If you are planning a trip to Kerala this winter, don't miss out on the infamous Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary. Constituting the catchment of the Peppara dam across the Karamana River, the area around was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1983 because of ecological significance. A part of the Paruthippally range, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary constitutes a part of the Palode reserve. It covers an area of 53 sq. kms.
The best time to visit the Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary is from March to July and later in the year from September to November.
While exploring Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala, you will find the forest is of stunted evergreen at a 1000m elevation at the southern hilltop. On the west coast, the hilly slopes are semi-evergreen forests, and the lower slopes of the hills have mixed deciduous forests. Trekking through the woods, you will come across elephant, gaur, sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, wild boar, tiger, panther, wild dog, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, and Malabar squirrel.
Also, water birds like darter, little cormorant, pied kingfisher, and egrets are widely visible in the area. Snakes like king cobra and python are found in this sanctuary. A variety of moths and butterflies can also be found here.
