28 Mar

Other NPs of North East India

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Content

• Rajasthan-National Parks
• Gujarat National Park
• Madhya Pradesh National Parks
• Chhattisgarh national Parks
• Odisha National Parks
• Maharashtra National Parks
• Telangana National Parks
• Andrha Pradesh National Parks
• Goa – National Park
• Karnataka – National Park
• Kerala – National Parks

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Shiroi (Manipur), Murlen (Mizoram), Phawangpui (Blue Mountain) (Mizoram), Intanki (Nagaland), Clouded Leopard (Tripura), Bison (Tripura)

1. RAJASTHAN-NATIONAL PARKS

1) SARISKA NATIONAL PARK (TIGER RESERVE)

• Location: Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in the Aravalli Hills, 35 km from Alwar, 250 km SW of Delhi and 110 km NE of Jaipur. It lies in Alwar district of Rajasthan. It was declared as a Tiger reserve in 1978.
• It is a former hunting reserve of Maharaja of Alwar and is home to a variety of flora and fauna.
• The Park has population of tigers, leopards, Nilgai, Sambar, Chital etc.
• It is the first globally successful reserve to relocate and rehabilitate the tigers.
• Other tourist attractions of the reserve
  • The sanctuary is strewn with ruins of ancient temples dating back to the 10th and 11th centuries.
    • Some of the highlights are the ruins of the Kankwari Fort and the 10th century Neelkanth temples. The way to the temples is rough but the architecture and the Khajuraho-like carvings will simply leave the visitor in awe of the place.
    • Neelkanth Mahadeva, houses the ruins of over 300 Hindu and Jain temples constructed between the 8th and 12th Centuries.
    • Chand Baoli (step well) at Abhaneri is enormous with 3500 steep steps built by the Nikhumbha dynasty is one of the largest stepwells in the world.
    • Note: Alwar is a city dotted with heritage buildings, Forts, tombs and palaces. Some of the important sights not to be missed are Bala Qila, Vijai Mandir Lake Palaces, Fateh jung ki Gumbad, Moti Doongri etc.

2) KEOLADEO GHANA NATIONAL PARK (FORMERLY CALLED BHARATPUR BIRD SANCTUARY)

• Introduction
  • KNP is spread over an area of 28.73 sq km and lies at the confluence of the Gambhir and Banganga rivers in Bharatpur district.
  • This bird sanctuary hosts thousands of birds especially during winters.
  • It is also a World Heritage Site.
  • It is a man-made and man-managed wetland.
  • Along with Loktak lake, Manipur, KNP is placed on the Montreux Record under Ramsar Convention.
• Threats by Invasive Alien Species: Report published in Oct 2020
  • In a new study published in the journal Biodiversity and Conservation, researchers have categorized the site as facing ‘high threat’ from biological invasion.
  • As many as 14 invasive alien species thrive in the park.
    • 9 plant species
    • 2 fish species (Common Carp and African Cat fish)
    • 2 Mammals (Bovine (Bos Taurus) and Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta))
    • 1 moth species (Parapoynx diminutalis)

3) RANTHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK (TIGER RESERVE), SWAI MADHOPUR

• Introduction
  • Ranthambore NP has an area of 392 km2. It was declared as NP in 1980. It is also a tiger reserve.
  • In 1985, adjacent forests were declared the Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary and Keladevi Sanctuary.
  • In 1991, tiger reserve was expanded to include Sawai Man Singh and Keladevi sanctuaries.
• Fauna
  • Ranthambore is most well-known for its Bengal tigers and is one of the best places in India to see these animals in their natural habitat.
    • Overpopulation of Tigers in Ranthambore has continuously led to conflicts between tigers.
  • Other fauna includes Indian leopard, nilgai, wild boar, sambar, striped hynea, sloth bear, gray langur, rhesus macaque, mugger crocodile and chital.
• Flora
  • The NP is famous for the largest banyan tree in India.

4) DESERT NATIONAL PARK (DNP)

• ­Situated in Western Rajasthan near Jaisalmer. It is the second largest national park of India having an area of 3162 km2.
• Sand dunes form around 20% of the park. The major landforms consist of craggy rocks and compact Salt Lake bottoms, intermedial areas and fixed dunes.
• Abundance of bird life
  • The region is a haven for migratory and resident birds of the desert.
    • Gadsisar Lake is among the tourist places in Jaisalmer. Thousands of migratory birds come to this place every year.
  • Many eagles, harriers, falcons, and vultures are found here. ú The great Indian bustard is also available in fair numbers.

