Mukurthi National Park
| Mukurthi National Park | |
|---|---|
| National Park | |
Nilgiri tahr in Montane grasslands
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 Mukurthi National Park
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| Coordinates: 11°16′N 76°28.5′E / 11.267°N 76.4750°ECoordinates: 11°16′N 76°28.5′E / 11.267°N 76.4750°E | |
| Country |
 India
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| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Nilgiri District |
| Established | 12 December 2001 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 78.46 km2 (30.29 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2,629 m (8,625 ft) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Nearest city | Ootacamund |
| IUCN category | II |
| Keystone species |
Nilgiri tahr the Tamil Nadu state animal |
| Precipitation | 6,330 millimetres (249 in) |
| Avg. summer temperature | 35 °C (95 °F) |
| Avg. winter temperature | 0 °C (32 °F) |
| Website | www |
Mukurthi National Park (MNP) is a 78.46 km2 (30.3 sq mi) protected area located in the western corner of the Nilgiris Plateau west of Ootacamund hill station in the northwest corner of Tamil Nadu state in the Western Ghats mountain range of South India. The park was created to protect its keystone species, the Nilgiri tahr.
The park is characterised by montane grasslands and shrublands interspersed with sholas in a high altitude area of high rainfall, near-freezing temperatures and high winds. It is home to an array of endangered wildlife, including royal Bengal tiger and Asian elephant, but its main mammal attraction is the Nilgiri tahr. The park was previously known as Nilgiri Tahr National Park.
The park is a part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India's first International Biosphere Reserve. As part of the Western Ghats, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1 July 2012.
Native hill tribe communities including the Toda people have harvested firewood from the sholas and grazed their animals including the hill buffalo for centuries. Indiscriminate felling of the sholas started with the establishment of British settlements in Ootacamund, Coonoor and Wellington in the early 19th century. Beginning in 1841 authorities issued contracts to bidders to fell wood from specific sholas in a 'timber conservancy' program. In 1868 James Breeds, Commissioner of the Hills, wrote: "...unless conservancy is taken in hand and organized under some efficient system under the control of an experienced officer, the destruction of the sholas is but a question of time."
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Wikipedia