Kozhikode

Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary

Located on the northwest slopes of the Western Ghats in Kerala, the Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary, inaugurated in the year 2010 is the 16th Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala. It falls under the Niligiri Biosphere Reserve and is part of the Wayanad Elephant Reserve. Spread over an area of 75 sq. km, it is home to a rich and diverse flora and fauna. The mountainous terrain of the sanctuary forms the unique and complex mountain systems of Western Ghats that include various mountains like Banasuramala (2050m.), Vellarimala (2100m.), Kurichyarmala (1606m.), Kakkanmala (1456m.) and Vannathimala (1505m.). Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary, which also comprises of the watersheds of various reservoirs also meet the drinking water requirements of the region. The salubrious climatic conditions make it a favourite hill station for tourists especially during the summer months. There are many rare and unique animals and birds in this sanctuary, some of them are endemic to the region. It is home to more than 110 types of birds, 40 types of mammals and different species of butterflies, rare amphibians and reptiles. Some of the highly endangered species found in this region include the lion tailed macaques. This sanctuary is also one of the best places to spot Asiatic elephants in their natural habitat.