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Western Ghats

October 13, 2023

The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri mountain range, is a mountain range that covers an area of 160,000 km2 (62,000 sq mi) in a stretch of 1,600 km (990 mi) parallel to the western coast of the Indian peninsula, traversing the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.[1] It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site[2] and is one of the 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world.[3] It is sometimes called the Great Escarpment of India.[4] It contains a very large proportion of the country's flora and fauna, many of which are endemic to this region.[5] The Western Ghats are older than the Himalayas. They influence Indian monsoon weather patterns by intercepting the rain-laden monsoon winds that sweep in from the south-west during late summer.[1] The range runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain called the Western Coastal Plains along the Arabian Sea. A total of 39 areas in the Western Ghats, including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forests, were designated as world heritage sites in 2012 – twenty in Kerala, ten in Karnataka, six in Tamil Nadu and four in Maharashtra.[6][7]

Western Ghats
Pashchima Ghats
Wayanad district in Western Ghats
Highest point
PeakAnamudi, Eravikulam National Park
Elevation2,695 m (8,842 ft)
Coordinates10°10′11″N 77°03′40″E / 10.16972°N 77.06111°E / 10.16972; 77.06111
Dimensions
Length1,600 km (990 mi) N–S
Width100 km (62 mi) E–W
Area160,000 km2 (62,000 sq mi)
Geography
The Western Ghats lie roughly parallel to the west coast of India.
CountryIndia
StatesGujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu
RegionWestern and Southern India
Settlements
List
BiomeTropical rainforests and Marsh
Geology
Age of rockCenozoic
Type of rockBasalt, Laterite and Limestone
CriteriaNatural: ix, x
Reference1342
Inscription2012 (36th Session)
Area795,315 ha

The range starts near south of the Tapti river and runs approximately 1,600 km (990 mi) through the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu ending at Marunthuvazh Malai, Kanyakumari, near the southern tip the India. These hills cover 160,000 km2 (62,000 sq mi) and form the catchment area for complex riverine drainage systems that drain almost 40% of India. The Western Ghats block the southwest monsoon winds from reaching the Deccan Plateau.[8] The average elevation is around 1,200 m (3,900 ft).[9]

The area is one of the world's ten "hottest biodiversity hotspots." It has over 7,402 species of flowering plants, 1,814 species of non-flowering plants, 139 mammal species, 508 bird species, 227 reptile species, 179 amphibian species, 290 freshwater fish species, and 6,000 insect species. It is likely that many undiscovered species live in the Western Ghats. At least 325 globally threatened species occur in the Western Ghats.[10][11][12]

Etymology Edit

The word Ghat is explained by numerous Dravidian etymons such as the Kannada gaati and ghatta (mountain range), Tamil gattu (hill and hill forest), Tulu gatta (hill or hillside), and ghattam in Malayalam (mountainous way, riverside and hairpin bends).[13]

Ghat, a term used in the Indian subcontinent, depending on the context could either refer to a range of stepped-hill such as the Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats; or the series of steps leading down to a body of water or wharf, such bathing or cremation place along the banks of a river or pond, Ghats in Varanasi, Dhoby Ghaut or Aapravasi Ghat.[14][15] Roads passing through ghats are called Ghat Roads.

Geology Edit

The Western Ghats are the mountainous faulted and eroded edge of the Deccan Plateau. Geologic evidence indicates that they were formed during the break-up of the supercontinent of Gondwana some 150 million years ago.[citation needed] Geophysical evidence indicates that the west coast of India came into being somewhere around 100 to 80 mya after it broke away from Madagascar. After the break-up, the western coast of India would have appeared as an abrupt cliff some 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in elevation.[16] Basalt is the predominant rock found in the hills reaching a thickness of 3 km (2 mi). Other rock types found are charnockites, granite gneiss, khondalites, leptynites, metamorphic gneisses with detached occurrences of crystalline limestone, iron ore, dolerites and anorthosites. Residual laterite and bauxite ores are also found in the southern hills.[citation needed]

Geography Edit

 
Topography: Western Ghats (southern part)
 
Western Ghats form a continuous chain of mountains along the West coast of India

The Western Ghats extend from the Satpura Range in the north, stretching from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu.[17] It traverses south through the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala. Major gaps in the range are the Goa Gap, between the Maharashtra and Karnataka sections, and the Palghat Gap on the Tamil Nadu and Kerala border between the Nilgiri Mountains and the Anaimalai Hills. The mountains intercept the rain-bearing westerly monsoon winds, and are consequently an area of high rainfall, particularly on their western side. The dense forests also contribute to the precipitation of the area by acting as a substrate for condensation of moist rising orographic winds from the sea, and releasing much of the moisture back into the air via transpiration, allowing it to later condense and fall again as rain.[citation needed]

The northern portion of the narrow coastal plain between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea is known as the Konkan, the central portion is called Kanara and the southern portion is called Malabar. The foothill region east of the Ghats in Maharashtra is known as Desh, while the eastern foothills of the central Karnataka state is known as Malenadu.[18] The range is known as Sahyadri in Maharashtra and Karnataka. The Western Ghats meet the Eastern Ghats at the Nilgiri mountains in northwestern Tamil Nadu. The Nilgiris connect the Biligiriranga Hills in southeastern Karnataka with the Shevaroys and Tirumala hills. South of the Palghat Gap are the Anamala Hills, located in western Tamil Nadu and Kerala with smaller ranges further south, including the Cardamom Hills, then Aryankavu pass, and Aralvaimozhi pass near Kanyakumari. The range is known as Sahyan or Sahian in Kerala. In the southern part of the range is Anamudi (2,695 m (8,842 ft)), the highest peak in the Western Ghats. Ooty is called the Queen of the Western Ghats.[citation needed]

Peaks Edit

Main article: List of peaks in the Western Ghats

The Western Ghats have many peaks that rise above 2,000 m (6,600 ft), with Anamudi (2,695 m (8,842 ft)) being the highest peak.[19]

Water bodies Edit

The Western Ghats form one of the four watersheds of India, feeding the perennial rivers of India. The major river systems originating in the Western Ghats are the Godavari, Kaveri, Krishna, Thamiraparani and Tungabhadra rivers. The majority of streams draining the Western Ghats join these rivers, and carry a large volume of water during the monsoon months. These rivers flow to the east due to the gradient of the land and drain out into the Bay of Bengal. Major tributaries include the Bhadra, Bhavani, Bhima, Malaprabha, Ghataprabha, Hemavathi and Kabini rivers. The Periyar, Bharathappuzha, Pamba, Netravati, Sharavathi, Kali, Mandovi and Zuari rivers flow westwards towards the Western Ghats, draining into the Arabian Sea, and are fast-moving, owing to the steeper gradient. The rivers have been dammed for hydroelectric and irrigation purposes with major reservoirs spread across the states. The Western Ghats account for 80% of India's hydropower generation. The reservoirs are important for their commercial and sport fisheries of rainbow trout, mahseer and common carp.[20] There are about 50 major dams along the length of the Western Ghats.[21] Most notable of these projects are the Koyna in Maharashtra, Linganmakki and krishna Raja Sagara in Karnataka, Mettur and Pykara in Tamil Nadu, Parambikulam, Malampuzha and Idukki in Kerala.[18][22][23] During the monsoon season, numerous streams fed by incessant rain drain off the mountain sides leading to numerous waterfalls. Major waterfalls include Dudhsagar, Unchalli, Sathodi, Magod, Hogenakkal, Jog, Kunchikal, Shivanasamudra, Meenmutty, Adyanpara, Athirappilly, and Coutrallam. Talakaveri is the source of the river Kaveri and the Kuduremukha range is the source of the Tungabhadra. The Western Ghats have several man-made lakes and reservoirs with major lakes at Ooty (34 ha (84 acres)) in Nilgiris, Kodaikanal (26 ha (64 acres)) and Berijam in Palani Hills, Pookode lake, Karlad Lake in Wayanad, Vagamon lake, Devikulam (6 ha (15 acres)) and Letchmi (2 ha (4.9 acres)) in Idukki, Kerala.[citation needed]

