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Kerala, with its rich and diverse flora and fauna is a real paradise for nature and wildlife enthusiasts. Tourists and photographers can derive a lot of pleasure from observing everything from small moths and butterflies to endangered animals like the gaur and the lion-tailed macaque. A variety of Kerala wildlife – land, avian and marine still continue to inhabit the tropical and evergreen rainforests in the state.
Unique wild fauna found here include leopards, civet cats, elephants, squirrels, deer, elephants and tigers. Woodpeckers, kingfishers, brahminy, hornbills, Malabar cormorants and other kinds of birds are present in the midst of Kerala’s lush greenery. Kerala has its fair share of reptiles too, mainly concentrated towards the East. This includes crocodiles, turtles, pythons, vipers and the deadly King Cobra.
Tour packagers focus on several attractions including ayurveda, yoga, the scenic splendour, the range of cuisines, hill stations, cultural diversity, and festivals. However, included in this list are the wildlife sanctuaries too, which conserve much of Kerala’s wildlife. Popular among Kerala’s wildlife sanctuaries are those in Periyar, Wayanad, Chinnar, Idukki, Kumarakom, Peppara and Thattekad.
The Periyar wildlife sanctuary is credited as being one of India’s largest wildlife reserves. Though it’s difficult to get a glimpse of leopards and tigers, you can catch sight of elephants, Malabar flying squirrels, sambars, stripe-necked mongooses, wild pigs, flycatchers, laughing thrushes, Nilgiri wood pigeons, and a host of other animals and birds, in their natural environment.
Idukki, a land-locked wildlife sanctuary, is surrounded by a picturesque lake and supports such varied wildlife as bisons; bears; wild boars; jungle cats; poisonous and non-poisonous snakes; and birds like the myna, peafowl, kingfisher, black bulbul, woodpecker, and laughing thrush. The Kumarakom bird sanctuary is well-known for its multiplicity of avian species - both local birds such as the heron, kingfisher, cuckoo and owl and migratory birds such as the flycatcher and the Siberian stork.
Kerala wildlife, whether watched at close quarters or from a distance, offers a visual treat for tourists and an opportunity for the natives of Kerala to learn more about the bounty of wildlife available within the state. |
