Parambikulam Tiger Reserve: Faunal Survey
A recent faunal survey at the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve has added 11 new species records including three birds, four butterflies and four odonates to its database.
- Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is nestled in the picturesque and extensive Nelliampathy–Anamalai landscape of the Western Ghats Mountains in Palakkad and Thrissur districts of Kerala.
- It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2009, with a total area of 643.66 sq. Km.
- The reserve supports diverse habitat types, viz., evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous, dry deciduous, and shola forests.
- Other unique habitats like montane and marshy grasslands, locally known as ‘vayals’, are also found.
- The reserve houses teak, rosewood, sandalwood, and neem trees.
- It is credited with the world’s first scientifically managed plantation of teak. It is home to the world’s oldest and tallest teak tree named ‘Kannimara’, which is 450 years old and at a height of 40 metres.
- The common animals found are Leopard, Elephant, Gaur, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Barking Deer, Common Langur, Nilgiri Langur, Malabar giant squirrel, Sloth Bear, and Wild dog.
- The only South Indian wild goat, the Nilgiri Tahr is found on the high-altitude rocky hills and grasslands in the tiger reserve.
