Kerala Wildlife Sanctuaries

The geographical location of Kerala on the Western Ghats gifted this state with 12 Wildlife sanctuaries and 2 National Parks. These wildlife sanctuaries are teeming with an exotic collection of flora, fauna and avifauna species. Because of its geographical location, the Kerala forests can be classified into wet evergreen forest, semi-evergreen forest, tropical moist and dry deciduous forest, which nurture rich biodiversity that can fire tourist’s imagination. Based on the data, Kerala Wildlife reserves have 102 species of mammals, 169 species of reptiles, 476 varieties of birds, 89 types of amphibians and 202 species of freshwater fishes. Some of the famous Kerala Wildlife Sanctuaries are: Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary The diverse collection of flora and fauna makes Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary a renowned destination for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. This is one of the most famous wildlife reserves of Kerala where tourists flock in large number to see the wilderness of nature in its raw form. The park is sprawled over an area of 777 sq km around the scenic backdrop of the Western Ghats. The diverse fauna collection nurtures exotic species of animals and birds which enthralls tourists during their visit to this place. This park is also quoted as Ornithologist paradise because of its 260 bird species. Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Though this is the smallest bird sanctuary of India but the exotic and diverse bird’s collection makes it renowned across the globe. This beautiful bird sanctuary is situated on the banks of the Vembanad Lake and calls on scores of tourists throughout the year from several parts of the world. The mangroves forests, hilly terrain and nearby paddy fields make this place picturesque which excites and entertains tourists during their visit to this place. Some of the animal and bird species which can be easily seen here are Tigers, Leopards, Wild Pigs, Nilgiri Tahr, cuckoo, cormorant, darter, heron, moorhen and Siberian crane during the migratory season. Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary This is another most famous wildlife reserve of Kerala known across the globe for its speckled charm of magnificent landscapes, rocky crevices, rivulets flowing and varied collection of flora and fauna. The park is situated close to the Idukki Arch Dam and spreads over an area of 77 square kilometers. The diverse flora of this place supports varied species of flora, fauna and avifauna. Some of the most sighted wild animals of this place are bison, jungle cats, tiger, elephants and deer. Along with this the wildlife reserve is also known for its numerous poisonous and nonpoisonous snake species. The diverse collection of bird species is also a popular attraction of this place. The well-known bird species of this reserve are grey jungle fowl and Malabar grey hornbill.