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Kallar 200– A long term TNBS Study on Kallar Butterflies
Pavendhan A
[email protected]
Release of Report
200 Butterfly species have been re-
corded from the Butterfly Hotspot, Kal-
lar, says a TNBS study report, released
by Mr. D. Venkatesh, District Forest
Officer of Coimbatore Forest Division
on the occasion of inauguration of first
integrated Birds and Butterflies Survey
of Coimbatore Forest Division on 15 th
December, in Coimbatore. The study
was carried out by the members of The
Nature and Butterfly Society (TNBS).
Releasing the report, the DFO has men-
tioned that sighting of 200 species in
the natural environment within the
protected forest is showing Kallar as a
true butterfly hotspot and department
will take necessary efforts to protect
the butterfly habitat of Kallar.
From (l to r): Mr. A. Pavendhan, TNBS, Mr. D. Boominathan, WWF-India, Mr. D.
Venkatesh, DFO, Coimbatore Forest Division, Mr. P. R. Selvaraj, CNS.
Kallar- An Introduction
Kallar is situated in Mettupalayam Taluk of Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu. A state government run horticulture farm, known
more as Kallar Fruit Garden, said to be established in 1900, is situated here. It is situated 14 Km from Mettupalayam, just a Km
away from the Gundlupet- Coimbatore- Nagapattinam highways, before the ascend starts to the Nilgiri Hills. From Coimbatore
city, it is about 48 Km.
The place comes under the Mettupalayam range of Coimbatore Forest Division and is protected. Tourists and general public
can visit the horticulture farm during working days of the farm between the prescribed visiting hours. The Fruit Garden is situ-
ated on the sides of Kallar river, which run down from Coonoor uphill. The stream eventually joins the River Bhavani near
Odanthurai. The surroundings of Fruit Garden boast some rare flora and fauna and very rich of them. It is an important migra-
tory path and corridor for elephants, when they move from Western Ghats to Eastern Ghats and vice versa, apart from the
resident population. The place is inhabited by wild animals including predatory animals such as Leopards and Tigers. Enough
caution should be exercised by visitors here and should never cross the line to the reserved and protected area without the
permission of authorities other than the permitted area.
The place is situated approxi-
mately 360m above Mean Sea
Level and is humid on most days
with rainfall accounting approxi-
mately 120 cm per year. Although
comes under Coimbatore revenue
division, geographically, it is situ-
ated on the Nilgiris Hills on the
eastern slope, in the foothills.
Well known to the naturalists as a
good birding spot and butterfly
Credit: Google Maps
hotspot, the place has rich host
plants and nectar plants in its
natural occurrence for the butter-
flies and moths (Order: Lepidoptera). The walk from the Highways into the farm, the paths inside the farm and stream side
(need FD permission to approach) are the main pales to look for the butterflies. Butterfly migration is also regularly observed
PATTAMPOOCHI
A TNBS MAGAZINE
WINGS 4 VEINS 1
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