[5][6] It spreads across the districts of Palakkad, Malappuram and Kozhikode[5] and is part of the South Nilgiri Elephant Range - 8.

[7] Within the reserve are the Silent Valley and Mukurthi national parks, as well as Nilambur South and North Forest Divisions inclusive.

[8][9][10] As well as elephants, the South Nilgiri Elephant Range 8 has a diverse fauna including leopards, tigers, leopard cat, gaur, Nilgiri tahr, sloth bear, wild boar, lion-tailed macaque; sambar deer and three other species of deer.

The Nilambur-Appankapu corridor is 0.4 km long and widthwise, it connects Nilambur with the Vazhikadavu ranges of the North forest division.

[13] On the border between Kerala and Tamil Nadu is a 35 km long corridor connecting Nilambur to Bandipur and Mudumalai.