Trivandrum: An off-season survey of Trivandrum Wildlife Division conducted by the Kerala Forest Department in association with the Trivandrum-based Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS), concluded on 9th March with the addition of 8 species to the faunal checklist. The protected area comprising the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary the Agasthyavanam Biological Park, and Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary was surveyed with 13 basecamps, in an exercise involving 50 delegates and forest staff. Besides TNHS, members from STEAR Nilambur, BBC Bangalore, NEST Trivandrum, Aranyakam Nature Foundation Trichur, Chiragu Kannur, Kerala Agriculture University and Annamalai University participated in the survey.

Neyyar WLS recorded 160 species of birds, 165 species of butterflies, and 53 species of odonates. At Neyyar, three species of birds were added namely Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans (Boddaert, 1783) , Woolly-Necked Stork (Asian Woollyneck)— Ciconia episcopus (Boddaert, 1783) , and Spotted Owlet—Athene brama (Temminck, 1821) , raising the total number of birds to 302 species. Eight species of butterflies were added to Neyyar, including some that needed confirmations, namely the Sahyadri Grass Yellow—Eurema (Terias) nilgiriensis Yata, 1990 , Baronet—Symphaedra nais (Forster, 1771) , Suffused Double-banded Judy—Abisara bifasciata suffusa Moore, 1882 , Bright Babul Blue—Azanus ubaldus (Stoll, [1782]) , Dark Ceylon Six-Lineblue—Nacaduba calauria evansi Toxopeus, 1927, Indian White-tipped Lineblue—Prosotas noreia hampsonii (de Nicéville, 1885) , and Plain Banded Awl—Hasora vitta indica Evans, 1932 .The survey also added 5 species of odonates to Neyyar checklist namely Parakeet Darner—Gynacantha millardi Fraser,1920, Myristica Sapphire—Calocypha laidlawi (Fraser, 1924) , Splendid Dartlet—Agriocnemis splendidissima Laidlaw, 1919 , Black Torrent-Dart—Dysphaea ethela Fraser, 1924 , and Blue-striped Thread-tail—Elattoneura tetrica (Laidlaw, 1917) . With these additions, the Neyyar WLS currently has a current checklist of 302 birds, 263 butterflies, and 111 odonates.

Peppara WLS reported 115 birds, 115 butterflies, and 22 species of odonates. Only one species of bird was added in Peppara namely Spotted Owlet—Athene brama (Temminck, 1821), and the current checklist is 293 species. Three species of butterflies were added to Peppara, Suffused Double-banded Judy—Abisara bifasciata suffusa Moore, 1882, Sahyadri White Hedge Blue—Udara akasa mavisa (Fruhstorfer, [1917]), and Evershed’s Ace, Travancore Tawny Ace—Thoressa evershedi (Evans, 1910). One species of odonate was added to the Peppara checklist the Agasthyamala Reedtail—Protosticta armageddonia Chandran et al.,,2023 . Thus, the Peppara WLS has an updated checklist of 293 birds, 266 butterflies, and 117 odonates.

The dry season survey was a great success and a follow-up survey of the region is planned in the post-monsoon season said Mr Vinod S.V, Wildlife Warden, Trivandrum Wildlife Division. The exercise concluded at Neyyar in the concluding session chaired by Mr. Jayakumar K, Director TNHS, Shri. Aneesh Kumar A.P, Assistant Wildlife Warden Neyyar, Shri Aneesh G.R. Assistant Wildlife Warden ABP, with data compilation led by Dr Kalesh Sadasivan, and Toms Augustine. The survey proceeded as per the direction and guidance of Mr. Shyam Mohan Lal IFS, Conservator of Forests and the team included Mr. Salin jose, Assistant Wildlife Warden, Peppara and Mr Ajeesh A.S., Wildlife Assistant Trivandrum Wildlife Division.