Climate Edit

 
Munnar, a popular hillstation in the Western Ghats
 
Spring blossom in Ooty, the Queen of the Western ghats

The area including Agumbe, Hulikal and Amagaon in Karnataka, Mahabaleshwar and Tamhini in Maharashtra are often referred to as the "Cherrapunji of southwest India" or the "rain capital of southwest India". Kollur in Udupi district, Kokkali and Nilkund in Sirsi, Samse in Mudigere of Karnataka, and Neriamangalam in the Ernakulam district of Kerala are the wettest places in the Western Ghats. Heavy precipitation does occur in the surrounding regions due to the long continuity of the mountains without passes and gaps. Changes in the direction and pace of the wind do affect the average rainfall and the wettest places might vary. However, Maharashtra and the northern part of Western Ghats in Karnataka on average receive heavier rainfall than Kerala and the southern part of Western Ghats in Karnataka.

The climate in the Western Ghats varies with altitudinal gradation and distance from the equator. The climate is humid and tropical in the lower reaches tempered by the proximity to the sea. Elevations of 1,500 m (4,921 ft) and above in the north and 2,000 m (6,562 ft) and above in the south have a more temperate climate. The average annual temperature is around 15 °C (59 °F). In some parts frost is common, and temperatures reach the freezing point during the winter months. Mean temperatures range from 20 °C (68 °F) in the south to 24 °C (75 °F) in the north. It has also been observed that the coldest periods in the South Western Ghats coincide with the wettest.[24]

During the monsoon season between June and September, the unbroken Western Ghats chain acts as a barrier to the moisture-laden clouds. The heavy, eastward-moving rain-bearing clouds are forced to rise and in the process deposit most of their rain on the windward side. Rainfall in this region averages 300 cm (120 in) to 400 cm (160 in) with localised extremes reaching 900 cm (350 in). The eastern regions of the Western Ghats, which lie in the rain shadow, receive far less rainfall (about 100 cm (39 in)), resulting in an average rainfall of 250 cm (98 in) across all regions. The total amount of rain does not depend on the spread of the area; areas in northern Maharashtra receive heavy rainfall followed by long dry spells, while regions closer to the equator receive lower annual rainfall and have rain spells lasting several months in a year.[24]

Rainfall Edit

 
Chorla Ghat on the Goa-Karnataka border, during late monsoon

The Karnataka region on average receives heavier rainfall than the Kerala, Maharashtra and Goa regions. Meanwhile, the Ghats in Karnataka have fewer passes and gaps and therefore the western slopes of Karnataka receive heavy rainfall, over 400 cm more than other regional parts of the Western Ghats.

 
Annual rainfall along the Western Ghat region

Some of the wettest places in the Western Ghats are:

Location Region Mean annual rainfall[25]
Agumbe Thirthahalli, Karnataka 7,624 mm (300.2 in)
Amboli Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra 7,000 mm (280 in)
Hulikal Hosanagara, Karnataka 5,316 mm (209.3 in)
Amagaon Khanapur, Karnataka 4,089 mm (161.0 in)
Kakkalli Sirsi, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka 4,921 mm (193.7 in)
Nilkund Sirsi, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka 4,369 mm (172.0 in)
Mahabaleshwar Satara district, Maharashtra 5,761 mm (226.8 in)
Devimane Sirsi, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka 3,981 mm (156.7 in)
Surli Hosanagara, Karnataka 4,335 mm (170.7 in)
Lonavla Pune district, Maharashtra 4,073 mm (160.4 in)
Charmadi Mudigere, Karnataka 4,131 mm (162.6 in)
Samse Mudigere, Karnataka 3,914 mm (154.1 in)
Kollur Udupi district, Karnataka 4,992 mm (196.5 in)
Makkiyad Wayanad district, Kerala 3,714 mm (146.2 in)
Kudremukh Chikmagalur district, Karnataka 4,158 mm (163.7 in)
Rajamala Idukki, Kerala 4,785 mm (188.4 in)
Igatpuri Nashik, Maharashtra 3,498 mm (137.7 in)[26]
Nyamakad Idukki, Kerala 3,007 mm (118.4 in)
Sholayar Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 4,000 mm (160 in)
Vythiri Wayanad district, Kerala 4,000 mm (160 in)
Pookode Wayanad district, Kerala 3,957 mm (155.8 in)
Dhamanohol Mulshi taluka, Maharashtra 6,255 mm (246.3 in)
Mulshi Pune district, Maharashtra 5,100 mm (200 in)
Tamhini Ghat Mulshi taluka, Maharashtra 5,255 mm (206.9 in)
Chinnakallar Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 3,947 mm (155.4 in)
Castle Rock Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka 5,132 mm (202.0 in)

Ecoregions Edit

 
Sholas, part of the rainforests

The Western Ghats are home to four tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregions – the North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests, North Western Ghats montane rain forests, South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests, and South Western Ghats montane rain forests. The northern portion of the range is generally drier than the southern portion, and at lower elevations makes up the North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests ecoregion, with mostly deciduous forests made up predominantly of teak. Above 1,000 meters elevation are the cooler and wetter North Western Ghats montane rain forests, whose evergreen forests are characterised by trees of the family Lauraceae.[citation needed]

The evergreen forests in Wayanad mark the transition zone between the northern and southern ecoregions of the Western Ghats. The southern ecoregions are generally wetter and more species-rich. At lower elevations are the South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests, with Cullenia the characteristic tree genus, accompanied by teak, dipterocarps, and other trees. The moist forests transition to the drier South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests, which lie in its rain shadow to the east. Above 1,000 meters are the South Western Ghats montane rain forests, also cooler and wetter than the surrounding lowland forests, and dominated by evergreen trees, although some montane grasslands and stunted forests can be found at the highest elevations. The South Western Ghats montane rain forests are the most species-rich ecoregion in peninsular India; eighty percent of the flowering plant species of the entire Western Ghats range are found in this ecoregion.[citation needed]

Biodiversity protection Edit

 
Dense rainforests cover the Western Ghats.

