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Site description (2004 baseline):

Mukurthi National Park lies at the southwestern end of the Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu. It encompasses an area of 7,846 ha. This IBA was declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1980, and later a National Park in 1990, mainly for the protection of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr Hemitragus hylocrius. Mukurthi is perhaps the only area of the Nilgiris that has not been badly affected by conversion to exotic monoculture plantations. It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which was the first to be declared among the 18 biosphere reserves present in India. Today it forms a key area for the conservation of grassland habitat in the Nilgiris Hills. The terrain is generally undulating, mostly grassland, and has patches of Montane Evergreen Forest (shola), confined to the folds and depressions of the Western Ghats. There are several streams, many of which drain in to the Bhavani River. There are numerous peaks inside the National Park, the highest being Kolaribetta (2,630m), together with Mukurthi Peak (2,556m) and Nilgiri Peak (2,477m. Toward the southwest of Mukurthi lies the famous Silent Valley, and to its west the land falls steeply to nearly 2,000 m to the Amarabalam Forests. Unlike the rest of the Nilgiris district, the area under monoculture plantations in Mukurthi is comparatively less, and comprises mainly of Acacia mearnsii, Eucalyptus globulus and Pinus patula. The vegetation of this site can be classified into three major types, namely Southern Montane Wet Temperate Forest (shola) as classified by Champion and Seth (1968), Grassland and Plantation. Pristine patches of shola can be seen all throughout Mukurthi National Park, generally at the heads of streams in the folds of converging slopes. These forests support an amazing variety of flora and fauna. This IBA site is among the richest regions of plant biodiversity, with many endemic orchids and other plant groups. Grasslands in Mukurthi are common and form a mosaic with shola. They are a mixture of Chrysopogon, Ischaemum, Dicanthium, Andropogon, Eragrostis and Panicum species. The ecological status of these grasslands has been a subject of debate.

AVIFAUNA: Mukurthi is an important area for the conservation of regional biodiversity of this region, including many avian species of special conservation interest notably the Endangered Nilgiri Laughingthrush Garrulax cachinnans. It also supports many Vulnerable and Restricted Range species. Around 120 bird species have been recorded from Mukurthi National Park and adjoining forests (Zarri et al. 2002). Of these, the Nilgiri Laughingthrush, Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon Columba elphinstonii and White-bellied Shortwing Brachypteryx major are globally threatened. The grasslands in Mukurthi are vital for the conservation of restricted range species such as the Nilgiri Pipit Anthus nilghiriensis and wintering raptors such as Oriental Honey- Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus, White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa, Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus, Common Buzzard Buteo buteo, Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela and Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus. Mukurthi NP lies in the Western Ghats Endemic Bird Area (EBA), where Stattersfield et al. (1998) have listed 16 restricted range species. Seven of them are found in this IBA. All the five restricted range species associated with Wet Temperate sholas and Subtropical Broadleaf Hill Forest (Stattersfield et al. 1998) are found, which proves that some shola habitat is still intact despite earlier plantation of exotic species. This IBA is located in Biome-10 (Indian Peninsula Tropical Moist Forests: BirdLife International, undated). Fifteen species represent this biome. Only three species, White-cheeked Barbet Pomatorhinus horsfieldii, Indian Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus horsfieldii and Malabar Whistling-Thrush Myiophonus horsfieldii have been located from this site. The Indian Scimitar Babbler is much widely distributed so it may not be the best example of this biome. The forests and grasslands of Mukurthi are important wintering areas for many birds that are listed in other biomes such as Tickell’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus affinis, Large-billed Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus magnirostris, Brown-breasted Flycatcher Muscicapa muttui, Blue-headed Rock-Thrush Monticola cinclorhynchus and Indian Blue Robin Luscinia brunnea. Interestingly, six species listed in Biome-11 (Indo-Malayan Tropical Dry Zone) by BirdLife International (undated) have been found here. All the six are common and widely distributed and thus of not much conservation concern. This excellent National Park fits three IBA criteria: A1-it has the globally threatened and highly endemic Nilgiri Laughingthrush; A2- it has seven restricted range species and falls in the Western Ghats (Endemic Bird Area 123); and, A3 – it has biome-restricted species.

OTHER KEY FAUNA: Beside birds, the grassland habitat in this IBA is home to a wide variety of orchids, balsam and other associated herbs. Also reported are endangered and endemic species of tree frogs, pit vipers and mammals such as the Nilgiri Marten Martes gwatkinsi.

The flagship mammal species of this Park is the Nilgiri Tahr that once inhabited the slopes and cliffs in huge herds. Today, this species is rarely seen, except for one or two herds in the Western Catchment Area.

Other fauna of the site include Nilgiri Langur Trachypithecus johni, often seen in large troops or heard hooting. Sightings of Tiger Panthera tigris and Leopard P. pardus are frequent. These large predators have adapted very well to hunting across vast stretches of grassy hills. Packs of Wild Dog Cuon alpinus, sometimes up to 25, are commonly seen. Sighting of Nilgiri Marten Martes gwatkinsi is rare, perhaps because of its elusive nature. Sambar Cervus unicolor and Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak are quite common, and form the main prey for large cats. The Asian Elephant Elephas maximus can be seen crossing the Park in small herds during the monsoon on their annual migration to the northern plains.

A host of smaller mammals including Jungle Cat Felis chaus, Small Indian Civet Viverricula indica, Brown Palm Civet Paradoxurus jerdoni, Stripe-necked Mongoose Herpestes vitticollis, Common Mongoose Herpestes edwardsi, Golden Jackal Canis aureus, and Indian Wild Boar Sus scrofa are reported (Zarri et al. 2002).

MAIN THREATS: Burning of Grassland; Grassland invasion by Cytisus scoparius and Ulex europia; Construction of dykes, dams and barrages.

Mukurthi has undergone relatively few habitat changes, but there has been some replacement of forests and grasslands by monoculture plantations and agriculture. Developmental processes, such as construction of dams, reservoirs and tunnels under a major hydroelectric project, have however affected the ecology of this IBA severely in the past. Mukurthi National Park is free from anthropogenic pressure as experienced in other sites. However, in view of its growing popularity as a prominent tourist destination, unregulated tourism is likely to become a threat to the conservation of this wilderness area. The spread of the alien invasive shrub, Scotch Broom Cytisus scoparius, has emerged as a major problem for the grassland of Mukurthi NP and surrounding areas. The shrub has invaded the grassland rapidly, and wherever established it has completely wiped out the indigenous grasses. This in turn affects the associated flora and fauna specific to these grasslands, such as the Nilgiri Pipit and other ground-dwelling birds. The patches of wattle plantation are a problem for the site, owing to their natural capacity for regeneration through seeding. Intentional burning of the grassland during the peak dry season by people on the Kerala side of the Park has emerged as a serious threat to the grassland dwelling species. The grasslands are burnt to lure Sambar for illegal hunting on the Park’s southern and southwestern borders. Between January and June 2003, there were five major fires to the south of Bangitabal Valley, which affected 25-35% of the grassland in the Park. The first three major fires in Nadukani and nearby grasslands coincided with the breeding season of the Nilgiri Pipit. Besides the direct impacts of grassland burning on birds, the opening created by fire provides suitable sites for the germination of Scotch Broom, which is a potential ecological disaster for this IBA.

Key contributors: Ashfaq Ahmed Zarri and Asad R. Rahmani.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mukurthi National Park (Nilgiris) (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mukurthi-national-park-(nilgiris)-iba-india on 22/11/2024.