The Salim Ali
Bird Sanctuary (also commonly known as the Thattekad Sanctuary) is
located in the Kothamangalam Taluk of Ernakulam district on the northern
bank of the Periyar river. The sanctuary was notified in 1983 based on a
recommendation made by Dr. Salim Ali many years previously.
Ali
described Thattekad in the 1930's as the richest bird habitat in
peninsular India, comparable only with the eastern Himalayas. Since then
much of the forest has been diverted to cultivation and teak and
mahogany plantation but what survives gives a glimpse of the phenomenal
bird diversity of the once widespread lowland forests of Kerala. Some
basic facts about the sanctuary are listed below:
asic
information on Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
- Thattekad Latitude 76 deg. 40' - 76 deg. 45' N
- Longitude 10 deg. 7' - 11 deg. E
- Altitude 35- 523 m (Njayapilli peak)
- Area 25.16 sq. km
- Rainfall 2500 mm annually
- Forest type Tropical semi-evergreen and tropical deciduous
- Mammals Elephant, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Porcupine
- Bird species : 250
How to get thereThe sanctuary is 13 km north-east of
Kothamangalam along the Pooyamkutti road. The nearest railway station is
Aluva at a distance of 48 km. Kochi, the nearest airport is 71 km away.
The new airport at Nedumbassery is probably closer. Kothamangalam is
well connected by privately operated buses to Ernakulam via Muvattupuzha
or Perumpavur. There are frequent buses from Kothamangalam to Thattekad.
Currently the bus needs to cross the Periyar river by ferry.
Construction on a bridge across the river has started.
