36 new wildlife records put Keralam’s Peechi’s biodiversity in the spotlight

From the Malabar Lark to the elusive Travancore Bambootail, Peechi’s forests have yielded a rich trove of biodiversity, with a four-day wildlife survey adding 36 species to existing checklists and recording 395 species of birds, butterflies and odonates across three sanctuaries.

Conducted from October 8 to 11 by the Forest and Wildlife department in association with the Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS), Thiruvananthapuram, the survey covered Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary, Peechi–Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary and Chulannur Peafowl Sanctuary through 10 base camps. It also recorded 24 species endemic to the Western Ghats, highlighting the conservation value of the landscape.

“The combination of checklist additions and Western Ghats endemics demonstrates the importance of systematic seasonal inventories and taxonomic verification,” said Kalesh Sadasivan, who coordinated the scientific compilation for TNHS.

Siberian Stonechat | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Eight additions

Birdwatchers documented 165 species, including eight additions to the existing checklist. The notable records included the Malabar Lark (Galerida malabarica), Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea), Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus) and Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla tschutschensis).

Five of the recorded birds are endemic to the Western Ghats: Malabar Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros griseus), Malabar Parakeet (Psittacula columboides), White-bellied Treepie (Dendrocitta leucogastra), Malabar Barbet (Psilopogon malabaricus) and Crimson-backed Sunbird (Leptocoma minima).

Oriental Orchid Tit | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT