Protected areas of Kerala

Land coverage

• The total forest area in the state is , forming 27.83% of the total geographic area.
• There are six national parks with a total area of.
• There are fourteen wildlife sanctuaries with a total area of.
• Together the protected area totals, which cover 23.7% of the total forest area and 6.3% of the geographical area of Kerala State.

  History

Biosphere reserves

National parks

Wildlife sanctuaries

• Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Idukki District,, established in 1950
• Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Thiruvananthapuram District,, altitude 80 m-1866 m, established in 1958: reed brakes, ibex, lion tailed macaque, Indian elephant, Nilgiri langur, crocodile, shola birds, more than 150 endemics.
• Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary in Thrissur District,, altitude 40 m-928 m, established in 1958
• Muthangha Wildlife Sanctuary in Wayanad District,, altitude 800 m-1158 m, established in 1973: Indian elephant, Bengal tiger
• Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary in Palakkad District,, altitude 459 m-1439 m, established in 1973: Nilgiri tahr, lion tailed macaque, gaur, Indian elephant
• Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary in Idukki District,, altitude 600 m-1200 m, established in 1976: Indian elephant, sambar
• Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary in Thiruvananthapuram District,, altitude 60 m-1717 m, established in 1983: lion tailed macaque, Indian elephant, shola birds
• Thattekad Bird Sanctuary in Idukki District,, altitude 30 m-620 m, established in 1983: Birds
• Chimmony Wildlife sanctuary in Thrissur District,, altitude 50 m-1116 m, established in 1984: Indian elephant, Bengal tiger
• Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary in Kollam District,, altitude 120 m-1785 m, established in 1984: Myristica swamps, Bengal tiger, lion tailed macaque, shola birds, lesser predators, Gluta Travancorica trees
• Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in Idukki District,, altitude 440 m -2300m, established in 1984: sandal forests, dry habitat species of animals and birds, Nilgiri tahr, Indian elephant
• Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary in Kannur District,, altitude 60m-1598m, established in 1984: gaur, sambar, Nilgiri langur
• Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary in Ernakulam District,, almost at sea level, established in 2004
• Kurinjimala Sanctuary in Idukki District,, altitude approx. 800 m-2550 m, established in 2006: Neelakurinji
• Ranipuram Wildlife Sanctuary proposed 2007 in Kasaragod district, approx. is an integral part of Brahmagiri biosphere: shola forests, Indian elephants, Indian leopards, wild dogs, various species of birds, Malabar large-spotted civets, slender loris, macaque; no protection for this biodiversity area; illegal night hunting and poaching are main threats; attention of the concerned authorities is required to declare it a wildlife sanctuary.

  Tiger reserves

Zoos

• The Thiruvananthapuram Zoo is one among the best designed in Asia and is set amidst a woodland, lakes and lawns. It is one of the oldest in the country, established as an annexe to the museum in 1857.
• The Thrissur Zoo is home to the wide variety of animals, reptiles and birds. Spread over an area of 13.5 acres of land, a natural history museum and an art museum are also enclosed within the same premises showcasing the socio-cultural heritage of the region. There is a special building which houses snakes also.

  Reserve forests

• Attappadi - The 249 km² Attappadi Reserve Forest is an informal buffer zone conjoining Silent Valley National Park to the West. 81 km² of this forest was separated to become most of the new 94 km² Bhavani Forest Range which is part of the 147.22 km² Silent Valley Buffer Zone.
• A useful source is detailed Topographic Maps of India.