- Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is located in Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu.
- It consists of the Kanyakumari Wildlife sanctuary and the Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary.
- It is a part of the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve.
- In 1962, the Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary was established and declared as Nation’s first Tiger Sanctuary.
- In 1976, the Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary was established. It was primarily created to protect the endangered Lion-tailed Macaques (Macaca silenus).
- In 1988, both the Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary and Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary were merged to form the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.
- It was declared as the “First Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu” and the 17th Tiger Reserve of the country.
- Area: The Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve spans a total area of 1601.542 square kilometers.
- Core: 895.000 sq.km
- Buffer: 706.542 sq.km
- Total: 1601.542 sq.km
- River: This tiger reserve also known as the “River Sanctuary. Among the notable rivers flowing through the reserve are:
- Thambraparani
- Ramanadi
- Karayar
- Servalar
- Manimuthar
- Pachayar
- Kodaiyar
- Gadananathi
- Kallar
- Flora: West Coast Tropical Evergreen Forests (rosewood, teak, ebony, and bamboo), Southern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forests (teak, jackfruit, neem, and Indian laurel), Southern Moist Mixed Deciduous Forests (white cedar, Indian gooseberry, and flame of the forest), Ochlandra Reed Brakes, Tropical Riparian Fringing Forests (cluding ficus, Indian beech, and fig trees), Montane Wet Grassland etc.
- Fauna: Tiger, Asian Elephant, Leopard, Lion Tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Tahr, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Sloth Bear, Indian Gaur, Nilgiri Pipit, Indian Rock Python, Monitor Lizards etc.