Aaralam Wildlife Sanctuary is a peaceful sanctuary on the slopes of the Western Ghats which was established in 1983. Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, the northernmost wildlife sanctuary in Kerala is a treat for nature lovers.

The highest peak of Katti Betta, covered with tropical and semi- evergreen forests that rise to a majestic height of 1145 m above sea level. The head quarters of the sanctuary is located at Iritty, a small town situated about 55 kms from Kannur City. The sanctuary adjoins the Central State Farm at Aralam.

A variety of flora and fauna endemic to the Western Ghats is found here. Herds of deer, elephants, boar and bison are quite general. Leopards, Jungle Cats and various types of Squirrels are also present.

It is rich in avifauna and reptiles. Water duck, migratory siberian duck, jungle fowls, mynas, laughing thrushes, black bulbuls, peafowls, woodpeckers, kingfishers, the hornbill, stork, raptor, darter, cormorant, grackle, cluster, Indian rollers, common snipes, crow pheasants, jungle nightjars, kites, grey drongos, malabar trogons, large pied wagtails, baya sparrows, grey jungle fowls, indian hill mynas, robins, jungle babblers, sunbirds, peacocks, crimson-throated barbets, bee-eaters, shrikes, fairy bluebirds, grey-headed fishing eagles, black winged kites, night herons, grey hornbills, Malabar hornbills and more than 253 species including migrant birds can be found in the sanctuary.

The normal range of temperature is between 21◦C and 40◦C in the foothills and between 8◦C and 5◦C at the higher reaches. The sanctuary receives an yearly rainfall of 3000mm. The predominant forest type in this area is Tropical Ever-Green and the Tropical Semi Ever-Green.

This sanctuary is easily reachable from Kannur. One can arrive at the sanctuary by road from Thalassery (45 kms) and Kannur (45 kms). The nearest railway station is Thalassery railway station and the nearby airport is Kozhikode airport, 113 kms from Iritty. The infrastructure for tourism development is limited at present but steps are being taken by the Forest department to improve the condition.