Vallanadu Wildlife Sanctuary

Vallanadu Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area of Tamil Nadu in South India created for the protection of Blackbuck Antelope. Located on an isolated hillock in Vallanadu Village of Srivaikundam Taluk, it is the southernmost place in India where a natural population of Blackbuck exists.

Flora

The sanctuary is a South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forest. The thorny hardwood and xerophytes:Dalbergia multiflora,Dichrostachys cinerea, Acacia latronum, Acacia planifrons, Albizia amara, Zizyphus sp. and a few Azadirachta indica,Dodonia viscosa, Carissa carandus, Pterolobium indicum and Euphorbia Acalypha fruticosa,Ocimum sanctum, species form the under growth.

Fauna

Black buck, Spotted deer, macaques, Jungle cat, Monkeys, Wild cat, Mongoose, Black naped Hare, Scaly Ant eater- Pangolin, Viper and Rat snake live here.

Peacock, Heron, Stork, Grey partridges, Jungle Craws, Commonquails, Pied crested Cuckoo, Crested-hawk Eagle, Black-winged Kite,Curlew, Lapwing, Nightjar, Sparrows, Horned owl, and nearly 100 other species of birds are found in the area.

The Blackbuck population is around 20-40. Thick acacia growth makes it difficult to determine a precise population count. The Blackbucks regularly come out of the scrubs and graze in wastelands on the eastern side of the sanctuary. 

Visitor information

In 2007 Rs. 7 lakh, earmarked under the Centre's "Development of Sanctuaries" scheme will be spent to repair fencing, increase the height of a watchtower by 14 metres, improve the water supply and erect awareness boards. Also, fruit-yielding tree saplings will be planted to attract more birds.

Nearest airport is at Thoothukudi – 22.22 km. Nearest Railway station is Tirunelveli Junction – 16.5 km  away.