Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS)

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is one among the 13 sanctuaries in the protected areas of the state of Kerala. It is located in Munnar, the Kanthalloor and Marayoor Panchayat limits in the Idukki District. The area is diverse in ecosystems and rich in ethnic cultural heritage. It comes under the jurisdiction of Eravikulam National Park.

This article will give all the important details regarding the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in India and questions based on the same are important for candidates preparing for the IAS Exam.

Kickstart your Civil Services Exam preparation now with the UPSC Previous Year Question Papers!

Also, refer to the links below and ace the examination:

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) – Overview

  1. CWS is contiguous with the Eravikulam National Park to its South and is also under its jurisdiction.
  2. Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary is to its East and Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary is to the north.
  3. It is a prominent chunk of the block of protected forests growing in the Annamalai hills in the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border.
  4. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has been considering the Sub-cluster of Annamalai, the Western Ghats, the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary for categorization as World Heritage Sites. You can go through the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India on the page link provided.
  5. CWS is a well-known repository of medicinal plants and the habitat for the endangered Giant Grizzled Squirrel of India.
  6. It also supports a healthy population of star tortoise, tufted grey langur, gaur, spotted deer, slender loris, wild elephant, crocodile, tiger, leopard, and many birds, insects, and plants.
  7. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is the only place in Kerala where the Star Tortoises are known to occur in the wild. It is the only rehabilitation center for these tortoises.
  8. At the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, the Kerala Forest Department rehabilitates Indian Star Tortoise known as Geochelone Elegans.
The Indian Star Tortoise is a threatened species found in dry areas and scrub forests in India and Sri Lanka. The reason these species are endangered is that they are popular in the exotic pet trade. 

  1. The species are placed under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Further information on Wildlife Protection Act 1972 is available on the linked page. 
  2. Since 1975, Indian Star Tortoise species have been included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). To know in-depth about CITES visit the linked page. 

Aspirants can check out the following links to prepare comprehensively for the upcoming UPSC examination.

National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)  Third National Wildlife Action Plan List of Bird Sanctuaries in India
Bird Diverters – Meaning, Uses, Latest Updates Facts about the National Bird of India for UPSC IUCN Red List – Objectives, Categories
National Animal of India – Important Facts on Tiger  Kaziranga National Park  National Aquatic Animal of India

Latest Context on Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary –

The Kerala government has carried out a butterfly survey in the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) and the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) region located in Western Ghat.

  • The aim of this survey was to assess the butterfly diversity in the forest areas of the western ghats region, which is vulnerable to climatic changes.
Findings of the Survey

  • The survey observed rare species of butterflies such as Silver forget me not, Common three-ring, and Brown onyx, etc.
  • 191 species of butterflies in the area were spotted through the survey, out of which 12 are endemic to the region. It shows a healthy butterfly habitat in the region.
  • The diversity of butterflies was very low in the forest areas where alien invasive plants such as Senna spectabilis are found. Know in detail about the Alien Invasive Species on the linked page.

The above details would help candidates prepare for UPSC 2022.

Frequently Asked Questions on Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

Q1

Q 1. Which animal is protected in Chinnar wildlife sanctuary?

Ans. The Indian Star Tortoise, a threatened species is found in the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. It is the only sanctuary in Kerala where a Star Tortoise is found in the wild.
Q2

Q 2. Where is the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary located?

Ans. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Munnar, the Kanthalloor and Marayoor Panchayat limits in the Idukki District, Kerala.

Other Related Links:

Biodiversity Conservation Tiger Conservation in India National Livestock Mission
Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) Biodiversity Hotspots  CMS – 40 Years of Bonn Convention
Sloth Bear: Characteristics and Conservation Status Kanha National Park Corbett National Park
Forest Survey of India Natural Vegetation in India Haathi Mere Saathi Campaign
IAS General Studies Notes Links
Bengal Famine Bombay Blood Group
Indian Constitution Articles How Many Languages Are Spoken In India
Ipds Revolt Of 1857
IAS Subjects For Science Students Ipv6 Vs Ipv4
National Flower Of India Satish Dhawan

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