Vallanadu Blackbuck Sanctuary

Vallanadu Blackbuck Sanctuary is one of the finest wildlife sanctuaries in Tamilnadu State. It is located on an isolated hillock in Vallanadu Village of Srivaikundam Taluk of Thoothukudi District. It is situated on Tirunelveli – Thoothukudi road at a distance of 18Km from Tirunelveli.

Spread over an area of 16.41square kms, the sanctuary is famous as a protected area of blackbuck antelope.

Around 22kms northwest of Thoothukudi at Ottapidaram, there is a peacock farm called as Mayura Thottam having an area of 55 acres. Every year during the breeding season, large number of migratory birds visit this place.

Flora

The forest type available here in the sanctuary area is 6A/DSI that is Southern Thorn Scrub . The place is always having a normal cool climate and so fresh and fragrant because of its large number of trees and plants.

The species composition as furnished below is mostly of thorny hardwood and xerophytes.

The floral variety of the Sanctuary chiefly comprises of Dalbergia multiflora, Dichrostachys cinerea, Acacia latronum, Acacia planifrons, Albizia amara, Zizyphus Species and a few Azadirachta indica, Dodonia viscosa, Carissa carandus, Pterolobium indicum and Euphorbia Acalypha fruticosa, Ocimum sanctum, species form the under growth.

Fauna

The sanctuary is home to the innumerable animals, birds and other wild creatures. Mammals found here are Black buck, Monkeys, Wild cat, Mongoose, Black naped Hare, Scaly Ant eater- Pangolin etc.

Peacock, Heron, Stork, Grey partridges,Jungle Craws, Common quails, Pied crested cuckoo, Crested hawk eagle, Black winged kite, Curlew, Lapwing, Nightjar, Sparrows, Horned owl and other nearly 100 species of birds are found in the area.

The Blackbuck population is around 20-40. The perfect time to view Blackbucks, is only during early morning and late evening hours. The thick acacia growth makes it difficult to assess the exact numbers. They have regular habit of coming out of the scrubs and graze in wastelands on the eastern side of the the sanctuary. To see them, the forest department has set up watch tower and tmporary shelters in the sanctuary.