Faunal study in Munnar wildlife division finds 201 species

A faunal assessment of Munnar wildlife division, functioning under the Forests and Wildlife Department, has led to the discovery of two new species of butterflies in the State.

The four-day joint exercise by Forest officials and various NGOs in the past few days recorded 201 species of butterflies, 175 species of birds and 30 species of odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) across the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in Munnar wildlife division. The highest numbers of species in each category were recorded from the Chinnar wildlife sanctuary.

The survey detected two new butterfly species in the State, viz., Jewel fourring and Silver forget-me-not, from Chinnar, both of which have been added to the Kerala checklist. The Southern birdwing and the Grass jewel, the largest and smallest butterflies in the country respectively, were also recorded. Other species that were detected were the Western Ghats endemics like Red-disc bushbrown, Palni bushbrown, Palni four ring, Palni fritillary, Nilgiri clouded yellow, Nilgiri tiger and Palni sailor.

Birds

The interesting findings among bird species were Grass owl, Gold-headed cisticola, and endemic birds like Nilgiri pipit, Black and Orange flycatcher, Kerala laughing thrush, White bellied shortwing (Sholakili), Nilgiri flycatcher and Broad tailed grassbird.

Around 110 volunteers and 60 forest personnel took part in the survey. Volunteers of the Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS), Birders Sans Borders, Green Roots, Ferns, BBC Bangalore, TNBS, Tamil Nadu, Rajapalayam Butterfly Club, Wynter-Blyth Association, Sammilan’s Butterfly Garden and the Centre for Wildlife Studies, Wayanad, took part. The participants were assigned to 30 basecamps in the protected areas of Eravikulam National Park, Mathikettan Shola National Park, Anamudi Shola National Park, Chinnar, Pampadum Shola and Kurinjimala Sanctuary.

Munnar Wildlife warden Lakshmi Arun, who inaugurated the survey, stressed the need for updated faunal checklists, especially of invertebrates, to implement management plans in the Munnar landscape. She also called for annual systematic biodiversity assessment.

Other species

According to TNHS director Jayakumar, the survey found evidence of the presence of good population of tigers, leopards, elephants, gaurs, dhole, Nilgiri Marten, Brown mongoose and other mammals. The major threats faced by the wildlife are the invasive species and the road traffic in Chinnar.

The data generated from the exercise will be used in the management plans of the national parks and sanctuaries.