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SATHYAMANGALAM TIGER RESERVE - Tamil Nadu

Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve is nestled along the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu. It is an integral wildlife corridor between the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It is also regarded as a crucial genetic linkage with four other protected areas - Sigur Plateau, Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park and Mudumalai National Park.

Notifications: Wildlife sanctuary: 2008; Tiger Reserve: 15 th , March 2013

Flora
Thorn forests (foot hills); dry deciduous forests (middle elevation); mixed-deciduous forests (middle elevation); tropical evergreen forests (high altitude hill tops); Semi-evergreen forests (higher elevations). This sanctuary is a rich reserve of sandalwood trees.

Fauna
As per the 2011 tiger survey that was carried out by Tamil Nadu State Forest Department in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund–India, there are around 25 tigers in the Sathyamangalam tiger reserve. It is infact, only wildlife habitat in the country where the tiger and the blackbuck co- exist. Further, according to the 2010 tiger census there are about 12 Bengal Tigers in the region. Other animals found: Gaurs, Blackbuck, Leopards, Slender loris, Indian Elephant, Striped Hyenas, Barking Deer, Sambar Deer, Mugger Crocodiles, Flying Fox, Panther, Hanuman Langur, etc.

Avian Fauna
Bulbuls, The Endangered Gyps, Babblers, Nephron Vulture, White-backed Vulture, Long billed Vulture, King Vulture, Mynahs, etc.

Getting there
The closest airport is at Coimbatore (100 km away). The nearest railhead is at Erode (80 km away). The closest bus terminal is at Sathyamangalam. National Highway NH-209, State Highway 82 and State Highway 15 passes in and around the sanctuary.

Tourist Information
Government cottages at Dhimbham and Government guest house at Hasanur offer quality accommodation to the incoming visitors. Approval of the forest officials are required for any non- conventional route for safari or trekking within the reserve. It may be interesting to note that Sathyamangalam wildlife sanctuary was once an important hideout of Veerapan, notorious bandit, infamous for sandalwood smuggling, poaching, ivory smuggling and many other offenses.

General Information
Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, Talamalai R.F., Tamil Nadu-638461
Area: about 1,411.6 sq km;
Altitude: between 750 and 1,649m
Ideal time to visit: between October and January (subject to change)
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