I am Velan, an Indian elephant (also known as Asian elephant).

I am an old tusker [male elephant]. I have lived long and have seen
many events and changes. Now I am very old and I live in the Mudumalai
Sanctuary.
What is a sanctuary?
A Sanctuary is a protected area where the birds and
animals live in their natural habitats.
Listen to my story ..

I was born in the Nilgiri Hills. The

forests in the Nilgiris are thick and have a
variety of trees. The river Moyar flows
through this region. This river remains as a
border between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu .
We live in groups called herd. Like any other
group ours also had a tusker as a leader.

We were also a close knit group like others. In a herd the young
ones are looked after very carefully. I still remember the way I rolled in
the mud and played in the water enjoying life with the others.

I loved eating the tender bamboo shoots and the wild sugarcane
that grew in the forest. I cherish those days; they will remain ever green in
my memory!
They shifted me to
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the Mudumalai sanctuary

as I have become old. I live
safely now. If you come
here you can see me.
What beautiful days they were!!!
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 I must tell you about my life in Mudumalai. Look at this man.
He is Palanisami. His family has lived in the forest for years.
He works as a forest ranger. His duty is to look after the
forests. His job is to make sure that there are no forest fires,
to see how many animals are there and to bring sick animals
to the animal hospital. He informs the department if he sees
people hunting animals. He takes tourists on trips to certain
areas where they can see the wildlife and birds.
He also makes sure that tourists do not throw plastics
and garbage in the protected area. He also takes care of me
and the others like me. He has taken a special training to work
in the forests. He knows a lot about the sanctuaries and
national parks in India. He talks about them enthusiastically
and interestingly. Just listen to him.

Hello! My name is Palanisami. Velan has already told you about

me. I just want to add one more thing about myself. Right from my
childhood I always wanted to be a part of this forest and I enjoy being here.
I have worked in a few other Sanctuaries and National Parks. But out of
interest I gather information about the others. I am very happy to share
them with you.
1.MUDUMALAI SANCTUARY AND NATIONAL PARK
'Mudumalai' means 'ancient hill-range. ' It was made a sanctuary as
early as 1940. The bird life here is beautiful. It is also one of the Tiger
Reserves. The road connecting Mysore and Ooty passes through this
santctuatry. Some times, the speeding vehicles run over the crossing
animals, particularly at nights.
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The tourists who travel in the

vehicles throw plastic bottles and
bags. This affects the animals.

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 2. INDIRA GANDHI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY -
NATIONAL PARK
It is in the Anamalai Hills. The hills are high and the
endemic forest is the Shola, with bamboo too!
Look at the animals.
Which is your favourite one?
___________________________

There are many species like

TIGER

ELEPHANTS GAUR SAMBAR DEER LEOPARD

JACKAL FLYING SQUIRREL PALM CIVET

Bird species like
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BARBETS BABBLERS DRONGOS PEAFOWL

can also be sighted.
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 3.POINT CALIMERE [KODIKKARAI] SANCTUARY
This is a coastal sanctuary. It has sandy coasts and backwaters. Apart
from animals this sanctuary is also famous for the sea turtle Olive Ridley
which lays its eggs on the shore here.

OLIVE RIDLEY OLIVE RIDLEY EGGS STAR TURTLE

During winter, thousands of migratory birds visit the sanctuary. Do you
know what migration is? When the climate gets very cold or hot, birds go to
a place that is suitable to them. Sometimes they travel thousands of
kilometers for this.

