Wildlife: The topography of Tamil Nadu is delightfully varied and
diverse. Of the 1,30,058 sq km land area, 17.6% is covered with
forest area which spreads over the plain and on mountain slopes.
Dry lands are bestowed with dry-deciduous forests, thorn forests,
scrubs and mangroves. The Western Ghats and a few cooler
regions are endowed with moist deciduous, wet evergreen
forests, sholas and grasslands. There are 5 National Parks and 17
Wildlife Sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu. The Mudumalai Wildlife
Sanctuary is located in the Nilgiri Hills, at a point where the
Western Ghats meet the Eastern Ghats. Situated in the Thuthukudi
district, Vallanadu Sanctuary is a scrub forest area that is spread
over 16.41 sq km. Viralimalai is a small town situated 30 km from
Thiruchirapalli and is bestowed with a large number of wild
peacocks. Sprawling on 17.26 sq km surrounded by sea and shore,
comprising forests of tidal swamps and forests of mangroves,
Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Nagapattinam
district. Indira Gandhi National Sanctuary, spread over 958 sq km,
can be reached from top slip in the Anamalai Hills in the Western
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