Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad, Kerala India

 The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary at Muthanga and Tholpetty witnessed a surge in visitors, when it opened in the second week of April after it was closed briefly due to wildfire threat. It is estimated that over 12,000 visitors including nearly 200 foreigners visited the Muthanga and Tholpetty divisions of the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in a period of two weeks. 

Wayanad wildlife sanctuary is contiguous to the protected areas of Nagarhole and Bandipur of Karnataka on the north-east and Mudumalai of Tamilnadu on the south  east. Rich in biodiversity, the sanctuary is an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Interestingly, it was from here that Pazhassi Raja fought valiantly against the British.

 The increase in visitors to the sanctuary has been attributed to the fact that summer season offers an ideal occasion to spot wildlife, when many animals including tigers and elephants from neighboring sanctuaries move in to the Wayanad sanctuary, basically in search of food and water. The animals usually spend time in the Wayanad Sanctuary area till the end of May. The Department of Forest and Wildlife allows safaris both at Tholpetty and Muthanga up to 20 and 16 kms respectively.