View source for List of protected areas of Kerala

{{short description|None}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2019}}
The '''''protected areas of Kerala''''' include a wide range of [[biomes]], extending east from the [[coral reef]]s, [[estuaries]], [[salt marsh]]es, [[mangrove]]s  [[beach]]es of the [[Arabian Sea]] through the [[tropical moist broadleaf forest]]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 [[Districts of Kerala|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)]].
<div>{{location map+|Kerala|float=right|width=290|caption='''National Parks of Kerala'''[[File:Periyar National Park - plaque.JPG|center|275px]]'''Welcome to the Protected Areas of Kerala'''|places=
{{location map~|Kerala|label=[[Periyar National Park|Periyar]]|position=left|lat=9.47|long=77.17}}
{{location map~|Kerala|label=[[Silent Valley National Park|Silent Valley]]|position=left|lat=11.08|long=76.28}}
{{location map~|Kerala|label=[[Eravikulam National Park|Eravikulam]]|position=right|lat=10.20|long=77.09}}
{{location map~|Kerala|label=[[Anamudi Shola National Park|Anamudi]]|position=left|lat=10.21|long=77.04}}
{{location map~|Kerala|label=[[Karimpuzha National Park|Karimpuzha]]|position=left|lat=11.275|long=76.424}}
{{location map~|Kerala|label=[[Mathikettan Shola National Park|Mathikettan]]|position=right|lat=10.03|long=77.13}}
{{location map~|Kerala|label=[[Pambadum Shola National Park|Pambadum]]|position=left|lat=10.09|long=77.07}}

<div style="position:absolute; width:100px; left:1px; top:185px;"><div style="position:relative;">[[File:India Kerala locator map.svg|125px]]</div></div>
}}
</div>

==Land coverage==
The state of Kerala covers an area of {{convert|38863|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}. 
*The total forest area in the state is {{convert|10336|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} (1995), forming 27.83% of the total geographic area.
*There are six national parks with a total area of {{convert|558.16|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.
*There are fourteen wildlife sanctuaries with a total area of {{convert|1891.07|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.
*Together the protected area totals {{convert|2449.23|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, 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]] of [[Travancore]], [[Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma]], by declaring the forests around Periyar lake as a [[Private protected areas of India#From the Southern princely states|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. 
<ref>Kerala  Forest Dept.[http://www.keralaforest.gov.in/html/general/wildlife.htm Kerala Forest Dept.]</ref>

== Biosphere reserves ==
1. [[Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve]] (5,520&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) established in 1986, includes parts of Wayanad, Malappuram & Palakkad districts of Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu & Karnataka.

2. [[Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve]] (3,500&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) established in 2001, covers parts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta Districts in Kerala and Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari Districts in Tamil Nadu.

== National parks==
[[File:Periyar National Park.JPG|thumb|'''Periyar National Park''']]
1978 [[Eravikulam National Park|Eravikulam NP]], [[Idukki District]], 97&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>
 
1982 [[Periyar National Park|Periyar NP]], [[Idukki District]], 350&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>
 
1984 [[Silent Valley National Park|Silent Valley NP]], [[Palakkad District]], 89.52&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>

2003 [[Mathikettan Shola National Park|Mathikettan Shola NP]], [[Idukki District]], 12.82&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>

2003 [[Anamudi Shola National Park|Anamudi Shola NP]] in [[Idukki District]], 7.5&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.

