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Travancore Nature History Society

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The faunal survey at Munnar adds two dozen new species records!

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Munnar: A 4-day-long faunal survey of Munnar Wildlife Division concluded with interesting additions. The scientific exercise was jointly conducted by Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS), Trivandrum and Munnar Wildlife Division, Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department. Mathikettan Shola National Park (MSNP), Pambadumshola National Park (PSNP), Anamudishola National Park (ANP), Kurinjimala Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS), Eravikulam National Park(ENP), and Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary (CWLS) were simultaneously surveyed for birds, butterflies, and odonates using 19 basecamps. The area lying between 500–2800m elevation was surveyed using 21 teams comprising 78 delegates. Besides TNHS, NGOs like BSB Trichur, TNBS Coimbatore, Green Caps Trichur, Green Roots Alleppy, BBC Bangalore, SEEK Kannur and Institutes like KAU and Kerala University Trivandrum took part in the survey.

The event was flagged off at Munnar by Mr Harikrishnan K.V., Wildlife Warden, Munnar Wildlife Division and a welcome speech was delivered by Mr Nithin Lal, Assistant Wildlife Warden, Eravikulam, Mr Ananthapadmanabhan K.K., Assistant Wildlife Warden, Shola National Park, Mr Rajasekharan P., Assistant Wildlife Warden Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Jyothi Krishna Wildlife Assistant, and Dr Rajkumar K.P., Conservation Biologist briefed about the logistics and arrangements of the survey. Dr. Kalesh Sadasivan, Research Associate, TNHS handled the briefing session and methodology.

A total of 217 species of birds were documented in 4 days including 11 new records thus making the current list of birds 258 in Munnar WLD. The additions are Brown Hawk Owl, Barred Buttonquail, Spotted Owlet, Mottled Wood Owl, Baya Weaver, Red Munia (Red Avadavat), Richard's Pipit, Jerdon's Bushlark, Golden-Headed Cisticola, Large Grey Babbler, and Chestnut-Bellied Nuthatch were the additions in comparison with surveys in past. Other notable species recorded were the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Great Eared Nightjar, Steppe Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, Montagu’s Harrier, Eurasian Sparrow Hawk, Lesser Fish Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Indian Eagle Owl, Spot-bellied Eagle, Indian Grey Hornbill and Blue-eared Kingfisher. Interesting endemics noted were Nilgiri Pipit, Nilgiri Flycatcher, White-bellied Sholakkili, and Black and Orange Flycatcher. With respect to birds, MSNP recorded 84 species, PSNP had 72, ANP had 53, KWLS 68, ENP 115, and CWLS 173 species during the survey.

Munnar was rich in butterflies as well with a total of 166 species being recorded including 8 new records, taking the present checklist to 246 species. The highest number of butterflies was recorded at Chinnar with 148 species, followed by Eravikulam with 79 species, followed by Mathikettan Shola (57 species). Endemic butterflies like Red-disc Bushbrown, Palni Bush-Brown, Palni Fritillary, Palni four-ring, Nilgiri four-ring, Nilgiri Clouded Yellow, and Nilgiri Tiger were observed. Grass Jewel, the smallest butterfly in the state was abundant at Chinnar. The largest Indian butterfly the Southern birdwing was also recorded in most of the camps. Other interesting records were the White Hedge Blue, White-Disc Hedge Blue, Common Banded Peacock, Painted Lady, Indian Awlking, and Yellow-striped Hedge Hopper. The One-spot Grass yellow and the Pallid Dart were the high-elevation species that were currently added to the butterfly checklist of the Munnar Wildlife Division. Other species that were unrecorded in the highlands that were added to the survey are the Malabar Rose, Sahyadri Lesser Gull, Common Tree Flitter, Bengal Common Ciliate Blue, Kanara Swift, and the Black Angle.

With regard to Odonates, 33 species were observed even in the severe winter. With an addition of 5 new records the total number of odonates in Munnar is presently 58 species. Five relatively common odonates of lower elevations previously unrecorded in Munnar were also reported in this survey namely Cratilla lineata calverti (Forster, 1903), Macrodiplax cora (Kaup in Brauer, 1867), Palpopleura sexmaculata (Fabricius, 1787), Tholymis tillarga (Fabricius, 1798), and Lestes elatus Hagen in Selys, 1862. Other interesting species recorded were Aciagrion approximans, Indolestes gracilis, Orthetrum taeniolatum, Orthetrum triangulare, and Sympetrum fonscolombi.

Besides these, the researchers documented mammals like the Nilgiri Tahr, Tiger, Leopard, Nilgiri Marten, Gaur, Herds of Elephants, and around 12 species of reptiles and ambhibians. “The addition of 24 new records from the Munnar region highlights the importance of conducting scientifically structured faunal surveys especially of indicator species which has implications with respect to global warming and climate change,” said Harikrishnan, Wildlife Warden, Munnar Wildlife Division. "We are also planning to have a follow-up survey concentrating on lesser-known invertebrate fauna” he added. "Despite the severe winter affecting the fauna, the species diversity was well-preserved even though the population of faunal elements was low. The shift of diversity towards the lower elevations was also noted in the survey, and was possibly climate-related”, said Dr Kalesh Sadasivan.