What is the News ?

Recently, individuals suspected to be associated with Maoist groups allegedly engaged in a gunfire exchange with Forest Department watchers in the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary located in Kannur, Kerala.

Facts About:

• It's situated on the Western Ghats' western slopes.
• Founded in 1984, it is the northernmost wildlife sanctuary in Kerala.
• It shares borders with Wayanad-Brahmagiri, the northern slopes of Wayanad, and the Karnataka State Protected Areas, which include the Coorg forests and the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Katti Betta is the sanctuary's highest peak.
• In terms of vegetation, West Coast semievergreen forests and tropical evergreen forests predominate here.

              It is the only protected area of the West Coast Tropical Evergreen Forest of Dipterocarpus-Mesua- Palaquium type.

• This wildlife sanctuary is traversed by the Cheenkani River.
• Flora: Cinnamomum Zeylanicum, Hopea parviflora, Largestroemia lanceolata, Xyliaxylocarpa, Mallotus, and Philippinensis are common trees in the semievergreen regions.
• Fauna: Bison, deer, boar, and elephants are fairly common. Here, one can see leopards, jungle cats, and a variety of squirrel species.