Historically the Western Ghats were covered in dense forests that provided wild foods and natural habitats for native tribal people. Its inaccessibility made it difficult for people from the plains to cultivate the land and build settlements. After the establishment of British colonial rule in the region, large swathes of territory were cleared for agricultural plantations and timber. The forest in the Western Ghats has been severely fragmented due to human activities, especially clear-felling for tea, coffee, and teak plantations[27] from 1860 to 1950. Species that are rare, endemic and habitat specialists are more adversely affected and tend to be lost faster than other species. Complex and species rich habitats like the tropical rainforest are much more adversely affected than other habitats.[28]

The area is ecologically sensitive to development and was declared an ecological hotspot in 1988 through the efforts of ecologist Norman Myers. The area covers five percent of India's land; 27% of all species of higher plants in India (4,000 of 15,000 species) are found here and 1,800 of these are endemic to the region. The range is home to at least 84 amphibian species, 16 bird species, seven mammals, and 1,600 flowering plants which are not found elsewhere in the world. The Government of India has established many protected areas including 2 biosphere reserves, 13 national parks to restrict human access, several wildlife sanctuaries to protect specific endangered species and many reserve forests, which are all managed by the forest departments of their respective state to preserve some of the ecoregions still undeveloped. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, comprising 5,500 km2 (2,100 sq mi) of the evergreen forests of Nagarahole and deciduous forests of Bandipur in Karnataka, adjoining regions of Wayanad-Mukurthi in Kerala and Mudumalai National Park-Sathyamangalam in Tamil Nadu, forms the largest contiguous protected area in the Western Ghats.[29] Silent Valley in Kerala is among the last tracts of virgin tropical evergreen forest in India.[30][31]

In August 2011, the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) designated the entire Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) and assigned three levels of Ecological Sensitivity to its different regions.[32] The panel, headed by ecologist Madhav Gadgil, was appointed by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to assess the biodiversity and environmental issues of the Western Ghats.[33] The Gadgil Committee and its successor, the Kasturirangan Committee, recommended suggestions to protect the Western Ghats. The Gadgil report was criticised as being too environment-friendly and the Kasturirangan report was labelled as being anti-environmental.[34][35][36]

 
The Western Ghats are a UNESCO heritage site.

In 2006, India applied to the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) for the Western Ghats to be listed as a protected World Heritage Site.[37] In 2012, the following places were declared as World Heritage Sites:[38][39]

 
Tiger in Mudumalai National Park, Tamil Nadu

Fauna Edit

The Western Ghats are home to thousands of animal species including at least 325 globally threatened species.[40]

Mammals Edit

 
Nilgiri tahr, female

There are at least 139 mammal species. Of the 16 endemic mammals, 13 are threatened. Among the 32 threatened species are the tiger, leopard, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri tahr, Asian elephant, Nilgiri langur and gaur.[41][42][43] The endemic Malabar large-spotted civet is estimated to number fewer than 250 mature individuals, with no sub-population greater than 50 individuals.[44] The Nilgiri marten, brown palm civet, stripe-necked mongoose, Indian brown mongoose, small Indian civet and leopard cat are the small carnivores living in the forests of the Western Ghats.[45]

The hill ranges constitute important wildlife corridors and form an important part of Project Elephant and Project Tiger reserves. The largest tiger population lives in the Western Ghats, where there are seven populations with an estimated population size of 1200 individuals occupying 21,435 km2 (8,276 sq mi) of forest in three major landscape units spread across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.[46] The Western Ghats ecoregion has the largest Indian elephant population in the wild with an estimated 11,000 individuals across eight distinct populations.[47][48] The endemic Nilgiri tahr, which was on the brink of extinction, has recovered and has an estimated 3,122 individuals in the wild.[49] About 3500 lion-tailed macaques live scattered over several areas in the Western Ghats.[50]

Reptiles Edit

At least 227 species of reptiles are found in the Western Ghats.[51] The major population of the snake family Uropeltidae is restricted to the region.[52] Several endemic reptile genera and species occur here, including the cane turtle Vijayachelys silvatica, lizards like Salea, Ristella, Kaestlea, and snakes such as Melanophidium, Plectrurus, Teretrurus, Platyplectrurus, Xylophis, and Rhabdops. Species-level endemism is much higher and is common to almost all genera present here. Some enigmatic endemic reptiles include venomous snakes such as the king cobra, the striped coral snake, the Malabar pit viper, the large-scaled pitviper and the horseshoe pitviper. The region has a significant population of the mugger crocodile.[53]

Amphibians Edit

The amphibians of the Western Ghats are diverse and unique, with more than 80% of the 179 amphibian species being endemic to the rainforests of the mountains.[54] The purple frog was discovered in 2003.[55] Several species of frogs, namely of the genera Micrixalus, Indirana, and Nyctibatrachus, are endemic to this region. Endemic genera include the toads Pedostibes, Ghatophryne, and Xanthophryne; arboreal frogs such as Ghatixalus, Mercurana, and Beddomixalus; and microhylids like Melanobatrachus. New frog species were described from the Western Ghats in 2005, and more recently a new species, monotypic in its genus Mysticellus, was discovered.[56][57] The region is also home to many caecilian species. There are many species of amphibians which are yet to be discovered at every elevation of the Western Ghats.[58] Deforestation is threatening these amphibians through direct habitat loss and through increased risk of landslides.[59]

Fish Edit

 
Denison barb is endemic to only three rivers in the Western Ghats

As of 2004, 288 freshwater fish species were listed for the Western Ghats, including 35 also known from brackish or marine water.[12] Several new species have been described from the region since then (e.g., Dario urops and S. sharavathiensis).[60][61] There are 118 endemic species, including 13 genera entirely restricted to the Western Ghats (Betadevario, Dayella, Haludaria, Horabagrus, Horalabiosa, Hypselobarbus, Indoreonectes, Lepidopygopsis, Longischistura, Mesonoemacheilus, Parapsilorhynchus, Rohtee and Travancoria).[62]

There is a higher fish richness in the southern part of the Western Ghats than in the northern,[62] and the highest is in the Chalakudy River, which alone holds 98 species.[63] Other rivers with high species numbers include the Periyar, Bharatapuzha, Pamba and Chaliyar, as well as upstream tributaries of the Kaveri, Pambar, Bhavani and Krishna rivers.[62] The most species rich families are the Cyprinids (72 species), hillstream loaches (34 species; including stone loaches, now regarded a separate family), Bagrid catfishes (19 species) and Sisorid catfishes (12 species).[12][62][63] The region is home to several brilliantly coloured ornamental fishes like the Denison (or red line torpedo) barb,[64] melon barb, several species of Dawkinsia barbs, zebra loach, Horabagrus catfish, dwarf pufferfish and dwarf Malabar pufferfish.[65] The rivers are also home to Osteobrama bakeri, and larger species such as the Malabar snakehead and Malabar mahseer.[66] A few are adapted to an underground life, including some Rakthamichthys swampeels,[67] and the catfish Horaglanis and Kryptoglanis.[68]

According to the IUCN, 97 freshwater fish species from the Western Ghats were considered threatened in 2011, including 12 critically endangered, 54 endangered and 31 vulnerable.[62] All but one (Tor khudree) of these are endemic to the Western Ghats. An additional 26 species from the region are considered data deficient (their status is unclear at present). The primary threats are from habitat loss, but also from overexploitation and introduced species.[62]

Birds Edit

 
The Nilgiri wood-pigeon

There are at least 508 bird species. Most of Karnataka's five hundred species of birds are from the Western Ghats region.[69][70] There are at least 16 species of birds endemic to the Western Ghats including the endangered rufous-breasted laughingthrush, the vulnerable Nilgiri wood-pigeon, white-bellied shortwing and broad-tailed grassbird, the near threatened grey-breasted laughingthrush, black-and-rufous flycatcher, Nilgiri flycatcher, and Nilgiri pipit, and the least concern Malabar (blue-winged) parakeet, Malabar grey hornbill, white-bellied treepie, grey-headed bulbul, rufous babbler, Wayanad laughingthrush, white-bellied blue-flycatcher and the crimson-backed sunbird.[71]

