The grizzly giant squirrel is the star attraction here, as is the white bison, although to a lesser extent. Chinnar also has the richest reptilian fauna, in addition to a treasure trove of medicinal plants and an entire forest of sandalwood.Contiguous to the Eravikulam National Park and the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, the terrain of this park is highly undulating, with varying altitudes.

Although it is located in the rain shadow area, nearly 1,000 species of flowering plants are found here. Chinnar is also rich in avian diversity and the calls of 225 species of birds have been recorded in the sanctuary. Other animals found here include the spotted deer, rusty spotted cat, wild dog, barking deer, bonnet macaque, porcupine and the wild boar. Larger mammals include the sambar, gaur and the elephant. Trekking options abound.

Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary also known as Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, it was the first to be officially recognized as a bird sanctuary in Kerala.This one-time rubber plantation was declared a sanctuary in 1984, with the help of the late Dr Salim Ali, renowned ornithologist. Nearly 320 species of birds thrive here. Scores of crow pheasants, nightjars, drongos, wood peckers.

Robins, babblers and darters colonise the towering trees. Rare birds such as the crimson-throated barbet, beater, fairy blue heron and the Malabar grey hornbill are also found. Sprawled over an undulating area, this sanctuary has tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests. Interspersed with plantations of teak and mahogany. The wildlife found here includes elephants, leopards, sloth bears,mongoose, slender loris, porcupines, pyhons and king cobras.