A new wildlife sanctuary “Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary” would be established in 2023–2024, and this will be the 18th sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, according to a statement made when the state budget was presented to the House on Monday. There are now two wildlife sanctuaries in the district: Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve and Vellode Birds Sanctuary.
Thus, the new sanctuary would cover 80,567 hectares of forest area in the Gobichettipalayam and Anthiyur taluks of the district, but the government will choose where its administrative center will be built.
According to forest authorities, the planned sanctuary, which is now located in the Erode District Forest region, would also be home to 118 different kinds of butterflies, 139 different bird species, and 21 different species of animals. The officials also mentioned that nine tigers’ movement was seen during the previous year’s wildlife census.
At the Erode District Forest Division, animals from STR and neighboring Karnataka were seen migrating. The primary forested areas with a strong tribal population are Burgur, Thattakarai, Thamaraikarai, and Bejelatti. The well-known Varattupallam dam, which serves many areas’ agricultural and drinking water needs, is situated close to Anthiyur.
