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Kerala Wildlife Sanctuaries
Neyyar
Wildlife Sanctuary (Thiruvananthapuram District)
Access: Nearest
Airport: Thiruvananthapuram (32 Kms), Nearest Railhead: Thiruvananthapuram,
connected with Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Kashmir.
The sanctuary strectches
from Neyyatinkara Taluk to the Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu.
It is
the drainage basin of the Neyyar river and its tributaries - Mullayar and Kallar
- which originate in Agasthyarkoodam, the second highest peak in Kerala (1868m).
Thesanctuary was estahlished in 1958.
Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
(Thruvananthapuram District)
Access: Nearest Airport: Thiruvananthapuram
(55 Kms) Nearest Railhead :
Thiruvananthapuram, connected with Chennai, Mumbai,
Delhi, Kashmir. 50 kms northwest of Thiruvananthapuram city in Nedumangad
Taluk.
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The catchment area of the Peppara dam constructed across the Karamana
river, was declared a sanctuary in 1983.
There are 13 tribal settlements in the
sanctuary - 11 of them in the Athirumala section and 2 in the Thodayar saction.
The sanctuary is accessible from Vithura on the Thiruvananthapuram - Ponmudi
road.
Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary (Kollam District)
Acces:
Nearest Airport: Thiruvananthapuram (72 Kms) Nearest Railhead : Thenmala,
connected with Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Kashmir. Motorable Road connected with
Kollam Town and Thiruvananthapuram city.
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Pathanapuram taluk, 66 km from
Kollam town on the Kollam - Shencotta road.
The Shenduruny forest was declared a
wildlife sanctuary in 1984. The Name Shenduruny comes from an endemic species of
tree called Chenkuruny (gluta travancoria), mainly confined to this region.
The
artificial lake formed by the parappar dam built across the shenduruny and
kulathupuzha rivers occupies the central region of the sanctuary.
The case which is large enough to hold 20 people at a time has paintings
similar to the mesolithic paintings found in the caves of central India. |
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary (Palakkad District)
Access:
Nearest Airport: Coimbator (100 Km) Nearest Railway Station : Pollachi (60
Km).
Tucked away in the valley between the Anamala ranges of Tamil Nadu and
the Nelliampathy ranges of Kerala on the majestic western ghats is the
Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary. Three dams have been built here by the tamil
nadu government under the Parambikulam - Aliyar project. The reservoir harbours
several varieties of aquatic fauna.
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Wayanad
District)
Access: Good Roads And Rails Connect The Sanctuary with
Kozhikode (Calicut), Mysore and Ooty - all Within a 110 Km Radius.The nearest
airport is Kozhikode (Calicut).
Established in 1973, the Wayanad wildlife
sanctuary is contiguous to the protected area network of Nagarahole and Bandipur
of Karnataka and Mudumalai of Tamil Nadu. Rich in biodiversity, the sanctuary is
an integral part of the Nilgiri biosphere reserve
which was established with
the specific objective of conserving the biological heritage of the region.
Periyar
Tiger Reserve (Idukki District)
Access: Nearest Airport: Madurai (143
Kms) Nearest Railhead : Kumarakom, (114 Kms).
Nearest town is Kumily (4km), The
entry point to the reserve is Thekkady, which is accessible by good roads from
Madurai, Cochin & Thiruvananthapuram.
This is one of the most
prestigious regions on the high ranges of the western ghats.
One of the world's
most fascinating natural wildlife sanctuaries, the Periyar reserve is noted for
its geomorphology, diverse wildlife and beautiful landscape.
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The drive to
Thekkady itself is enchanting as the road winds through Tranquil countryside,
rich plantations and thick jungles.
The sanctuary, declared a tiger reserve in
1978 under the project tiger scheme, attracts travellers from all over the
world. This is the only sanctuary in India where the wild elephant can be
observed and photographed at close quarters. There are two watch towers in the
Periyar forest.
