Wildlife Within the City - Chennai, South India
Wilderness Within City Limits for Wildlife Watchers and Birders
Chennai, or Madras as it used to be called (and still is, by many die-hard loyalists), is fascinating to wildlife lovers and birders alike on account of its amazing biodiversity.
Within the city limits lie the Guindy National Park, home to the highly endangered black buck. Not far from the Park is the Adayar Estuary, where the Adayar River meets the Bay of Bengal. Adjoining the Guindy National Park is the sprawling campus of the Indian Institute of Science, home to free ranging spotted deer or chital. A little beyond is Nanmangalam, a quarried wilderness known for its nesting pairs of Great Horned Owls, fox and mongoose. At the other end of Chennai is Ennore Island, another example of the city’s coastal ecology.
Guindy National Park: Sanctuary for the Black Buck
Declared a sanctuary on account of the small breeding population of Black Buck that live here, Guindy National Park is great for a half day’s or day’s excursion. Prior permission is required from the wildlife warden. The black buck population, however, is dwindling on account of competition for grass from the rapidly multiplying chital, and because construction of a wall has restricted mobility of herds. Other lesser wildlife that might be spotted include jackal and mongoose. A lake at one end of the park attracts stray water birds.
Campus of the Indian Institute of Technology
Some years ago, it was not at all surprising for vehicles driving into the campus at night to pick up a deer crossing the road in the headlights. While the deer population continues to grow within the campus, casual visitors are not allowed to drive or walk in. However, if you know someone within the Institute, visiting is allowed.
Kattupalli Island in Ennore: Near Pulicat Lake
Rapid development is threatening to destroy this prime example of a coastal ecosystem which is linked to the mouth of the famous Pulicat Lake through a waterway. Drained by the Buckingham Canal on one side and backwaters on the other, this island strip also has strange dune-like formations. The thorn scrub shelters lesser wildlife, though construction and habitation is taking its toll.
Lesser Wildlife in other Green Lungs
There are other several other green lungs in the city that are home to fox, jackal, mongoose and a variety of snakes. The Theosophical Society, pockets of Tambaram, the campus of the Madras Christian College are a few such. Till a few years ago, even gardens of large independent bungalows in areas like Kilpauk used to shelter mongoose and snakes, including cobras. Bonnet macaques are still seen once in a while in certain neighbourhoods.
To nature-lovers and wildlife enthusiasts, Chennai can offer several days of interesting watching. While blackbuck and spotted deer top the list, the city might be willing to share her secrets of lesser wildlife to visitors who have the patience.
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