Kerala Wildlife Sanctuaries for Thrill of a Lifetime

Kerala houses a veritable wealth of exotic flora and fauna. It boasts of a variety of wildlife that has found their habitat at the place. Many wildlife sanctuaries and national parks are the places where you can capture the glimpses of a variety of wildlife. Tourists can embark on a Kerala wildlife tour to enjoy wildlife, safaris and adventure.

Let us explore Kerala wildlife travel guide.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Sprawled across an area of 777 sq km, it positions itself on the Western Ghats. Declared as a National Park in 1982, the sanctuary is a good place for sightseeing and excursion. Wildlife lovers throng to the place to spot tigers and leopards. With Kerala wildlife travel, you can enjoy watching other animals in their natural habitat. You can spot here sambar, wild pig, elephants, mongoose and Malabar flying squirrels. Besides animals, wildlife enthusiasts can find around 260 species of birds. This includes flycatchers, blue-winged parakeet, Nilgiri wood pigeon and laughing thrushes. There are many fascinating sights like spice plantations, forest waterfalls and nearby pilgrimage centres.

Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary

This famous wildlife destination in Kerala covers an area of 77 sq km. Lying at a distance of 40 km from Thodupuzha, this is a wonderful reservoir, which is formed by the construction of the Idukki arch dam. The forests and green hills surrounding the area offer great opportunities for trekking. Wild population of the sanctuary encompasses elephants, sambar, tiger, wild dogs, jungle cats and wild boar. The avian population includes kingfisher, jungle fowl, myna, woodpecker, laughing thrush, peafowl and black bulbul.

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

Covering an area of 90 sq km, Chinnar wildlife sanctuary is a perfect place to spot the variety of wildlife. This includes sambar, elephants, spotted deer, Hanuman monkey and peacocks. This wildlife sanctuary in Kerala is home to several plants and animals, which are unique to the thorny vegetation. It is known as the second habitat of the rare giant grizzled squirrel of the country. Marking its richness in avian diversity, the birds count goes on to 225 species.

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary is a part of Wayanad plateau. It is home to leopards, tigers, elephants and other animals. It is an annex of Bandipur National Park in Kerala at its southern border. Rich in bio-diversity, this wildlife destination is an integral part of the Nilgiri biosphere reserve. Tourists can have a look of the various bird species. This includes babblers, peacock, owl, cuckoos, woodpecker and jungle fowl.

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary

Kerala wildlife tour takes you to Thattekad Bird Sanctuary. It is among the most popular National Parks of the state. Lying in the dense tropical deciduous forests, the sanctuary is home to rare birds including Crimson-Throated Barbet, Shrike, Sunbird, Bee-eater, Black winged Kite and the Night Heron.

Kerala Wildlife Sanctuaries boast of a rich variety of flora and fauna, serving as the prominent attractions for tourists. Embark on a Kerala wildlife tour to enjoy the nature and creatures at their best. 

Article Source:

http://blogs.rediff.com/keralaindiatour/2013/03/06/kerala-wildlife-sanctuaries-for-thrill-of-a-lifetime/