Palakkad : A four-day faunal survey at the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve (PTR) added 18 new species records including 9 birds, 6 butterflies, and 3 odonates. The exercise was conducted by Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation, Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department in association with TNHS, Trivandrum. Around 40 delegates and an equal number of forest staff participated in the survey. Besides TNHS, other NGOs like STEAR Nilambur, Aranyakam Nature Foundation Trichur, Chiragu Kannur, BSB Trichur, MNHS Calicut, SEEK Kannur, and expert from Kerala University, Annamalai University and SACON, participated in the survey. The Tiger Reserve was surveyed using 11 basecamps spread across the various habitats of the regions..

A total of 208 species were found in the survey. Painted Spurfowl, Purple Moorhen, Rufus bellied Hawk Eagle, Indian Grey Hornbill, Anamalai Sholakili, Orange Headed Ground Thrush, Taiga Flycatcher, Plain Prinia and Green Leafwarbler were the additions. With this, the total number of species Other notable species recorded include Great Indian Hornbill, Ceylon Frog-mouth, Lesser Fish Eagle, Shaheen Falcon, Grey-Headed Canary Flycatcher, Wayanad Laughing Thrush, White Bellied Drongo, Malabar Pied Hornbill and Oriental Darter. With the current survey, the total number of birds in the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve went up to 304 species including stragglers..

A total of 6 butterflies were added to the checklist from the 187 species recorded over the 4 days. The additions to the checklist were The Travancore Evening Brown, Long Branded Bush-brown, Shot Silveline, Scarce Shot Silveline, White-Disc Hedgeblue, and Palni Dart. Notable species that were observed include Five bar Swordtail, Spot Swordtail, Southern Birdwing, Malabar Banded Swallowtail, Sahyadri Grass Yellow, Nilgiri Tiger, Southern Blue Oakleaf, Kanara Swift, and Black Angle. With these additions, the total number of butterflies for the reserve will be 274. .

A total of 39 species of odonates were observed in the offseason survey, adding 3 species making the total number in the Tiger Reserve 69. The additional species were Brown Darner Gynacantha dravida Lieftinck, 1960, Parakeet Darner Gynacantha millardi Fraser,1920, and Vestalis submontana Fraser, 1934 Montane Forest-Glory. Other significant species sighted were Common Torrent-Hawk Epophthalmia vittata vittata Burmeister, 1839, Ris’s/Common Bambootail Caconeura risi (Fraser, 1931), and Fraser’s Torrent-Dart Euphaea fraseri (Laidlaw, 1920). The delegates came across herds of Elephants, Gaurs, Spotted Deer, and Sambhar deer. Other interesting observations include Leopards, Lion-tailed Macaques, Nilgiri Langurs, and Smooth-coated Otters..

“The addition of 18 new species records even in the dry season indicates the rich biodiversity of the region,” said Mr Sujith R, Deputy Director, PTR. The survey concluded at Anapady where data was compiled under the leadership of Dr Kalesh Sadasivan, Toms Augustine, Baiju K, and Anila VM Research Associates TNHS. The forest department provided the logistical support for the survey which was coordinated by Sudhin J.K, Range Forest Officer, Sungam Range and Vishnu Vijayan, Conservation Biologist, Parambikulam Tiger Reserve..