Wildlife

The Periyar National park is the main attraction of Thekkady. This famous wildlife sanctuary is located in the banks of artificial Periyar lake. Periyar National park is fully covered by dense forests and green grass lands. Thus, this has become the perfect locations for wildlife such as the great Indian tigers, elephants, lion tailed macaques, gaurs, deer, sambars.

Thekkady offers cruise rides on lake and elephant rides as well. Trekking programs are conducted for the ancient Mangala Devi temple located in the midst of a thick forest.

Location - 40 km from Mannarkkad, Palakkad district, north Kerala. The Park area is 89.52 sq. km national park Attractions: Extremely fragile, a unique preserve of tropical evergreen rain forests lying above the equator.
Permitting authority: Wildlife Warden, Silent Vally National Park Ph.453225

Sprawled across 285 sq. km. this Sanctuary is home to rare fauna. The oldest teak tree, Kannimari stands tall here. Boating/cruising facilities are available at the Reservoir . Ph.04253-67233/ 67228 permitting authority: Divitional Forest Officer.

The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is located in Kerala in the Ernakulam district. This sanctuary is also referred as Thattekad. It is a paradise for passionate bird watchers and is also a lovely abode to many animals and reptiles.

The best months for visiting this sanctuary are November to June as migratory birds arrive from the north.

Some of the rare species of birds are Malabar grey hornbill, crested serpent eagle, crimson throated barber, peninsular bay owl, rose billed roller, fairy bluebird, great Indian hornbill, and many more to captivate the visitors.

The Eravikulam National Park was created to preserve the Nilgiri Tahr, a rare species of the wild goats found only in the south of the Himalayas.

This park is abundantly rich with shola forests and grasses, and is yet fairly new as it was after construction in 1978. The park is sited in the Idukki district. It is located on the borders of Kerala and Tamilnadu.

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is a prominent reserve extending to an area of more than 90 sq km, and came to recognition as a world life sanctuary in 1984.

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is in the Western Ghats in the rain shadow region. Chinnar receives only 48 days rain in a year during the months of October and November, that too when the northeast monsoons have set.

The giant grizzled squirrel, tigers, gaur, spotted deer, kraits, turtles, vipers, black eagles, cormorants, spectacled cobras, and many more species observe this sanctuary as their home.

Located in the same area as Malampuzha Dam and Malampuzha Gardens, is the Snake Park. This park is ultimately a snake rescue and rehabilitation center. It is a safe place for snakes to get help if they have been found out in nature injured. Likewise it is a safe place for humans to see with their own eyes a variety of snakes. Because of how these snakes are housed and handled, there is no danger to those that want to observe these cold-blooded reptiles. There is nothing amateur about this park, as it is managed by the Forests Department.

The Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary, also referred to as the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, is located on 345 square kilometers f densely forested land. This sanctuary is popular with birdwatchers. Such birds as peacocks, babblers, egrets, snipes, bulbuls, peafowl, and cormorants can be seen here. A wide variety of exotic animals call this sanctuary home as well. Asian elephants, leopards, cheetahs, tigers, gaurs, spotted deer, sloth bears, and sambars all reside here. You can arrange for an elephant ride into the dense forest to explore the sanctuary by contacting the Forest Department.

A birdwatcher's heaven can be found at the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. This bird sanctuary covers an impressive expanse of 14 acres. A tremendous variety of thousands of different birds can be found at the sanctuary at any given time. Numerous migratory birds even from places like Siberia end up at the sanctuary. It is common to see golden-backed woodpeckers, night herons, kingfishers, paradise fly-catchers, and egrets.

Situated next to the High Court of Kerala, this protected bird sanctuary is in the centre of the city and home to some of the most exotic varieties of migratory and resident birds.