Wildlife

Kerala's tropical forests are also home to a great variety of rare flora and fauna. Here are some of the most popular national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

Wildlife sanctuaries

	Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Area	128 sq.kms.including 60 sq.kms of Core area.
Topography	Rugged terrain with rushing brooks, flat meadows and gentle to steep slopes, highest point 1868 m above MSL.
Climate	Moderate, rainfall: May-July and October-November
Access	Nearest centre - Trivandrum 32 kms.
Wildlife	Elephant, gaur, sambar, barking deer, wild boar, Indian porcupine three-striped squirrel, tiger,Malabar squirrel,lion-tailed macaque, mouse deer, bonnet macaque,Nilgiri tahr,Nilgiri langur.
Tourist attractions	Crocodile farm, lion safari park, boat rides, trekking.
	Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
Area	53 sq.k.m.
Topography :	Hilly, highest point 1717 m above MSL
Climate Moderate, rainfall	May-July and October-November
Access	Nearest centre - Trivandrum 55 kms.
Wildlife	Elephant, gaur, sambar, barking deer, wild boar, tiger,panther, wild dog, Malabar squirrel, lion-tailed macaque,mouse deer, Nilgiri langur etc.
Tourist attractions	Crocodile farm, lion safari park, boat rides, trekking.
	Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary
Area	100 sq.kms including 26 sq kms lake
Topography	Hilly, highest point 1717m above MSL
Climate	Moderate
Access	Nearest centre - Trivandrum 72 kms.
Wildlife	Indian bison, sambar bonnet macaque, barking deer,wild boar, Indian giant squirrel, three striped palm squirrel, lion - tailed macaque, mouse deer, elephant, tiger, leopard.
	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
Area	90 sq.kms.
Topography	Hilly, highest points- Kottakombumalai peak 2144 m. above MSL.
Climate	Moderate, low rainfall(10 cm yearly average)
Nearest centre	Munnar, Pollachi 60 kms.
Wildlife	Elephant, gaur, spotted deer, panther, sambar, the endangered giant grizzled squirrel, Hanuman langur, rabbit etc.
	Chimmini Wildlife Sanctuary
Area	75 sq kms, including 10 sq kms lake
Topography	Undulating and hilly, highest point- Punda peak 1116m above MSL
Climate	Moderate
Access	Nearest centre - Amballoor 12 kms on Cochin-Trichur Road
Wildlife	Leopard, elephant, bear, wild pig, wild bison, tiger etc.
	Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary
Area	125 sq kms
Topography	Plains and hills, highest point - Ponmudi peak 923 m above MSL. Climate Hot to moderate; rainfall 300 cm average yearly.
Access	Nearest centre - Peechi
Wildlife	25 types of mammals including carnivores like leopard, tiger fox etc. and herbivores like elk, deer, barking deer etc.
	Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary
Area	77 sq kms
Topography	450 - 748 m above MSL
Climate Rainfall	June-November
Access	Nearest centre - Thodupuzha, 40 kms.
Wildlife	Leopard, tiger, elephant, bear, wild boar,variety of avifauna and reptiles.
Tourist attractions	Boating, forest visits, treks.
	Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
Area	285 sq.kms. Water spread:Parambikulam Lake 21.2 sq.kms. Thoonacadavu Lake 4.33 sq.kms.Parivarippallam 2.89 sq.kms. Teak plantation : 9000 ha.
Topography	600 m to 1444 m above MSL. Highest point - Karimala Gopuram 1444 m.
Climate	Low Mist in the morning hours.Rainfall Average 1720 mm Heavy rains June-August.
Access	Nearest centre - Pollachi 60 kms.
Wildlife	Bonnet macaque, lion tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, loris,tiger, leopard, jungle cat, civet, mongoose, fox, bear, elephant, gaur Nilgiri tahr, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, wild boar etc.
Tourist attractions	Boating, sanctuary tour with guide.
	Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
Area
Topography	650 m to 1150 m above MSL, Highest peak:Karottimala 1158 m
Climate	13oC - 32oC.Warm months: March-May. Monsoon June-August.Rainfall 2000 mm
Access	Nearest centre - Calicut, Mysore, Ooty all within 110 kms radius.
Wildlife	Elephant, tiger, panther, jungle cat, civet cat, monkey, wild dog, bison, deer, bear etc.
	Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary
Area	55 sq.kms
Topography	50 m to 1145 m above MSL. Highest point : Katti Betta peak 1145 m.
Climate	21oC - 40oC at the foothills, 8o - 25oC at the higher reaches. Monsoon: June-August, Rainfall: 3000 mm
Access	Nearest centre - Thalasseri, Kannur 45 kms.
Wildlife	Deer, boar, elephant, sloth bear, sambar, bison, leopard, jungle cat and different types of squirrel.
	Periyar Tiger Reserves
Area	777 sq.kms, Core: 350 sq.kms, Periyar Lake : 26 sq.kms. Ever-green forest cover : 360 sq.kms.
Topography	900 m to over 2000 m above MSL.
Climate	Tropical, 15oC - 30oC, Rainfall 2500mm
Access	Madurai ( 145 kms), Cochin (190 kms).
Wildlife	Wild elephant, tiger, panther, wild dog, gaur, Nilgiri langur, sambar deer, barking deer, wild boar, sloth bear,Nilgiri tahr, the endangered lion tailed macaque, otter, Malabar giant squirrel, civet, leopard.
NATIONAL PARKS
	Eravikulam National Park
Area	97 sq kms
Topography	Hilly, highest point - Anamudi peak 2694 m above MSL
Climate	Wettest region, rainfall 450 cm average yearly, frost in winter. Access Nearest centre Munnar 15 kms.
Wildlife	Tiger, panther, wild dog, Civet cats, sloth bear, wild boar and Nilgiri Tahr.
	Silent Valley National Park
Area	90 sq.kms
Climate	The thick canopy of these highly dense forests account for the very high evapotranspiration in these regions, cooling the atmosphere and causing the summer rains.
Access	The nearest centre - Mannarkad 32 kms
Wildlife	All peninsular mammals, lion tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, bonnet macaque, tiger, leopard(panther), leopard cat, jungle cat, fishing cat, common palm civet, small Indian civet,brown palm civet, ruddy mongoose, stripe necked mongoose, wild dog, sloth bear, otter, flying squirrel, Malabar giant squirrel, Indian pangolin spotted deer, barking deer , elephant, guar etc.
	Unlike other sanctuaries, viewing wildlife here is difficult because of the dense vegetation.