Wildlife in Kerala
Wildlife Sanctuaries & National Parks of Kerala
Trekking trails & Bird Sanctuaries of Kerala
Nestled in the lush forests of the Western Ghats in Kerala are fourteen wildlife sanctuaries. And skirting these exotic destinations are some of the most delightful trails in the country. Some of them adventurously exciting, others enchanting in equal measure. All washed in the spice-scented air of endless acres of plantations.. tea, coffee, cardamom, vanilla, pepper, oranges, mangoes....
Thiruvananthapuram, Idukki , Kannur , Palaghat , Trichur ,Kollam and Wayanad offers some of the best wildlife sanctuaries and trekking trails of Kerala.
* | In Idukki - Kerala -The wildlife centres are |
| Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary- Idukki Eravikkulam National Park- Idukki Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary - Idukki Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary - Idukki Periyar National Park - Idukki | |
* | In Kollam(Quilon) - Kerala - The wildlife centres are |
| Shendurni Wildlife Sanctuary - Kollam | |
* | In Kottayam - Kerala - The wildlife centres are |
| Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary - Kottayam | |
* | In Kozhikode - Kerala - The wildlife centres are |
| Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary - Kozhikode | |
* | In Thrissur - Kerala - The wildlife centres are |
| Peechi Vazhani Wildlife - Thrissur Thrissur Wildlife Sanctuary - Thrissur Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary -Thrissur | |
* | In Palghat - Kerala - The wildlife centres are |
| Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary - Palghat Silent Valley National Park - Palghat | |
* | In Thiruvananthapuram- Kerala - The wildlife centres are |
| Agasthya Vanam Biological park - Thiruvananthapuram Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary - Thiruvananthapuram Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary - Thiruvananthapuram | |
* | In Kannur- Kerala - The wildlife centres are |
| Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary - Kannur | |
* | In Waynad- Kerala - The wildlife centres are |
| Begur Wildlife Sanctuary - Waynad Waynad Wildlife Sanctuary - Waynad |
PALGHAT
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
Between the Anamalai Ranges of Taminadu and the Nelliampathy Ranges of Kerala on the Western Ghats is the Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary. Situated in the Palakkad (Palghat)district, it was originally a small tract of reserve forest with an area of about 48 sq. kms. However owing to the growing wildlife need, it was expanded in 1962 and today covers an area of 258 sq. kms.
Ideally suited to the growth of teak, the tract encouraged large scale teak plantations through artificial regeneration in the early 1920's. This was abandoned when a full fledged wildlife department was formed in 1985.
Several streams originate from these hills and flows towards the Chalakudy river. The terrain is mostly undulating with a valley in the basin. The Karimala Gopuram is the highest peak in this region and standing at 1444m
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary - Kottayam, Kerala
(16km from Kottayam town, on the banks of the Vembanad lake)
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Kottayam is one of the best destinations of wild life sanctuaries in Kerala.
Main attractions : Local Birds like the water fowl, cuckoo, owl, egret, herons and the water duck, as well as the migratory Siberian duck.
Bird watch - The best time for bird watching in Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is between June and August.
(Migratory birds : November - February)
Boats : House boats and motor boats are available on hire for bird watching cruises on the lake.
Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary: - Ernakulam, Kerala
The Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary was designed by Dr. Salim Ali, the renowned ornithologist . He is reported to have identified 167 birds and his student , Dr. Sugathan, 207. In addition, theBombay Natural History Society has identified 253 species here.
Main attractions: Birds: Indians rollers, cuckoos, common snipes, crow, pheasants, jungle nightars, kites, grey drogos, Malabar trogons, woodpeckers, large pied wagtails, baya sparrows, grey jungle fowls, Indian hill mynas, robins, jungle babblers sun birds, and darters.
Rare Birds: Crimson- throated barbets, bee-eaters, shrikes, fairy blubirds, grey-headed fishing eagles, black winged kites night herons, grey hornbills and malabar hornbills.
Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary - Kohikode, Kerala
The Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary is a Haven for migratory birds. Terns, Gulls, Herons, Sand pipers, Whimbrels and other such migratory birds flock from the month of November and returns only by the end of April. It is 25 kms. from Kozhikode. The ideal season to visit is from December to April in the early hours of the day.
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