With a total geographic area of 38,863 sq.km. and a population of 29.10 million, Kerala is the most popular state of Indian Union with a population density of 819/sq.km. The total forest area in the state is 10,336 sq.km. (FSI, 1995) forming 26.6% of the total geographic area and per capita forest area is 0.04 ha. The forests of Kerala lie on the Western slope of the Western Ghats at different altitudes rising up to 2,694 metres. The steep and often abrupt topography creates great special variations in climate and soil, resulting in high levels of biodiversity and local endemism. The diverse physical environment of Kerala provides a diversity of habitat, each supporting an assemblage of life forms with distinct biological values. The state possesses extensive areas of Tropical Rain Forests (1937 sq. km.), Tropical Semi-Evergreen Forests (1,543 sq. km.) and Tropical . Moist-deciduous Forests (4,100 sq.km.) and they are repositories of abundant and valuable biodiversity

The first effective step towards the conservation of wildlife and biodiversity in Kerala, was taken in 1934 by the erstwhile Travancore State by declaring the forests around the Periyar lake as Nellikkampatty Game Reserve. The following years saw the establishment of more Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks. Separate Wildlife Wing under Kerala Forest Department was created in 1985 as per GO(MS)319/84/AD dated 02.11.0984. There are at present 14 Protected Areas, One Biological Park and two Biosphere Reserve in the State.

A total area of 2,395.4 sq.km. has been brought under Sanctuaries and National Parks in Kerala. This is 22.49% of the total forest area and 5.98% of the Geographical area of the State, which is much higher than the 4% suggested by Government of India. The details of Sanctuaries and National Parks are given below.

Mammals are commonly described as quadrupeds or four-legged animals. Mammals are the only animals which have mammary or milk-producing glands. In all the world of Nature they are the only animals which nourish their young with milk. It would be quite correct also to define a mammal as an ' animal with hair' as every mammal, even the seemingly hairless whales, grows hair on some part of its body at some period of its life. Finally it may be said of mammals that the great majority of them bring forth their young alive and do not produce eggs as nearly all other animals do. Those curious mammals, the duck-bills and the spiny ant-eaters, lay eggs, but when the young hatch out they are suckled by the mother in the manner of true mammals.