Poster about endemic flora and fauna of Western Ghats

Kerala - God's own country

Blessed with natural habitats and ecosystems like the serene beaches, enchanting backwaters, mist clad hills stations, lush forests, diverse wildlife, scintillating waterfalls, extensive plantations, tropical islands, invigorating monsoons, ayurvedic health centres, historic monuments, sacred pilgrim centres, magical festivals, spectacular art forms, splendid cultural heritage, spectacular boat races, spicy cuisine... and lots and lots more.

Western Ghats - Hotspot of Biodiversity

The Western Ghats, known locally as the Sahyadri Hills, are formed by the Malabar Plains and the chain of mountains running parallel to India's western coast, about 30 to 50 kilometers inland. They cover an area of about 160,000 km2 and stretch for 1,600 kilometers from the country's southern tip to Gujarat in the north, interrupted only by the 30 kilometers Palghat Gap.

• Coordinates - 8°18' and 12°48' N latitudes & 74°52' and 72°22' E longitudes
• Total area - 38,863 sq.km (1.18 % of the country)
• Varying width of 35 to 120 kms
• Bordered in the east by Western Ghats and west by Arabian Sea
• Population - 3,18,41,374
• Density of Population - 819 per sq.km.
• Literacy rate - 90.86% (Male 94.24%; Female 87.72%)
• High average annual rainfall of 300cm
• 44 rivers criss crossing the State
• Coastline - 590 km
• Waterbody area -108,760 ha
• Varied topography and undulating terrain
• Total forest area 10,815 sq.km
• Lush green vegetation, high range of biodiversity
• Three Ramsar Sites - Ashtamudi, Sasthamkotta, Vembanad - Kol
• 24 Important Bird Areas
• 5 National Parks
• 13 Wildlife Sanctuaries

Endemic flora and fauna of Western Ghats

• Mammals - 14 (120)
• Reptiles - 97 (156)
• Birds - 19 (508)
• Butterflies - 32 (320)
• Fish - 116 (218)
• Amphibians - 94 (121)

(Numbers in the bracket shows total number of species in India)

• There are above 4000 species of flowering plants in Western Ghats, of which, 1500 are endemic
• About 3872 species of flowering plants are reported from Kerala, of which 1272 are endemic
• About 365 tree species are endemic to the Western Ghats

Reasons for the high biodiversity

• Falls in the tropical belt
• High rainfall with two distinct monsoons
• Undulating terrain
• Extreme habitat diversity
• Tropical forests along the windward side