Kerala's 18 wildlife sanctuaries cover 2156.21 sq km

Background

The Kerala Forest Department lists 18 sanctuaries in the state, covering 2156.21 sq km.
India has an extensive network of 573 wildlife sanctuaries spanning 123,762.56 sq km as of November 2023, which is 3.76% of the country's geographical area.
The earliest in Kerala's list was formed in 1950; the most recent is Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary, formed in 2019 with an area of 227.970 sq km.
The smallest is Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary at 0.027 sq km, formed in 2004.
Kottiyoor Wildlife Sanctuary (30.380 sq km, 2011), Choolannur Pea Fowl Sanctuary (3.420 sq km, 2007) and Kurinjimala Sanctuary (32.000 sq km, 2006) are among the newer ones.
Sanctuaries are legally protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.
Each sanctuary is zoned into a core zone with no human interference, a buffer zone with controlled activities and a tourism zone within the buffer.