Trivandrum: A 4-day faunal survey of Trivandrum Wildlife Division has concluded here with interesting findings. The exercise was jointly conducted by Trivandrum-based NGO Travancore Nature History Society and the Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department. A total of 54 delegates participated in the event along with are equal number of forest staff and officials. The survey was conducted in the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Agasthyavanam Biological Park, and Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary. A total of 157 Butterflies, 135 Birds and 37 Odonates were recorded from Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary and 168 Butterflies, 90 Birds and 46 Odonates were reported from Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary. With respect to birds, 170 species were recorded including the state bird The Great Indian Hornbill. Western Ghat endemics like the Nilgiri Flowerpecker, Small Sunbird, Malabar Trogon, Nilgiri Wood pigeon, and Ceylon frogmouth. The high-elevation grasslands and subtropical evergreen jungles had a good population of Long-billed Pipit, Ashambu Sholakili, Black and Orange Flycatcher, and Blanford’s Laughing Thrush. Other interesting records were Steppe Buzzard, Black Eagle, Rufous-bellied Hawk-Eagle, Alpine Swift, Brown Fish Owl, and Drongo Cuckoo. Butterflies were plenty even in this dry spell. The strictly Western Ghat endemic species like the Palni Four Ring, Red disc Bushbrown, Malabar Tree Nymph, Malabar Rose, Sahyadri Grass Yellow, Evershed’s Ace, Tamil Oakblue, and Nilgiri Tiger were sighted. There was a population explosion of certain butterflies like the Common Pierrot and Dark Grass blues. Migration of butterflies like Blue Tiger, Dark Blue Tiger, Common Crows, and Common Leopards from Tamil Nadu into Kerala was observed, and a congregation of Common Crows and Dark Blue Tigers was also noted in the foothills and valleys. Even though not the best season for Odonates, about 50 species of Dragon and Damselflies were recorded. Species like Euphaea cardinalis, Indolestes davenporti, Heliogomphus kalarensis and Calocypha laidlawii were observed, these are endemic to the Western Ghats. A good population of Esme mudiensis, Anaciaeschna martini, and Anax Immaculifrons were seen in the higher reaches of the mountain range. Direct sightings of the Bengal Tiger, herds of Elephants and gaurs, Dusky Squirrel, and elusive species like Eurasian Otters were exciting, Said Mr Suresh Babu IS, Wildlife Warden, Trivandrum Wildlife Division. The information on the lesser-known invertebrates like ants, cicadas and spiders will also be useful in the management of the region, he added. The survey concluded at Neyyar on Sunday 24th March. Mr Anilkumar K, Mr Sreeju R, Mr Salin Jose, Range Officers, Mrs Revathy BFO and Mr. and Ecologist Aswathy Raj arranged the logistics while Dr Kalesh Sadasivan, Dr Anoop Rajamaony and Mrs Anila VM led the data compilation.