KERALA WILDLIFE
In Kerala there are a large number of wildlife parks and sanctuaries. Kerala is considered to be a green paradise on earth. The dense green forests with a wide variety of animals such as elephants, tigers, deers, leopards etc and water birds provide a great opportunity to the tourists to sight these different creatures.
Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary
Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary is located at a distance of 40 kms from Thodupuzha in Kerala. This sanctuary sprawls over the Thodupuzha and Udumbanchola taluks of Idukki district spanning over 77sq. kms, at an altitude of 450 - 748m above sea level.
The beautiful Idukki reservoir formed by three dams-Cheruthoni, Idukki and Kulamavu - extending to 33 sq. km, adds to the beauty of the sanctuary. A luring lake, a majestic arch dam across two hills, the rich flora & fauna and wandering and playing herds of elephants and gaur are sights that charm you to this captivating canopy of tropical semi-evergreen and deciduous forests. The fauna population here includes Languor, Leopard and Wild Boar.
Wild Population of Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary
The sanctuary has a large variety of flora and fauna. Among the mammals, Elephants, Bison, Sambhar, Deer, Wild Dogs, Jungle Cats, Tiger, Wild Boar etc reptiles such as Cobra, Viper, Krait and a large number of non- poisonous snakes can be seen.
Jungle Fowl, Myna, Laughing Thrush, Black Bulbul, Peafowl, Woodpecker, Kingfisher etc also inhabit the place in large numbers.
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Situated high in the ranges of the Western Ghats, in God’s Own Country, Kerala, is the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, also know as the Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary at Thekkady in Kerala, is one of the 16 Project Tiger Reserves in India. The picturesque Periyar Lake at the heart of the sanctuary is one major attraction of the region. Formed with the building of a dam in 1895, this reservoir meanders around the contours of the wooded hills, providing a permanent source of water for the local wildlife. Though it’s a Tiger Reserve, tourists come here to view the Indian elephants moving freely all around with their complete family of adult and kid elephants. Famous for its pachyderm population (which is around 800 in number), Periyar Wildlife Reserve is probably one of the few places, where one can observe the elephants in their natural habitats.
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
12 Kms from Kottayam, Kerala, and Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is situated on the banks of the Vembanad Lake. The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is known for its varied avian population. Local varieties such as waterfowls, cuckoos and owls, as well as the migratory Siberian Cranes can be viewed here.
Sprawling over 101 acres of enchanting wooded land and lake, the Kumarakom Tourist Complex, which was built around the 50-year-old 'Baker's Mansion', has been renovated in grand style by the Taj Kerala Resorts Ltd. Earlier this complex was a small hotel run by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC).
Peppara
Peppara wildlife sanctuary is on the Western Ghats in Nedumangad Taluk. This sanctuary includes part of Palode and Kottoor Reserve forests. It was established as a sanctuary in the year 1983 due to its ecological importance. The forest types in this sanctuary include tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist mixed deciduous forests. Some other attractions of this sanctuary are dam, eucalyptus plantation, rocky terrain, rich fauna and flora etc. There are about 13 tribes settled in this place.
The topography consists of lakes, rivers, mountains, backwaters, forests and farms. The only freshwater lake in Kerala called Sasthamkotta Lake is in this district. The main rivers are Kallada River and Ithikkara River. A major fishing port called Neendakara is located on the banks of Ashtamudi. A large area of this district is covered by forests and there is a Wildlife Sanctuary here called as Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary.
Neyyar
The Neyyar wildlife sanctuary was set up in 1958 and it is covered with around 12,000 hectares of vegetation. It has a wide variety of flora and fauna. The vegetation consists of tropical evergreen, mixed deciduous, sub tropical savannahs etc. It acts drainage for the Neyyar River and the tributaries Mullayar and Kallar. The peak Agasthyamalai which has a height of 1890 m lies in this park. This peak has a large variety of plant species which includes medicinal plants and rare orchids. The animals found here include Elephants, Sloth bear, Nilgiri Tahr, Python etc.
Eravikulam
The Eravikulam National Park is situated in the Idukki district. It was established with the aim of protecting the endangered species Nilgiri Tahr. But due to its wide range of flora and fauna and also its ecology, it was considered as a National Park. Around 16 km northeast of Munnar is the hill side where the Neelakurinji flower is grown which blossoms once in 12 years.
A large variety of animals are found here such as the Atlas Moth which is the largest of this species found in the world. It is one of the major attractions of this place. An endangered species found in this park is the Nilgiri Tahr which gives pride to this area. The highest peak in south India i.e the Anamudi hills are located here. Nature lovers get s chance to trek in these hills.
