Flora and Fauna in Western and Eastern Ghats
Western Ghats
- The Western Ghats is home to tens of thousands species of animals and plants. There are some 325 globally threatened animal species.
- A third of the plants, half the reptiles, and more than three-fourths of the amphibians known in India are found in the Northern region of the Western Ghats.
- The Southern Western Ghats which cover Kerala and Tamil Nadu are rich in plant and animal biodiversity. Its 35 million hectares host the biggest expanses of Asian elephants ( about 30 % of the world’s population) and Bengal tigers (about 4 % of the world’s tigers). A large number of animals–including Nilgiri tahr, Malabar civet, lion-tailed macaques and mugger crocodiles–are found here.
- There are something like 4000 to 5000 native plant species in the Western Ghats.
- Because it houses 16 endemic breedic species, the Western Ghats has been designated an endemic bird area.
- Some 48 biodi-versityprotected areas in the Western Ghats are named World heritage sites. The largest protected area in the Western Ghats is the contiguous stretch of the Nilgiri biosphere reserve, the Mukurthi national park and the Mudumalai National park.
Eastern Ghats
- Indian elephants, sambar deer, Asian palm civet, Bengal tiger, mongoose, wild dogs, porcupines, golden jackal, jungle cat, Indian boar, mugger crocodile, Indian meerkat, Indian black turtle, spot-billed pelican and Malabar pied hornbills are found chiefly in the
- The forests of the Eastern Ghats of India have very nearly 2500 species of flowering plants, about 13 % of India’s total.
- You can also find many threatened plant species here, such as Mara Uri, Hildegardia populifolia, and valuable trees such as Eetti (Dalbergia latifolia), Semmaram (Pterocarpus santalinus), Vengai (Pterocarpus marsupium), Pala (Artocarpus heterophyllus
- Large-scale plantations grow coffee, tea, silver oak and orchards.
Western and Eastern Ghats of India
Western and Eastern Ghats of India: In India, you’ll find two distinct mountain ranges— the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats—separated by the vast Deccan Plateau. The Western Ghats run parallel to the west coast, and the Eastern Ghats parallel to the east coast. Both areas are rich in plant and animal life and are visited by many tourists. The mountain ranges in the Western Ghats are continuous and in the Eastern Ghats the mountain ranges are discontinuous due to erosion which is caused by rivers flowing in between.
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Table of Content
- Difference Between the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats
- Important Facts about the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats
- Flora and Fauna in Western and Eastern Ghats
- Significance of the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats
- Conclusion
- FAQs on Western and Eastern Ghats