Wildlife Sanctuaries of Kerala
Wildlife Sanctuaries are protected areas included in the ICUN Category IV. Kerala has 18 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 2 Tiger reserves (Parambikulam & Periyar) and one Community reserve.

All you need to know about the Wildlife Sanctuaries & Bird Sanctuaries in Kerala like their locations, the year in which they were established, their epithets, etc. are listed in this post for various psc exams.

Wildlife Sanctuaries of Kerala

Basic Facts

  • Total No.of Wildlife Sanctuaries in Kerala – 18.
  • First Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala –Periyar WLS.
  • Largest Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala – Periyar WLS.
  • Smallest Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala – Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary.
  • Second largest Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala – Wayanad WLS.
  • Southernmost Wildlife Sanctuary – Neyyar WLS.
  • Northernmost Wildlife Sanctuary – Aralam WLS.
  • Lastly (18th) formed Wildlife Sanctuary of Kerala – Kottiyoor WLS (2011).
  • District with Largest reserve forest – Idukki.
  • District with Least reserve forest – Alappuzha.
  • First Bird Sanctuary in Kerala – Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary.
  • First Reserve Forest in Kerala – Konni (1888, by Travancore Forest Act of 1887).
  • First Community reserve in Kerala – Kadalundi-Vallikkunnu (2007).
  • First Wildlife Sanctuary in India for the conservation of a particular plant species – Kurinjimala WLS (Neelakurinji).
  • Wildlife Sanctuary of Kerala that is included in Project Tiger – Periyar.
  • The year in which Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary was listed on the UNESCO Heritage List – 2012.

Epithets / Nicknames

  • Cuckoo Paradise – Thattekkad.
  • Lungs of Kochi – Mangalavanam.
  • Pakshigramam – Nooranad (Alappuzha).
  • Paradise/Heaven of Migratory Birds (ദേശാടനപക്ഷികളുടെ പറുദീസ) – Kadalundi.
  • Queen of Western Ghats (Plant species) – Neelakurinji (Scientific Name: Strobilanthes kunthiana).

Bird Sanctuaries & Locations

  • Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary – Ernakulam (1983).
  • Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary – Malappuram.
  • Kumarakom (Vembanad Bird Sanctuary) – Kottayam (1847).
  • Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary – Ernakulam (2006).
  • Pakshi Pathalam Bird Sanctuary – Wayanad.

List of Wildlife Sanctuaries in Kerala & their Locations

District Wildlife Sanctuaries Year
Idukki
Chinnar 1984
Kurinjimala / Neelakurinji
(Devikulam Taluk) 		2006
Periyar 1950
Kannur
Aralam 1984
Kottiyur 2011
Kollam Sheduruney
  • 1984
Kozhikode Malabar
  • 2010
Malappuram Karimpuzha-New Amarambalam
  • 2003
Palakkad
Choolanoor 2007
Parambikulam 1973
Thrissur
Chimmony 1984
Peechi-Vazhani 1958
Thiruvananthapuram
Neyyar 1958
Peppara 1983
Wayanad
Begur
  • 1973
Muthanga
Thirunelli


Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

  • Former Name – Nellikkampetti Game Sanctuary (At the time of Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma).
  • Location – Peermedu Taluk.
  • Headquarters – Painavu.
  • First & Largest Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala.
  • First Tiger Reserve in Kerala.
  • Also known as Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary.
  • Temples – Mangala Devi temple & Sabarimala Temple.
  • British official who was responsible for the creation of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary – H.C.H Robinson.

Sheduruney Wildlife Sanctuary

  • Wildlife Sanctuary known in the name of a tree.
    • Scientific Name of Shenduruny – Glutta Travancorica.
  • Part of the Kulathupuzha reserve forest.
  • Famous for the remains of Stone Age culture.

Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary

  • Location – Chittur Taluk, Muthalamada gramapanchayat.
  • Headquarters – Thunakadavu.
  • Wildlife Sanctuary included in the Red data book.
  • Second Tiger Reserve in Kerala in 2010.
  • Adjacent to the Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu.
  • Entry into this wildlife sanctuary is only accessible through Tamil Nadu.
  • Oldest naturally grown teak tree in the world – Kannimara Teak.
    • Height – 39.98 m.
    • Girth – 7.15 m.
    • Age – apprx. 465 years.
    • Mahavriksha Puraskar (by Central govt.,1994).
  • Tribal Groups – Kadar, Malasar, Muduvar & Mala Malasar.

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

  • Location – Devikulam Taluk.
  • The only wildlife sanctuary of Kerala situated in the rain shadow area.
  • Rivers – Chinnar & Pambar.
  • Thoovanam waterfalls (Pambar River).
  • Tribal Groups – Muthuvas & Pulayars.

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

  • Located along the borders of Kerala, Tamil Nadu & Karnataka.
  • Headquarters – Sulthan Bathery.
  • Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is a part of – Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
  • Second largest Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala.
  • Largest tiger population in Kerala.
  • Included under the Project Elephant in 1991–92.
  • Muthanga & Tholpetty are a part of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.
    • Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary shares borders with Mudumalai (മുതുമലൈ) National Park of Tamil Nadu.
  • Tribal Groups – Paniyas, Kurumas, Adiyans, Kurichiyas, Ooralis & Kattunaikkans.

📝 Read More: National Parks of Kerala


Kottiyoor Wildlife Sanctuary

  • Lastly formed Wildlife Sanctuary of Kerala (18th).
  • Adjacent to Bandipur (Tiger Reserve) National Park of Karnataka.
  • Tribal Group – Cholanayakar (Manjari Colony).
  • Temple – Thruchherumana Temple / Ikkare Kottiyoor Kshetram / Kottiyoor Vadakkeshwaram Temple.

Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary

  • Location – Mukundapuram Taluk, Thrissur District.
  • Headquarters – Echippara.
  • Area – 85.07 km²
  • Highest Peak – Punda peak (1116 m).
  • Tribal Group – Malaya.
  • Rivers – Kurumali River & Mupliam River.
  • Chimmini Dam – constructed across Kurumali river in 1996.

Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary

  • The Second Oldest Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala.
  • Headquarters – Peechi.
  • Area – 125 km²
  • Highest Peak – Ponmudi (923m).
  • Tribal Group – Malaya.
  • Major Rivers – Kurumali, Manali & Wadakkanchery.
  • Wetlands – Paingottupadam, Pathrakkandam & Pothiyadukky.

Plants & Animals Found in Wildlife Sanctuaries of Kerala

  • Albatross Butterflies, Siberian stonechat (ചരൽക്കുരുവി) – Aralam.
  • Ceylon Frogmouth – Thattekad.
  • Grizzled giant squirrel (ചാമ്പൽ മലയണ്ണാൻ) – Chinnar.
  • Indian star tortoise – Chinnar.
  • Kannimaram Teak – Parambikkulam.
  • Malabar Ironwood – Periyar Tiger Reserve.
  • Mewa Singh’s night frog – Malabar.
  • Peacocks – Choolannur.
  • Rare Species of Bats – Mangalavanam.
  • Reed frogs – Kakkayam.
  • Vultures (White-rumped & the Red-headed) – Wayanad WLS.
  • White-bellied drongo, Woolly-necked stork** – Aralam WLS.

Rivers & Wildlife Sanctuaries of Kerala

  • Chikkanippuzha (ചീങ്കണ്ണിപ്പുഴ) & Bavali Puzha – Aralam
  • Mullayar & Kallar – Neyyar
  • Karamana River – Peppara

📝SideNotes:

  • Father of Indian Forestry – Brandis.
  • Ornithology – Study of Birds.
  • Ethology – Study of Animal Behaviors.
  • Father of Indian Ornithology – A.O. Hume.
  • Birdman of India – Salim Ali.
    • Autobiography of Salim Ali – The Fall of a Sparrow (1985).
  • Total No.of Wildlife Sanctuaries in India –564.  (National Wildlife Database, Dec. 2021)
  • No.of Schedules in Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 – 6.
  • Forests are included in the concurrent list after which Indian Constitution amendment – 42.
  • Kerala Forest Research Institute is situated at – Peechi.
  • Headquarters of the Forest Development Corporation – Karapuzha (Kottayam).
  • Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department is located at – Vazhuthacaud (Thiruvananthapuram).
  • Kerala Forest Training Institute is at – Arippa (Thiruvananthapuram).
  • Kerala's First Minister for Food and Forests – K.C. George.
  • Scientific Name of Malabar Ironwood – Hopea parviflora.
    • Found mostly along the Western Ghats, especially in Mookambika WLS (Karnataka).
  • First Biosphere reserve in India – Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (1986).
    • Largest Biosphere reserve in India – Gulf of Mannar (Tamil Nadu).
  • Biosphere reserves in Kerala – Agasthyamala & Nilgiri.
    • Wildlife sanctuaries in Agasthyamala biosphere reserve – Neyyar, Peppara & Shenduruni.
      • Agasthyamala Peak is situated in – Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary.
      • Highest Peak in Thiruvananthapuram – Agasthyamala.
  • Elephant reserves in Kerala – Anamudi (Idukki), Nilambur (Malappuram), Periyar & Wayanad.
  • Tiger reserves in Kerala – Periyar & Parambikulam.
  • Only Lion Safari Park in Kerala is at – Marakkunnam islands, Trivandrum.
  • India's First Butterfly Park – Thenmala.
  • Steve Irwin Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre is in – Neyyar (2007).
    • Renamed as ‘Agasthya Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre’ in 2009 after Steve’s widow Terri Irwin issued a legal notice for a privacy violation.
  • Who described Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary as one of the 'richest bird habitat on peninsular India' – Salim Ali (India's Famous Ornithologist).
  • Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History is situated at – Coimbatore.
  • Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is located at – Goa (along the Mandovi River).
  • Author of the book titled 'The Birds of Travancore and Cochin' – Salim Ali (1953).
    • Later renamed as 'The Birds of Kerala.'
  • The former name of Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary – Bakers' Estate.
  • Only Bird Sanctuary with mangroves – Mangalavanam.
  • Peruvannamuzhi Dam is an integral part of – Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary.
  • Which bird sanctuary is famous for Chitrakoodan bird nests that is used for making soup – Pakshipathalam.
  • The postal department introduced the Neelakurinji stamp in the year – 2006.
  • Kerala state government banned clear-felling of Natural forest in – 1983.
  • Chikkanippuzha (ചീങ്കണ്ണിപ്പുഴ), Bavali Puzha are the tributaries of – Valappattanam River
  • Headquarters of Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary – Iritty.
  • The first wood depot of Kerala – Alappuzha (1820).
  • Teak Museum situated in Kerala – Nilambur.
  • Author of the book "Keralathile Pakshikal" – K.K. Neelakantan (1958).
    • The famous Indian Ornithologist.
    • Pen name of K.K. Neelakantan – Induchoodan.
    • Other Works – Pullu Thottu Poonara Vare (I. C. Chacko Endowment prize by the Kerala Sahitya Academy), Pakshikalum Manushyarum.
*WLS – Wildlife Sanctuary, 
**Newly discovered species.

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