2003 [[Pampadum Shola National Park|Pambadum Shola NP]], [[Idukki District]], 1.318&nbsp;km<sup>2.</sup>&nbsp;

== Wildlife sanctuaries==
[[File:Chinnar.jpg|thumb|Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary]]
Wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala include:<ref>Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department (2004)
[http://www.keralaforest.org/ Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department]</ref><ref>Wildlife Institute of India 
2007 [http://www.wii.gov.in/nwdc/pa_list.pdf List of Protected Areas] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810094957/http://www.wii.gov.in/nwdc/pa_list.pdf |date=2007-08-10 }}, Dehradun</ref>
*
* [[Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary|Neyyar WLS]] in [[Thiruvananthapuram District]], {{convert|128|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}in 1958.
* [[Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary|Peechi-Vazhani WLS]] in [[Thrissur District]], {{convert|125|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, in 1958
* [[Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary|Wayanad WLS]] in [[Wayanad District]], {{convert|344.44|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} in 1973.
*
* [[Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary|Idukki WLS]] in [[Idukki District]], {{convert|70|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}n 1976.
* [[Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary|Peppara WLS]] in [[Thiruvananthapuram District]], {{convert|53|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, in 1983.
* [[Thattekad Bird Sanctuary|Thattekad BS]] in [[Ernakulam District]], {{convert|25.16|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, in 1983.
* [[Chimmony Wildlife sanctuary|Chimmony WLS]] in [[Thrissur District]], {{convert|85|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, in 1984.
* [[Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary|Shenduruny WLS]] in [[Kollam District]], {{convert|171|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, in 1984.
* [[Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary|Chinnar WLS]] in [[Idukki District]], {{convert|90.44|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, in 1984.
* [[Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary|Aralam WLS]] in [[Kannur District]], {{convert|55|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, in 1984.
* [[Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary|Mangalavanam BS]] in [[Ernakulam District]], {{convert|0.0274|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, in 2004
* [[Kurinjimala Sanctuary]] in [[Idukki District]], {{convert|32|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, in 2006.
*
* [[Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary|Karimpuzha WLS]] in [[Malappuram]] district, 227.97 km<sup>2</sup>, in 2020.

==Tiger reserves==

# [[Periyar Tiger Reserve]] (PTR) in Idukki district is adjacent/within the Periyar National Park, in 1978.
# [[Parambikulam Tiger Reserve]] (PKTR) in Palakkad district, in 2009.

== Zoos ==
*The [[Thiruvananthapuram Zoo]] is one among the best designed in Asia and is set amidst a woodland, lakes and lawns.<ref>Public Relations Department, Govt. of Kerala., 101 Things to Do in Kerala, retrieved 6/23/2007 [http://www.kerala.gov.in/disttourism/101.htm  Trivandrum zoo] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070628210214/http://www.kerala.gov.in/disttourism/101.htm |date=2007-06-28 }}</ref> 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.<ref>Kerala State Department of Museums and Zoos [http://www.kerala.gov.in/dept_zoomuseum/index.htm Zoological garden, Thiruvananthapuram] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070622234154/http://www.kerala.gov.in/dept_zoomuseum/index.htm |date=2007-06-22 }}</ref>

== Reserve forests==
*[[Attappadi]] - The 249&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> Attappadi Reserve Forest is an informal [[buffer zone]] conjoining [[Silent Valley National Park]] to the West.<ref>keralaatbest.com (2002) "''Palgat''", retrieved 4/1/2007 [http://www.keralaatbest.com/palghat.htm Palgat] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418230131/http://keralaatbest.com/palghat.htm |date=2007-04-18 }}</ref> 81&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> of this forest was separated to become most of the new 94&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> Bhavani Forest Range which is part of the 147.22&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> [[Silent Valley National Park#Buffer zone|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.<ref>University of Texas Libraries, India and Pakistan 1:250,000, Series U502, U.S. Army Map Service, 1955 [http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/india/ Topographic Maps of India]</ref>

==See also==
*[[Protected areas of West Bengal]]
*[[Protected areas of Himachal Pradesh]]
*[[Protected areas of Tamil Nadu]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

<!-- ==References== -->

{{Protected areas of Kerala}}

[[Category:Protected areas of Kerala| ]]
[[Category:Lists of protected areas of India|Kerala]]
[[Category:Lists of tourist attractions in Kerala|Protected areas]]