Tirupur: Now the adventure loving folks of the South- Western Districts in Tamil Nadu will have one more reason to be happy, as the Tirupur Forest Division has opened up a new Eco Tourism site at Chinnar in Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) along the Tamil Nadu - Kerala border here.
Tirupur: Now the adventure loving folks of the South- Western Districts in Tamil Nadu will have one more reason to be happy, as the Tirupur Forest Division has opened up a new Eco Tourism site at Chinnar in Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) along the Tamil Nadu - Kerala border here.
The facility was inaugurated recently in the presence of District Forest Officer of Tirupur Division Dr.P.K. Dileep, Assistant Conservator Forests Murugesan, Range Officer of Amaravathi, Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF-India) personnel and tribal heads of Thalinji and Kodanthur hamlets.
The livelihood initiative is supported by WWF and is located on the Udumalpet to Munnar highway which passes through ATR. The programme is organised by Tiruppur forest division of Thalinji Eco Development Committee (EDC), involving Muthuvans and Pulayars, the two main communities living in the area.
Talking about the initiative, an organiser said that the main purpose of the programme is to educate the tourists, conserve the flora and fauna and also provide sustainable livelihood for the people who are dependent on the forest.
"Notably, the local tribesmen have been appointed as trekking guides. They were also given proper orientations and training programmes by wildlife experts", he added.
Following the model of the eco tourism activity done at Karamadai Range in Coimbatore, the package includes a nature trail of 5 kms along the riverine forest, bird watching, butterfly watching, coracle ride and refreshments.
The area located along the Chinnar River that runs through ATR in Tamil Nadu and Eravikulam National Park in Kerala, is a riverine ecosystem rich in biodiversity. It is the one of the few places that hosts the giant squirrel ecosystem, a mammal endemic of the western ghats. The area also hosts majority of the 250 bird species and 315 species of butterflies found in Western Ghats, along with notable larger mammals like Asian elephant, leopards, Gaur and deers.
Organisers claimed that the sanctuary also holds considerable cultural and archaeological significance as ancient dolmens or burial chambers that date back to the Megalithic (100 BC to AD 200) are found here.
A website and resource centre was also inaugurated for optimal functioning of the nature trail.
“Chinnar Nature Trail is a combination of ecotourism and nature camp center for school children to learn about forest and wildlife,” said an official.
Bookings for the above programmes began on Friday, November 29. Reservations can be done through www.chinnarnaturetrail.com.
For queries, contact the Range Office at 04252 – 232523.
The facility was inaugurated recently in the presence of District Forest Officer of Tirupur Division Dr.P.K. Dileep, Assistant Conservator Forests Murugesan, Range Officer of Amaravathi, Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF-India) personnel and tribal heads of Thalinji and Kodanthur hamlets.
The livelihood initiative is supported by WWF and is located on the Udumalpet to Munnar highway which passes through ATR. The programme is organised by Tiruppur forest division of Thalinji Eco Development Committee (EDC), involving Muthuvans and Pulayars, the two main communities living in the area.
Talking about the initiative, an organiser said that the main purpose of the programme is to educate the tourists, conserve the flora and fauna and also provide sustainable livelihood for the people who are dependent on the forest.
"Notably, the local tribesmen have been appointed as trekking guides. They were also given proper orientations and training programmes by wildlife experts", he added.
Following the model of the eco tourism activity done at Karamadai Range in Coimbatore, the package includes a nature trail of 5 kms along the riverine forest, bird watching, butterfly watching, coracle ride and refreshments.
The area located along the Chinnar River that runs through ATR in Tamil Nadu and Eravikulam National Park in Kerala, is a riverine ecosystem rich in biodiversity. It is the one of the few places that hosts the giant squirrel ecosystem, a mammal endemic of the western ghats. The area also hosts majority of the 250 bird species and 315 species of butterflies found in Western Ghats, along with notable larger mammals like Asian elephant, leopards, Gaur and deers.
Organisers claimed that the sanctuary also holds considerable cultural and archaeological significance as ancient dolmens or burial chambers that date back to the Megalithic (100 BC to AD 200) are found here.
A website and resource centre was also inaugurated for optimal functioning of the nature trail.
“Chinnar Nature Trail is a combination of ecotourism and nature camp center for school children to learn about forest and wildlife,” said an official.
Bookings for the above programmes began on Friday, November 29. Reservations can be done through www.chinnarnaturetrail.com.
For queries, contact the Range Office at 04252 – 232523.