5) DARRAH NATIONAL PARK (MUKUNDARA NATIONAL PARK)/ TIGER RESERVE

• Mukundra Hills National Park is also known as Darrah WLS. It is located near the Kota town of Rajasthan. It consists of large tracts of forests formerly part of the Maharaja of Kota’s hunting grounds.
• The national park is a combination of 3 WLS.
  • Darrah WLS
  • Chambal WLS
  • Jaswant Sagar WLS
• In 2013, it became the third Tiger Reserve of the Rajasthan.
• After the death of few tigers in 2020, the NP is left with only 1 tiger.

2. GUJARAT NATIONAL PARK

1) BLACKBUCK NATIONAL PARK, VELAVADAR

• Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar, is situated in the Bhavnagar District of Gujarat state, India.

2) MARINE NATIONAL PARK

• It is situated on the southern shore of Gulf of Kutch in the Devbhumi Dwarka district of Gujarat.
• The national park has 42 islands on the Jamnagar coast. Most of these islands are surrounded by reefs. Out of which 33 islands have coral reef. Some of the best-known islands are Pirotan, Karubhar, Narara, and Poshitra.

3) GIR NATIONAL PARK

• Gir National Park and WLS located in the Saurashtra Peninsula of Gujarat, is the only natural habitat of world popular Asiatic Lions.
• 7 major perennial rivers pass through Gir – Hiran, Saraswati, Datardi, Shingoda, Macchundri, Ghodavadi and Raval.
• Kamleshwar Dam is a large water body in the Gir Forest, which is good for marsh crocodile, reptiles and birds.

4) VANSDA (BANSDA) NATIONAL PARK

• It is a protected area located in Navsari district of the state of Gujarat.
• There has seen almost no felling of trees since 1952 which has ensured dense forest.
• It is nestled in Western Ghats.

3. MADHYA PRADESH NATIONAL PARKS

1) MADHAV NATIONAL PARK

• It is in the Shivpuri district of Gwalior in NW Madhya Pradesh, India. It is named after Madhav Rao Scindhia, the Maharaja of Gwalior.

2) KUNO NATIONAL PARK

• It was established in 1981 as a Wildlife Sanctuary also known as Kuno-Palpur WLS. In 2018, it was given the status of National Park.
• It is part of Kathiawar-Gir dry deciduous forests region.
• In 1990s, it was being considered for the Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Program, which aimed at establishing second lion Population in India.
  • It has also been proposed as one of the sites for Cheetah reintroduction in India.

3) PANNA NATIONAL PARK (PANNA TIGER RESERVE)

• About Panna Tiger Reserve/National Park
  • It is a TR/NP located in the Panna and Chattarpur district of MP and has an area of 542 km2.
  • Ken River flows from South to North through the Panna tiger reserve.
• Successful Tiger Relocation
  • Background: Panna tiger reserve was the second tiger reserve in India after Sariska to lose all its native tigers. Though tigers were repopulated in Sariska before Panna, but Panna presently had 3 times the tiger numbers.
  • Beginning of Relocation of tigers started in 2009 when the T1 tigress was brought from the Bandhavgarh. Over the years group of 7 founder tigers have mated and produced more than 80 cubs making it a one of the major success stories.
• River inter-linking and Impact on Panna
  • The plan of GoI, and state of MP and UP to interlink Ken and Betwa involves construction of 283m long Daudhan Dam. This is expected to inundate 400 hectares of Panna Tiger Reserve and environmentalists have raised concerns regarding this.

4) VAN VIHAR NATIONAL PARK

• It is located in Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh. It is very small around 4.45 km2.
• It has a status of National Park, but it is managed as zoological park, following the guidelines of Central Zoo authority.
• Animals are kept in their natural habitats. Most animals are either orphaned or brought from other zoos. No animal is deliberately captured from the Wild.

5) SANJAY NATIONAL PARK (TIGER RESERVES)

• About SNP
  • Located in Siddhi district of Madhya Pradesh. The NP is part of Sanjay-Dubri tiger reserve.
  • Note: Guru Ghasidas National Park is the part of Sanjay National Park which became part of Chhattisgarh on partition of MP. It was renamed to Guru Ghasidas National Park.

