Famous Wild Life Sanctuaries in Kerala: Rich Repertoire of Animals and Birds

Along with backwater tourism, beach tourism, ayurveda tourism and district tourism, Kerala has also emerged as a strong wildlife tourism spot with some wonderful wild life sanctuaries in the state. There are nearly 11 major wildlife sanctuaries in the state along with three bird sacntuaries and two national parks. The western ghats surrounded by hills, lakes, rivers, shoreline, backwaters and others provide an ample atmosphere for wild life like elephants, reptiles, birds, tigers, monkeys, foxes, wild dogs and others. Thus Kerala offers a rich flora and fauna to tourists to enjoy pristine nature with its residents.

The famous Wildlife Sanctuaries are as follows:

Periyar National Park: This is located on descend of western-ghats. It is a famous sanctuary throughout Indian for homing Indian tigers, panther, sloth bear, wild boar, elephants, and some rare variety of reptiles. The best time to watch the wild animals are during the months of March and April. The majestic elephants make their ways through the forest providing excellent shots for your cameras.

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary: This bird sanctuary is located just 12 kilometers from Kottayam and borders the Vembanad Lake. It homes some famous migratory birds like egrets, darters, herons, waterfowls, teals and others. Even Siberian storks migrate to this bird sanctuary quite frequently. The best way to witness this bird sanctuary is to take a cruise along the Vembanad Lake. There is a captivating island in the middle of the lake called Pathiramanal which also homes some wonderful birds. You can access the island by boat.

Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary: You can access this wildlife sanctuary from Cochin which is 143 km away, from Kumarakom (114 km) and Kumily which is just 4 kilometers away from it. This sanctuary homes some famous and rare variety of flora and fauna that are accustomed to tropical climates. The flora species include whitepine, palai, maravuri, banyan tree, kuntherekka pine and others. The wide variety of fauna species includes elephants, deer, tigers, cobra, vipers, bears, rat snake, wild dogs, and other forest species. You can also witness some arboreal birds like hill myna, jungle barber, robin bird, large pied wagtail, herons and others.

Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary: This wildlife sanctuary of Kerala is famous for bison or gaur. Besides that you can spot beautiful sambars in the grassland grazing and running, jungle cat, common otter, lion tailed macaque, sloth bear, and to name a few. This sanctuary is thickly forested by Bamboos, rosewood tree, sandalwood, and teak. Such flora also homes variety of reptiles in the sanctuary. The sanctuary homes almost all ranges of vipers. The teak forest is the largest in Asia in regards to range.

Eravikulam National Park: This sanctuary or national park is the wettest region of south with an average rainfall of more than 4500mm. The Eravikulam National park is nearest to Munnar hill station. Being situated around slopes, it witness heavy rainfall. It is an important ecological park with variety of fauna and flora that have zoological and geo-morphological importance. You will be able to witness high grasslands with tigers, panthers, wild boars and sloth bears around the forest.

The other wild life sanctuaries of Kerala are - Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary, Silent Valley National Park, Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary, etc.