The history of HRW & EPA is deeply associated with the history of the Kanan Devan hills.
The Kanan Devan Hills bear the name of the 19th Century Headman/Zamindar of the
Anjanad called Kannan Thevar (which became anglicized later as Kannan Devan). It is said
that the travelers from Madurai to the West Coast in those days gave the hills his name as a
mark of respect to this Headman of Anjanad. Anju + nad in Tamil means five counties.
It is believed that Pallanad, Marayoor, Kanthaloor, Vattavada and Koviloor constituted
Anjanad, for which Kannan Thevar was the Headman. However Muthuvans say that the hills
were named after two Muthuvans called Kannan and Devan, who helped the pioneer planters
in establishing the plantations in the hills. Of these two stories, the true story, as per the
official records, is the former one.
The original inhabitants of the hills are believed to be the Muthuvans, the docile hill tribes of the area. They are said to be the descendants of the Pandyan King in Madurai of Tamil Nadu who, fearing the wrath of Kannaki, (the widowed consort of the mistakenly slain Chola Merchant Kavalan) fled to these hills. That was second century AD. Some among the tribes have a different story to tell us. They say that they are the descendants of the Founder of the Poonjar Principality of the 12th century AD. (Poonjar was once an independent dynasty in the erstwhile Travancore Kingdom, which had to relinquish its sovereignty in later years). However some historians hold the view that the Muthuvans probably came into the Travancore Hills at the time of upheavals in Madurai due to the Mohammadan invasion in early fourteenth century under Malik Kafur or they were driven to these hills in the later part of the fourteenth century when the Telugu Naickers took possession of Bodinaickanoor in Tamil Nadu after the defeat of Mohammadan in the hands of Vijayanagar Kings.
There are many more theories, one of which states that the present Muthuvans are a mix of the above said Tamil refugees over the years and the already existed pre-Dravidian and Negroid featured hill folks in this part of the High Range. Thus the conjectures about the arrival of the Muthuvans could be multiplied almost indefinitely. Later in the 18th Century, in 1790, the first European to set foot on the Kanan Devan Hills was the Duke of Wellington Col. Arthur Wellesley with a master plan to annihilate Tipu Sultan who was devastating the lines of Travancore. However his camp on these hills was short-lived due to the great escape of Tipu from this rugged terrain. More than two decades later, in 1817, Lt.Ward and Lt. Conner of the Madras Army seconded to the Great Trigonometric Survey visited these mountains but could not make a detailed survey of the wild country which had no recorded visit from anyone else from the outside world until 1862. In 1862, General Douglas Hamilton was sent to these hills by Sir Charles Trevelyan, Governor of Madras to find suitable convalescent homes for troops. Later, in 1877, a commission of two representatives was appointed to determine the unsettled boundary between Travancore and Madras Presidency. During the same year, the Poonjar Chief sold a large tract of land known as ‘Kannan Devan Anchanattu Mala’ to J.D. Munro, an Officer of the Independent Kingdom of Travancore and designated Superintendent of the Cardamom Hills, for a permanent and perpetual grant with heritable and transferable rights. This land later came to be known as the Kanan Devan Concession Land in which the Kanan Devan Hills Produce Company Limited-subsidiary of the British Finlays was founded.
It’s a well-scripted heritage. As early as 1900, the European tea planters exhibited the spirit of conservation but “something more than a happy band of brothers was needed, if the game was not to be wiped out.” Hence on 10th November 1928 the first meeting of the High Range Game Preservation Association was convened. There were many pioneer planters who put their heads, hearts and souls together into forming this Association. The High Range Game Preservation Association was started with the main objective of controlling the indiscriminate killing of animals with a view to preserving the varied founa of the area. To actualize this objective, the following activities were accomplished. Since there were no motorable roads, the absence of vehicular traffic helped safeguard of the grandeur and unsullied topography of this haven for wildlife. Poaching activities were severely dealt with and all requests for the horse track into the Eravikulam area to be made into a jeep road were turned down. The Association employed watchmen atdifferent places, gates were fixed and the tea estate managers were in touch with the government officials to curb poaching in the district. The Association also maintained detailed census of wild animals in the area.
Checking the culling out of animals during non-breeding season. Preventing people from entering the game reserve during the breeding season. The members of the Association were appointed honorary elephant wardens and the Chairman of the Association served as a Member on the Wildlife Board of India between 1965-1976. Considering the meri torious service rendered by the Association, the then Divisional Forest Officer, Malaya ttoor even wrote to the General Manager of KDHP Co. Ltd. that “Government, however do not find any objection in investing the nominee of the KDHP Co. Ltd. with the powers of Forest Officers under section 69,80, and 83 of the Travancore Cochin Forest Act in the KDHP area covered by the High Range Game Preservation Association”.
