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Kerala Wildlife
The evergreen rain forests of Kerala are home to a large number of large and small sports. Internationally popular among wildlife enthusiasts and photographers much of the forest lands in Kerala have been turned into reserve forests and wildlife sanctuaries for the conservation of the wildlife in these areas. These sanctuaries and national parks are thronged by elephants, tigers, leopards, jaguars, deer, monkeys, Malabar squirrels, hornbills, kingfishers and many more which make them excellent wildlife vacation sites.
Wildlife Destinations in Kerala:
Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary:
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Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary is a beautiful place to visit in Kerala. Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of 55 sq.kms and is located on the western slopes of the Western Ghats. The Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary is recorded as the northern most wildlife sanctuary of Kerala. Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1984.
Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary houses various species of evergreen trees like Vellapine (Vateria indica), Mesua ferrea, Mechilus macrantha, Calophyllum elatum, Cullenia rosayroona, Magnifera indica, Toona cillata, Myristica Species, Euphorbia Longana, Strobilanthes. The common trees in the semi evergreen areas are Cinnamomum Zeylanicum, Hopea parviflora, Largestroemia lanceolata, Xyliaxylocarpa, Mallotus, Philippinensis. The variety of animals and birds found in the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary are different kinds of deer, boars, elephants, bison, leopards, jungle cats and various types of squirrels.
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Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary:
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Kerala is increasingly gaining momentum as a popular tourist destination all over the world. Showered with an eternal sunshine, Kerala- God's own country is all nature lovers' paradise. The lush tropical evergreen rain forests still largely miraculously unspoiled in Kerala, support a rich array of land, marine and avian wildlife. The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary on the Western Ghats makes an excellent holiday for wildlife enthusiasts.
The endangered Giant Grizzled Squirrel hails from these forests. Apart from that tigers, elephants, gaur, deer, sambar, are the other vertebrates that can be spotted. Among reptiles, watch out for Spectacled cobra, krait, viper. The black eagle, little cormorants and darters dot the skyline at Chinnar.
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Eravikulam National Park:
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Kerala is increasingly gaining momentum as a popular tourist destination all over the world. Showered with an eternal sunshine, Kerala- God's own country is all nature lovers' paradise. The lush tropical evergreen rain forests still largely miraculously unspoiled in Kerala, support a rich array of land, marine and avian wildlife. Spread over 97 sq. km, the Eravikulam National Park came into being in 1978.
The endangered mountain goat Nilgiri Tahr can be found here in large number. Elephants, tigers, civets, leopards, wild boar, sloth bear, mongoose, Nilgiri langurs, squirrels also reside here. A large population of butterflies and moths including the Atlas Moth the world's largest moth can be spotted
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Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary:
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The Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala is covered with forests of teak, marshes, bamboo and other grasslands. This Sanctuary is considered to be one of the richest and most extensive forest belts in Peninsular India. The Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over an area of 77 square kilometers. The Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary stretches over the taluks of Udumpanchola and Thodupuzha in the Idukki district, in Kerala.
The Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary came into existence in the year 1976. The perfect time to visit the Idukki wildlife sanctuary is during the months of December to April. Elephants are seen in this wildlife park mainly during the dry season. The Idukki wildlife sanctuary has a rich bio diversity, and rich avifauna. This wildlife park is situated very close to the Idukki Arch Dam. If you are on a wildlife tour to the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary, you can get an opportunity to see various species of snakes such as the cobra, krait and the viper. This wildlife sanctuary also houses a number of birds such as woodpeckers, black bulbuls, jungle fowls, laughing thrushes, mynas, kingfishers and pea fowls. Like any other wildlife sanctuary in Kerala this wildlife park also presents a perfect spot for a wonderful weekend getaway.
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Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary :
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Kadalundi bird sanctuary is the most attractive Bird Sanctuary in all of Kerala. Kadalundi bird sanctuary lies at a distance of 19 km from Kozhikode. Kadalundi bird sanctuary is the haven giving shelter to more than a hundred varieties of native birds. Over 60 species of migratory birds flock here in large numbers. The Kadalundi bird sanctuary, Kerala is also known for a wide variety of Fish, Mussels and Crabs which inhabit the water bodies near the place. The ideal season for a visit to this amazing place is, from December to April, during the early hours of the day. A day’s trip from Kozhikode should be sufficient to explore the sanctuary. So, just pack your bags and set out a Saturday or Sunday morning to revel amidst the numerous birds, flying past you into the azure skies.
