KERALA TOURISM NEWSLETTER
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ISSUE: 205 SEPTEMBER 2010
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Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kozhikode
Spread across 74 sq. km. in the three villages of Kozhikode district, the Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary is the 16th wildlife sanctuary to be formed in Kerala. This wildlife sanctuary has been set up with the aim of protecting the rich biodiversity of the Malabar region.
Situated within the limits of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the area of the sanctuary is an integral part of the Wayanad Elephant Reserve under Project Elephant. The sanctuary covers the region of the Pannikotur Reserve Forests of the Peruvannamoozhi range and Karapara; Olathuki, Shankaranpuzha and the Attikkode area.
Located at Peruvannamoozhi, a popular ecotourism destination, the sanctuary is home to the rarest amphibians, especially the frog variety named Philatus Oschlandrae. The sanctuary is also a haven for butterflies such as Papilio liomedon, Papilio paris, Papilio dravidarum and Prioneris sita. Fish varieties such as Barilius bakeri, Tor khudree, Mystus vittatus and Puntius denisoni are also seen.
The lion-tailed macaque, brown palm civet, elephants, gaurs, tigers, leopards, Nilgiri Langur and the Kerala laughing thrush, oriental darter, grey-headed bulbul, Malabar parakeet, small sunbird, and white-bellied blue flycatcher are among the protected animals and birds in this region.
