List of protected areas of Tamil Nadu
The Protected areas of Tamil Nadu State in South India cover an area of , constituting 2.54% of the geographic area and 15% of the 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 (India) and the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. Biosphere reserves. The three Biosphere Reserves in Tamil Nadu are: National parks. <div> Tamil Nadu has five National Parks covering . Wildlife sanctuaries. Tamil Nadu has the following wildlife sanctuaries: Elephant reserves. Tamil Nadu participates in Project Elephant, and has five elephant sanctuaries. Tiger reserves. Though The 2008 census indicated a decline in tiger population all over India, the only exception was in Tamil Nadu where the animals' numbers have increased to 76 from 60 five years ago. Tamil Nadu participates in Project Tiger and  has four tiger reserves: Zoos. Two zoos in Tamil Nadu are recognised by the Central Zoo Authority of India. The state has many other smaller zoos as well. Crocodile farms. Tamil Nadu five crocodile farms: Regional cooperation. Senior forestry officials cooperate on mutual issues concerning conservation and protection of forests and wildlife of the region. A regular conference of the forest ministers and forest officials of the southern states is held once a year, in rotation in each State. The Forest Ministers of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, senior officials of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government  of India, Forest Secretaries of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Special Secretary for Forests, Andhra Pradesh, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, together with the senior forest officials of these states and the Union Territory of Pondicherry, met at Thiruvananthapuram on 3 and 4 November 2006 and resolved several mutual issues concerning conservation and protection of forests and wildlife of the region. This formalization of interstate cooperation on protected areas administration improves effectiveness in the areas of: daily staff communication including common wireless frequencies, joint enforcement action, boundary survey and demarcation, management of cross  border resources like Biosphere Reserves, National Parks, Tiger reserves and Wildlife Sanctuaries, technology, staff and intelligence sharing and coordinated communication with the Government of India, especially allotting more funds for conservation and forestation activities of State Forest Departments by the Union Government. The second meeting was held at Bangalore on 21 and 22 September 2007. The third meeting was held at Hyderabad on 25 and 26 October 2008.