A recent faunal survey conducted by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has led to the discovery of nine species in the Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary located in Theni district, Tamil Nadu. The findings highlight the rich biodiversity of the sanctuary and underline the importance of regular scientific surveys in protected areas across the Western Ghats, one of the world’s major biodiversity hotspots.
Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary lies along the Tamil Nadu–Kerala border and serves as an important ecological buffer for the nearby Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala. Its strategic location strengthens wildlife corridors and helps maintain ecological connectivity between forests in the Western Ghats.
The sanctuary features diverse vegetation zones, ranging from scrub forests at lower elevations to dense evergreen forests and shola grasslands at higher altitudes. This variety of habitats supports a wide range of plant and animal species, contributing to the region’s ecological richness.
Megamalai is also home to several notable wildlife species, including elephants, tigers, leopards, Nilgiri tahr, gaur, and the endangered lion-tailed macaque. The sanctuary also supports endemic reptiles such as the wood snake, emphasizing its significance as an important conservation landscape in southern India.