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Devikulam in Idukki district. The area around this sanctuary is a protected area and it was declared as a sanctuary in the year 1984. The main vegetation found here are dry thorny forests; it is because this area receives rain only 48 days in a year. Besides there are other vegetative types such as deciduous forests, shoals, grasslands etc. Due to the variation in altitude the area will be plain or covered with rocks and cliffs.
Chinnar is the main place of habitat for Giant Grizzled Squirrel which is an endangered species. There are large numbers of reptiles found here. A reptile called as Albizia lathamii which is an endangered species is seen in the dry forests of Chinnar. There is a wide variety of medicinal plants. The main attraction is the Sandalwood forest. Some other animal species have also been reported as found in these areas such as the White Bison. The rivers namely Chinnar and Pamba flow through this sanctuary. Chinnar River originates from the Kumarikal Malai and then it flows through the state boundary and forms the Amaravati river in Tamil Nadu. River Pamba originates from Anamudi hills and many other small streams join this river. A waterfall is also found here namely the Thoovanam waterfall. The rivers Chinnar, Pamba, Kabani and Bhavani flow towards east.
In Chinnar there are about 11 tribes settled and each tribe is separated from one another by a wall. The main inhabitants among them include Muthuvas and Pulayas. The Forest Department and the Eco Department Committees have taken several measures for promoting and organizing eco tourism. Visitors who come to Chinnar get engaged in trekking activities.
Silent Valley National Park
Silent Valley National Park is located in Nilgiri hills in Palakkad district. This area was explored by a botanist named Robert Wight in the year 1847. It consists of rain forest and tropical moist evergreen forest. The rain forest area is at a height of 1000 m above sea level and forests called as Sholas are at a height of 1500 m.
Earlier the Kerala State Electricity Board has put up plans for setting up a hydroelectric project in this area. As it is a threat for the rich wildlife, an environmentalist Social Movement called as the ‘Save Silent Valley’ was started in the 1970s. This resulted in cancelling the project and the Silent valley was declared as a National Park in the year 1984. Silent Valley is a bio diversity hotspot. The visitor center in this park is at Sairandhri.
This area is popularly called as Sairandhrivanam meaning Sairandhri’s forest. This has got some relation with the Hindu mythology. According to the myth Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas was disguised as Sairandhri during their exile. They believed to have stayed in a cave near to this place. Hence, this place is called as Sairandhri. Similarly there is a river called as Kunthipuzha which flows through this forest. It derived its name from Kunthi, mother of Pandavas.
The area is inhabited by some tribes such as the Mudugar and Irula. People from these tribes work as porters and forest guides etc. Several rare species of animals are found here. Hence it is called as the ‘Richest expressions of life on Earth’. This is an ideal place for nature loving tourists. Silent valley is famous for the Lion tailed Macaque which is an endangered species. The other animals found here include tiger, elephants, leopards, nilgiri langur etc. Besides there are several colored butterflies, reptiles etc.
This park is declared as polythene free zone and so the visitors are not allowed to carry polythene bags into the park. There are leeches found in this area. This insect would stick on to the body and bloat on the blood. So it is advised to wear high angled boots while on your trip to this park. The starting point for Silent valley is Mukkali which is at a distance of 23 kms. The visitors can engage in trekking after getting prior permission from the forest department. They provide the trekkers with a guide to accompany them in their whole trekking journey.
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary is located between the Anamalai ranges in Tamil Nadu and the Nelliampathy ranges in Kerala. It lies at a height of 300 m to 1,400 m above sea level. The world’s oldest and the tallest teak tree lies here and this sanctuary is said to have the first scientifically managed teak plantation. Another main attraction of this sanctuary is the Kannimara teak tress which is around 350 years old.
There are several peaks in this area namely the Karimala Gopuram which is the tallest peak here. Some other major peaks found in this sanctuary include Puliyarapadam and Vengoli malai. The Vengoli peak is said to inhabit the Nilgiri Tahrs. The tourists can climb these peaks and if possible can get a glance of these animals. There are reservoirs that are connected by tunnels and river channels and have a freshwater ecosystem. The rivers Parambikulam, Sholayar and Thekkady rivers flow through these areas. The three dams in this place are the Parambikulam, Thunacadavu and Perivarapallam. Four different tribes of people namely the Kadar, Malasar, Muduvar and Mala Malasar are living here in colonies.
This sanctuary has a wide variety of flora and fauna. Animals like deer, gaur etc can be seen wandering through the outer areas of the sanctuary whereas animals like tiger, Nilgiri marten etc. can be seen deep inside the sanctuary. Besides these there are about 250 species of birds, 285 species of flora and 1320 species of flowering plants.
The activities that can be carried out from here include camping in the forests; take a look of the animals from the watch towers, bird watching, boating, bamboo rafting etc. The tourists can conduct adventurous trips to the hilly areas and can do trekking if they get permission from the Forest Information centre at Anappady. The trekking trails can be soft, medium, tough or adventurous.
Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary | Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary | Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary | Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary | Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary | Eravikulam National park | Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary | Silent Valley National Park | Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary
Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary is located at a distance of 40 kms from Thodupuzha in Kerala. This sanctuary sprawls over the Thodupuzha and Udumbanchola taluks of Idukki district spanning over 77sq. kms, at an altitude of 450 - 748m above sea level.
The beautiful Idukki reservoir formed by three dams-Cheruthoni, Idukki and Kulamavu - extending to 33 sq. km, adds to the beauty of the sanctuary. A luring lake, a majestic arch dam across two hills, the rich flora & fauna and wandering and playing herds of elephants and gaur are sights that charm you to this captivating canopy of tropical semi-evergreen and deciduous forests. The fauna population here includes Languor, Leopard and Wild Boar.
Wild Population of Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary
The sanctuary has a large variety of flora and fauna. Among the mammals, Elephants, Bison, Sambhar, Deer, Wild Dogs, Jungle Cats, Tiger, Wild Boar etc reptiles such as Cobra, Viper, Krait and a large number of non- poisonous snakes can be seen.
Jungle Fowl, Myna, Laughing Thrush, Black Bulbul, Peafowl, Woodpecker, Kingfisher etc also inhabit the place in large numbers.
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Situated high in the ranges of the Western Ghats, in God’s Own Country, Kerala, is the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, also know as the Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary at Thekkady in Kerala, is one of the 16 Project Tiger Reserves in India. The picturesque Periyar Lake at the heart of the sanctuary is one major attraction of the region. Formed with the building of a dam in 1895, this reservoir meanders around the contours of the wooded hills, providing a permanent source of water for the local wildlife. Though it’s a Tiger Reserve, tourists come here to view the Indian elephants moving freely all around with their complete family of adult and kid elephants. Famous for its pachyderm population (which is around 800 in number), Periyar Wildlife Reserve is probably one of the few places, where one can observe the elephants in their natural habitats.
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
12 Kms from Kottayam, Kerala, and Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is situated on the banks of the Vembanad Lake. The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is known for its varied avian population. Local varieties such as waterfowls, cuckoos and owls, as well as the migratory Siberian Cranes can be viewed here.
Sprawling over 101 acres of enchanting wooded land and lake, the Kumarakom Tourist Complex, which was built around the 50-year-old 'Baker's Mansion', has been renovated in grand style by the Taj Kerala Resorts Ltd. Earlier this complex was a small hotel run by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC).
Peppara
Peppara wildlife sanctuary is on the Western Ghats in Nedumangad Taluk. This sanctuary includes part of Palode and Kottoor Reserve forests. It was established as a sanctuary in the year 1983 due to its ecological importance. The forest types in this sanctuary include tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist mixed deciduous forests. Some other attractions of this sanctuary are dam, eucalyptus plantation, rocky terrain, rich fauna and flora etc. There are about 13 tribes settled in this place.
The topography consists of lakes, rivers, mountains, backwaters, forests and farms. The only freshwater lake in Kerala called Sasthamkotta Lake is in this district. The main rivers are Kallada River and Ithikkara River. A major fishing port called Neendakara is located on the banks of Ashtamudi. A large area of this district is covered by forests and there is a Wildlife Sanctuary here called as Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary.
Neyyar
The Neyyar wildlife sanctuary was set up in 1958 and it is covered with around 12,000 hectares of vegetation. It has a wide variety of flora and fauna. The vegetation consists of tropical evergreen, mixed deciduous, sub tropical savannahs etc. It acts drainage for the Neyyar River and the tributaries Mullayar and Kallar. The peak Agasthyamalai which has a height of 1890 m lies in this park. This peak has a large variety of plant species which includes medicinal plants and rare orchids. The animals found here include Elephants, Sloth bear, Nilgiri Tahr, Python etc.
Eravikulam
The Eravikulam National Park is situated in the Idukki district. It was established with the aim of protecting the endangered species Nilgiri Tahr. But due to its wide range of flora and fauna and also its ecology, it was considered as a National Park. Around 16 km northeast of Munnar is the hill side where the Neelakurinji flower is grown which blossoms once in 12 years.
A large variety of animals are found here such as the Atlas Moth which is the largest of this species found in the world. It is one of the major attractions of this place. An endangered species found in this park is the Nilgiri Tahr which gives pride to this area. The highest peak in south India i.e the Anamudi hills are located here. Nature lovers get s chance to trek in these hills.
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Devikulam in Idukki district. The area around this sanctuary is a protected area and it was declared as a sanctuary in the year 1984. The main vegetation found here are dry thorny forests; it is because this area receives rain only 48 days in a year. Besides there are other vegetative types such as deciduous forests, shoals, grasslands etc. Due to the variation in altitude the area will be plain or covered with rocks and cliffs.
