The Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is located at the junction of three states, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka and is a part of the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve.
Many of the species which have been found in the survey are endemic to the Western Ghats. (Photo credit: Unsplash)
New Delhi: Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris District cover an area of 688.69 sq km and is one of the most important tiger reserves in the country. It is located at the junction of three states, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka and is a part of the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve, which became India’s first Biosphere Reserve in 1986. The tiger reserve shares a boundary with Kerala’s Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary on the West, Karnataka’s Bandipur Tiger Reserve on the North, the Nilgiris Division on the South and East and the Gudalur Forest Division on the South West. The name Mudumalai means ‘the ancient hill range’ and the place is indeed as old as the Western Ghats.
Recently, a herpetofauna survey took place in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve. Thanks to the survey, 33 reptiles and 36 amphibians have been recorded for the first time in the region.
The herpetofauna survey at the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
The survey occurred from September 7 to September 9, 2024, and spanned diverse habitats at altitudes ranging from 300 to 2,000 metres above sea level. Many of the species which have been found in the survey are endemic to the Western Ghats. As per the officials, the total number of reptiles within MTR after this survey now stands at 55 species with 39 amphibian species having been identified so far. Among them, the IUCN has classified 16 species as ‘threatened’ and three as ‘near threatened’.
The survey brought to light two critically endangered species of amphibians, the Nyctibatrachus indraneili which is commonly called the Indraneil’s Night Frog and the Micrixalus spelunca which is commonly known as the cave dancing frog. The survey revealed four potential new species: A skink, two geckos, and a frog.
Also, other endangered and endemic frogs, skinks, and snakes were recorded during the survey. Some rare snake species including the striped coral snake, the Nilgiri burrowing snake and king cobra were also recorded. Field Director D. Venkatesh guided the survey and Deputy Director Arun Kumar P led it. The survey shows the first extensive herpetofauna assessment in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.
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