Mudumalai

Mudumalai National Park Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
National Park
Entrance to Mudumalai tiger reserve
Mudumalai National Park Location in Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates: 11°35′N 76°33′E / 11.583°N 76.550°E / 11.583; 76.550Coordinates: 11°35′N 76°33′E / 11.583°N 76.550°E / 11.583; 76.550
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Nilgiri
Established	1940
Area
• Total	321 km2 (124 sq mi)
Elevation	1,266 m (4,154 ft)
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Nearest city	Gudalur 7 km (4.3 mi)
IUCN category	II
Distance from Gudalur	7 kilometres (4.3 mi) SE
Distance from Mysore	90 kilometres (56 mi) NE
Distance from Coimbatore	160 kilometres (99 mi) SE
Core of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve	Visitors Centre at Theppakadu
Governing body	Tamil Nadu Forest Dept
Climate	Aw (Köppen)
Precipitation	2,000 millimetres (79 in)
Avg. summer temperature	33 °C (91 °F)
Avg. winter temperature	14 °C (57 °F)
Website	www.forests.tn.nic.in

The Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary also a declared tiger reserve, lies on the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills (Blue Mountains), in Nilgiri District, about 150 kilometres (93 mi) north-west of Coimbatore city in Tamil Nadu. It shares its boundaries with the states of Karnataka and Kerala. The sanctuary is divided into five ranges – Masinagudi, Thepakadu, Mudumalai, Kargudi and Nellakota.

The protected area is home to several endangered and vulnerable species including Indian elephant, Bengal tiger, gaur and Indian leopard. There are at least 266 species of birds in the sanctuary, including critically endangered Indian white-rumped vulture and long-billed vulture.

The Western Ghats Nilgiri Sub-Cluster of 6,000 square kilometres (2,300 sq mi), including all of Mudumalai National Park, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.

There are 48 tigers in the Nilgiri Reserve across which tigers are free to roam.

In April 2007, the Tamil Nadu state government declared Mudumalai to be a tiger reserve, under section 38V of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, in an effort to conserve the country's dwindling tiger populations. Subsequently, about 350 families living in the core area were evicted from the park and given INR 10 Lacs compensation. Those in the 5 km buffer area around the park fear they, too, will be evicted; nobody will be dislodged from the buffer zone. In fact, some people in this zone will become trackers and guides to enhance their income through eco-tourism.