Perambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
Best time to visit : February to April
Nearest Airport :Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (100km)
Nearest Railway Station : Pollachi (48km)
Nearest Town : Pollachi
¤ Perched On The Annamalai
hills
Nestled in the Annamalai hills of the Western Ghats in the Palakkad
District lies the Perambikulam Sanctuary. The reserve supports various
types of habitats – from evergreen and semi-green to moist
deciduous forests, marshes, swamps and grasslands.
A sizeable area of the sanctuary (9,300ha) has been replaced by
man-made habitat that mainly consists of teak forests.
¤ Wildlife Attractions
Perambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is the dwelling place of tigers and
leopards, sloth bears, Lion-tailed macaques, bonnet macaques, wild
dogs, elephants, spotted deer, Indian smooth-coated otters, civets,
sambars, Malabar giant squirrels, jungle cats, porcupines,
yellow-throated martens, crocodiles, and the largest population of
gaurs in Kerala state. The gaur is an enormous animal, and one of the
largest species of wild oxen in the world. The rinderpest epidemic had
sharply decreased their number some years back, but it is believed
that their population is on the rise once again. The sanctuary is also
home to about 130 resident and migratory bird species, including the
Ceylon Frogmouth and the Great Indian Hornbill.
¤ The Tribal Life
Some tribal communities like the Kuriyarkutty and the Kadas, live
around the sanctuary. Many of them have been employed as forest
labourers.
The government has plans of constructing three dams in the area, as a
result of which a sizeable part of the sanctuary will be submerged
under water, including a part of the priceless evergreen forest –
the only home of the Lion-tailed macaque.
Also, the most popular migratory route taken by the animals of the
bordering Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, during the dry
season, will be inundated. This could gravely effect migration of
wildlife in the region. Owing to the rather extensive human
encroachment within the sanctuary, poaching of wild animals is another
grave problem.
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