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Like the rain forests in the northern half of the Western Ghats, these high-elevation forests bring to mind the word "jungle." Trees, vines, ferns, and many other plants grow in profusion watered by rains from two monsoon seasons. The country’s largest elephant population is found in the large expanse of grasslands interspersed with stunted forests known locally as shola forests.
Like the rain forests to the north, the defining characteristic for these forests is the drenching rain that comes every year. Some pockets of the forest receive over 315 inches (800 cm) during the year. What makes this area truly incredible is not just the variety of plants and animals, but also their uniqueness. Over half of the tree species are endemic. About 90 species of reptiles and almost 50 percent of India’s 206 species of amphibians are also endemic to this ecoregion.
The range of the rare Nilgiri tahr or "cloud goat" is limited to a narrow strip of shola forest only 249 miles (400 km) long. As tahrs browse for food, they must take care to avoid predators such as tigers, leopards, and wild dogs. Another endemic and endangered animal, the lion-tailed macaque, lives in the canopy of the rain forests. This black monkey has a golden-gray "mane" around its face and a tuft on its tail that gives it its name.
Large areas of the natural forests have already been cleared for plantations of tea, coffee, potato, teak, and cardamom. Small-scale farmers practicing shifting cultivation are clearing patches of old-growth forest. Other threats to this area include livestock grazing, mining, road construction, and tourism. Along the big rivers, dam construction causes tremendous habitat destruction and disturbances. For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report. All text by World Wildlife Fund © 2001
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