Eravikulam National Park is a 97 km national park located in the Idukki and Ernakulam districts of Kerala, India, along the Western Ghats. The park is found between 10º05'N and 10º20'N, and 77º0'E and 77º10'E. It is the first national park in Kerala and was created in 1978. The park is managed by the Kerala Department of Forests and Wildlife's Munnar Wildlife Division, which also oversees nearby protected areas, including Mathikettan Shola National Park, Anamudi Shola National Park, Pambadum Shola National Park, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, and Kurinjimala Sanctuary.

Geography

The main part of the park is a large, rolling hill area that starts at about 2,000 meters above sea level. The land includes high-altitude grasslands mixed with shola forests. Anamudi, the tallest mountain in South India at 2,695 meters, is located inside the park. Many streams that flow all year cross the park. These streams join to create smaller rivers that feed into the Periyar River to the west and the Cauvery River to the east. The National Park is surrounded by thick forests called Pooyamkutty and Idamalayar in the northwest. Lakkom Waterfalls is located in this area.

Fauna

The park is home to 26 species of mammals, including the largest regional population of Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius), a rare highland animal related to sheep and goats, with about 750 individuals. Other mammals found in the area include chital, Nilgiri langur, lion-tailed macaques, gaur, red muntjac, wild boar, and sambar. Golden jackals and dholes are the main dog-like predators, while jungle cats, Indian leopards, and Bengal tigers are the top cat-like predators. Smaller mammals include rodents, mustelids, and viverrids, such as the dusky palm squirrel, Indian crested porcupine, ruddy, brown, grey, and stripe-necked mongooses, Nilgiri marten, and Asian small-clawed otter. Indian elephants visit the park seasonally.

The park has recorded 132 bird species, including those found only in this region, such as the black-and-orange flycatcher, Nilgiri pipit, Nilgiri wood pigeon, Nilgiri blue robin, Nilgiri flycatcher, and Palani laughingthrush.

Endemic butterfly species, mostly found in the shola grassland ecosystem, include the red disk bushbrown and Palani fourring, among 101 total butterfly and moth species in the park. Other highland species include Colias nilagiriensis and the endemic Heteropsis davisoni.

The park is home to 19 species of amphibians.

In 2010, a new frog with bright reddish-orange skin, many glands, and very short legs was discovered in Eravikulam National Park. Scientists believe this species lives only in an area less than 3 kilometers across the peak of Anamudi, making it a priority for conservation. The frog was named Raorchestes resplendens by scientists S.D. Biju of Delhi University and Franky Bossuyt of the Free University of Brussels in Current Science. This frog has many gland-like swellings on its body, including behind the eyes, on the back, near the underside, on the arms and legs, and on the back of its feet. It also has bright red eyes and very short legs.

The genus Raorchestes (bush-frogs) is well represented in the park and surrounding areas, with species such as Beddome's bushfrog (R. bedomii), the Travancore bushfrog (R. travancoricus), green-eyed bushfrog (R. chlorosomma), and the Munnar bushfrog (R. munnarensis).

Flora

The park has three main types of plant communities: grasslands, shrublands, and forests. Above 2000 meters, grasslands are most common, but there are also small areas of forest in hollows and gullies. Deeper valleys have many forests. Shrublands are most common near the bases of cliffs and are also found mixed in rocky areas. The antibacterial plant Eupatorium glandulosum grows here. Since this area is mainly mountain forest, many small mosses and lichens are also present.

History

Before 1971, the area was managed by the Kanan Devan Hills Produce Company as a game preserve. In 1971, the government of Kerala took over control using the Kannan Devan Hill Produce (Resumption of lands) Act, 1971. In 1975, the government created the Eravikulam-Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary to help protect the home of the endangered Nilgiri tahr. The area became a National Park in 1978.

Gallery

• A hiking path located in Eravikulam National Park
• A sight of the Munnar Mountains seen from the highest point of Eravikulam National Park
• Anamudi, which is located to the right within Eravikulam National Park
• Naikolli Mala, a hill near Anamudi within Eravikulam National Park
• A road found in Eravikulam National Park