Insects Edit

There are roughly 6,000 insect species.[72] Of 334 Western Ghats butterfly species, 316 species have been reported from the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.[73] The Western Ghats are home to 174 species of odonates (107 dragonflies and 67 damselflies), including 69 endemics.[62] Most of the endemic odonate are closely associated with rivers and streams, while the non-endemics typically are generalists.[62] There are several species of leeches found all along the Western Ghats.[74]

Mollusks Edit

Seasonal rainfall patterns of the Western Ghats necessitate a period of dormancy for its land snails, resulting in their high abundance and diversity including at least 258 species of gastropods from 57 genera and 24 families.[75] A total of 77 species of freshwater molluscs (52 gastropods and 25 bivalves) have been recorded from the Western Ghats, but the actual number is likely higher.[62] This include 28 endemics. Among the threatened freshwater molluscs are the mussels Pseudomulleria dalyi, which is a Gondwanan relict, and the snail Cremnoconchus, which is restricted to the spray zone of waterfalls.[62] According to the IUCN, 4 species of freshwater molluscs are considered endangered and 3 are vulnerable. An additional 19 species are considered data deficient.[62]

Flora Edit

 
Tropical rainforest, Agumbe

The dominant forest type here is tropical rainforest. Montane forests, tropical dry forests and tropical moist forests are also found here. Of the 7,402 species of flowering plants occurring in the Western Ghats, 5,588 species are native or indigenous and 376 are exotics naturalised; 1,438 species are cultivated or planted as ornamentals. Among the indigenous species, 2,253 species are endemic to India and of them, 1,273 species are exclusively confined to the Western Ghats. Apart from 593 confirmed subspecies and varieties; 66 species, 5 subspecies and 14 varieties of doubtful occurrence are also reported, amounting to 8,080 taxa of flowering plants.[76] Various plant species are endemic to the Western Ghats, including the palm tree Bentinckia condapanna and the flower Strobilanthes kunthiana.[77] A number of plant species are also Critically Endangered, such as Dipterocarpus bourdillonii and Phyllanthus anamalayanus.

Echinops sahyadricus is endemic to the mountains, and the specific epithet sahyadricus is refers to them.[78]

Threats Edit

 
Forest fires 2019

The Western Ghats face a lot of issues. Poaching, deforestation, forest fires, extra hunting and dangers to native tribes are the main threats. Despite the 1972 Indian law of that banned poaching, people still tend to illegally hunt down animals such as tigers, elephants and chital for skin, fur or tusks. Forests here are being destroyed for farming or livestock. Animals that eat livestock are also being killed by farmers. Forest fires take place annually during the dry summer season, especially in the Nagarhole-Bandipur-Wayanad-Mudumalai-Satyamangalam-BRT block which has the most biodiverse locations in the Western Ghats with the largest populations of tigers and elephants residing there.

Native tribes of the Western Ghats are being evicted from their homelands. This results in degradation of the tribal culture. The rich biodiversity in both flora and fauna have made the Western Ghats a target for many corporate companies to gain resources. This however is checked by the Government of India and the State Governments to protect the Western Ghats.

See also Edit

Notes Edit

  1. ^ a b "Western Ghats". from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  2. ^ "Western Ghats - UNESCO World Heritage Centre". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  3. ^ Myers, N.; Mittermeier, R.A.; Mittermeier, C.G.; Da Fonseca, G.A.B.; Kent, J. (2000). "Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities". Nature. 403 (6772): 853–858. Bibcode:2000Natur.403..853M. doi:10.1038/35002501. PMID 10706275. S2CID 4414279.
  4. ^ Migon, P. (2010). Geomorphological Landscapes of the World. Springer. p. 257. ISBN 978-90-481-3054-2.
  5. ^ "A biodiversity hotspot". from the original on 18 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  6. ^ "Western Ghats". UNESCO. from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  7. ^ Lewis, C. (2012). . The Times of India. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  8. ^ "Peninsular Plateau of India". from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  9. ^ . Asia-Pacific Mountain Network. Archived from the original on 12 August 2007. Retrieved 19 March 2007.
  10. ^ Nayar, T.S.; Rasiya Beegam, A.; Sibi, M. (2014). Flowering Plants of the Western Ghats, India (2 Volumes). Thiruvananthapuram, India: Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute.
  11. ^ Myers, N.; Mittermeier, R.A.; Mittermeier, C.G.; Fonseca, G.A.B.Da; Kent, J. (2000). "Biodiversity Hotspots for Conservation Priorities". Nature. 403 (6772): 853–858. Bibcode:2000Natur.403..853M. doi:10.1038/35002501. PMID 10706275. S2CID 4414279.
  12. ^ a b c Dahanukar, N.; Raut, R.; Bhat, A. (2004). "Distribution, endemism and threat status of freshwater fishes in the Western Ghats of India". Journal of Biogeography. 31 (1): 123–136. doi:10.1046/j.0305-0270.2003.01016.x. S2CID 83574801. from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
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References Edit

  • Mahajan, Harshal. A rendezvous with Sahyadri
  • Ingalhalikar, Shrikant. Flowers of Sahyadri. Corolla Publication; Pune
  • Wikramanayake, Eric; Eric Dinerstein; Colby J. Loucks; et al. (2002). Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a Conservation Assessment. Island Press; Washington, DC.
  • Kapadia, Harish. Trek the Sahyadris
  • Daniels, R.J. Ranjit, Wildlife institute of India, "Biodiversity in the Western Ghats"
  • Ajith Kumar, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, India, Ravi Chellam, B.C.Choudhury, Divya Mudappa, Karthikeyan Vasudevan, N.M.Ishwar, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun, India, Barry Noon, Department of Fish and Wildlife Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, U.S. (2002) "Impact of Rainforest Fragmentation on Small Mammals and Herpetofauna in the Western Ghats, South India", Final Report, pp. 146, illus. Full text retrieved 14 March 2007
  • Verma Desh Deepak (2002) "Thematic Report on Mountain Ecosystems", Ministry of Environment and Forests,13pp, retrieved 27 March 2007 Full text, detailed data, not cited.
  • Abstracts, Edited by Lalitha Vijayan, Saconr. Vasudeva, University of Dharwad, Priyadarsanan, ATREE, Renee Borges, CES, ISSC, Jagdish Krishnaswamy, Atree & WCSP. Pramod, Sacon, Jagannatha Rao, R., FRLHTR. J. Ranjit Daniels, Care Earth, Compiled by S. Somasundaram, Sacon (1–2 December 2005) , 2nd National Conference of the Western Ghats Forum, Venue: State Forest Service College Coimbatore, Organized by Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatty, Coimbatore – 641108, India. Sponsored by Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. Supported by The Arghyam Foundation, The Ford Foundation & Sir Dorabiji Trust Through Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)
  • Shifting Cultivation, Sacred Groves and Conflicts in Colonial Forest Policy in the Western Ghats. 23 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine M.D. Subash Chandran; Chapter 22

