THE MOUNTAINOUS KERALA (WESTERN GHATS AND TROPICAL FORESTS)

alt Kerala is well endowed with luxurious natural vegetation, crop diversity and wildlife. This is due to the high rainfall and the physiographic diversity created by the Western Ghats, the continuous mountain range of 450 km along the eastern side of Kerala. Western Ghats convert 48% of Kerala into highlands and is studded with more than 40 peaks above 5000 feet above MSL. This chain of mountains, running north to south, play a significant role in the climatological as well as the biological characteristics of the state.

The wide variations in rainfall and altitude coupled with complex geography produces different type of forests, flora & fauna in Kerala. Kerala has a total forest area of 11223 square kilometer and is classified into various types.

Tropical evergreen forests
Tropical semi evergreen forests
Tropical moist deciduous forests
Dry deciduous forests

Tropical shola forests
Montane forests
Grasslands
Reed & bamboo forests
Scrub Jungles

alt The forests of Western Ghats show rich biodiversity. Nearly 4500 species of flowering plants are found in Western Ghats, of these 1600 are endemic. 48 types of mammals, 275 types of birds and 60 types of reptiles are also recorded from the forests of Western Ghats. These forests provide home to a variety of flagship wild animals like elephants, tigers, panthers, leopard, various types of deer, monkeys, Nilgiri tahr, Nilgiri langur, gaur, sloth bear, Indian civet, leopard cat, porcupine, mongoose, spotting bats, flying foxes, jackal, different types of squirrels, barking deer, sambar deer, Nilgiri marten, Slender loris and a host of others. Reptiles common to Western Ghats include gecko, chameleon, crocodile, turtles, gigantic Indian python, Indian cobra, viper, kraits, tree snakes etc.. Western Ghat is also blessed with Kerala’s abundant birdlife. Common species like kingfisher, crows, different types of eagles, black kite, Indian roller, golden oriole, hornbill, woodpecker, jungle fowl, peacock etc provide continuous hours of bird watching. Kerala has three bird sanctuaries, the Thattekkadu bird sanctuary for tropical birds, Mangalavanam for aquatic birds and Chulannur for hill birds and peacocks.

The biodiversity and the rich wildlife of Kerala are protected through wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. Kerala has 15 wildlife sanctuaries and 5 national parks. “Silent Valley”, a natural virgin forest with rich tropical biodiversity is world famous for the lion- tailed macaque. Periyar wildlife sanctuary at Thekakdy spreading over 777 square kilometer is also famous for tropical biodiversity and different wild animals like elephants and tigers.

Wild life sanctuaries and national parks in Kerala PDF

Western Ghats have some of the best hill stations of the world. They include Kumily, Peerumedu, Wagamon, Idukki, Devikulam, Munnar, Nelliyampathi, Lakkidi, Chembra Peak and Ponmudi.