Wildlife in Kerala
Kerala has a rich repertoire of historic and
cultural monuments, which represent a unique amalgam of various styles of architecture.
Nalukettu is the main architectural style though in regions like Fort Kochi,
a curious mix of European, Chinese, Jewish and Arabic styles are evident in
the architecture.
The major wildlife sanctuaries of Kerala are-
Kerala is bestowed with a rich repertoire of natural bounty - mountains &
hills, rivers & lakes, backwaters & shoreline. It is natural for Kerala
to be home to many national parks and sanctuaries. The enchanting green forest
with its rich flora and fauna makes Kerala a much sought after wildlife destination
in India. The numerous national parks and wildlife sanctuaries of Kerala will
add that extra bit of excitement when you holiday in Kerala.
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary :
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.
Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary:
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.
Silent Valley National Park:
The Silent Valley contains India's last substantial stretch of tropical evergreen
rain forests and it is perhaps the only vestige of a near virgin forest in
the whole of the Western Ghats. Elephants, tigers, wild dog, flying squirrel
and lion-tailed macaque are found here.
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary :
This bird sanctuary is a peninsular land of 25 sq. km. Formed between the
branches of River Periyar. The avifauna includes both resting indigenous birds
and water birds. The most notable of the indigenous birds are Malabar grey
hornbill, grey jungle fowl, heron, egret, jungle myna, woodpecker, rose winged
and blue winged parakeet. Rare birds like Ceylon frog-mouth, rose billed roller
etc. are also seen.
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary :
The Periyar sanctuary offers a lovely and comfortable way to see the animals
via boat rides on the man-made lake, which the wildlife areas encircle. In addition
to the wild life, there are water and land birds galore here, and one can sometimes
find dedicated bird watchers setting in for one or two weeks of serious observations.