External links Edit

  • Western Ghats, UNESCO World Heritage site
  • Western Ghats, WWF

  Media related to Western Ghats at Wikimedia Commons

October 13, 2023
western, ghats, also, known, sahyadri, mountain, range, mountain, range, that, covers, area, stretch, parallel, western, coast, indian, peninsula, traversing, states, gujarat, maharashtra, karnataka, kerala, tamil, nadu, unesco, world, heritage, site, biodiver. The Western Ghats also known as the Sahyadri mountain range is a mountain range that covers an area of 160 000 km2 62 000 sq mi in a stretch of 1 600 km 990 mi parallel to the western coast of the Indian peninsula traversing the states of Gujarat Maharashtra Goa Karnataka Kerala and Tamil Nadu 1 It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site 2 and is one of the 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world 3 It is sometimes called the Great Escarpment of India 4 It contains a very large proportion of the country s flora and fauna many of which are endemic to this region 5 The Western Ghats are older than the Himalayas They influence Indian monsoon weather patterns by intercepting the rain laden monsoon winds that sweep in from the south west during late summer 1 The range runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain called the Western Coastal Plains along the Arabian Sea A total of 39 areas in the Western Ghats including national parks wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forests were designated as world heritage sites in 2012 twenty in Kerala ten in Karnataka six in Tamil Nadu and four in Maharashtra 6 7 Western GhatsPashchima GhatsWayanad district in Western GhatsHighest pointPeakAnamudi Eravikulam National ParkElevation2 695 m 8 842 ft Coordinates10 10 11 N 77 03 40 E 10 16972 N 77 06111 E 10 16972 77 06111DimensionsLength1 600 km 990 mi N SWidth100 km 62 mi E WArea160 000 km2 62 000 sq mi GeographyThe Western Ghats lie roughly parallel to the west coast of India CountryIndiaStatesGujarat Maharashtra Goa Karnataka Kerala and Tamil NaduRegionWestern and Southern IndiaSettlementsList NashikPuneSirsiShivamoggaSakleshpuraMadikeriIrittyKalpettaMananthavadySulthan BatherySathyamangalamOotyNilamburCoimbatorePalakkadPollachiMunnarPalaPathanamthittaPerinthalmannaPunalurTenkasiNedumangadBiomeTropical rainforests and MarshGeologyAge of rockCenozoicType of rockBasalt Laterite and LimestoneUNESCO World Heritage SiteCriteriaNatural ix xReference1342Inscription2012 36th Session Area795 315 haThe range starts near south of the Tapti river and runs approximately 1 600 km 990 mi through the states of Gujarat Maharashtra Karnataka Goa Kerala and Tamil Nadu ending at Marunthuvazh Malai Kanyakumari near the southern tip the India These hills cover 160 000 km2 62 000 sq mi and form the catchment area for complex riverine drainage systems that drain almost 40 of India The Western Ghats block the southwest monsoon winds from reaching the Deccan Plateau 8 The average elevation is around 1 200 m 3 900 ft 9 The area is one of the world s ten hottest biodiversity hotspots It has over 7 402 species of flowering plants 1 814 species of non flowering plants 139 mammal species 508 bird species 227 reptile species 179 amphibian species 290 freshwater fish species and 6 000 insect species It is likely that many undiscovered species live in the Western Ghats At least 325 globally threatened species occur in the Western Ghats 10 11 12 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Geology 3 Geography 3 1 Peaks 3 2 Water bodies 4 Climate 4 1 Rainfall 5 Ecoregions 6 Biodiversity protection 7 Fauna 7 1 Mammals 7 2 Reptiles 7 3 Amphibians 7 4 Fish 7 5 Birds 7 6 Insects 7 7 Mollusks 8 Flora 9 Threats 10 See also 11 Notes 12 References 13 External linksEtymology EditThe word Ghat is explained by numerous Dravidian etymons such as the Kannada gaati and ghatta mountain range Tamil gattu hill and hill forest Tulu gatta hill or hillside and ghattam in Malayalam mountainous way riverside and hairpin bends 13 Ghat a term used in the Indian subcontinent depending on the context could either refer to a range of stepped hill such as the Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats or the series of steps leading down to a body of water or wharf such bathing or cremation place along the banks of a river or pond Ghats in Varanasi Dhoby Ghaut or Aapravasi Ghat 14 15 Roads passing through ghats are called Ghat Roads Geology EditThe Western Ghats are the mountainous faulted and eroded edge of the Deccan Plateau Geologic evidence indicates that they were formed during the break up of the supercontinent of Gondwana some 150 million years ago citation needed Geophysical evidence indicates that the west coast of India came into being somewhere around 100 to 80 mya after it broke away from Madagascar After the break up the western coast of India would have appeared as an abrupt cliff some 1 000 m 3 300 ft in elevation 16 Basalt is the predominant rock found in the hills reaching a thickness of 3 km 2 mi Other rock types found are charnockites granite gneiss khondalites leptynites metamorphic gneisses with detached occurrences of crystalline limestone iron ore dolerites and anorthosites Residual laterite and bauxite ores are also found in the southern hills citation needed Geography Edit nbsp Topography Western Ghats southern part nbsp Western Ghats form a continuous chain of mountains along the West coast of IndiaThe Western Ghats extend from the Satpura Range in the north stretching from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu 17 It traverses south through the states of Maharashtra Goa Karnataka and Kerala Major gaps in the range are the Goa Gap between the Maharashtra and Karnataka sections and the Palghat Gap on the Tamil Nadu and Kerala border between the Nilgiri Mountains and the Anaimalai Hills The mountains intercept the rain bearing westerly monsoon winds and are consequently an area of high rainfall particularly on their western side The dense forests also contribute to the precipitation of the area by acting as a substrate for condensation of moist rising orographic winds from the sea and releasing much of the moisture back into the air via transpiration allowing it to later condense and fall again as rain citation needed The northern portion of the narrow coastal plain between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea is known as the Konkan the central portion is called Kanara and the southern portion is called Malabar The foothill region east of the Ghats in Maharashtra is known as Desh while the eastern foothills of the central Karnataka state is known as Malenadu 18 The range is known as Sahyadri in Maharashtra and Karnataka The Western Ghats meet the Eastern Ghats at the Nilgiri mountains in northwestern Tamil Nadu The Nilgiris connect the Biligiriranga Hills in southeastern Karnataka with the Shevaroys and Tirumala hills South of the Palghat Gap are the Anamala Hills located in western Tamil Nadu and Kerala with smaller ranges further south including the Cardamom Hills then Aryankavu pass and Aralvaimozhi pass near Kanyakumari The range is known as Sahyan or Sahian in Kerala In the southern part of the range is Anamudi 2 695 m 8 842 ft the highest peak in the Western Ghats Ooty is called the Queen of the Western Ghats citation needed Peaks Edit Main article List of peaks in the Western Ghats The Western Ghats have many peaks that rise above 2 000 m 6 600 ft with Anamudi 2 695 m 8 842 ft being the highest peak 19 Water bodies Edit The Western Ghats form one of the four watersheds of India feeding the perennial rivers of India The major river systems originating in the Western Ghats are the Godavari Kaveri Krishna Thamiraparani and Tungabhadra rivers The majority of streams draining the Western Ghats join these rivers and carry a large volume of water during the monsoon months These rivers flow to the east due to the gradient of the land and drain out into the Bay of Bengal Major tributaries include the Bhadra Bhavani Bhima Malaprabha Ghataprabha Hemavathi and Kabini rivers The Periyar Bharathappuzha Pamba Netravati Sharavathi Kali Mandovi and Zuari rivers flow westwards towards the Western Ghats draining into the Arabian Sea and are fast moving owing to the steeper gradient The rivers have been dammed for hydroelectric and irrigation purposes with major reservoirs spread across the states The Western Ghats account for 80 of India s hydropower generation The reservoirs are important for their commercial and sport fisheries of rainbow trout mahseer and common carp 20 There are about 50 major dams