Tamil Nadu Declares Agasthyamalai as Fifth Elephant Sanctuary
Recently the Agasthyamalai has.been announced as fifth Elephant.Reserve in Tirunelveli district of
Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu Chief.Minister MK Stalin tweeted,."Elephants play an important role in balancing the forest ecosystem.
Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve
The region is located at the.southernmost tip of the Western.Ghats and extends into Kerala and.Tamil Nadu and covers an area of.3,500 sq km. The Agasthyamalai
Biosphere Reserve is 3,500.36 sq km.in area. The area situated in Kerala.is 1,828 sq km, and the area
situated in Tamil Nadu is 1672.36 sq.km. The biosphere is home to 2,254.species of higher plants and about 400 are endemic to the region.
Agasthyamalai is the 18th.Biosphere Reserve in India and the.9th included in the UNESCO.network. The researchers note that.about 400 red listed plants have
been recorded from Agathiyamalai..About 125 species of orchids and.rare, endemic and threatened.plants have been recorded from.the reserve. There are 669.biosphere reserves in 120 countries.
Tamil Nadu Elephant Population
According to the 2017 census, the.elephant population in Tamil Nadu.is 2,791. Tamil Nadu has a large. population of wild elephants in.particular areas of Annamalai,.Srivilliputtur and Coimbatore. Anamalai Tiger Reserve is home to Kozhikmudhi Elephant Camp.