Context
- Recently, landslides have been reported at the Nayamakkad tea estate at Pettimudy which is located about 30 km from Munnar, adjacent to the Eravikulam National Park (ENP), Kerala.
Back to Basics
Eravikulam National Park:
- It is located in the Kannan Devan Hills of the Southern Western Ghats in the Idukki District, Kerala State.
- It was declared as Eravikulam-Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary in 1975 and in 1978 it was given the status of a National Park.
- In the local language, Eravikulam means streams and pools.
- Anamudi (2695 m) the highest peak in peninsular India is situated in Eravikulam National Park.
Flora:
- Three major types of plant communities found in the park are Grasslands, Shrub Land and Shola Forests.
- Neelakurunji Plant: It is endemic to the Western Ghats, blooms once every 12 years is found in this national park.
Rivers:
- The catchment area of three important rivers, Periyar, Chalakudy, and Pambar is located in this area.
- The Muthuvans are the indigenous people, who have traditionally been associated with the management of the park.
Fauna:
- It also is home to and the sanctuary of the Nilgiri tahr, an endangered goat species.
- Nilgiri Marten, Ruddy Mongoose, Small Clawed Otter, Dusky Striped Squirrel, etc. also found here.
Source: The Hindu