along the length of the Western Ghats 21 Most notable of these projects are the Koyna in Maharashtra Linganmakki and krishna Raja Sagara in Karnataka Mettur and Pykara in Tamil Nadu Parambikulam Malampuzha and Idukki in Kerala 18 22 23 During the monsoon season numerous streams fed by incessant rain drain off the mountain sides leading to numerous waterfalls Major waterfalls include Dudhsagar Unchalli Sathodi Magod Hogenakkal Jog Kunchikal Shivanasamudra Meenmutty Adyanpara Athirappilly and Coutrallam Talakaveri is the source of the river Kaveri and the Kuduremukha range is the source of the Tungabhadra The Western Ghats have several man made lakes and reservoirs with major lakes at Ooty 34 ha 84 acres in Nilgiris Kodaikanal 26 ha 64 acres and Berijam in Palani Hills Pookode lake Karlad Lake in Wayanad Vagamon lake Devikulam 6 ha 15 acres and Letchmi 2 ha 4 9 acres in Idukki Kerala citation needed Climate Edit nbsp Munnar a popular hillstation in the Western Ghats nbsp Spring blossom in Ooty the Queen of the Western ghatsThe area including Agumbe Hulikal and Amagaon in Karnataka Mahabaleshwar and Tamhini in Maharashtra are often referred to as the Cherrapunji of southwest India or the rain capital of southwest India Kollur in Udupi district Kokkali and Nilkund in Sirsi Samse in Mudigere of Karnataka and Neriamangalam in the Ernakulam district of Kerala are the wettest places in the Western Ghats Heavy precipitation does occur in the surrounding regions due to the long continuity of the mountains without passes and gaps Changes in the direction and pace of the wind do affect the average rainfall and the wettest places might vary However Maharashtra and the northern part of Western Ghats in Karnataka on average receive heavier rainfall than Kerala and the southern part of Western Ghats in Karnataka The climate in the Western Ghats varies with altitudinal gradation and distance from the equator The climate is humid and tropical in the lower reaches tempered by the proximity to the sea Elevations of 1 500 m 4 921 ft and above in the north and 2 000 m 6 562 ft and above in the south have a more temperate climate The average annual temperature is around 15 C 59 F In some parts frost is common and temperatures reach the freezing point during the winter months Mean temperatures range from 20 C 68 F in the south to 24 C 75 F in the north It has also been observed that the coldest periods in the South Western Ghats coincide with the wettest 24 During the monsoon season between June and September the unbroken Western Ghats chain acts as a barrier to the moisture laden clouds The heavy eastward moving rain bearing clouds are forced to rise and in the process deposit most of their rain on the windward side Rainfall in this region averages 300 cm 120 in to 400 cm 160 in with localised extremes reaching 900 cm 350 in The eastern regions of the Western Ghats which lie in the rain shadow receive far less rainfall about 100 cm 39 in resulting in an average rainfall of 250 cm 98 in across all regions The total amount of rain does not depend on the spread of the area areas in northern Maharashtra receive heavy rainfall followed by long dry spells while regions closer to the equator receive lower annual rainfall and have rain spells lasting several months in a year 24 Rainfall Edit nbsp Chorla Ghat on the Goa Karnataka border during late monsoonThe Karnataka region on average receives heavier rainfall than the Kerala Maharashtra and Goa regions Meanwhile the Ghats in Karnataka have fewer passes and gaps and therefore the western slopes of Karnataka receive heavy rainfall over 400 cm more than other regional parts of the Western Ghats nbsp Annual rainfall along the Western Ghat regionSome of the wettest places in the Western Ghats are Location Region Mean annual rainfall 25 Agumbe Thirthahalli Karnataka 7 624 mm 300 2 in Amboli Sindhudurg district Maharashtra 7 000 mm 280 in Hulikal Hosanagara Karnataka 5 316 mm 209 3 in Amagaon Khanapur Karnataka 4 089 mm 161 0 in Kakkalli Sirsi Uttara Kannada district Karnataka 4 921 mm 193 7 in Nilkund Sirsi Uttara Kannada district Karnataka 4 369 mm 172 0 in Mahabaleshwar Satara district Maharashtra 5 761 mm 226 8 in Devimane Sirsi Uttara Kannada district Karnataka 3 981 mm 156 7 in Surli Hosanagara Karnataka 4 335 mm 170 7 in Lonavla Pune district Maharashtra 4 073 mm 160 4 in Charmadi Mudigere Karnataka 4 131 mm 162 6 in Samse Mudigere Karnataka 3 914 mm 154 1 in Kollur Udupi district Karnataka 4 992 mm 196 5 in Makkiyad Wayanad district Kerala 3 714 mm 146 2 in Kudremukh Chikmagalur district Karnataka 4 158 mm 163 7 in Rajamala Idukki Kerala 4 785 mm 188 4 in Igatpuri Nashik Maharashtra 3 498 mm 137 7 in 26 Nyamakad Idukki Kerala 3 007 mm 118 4 in Sholayar Coimbatore Tamil Nadu 4 000 mm 160 in Vythiri Wayanad district Kerala 4 000 mm 160 in Pookode Wayanad district Kerala 3 957 mm 155 8 in Dhamanohol Mulshi taluka Maharashtra 6 255 mm 246 3 in Mulshi Pune district Maharashtra 5 100 mm 200 in Tamhini Ghat Mulshi taluka Maharashtra 5 255 mm 206 9 in Chinnakallar Coimbatore Tamil Nadu 3 947 mm 155 4 in Castle Rock Uttara Kannada district Karnataka 5 132 mm 202 0 in Ecoregions Edit nbsp Sholas part of the rainforestsThe Western Ghats are home to four tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregions the North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests North Western Ghats montane rain forests South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests and South Western Ghats montane rain forests The northern portion of the range is generally drier than the southern portion and at lower elevations makes up the North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests ecoregion with mostly deciduous forests made up predominantly of teak Above 1 000 meters elevation are the cooler and wetter North Western Ghats montane rain forests whose evergreen forests are characterised by trees of the family Lauraceae citation needed The evergreen forests in Wayanad mark the transition zone between the northern and southern ecoregions of the Western Ghats The southern ecoregions are generally wetter and more species rich At lower elevations are the South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests with Cullenia the characteristic tree genus accompanied by teak dipterocarps and other trees The moist forests transition to the drier South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests which lie in its rain shadow to the east Above 1 000 meters are the South Western Ghats montane rain forests also cooler and wetter than the surrounding lowland forests and dominated by evergreen trees although some montane grasslands and stunted forests can be found at the highest elevations The South Western Ghats montane rain forests are the most species rich ecoregion in peninsular India eighty percent of the flowering plant species of the entire Western Ghats range are found in this ecoregion citation needed Biodiversity protection Edit nbsp Dense rainforests cover the Western Ghats Historically the Western Ghats were covered in dense forests that provided wild foods and natural habitats for native tribal people Its inaccessibility made it difficult for people from the plains to cultivate the land and build settlements After the establishment of British colonial rule in the region large swathes of territory were cleared for agricultural plantations and timber The forest in the Western Ghats has been severely fragmented due to human activities especially clear felling for tea coffee and teak plantations 27 from 1860 to 1950 Species that are rare endemic and habitat specialists are more adversely affected and tend to be lost faster than other species Complex and species rich habitats like the tropical rainforest are much more adversely affected than other habitats 28 The area is ecologically sensitive to development and was declared an ecological hotspot in 1988 through the efforts of ecologist Norman Myers The area covers five percent of India s land 27 of all species of higher plants in India 4 000 of 15 000 species are found here and 1 800 of these are endemic to the region The range is home to at least 84 amphibian species 16 bird species seven mammals and 1 600 flowering plants which are not found elsewhere in the world The Government of India has established many protected areas including 2 biosphere reserves 13 national parks to restrict human access several wildlife sanctuaries to protect specific endangered species and many reserve forests which are all managed by the forest departments of their respective state to preserve some