Vallanadu Blackbuck Sanctuary

Vallanadu Wildlife Sanctuary was created to protect the blackbuck. It occupies an isolated hillock near Vallanadu village in Srivaikundam taluk, the southernmost hill of the Eastern Ghats, and is the southernmost place in India with a natural blackbuck population. Tirunelveli Junction, the closest railway station, is 16.5 km off, and the nearest airport is at Vagaikulam, Thoothukudi, about 22 km off.

The vegetation is dry deciduous thorn scrub of Dalbergia, Dichrostachys, acacias, Albizia and Zizyphus with a few neem trees. Some 20 to 40 blackbuck live here, though thick acacia makes counting hard, and they often leave the scrub to graze on open ground on the eastern side. Spotted deer, jungle cat, mongoose, black-naped hare and pangolin also occur, along with peafowl, grey partridge, crested hawk-eagle, black-winged kite, horned owl and nearly 100 other bird species. In 2007 funds were set aside for fencing, a taller watchtower and fruit trees to attract birds.