Wildlife in Kerala

Kerala, nicknamed as God's Own Country, is a land of lively beaches, serene backwaters, and spectacular hill stations - all three oozing out a sense of awe-inspiring beauty. Add to this the virgin wildlife sanctuaries, flourishing as if God was personally keeping a watch over them, and we have a destination of a lifetime - a destination that merges the diverse wildlife with human life so intricately that it all comes alive when one sets foot in this exotically exquisite land. There are only a handful of destinations in the world which serve such a diverse platter of "places to see" that the entitlement of one of the "Ten Paradises of the World" for Kerala by the National Geographic Magazine seems more than befitting.

The wildlife sanctuaries of Kerala snuggled lovingly by the royal Western Ghats with both complimenting and enhancing the beauty of each other, are amongst the finest in the world. The astounding variety of flora and fauna find a refuge in a total of 14 sanctuaries spread over an area spread over more than 2625 sq km. These sanctuaries provide tourists with an opportunity to explore the beauty in its natural surroundings. It as an ideal destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers as facilities for trekking, rock climbing, river rafting, jungle safaris, and overnight camping are made available at almost all sanctuaries here.

Some of the unique wild animals and species that are present in these sanctuaries include leopards, elephants, nilgiri tahr, tigers, deer, gaurs, barking deer, spotted deer, sloth bear, porcupine, wild dogs, hanuman langur, bison, wild boars, mongoose, geckoes, skunks, lion-tailed macaque, monkeys, grey langur, flying squirrel, mouse deer, civet cats, and squirrels. Besides the rich wildlife, one can also sight different species of birds like woodpeckers, Malabar cormorants, darters, hornbills, kingfishers, plovers, and brahminy. While making a visit to Kerala, one is likely to spot an exotic variety of butterflies and moths, especially along the backwaters of Kerala.