Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh will inaugurate the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, the second in Kerala after the Periyar Tiger Reserve, on February 17.
Forest Minister Benoy Viswom will preside over the function. The new reserve will have a total area of 648.5 sq km, with a buffer zone of 225.3 sq km. The newly added core area measures 188.2 sq km. and the existing core of the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is 235 sq km.
Converting the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary into the tiger reserve, adding forest areas spread across Kerala and Tamil Nadu, will help in the better protection of the area, sanctuary officials said.
