Kottiyoor Wildlife Sanctuary

Kottiyoor Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in the eastern part of Kannur district, Kerala, within the biologically important Western Ghats landscape. The sanctuary covers about 30.38 square kilometres and was notified in 2011. Its forests form part of a larger highland ecosystem valued for biodiversity, watershed protection and wildlife habitat.

The Kottiyoor area is also widely known for its temple and annual pilgrimage traditions along the Bavali River, giving the wider destination both ecological and cultural significance. A wildlife sanctuary is not an unrestricted recreation ground: entry, trekking, photography and movement within protected areas are governed by Forest Department rules and may vary by season. Visitors should use authorised access points, avoid littering and noise, and never approach or feed wildlife.

Travel plans should account for heavy monsoon rain and changing road or trail conditions in the hills.