6) BANDHAVGARH NATIONAL PARK

• It is located in the Umaria district of MP.
• This park is known for its high tiger density (8 tigers / km2). It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1993.

7) KANHA NATIONAL PARK (KANHA TIGER RESERVE)

• It is the largest NP of Madhya Pradesh and one of the important tiger reserves of India. Today it stretches over an area of 940 km2 in two districts of Mandla and Balaghat.
  • Total Area: 1949 sq km.
  • Core Zone: 940 sq km
• It was declared a national park in 1955 by merging Hallon and Banjar WLS.
• Important Fauna: Tiger; Hard ground Barahsingha (Cervus duvauceli branderi); Gaurs
• Major achievements
  • Important national park for tiger tourism.
  • It is also the only natural habitat of highly endangered hard-ground Barasingha (Cervus duvauceli branderi)

8) SATPURA NATIONAL PARK (SATPURA TIGER RESERVE)

• Located in the Hoshangabad district of MP. Its name is derived from Satpura Ranges and its covers an area of 524 km2.
• Adjoining WLS
  • Bori WLS
  • Pachmarhi WLS
• SNP also with Bori and Panchmarhi WLS provides an unique central highland ecosystem.
• Biodiversity rich NP
  • Leopard, Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, four horned antelope, black buck, mouse deer, Indian giant squirrel etc.
  • Previous years have seen rare sightings of tigers, dholes, Indian gaur, Barahsingha etc.

9) PENCH NATIONAL PARK

• It is in Seoni and Chhindwara districts of MP and includes Pench Tiger Reserve.
• It derives its name from Pench river that flows through the park from north to South dividing park into almost equal western and eastern halves.

10) OTHER NATIONAL PARKS OF MP

• Dinasour Fossils
• Fossil

4. CHHATTISGARH NATIONAL PARKS

1) GURU GHASIDAS (SANJAY GANDHI) NATIONAL PARK

• This Park is the result of the carving of Chhattisgarh from Madhya Pradesh in the year of 2000. After Madhya Pradesh was divided in 2000, a large part of the then Sanjay National Park went to Chhattisgarh. Chhattisgarh government renamed this forest area, with an area of 1440.71 km2 falling under its jurisdiction, as Guru Ghasidas National Park.
• Tiger reserves in Chhattisgarh: At present Chhattisgarh has three tiger reserves:
  • Achanakmar Tiger Reserve in Bilaspur
  • Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve in Gariaband
  • Indravati Tiger Reserve in Bijapur district
• State government is in the process of declaring Guru Ghasidas National Park into a tiger reserve.

2) INDRAVATI (KUTRU) NATIONAL PARK (TIGER RESERVE)

• Indravati National Park is a national park situated in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh state of India. It derives its name from the nearby Indravati River.
  • Note1: The Bijapur district is Maoist affected district.
  • Note2: The forests in the region are also affected by forest fires. Tribals set fire to forests as it makes it easier for them to collect mahua flowers during March-April.
• Fauna: It is one of the last populations of rare wild buffalo (IUCN: EN)
• Flora: Pre-dominance of sal, teak, bamboo, Mahua etc.

3) KANGER VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

Why in news?

Bird watchers recorded 200 bird species in Chhattisgarh’s Kanger Valley National Park (Dec 2022)

Bird Species: Bird watchers, and forest department officials counted 200 types of birds in Chhattisgarh’s first ever inter-state bird survey conducted in the National park from 25th – 27th Nov 2022.

• • The survey unveiled that the valley can potentially host species found in the Himalayas, the Northeast, the Eastern and Western Himalayas.

About Bastar Hill Mynah: It is a subspecies of the common hill mynah which is protected under Schedule 1(b) of the WPA.

It is endemic to the Kanger valley National Park.

The jet black colored bird mimics the human voice exceptionally well. For this reason, it is often found in cages and sold as pets in the market.

It is a natioal Chhattisgarh.

It is one of the densest national parks and is home to the Bastar Hill Mynah, the state bird of Chhattisgarh.

The park gets its name from Kanger river which flows along the length of the park.

5. ODISHA NATIONAL PARKS

1) SIMLIPAL NATIONAL PARK (TIGER RESERVE)

• It is situated in Mayurbhanj district in the Indian state of Odisha. It is part of the Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant reserve popularly known as Mayurbhanj Animal Reserve, which includes three protected areas – Simlipal Tiger Reserve (2750 km2), Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary (191.06 km2) and Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary (272.75 km2).
• Simlipal derives its name from the abundance of Simul (red silk cotton trees) that bloom here.
• It is one of the largest national parks in India.
• It is also listed under UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserve.
• Faunal Diversity: Tigers, Elephants, Gaurs, Chausingha etc.
• Issue of Non-declaration as full-fledged National Park
  • Though the Simlipal has been accorded the status of National Park provisionally long back but is yet to be declared a full-fledged national.
  • Why not full fledged status?
    • Families live close to the core area of the forest. Government haven’t been able to shift them.

2) BHITARKANIKA NATIONAL PARK

• Introduction
  • It is a national park located in Kendrapara district of Odisha in eastern India.
• Core area of 145 km2 of the Bhitarkanika WLS spread over 672 Km2, has been designated as a National Park.
• Gahirmatha beach Marine Sanctuary lies to the east, and separates swamp region cover with canopy of mangroves from the Bay of Bengal.
  • The sanctuary is the second largest mangrove ecosystem in the country.
• It is also a Ramsar convention site.
• Fauna
  • 1671 estuarine crocodiles (saltwater crocodile) were counted living along the Bhitarkanika water bodies.
  • Other Fauna
    • White Crocodile, Olive Ridley Sea Turtles, Indian python, King Cobra, black ibis, darters etc.
• Flora
  • Mangroves – Sundari, thespia,
  • Grasses like Indigo, Bush etc.
• Rivers
  • The NP and WLS is inundated by a number of rivers – Brahmani, Baitrani, Dhamra, Pathsala and others
• 3 Protected Areas
  • The Bhitarkanika National Park
  • The Bhitarkanika WL
  • The Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary
    • Recent Development:
      • The Orissa High Court constituted a three-member committee on February 26, 2021 which will submit a report on the conservation of sea turtles in Gahirmatha marine sanctuary. This action followed media reports saying 800 Olive Ridley turtles have died since Jan 2021 due to negligence of state’s forest and fisheries department.

6. MAHARASHTRA NATIONAL PARKS

1) GUGAMAL NATIONAL PARK

• Located in Amravati District of Maharashtra, it is part of Melghat Tiger Reserve.

2) PENCH NATIONAL PARK AND TIGER RESERVE

• Pench Tiger reserve is one of the premiere tiger reserves of India and the first one to straddle across two states – Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
• The tiger reserve consist of Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park, the Pench Mowgli Sanctuary and a buffer.
  • It is the same forest area portrayed in the famous ‘Jungle Book‘ by Rudyard Kipling.
• The tiger reserve derives its name from the Pench river which is its lifeline.

3) NAVEGAON NATIONAL PARK

• It is a national park located in Gondia district of Maharashtra.
• It’s role as Bird Sanctuary is very significant. It is home to almost 60% bird species found in whole of Maharashtra.
  • The beautiful Navegaon lake is known for its pollution free water and attraction of birds.
  • The area around the lake is known as Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary.

4) TADOBA NATIONAL PARK (TADOBA ANDHARI TIGER RESERVE)

• Details
  • It is Maharashtra’s oldest and largest National Park. It is also one of the 54 tiger reserves in India. It is located in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra.
• The total area of the tiger reserve is 1,727 km2, which includes the Tadoba National Park, created in 1955.
  • The Andhari WLS was formed in 1986 and was amalgamated with the park in 1995 to establish the present Tadoba Andheri Tiger reserve. This is most famous of MHA’s six tiger reserves.
• Fauna
  • Keystone Species: The Bengal tiger
  • Other Mammals: Indian leopards, sloth bears, gaur, nilgai , dhole, striped hyena, small Indian civet, jungle cats.
• Vegetation of the park
  • Southern tropical dry deciduous
  • Teak is the most common tree.
• Two lakes and 1 river in the park
  • Tadoba lake and Kolsa lake.
  • Tadoba river (also Andhari river (a minor river in Wainganga basin) flows through the Andheri WLS)

5) SANJAY GANDHI NATIONAL PARK (SGNP) (BORIVALLI)

• It is located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is a rare example of a national park situated within a metropolitan and is also one of the most visited parks in the world.
• This is famous for the site of Ancient Kanheri caves.

