Highlighting the rich biodiversity of the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Keralam’s Thekkady, a four-day faunal survey recorded six species previously undocumented in the reserve, including one bird, one butterfly, and four odonate species.
P.P. Pramod, field director of PTR, stated that adding six new distribution records to an area as intensively studied as Periyar highlights the necessity of systematic biodiversity surveys. Held from September 10 to 13, the survey was a collaborative effort involving 75 delegates from 21 NGOs, academic and research institutions, along with Forest department officials and frontline staff. Participants were organised into 21 teams deployed across 20 active base camps to cover all major ecological zones of the tiger reserve.
“These studies help us understand changes in species distribution and habitat use, strengthening the evidence base for long-term conservation management,” he said.
Kalesh Sadasivan, research associate of the Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS) noted that the golden-headed cisticola is a rare species typically found at higher elevations. He added that the findings reflect the importance of the reserve’s elevational gradient, evergreen forests, grasslands, and ecotonal habitats in supporting diverse wildlife assemblages.
