Established on 25 August 1984, Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary comprises of 171 square kilometres. Shendurney owes its name to the endemic species, Ghuta Travancorica, locally known as ‘Chenkurunji’. The sanctuary is a valley of green splendour acclaimed for its rich biodiversity lying on either side of the Shendurney river.
Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary has an artificial lake of nearly 18.69 Sq.km size and also surrounded by the reservoir of Thenmala Dam. An ideal destination for wildlife lovers and those who are passionate about trekking, the Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary offers four different tour packages to travellers.
Significance
The first eco-tourism project in India, Thenmala Eco-tourism Project has been formulated in and around Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary. The name is a corruption of the Chengurinji, a tree endemic to the region (Gluta travancorica).Another important aspect of the Shendurnani Sanctuary is that there is no sandalwood trees here.
Flora & Fauna
The Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary is a treasure house of plant diversity. About 1257 species of flowering plants belonging to more than 150 families are reported from this sanctuary of which 309 species are endemic to Western Ghats. Birds from 267 species including migratory, endemic and endangered species have been reported here.
Tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forest cover a major area of the sanctuary. It has a presence of lion-tailed macaque, a highly endangered species. A brood of the highly elusive nocturnal forest bird, the Great Eared Nightjar was spotted for the first time at Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary in Kollam, Kerala.
The Great Eared Nightjar (Eurostopodus macrotis bourdilloni) belongs to the nightjar family. It gets its name from the two erect earlike tufts of feathers on its head, behind the eyes).
Special Tourist Attractions:
Trekking to the forests is the main tourist attraction of Shendurney wildlife sanctuary. The eco-tourism packages offered a present are Dharbakulam trail, Kallar trail, and Kattilappara – Choodal bird watching trail.
Boating in the reservoir operated is another tourist activity. Boating facilities are jointly operated by the Department and Thenmala Ecotourism Promotion Society.
Contact Address:
The Wildlife Warden
Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary
Thenmala Dam P.O.
Kollam
Phone number: +91 475 2344600
How to Reach
By Road: Thiruvananthapuram is around 70 km by road. Kollam city is also 70 km away. The nearest major town is Shenkottai, around 30 km away.
Railway Station: The nearest railhead is Shenkottai (30 km). However the nearest major railway station is Kollam Junction Railway Station, about 70 km
Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 75 km
Best season to visit is from October to Feburary
