Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area located in the Western Ghats of India, in the Kollam district of Kerala. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve and was established in 1984, spanning an area of 172.403 sq km. The sanctuary is named after the Chengurinji tree, which is native to the region, and boasts an artificial lake of 18.69 sq km in size as well as being surrounded by the reservoir of the Thenmala Dam.

 

The Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary is a biodiversity hotspot, boasting 1257 species of flowering plants from over 150 families, with 309 species being unique to the Western Ghats. The sanctuary is also home to 267 species of birds, including migratory, endemic, and endangered species. The majority of the sanctuary is covered in tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forest and is known to have a population of the highly endangered lion-tailed macaque. The Great Eared Nightjar, a nocturnal bird species, was also recently spotted here for the first time.

 

The sanctuary is also the site of the first eco-tourism project in India, the Thenmala Eco-tourism Project, offering visitors the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the area. Image: Kerala Tourism