If you are on a wildlife tour to Kadalundi bird sanctuary, you can get an opportunity to see various species of snakes such as the cobra, krait and the viper, as well. This wildlife sanctuary houses the largest number of birds in the whole of Kerala. The birds inhabiting the places are woodpecker, black bulbul, jungle fowl, laughing thrush, myna, kingfisher and peafowl. The Kadalundi bird sanctuary has adopted several scientific methods that avoid any harm and facilitate the habits and habitats of the innumerable birds flocking into the sanctuary every year.
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Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary :
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The best and only means of bird viewing at Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is by houseboats or motorboats. If you want the rustic rural touch, you can try to get hold of a local rice boat or fishing boat to watch the birds at play without disturbing their tranquility with the motor sounds. The Pathiramanal Island said to have emerged out of water as a boon to a Brahmin is also home to a large number of birds. The cruise to the island along the shimmering emerald waters of the lake is a truly memorable experience.
The lush tropical evergreen rain forests still largely miraculously unspoiled in Kerala, support a rich array of land, marine and avian wildlife. The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary situated around the Vembanad Lake near the Backwaters is famous for its rich avian population. Bird watchers and photographers from all over the world flock to Kumarakom to catch sight of these little feathered angels every year.
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Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary :
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The Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary is the place to be for wildlife lovers and nature gazers. Nestled in the southeastern part of the Western Ghats, it is a sheer pleasure to visit this sanctuary amidst the picturesque landscape. Sprawled over an area of 128 sq km, the reserve was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1958. The sanctuary has the impressive Agasthyakoodam Peak at an elevation of 1,890 meters and the reservoir extending over an area of 9.06 sq km.
As you walk through the thick tropical wet evergreen forest to the grassland patches, you will come across a spectacular array of flora and fauna. With the Kerala backwaters lying just beside, the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary offers you the rare opportunity to gaze at Indian Porcupines, Elephants, Nilgiri Tahrs, Barking Deer, Gaurs, Sloth Bears, Lion-tailed Macaques, Sambars, Malabar Squirrels, Tigers, Jungle Cats, Wild Boars and Nilgiri Langurs to name a few. Rich in avian species and reptiles, you may also encounter Cobras, Vipers, Pythons, Rat Snakes, Flying Snakes and Lizards in the sanctuary.
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Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary :
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Kerala reserves its own charm for tourists all over the world. Its wildlife sanctuaries hold special attraction though. Covered with a thick growth of dense forests it is a haven for the wildlife and rare avian species. If this winter you are planning a trip to Kerala don’t miss its Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary.
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary can be reached from the Coimbatore airport, which is about 55 km from the sanctuary. If you travel by train, the nearest railway station is Palakkad that is 125 kms from the sanctuary.
Besides the teak plantations at the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala as you venture into the thick forest under able guides, you may be lucky to spot sloth bears, sambhars, chitals, tigers, panthers, elephants and crocodiles. Cobras, kraits, vipers, macaques, darters, turtles, cormorants and black eagles are also found here. But the largest population of wildlife that graces the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is gaurs or bison.
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Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary :
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Kerala reserves its own attraction for tourists all over the world. Its wildlife sanctuaries hold special attraction though. Covered with thick growth of dense forest it is a haven of wildlife and rare avian species. If this winter you are planning for a trip to Kerala don’t miss its Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary.
Constituting the catchment of the Peppara dam across the Karamana River the area around was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1983 because of ecological significance. A part of the Paruthippally range Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary constitutes a part of the Palode reserve. It covers an area of 53 sq. kms.
Exploring Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala you will find the forest is of stunted evergreen at a 1000m elevation at the southern hilltop while on the west coast the hilly slopes are semi-evergreen forest and the lower slopes of the hills have mixed deciduous forests. Trekking though the forests you will come across elephant, gaur, sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, wild boar, tiger, panther, wild dog, lion tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur and Malabar squirrel. Water birds like darter, little cormorant, pied king fisher and egrets are also present. Snakes including the king cobra and python are found in this sanctuary. Variety of moth and butterflies are also found.
