Explore an array of Top Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks in Kerala and experience the wildlife in their natural habitat, witness natural beauty like never before.
Kerala The Land Of Open And Dense Forests Of Wilderness
Kerala, the extreme south-western part of Indian Peninsula is bordered by Western Ghats on the east and Arabian Sea on the west. Western Ghats or Sahyadri is the mountain range of bio diversity and habitat of flora and fauna facing extinction. With a break of Palghat Gap, 450 km of Western Ghats falls in Kerala.
Forests altogether covers Kerala’s 24% of landmass. The state has natural forest of 9,400 kms, non-plantation forests of 7,500 kms, wild evergreen forest of 3,470 kms, tropical forest of 4,200 kms, and 100 kms of subtropical forest. Kerala’s evergreen forests are mainly in eastern districts.
Rich forests in Kerala forms the home of several rare and endangered birds and animals. The government has taken several steps to conserve the forests in Kerala. The state has got 5 national parks, 11 wild life sanctuaries and 2 bird sanctuaries and one Tiger Reserve.
Silent Valley National Park
Silent Valley National Park of Palakkad District situated in the Western Ghats is a tropical treasure of the state. Yet not fully discovered this rain forest is worth resource of biodiversity. Silent valley is India’s the only remaining rainforest. As the name suggests, the Silent Valley is famous for its silence because of the absence of noisy insects. The main wildlife here is tiger and deer. Mammals like lion tailed macaque, Malabar giant squirrel; Nilgiri langur and flying squirrel are also seen here. Further the forest is also habitat of rare butterflies and moths. Birds like the Great Indian Hornbill, tree pie, Malabar hornbill, kingfishers and rare snakes are also seen here. More than 100 rare species of plants including medicinal plants are preserved here.
Eravikulam National Park
Stretching over an area of 97 Sq. Kms, this is the biggest National park in the State. Situated in the district of Idukki, the Park was initially launched for preserving Nilgiri Tahr, the wild goat. Lying between Western Ghats and Anamudi the Park is a famous tourist attraction. Rich variety of fauna is also an attraction here. Neelakurinji the rare species of fauna that blossoms only once in twelve years are seen in this forest. Jungle cats, leopards, squirrels, mongoose; snakes and other reptiles also are seen here.
Pampadum Shola National Park
Situated in Idukki district, Pampadum Shola National Park is the smallest National Park in the state. The Park is situated in an area of 1.32 sq km only. The place is of much environmental prominence and of rare bio diversity.
Mathikettan Shola National Park
Blessed with unique ecological flora, fauna, the Mathikettan Shola National Park is rich in geomorphologic wealth also. The Park is situated in Idukki district.
Anamudi Shola National Park
The Park extends over 750 hectors of land and is the habitat of various animals and birds.
Wildlife Sanctuaries of Kerala are considered as the best tourist destinations in India. They are, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Chenthuruni Wildlife Sanctuary, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Aaralam Wildlife Sanctuary, Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Peechi-Vaazhaani Wildlife Sanctuary and Chimmini Wildlife Sanctuary, Mangalavanam and Thattekkad Bird Sanctuaries are established to protect bird species in the state.
The Periyar Tiger Reserve located in Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts is the habitat of a vast variety of endangered species of flora and faunas.