Silent Valley to Pampadum Shola: the national parks the Kerala Forest Department lists

Background

The Kerala Forest Department's list of national parks in the State names Silent Valley National Park, Eravikulam National Park, Anamudi Shola National Park, Pampadum Shola National Park and Mathikettan Shola National Park. Activities inside a national park are strictly regulated as per The Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972. Silent Valley National Park is located in the Nilgiri Hills of Kerala and is a pristine tropical rainforest. Eravikulam National Park, established in 1978, spans approximately 97 square kilometers in Kerala's Idukki and Ernakulam districts and houses the largest wild population of the endangered Nilgiri tahr. Pampadum Shola National Park, covering 1.32 sq. km, is the smallest national park in the state. Anamudi Shola National Park covers 7.5 sq. km and Mathikettan Shola National Park spans 12.82 sq. km, both in Idukki district.