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Periyar National Park :
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The Periyar National Park located along the Periyar River and Lake in Thekkady is one of the best National Parks in India.
Spread over 777 sq. km area of which the cardamom plantations are also a part, periyar is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Elephants, tigers, leopards, gaur, sambar, Malabar flying squirrel, mongoose, wild pig, can be located in their natral habitat here. 260 species of birds including Nilgiri wood pegion, Blue-winged Parakeet, flycatchers, laughing thrushes are found.
Spice plantations specially the cardamom hills and deciduous evergreen forests dominate the vegetation at Periyar.
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Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary :
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Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the leading tourist attractions in Kerala, is located 15 kms away from Munnar. Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary is really the natural habitat of the Nilgiri Tahr. Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary houses half the world’s population of this rare mountain goat. The Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary is an attempt to preserve this rare species of the goat family, which is fast approaching extinction.
Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary is a part of the Eravikulam Wildlife Sanctuary. Visitors are only allowed to go inside the tourism area in the Rajamala region. This method is adopted in order to restore harmony and sanctify the natural habitat that facilitates the process of conservation of these wild animals. The total number of Nilgiri Tahrs in Rajamala is estimated to be 1317.
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Silent Valley National Park :
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Silent Valley is located in the Kundali Hills on the Western Ghats in he Palakkad district of Kerala. Towards its north east is the Mukurthi National Park.
Locally known as Sairandhrivanam (meaning the forest in the valley) was initially declared a reserved area in 1888 under the Forest Act. Later the Government of Tamil Nadu declared it a reserved forest. Widely known for its biodiversity, Silent Valley hit the headlines in the 1970s when the Kerala State Electricity Board decided to launch a hydro power project and construct a dam over the Kunthi River for the purpose. This project threatened to affect the eco system of the region badly and invited severe protests from environmentalists from all over the country. As a result of which the Hydro power project had to be abandoned. The Silent Valley National Park now forms the core area of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
This rather small 89 sq. km park is densely vegetated tropical evergreen rainforest. A wide variety of birds and butterflies throng the forest. The Ceylon Frogmouth , Great Indian Hornbill, and the Nilgiri Laughingthrush are some of the birds you will come across at Silent Valley. The rare Lion tailed Macaque can also be spotted by the lucky ones.
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Thattekad Bird Sanctuary :
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Located near Kothamangalam of Ernakulam district on the northern bank of Periyar River, Thattekad Bird Sanctuary can be reached from Kochi airport about 71 km from the sanctuary. If you travel in train the nearest railway station is Aluva that is 48 kms from Aluva.
Also called The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Thattekad Bird Sanctuary was described by Dr. Ali as the richest bird habitat in peninsular India comparable only with eastern Himalayas. The bird sanctuary is rich in teak and mahogany plantation too. Exploring the lowland forests of Kerala you will come across a diverse avian species. Some of the rare birds in the sanctuary are Collocalia unicolor Indian Swiftlet, Ocyceros griseus Malabar Grey-Hornbill, Spizaetus cirrhatus Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Anhinga melanogaster Oriental Darter and Ardea cinerea Grey Heron. Snipes, Celeus brachyurus Rufous Woodpecker, Batrachostomus moniliger Ceylon Frogmouth, Eurostopodus macrotis Great Eared-Nightjar and Bubo bubo Eurasian Eagle-Owl have been also spotted by avid birdwatchers.
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Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary :
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Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is a renowned sanctuary, which is famous for its ambience and exquisiteness. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary gives you the real taste of the wilderness. If you enjoy the company of wild animals in their natural habitats, then come and visit the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary can give you an ultimate experience of life as it exists in Nature, untouched by human intrusions. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the ideal places to visit, if you are an ardent lover of wild animals. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is a significant part of the Nilgiri Biological Reserve and was announced a wildlife sanctuary in 1973. The sanctuary has adopted several scientific methods that ease traditional lifestyles of the local tribal population living there.
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| Kerala Travel Informations |
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