Agasthyavanam Biological Park

Established in 1997, Agasthyavanam Biological Park is a wildlife sanctuary in Kerala, under the Agasthyavanam Project. The park is located near Thiruvananthapuram/Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala. The park has been named after the mesmerizing Agastimalai Agasthyakoodam Peak, which can be seen at a distance from here. In the year 1992, the Government of India formed a scientific committee to do research on the possibility of a Biological Park in the extremely degraded area of Kottur. The Committee came up with a suggestion that a biological park can be set up with an objective of regenerating, conserving and spreading, with selected flora and fauna. The committee further said that the area has negligible plant and animal population, but has sufficient water resources. They suggested that the soil is fertile and the climate is suitable for the growth of flora and fauna.

Agasthya Vanam Biological Park is spread over an area of 23 sq. km., of which 17.5 sq. km. of the park has been dedicated for natural regeneration to develop into a dense forest. The rest area of the park is left for systematic conservation programs. The forest authorities are planning to set conservatories for a variety of plant species. The conservatories will further reintroduce, produce and breed wild animals and birds. The area generally receives good amount of rainfall. However, the water quickly drains to the Arabian Sea, which in turn causes the area to become barren for six months. To overcome this difficulty, the authorities are planning to set small check dams to hold in small ponds. In this way, the area will remain humid and moist for vegetation to grow in dry season. The park comes under the administration of Wildlife Warden, Trivandrum. There are regular bus services from Trivandrum to reach this park. The park has a strict entry limit of 50 tourists per day. Visitors have to pay Rs. 50 to obtain an entry pass for the park. There are trekking facilities available for visitors in the park.