UpdateBot at 01:09, 26 June 2022

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2019}}
The '''''protected areas of Kerala''''' include a wide range of [[biomes]], extending east from the [[coral reef]]s, [[estuaries]], [[salt marsh]]es, [[mangrove]]s [[beach]]es of the [[Arabian Sea]] through the [[tropical moist broadleaf forest]]s of the [[Malabar Coast moist forests]] to the [[North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests]] and [[South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests]] to [[South Western Ghats montane rain forests]] on the western border of [[Tamil Nadu]] in the [[Western Ghats]]. Most protected areas throughout its [[Districts of Kerala|14 districts]] are under the stewardship of the Kerala Forest Department and like all other [[protected areas of India]] receive support from the [[Ministry of Environment and Forests (India)]].
<div>{{location map+|Kerala|float=right|width=290|caption='''National Parks of Kerala'''[[File:Periyar National Park - plaque.JPG|center|275px]]'''Welcome to the Protected Areas of Kerala'''|places=
{{location map~|Kerala|label=[[Periyar National Park|Periyar]]|position=left|lat=9.47|long=77.17}}
{{location map~|Kerala|label=[[Silent Valley National Park|Silent Valley]]|position=left|lat=11.08|long=76.28}}
{{location map~|Kerala|label=[[Eravikulam National Park|Eravikulam]]|position=right|lat=10.20|long=77.09}}
{{location map~|Kerala|label=[[Anamudi Shola National Park|Anamudi]]|position=left|lat=10.21|long=77.04}}
{{location map~|Kerala|label=[[Karimpuzha National Park|Karimpuzha]]|position=left|lat=11.275|long=76.424}}
{{location map~|Kerala|label=[[Mathikettan Shola National Park|Mathikettan]]|position=right|lat=10.03|long=77.13}}
{{location map~|Kerala|label=[[Pambadum Shola National Park|Pambadum]]|position=left|lat=10.09|long=77.07}}

<div style="position:absolute; width:100px; left:1px; top:185px;"><div style="position:relative;">[[File:India Kerala locator map.svg|125px]]</div></div>
}}
</div>

==Land coverage==
The state of Kerala covers an area of {{convert|38863|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.
*The total forest area in the state is {{convert|10336|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} (1995), forming 27.83% of the total geographic area.
*There are six national parks with a total area of {{convert|558.16|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.
*There are fourteen wildlife sanctuaries with a total area of {{convert|1891.07|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.
*Together the protected area totals {{convert|2449.23|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, which cover 23.7% of the total forest area and 6.3% of the geographical area of Kerala State.

==History==
The first official action towards the conservation of wildlife and biodiversity in Kerala was taken in 1934 by the [[Maharaja]] of the [[Princely state]] of [[Travancore]], [[Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma]], by declaring the forests around Periyar lake as a [[Private protected areas of India#From the Southern princely states|private game reserve]] to stop the encroachment of tea plantations. It was named Nellikkampatty Game Reserve and was consolidated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1950 after the political integration of India.
<ref>Kerala Forest Dept.[http://www.keralaforest.gov.in/html/general/wildlife.htm Kerala Forest Dept.]</ref>

== Biosphere reserves ==
[[Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve]] (5,520 km<sup>2</sup>) established in 1986, includes parts of Wayanad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Mudumalai, Nilambur, Silent Valley and Siruvani Hills in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.

[[Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve]] (3,500 km<sup>2</sup>) established in 2001, covers parts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta Districts in Kerala and Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari Districts in Tamil Nadu.

== National parks==
[[File:Periyar National Park.JPG|thumb|'''Periyar National Park''']]
1978 [[Eravikulam National Park]], [[Idukki District]], 97 km<sup>2</sup>

1982 [[Periyar National Park]], [[Idukki District]], 350 km<sup>2</sup>

1984 [[Silent Valley National Park]], [[Palakkad District]], 89.52 km<sup>2</sup>

2003 [[Mathikettan Shola National Park]], [[Idukki District]], 12.82 km<sup>2</sup>

2003 [[Anamudi Shola National Park]] in [[Idukki District]] is composed of Mannavan shola, Idivara shola and Pullardi shola, covering a total area of 7.5 km<sup>2</sup>.