In 1971, the KDHP Co. Ltd. had withdrawn its claim on the Eravikulam area as well as to certain other areas around and including Aneimudi Peak, which for the preceding several years had been administered by the High Range Game Preservation Association under the patronage of the Planting Companies in the High Range and the Association played a very major role in getting the Eravikulam area declared a Sanctuary in 1975 and later a National Park in 1978, seeking redefinition of terms and amendment in the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.
The then Chairman of the High Range Game Preservation Association in his letter to the Secretary to Government, Agriculture(Forest) Department dated February 19, 1974 wrote: “This Association sincerely requests that Government may be pleased to pass orders declaring the area a wildlife sanctuary at the earliest opportunity, and for its part this Association will extend its full co-operation in safeguarding and, if required, helping to administer the area”.
The famous Eravikulam National Park in an area of 97 square kilometres is located in the High Range. It is an integral part of vast stretch of forests extending from Anamallais to the Palani Hills of Tamilnadu. The Park is unique with the shola grassland ecosystem at an average elevation of 2000 metres. This National Park is the first of its kind in Kerala. The climate is temperate. The rolling grass land holds the thin topsoil. And the area has remained undisturbed by human agency from time immemorial. The whole area of Kanan Devan Hills including the National Park is a paradise for naturalists. The precious plant and animal wealth are very rich and well preserved.
The Nilgiri Tahr (Hermitragus hylocorius), an endangered and extremely rare type of mountain goat is protected in this Park. About half the total world population of the tahr is here: between 700 and 800 animals is a thrilling experience to watch them at close quarters. There are other animals like wild elephants, Indian Gaur, Sambur, leopards including black panther and even tiger, which are on the prowl in Eravikulam.
When Eravikulam was declared as Reserve Sanctuary by Kerala Government’s Notification No.8907/FM3/75/AD dated TVM 31.3.1975, Mr. P.T. Devassy, the then Chief Conservator of Forests wrote a quotable letter to the General Manager of Kanan Devan Hills Produce Company Limited thus: “But for the keen interest evinced by the officers of your company and the generous support for the cause of conservation by your company, the population of Nilgiri Tahr would not have been so well protected in the area Let us hope that this is a good beginning made and the Eravikulam-Rajamallay area will develop eventually as an ideal sanctuary for conservation and study of wildlife and particularly that of Nilgiri Tahr …. I seek the co-operation of yourself, your organization, and your officers for this noble purpose. ”In reply, the then General Manager wrote, “assuring continued support and interest in the protection and the conservation of the sanctuary. ”Soon after this, an Expert Committee of the Government of Kerala recommended that the Eravikulam/Rajamallay area should come under the joint management of the Kerala Forest Department and the Association.
The legacy goes on and the natural heritage of the Kanan Devan Hills is continued to be well preserved by the High Range Wildlife and Environment Preservation Association (HRWEPA), the new avatar of the former High Range Game Preservation Association. The HRWEPA is a registered body under the Travancore Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act 1955, in March 1990. Two members of the High Range Wildlife and Environmental Preservation Association continue to serve as members on the State Wildlife Advisory Board. The prime objective of the Association is to continue and improve upon the efforts of nature conservation in the High Range started by the pioneer planters. To achieve this objective, the Association takes up the following activities. Regenerating degraded sholas with native species in the High Range. Assisting the Wildlife Warden of Eravikulam National Park in managing the National Park and in taking wildlife census.
Appointing Muthuvans as watchers, providing them social and medicare and facilitating liaison between the Muthuvans and the Government Department concerned for promoting the tribal welfare schemes of the Government. Assisting research activities in the High Range. Forming nature clubs and organizing nature camps and classes for school children in this part of High Range and in all women colleges in Kerala under the auspices of Kanan Devan Nature Clubs.
As a strong advocate of preserving the natural forests and scenic beauty of these serene hills and dales, the Association did a commendable job in its fight against an ill-conceived plan to open up large tracts of jungle in the name of developing roadways through the High Range. And it has always been up in arms whenever a high rise building tried to pop up its nasty head beyond the agreeable limits in the region. Such genuine concerns and environmentally proactive measures of the Association have naturally antagonized many vested interests with self-centered and avaricious motives. Undeterred and working against all odds, the Association carries on with its nature conservation work.