of the ecoregions still undeveloped The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve comprising 5 500 km2 2 100 sq mi of the evergreen forests of Nagarahole and deciduous forests of Bandipur in Karnataka adjoining regions of Wayanad Mukurthi in Kerala and Mudumalai National Park Sathyamangalam in Tamil Nadu forms the largest contiguous protected area in the Western Ghats 29 Silent Valley in Kerala is among the last tracts of virgin tropical evergreen forest in India 30 31 In August 2011 the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel WGEEP designated the entire Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area ESA and assigned three levels of Ecological Sensitivity to its different regions 32 The panel headed by ecologist Madhav Gadgil was appointed by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to assess the biodiversity and environmental issues of the Western Ghats 33 The Gadgil Committee and its successor the Kasturirangan Committee recommended suggestions to protect the Western Ghats The Gadgil report was criticised as being too environment friendly and the Kasturirangan report was labelled as being anti environmental 34 35 36 nbsp The Western Ghats are a UNESCO heritage site In 2006 India applied to the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme MAB for the Western Ghats to be listed as a protected World Heritage Site 37 In 2012 the following places were declared as World Heritage Sites 38 39 nbsp Tiger in Mudumalai National Park Tamil NaduKali Tiger Reserve Dandeli Karnataka Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park Tamil Nadu Mundigekere Bird Sanctuary Sirsi Karnataka Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve Tamil Nadu Thattekad Bird Sanctuary Kerala Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala Periyar Tiger Reserve Kerala Srivilliputtur Wildlife Sanctuary Tamil Nadu Eravikulam National Park Kerala Grass Hills National Park Tamil Nadu and Kerala Karian Shola National Park Karnataka Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary Tamil Nadu Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala Silent Valley National Park Kerala Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala Mukurthi National Park Tamil Nadu Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary Karnataka Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary Karnataka Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary Karnataka Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary Karnataka Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala Kudremukh National Park Karnataka Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary Karnataka Kaas Plateau Maharashtra Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary Maharashtra Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary Maharashtra Chandoli National Park Maharashtra Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary Maharashtra Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala Pambadum Shola National Park Kerala Anamudi Shola National Park Kerala Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary Peechi Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala Mathikettan Shola National Park Kerala Kurinjimala Sanctuary Kerala Karimpuzha National Park Kerala Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary Ranipuram National Park Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary Tamil Nadu Palani Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park Tamil Nadu Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary Tamil Nadu Bandipur National Park Karnataka Nagarhole National Park Karnataka Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Tamil Nadu Mudumalai National Park Tamil NaduFauna EditThe Western Ghats are home to thousands of animal species including at least 325 globally threatened species 40 Mammals Edit nbsp Nilgiri tahr femaleThere are at least 139 mammal species Of the 16 endemic mammals 13 are threatened Among the 32 threatened species are the tiger leopard lion tailed macaque Nilgiri tahr Asian elephant Nilgiri langur and gaur 41 42 43 The endemic Malabar large spotted civet is estimated to number fewer than 250 mature individuals with no sub population greater than 50 individuals 44 The Nilgiri marten brown palm civet stripe necked mongoose Indian brown mongoose small Indian civet and leopard cat are the small carnivores living in the forests of the Western Ghats 45 The hill ranges constitute important wildlife corridors and form an important part of Project Elephant and Project Tiger reserves The largest tiger population lives in the Western Ghats where there are seven populations with an estimated population size of 1200 individuals occupying 21 435 km2 8 276 sq mi of forest in three major landscape units spread across Karnataka Tamil Nadu and Kerala 46 The Western Ghats ecoregion has the largest Indian elephant population in the wild with an estimated 11 000 individuals across eight distinct populations 47 48 The endemic Nilgiri tahr which was on the brink of extinction has recovered and has an estimated 3 122 individuals in the wild 49 About 3500 lion tailed macaques live scattered over several areas in the Western Ghats 50 Reptiles Edit At least 227 species of reptiles are found in the Western Ghats 51 The major population of the snake family Uropeltidae is restricted to the region 52 Several endemic reptile genera and species occur here including the cane turtle Vijayachelys silvatica lizards like Salea Ristella Kaestlea and snakes such as Melanophidium Plectrurus Teretrurus Platyplectrurus Xylophis and Rhabdops Species level endemism is much higher and is common to almost all genera present here Some enigmatic endemic reptiles include venomous snakes such as the king cobra the striped coral snake the Malabar pit viper the large scaled pitviper and the horseshoe pitviper The region has a significant population of the mugger crocodile 53 Amphibians Edit The amphibians of the Western Ghats are diverse and unique with more than 80 of the 179 amphibian species being endemic to the rainforests of the mountains 54 The purple frog was discovered in 2003 55 Several species of frogs namely of the genera Micrixalus Indirana and Nyctibatrachus are endemic to this region Endemic genera include the toads Pedostibes Ghatophryne and Xanthophryne arboreal frogs such as Ghatixalus Mercurana and Beddomixalus and microhylids like Melanobatrachus New frog species were described from the Western Ghats in 2005 and more recently a new species monotypic in its genus Mysticellus was discovered 56 57 The region is also home to many caecilian species There are many species of amphibians which are yet to be discovered at every elevation of the Western Ghats 58 Deforestation is threatening these amphibians through direct habitat loss and through increased risk of landslides 59 Fish Edit nbsp Denison barb is endemic to only three rivers in the Western GhatsAs of 2004 update 288 freshwater fish species were listed for the Western Ghats including 35 also known from brackish or marine water 12 Several new species have been described from the region since then e g Dario urops and S sharavathiensis 60 61 There are 118 endemic species including 13 genera entirely restricted to the Western Ghats Betadevario Dayella Haludaria Horabagrus Horalabiosa Hypselobarbus Indoreonectes Lepidopygopsis Longischistura Mesonoemacheilus Parapsilorhynchus Rohtee and Travancoria 62 There is a higher fish richness in the southern part of the Western Ghats than in the northern 62 and the highest is in the Chalakudy River which alone holds 98 species 63 Other rivers with high species numbers include the Periyar Bharatapuzha Pamba and Chaliyar as well as upstream tributaries of the Kaveri Pambar Bhavani and Krishna rivers 62 The most species rich families are the Cyprinids 72 species hillstream loaches 34 species including stone loaches now regarded a separate family Bagrid catfishes 19 species and Sisorid catfishes 12 species 12 62 63 The region is home to several brilliantly coloured ornamental fishes like the Denison or red line torpedo barb 64 melon barb several species of Dawkinsia barbs zebra loach Horabagrus catfish dwarf pufferfish and dwarf Malabar pufferfish 65 The rivers are also home to Osteobrama bakeri and larger species such as the Malabar snakehead and Malabar mahseer 66 A few are adapted to an underground life including some Rakthamichthys swampeels 67 and the catfish Horaglanis and Kryptoglanis 68 According to the IUCN 97 freshwater fish species from the Western Ghats were considered threatened in 