Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary:
The Tamil Nadu government has declared 80,114.80 hectares of reserve forests in Bargur Hills in Erode district, as the Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.
- This region is part of the corridor that connects the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) to the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Tiger Reserve and the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary and plays a crucial role in maintaining a viable tiger population.
- These forests occupy a prominent position in the Eastern Ghats as they merge with the Western Ghat at the Nilgiris.
- The vast landscape is home to diverse flora and fauna, making it an ideal habitat for various life forms.
- The landscape is interconnected to the Kollegal forests of Karnataka and the Nilgiris, creating one of the most diverse habitats in the region.
- It is one of the tiger corridors identified by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
- The region is also part of the Nilgiris Elephant Reserve and is home to a healthy population of large herbivores including elephants and the Indian Gaur.
- Also, the landscape is the catchment of the Palar River that drains into the Cauvery River and is a crucial water source for agricultural activities.
- It is also of cultural and historical significance to tribal and local communities who depend on these ecosystems for their livelihoods and traditional practices.
