Faunal survey in Kerala’s Vazhachal adds 26 species to checklist of wildlife division in Western Ghats

An intensive faunal survey successful the Vazhachal wildlife part successful Thrissur, Kerala, has documented 26 taxon antecedently unrecorded from the area, highlighting the affluent biodiversity of the cardinal corridor successful the Western Ghats.

The survey was conducted by the Kerala Forest section successful relation with the Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS) from February 26 to March 1.

Around 50 experts and delegates, on with an adjacent fig of wood frontline staff, participated successful the exercise. Fourteen tract camps were acceptable up crossed divers habitats ranging from adust and moist deciduous forests to evergreen systems, covering elevations from the Malakkappara-High Forest borders to the Chalakudy landscape. The researchers adopted a multi-taxa methodology to papers butterflies, birds, odonates, cicadas, spiders, ants and different faunal groups.

Butterfly diverseness was peculiarly striking, with 175 taxon recorded during the survey, including 13 caller additions to the Vazhachal wildlife division’s checklist. Among the notable sightings were Red-spot Duke, Acute Sunbeam, Hampson’s Hedge Blue, White-tipped Lineblue, Common Tinsel and Sahyadri Purple-spotted Flitter. Seasonal migration of Dark Cerulean butterflies and ample congregations of Blue Tigers, Dark Blue Tigers and Crows were besides observed to bespeak an progressive seasonal question adjacent during the adust phase.

The squad besides recorded 187 taxon of birds, including 10 additions. The important sightings included Black Stork, Black-headed Ibis, Black Baza, Greater Spotted Eagle, Large Hawk-Cuckoo, White-bellied Sholakili and Tree Pipit. Other notable observations were Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Lesser Fish Eagle, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, White-rumped Shama, Grey-bellied Cuckoo and Blue-eared Kingfisher.

Besides, the researchers reported steadfast populations of Great Hornbill, Malabar Grey Hornbill and Malabar Pied Hornbill. Their beingness emphasises the structural integrity of the wood canopy and fruiting histrion networks wrong the division.

Despite being a adust season, the survey documented 45 taxon of odonates, including 3 additions, viz., Trithemis pallidinervis,Lestes elatus and Caconeura risi. The squad besides recorded 30 taxon of ants, 33 taxon of spiders and six taxon of cicadas, reflecting important arthropod diversity.

Wildlife sightings

Wildlife sightings during the survey included tigers, leopards, herds of elephant, stripe-necked mongoose and the endangered lion-tailed macaque.

Vazhachal Divisional Forest Officer Suresh Babu I.S., who led the exercise, termed the summation of the caller species, peculiarly during a dry-season survey, arsenic a singular achievement. The findings, helium added, reaffirms ecological value of the Vazhachal scenery arsenic 1 of the astir biologically important wood divisions successful Kerala.

TNHS probe subordinate Kalesh Sadasivan points retired that the standard of additions recorded is an denotation of however biologically under-documented the portion is. The situation heterogeneity crossed elevation gradients supports important faunal turnover.

A structured post-monsoon survey is apt to uncover adjacent greater diversity, peculiarly among butterflies and odonates, helium added.