Kerala's two bird sanctuaries, Thattekkad and Mangalavanam, in the Forest Department's list
Background
Two of the 18 sanctuaries in the Kerala Forest Department's list are bird sanctuaries. The Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary covers 25.000 sq km and its year of formation is given as 1983. The Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary covers 0.027 sq km and its year of formation is given as 2004. Mangalavanam is the smallest protected area in the department's sanctuary table. The department describes its sanctuaries as gene pools for a vast array of species and as ecological buffers that regulate water flow and prevent soil erosion.
Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary:
25.000 sq km, formed 1983
Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary:
0.027 sq km, formed 2004
Why it matters for exams: Pairing the two bird sanctuaries with their areas and years of formation is a common matching question in state examinations.
Kerala PSCSSC
In plain words
Bird sanctuary Bird sanctuary — A protected area notified mainly for the conservation of bird species and their habitat.