Wildlife Sanctuary
Kerala
 Kerala wakes up to some
festival or the other every day of the year and Keralites are
addicted to the festivals. In short ‘ Keralisation’
of the festivals of different communities is the unique feature
of Kerala life.
Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
The forests of Peppara
Wildlife Sanctuary constitute the catchment of Peppara dam
constructed across Karamana river and commissioned during 1983 to
augment drinking water supply to Thiruvananthapuram city and
suburban areas. This sanctuary with its rich fauna and birds is
emerging as a big attraction to wildlife enthusiasts.Considering
the ecological significance of the area, it was declared as
sanctuary during 1983.
Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary consists of Part of Palode reserve
(24sq.kms) and part of Kottoor reserve (29sq.kms). The total area
of the sanctuary is 53 sq.kms. The total water spread of the
reservoir is 5.82 sq.kms.
The sanctuary is located about 50kms. north east of
Thiruvananthapuram city in Nedumangad taluk of Thiruvananthapuram
district between longitude 76°40' and 77°17' east and
latitude 80°7'and 8°53' north. General topography of
the area is hilly with elevation varying from 100 m to 1717m.
Rainfall and other climate factors are similar to that of Neyyar
Wildlife Sanctuary. There are 13 tribal settlements in the
sanctuary. Eleven are in Athirumala section and two are in
Thodayar section.
Silent Valley National Park
Silent valley is Extremely
fragile, a unique preserve of tropical evergreen rain forests
lying above the equator and the forest strip which causes the
summer rains in Kerala.
The Silent Valley National Park has an area of 90 sq km is
located in the north eastern corner of the district. It rises
abruptly to the Nilgiri Plateau in the north and overlooks the
plains of Mannarkkad in the south.
The core of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is the Silent Valley
National Park. Despite its name, the Silent Valley (the clamour
of Cicadas is conspicuously absent here) echoes with the sounds
of teeming wildlife. The denizens of this sprawling habitat of
endangered virgin tropical forests include rare birds, deer and
tiger.
Perhaps, nowhere else can one also find such a representative
collection of peninsular mammals, over a 100 species of
butterflies and 400 species of moths and other fauna like the
Ceylon Frog Moth, Great Indian Hornbill, the Nilgiri Laughing
Thrush and the Lion-tailed Macaque.
The river Kunthi descends from the Nilgiri hills, an altitude of
2000 m above sea level, and traverses the entire length of the
valley and rushes down to the plains through the deep forest. The
river Kunthi never turns brown and is always crystal clear,
perennial and wild.
The evapo-transpiration from these forests is much higher than
from any other surfaces. This cools the atmosphere, helps easy
condensation of water vapour and thus causes the summer
rains.
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary
Thatekkad Bird Sanctuary is
one of the most popular National Parks of Kerala.This Bird
Sanctuary is situated in the dense tropical evergreen and
deciduous forests and grassland patches. Thattekad Sanctuary is
located in the Kothamangalam Taluk of Ernakulam district on the
northern bank of the Periyar River. The sanctuary was notified in
1983 based on a recommendation made by Dr. Salim Ali many years
previously. It is a home to a microcosm of India's bird
population with about 500 winged species. The renowned
ornithologist, Dr. Salim Ali designed the Thattekad Bird
sanctuary. This Bird Sanctuary is spread over an area of 25 sq.
km. covered with deciduous forests and plantation of rosewood,
teak etc. Rare birds like the Crimson-Throated Barbet, Bee-eater,
Sunbird, Shrike, Black winged Kite, and the Night Heron are also
commonly sighted here.
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary is a rare haven in Kerala, which offers
picturesque landscapes, and is a nature lover's paradise.
Important birds found at the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary are large
falcon, jungle fowl, white-breasted water hen, hornbill etc.
Further, more than 28 varieties of animals and nine varieties of
reptiles have accepted this area as their natural habitat.
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