Kerala Wildlife Sanctuaries

Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary

Part of the Agasthyamala biosphere reserve, this sanctuary, located in the southern Western Ghats, derives its name from an endemic tree species, locally known as Chenkurinji. Declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1984,the region in unique for its bio-diversity, remains of a Stone Age culture, and an important ecotourism resource, Thenmala.

Located on the north of Kulathupuzha valley, and bounded by the Western Ghats on the east, the Sanctuary, spread over 100 sq km, encompasses large tracts of tropical evergreen forests. The area is generally hilly, and at 1.550 m, Alvarkurichi is the highest peak. The long list of species found here includes the lion-tailed macaque, bonnet macaque, mouse deer, elephant, wild boar, sambar, gaur, Nilgiri langur, sloth bear, barking deer, black-naped hare, Malabar giant squirrel, slender Loris, brown palm civet and the pangolin. Big cats are comparatively rare. Trekking and boating are allowed within the tourist zone of the sanctuary.

Silent Valley National Park

Environmentalists call this sanctuary an ecological island, one that contains immense biological and genetic wealth. Today, silent valley National park, located on the western corner of the Nilgiris, is one of the last remnants of an undisturbed tropical evergreen rainforest. With an unbroken ecological history, which has been continuously evolving for history, which has been continuously evolving for millions of years, it is truly a unique region.

The park owes its name to the relative absence of the noisy cicada insects. Covering an area of over 90 sq km, the evergreen forests consist of different kinds of vegetation. The Kuntipuzha River traverses the entire length of the national park

Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary

Sandwiched between the two branches of the Periyar River and surrounded by the serenity of the anamali hills, this pristine 25-sq-km region is a heaven for avid birdwatchers. Also known as Dr salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. it was the first to be officially recognized as bird sanctuary in kerala.

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary encompasses an area of 344.44 sq km and is made up of two and Tholpetty in the north. Located 18 km west of Sulthan Bathery, Muthanga is part of the Nilgiri biosphere region, made up of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka and the Mudumalai Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu.

The terrain of this sanctuary is undulating and dotted with scattered hillocks. At 1,158 m above mean sea level, Kaottimala is the highest peak. One-third of the total area, nearly 110 sq km, is covered in teak, silver oak, rosewood forests, with a few patches of semi-evergreen trees. Bamboo groves are also abundant. There are different varieties of flora, shrubs and creepers in the forests. According to the 2004 census, elephants number a total of 216 in the Muthanga sanctuary alone, there are also four tigers and six leopards. The spotted deer, sambar and bison are the herbivores found here.