Mukurthi National Park
| Mukurthi National Park | |
|---|---|
Nilgiri tahr in montane grasslands | |
| Location | Nilgiri District, Tamil Nadu |
| Coordinates | 11°16′N 76°28.5′E / 11.267°N 76.4750°E |
| Area | 78.46 km2 (30.29 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2629 |
| Established | 12 December 2001 |
| Website | www |
Mukurthi National Park is a 78.46 km2 (30.29 sq mi) national park in the western Nilgiris mountains of Tamil Nadu in South India. It was created to protect its keystone species, the Nilgiri tahr. It is part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India's first International Biosphere Reserve. As part of the Western Ghats, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1 July 2012. It is characterised by montane grasslands and shrublands interspersed with sholas, high rainfall, near-freezing temperatures and strong winds. It harbours Bengal tiger and Asian elephant.