Chinnar is the main place of habitat for Giant Grizzled Squirrel which is an endangered species. There are large numbers of reptiles found here. A reptile called as Albizia lathamii which is an endangered species is seen in the dry forests of Chinnar. There is a wide variety of medicinal plants. The main attraction is the Sandalwood forest. Some other animal species have also been reported as found in these areas such as the White Bison. The rivers namely Chinnar and Pamba flow through this sanctuary. Chinnar River originates from the Kumarikal Malai and then it flows through the state boundary and forms the Amaravati river in Tamil Nadu. River Pamba originates from Anamudi hills and many other small streams join this river. A waterfall is also found here namely the Thoovanam waterfall. The rivers Chinnar, Pamba, Kabani and Bhavani flow towards east.
In Chinnar there are about 11 tribes settled and each tribe is separated from one another by a wall. The main inhabitants among them include Muthuvas and Pulayas. The Forest Department and the Eco Department Committees have taken several measures for promoting and organizing eco tourism. Visitors who come to Chinnar get engaged in trekking activities.
Silent Valley National Park
Silent Valley National Park is located in Nilgiri hills in Palakkad district. This area was explored by a botanist named Robert Wight in the year 1847. It consists of rain forest and tropical moist evergreen forest. The rain forest area is at a height of 1000 m above sea level and forests called as Sholas are at a height of 1500 m.
Earlier the Kerala State Electricity Board has put up plans for setting up a hydroelectric project in this area. As it is a threat for the rich wildlife, an environmentalist Social Movement called as the ‘Save Silent Valley’ was started in the 1970s. This resulted in cancelling the project and the Silent valley was declared as a National Park in the year 1984. Silent Valley is a bio diversity hotspot. The visitor center in this park is at Sairandhri.
This area is popularly called as Sairandhrivanam meaning Sairandhri’s forest. This has got some relation with the Hindu mythology. According to the myth Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas was disguised as Sairandhri during their exile. They believed to have stayed in a cave near to this place. Hence, this place is called as Sairandhri. Similarly there is a river called as Kunthipuzha which flows through this forest. It derived its name from Kunthi, mother of Pandavas.
The area is inhabited by some tribes such as the Mudugar and Irula. People from these tribes work as porters and forest guides etc. Several rare species of animals are found here. Hence it is called as the ‘Richest expressions of life on Earth’. This is an ideal place for nature loving tourists. Silent valley is famous for the Lion tailed Macaque which is an endangered species. The other animals found here include tiger, elephants, leopards, nilgiri langur etc. Besides there are several colored butterflies, reptiles etc.
This park is declared as polythene free zone and so the visitors are not allowed to carry polythene bags into the park. There are leeches found in this area. This insect would stick on to the body and bloat on the blood. So it is advised to wear high angled boots while on your trip to this park. The starting point for Silent valley is Mukkali which is at a distance of 23 kms. The visitors can engage in trekking after getting prior permission from the forest department. They provide the trekkers with a guide to accompany them in their whole trekking journey.
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary is located between the Anamalai ranges in Tamil Nadu and the Nelliampathy ranges in Kerala. It lies at a height of 300 m to 1,400 m above sea level. The world’s oldest and the tallest teak tree lies here and this sanctuary is said to have the first scientifically managed teak plantation. Another main attraction of this sanctuary is the Kannimara teak tress which is around 350 years old.
There are several peaks in this area namely the Karimala Gopuram which is the tallest peak here. Some other major peaks found in this sanctuary include Puliyarapadam and Vengoli malai. The Vengoli peak is said to inhabit the Nilgiri Tahrs. The tourists can climb these peaks and if possible can get a glance of these animals. There are reservoirs that are connected by tunnels and river channels and have a freshwater ecosystem. The rivers Parambikulam, Sholayar and Thekkady rivers flow through these areas. The three dams in this place are the Parambikulam, Thunacadavu and Perivarapallam. Four different tribes of people namely the Kadar, Malasar, Muduvar and Mala Malasar are living here in colonies.
This sanctuary has a wide variety of flora and fauna. Animals like deer, gaur etc can be seen wandering through the outer areas of the sanctuary whereas animals like tiger, Nilgiri marten etc. can be seen deep inside the sanctuary. Besides these there are about 250 species of birds, 285 species of flora and 1320 species of flowering plants.
The activities that can be carried out from here include camping in the forests; take a look of the animals from the watch towers, bird watching, boating, bamboo rafting etc. The tourists can conduct adventurous trips to the hilly areas and can do trekking if they get permission from the Forest Information centre at Anappady. The trekking trails can be soft, medium, tough or adventurous.
Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary | Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary | Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary | Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary | Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary | Eravikulam National park | Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary | Silent Valley National Park | Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
