Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary

Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary surrounds the catchment of the Idukki Dam in Idukki district, Kerala, spread over Thodupuzha and Udumbanchola taluks. It was declared on 9 February 1976 to protect what remained after rainforest was cleared for the Idukki hydropower project. Of its 105.364 sq km, about 72 sq km is forest and 33 sq km is reservoir water. It lies between 450 and 1,272 metres, the highest point being Vanjur Medu, and temperatures range from 15 °C to 25 °C, with March and April the hottest months.

The Idukki, Cheruthoni and Kulamavu dams all lie inside the sanctuary, as does Painavu, the district headquarters; the warden is based at Vellapara, and the forest department holds regular nature study camps here. Trees include Ceylon ironwood, wild jack, cinnamon, teak, Indian rosewood and Malabar kino. Asian elephants, sambar, muntjac, mouse deer, bonnet macaques, Nilgiri langurs, Indian giant squirrels, wild dogs, wild boar and jungle cats live here, along with cattle and buffaloes cut off inside the sanctuary when the dam was built.