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Home > Kerala Wildlife Sanctuaries > Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary Periyar Wildlife SanctuaryPeriyar Tiger Reserve, named after the river Periyar, is one of the major wild life sanctuaries in kerala. Situated on the High Ranges of Western Ghats this treasure trove of rare plants and animals is zealously guarded and efficiently managed. Periyar wildlife sanctuary falls under the Idukki district in Kerala, the tract surrounds the Periyar lake, which was created in the year1895, building a dam across the river. Considering the importance of preserving the various species of plants and animals that inhabit the region the forests around the lake was declared as Reserved Forests in the year1899. History of Periyar Wildlife SanctuaryThe Maharaja of Travancore, realising the significance of conservation, appointed Mr. S.C.H.Robinson as the first Game Warden. Based on his recommendations, the forests around the lake were turned into a sanctuary in 1934, the Nellikkampathy Sanctuary. The sanctuary which assumed a new identity in 1950 had been managed by a seperate Game department until it was merged with the Forest Department in 1966. It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978 under the scheme, Project Tiger. Noted for its geomorphology, wildlife and scenic beauty, the Periyar Tiger Reserve attracts travellers from all over the world. It also harbours an aquatic eco system within itself. Numerous small islets in the large 50 year old artificial lake remind us of the intricate, inherent interrelationship among the terrestrial aquatic and subterranean life forms. This is the only sanctuary in India where the majestic Asian elephants can be observed and photographed at close quarters from the safety of a boat. Topography of Periyar Wildlife SanctuaryDense evergreen, semi evergreen and moist deciduous forests adorn the hills. There are extensive stretches of Savannah grasslands on the upper slopes. Flora of Periyar Tiger ReserveThe evergreen forests have lofty trees and the canopy is closed. Some of the common dominant trees are Vateria indica (Vellapine), Dipterocarpus indicus (Kalpine), Cullani excelsa (Karayani), Plaquium ellipticum (Palai) etc. Semi-evergreen forests hold a mix of evergreen and deciduous trees. Artocarpus hirsuta (Aini), Salmalia malabarica (Elavu), Hopea parviflora (Thampakam), Tetrameles nudiflora(Vellacheeni) etc., dominate in this type. Moist deciduous forests occur interspersed with grasslands around the lake and along the slopes on the north. Terminalia species (Maruthy) dominate. Teak, Rose wood, Pterocarpus (Venga) etc are also found. Grasslands occur around the lake and on the islets. There is scattered growth of fire hardy species like Anogeissus latifolia (Mazhukanjiram), Careya arborea (Pezhe), Emblica officianalis (Nelli) etc. The main species of grass found in the park are elephant grass (Cympopogon species), Saceharum etc which are commonly grazed by elephant, gaur and sambar. Fauna of Periyar Tiger ReserveThe varied habitat of forests, grasslands and the abundance of water naturally supports a variety of species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fishes. Tiger, panther and wild dog, elephant, gaur, sambar, barking deer, wild boar, sloth bear, Nilgiri tahr langur, lion tailed macaque, otter, Malabar gaint squirrel, civets etc. are generally sighted. There are several kinds of poisonous and non-poisonous snakes including the king cobra. Tortoise may often be seen basking on rocks and tree-trunks by the lake. The Masheer, the most famous game fish of India exists in large numbers. The common aquatic birds are the Indian darter, little cormorant kingfisher, and the black-necked stork, the great Indian hornbill, peafowl, brahminy kite and black winged kite. Effective measures to eliminate grazing, prevent poaching and encourage tourism are being taken by the authorities. Eco development is also a thrust area for sustainable development of the park. AdministrationThe Periyar Tiger Reserve is under the direct control of the Field Director, Project Tiger.His offices are at Kottayam and Thekkady. Wildlife TourismThe entry point to the Reserve is Thekkady, which is accessible by road from the airports of Madurai (145 kms), Thiruvananthapuram (272 kms) and Kochi (190 kms). The nearest rail - head is Kottayam (115 kms). The nearest town is Kumily, 4 kms from Thekkady. Facilities Available at the Sanctuary1. There is an information centre at Thekkady. Accomodation FalicitiesThe Kerala Tourism Development Corporation has three hotels; Aranya Nivas, Edappalayam Lake Palace and Periyar House. Visitors who want to stay within the forest area can make use of the Forest Houses for which advance reservation must be made. Lodging facilities are also available at Kumily. Tourist SeasonThe ideal time to visit the Reserve is October - May. Useful InformationLatitude : 9° 18' and 9° 41' North Contact Address1. The Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife)
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