Birds in Srivilliputhur Giant Squirrel Sanctuary
Srivilliputhur Giant Squirrel Sanctuary, located in the diverse vegetation zone of Western Ghats, is home to hundred varieties of birds. Though the sanctuary is famous for the endangered, arboreal grizzled giant squirrel Ratufa macrora, many rare and endemic varieties of flora and fauna are also found along the mountain slopes.
The heterogeneous geographical surroundings of this sanctuary, consisting of dry deciduous forests, moist, mixed deciduous forests and grasslands, provides an ecologically rich habitat to a large number of birds, including several endemic species and others coming during the breeding season.
A long list can be drawn of the magnificent birds present here and the most popular among these is the rare great Indian hornbill. The Great Indian Hornbills are one of the largest hornbills and these are found on sea level up to 5000 feet above ground. Great Indian Hornbills like to eat various types of berries. Hornbills swallow most of their food whole instead of breaking it down first. Hornbills are famous for their nesting ritual.
Now these beautiful hornbills are becoming rare, mainly due to their large hunting for their meat and destruction of their natural habitat. Hopefully protection and restoration of destructed forest areas food-tree resources, will aid the conservation of hornbills in the region.
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