Pampadum Shola National Park:
The Pampadum Shola National Park which was once dominated by invasive Australian wattles is undergoing a remarkable transformation and its grasslands are being restored, reviving streams and native species.
- It is located in the eastern part of Southern Western Ghats of
- It is the smallest national park of Kerala and shares a border with Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu.
- It was declared a national park in 2004.
- It is the southernmost shola–grassland mosaic in the Western Ghats, one of the world’s oldest mountain systems predating the Himalayas.
- It is a part of Palani hills stretched up to Vandaravu peak.
- It connects the Eravikulam National Park and the Palani Hills, providing a free range for many animals.
- Pampadum Shola Forests receive heavy rain in the North-East monsoon.
- The terrain is undulating with hillocks of varying heights. The altitudes range between 1600-2400 m.
- The park’s unique shola forests are a mix of grasslands and patches of tropical montane forests. The park is rich in medicinal plants, orchids, ferns, and other native species.
- Fauna:Nilgiri marten, Kerala laughing thrush, black-and-orange flycatcher etc.
