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Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, ThattekadDr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Thattekad

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, also known as the Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary in honour of the pre-eminent birder of all times in India, is located two hour’s drive from the port city of Kochi, near Kothamanagalam in 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. He described Thattekad in the 1930's as the richest bird habitat in peninsular India, comparable only with the Eastern Himalayas. 

 
Much of the forest has now been converted to agricultural and plantation areas, but the surviving areas certainly give glimpses of the rich bird diversity of the once widespread lowland forests of Kerala. A trip through this sanctuary would certainly be a bonanza for any birder with its over 270 species in a relatively small area of 25 sq kms area. One should se the rare
Mottled Wood Owl, Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, Malayan Night Heron, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Rusty-tailed Flycatcher, Grey-headed Bulbul and the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon.

General Information

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

270 

Getting There

The sanctuary is 53 km North-east of Kochi. The National Highway 49 passes through Kothamanagalam, from where you have to turn off on the  the Pooyamkutti road. Currently one has to cross the Periyar river by a ferry to reach Thattekad. 

The nearest railway station is Aluva at a distance of 48 km.  

Kochi International Airport is approximately 60 Kms away.  The best time for birding is from October to April.   

Bird List: Click here for bird list

Trip reports: Click here for trip reports

 

Regional Operator partners

Information given here has been solely contributed by our operator-partners Kalypso Adventures, who operate all the tours in this region.

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Tour options for non-birding spouse/friends: www.gurudongma.com.
 
 

Bird photographs by Yashodhan Bhatia,

Ronald Saldino,  Niels Poul Dryer, Ketil Knudsen
Kalypso Adventures & Gurudongma Team
.



 
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