Eco-sensitive zone notified for sanctuary Kerala where sighting of joining plains of Karnataka. Zone around four-horned antelope has The Wayanad Wildlife been reported. Presence of Sanctuary has about 45 spe- Wayanad Egyptian vulture, Himalayan cies of mammals, 227 species sanctuary will griffon, and Cinereous vul- of birds, 50 species of rep- tures is also reported in the tiles, 35 species of amphi- cover an area of sanctuary and two species of bians, 80 species of fish, and 118.59 sq km vultures, red-headed and 206 species of butterflies. white-backed vultures, once The endemic fauna of the E.M. MANOJ common in Kerala, are now sanctuary includes two spe- KALPETTA restricted to the Wayanad cies of mammals, six species An extent of 0 to 3.4 km plateau. of birds, eight species of am- around the boundary of the phibians, and 49 species of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Tiger habitat fishes. (WWS) has been notified as The Nagarhole-Bandipur- its eco-sensitive zone (EZ). Mudumalai-Wayanad forest Within 60 days The EZ, according to a complex is also one of the The draft notification, pu- draft notification published most important tiger habi- blished on January 28, will by the Union Ministry of En- tats in the country. Recent be taken up for considera- vironment, Forest, and Cli- The remaining 19.09 sq The sanctuary, spread ov- estimation, using camera tion after a period of 60 days. mate Change, will cover an km constitutes the revenue er an area of 344.53 sq km in traps, has indicated the pre- The public may send in com- area of 118.59 sq km, of villages that fall within the the Wayanad wildlife divi- sence of 79 tigers in the sanc- ments and suggestions on which 99.5 sq km is outside sanctuary. sion comprising two discon- tuary. the draft proposals within 60 the sanctuary that includes These include Thirunelly tinuous units, is a compo- The forests of the wildlife days of publication to the Se- 8.89 sq km of the Thirunelly and Thrishilery Pulpally, Iru- nent of the Nilgiri Biosphere division form the major cretary, Ministry of Environ- reserve forest in North Waya- lam, Kidanganad, and Nool- Reserve (5,520 sq km) and is catchments for the tributar- ment, Forest and Climate nad and 17.67 sq km of the puzha villages. As many as a vital component of the Ele- ies of the Kabani river sys- Change, Indira Paryavaran vested forest of the Chede- 29 enclosures inside the phant Reserve No. 7 of South tem, which is the lifeline of Bhawan, Jorbagh Road, Ali- layath range of the South sanctuary also fall within the India. the eastern portion of the ganj, New Delhi-110 003, or Wayanad forest division. EZ. It is the only sanctuary of Wayanad plateau and the ad- email to [email protected] .