Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary :India February 10, 2006
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (also known as the Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary) is one of the finest wildlife sanctuaries in India and perhaps the finest in south India. Located in the scenic surroundings of the Western Ghats hills in the state of Kerala, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of approximately 777 sq km. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary also has the privilege of being one of the most visited wildlife sanctuaries in India. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1934 as the Nelliampatty Sanctuary. After its enlargement in 1950, the sanctuary was named as the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a tiger reserve in the year 1978 under the Project Tiger Plan. The Periyar Tiger Reserve attained the status of a national park in 1982 (The first notification to make the core area (30,500ha) of the tiger reserve a national park was issued in 1982). The most scenic national park in South India, the Periyar National Park attracts thousands of wildlife enthusiasts from all around the world.
The sanctuary is home to a number of animals that include elephant, tiger, gaur, wild pigs, sambhar, barking deer, mouse deer, Indian wild dog and dole. The Periyar Lake is an ideal medium to watch the wildlife at the sanctuary. You can take a boat ride on the lake and watch animals busy grazing or basking in the winter sun. Early morning is an ideal time to see elephants. You can see herds of elephant drinking water, bathing or simply coming out of the verdant jungle. Trekking through the sanctuary is another exciting activity that you can enjoy in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.
While on wildlife tours to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary you can spot wild animals such as the Indian Elephant, Tigers, Leopards, Liontail Macaques, barking deer, monitor lizards, Gaur, Wild dogs, Nilgiri Langurs, Nilgiri Tahr, reptiles such as the King Cobra and the python. One can spot a number of birds during wildlife tours to the Periyar wildlife sanctuary. Commonly sighted birds include the Giant Hornbill, Darter, Cormorant, Racket-tailed Drongo, white-bellied tree pie, flycatchers and laughing thrushes.
Apart from Elephants, the other animals to be seen in the Periyar sanctuary are Gaur, Wild Pigs, Sambar, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Dole or Indian Wild Dog and very rarely, a Tiger. There are, now, an estimated 40 tigers here. Four species of primates are found at Periyar – the rare lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri Langur, Common Langur And Bonnet Macaque. Periyar also happens to be the habitat of the elusive Nilgiri Tahr, which is rarely to be seen.
- Posted in : Wild Life in India, Wildlife Sanctuaries
- Author : seo4india
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