The ''protected areas of Kerala'' include a wide range of

biomes A biome () is a biogeographical unit consisting of a biological community that has formed in response to the physical environment in which they are found and a shared regional climate. Biomes may span more than one continent. Biome is a broader ...

, extending east from the coral reefs, estuaries, salt marshes, mangroves beaches of the Arabian Sea through the

tropical moist broadleaf forest Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests (TSMF), also known as tropical moist forest, is a subtropical and tropical forest habitat (ecology), habitat type defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature. Description TSMF is generally foun ...

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 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).

Land coverage

The state of Kerala covers an area of . *The total forest area in the state is (1995), 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

The first official action towards the conservation of wildlife and biodiversity in Kerala was taken in 1934 by the Maharaja of the

Princely state A princely state (also called native state or Indian state) was a nominally sovereign entity of the British Raj, British Indian Empire that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule, ...

of Travancore,

Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma Sree Padmanabhadasa Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma , popularly known as Sree Chithira Thirunal, was the last ruling Maharaja of the Princely State of Travancore, in southern India until 1949 and later the Titular Maharajah of Travancore ...

, by declaring the forests around Periyar lake as a 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.

Biosphere reserves

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (5,520 km²) 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 km²) established in 2001, covers parts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta Districts in Kerala and Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari Districts in Tamil Nadu.

National parks

1978 Eravikulam National Park, Idukki District, 97 km² 1982 Periyar National Park, Idukki District, 350 km² 1984 Silent Valley National Park,

Palakkad District Palakkad District () is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala. It was carved out from the southeastern region of the former Malabar District on 1 January 1957. It is located at the centre of Kerala. It is the largest district i ...

, 89.52 km² 2003

Mathikettan Shola National Park Mathikettan Shola National Park is a 12.82 km² national park in Poopara village of Udumbanchola taluk in Idukki district of Kerala state, South India.It notified area national park in 21 November 2003. Considering the unique nature of th ...

, Idukki District, 12.82 km² 2003

Anamudi Shola National Park Anamudi Shola National Park is a protected area located along the Western Ghats of Idukki district in Kerala state, India. It is composed of Mannavan shola, Idivara shola and Pullardi shola, covering a total area of around 7.5 km². Draft ...

in Idukki District is composed of Mannavan shola, Idivara shola and Pullardi shola, covering a total area of 7.5 km². 2003

Pambadum Shola National Park Pampadum Shola National Park is the smallest national park in Idukki district of Kerala in India. It is on the border with Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu. The park is administered by the Kerala Department of Forests and Wildlife, Munnar ...

, Idukki District, 1.318 km² Proposed Karimpuzha National Park, 230 km²

Wildlife sanctuaries

Wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala include: * Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Idukki District, , established in 1950 *

Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary The Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in the southern state of Kerala in India is spread over the southeast corner of the Western Ghats, and covers a total area of . It is located between 77° 8’ to 77° 17’ east longitude and 8° 29’ to 8° 3 ...

in Thiruvananthapuram District, , elevation 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, , elevation 40 m-928 m, established in 1958 * Muthangha Wildlife Sanctuary in Wayanad District, , elevation 800 m-1158 m, established in 1973: Indian elephant, Bengal tiger * Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary in

, , elevation 459 m-1439 m, established in 1973: Nilgiri tahr, lion tailed macaque, gaur, Indian elephant *

Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary is Wildlife Sanctuary located in Idukki district of Kerala, India. Situated around the catchment area of Idukki Dam, the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary is rich in biodiversity and rich flora and fauna. Description Idukki W ...

in Idukki District, , elevation 600 m-1200 m, established in 1976: Indian elephant, sambar *

Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary The Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, India. It consists of the catchment area of the Karamana River, which originates from Chemmunjimottai, the tallest hill within the sanctuary. The s ...

in Thiruvananthapuram District, , elevation 60 m-1717 m, established in 1983: lion tailed macaque, Indian elephant, shola birds * Thattekad Bird Sanctuary in Idukki District, , elevation 30 m-620 m, established in 1983: Birds * Chimmony Wildlife sanctuary in Thrissur District, , elevation 50 m-1116 m, established in 1984: Indian elephant, Bengal tiger * Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary in Kollam District, , elevation 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, , elevation 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, , elevation 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, , elevation approx. 800 m-2550 m, established in 2006:

Neelakurinji ''Strobilanthes kunthiana'', known as Kurinji or Neelakurinji in Malayalam and Tamil and Gurige in Kannada is a shrub that is found in the shola forests of the Western Ghats in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The purplish blue flower blossoms ...

* 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 The macaques () constitute a genus (''Macaca'') of gregarious Old World monkeys of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. The 23 species of macaques inhabit ranges throughout Asia, North Africa, and (in one instance) Gibraltar. Macaques are principally ...

; 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. * Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary in Malappuram district. It was formed on July 3, 2020. It covers an area of 227.97 sq km.

Tiger reserves

1978 Periyar Tiger Reserve 777.54 km² 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 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 Mankulam may refer to: *Mankulam (Kerala) *Maankulam (Sri Lanka) Maankulam or Mankulam is located in northern Sri Lanka, about 3.5 hours drive south of City of Jaffna. Transport The major road A9 and a railway line connecting North and South o ...

, between Aanakkulam, Mankulam and Edamalakkudy.

Zoos

*The

Thiruvananthapuram Zoo The Thiruvananthapuram Zoo (also known as Trivandrum Zoo) is located in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, India. It occupies of woodland, lakes, and lawns. History Thiruvananthapuram Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in Ind ...

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 A buffer zone is a neutral zonal area that lies between two or more bodies of land, usually pertaining to countries. Depending on the type of buffer zone, it may serve to separate regions or conjoin them. Common types of buffer zones are demil ...

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. *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.University of Texas Libraries, India and Pakistan 1:250,000, Series U502, U.S. Army Map Service, 195
Topographic Maps of India
/ref>

Notes

{{Protected areas of Kerala Kerala Lists of tourist attractions in Kerala