6) CHANDOLI NATIONAL PARK

• It is a national park spread over Satara, Kolhapur, and Sangli district of Maharashtra. It was established in 2004.
• It is the southern portion of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve.
• It is located near Chandoli dam. It lies between Koyna WLS and Radhangiri WLS.
  • Sahyadri Tiger Reserve
    • It was created in 2007, by including all of Chandoli Tiger Reserve and Koyna WLS.
      • Chandoli Tiger Reserve forms the southern portion of the reserve.
    • The tiger reserve is known for its population of Tigers and Leopards.

7. TELANGANA NATIONAL PARKS

1) KASU BRAHMANANDA REDDY NATIONAL PARK

• It is located in the Jubilee Hills and Banjara Hills of Hyderabad. It’s a small park with a total area of 1.6 km2.
• The Park also houses the famous Chiran palace.
  • It was built in 1960. The entire palace complex is spread over an area of about 400 acres and was given to Prince Mukarram Jahan on his coronation by his Father Prince (Azam Jahan) in 1967.

2) MAHAVIR HARINA VANASTHALI NATIONAL PARK

• It is a deer national park located in Vanasthalipuram, Saheb Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana.
• It is the largest green lung space in the city of Hyderabad.

3) MRUGVANI NATIONAL PARK

• Details:
• It is a small national park located in Hyderabad. Its total area is 3.6 sq km.

8. ANDRHA PRADESH NATIONAL PARKS

1) PAPIKONDA NATIONAL PARK

• The WLS was upgraded to the National Park Status in 2008.
• The river Godavari flows through the park.
• Important Fauna include Tigers, Leopards, Sloth bear, small Indian Civet, nilgai, four-horned antelope etc.
• It is located in Papi Hills in the East Godavari and the West Godavari districts.
• It is also an important bird area.

2) RAJEEV GANDHI (RAMESHWARAM) NATIONAL PARK

• It is located in Rameswaram of Kadappa district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is a small national park of 2.4 sq km and lies on the bank of Penna River.
• Note:
  • FewothernationalparksinthecountryhavebeennamedafterRajeevGandhi – Mukundara Hills National Park in Rajasthan, Nagarhole National Park in Karnataka etc.

3) SRI VENKATESWARA NATIONAL PARK (PART OF SESHACHALLAM BIOSPHERE RESERVE)

• Located in eastern ghats and spread over Seshachallam Hills of Chittoor district.
• It receives most of its rainfall from north-eastern monsoon.
• Vegetation: Dry Deciduous mixed forests with patches of moist deciduous forests.

9. GOA – NATIONAL PARK

1) MOLLEM NATIONAL PARK AND BHAGWAN MAHAVEER WLS

• Located in Western Ghats, Goa, along the eastern border with Karnataka.
• It contains several important temples dating to the Kadambas of Goa, and home to waterfalls, such a Dudhsagar Falls and Tambdi Falls.
• The park is also home to nomadic buffalo herders known as Dhangar.

10. KARNATAKA – NATIONAL PARK

1) KALI TIGER RESERVE (ANSHI NATIONAL PARK)

• It is a tiger reserve situated in Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka.
• The park is habitat of Bengal Tiger, Black Panther and Indian Elephants.
• The Kali river flows through the Tiger reserve and is the lifeline of the ecosystem and hence the name. The tiger reserve is spread over an area of 13,00 sq km.

2) KUDREMUKH NATIONAL PARK

• Dakshin Kannada district of Karnataka.
• Located in Western Ghats
• NP divided into four ranges
  • Kudremukh, Kerekatte, Kalasa, Shimoga.
• Flora
  • Plantation of eucalyptus, casuarinas etc.
• Fauna
  • Tiger, leopard, wild dog, Malabar giant squirrel, common langur, sloth beer, gaur, Porcupine sambar, barking deer etc.
  • Birds’ species
    • Malabar Trogon, Malabar Whistling thrush, great pied hornbill, and the imperial pigeon
• Other attraction
  • Kadambi waterfall

3) BANNERGHATTA NATIONAL PARK

• Near Bangalore, Karnataka
  • In 2002, a portion of the park was made a biological reserve. It is a popular tourist destination with zoo, a pet corner, an animal rescue center, a butterfly enclosure, an aquarium etc