The Periyar lake: formed by the construction of the dam
across the Uullaperiyar river in 1895, the lake harbours within itself a unique
aquatic eco system.
The numerous little islets in the lake are witness to the
intricate inherent interrelationship among the terrestrial aquatic and
subterranean life forms. A boat cruise on the lake is perhaps the best way to
watch the wildlife in the reserve.
Idukki
Wildlife Sanctuary (Idukki District)
Access: Nearest Airport: Madurai
(143 Kms) nearest Railhead : Kumarakom, (114 Kms). nearest town is Kumily (4km),
the entry point to the Reserve is Thekkady, Which is Accessible by Good Roads
from Madurai, Cochin & Thiruvananthapuram.
40 kms from Thodupuzha town.
Spread over the Thodupuzha and Udumpanchola taluks of Idukki district, the
sanctuary was formed in 1976. The Idukki arch dam, the first major hydroelectric
project in Kerala, is situated here. The 33 sq.km scenic lake around the
santruary - the Idukki reservoir - is formed by the three dams Cheruthoni,
Idukki and Kulamavu.
Eravikulam National Park (Idukki District)
Access: Nearest Airport: Cochin (155 Kms) Nearest Railhead : Aluva (114
Kms) From Munnar.
15 Km North Of Munnar. Established In 1975 To Protect
The Nilgiri Tahr, The Eravikulam Sanctuary Was Declared A National Park In 1978
Considering Its Ecological, Faunal, Floral, Geomorphological And Zoological
Significance. The Park Is Breathtakingly Beautiful And Comparable To The Alpine
Ranges. This Land Of The Neelakurinji Is 7 Km From The Rajamalai Hills
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary ( Idukki District)
Access:
Nearest Airport: Coimbatore and Cochin. Nearest Railway Station : Pollachi (60
Km) And Aluva (200 Kms).
Located in the rain shadow region of the western
ghats, the sanctary occupies the forested region on either side of the Marayoor
- Udumalped road. This is the second habitat of the endangered giant grizzled
squirrel of india. The location of sanctuary offers the unique advantage of
watching its fascinating wildlife at close quarters from the road without
venturing deep into the jungle. The Marayoor sandal forest and the beautiful
Thoovanam waterfalls are located here
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary (
Idukki District)
Access: Nearest Airport: Coimbatore and Cochin. Nearest
Railway Station : Pollachi (60 Km) And Aluva (200 Kms). Located in the rain
shadow region of the western ghats, the sanctary occupies the forested region on
either side of the Marayoor - Udumalped road.
This is the second habitat of the
endangered giant grizzled squirrel of india. The location of sanctuary offers
the unique advantage of watching its fascinating wildlife at close quarters from
the road without venturing deep into the jungle. The Marayoor sandal forest and
the beautiful Thoovanam waterfalls are located here
Thattekkad
Bird Sanctuary (Ernakulam (Cochin) District)
Access: Nearest Airport:
Cochin (71 Km) Nearest Railway Station : Aluva (48 Km).The Thattekkad bird
sanctuary, constituted in 1983, occupies the catchment area of the
Bhoothathankettu dam. The only one of its kind in Kerala, this sanctuary was
designed by Dr. Salim Ali, the renowned ornithologist.
He is reported to have
identified 167 bird species and his student - dr. Sugathan, 207. In addition,
the bombay natural history society has identified 224 species here. The
Thattekkad bird sanctuary attract nature lovers from all over the
world.
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
Located on the banks of the
vembanad lake, the kumarakom bird sanctuary, an ornithologist's paradise, is a
favourite haunt of migratory birds like the siberian stork, egret, darter, heron
and teal. Other common varieties like the woodpecker, skylark, crane, water hen
and parrots can also be spotted here. A cruise along the vembabad lake is the
best way to experience the sanctuary. Pathiramanal, an enchanting island on the
lake, can be accessed by boat from here.
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