Kerala Wildlife
Kerala in South India also called God’s Own Country. It is a jewel in the map of south India and it is also the home to many rare and special forms of animal, bird and marine life. The wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala provide refuge to different forms of wildlife in Kerala and provide tourists with an opportunity to see these rare creatures in their natural surroundings.
There are different species that were endangered but they have been very well preserved here and taken care of in these surroundings. And nothing could be better than to see these wild animals in their natural surroundings. After all who doesn’t love to see the big cat languish its prey just after a fresh kill or who doesn’t like to watch the beautiful chirpy little birds take flight to the sky and soar high up in the air.
That’s how wild it can get and we are sure if you a lover of the wild then you would definitely not want to miss it by any chance. And incase you do miss it there is always a next chance waiting to be explored. Some of the unique wild animals that tourists can see on tours of Kerala, with Kerala Backwater are elephants, Nilgiri Tahr, tigers, leopards, lion-tailed macaque, deer, monkeys, civet cats, squirrels including the Malabar giant squirrel.
You can see different varieties of birds including woodpeckers, Malabar hornbills, kingfishers, cormorants, darters, plovers, and brahminy kites along the backwaters of Kerala. You’re also likely to see many species of butterflies and moths, flutter by as you float along a Kerala Backwater. On the shoreline you can see many species of crabs, mudskippers, turtles and deeper in the water you can see fish and even crocodiles. So lets discover the journey from the rugged land of The Dangs in Gujarat, the Western Ghats run along the southwestern strip of India for almost 1,600km.
They rise to their apogee and form the most striking geographical feature on their journey through Kerala. Situated within the folds of the Western Ghats, Kerala is home to some of India’s more noteworthy national parks and wild life reserves. Forests cover 24% of the state’s area, and 5.9% of the region falls under ‘protected land’, with a total of 24 national parks and wildlife reserves.
Some very famous and well Sanctuaries
Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary
IdukkiWildlife Sanctuary is situated in a very lush green area located at a distance of 40 kms from Thodupuzha. This sanctuary moves towards Thodupuzha and Udumpanchola taluks of Idukki district spreading over 77sq. kms, at 450 – 748m above sea level.
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
One of the well-known wildlife sanctuaries in the south, Periyar sanctuary attracts a large number of nature lovers every year. Also called the Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary, this place is ideal for watching the animals in their natural habitat.
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
If you are a bird lover then this is place for you to watch those colourful and beautiful creatures in their nests in the tree tops chirping and taking flight every now and then. Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, situated on the banks of the Vembanand Lake is known for its varied avian population. Local varieties such as waterfowls, cuckoos and owls, as well as the migratory Siberian Cranes can be viewed here. Siberian cranes are the most sought after birds that all bird lovers love to watch as they are rare kind of species that come down during a particular time frame and also for a stipulated time.
Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary
It has a unique feature as far as the vegetation is concerned and the grasslands are a sight to be sen and explored.This wildlife sanctuary is home to elephants, sloth bear, Nilgiri Tahr, jungle cat, wild boar, Nilgiri Langur, etc. There is also a crocodile rearing centre, deer farm and lion safari park near the Neyyar dam site.
Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
It is on the Thiruvnanthapuram-Ponmudi road and is is accessible from Vithurai.This park has a wide variety of birds like the Darter, Little Cormorant, Pied Kingfisher and Egret, and is fast emerging as a big attraction for wildlife enthusiasts. There are small hillocks and eucalyputus plantations that flaunt along side the road. The most common animals found in Peppara are elephants, sambar, leopards, lions, the barking deer, wild boars, tigers, panthers, wild dogs, the Malabar squirrels, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, king cobras and pythons. The catchment area of Peppara dam across the river Karamana was declared a sanctuary in 1983. Accessible from Vithurai, the sanctuary has 13 tribal settlements. The nearest airport is at Thiruvananthapuram (55 km away) while the nearest railhead is also at Thiruvananthapuram.