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> Mudumalai |
Mudumalai |
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Contacts |
Official Wildlife Warden,
Mudumalai Sanctuary,
Coonoor Road,
Udhagamandalam,
Tamil Nadu.
Tel: 0423-44098
Field Research Station,
Indian Institute of Science,
Masinagudi,
Nilgiri-643 223.
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Insider Tips |
• You can combine a visit to Mudumalai
with trips to neighbouring Bandipur and Nagarahole.
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Regard the tusker with respect and not fear. And remember that
you are a guest in its home. Behave like one. Do not litter
or disturb the peace.
• Special clothing would not
be necessary but you could carry some light woollens along in
winter.
• Enquiries regarding accommodation and bookings
can be made at the Wildlife Warden's office in Ooty.
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History / Geography |
| The forests in the Mudumalai area were once in
the care of the Trimalapad religious sect of the Nilambar temple
who leased them to merchants who wanted the forests' rich timber.
In 1862, a 99-year lease was awarded to the then existing government
that governed the area where present-day Tamil Nadu stands,
at a yearly charge of Rs 3,500. Mudumalai was conceded to the
government on sole ownership basis in 1914. In 1927, it became
a reserve forest. A 23 sq km patch was recognised as a wildlife
sanctuary in 1940. During World War II, the interiors of the
forest were used as a camp to train soldiers to be sent to Burma.
It was as late as 1977 that an area of 321 sq km including Mudumalai
and some parts of the Sigur hills fell within the purview of
the sanctuary.
The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve encompasses Bandipur and Wynad
in the bordering states, besides the Mudumalai sanctuary.
Mudumalai became a region of conflict with each of the three
states - Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu - claiming the area
within their respective geographical boundaries.
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Conservation Notes |
| Tourists and vehicles on the Mysore-Ooty highway
that runs along the Moyar, disturb the animals in the region
that depend on water from the river. Several elephants have
died from collisions with speeding vehicles. Human settlements
at Masinagudi, Moyar, Anaikatti, Singara and Bokkapuram have
resulted in fire hazards and problems associated with cattle
grazing. Sandalwood smugglers also use fires to frighten away
elephants and locals collecting forest produce set fires to
create clearings as they provide greater visibility Rayon mills
exploit bamboo thickets within the sanctuary as raw material.
Teak and eucalyptus plantations, beeswax, honey, tamarind and
soapnut collections draw humans into the forest. Agriculture,
coffee estates and picnicking tourists disturb the forest equilibrium.
Fields and construction are often insensitively placed in
the path of the elephant's migratory route. A seven kilometre
stretch that connects Masinagudi and Singara is privately
owned. Steps must be taken to salvage this important land.
Fences result in artificial isolation of the species and have
a negative impact on bio-diversity Illegal poaching of tuskers
is a continual problem.
The PUSHEP -- Pykara Ultimate Stage Hydroelectric Power Project
envisions an underground powerhouse that would provide huge
volumes of water through a seven kilometre long underground
tunnel to the Makarandi reservoir resulting in a net production
of 0.7 MW power. Blasting, mining and excavation of debris
will destroy the landscape, not to mention the scores of labourers
who will descend upon the area.
Forest authorities continue to allow commercial film crews
into the sanctuary. Their bulky equipment, noisy vehicles,
plastic bags, film cartons and tetrapacks pollute the environment
and sometimes cause intestinal blockage of the unfortunate
elephants and deer who unwittingly consume the refuse.
The natural boundaries that exist around Mudumalai should
be treated as a buffer zone and protected.
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Suggested Reading |
• Sanctuary Asia Vol XIII No 3,1993. Mudumalai
by K Surendra Varma.
• Sanctuary Asia Vol X No 5,
Sept/Oct1990. Saving a Legend by Ajay A Desai.
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Elephant Days & Nights. 10 years with the Indian Elephant
by Raman Sukumar
• Oxford University Press, 1994.
• A week with Elephants. Proceedings of the International
Seminar on Asian
• Elephants edited by JC Daniel
& Hemant Datye. Bombay Natural History Society and Oxford
University Press, 1995.
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