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Point Calimere is situated at the southern end of Nagappattnam district, Tamil Nadu and was initially identified as an area of high conservation significance. The sanctuary of Point Calimere is divided into three zones, which are the Point Calimere Forest, the mangrove forests at Muthupet and the mangroves of TRF. It is the breeding ground for many species of marine fishes, which are very important to the fisheries of the coast.
It is at the tip of the Cauvery River delta, and marks a right-angle turn in the coastline, which supports the Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary here The Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary was created on June 13, 1967, with an area of 24.17 Sq.km's. In 1988, the sanctuary was expanded to include the Great Vedaranyam Swamp and the Talaignayar Reserve Forest, and named the Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, with a total area of 377 sq.km's.
Point Calimere is a marine coastal wetland with a wide diversity of habitats and ecological features, which includes inter tidal salt marshes, forested wetlands, mangroves and brackish to saline lagoons.
Point Calimere Sanctuary has reported fourteen species of mammals. The large mammals are the Blackbuck, D, wild boar and Jackal. The Flying Fox OF point Calimere, resides in large groups on trees in the mangrove forest at Muthupet. The blackbuck of Point Calimere is one of the three types of blackbuck existing in Tamil Nadu with the other populations in the Guindy National Park and near Satyamangalam
Black Buck Antelope of India
Black Buck is common name for an antelope, associated largely as an Indian animal, and some populations in Pakistan and Nepal. The black buck has ringed horns having spiraled twists and is up to 70 cm long. The adult male is about 80 cm and weighs 32 to 43 kg's. Its upper parts are black and the under parts and a ring around the eyes are white. Males are dark brown.
Conservation Measures
To conserve the blackbuck and other wild animals, an advanced freshwater source has been created. In the watchtowers, overhead tanks have been constructed, to supply water during the drought period and underground pipeline is laid, to connect the tank for the supply of water.
The average rainfall here is about 1500 mm every year from the month of July.
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