Wildlife Sanctuaries of Kerala

Jun 2020|🟡Review|5 min read|111 entries

Key Takeaway

ildlife Sanctuaries are protected areas included in the ICUN Category IV.

Last verified: 12 Feb 2026·Source: www.pscarivukal.com·Next review: Review recommended

W(111)

Wildlife Sanctuaries of KeralaBasic FactsTotal No.of Wildlife Sanctuaries in Kerala
18
First Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala
Periyar WLS
Largest Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala
Periyar WLS
Kerala
Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary
Second largest Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala
Wayanad WLS
Southernmost Wildlife Sanctuary
Neyyar WLS
Northernmost Wildlife Sanctuary
Aralam WLS
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
First Community reserve in Kerala
Kadalundi-Vallikkunnu(2007)
particular plant species
Kurinjimala WLS(Neelakurinji)
Wildlife Sanctuary of Kerala that is included in Project Tiger
Periyar
UNESCO Heritage List
2012
Epithets / NicknamesCuckoo 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 & LocationsThattekkad Bird Sanctuary
Ernakulam(1983)
Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary
Malappuram
Kumarakom(Vembanad Bird Sanctuary)
Kottayam(1847)
Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary
Ernakulam(2006)
Pakshi Pathalam Bird Sanctuary
Wayanad
Neelakurinji(Devikulam Taluk)2006Periyar1950KannurAralam1984Kottiyur2011KollamSheduruney1984KozhikodeMalabar2010MalappuramKarimpuzha (New Amarambalam)2003PalakkadChoolanoor2007Parambikulam1973ThrissurChimmony1984Peechi-Vazhani1958ThiruvananthapuramNeyyar1958Peppara1983WayanadBegur1973MuthangaThirunelliPeriyar Wildlife SanctuaryFormer Name
Nellikkampetti Game Sanctuary(At the
Location
Peermedu Taluk
Headquarters
Painavu
Temples
Mangala Devi temple & Sabarimala Temple
British official who was responsible for the creation of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
H.C.H Robinson
Scientific Name of Shenduruny
Glutta Travancorica
Parambikulam Wildlife SanctuaryLocation
Chittur Taluk, Muthalamada gramapanchayat
Headquarters
Thunakadavu
Oldest naturally grown teak tree in the world
Kannimara Teak
Height
39.98 m
Girth
7.15 m
Age
apprx. 465 years
Tribal Groups
Kadar, Malasar, Muduvar & Mala Malasar
Chinnar Wildlife SanctuaryLocation
Devikulam Taluk
Rivers
Chinnar & Pambar
Tribal Groups
Muthuvas & Pulayars
Headquarters
Sulthan Bathery
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is a part of
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
Included under theProject Elephantin 1991
92
Tribal Groups
Paniyas, Kurumas, Adiyans, Kurichiyas, Ooralis & Kattunaikkans.📝 Read More:National Parks of KeralaKottiyoor Wildlife SanctuaryLastly formed Wildlife Sanctuary of Kerala (18th)
Tribal Group
Cholanayakar (Manjari Colony)
Temple
Thruchherumana Temple / Ikkare Kottiyoor Kshetram / Kottiyoor Vadakkeshwaram Temple
Chimmony Wildlife SanctuaryLocation
Mukundapuram Taluk, Thrissur District
Headquarters
Echippara
Area
85.07 km²Highest Peak – Punda peak (1116 m)
Tribal Group
Malaya
Rivers
Kurumali River & Mupliam River
Chimmini Dam
constructed acrossKurumali riverin1996
Headquarters
Peechi
Area
125 km²Highest Peak – Ponmudi (923m)
Tribal Group
Malaya
Major Rivers
Kurumali, Manali &Wadakkanchery
Wetlands
Paingottupadam, Pathrakkandam & Pothiyadukky
Location
Kannur
Headquarters
Iritty
Epithet
Silent Valley of Kannur
Rivers
Chikkanippuzha (ചീങ്കണ്ണിപ്പുഴ) & Bavali Puzha
Tribal Groups
Kurichiyan, Paniyan, Mavilan, Karimpalan, Adiyan, Uralikuruman (Bettakuruman), & KattunaikkanPlants & Animals Found in Wildlife Sanctuaries of KeralaAlbatross 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**, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Blue-winged Parakeet
Aralam WLS
Rivers & Wildlife Sanctuaries of KeralaMullayar & Kallar
NeyyarKaramana 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
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
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,
Agasthyamala Peak is situated in
Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Highest Peak in Thiruvananthapuram
Agasthyamala
Elephant reserves in Kerala
Anamudi(Idukki), Nilambur(Malappuram),
Tiger reserves in Kerala
Periyar & Parambikulam
Only Lion Safari Park in Kerala is at
Marakkunnam islands,
India's First Butterfly Park
Thenmala
bird habitat on peninsular India'
Salim Ali(India's
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
is used for making soup
Pakshipathalam
The first wood depot of Kerala
Alappuzha(1820)
Teak Museum situated in Kerala
Nilambur
Author of the book "Keralathile Pakshikal"
K.K. Neelakantan(1958)
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,

* Time-sensitive data — verify for latest information