A biodiversity survey astatine the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) has added 12 caller taxon records to its faunal checklist, reaffirming its presumption arsenic 1 of the astir biodiverse landscapes successful the Western Ghats. The additions see 8 butterflies, 2 odonates and 2 subspecies of birds.
The survey, held from September 11 to 14, was jointly organised by the Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala Forest section and the Periyar Tiger Conservation Foundation successful collaboration with the Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS). Teams were deployed crossed 26 strategical basecamps dispersed done the reserve’s 925-sq. km expanse, which straddles the Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts.
PTR is 1 of India’s premier tiger reserves, renowned for its mosaic of tropical evergreen, deciduous, grassland and montane shola habitats. The biodiverse-rich portion supports much than 300 vertebrate species, 200 butterflies, 100 odonates and megafauna specified arsenic tigers, elephants and gaurs.
Sahyadri Grass Yellow | Photo Credit: Kalesh Sadasivan
A cardinal absorption of the survey was the appraisal of butterfly diversity. The survey recorded 207 species, including 8 caller records. These included the Sahyadri Grass Yellow (Eurema nilgiriensis), the Plain Orange-tip (Colotis aurora), Sahyadri Yellowjack Sailer (Lasippa viraja kanara), Lankan Plum Judy (Abisara echerius prunosa), Plain Banded Awl (Hasora vitta indica), Montane Hedge Hopper (Baracus subditus), Sahyadri Small Palm Bob (Suastus minuta bipunctus) and Indian Dart (Potanthus pseudomaesa).
The different notable observations included the Malabar Banded Peacock (Papilio buddha), Kerala’s authorities butterfly, and Western Ghats endemics specified arsenic Malabar Tree-Nymph, Nilgiri Tiger and Travancore Evening Brown.
The odonate survey documented 71 taxon implicit the four-day period, with 2 caller additions, expanding PTR’s checklist to 108 species. The caller records were the Sahyadri Torrent-Hawk (Macromia bellicosa) and Coorg Torrent-Hawk (Macromia ellisoni). Several endemic odonates were besides observed, including Laidlaw’s Horntail and the Travancore Bambootail.
Sahyadri Torrent-Hawk | Photo Credit: Shaheer Babu
Bird specialists confirmed the beingness of 2 subspecies of nonmigratory birds, Bourdillon’s Blackbird (Turdus simillimus bourdilloni) and the White-throated Ground Thrush (Geokichla citrina cyanota). The iconic Great Indian Hornbill, Kerala’s authorities bird, was recorded from astir each camps. Other notable sightings included the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Grey-headed Bulbul, Wayanad Laughing Thrush, Black-and-Orange Flycatcher, and Nilgiri Pipit.
The survey besides documented astir 40 taxon of ants, 15 taxon of herpetofauna, six taxon of cicadas and respective mammals specified arsenic Bengal tigers, leopards, dholes, gaurs and elephants. The participants besides observed smaller but ecologically important mammals similar the brownish mongoose, striped-necked mongoose, tiny Indian civet, smooth-coated otter, Indian porcupine and black-naped hare.
PTR adjunct tract manager Lakshmi R., who inaugurated the survey, emphasised the value of community-scientist partnerships successful biodiversity monitoring. Such surveys assistance span the spread betwixt conservation managers and probe groups, she pointed out.
Pramod P.P., tract manager of the reserve, described PTR arsenic a “living laboratory” of biodiversity. “Each survey adds to our knowing of this fragile ecosystem and strengthens the lawsuit for its conservation. The caller additions item however overmuch remains to beryllium discovered and protected successful the Western Ghats,” helium said.
