Tamil Nadu Wildlife
Tamil Nadu has a varied and diverse topography, which supports a variety of flora and fauna. About 18 percent of the total geographical area of the state is under forests. These forests stretch over the plain and the mountains. Dry-deciduous forests, scrubs, thorn forests and mangroves are spread over dry lands while the Western Ghats and other cooler regions support moist deciduous, wet evergreen forests, grasslands and Sholas (Sholas are a form of montane wet temperate forests, which occur predominantly in sheltered pockets of the Nilgiris and Upper Palni areas of Tamil Nadu).
The mixed deciduous forests of the Western Ghats region are home to a majority of plant species found in Tamil Nadu.These hills are an ideal refuge for elephants, bisons, tigers, deer and monkeys.The Nilgiri hills have a number of medicinal plants and a variety of flowers. Cinchona and eucalyptus are some of the examples. Medicinal herbs are also found in the Palani hills and Courtallam. Tirunelveli district is known for the Palmyra tree, whose products are used as raw materials for several cottage industries. Rubber is the main plantation crop in Kanyakumari while sandalwood grows in the Javadi hills of Vellore district.
The animal life in Tamil Nadu is also varied. Several wildlife sanctuaries and National Parks have been set up to preserve the animal life in the state. Wildlife sanctuaries like Madumalai and Annamalai are situated in the Western Ghats. These hills provide ideal conditions for a variety of animal and plant life. In all, there are five National Parks and seventeen wildlife sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu.Some of the important wildlife sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu are the Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalakadu Wildlife Sanctuary, Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary, Kunthakulam Bird Sanctuary, Mundanthurai Tiger Sanctuary, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, the Viralimalai Sanctuary and the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary.The Marine National Park and the Guindy National Park are one of the most visited places.
Most Famous Wildlife In Tamil Nadu 
1. Anna Zoological Park
Anna Zoological Park ChennaiSituated at Vandalur, in the outskirts of Chennai, the Anna zoological park is one of the modern zoos of India and the biggest in South East Asia. The zoological Park spreads over an area of about 510 hectares of dry evergreen forests.
[Read more on Anna Zoological Park] 
2. Mudumalai Wildlife
The Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary is located where the Nilgiri Hills, the offshoot of the Western Ghats meet the Eastern Ghats. The Mysore - Ooty highway runs through the sanctuary, following the course of the Mayyar River, which separates Mudumalai from Bandipur.This 321-sq-kms wide sanctuary encompasses a National Park measuring an area of 103-sq-kms.
[Read more on Mudumalai Wildlife]
3. Chennai Crocodile Bank
The Chennai Crocodile Bank is located about 44 Km from the Chennai city. This crocodile bank houses several species of Indian and African crocodiles and alligators. Here, the crocodiles are kept in their natural environment in open pools and can be viewed from safe proximity. The Crocodile farm at Chennai was set up to increase the crocodile population of the wildlife sanctuaries in the country.
[Read more on Chennai Crocodile Bank] 
4. Anamali Wildlife Sanctuary
Anamalai wildlife sanctuary is about 90-kms from Coimbatore and is situated at an altitude of 1,400 meters in the Western Ghats near Pollachi. The area of the sanctuary is 958-sq-kms. An ecological paradise, this sanctuary encompasses a National Park. It has just recently been renamed as Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary.
[Read more on Anamali Wildlife Sanctuary]
5. Guindy National Park
Guindy National Park is one of the prime visiting spots for those who come to Chennai during vacation period. It attracts visitors over three lakhs during a season. A recommended picnic spot for the entire family to spend a day amidst nature and return home joyfully in the evening.
[Read more on Guindy National Park]
6. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
One of the most spectacular breeding grounds in India. Cormorants, herons, storks, pelicans, grebes and many others.The Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary has been protected by the local people for well over 250 years. The sanctuary gets its name from a nearby village and is only 75 Km from Chennai. The bird life (resident & visitors) includes Cormorants, Darters, Herons, Egrets, Open billed Stork, Spoonbill and White Ibis, Little Grebe, Indian Moorhen, Black Winged Stilts, a few migratory ducks and occasionally Grey Pelicans.[Read more on Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary]
7. Point Calimere Bird Sanctuary 
Point Calimere Bird Sanctuary Sprawling on 17.26 sq km surrounded by sea and shore, comprising forests of tidal swamps, this sanctuary is situated in Nagapattinam district. It is bestowed with populations of varied wild life such as Chittal, Wild Boar Sprawling on 17.26 sq km surrounded by sea and shore, comprising forests of tidal swamps, dry evergreen forests of mangroves, this sanctuary is situated in the Nagapattinam district. [Read more on Point Calimere Bird Sanctuary]
