Context: A recent faunal survey conducted by the Forest Department at the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in Palakkad has added 15 new species to the reserve’s biodiversity checklist.

Key-highlights

• New Species Recorded

• Birds: 15 new bird species were added, including Painted spurfowl, Rufus-bellied hawk-eagle, and Indian grey hornbill, bringing the total number of bird species in the reserve to 302.

• Butterflies: 5 new butterfly species, such as Long-brand bushbrown and Shot silverline, were added, bringing the butterfly count to 273.

• Odonates: 3 new species of dragonflies and damselflies were recorded, including Brown darner and Parakeet darner, raising the odonate checklist to 69 species.

Notable Sightings

• Birds: The Great Indian hornbill, Ceylon frogmouth, Lesser fish eagle, and Shaheen falcon were observed.

• Mammals: Herds of elephants, gaurs, spotted deer, sambhar deer, leopards, lion-tailed macaques, Nilgiri langurs, and smooth-coated otters were sighted.

• Butterflies and Insects: Species like the Southern birdwing, Malabar banded swallowtail, and Nilgiri tiger butterfly were also noted.

Parambikulam Tiger Reserve

• Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is a protected area located in the Western Ghats of Kerala, India.

• It spread across approximately 643.66 sq km.

• It is one of the best-managed tiger reserves in India and serves as a critical habitat for several endangered species.

• Parambikulam shares its borders with the Anamalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu.

• It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and is known for its dense wildlife population, including tigers, leopards, elephants, and other endangered species.

• The terrain consists of undulating hills, valleys, rivers, and reservoirs, providing a diverse ecosystem for flora and fauna.

• Flora: The reserve boasts diverse vegetation, including teak, rosewood, sandalwood, and bamboo forests. It is home to one of the world’s oldest and largest teak trees, Kannimara Teak, which is over 450 years old.

• Fauna: Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, Asiatic elephant, sloth bear, gaur (Indian bison), sambar deer, Nilgiri tahr, and lion-tailed macaque.

• Birds: Over 250 species of birds, including Malabar pied hornbill, great Indian hornbill, and grey-headed fish eagle.

• Reptiles: King cobra, Indian rock python, and various species of turtles and lizards.