2003 [[Pambadum Shola National Park]], [[Idukki District]], 1.318 km<sup>2</sup>

Proposed [[Karimpuzha National Park]], 230 km<sup>2</sup>

== Wildlife sanctuaries==
[[File:Chinnar.jpg|thumb|Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary]]
Wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala include:<ref>Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department (2004)
[http://www.keralaforest.org/ Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department]</ref><ref>Wildlife Institute of India
2007 [http://www.wii.gov.in/nwdc/pa_list.pdf List of Protected Areas] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810094957/http://www.wii.gov.in/nwdc/pa_list.pdf |date=2007-08-10 }}, Dehradun</ref>
* [[Periyar National Park|Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary]] in [[Idukki District]], {{convert|427|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, established in 1950
* [[Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary]] in [[Thiruvananthapuram District]], {{convert|128|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, 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]], {{convert|125|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, altitude 40 m-928 m, established in 1958
* [[Muthangha Wildlife Sanctuary]] in [[Wayanad District]], {{convert|344.44|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, altitude 800 m-1158 m, established in 1973: [[Indian elephant]], [[Bengal tiger]]
* [[Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary]] in [[Palakkad District]], {{convert|285|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, altitude 459 m-1439 m, established in 1973: [[Nilgiri tahr]], [[lion tailed macaque]], [[gaur]], [[Indian elephant]]
* [[Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary]] in [[Idukki District]], {{convert|70|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, altitude 600 m-1200 m, established in 1976: Indian elephant, [[sambar (deer)|sambar]]
* [[Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary]] in [[Thiruvananthapuram District]], {{convert|53|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, altitude 60 m-1717 m, established in 1983: lion tailed macaque, Indian elephant, shola birds
* [[Thattekad Bird Sanctuary]] in [[Idukki District]], {{convert|25.16|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, altitude 30 m-620 m, established in 1983: Birds
* [[Chimmony Wildlife sanctuary]] in [[Thrissur District]], {{convert|85|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, altitude 50 m-1116 m, established in 1984: Indian elephant, Bengal tiger
* [[Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary]] in [[Kollam District]], {{convert|171|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, altitude 120 m-1785 m, established in 1984: [[Myristica]] swamps, Bengal tiger, lion tailed macaque, [[shola]] birds, lesser predators, [[Gluta travancorica|Gluta Travancorica trees]]
* [[Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary]] in [[Idukki District]], {{convert|90.44|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, 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]], {{convert|55|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, altitude 60m-1598m, established in 1984: gaur, sambar, Nilgiri langur
* [[Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary]] in [[Ernakulam District]], {{convert|0.0274|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, almost at sea level, established in 2004
* [[Kurinjimala Sanctuary]] in [[Idukki District]], {{convert|32|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, altitude approx. 800 m-2550 m, established in 2006: [[Neelakurinji]]
* [[Ranipuram]] Wildlife Sanctuary proposed 2007 in [[Kasaragod district]], approx. {{convert|80|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} is an integral part of [[Brahmagiri (hill)|Brahmagiri]] biosphere: shola forests, Indian elephants, [[Indian leopard]]s, [[dhole|wild dogs]], various species of birds, [[Malabar large-spotted civet]]s, [[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.<ref>Expert Eyes [http://expert-eyes.org/parks.html Wildlife Sanctuaries]</ref>
* [[Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary]] in [[Malappuram]] district. It was formed on July 3, 2020. It covers an area of 227.97 sq km.<ref name="The Hindu">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/karimpuzha-sanctuary-comes-into-being/article31984618.ece|title=Karimpuzha sanctuary comes into being|newspaper=The Hindu|date=3 July 2020|access-date=4 September 2020}}</ref>

==Tiger reserves==
1978 [[Periyar National Park|Periyar Tiger Reserve]] 777.54 km<sup>2</sup>
[[Idukki District]] 1950. PTR notified in 1982 TE, MF, MD, P. West Coast TE 900 m-2019 m tiger, lion tailed macaque, black panther, elephant, smaller mammals.

[[Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary|Parambikulam Tiger Reserve]] is the second tiger reserve in Kerala. This is located in the district of Palakkad, Kerala, while the closest town for visitor access to this tiger reserve is Pollachi, in Tamil Nadu.

[[Mankulam forest division]], between [[Aanakkulam]], [[Mankulam (Kerala)|Mankulam]] and [[Edamalakkudy]].

== Zoos ==
*The [[Thiruvananthapuram Zoo]] is one among the best designed in Asia and is set amidst a woodland, lakes and lawns.<ref>Public Relations Department, Govt. of Kerala., 101 Things to Do in Kerala, retrieved 6/23/2007 [http://www.kerala.gov.in/disttourism/101.htm Trivandrum zoo] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070628210214/http://www.kerala.gov.in/disttourism/101.htm |date=2007-06-28 }}</ref> 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.<ref>Kerala State Department of Museums and Zoos [http://www.kerala.gov.in/dept_zoomuseum/index.htm Zoological garden, Thiruvananthapuram] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070622234154/http://www.kerala.gov.in/dept_zoomuseum/index.htm |date=2007-06-22 }}</ref>

== Reserve forests==
*[[Attappadi]] - The 249 km<sup>2</sup> Attappadi Reserve Forest is an informal [[buffer zone]] conjoining [[Silent Valley National Park]] to the West.<ref>keralaatbest.com (2002) "''Palgat''", retrieved 4/1/2007 [http://www.keralaatbest.com/palghat.htm Palgat] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418230131/http://keralaatbest.com/palghat.htm |date=2007-04-18 }}</ref> 81 km<sup>2</sup> of this forest was separated to become most of the new 94 km<sup>2</sup> Bhavani Forest Range which is part of the 147.22 km<sup>2</sup> [[Silent Valley National Park#Buffer zone|Silent Valley Buffer Zone]].
*Idamalayar Reserve Forest- surrounding the [[Edamalayar Dam]] to the north, east and a south-east, covering Thrissur and Ernakulam districts. [[Eravikulam National Park]] is to the south-east, and Mankulam Forest Division to the east.
*A useful source is detailed Topographic Maps of India.<ref>University of Texas Libraries, India and Pakistan 1:250,000, Series U502, U.S. Army Map Service, 1955 [http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/india/ Topographic Maps of India]</ref>

==See also==
*[[Protected areas of West Bengal]]
*[[Protected areas of Himachal Pradesh]]
*[[Protected areas of Tamil Nadu]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}



{{Protected areas of Kerala}}

[[Category:Protected areas of Kerala| ]]
[[Category:Lists of protected areas of India|Kerala]]
[[Category:Lists of tourist attractions in Kerala]]

List of protected areas of Kerala - Revision history

UpdateBot at 01:09, 26 June 2022