Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located in Kollam District of Kerala, is the abode of many birds and animals. Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary is under the core area of Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve.
Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve is one of the finest biosphere reserves in India. This biosphere reserve is covering the districts of Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Kanyakumari and Thirunelveli, in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve was established in the year 2001 and is jointly being run and managed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India-the Tamil Nadu Forest Department and the Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department of Kerala. Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve has a total area of 3,500.36 sq. km. Out of which, 1828 sq. km. is in Kerala and 1672.36 sq. km. is in Tamil Nadu.
Shendurney Wildlife Division was formed in the year 1996. This comprised of Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary and Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary. In the year 1998, Peppara Sanctuary was carved out and added on to Thiruvananthapuram Wildlife Division leaving only Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary in Shendurney Wildlife Division. The notified area of Shendurney Wildlife Division is 100.32 square kilometres.
Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary comprises of 171 square kilometres or 66 sq miles. The name of Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary came from the "Chengurinji" (Gluta travancorica), a tree widespread prevalence in this region.
Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary is covered with the tropical evergreen forest region and semi evergreen forest region. The evergreen forests are covered with a major area of the sanctuary. The significance of Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary lies in its ecological, faunal, floral and geomorphologic importance.
Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary is not only the abode of the birds. In this sanctuary, the lion-tailed macaque a highly endangered species is present. This lion-tailed macaque is the centre of attraction to the national and international tourists.
The first eco-tourism project in India, Thenmala Eco-tourism Project has been formulated in and around Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary. This wildlife sanctuary is also acted as the eco tourism spot in Kollam District of Kerala. Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary in Shendurney Wildlife Division also offers the tourists for trekking. There are two types of trekking organised in this region. These are Soft Wilderness trekking and Hard Wilderness trekking.
