KERALA PSC / KERALA GEOGRAPHY / WILD LIFE SANCTUARIES OF KERALA / NOTES / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

 

KERALA PSC / KERALA GEOGRAPHY / WILD LIFE SANCTUARIES OF KERALA / NOTES / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

KERALA PSC / KERALA GEOGRAPHY / WILD LIFE SANCTUARIES OF KERALA / NOTES / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

PERIYAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (1950)

·      The Periyar protected area lies in the middle of a mountainous area of the Cardamom Hills.

·      It lies in the districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta

·      The protected area covers an area of 925 km², out of which a 350 km² part of the core zone was made into the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve.

·      The park is often referred to by the name “Thekkady”

·      The sanctuary surrounds picturesque 26 km² (10 sq mi) Periyar Lake, formed by the building of Mullaperiyar Dam in n1895.

·      Approximately 75% of the entire protected area are covered of unaffected evergreen or semi-evergreen rain forest.

·      Periyar is a highly protected tiger reserve and elephant reserve. It was declared as Tiger Reserve in 1978.

·      In Periyar the rare lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri Langur, the common langur, and the Bonnet Macaque are found.

·      320 different kinds have been counted in Periyar. The bird life includes darters, cormorants, kingfishers, the great Malabar hornbill and racket-tailed Drongos.

 

NEYYAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (1958)

·      The Sanctuary spreads across the southeastern part of Western Ghats in Thiruvananthapuram.

·      This is the drainage basin for the Neyyar River and its tributaries – Mullayar and Kallar.

·      Chief attractions of the sanctuary are the Deer farm, the Lion Safari Park and the Crocodile Rearing Centre.

·      A Crocodile farm, set up in 1977 at Neyyar, is home to 44 mugger crocodiles. The Steve Irwin Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Center was inaugurated at Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in May 2007.

·      Agasthyakoodam Hill, which is 1890m high, occupies the major part of the sanctuary.

 

PEECHI-VAZHANI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (1958)

·      Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary in Peechi of Thrissur district.

·      The Peechi Wildlife Sanctuary stretches over an area of 125 sq.km. Peechi Vazhani Wildlife sanctuary is home to more than 50 species of orchids and medicinal plants. Apart from 25 species of mammals, over 60 species of birds and 10 species of reptiles and snakes can also be found in the sanctuary.

·      The sanctuary consists of Palappilli-Nelliyampathi forests including the area of Chimmony Wildlife sanctuary.

·      The highest peak in the sanctuary is the 923 m high Ponmudi.

 

PARAMBIKULAM WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (1973)

·      Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is a 285 km² Protected area in Chittur taluk of Palakkad district.

·      The Western Ghats, Anamalai Sub-Cluster, including all of Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.

·      The sanctuary is the home of 4 different tribes of indigenous peoples including the Kadar, Malasar, Muduvar and Mala Malasar.

 

WAYANAD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (1973)

·      Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is an animal sanctuary in Wayanad

·      Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is the second largest wildlife sanctuary in Kerala. Also known as the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary

·      Wayanad wildlife sanctuary was brought under the Project elephant in the year 1991-92

·      The native aadivasis mainly consist of various sects like Paniyas, Kurumas, Adiyars, Kurichyas, Ooralis, Kattunaikkans etc…

·      The sanctuary is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The Western Ghats, Nilgiri Sub-cluster (6000 km²), including all of the sanctuary, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.

 

IDUKKI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (1976)

·      Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary stretches over an area of 77 sq.km

·      Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Thodupuzha and Udumbanchola taluks in Idukki district.

·      The sanctuary is predominantly famous for its elephant population.

·      The Idukki arch dam, the first major hydroelectric project in Kerala, is situated here. The 33 sq.km scenic lake around the sanctuary – the Idukki reservoir – is formed by the three dams Cheruthoni, Idukki and Kulamavu.

·      The vegetation of Idukki is considered as one of the richest and most extensive forest belts in the country.

 

PEPPARA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (1983)

·      The Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Thiruvananthapuram.

·      The area is hilly, with elevation varying from 100 meters to 1717 meters. The major peaks in the sanctuary are Chemmunjimottai (1717m), Athirumalai (1594m), Arumukhamkunnu (1457m), Koviltherimalai (1313m) & Nachiyadikunnu (957m).

·      Annual average rainfall is 2500mm (98 in)

·      The major rivers are Karamana River and its tributaries.

·      The sanctuary has a rich population of mammalian fauna. The common mammals found are Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Elephant, Sambar (deer), Bonnet Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Nilgiri Tahr etc…

 

KADALUNDI BIRD SANCTURAY (1983)

·      The Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary lies in the Malappuram District.

·      The Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary is a Haven for migratory birds.

·      It spreads over a cluster of islands where the Kadalundipuzha River flows into the Arabian Sea.

 

THATTEKAD BIRD SANCTUARY (1983)

·      The Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary is also known as the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary.

·      Thattekad is located on the northern bank of the Periyar River in the Kothamangalam taluk of Ernakulam district in Kerala.

·      Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary spreads in an area of just 25 sq.km, consisting of lush tropical evergreen, deciduous forests and grassland patches.

 

CHINNAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (1984)

·      Chinnar National Park is situated at Devikulam taluk of Idukki district.

