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Kerala - Wildlife

Parambikulam
Location:
130 kilometers away from Palakkd
DeerParambikulam Wild Life Sanctuary extends over an area of 285 sq. kilometers. It offers a scintillating sight of rare wild animals. There are quite a few hill tribes here like Malayars, Kadas and Muthuvaas. Boat cruises can be arranged in the Parambikulam Reservoir. The Rest House of the State Forest Department at Thoonakkadvu, Thellikkal and Elathode offer comfortable lodging facilities. A tree house in the Reserved Forest area in Thoonakkadavu has to be booked in advance.

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary  
Location: 60 kilometers  from Munnar
TigerSituated on the Tamil Nadu border, the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is spread across 90.44 sq. kilometers.  Animals: Most of the South Indian wild animals can be found in this forest. These include the grizzled giant squirrel, champal squirrel, elephant, sambar, gaur, deer, etc.

Birds: Jungle fowl, myna, laughing thrush, black bulbul, peafowl etc.

Tribes: Mainly Malampulayer and Muthuvans.

Access: Munnar-Udumelpetta Road: 60 kilometers 
Coimbatore-Udumalpetta-Chinnar Road-100 kilometers 
Cochin-Chinnar: 190 kilometers 
Parambikulam-via Pollachi-Chinnar.
Pollachi-Chinnar via Udumalpetta: 60 kilometers 
Kottayam-Chinnar; 208 kilometers .

Visiting Time: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Entry passes are available at the office of the ACF or the Check Post Information Counter.

Eravikulam National Park  
Location: 35 kilometers from Munnar 
Deer The 97 sq. kilometers  park is situated in the Devikulam Taluk and is home to the Nilgiri Tahr. The Anamudi peak (2695m) is located in the southern region of the park.
Sanctuary visit: The park is divided in to three regions-the core area, the buffer area and the tourism area. Visitors are allowed only to the tourism area which is in the Rajamala regions. The Nilgiri Tahr can be seen at close quarters in this area.

Visiting time: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Visitors are not allowed during the monsoon.

Trekking facilities available here. Tourists are allowed to go on foot up to Anamudi. This is also a place for adventure tourists. The permitting authority is Wildlife Warden, Munnar.

The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thekkady
Elephant
One of the world's most fascinating natural wildlife sanctuary, Thekkady is noted for its geomorphology, wildlife and scenic beauty. The Periyar Tiger Reserve attracts travelers from all over the world. 360 sq. kilometers of the 777-sq. kilometers  sanctuary is covered with evergreen forests. The 27 sq. kilometers  artificial lake formed by the Idukki Dam across the Periyar River offers boating facilities. This is the only sanctuary in India where the wild elephant can be observed and photographed at close quarters from the safety of a boat. A boat cruise on the lake is perhaps the best way to watch the wildlife in the reserve.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary-Population
CraneOver 1800 flowering plants including 171 grass species, 143 species of orchids and the only South Indian conifer Podocarpus Wallichianus are found here. Among fauna, wild elephants, gaur, sambar, bison, deer and wild boar can be sighted from the boats. Nilgiri Tahr in the higher rocky areas, the endangered Lion tailed macaque confined to the evergreen interiors, Bonnet macaque, Malabar giant squirrel, Flying squirrel, Tiger, Jungle cat etc. are also seen.

Birds
There are 265 species including migrants. The hornbill, stroke, woodpecker, kingfisher, raptor, cormorant, grackle and darter are common sights.

Reptiles
Cobra, viper, Krait, a number of nonpoisonous snakes, the monitor lizard and so on.

Amphibians
 
Frogs, Toads and Limbless caecilians include the colorful Malabar gliding frog,Common Indian toad, Fungoid and Bicolor frog.

Pisces (fish)
The Periyar lake and streams have several species of fish including the masheer, the famous and endangered game fish of India. The otter, the only mammal of the lake is a frequent sight from boat.

The Sanctuary Watch Towers
There are two watchtowers in the interior of the Periyar forest. Reservations can be made at the Forest Information Center, Thekkady. 

Plantations
Tea, cardamom, pepper and coffee plantations surround the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Twelve varieties of spices grow in the neighboring villages. Pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, ginger, turmeric, nutmeg, cumin seed, garlic, star anise and so on.

Trekking
Mangaladevi Hills, Mullakkudy, Thannikudy, Vallimala and so on. Forest treks are arranged by the Forest Department. For booking contact: The Wildlife Preservation Officer, Thekkady.

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary 
Bird
Location: 20 kilometers from Kothamangalam
Though recently established, Thattekad Bird Sanctuary is one of the most important bird sanctuary in South India. A boat cruise from Bhoothathankettu to Thattekkad is an unforgettable Bird experience through the evergreen forests  nesting migratory and indigenous birds. The birds commonly seen are Malabar gray hornbill, Grey jungle fowl, Heron egret, Parackeet and numerous other rare species. Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary

Warblers & Waders, a city-based group of nature lovers conducted a bird survey in the area in December 1999. The team identified the Dollar Bird (Kaattu Panamkaakka), a threatened species at the evergreen forest in the sanctuary.

Another species identified was the Forest Eagle Owl, which was frequently located at the Thattekkad-Urulanthanni region. The Blacknapped orion, a winter visitor, was observed in the tourist zone of the locality. The Specled Piculet, the smallest woodpecker of Kerala, Rufous Woodpecker, which raises its family in the live nest of red ants, Drongo Cockoo, Rufous bellied Munia and the Hair-crested Drongo were also sighted during the course of the survey.

 

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