Preliminary Notification On Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary Issued

On March 2nd 2009, Benoy Vishom, the Forest Minister and the Vice-President of the Wildlife Board of Kerala has announced the decision of creating Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala It will be the 13th wildlife sanctuary of the state and proposed to be built in North Kerala region, covering the forest reserves of the Kozhikode, Pannikottoor and Kakkayam and vested forests of Karampara Mala and Olathukki Malavaram and Sankaranpuzha, Athikode and the water-spread area of the Kakkayam reservoir.

According to the Forest Minister, the State Government found it very important to declared this region as a wildlife sanctuary because the area is a biodiversity rich zone. He moreover added that, the orders would be issued only after looking into the aspect whether it would breach the model code of conduct with the announcement of the parliamentary elections.

Malabar Natural History Society has confirmed that this region is home to more than 40 species of mammals that includes three endemic to the Western Ghats. Apart from Asian Elephants, a small population of lion-tailed macaques and other animals, Brown Palm Civet, one of the rarely recorded civet species of the Western Ghats are also available in the region.

The area also provides shelter to more than 110 species of birds, including eight endemics, six restricted range species and two globally threatened species. The region is also famous for the habitat of king cobra, python and many rare and endemic amphibian species. In addition 94 species of butterflies (including 14 endemics) and 24 species of dragon flies Endangered game fish Mahseer has also been noticed here.

With the formation of this sanctuary, the ecological, faunal, floral, geo-morphological and natural wealth of the region can be preserved very well. This will also boost up the tourism industry of the state and enable to create opportunities for employment of the localites.

The State Government has decided that out of 2,200 hectares of Pannikottoor forests, about 400 hectares had been excluded from the sanctuary. Of the afore mentioned 400 hectares, about 115 hectares had been identified for the proposed Tiger Safari Park while 94 hectares had been leased out to the Indian Institute of Spices Research.

The government had decided to notify the proposed sanctuary under sub-section (1) of Section 18 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act as the rights over the reserve forests and vested forests are yet to be settled.