4) BANDIPUR NATIONAL PARK

• About Bandipur Tiger Reserve
  • Bandipur was established in 1974 as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger, is a national park located in Chamarajanagar and Mysore district of south Indian state of Karnataka. Bandipur is known for its wildlife and had many types of biomes, but dry deciduous forest is dominant.
  • It is about 80 km2 from the city of Mysore on the route to a major tourist destination of Ooty. As a result, Bandipur sees a lot of tourist traffic and there are a lot of wildlife fatalities caused by speeding vehicles that are reported each year. There is a ban on traffic from the hours of dusk to dawn to help bring down deaths of wildlife.
• The national park spans an area of 874 sq km and protects several species of India’s endangered species.
  • Together with adjoining Nagarhole National Park (KAR) (643 sq km), Mudumalai National Park (320 sq km), Wayanad WLS (344 sq km), it is part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
• Dominant Flora: Teak, Rosewood, Sandalwood etc.
• Dominant Fauna: Tiger, Elephant, Gaur, Sambhar, Chital, Deer, Antelope, Wild Boars etc.

5) NAGARHOLE NATIONAL PARK (TIGER RESERVE) (ALSO KNOWN AS RAJIV GANDHI NATIONAL PARK)

• Located in Kodagu and Mysore district of Karnataka. It is located on the north-west of Bandipur National Park.
• It is also part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
• It is also recognized as Important Bird Area (IBA)
• Important Biodiversity: Tigers, Gaur, Elephants, Indian Leopard etc.
• Tribes Commonly found in the forest
  • Jenu Kurubas – primary inhabitants – slowly disappearing

11. KERALA – NATIONAL PARKS

1) SILENT VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

• Introduction
  • It is the core of Nilgiri International Biosphere reserve and is part of Nilgiri Sub-Cluster (6000 km2), Western Ghat World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO in 2007.
  • It consists of undisturbed tracts of Southwestern Ghats Mountain rain forests and tropical moist evergreen forests of India.
• Location: Nilgiri Hills, within the Palakkad district of Kerala, South India.
• Important Water Bodies
  • River Kunthi (Kunthipuzha) descends from the Nilgiri Hills above an altitude of 2000 m and traverses the entire length of the valley finally rushing down to the plains through a deep gorge.
    • It is a tributary of Thuthapuzha which in turn is tributary of Bharathapuzha river (second largest river of Kerala after Periyar River)
• Important Animal Species
  • Lion Tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Nilgiri Tahr etc.
  • Silent valley Bush frog (Raorchestes silent valley), first described in 2016, is named after the park.

2) ERAVIKULAM NATIONAL PARK

• It is a 97 km2 national park located along Western Ghats in the Idukki district of Kerala.
• It was the first National Park in Kerala (Now Kerala has 6 National Parks)
• It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• It is the national park with highest numbers of endangered Nilgiri Tahr.
• Other important species found in Eravikulam National Park includes Tiger, lion tailed macaque, gaur, leopard, Dhole etc.
  • Elephants also make seasonal visit.

3) PAMPADUN SHOLA NATIONAL PARK

• Located in Idukki District, it is the smallest National Park of Kerala.
• The Park protects a moderate amount of montane evergreen forest that is associated with the wildlife rich Eravikulam National Park.
• The keystone species here are highly elusive and endangered, endemic small carnivore -the Nilgiri Marten, Leopards, and Indian Wild Dogs.

4) MATHIKETTAM SHOLA NATIONAL PARK

• It is a small NP in Idukki district of Kerala state, South India.

5) ANAMUDI SHOLA NATIONAL PARK

• It is a small NP in the Idukki District of Kerala
• It consists of Mannavan Shola, Idivara Shola, and Pullardi Shola, covering a total area of 7.5 km2.

6) PERIYAR NATIONAL PARK AND WLS

• ­Also, an Elephant Reserve and Tiger Reserve
• Protected area in districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta in Kerala, India.
• Area of 925 Km2 , Core area of 305 Km2 was declared as the Periyar National Park in 1982.
• The park forms the major watershed of two important rivers, the Periyar and the Pamba.
• It isoftencalledthePeriyar Wildlife Sanctuary orThekkady.It is located in the Cardamom hills and Pandalam hills or the South Western Ghats along the border of Tamil Nadu.