page_title: Protected areas of Tamil Nadu
section_title: Bird sanctuaries
hierarchical_section_title: Protected areas of Tamil Nadu / Bird sanctuaries
caption_attribution_description: Spot billed pelican
context_page_description: The Protected areas of Tamil Nadu State in South India cover an area of 3,305 km², constituting 2.54% of the geographic area and 15% of the 22,643 km² recorded forest area. It ranks 14th among all the States and Union Territories of India in terms of total protected area.
  Creation and administration of Protected areas in South India originated with the Maharajas of the Southern Princely States' private hunting grounds. The Mudumalai National Park, established in 1940, was the first modern Wildlife Sanctuary in South India. Most protected areas throughout its 30 Districts are under the stewardship of the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Tamil Nadu Forest Department.
context_section_description: Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary: .48 km² (0.19 sq mi)
  Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary: 1.04 km² (0.40 sq mi)
  Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary: 4.54 km² (1.75 sq mi)
  Karikili Bird Sanctuary
  Koothankulam Bird Sanctuary: 1.2933 km² (0.4993 sq mi)
  Melaselvanur – Kilaselvanur Bird Sanctuary: 5.93 km² (2.29 sq mi).
  Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary: 17.26 km² (6.66 sq mi)
  Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary: 461.02 km² (178.00 sq mi)
  Udayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary: .45 km² (0.17 sq mi)
  Vaduvoor Bird Sanctuary: 1.28 km² (0.49 sq mi)
  Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary: .3 km² (0.12 sq mi)
  Vellode Birds Sanctuary: .772 km² (0.298 sq mi)
  Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary: .344 km² (0.133 sq mi)
  Viralimalai Peacock Sanctuary]]
  Kallaperambur Lake near Thanjavur
  Suchindram Theroor Birds Sanctuary
caption: Near threatened spot-billed pelican
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