·      The altitude within the Chinnar National Park ranges from 500 to 2400 meters, the highest peak being Kottakombumalai (2144m)

·      Chinnar is reputed to have the unique throny scrub forest with xerophytic species.

·      Chinnar National Park is the home for endangered giant grizzled squirrel.

·      The famous ‘white bison of Manjampatti’ is seen from Chinnar.

 

SHENDURUNI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (1984)

·      Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Pathanapuram taluk. The park is expanded to an area of 100.32km.

·      The sanctuary got its name from the tree named Chenkuruny (gluta travancoria) that are found only in this region.

·      A big dam known as the Parappar dam is built across the rivers of Kulathupuzha and Shenduruni. The dam leads to the formation of an artificial lake at central region of Shenduruni Wildlife Sanctuary.

 

CHIMMINI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (1984)

·      Chimmini wildlife Sanctuary is situated at the Mukundapuram taluk of Thrissur district.

·      It covers an area of about 85.067 km².

·      The sanctuary is on the Western slopes of the Nelliyampathi hills.

·      A part of the Chimmini wildlife sanctuary lies adjacent to the Peechi-Vazhani wildlife sanctuary and the other part to Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary.

·      Blue Mormon, the second largest butterfly in India is seen here.

 

ARALAM WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (1984)

·      The Aralam Sanctuary is spread over 55 sq.km of undulating forested highlands on the slopes of the Western Ghats.

·      The headquarters of the sanctuary is near Iritty, a small town about 55 kms from Kannur

·      It was established by carving out areas from the Odanthode Malavaram of Thalassery special division which was an erstwhile private forest, subsequently taken over by govt. as per the provisions of the Kerala Private Forests (Vesting and assignment) Act 1971 and from the Kottiyoor RF of Wayanad Forest Division.

 

KUMARAKOM BIRD SANCTUARY

·      Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary (also known as Vembanad Bird Sanctuary) is situated at Kumarakom in Kottayam district.

·      The sanctuary was formerly known as Baker’s Estate.

·      The sanctuary is spread over 14 acres (57000 m²) on the southern bank of the Kavanar River.

·      The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is a favourite haunt of migratory birds like the Siberian stork, egret, darter, heron and teal.

 

MALABAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Former Forest Minister Benoy Viswom, on 8^th August, 2010, inaugurated the Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary, which is spread across 74 square kilometers in three villages under Koyilandy Taluk in Kozhikode district. This is the 16^th Wildlife Sanctuary coming up in Kerala with a mission to protect the rare species of flora and fauna. The Sanctuary has diverse, vegetation types. These are the West-coast Tropical Evergreen, West-coast Semi evergreen, southern Moist Mixed Deciduous, Southern Hill-top Evergreen forests, Grasslands, and Marshy grasslands (Vayals). The variety of vegetation types harbours more than 680 species of flowering plants including 226 species endemic to southern Western ghats (about 30%). Sixty nine species of plants are placed under various threat categories. The Sanctuary is part of the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot. It also comes under the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and forms a part of the Wayanad Elephant Reserve. The sharp topographical gradient of the hills of sanctuary ranging from 40 to 1506 m is the primary reason for the diversity of plants and animals. The areas merge with the Wayanad Plateau. Steep hills, deep valleys, marshy lands etc… with hillocks, perennial water sources combined with altitudinal variations make it an ideal habitat for a variety of flora and fauna. The area also supports several endemics and many rediscovered species. A few species occurs only within the sanctuary, The forests of Kakkayam is contiguous with the unique mountain systems of Banasuramala (2050m), Vellarimala (2100m), Kurichyarmala (1606m), Kakkanmala (1456m) and Vannathimala (1505m) and thereby occupy a unique position in the Southern Western Ghats.

 

KURINJIMALA SANCTUARY

The Kerala Government has declared a sanctuary, comprising of the habitat of neelakurinji in the Kottakamboor and Vattavada villages in Idukki district of the State. The declaration of the sanctuary was made by the Former Kerala Forest Minister Benoy Viswam at the Neelakurinji Fest at Munnar on October 7, 2006. The formation of the sanctuary helped the protection of kurinji and its habitat (shola forests), which is rich in flora and fauna. The sanctuary would ensure the long-term protection of the entire biodiversity of the area, especially Strobilanthes Kunthiana and its habitat. Private land holdings having titles would be excluded from the sanctuary area. The new sanctuary is contiguous to the Chinnar wildlife Sanctuary and Anamudi and Pampadum Shola National Parks.

 

CHOOLANUR PEACOCK SANCTUARY (K.K NEELAKANTAN BIRD SANCTUARY)

Named after the famous ornithologist K.K Neelakantan. This is one among the rare sanctuaries in the country dedicated for the preservation of the national bird. Located around 30 km from Palakkad district of Kerala, India, is the Choolanur Peacock sanctuary. The sanctuary sprawls over an area of 500 hectares of thick forest. It also has a variety of medicinal plants. Kunchan Smrithivanam, a 200 hectare forest which was formed in the memory of great Malayalam poet Kunchan Nambiar, is also a part of the sanctuary. Choolar Peafowl Sanctuary dedicated to the memory of K.K Neelakantan, famous ornithologist of Kerala.

KERALA PSC / KERALA GEOGRAPHY / WILD LIFE SANCTUARIES OF KERALA / NOTES / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE