest in hollows and gullies. Deeper valleys are heavily forested. Shrublands are common at the cliff bases and rocky areas. The antibacterial Eupatorium glandulosum is found here, along with many mosses and lichens.HistoryBefore becoming a national park, the area was a game preserve managed by the Kanan Devan Hills Produce Company. The Kerala government took control in 1971 and declared it a wildlife sanctuary in 1975 to protect the Nilgiri tahr. In 1978, it was officially designated as a national park.That's it for today's adventure at Eravikulam National Park! If you enjoyed this video, don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit that bell icon for more nature explorations. See you in the next one!
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