Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary

Coordinates: 9°19′22″N 78°29′12″E / 9.32278°N 78.48667°E / 9.32278; 78.48667Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary locally known as "Chitrangudi Kanmoli" is a .4763 km² (0.1839 sq mi) Protected area declared in 1989 and a part of Chitrangudi village, Mudukulathur Taluk, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu, India. It is adjacent to Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary. It is notable as a nesting site for several migratory heron species that roost in the prominent growth of Babul trees there. International name: Chitragudi and Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary, IBA Code: IN261, Criteria: A1, A4i.^[1]

Geography

The sanctuary area is within the 15 m (49 ft) high embankments of the community irrigation tank. The total length of the embankment is 4.010 km (2.492 mi). The crescent-shaped Kanmoi starts at a northern point where an aqueduct from the Gundar river flows into the Kanmoi. There are five sluices that drain water to the agricultural lands. The wetland is irregular in depth and retains water for 3 to 5 months if rain is normal. Excess flood water is let out towards Chitrangudi village through a sluice gate about .5 km (0.31 mi) from the inlet aqueduct.

Flora

The sanctuary vegetation is mostly tropical dry deciduous forest. It is dominated by babul (thorn mimosa) along with Prosopis juliflora and the grasses Bermuda grass and Dichanthium foveolatum (Eremopogon foveolatus). A babul plantation was planted in 1979 by Farm Forestry Division. The invasive Prosopis is slowly encroaching on much of the sanctuary area, retarding growth of babuls. The irrigation tank bund and the area outside the tank have tamarind trees, fig trees, neem trees, portia trees, silk trees (Albizzia amara), drumstick trees (murungai Tamil: முருங்கை), and palmyra palms. The medicinal plants Ocimum sanctum and Gloriosa superba also grow in the area.

Fauna

Near threatened spot-billed pelican

The breeding population of migratory waterbirds arrive here between October and February and include: spot-billed pelican, Asian openbill stork, grey heron, purple heron, pond heron, little egret and great egret.

Visitor Information

The sanctuary is open year round and can be reached by road from Mudukulathur 4 km and Sayalgudi 12 km, Ramanathapuram 45 km and Madurai 120 km. The nearest railway station is Paramakudi and the nearest airport is Madurai.

Accommodation is available at PWD Rest House at Mudukulathur 10 kilometers (6.2 mi), the Forest Rest House at Sayalgudi and at Paramakudi.

Contact: Wildlife Warden, Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, Mandapam, Ramanathapuram Dt., Tamil Nadu. Phone:04567-230079.^[2]

Notes

↑ BirdLife International Chitragudi and Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary
↑ Tamil Nadu Forest Dept. Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary, retrieved 2008-9-27 and Mr.V.Ganesan secretary of PACB bank in Chitrangudi from Enathi village.

Protected areas of Tamil Nadu

Biosphere reserves	Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

National parks	Grass Hills National Park Guindy National Park Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park Karian Shola National Park Mudumalai National Park Mukurthi National Park Palani Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park

Wildlife sanctuaries	Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary Vallanadu Wildlife Sanctuary

Bird sanctuaries	Chitrangudi Kanjirankulam Karaivetti Karikili Koothankulam Melaselvanur - Kilaselvanur Pulicat Lake Udayamarthandapuram Vaduvur Vedanthangal Vellode Vettangudi

Tiger reserves	Anaimalai Tiger Reserve Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve

Conservation reserves	Tiruvidaimarudur Conservation Reserve

Protected areas of India

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