PLOVERS WADERS TERN

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GULLS DUCKS
These birds spend the winter in warm places . Thousands of greater
flamingo also flock here. The migratory birds are best seen between
November and March. Why do these birds migrate? Think __________
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 4. SRIVILLIPUTHUR GRIZZLED SQUIRREL
WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
This Sanctuary spreads over an area of 480 sq.km. It
was opened in 1989 to protect the grizzled squirrel. The
endangered grizzled squirrel is the key species. This squirrel
is larger than the three-striped palm squirrel and it is
brownish grey in colour. Its under portion is dirty white and its
tail has white bands. This squirrel lives in tamarind, vagai,
naval, neer maruthu and neem trees.
5.GULF OF MANNAR MARINE NATIONAL PARK
Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park is part of the
10,500 sq.km. of Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve.
It is situated on the south-east coast of
India. It is known for its rich marine life.
Marine elements like algae types, sea
grasses, coral reefs, salt marshes and mangroves
combined with mudflats and estuaries, allow 3,600 kinds
of plants and animals to exist.
6. GUINDY NATIONAL PARK
The Guindy National Park is the eighth smallest
national park in India and it is in the heart of Chennai.It
was the hunting place of Gilbert Rodericks for the
British. The Tamilnadu Forest Department tookover
the park in the year 1958. The park has more than 350
types of plants.
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Have you ever been to Guindy National Park?___________________

Name the animals and birds you saw there.

__________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

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 We can see varieties of animals like Deer, Mongoose, Fox etc...

More than 100 varities of birds are found here.

About 350 species of plants are found here.

The Snake park is its special attraction.
7. KOONTHANKULAM SANCTUARY
Koonthankulam is a village 38 kms away from
Tirunelveli town. People of this village have always
been the protectors of birds that visit the village and the
nearby ponds and lakes. They do not burst crackers
during Deepavali. For they fear that it may disturb the
birds there. Even when the chicks fall off the nests by
accident, the villagers take care of them.
5 DECLARED NATIONAL PARKS IN TAMIL NADU .
1.Indira Gandhi National Park [1989]
2.Mudumalai National Park. [1990]
3. Mukurthi National Park.[1982]
4.Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park [1980]
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5.Guindy National Park. [1976]

There are 7 wildlife sanctuaries and 13 bird sanctuaries. I will give you
the list; you can go through them leisurely. I am sure you enjoyed
listening to me as much as I enjoyed talking to you.Here is the list for you.

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 7 WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES IN TAMILNADU
1. Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary, a Giant Squirrel Sanctuary
near Srivilliputhur is in Virudhunagar district.
2. Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary is near Indira Gandhi National
Park in Coimbatore District.
3. Kalakkad Wildlife Sanctuary in Tirunelveli District is part of the
Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve .
4. Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary is a tiger habitat in Kanyakumari
district.
5. Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Nilgiris district is close to
Mudumalai National Park.
6. Sathyamangalam Sanctuary in Erode District, was made a
sanctuary in 2008.
7. Vallanadu Wildlife Sanctuary, a Black Buck Antelope
sanctuary is in Thoothukudi District.
13 BIRD SANCTUARIES IN TAMILNADU
1. Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary - Ramnadapuram District
2. Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary - Ramnadapuram District
3. Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary - Perambalur District
4. Karikili Bird Sanctuary - Kancheepuram District
5. Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary - Tirunelveli District
6. Melselvanur-Keelselvanur
Bird Sanctuary - Ramnadapuram District
7. Point Kalimar Bird Sanctuary - Tanjore District
8. Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary - Thiruvallur District
9. Udhayamarthandapuram
Bird Sanctuary - Thiruvarur District.
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10.Vaduvoor Bird Sanctuary - Nagapattinam District

11.Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary - Kancheepuram District
12.Vellode Bird Sanctuary - Erode District.
13.Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary - Sivagangai District

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 Apart from these 13 birds sanctuaries we have Veralimalai Peacock
Sanctuary-Pudukottai district. Kallaperambalur lake located in Tanjore
district has been recently announced as a bird sanctuary by the forest
department.
With the help of Tamilnadu political map do this activity.

Draw , , in the districts where we find birds sanctuaries .

Draw , , in the districts where we find wild life sanctuaries.

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 EXERCISE
I. FILL IN THE BLANKS

1.The sanctuary that protects the shola forest is _____________.

2.The sanctuary that protects the turtles is _____________________.
3.The sanctuaries where people protect birds are________________ &
_______________.
4.The sanctuary that protects a variety of squirrels is ______________.
5.The sanctuary that is in a city is _____________________________.
6.The sanctuary that protects marine life is _____________________.
7.The sanctuary where many migratory birds come is _____________.

II. COLLECT FEATHERS OF DIFFERENT BIRDS AND DECORATE

THE PEACOCK BY PASTING THE FEATHERS.
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