The forest covers 1500 sq km (580 sq miles) and is a mix of tropical moist deciduous and dry deciduous types. The backwaters of the Kabini reservoir is now an important perennial water source where one can witness one of the largest and most spectacular congregations of Asiatic elephants in the dry summer months. 

The region supports tree species like Teak, Mathi, Dindla, Rose Wood and many more along with bamboo and other grasses. The fauna boasts 270 species of birds, including the endangered Malabar Trogon, the Malabar Pied Hornbill and the Crested Hawk-eagle, as well as an impressive assemblage of herbivores like the Elephant, the Gaur, the Sambar Deer, and the Spotted Deer. The abundance of prey in the region in turn supports a large and thriving population of large predators, which includes the Tiger, the Leopard and the Indian Wild Dog.