Status of the Elephant Corridors in and around Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu, Southern India

A study on the status and biotic pressure of corridors located in and around Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and Sigur Reserve Forest of Tamil Nadu, Southern India was studied between December 1999 and March 2000. The primary objectives of the study were to assess the quality of these corridors in terms of vegetation structure and intensity of use by endangered animals with special reference to elephants and to quantify the dependence of the villagers on these corridors for fuelwood and cattle grazing. A total of 42 plant species were recorded in an area of 6.8 ha. Among them 57% of tree species was food items of elephants. Anogeissus latifolia, Erythroxylum monogynum, Ziziphus mauritiana and Z. xylopyrus was common species in all corridors. The ground cover was barren in most of the corridors. Grass, herb and weed was found in equal ratio in two corridors. Signs of lopping and wood cutting were found in 27 tree species recorded from all corridors. Among them, 15 species were food plants of elephants. The impact of human activity with reference to the extent of dependence on the corridors by villagers particularly intensity of lopping of trees was 35.3 D/ha. Wood cutting, cattle grazing, removals of cattle dung, electric fence, expansion of agricultural field and human settlements were observed to be a major threat in the five corridors. Elephants intensively used Masinagudi-Singara corridor. The greater attraction of elephants to this corridor is availability of Bamboo and perennial water sources. Followed by Masinagudi-Moyar corridor, which was moderately, used by elephants.