Status and Distribution of Larger Mammals in Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary

Abstract

Status of larger mammals in Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary was studied. during the years 1992 to 1995; mainly based on observational methods. Vegetation of the sanctuary is composed of tropical wet evergreen forests, tropical semi-evergreen forests, and South Indian moist deciduous forests. Twenty two species of larger mammals were recorded from the sanctuary. Rare and endangered species like Lion-tailed Macaque Macaea silenus (Linnaeus); Tiger Panthera tigris (Linnaeus) and Kerala Forest Terrapin Heosemys silvatica (Henderson) arc reported for the first time from this area. As the density of herbivores was very low it supported only a small carnivore community.