2011 including 12 critically endangered 54 endangered and 31 vulnerable 62 All but one Tor khudree of these are endemic to the Western Ghats An additional 26 species from the region are considered data deficient their status is unclear at present The primary threats are from habitat loss but also from overexploitation and introduced species 62 Birds Edit nbsp The Nilgiri wood pigeonThere are at least 508 bird species Most of Karnataka s five hundred species of birds are from the Western Ghats region 69 70 There are at least 16 species of birds endemic to the Western Ghats including the endangered rufous breasted laughingthrush the vulnerable Nilgiri wood pigeon white bellied shortwing and broad tailed grassbird the near threatened grey breasted laughingthrush black and rufous flycatcher Nilgiri flycatcher and Nilgiri pipit and the least concern Malabar blue winged parakeet Malabar grey hornbill white bellied treepie grey headed bulbul rufous babbler Wayanad laughingthrush white bellied blue flycatcher and the crimson backed sunbird 71 Insects Edit There are roughly 6 000 insect species 72 Of 334 Western Ghats butterfly species 316 species have been reported from the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve 73 The Western Ghats are home to 174 species of odonates 107 dragonflies and 67 damselflies including 69 endemics 62 Most of the endemic odonate are closely associated with rivers and streams while the non endemics typically are generalists 62 There are several species of leeches found all along the Western Ghats 74 Mollusks Edit Seasonal rainfall patterns of the Western Ghats necessitate a period of dormancy for its land snails resulting in their high abundance and diversity including at least 258 species of gastropods from 57 genera and 24 families 75 A total of 77 species of freshwater molluscs 52 gastropods and 25 bivalves have been recorded from the Western Ghats but the actual number is likely higher 62 This include 28 endemics Among the threatened freshwater molluscs are the mussels Pseudomulleria dalyi which is a Gondwanan relict and the snail Cremnoconchus which is restricted to the spray zone of waterfalls 62 According to the IUCN 4 species of freshwater molluscs are considered endangered and 3 are vulnerable An additional 19 species are considered data deficient 62 Flora Edit nbsp Tropical rainforest AgumbeThe dominant forest type here is tropical rainforest Montane forests tropical dry forests and tropical moist forests are also found here Of the 7 402 species of flowering plants occurring in the Western Ghats 5 588 species are native or indigenous and 376 are exotics naturalised 1 438 species are cultivated or planted as ornamentals Among the indigenous species 2 253 species are endemic to India and of them 1 273 species are exclusively confined to the Western Ghats Apart from 593 confirmed subspecies and varieties 66 species 5 subspecies and 14 varieties of doubtful occurrence are also reported amounting to 8 080 taxa of flowering plants 76 Various plant species are endemic to the Western Ghats including the palm tree Bentinckia condapanna and the flower Strobilanthes kunthiana 77 A number of plant species are also Critically Endangered such as Dipterocarpus bourdillonii and Phyllanthus anamalayanus Echinops sahyadricus is endemic to the mountains and the specific epithet sahyadricus is refers to them 78 Threats EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed January 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message nbsp Forest fires 2019The Western Ghats face a lot of issues Poaching deforestation forest fires extra hunting and dangers to native tribes are the main threats Despite the 1972 Indian law of that banned poaching people still tend to illegally hunt down animals such as tigers elephants and chital for skin fur or tusks Forests here are being destroyed for farming or livestock Animals that eat livestock are also being killed by farmers Forest fires take place annually during the dry summer season especially in the Nagarhole Bandipur Wayanad Mudumalai Satyamangalam BRT block which has the most biodiverse locations in the Western Ghats with the largest populations of tigers and elephants residing there Native tribes of the Western Ghats are being evicted from their homelands This results in degradation of the tribal culture The rich biodiversity in both flora and fauna have made the Western Ghats a target for many corporate companies to gain resources This however is checked by the Government of India and the State Governments to protect the Western Ghats See also EditGhat Roads Eastern GhatsNotes Edit a b Western Ghats Archived from the original on 4 July 2018 Retrieved 15 January 2019 Western Ghats UNESCO World Heritage Centre UNESCO World Heritage Centre Archived from the original on 4 July 2018 Retrieved 1 April 2023 Myers N Mittermeier R A Mittermeier C G Da Fonseca G A B Kent J 2000 Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities Nature 403 6772 853 858 Bibcode 2000Natur 403 853M doi 10 1038 35002501 PMID 10706275 S2CID 4414279 Migon P 2010 Geomorphological Landscapes of the World Springer p 257 ISBN 978 90 481 3054 2 A biodiversity hotspot Archived from the original on 18 January 2019 Retrieved 15 January 2019 Western Ghats UNESCO Archived from the original on 18 January 2013 Retrieved 3 January 2013 Lewis C 2012 39 sites in Western Ghats get world heritage status The Times of India Archived from the original on 7 July 2012 Retrieved 21 February 2013 Peninsular Plateau of India Archived from the original on 27 February 2023 Retrieved 27 February 2023 The Peninsula Asia Pacific Mountain Network Archived from the original on 12 August 2007 Retrieved 19 March 2007 Nayar T S Rasiya Beegam A Sibi M 2014 Flowering Plants of the Western Ghats India 2 Volumes Thiruvananthapuram India Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute Myers N Mittermeier R A Mittermeier C G Fonseca G A B Da Kent J 2000 Biodiversity Hotspots for Conservation Priorities Nature 403 6772 853 858 Bibcode 2000Natur 403 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18 April 2022 References EditMahajan Harshal A rendezvous with Sahyadri Ingalhalikar Shrikant Flowers of Sahyadri Corolla Publication Pune Wikramanayake Eric Eric Dinerstein Colby J Loucks et al 2002 Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo Pacific a Conservation Assessment Island Press Washington DC Kapadia Harish Trek the Sahyadris Daniels R J Ranjit Wildlife institute of India Biodiversity in the Western Ghats Ajith Kumar Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History Coimbatore India Ravi Chellam B C Choudhury Divya Mudappa Karthikeyan Vasudevan N M Ishwar Wildlife Institute of India Dehra Dun India Barry Noon Department of Fish and Wildlife Biology Colorado State University Fort Collins U S 2002 Impact of Rainforest Fragmentation on Small Mammals and Herpetofauna in the Western Ghats South India Final Report pp 146 illus Full text retrieved 14 March 2007 Verma Desh Deepak 2002 Thematic Report on Mountain Ecosystems Ministry of Environment and Forests 13pp retrieved 27 March 2007 Thematic Report on Mountain Ecosystems Full text detailed data not cited Abstracts Edited by Lalitha Vijayan Saconr Vasudeva University of Dharwad Priyadarsanan ATREE Renee Borges CES ISSC Jagdish Krishnaswamy Atree amp WCSP Pramod Sacon Jagannatha Rao R FRLHTR J Ranjit Daniels Care Earth Compiled by S Somasundaram Sacon 1 2 December 2005 Integrating Science and Management of Biodiversity in the Western Ghats 2nd National Conference of the Western Ghats Forum Venue State Forest Service College Coimbatore Organized by Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History Anaikatty Coimbatore 641108 India Sponsored by Ministry of Environment and Forests Government of India Supported by The Arghyam Foundation The Ford Foundation amp Sir Dorabiji Trust Through Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment ATREE Shifting Cultivation Sacred Groves and Conflicts in Colonial Forest Policy in the Western Ghats Archived 23 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine M D Subash Chandran Chapter 22External links EditWestern Ghats UNESCO World Heritage site Western Ghats WWF Portals nbsp India nbsp EcologyWestern Ghats at Wikipedia s sister projects nbsp Media from Commons nbsp Travel guides from Wikivoyage nbsp Media related to Western Ghats at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Western Ghats amp oldid 1179045074, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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