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 PERIYAR TIGER RESERVE (THEKKADY):Predominantly
of evergreen biotope, the Periyar Tiger Reserve exudes great natural charm and encompasses
a rich genetic diversity. Sprawled over 777 sq. km. area in the Western ghat mountain
ranges in Idukki District of Kerala, it is the largest and best known wildlife protected
area of Kerala. Mullaperiyar dam built across river Periyar in 1895 inundated the valleys
forming a large lake of 26 sq. km. area. The surrounding forests were declared Periyar
Lake Reserve in 1899. In 1933 Mr. S. C. H. Robinson was appointed the first game warden
and based on his recommendations in 1934, the Nellikkampatty wildlife sanctuary was
formed, the first of its kind in Kerala. It assumed a new identity as Periyar wildlife
sanctuary in 1950 when areas like Mount plateau and Ratendon valley were added to the
Periyar lake reserve. In 1978 Periyar was declared a tiger reserve under Project Tiger.
The entire reserve is divided into 350 sq. km. Core Zone, and 427 sq. km. Buffer Zone,
enclosing 50 sq. km. of Tourism Zone. The preliminary notification declaring the core zone
as a National park was issued in 1982. Periyar is also brought under Project Elephant
making it the 10th such reserve.
FLORA:Over 74 percent of the reserve is composed of tropical evergreen and semi evergreen forests. 13 percent of the area has deciduous forests and there is a small percentage of grasslands. The mountain folds at higher elevations support the sholas, the sub tropical montane forests. Bamboo brakes abound near water logged areas and also along river courses. Among the predominant evergreen species are Hopea parviflora, Vateria indica, Cullenia exarillata, Mesua ferrea, Pallaquim ellipticum, Artocarpus hirsuta, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Mangifera indica, Toona ciliata, Dipterocarpus bourdilloni, Myristica malabarica and Polyalthia longifolia. Some of the common moist deciduous trees are Bombax ceiba, Lagerstomia microcarpa, Tectona gradis, Dalbergia latifolia, Terminalia panniculata Terminalia bellarica, Pterocarpus marsupium, Anogeissus latifolia etc. In all there are 1965 species of flowering plants including 171 grass species. Orchidaceae is represented by 145 species and some of the common orchids are Oberonia spp, Dendrobium spp, and Bulbophyllum spp, Habenaria periyarensis is a recent discovery at Periyar.
There are 43 species of reptiles including the monitor lizard, fresh water tortoise and several poisonous and non-poisonous snakes. Over 16 amphibian species have been recorded in Periyar which include the malabar tree frog and the ubiquitous Rana curtipes found in the lake vicinity. The fish fauna include 38 species of which the mahseer, Tor khudri is famous as a game fish. The three species Lepidopygopsis typus, Crossocheilis periyarensis, Puntius micropogan periyarensis are endemic to Periyar. FACILITIES AVAILABLE:Boating in the lake offers the best opportunity to see wildlife at close quarters. Boats are available on enquiry at the Ticket counter near the boat landing as well as the counter at Hotel Aranya Nivas. Guided Trekking is arranged on request at the boat landing. Stay inside the watch tower and the forest rest house at Manakkavala can be availed on advance reservation at the office of the Wildlife Preservation Officer. Do’s And Don’ts
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GEOMORPHOLOGY
AND CLIMATE:The terrain is undulating with altitudes ranging from 600 Mtr. to
over 2000 Mtr. Kottamala at 2019 Mtr. is the tallest peak. The north eastern and the
eastern part of the reserve bordering Tamil Nadu and certain areas at the south west are
steep. The southern limits of the sanctuary are contiguous with Ranni and Achenkovil
forest divisions and the north borders with the Kottayam division. Rivers Periyar and
Pamba form the important drainage of this area. The reserve enjoys two monsoons, the south
west and the north east and the bulk of the precipitation is received through the south
west monsoon from June to September. The average annual rainfall is 2500 mm. The humidity
is quite high and the temperature varies from 15’C to 31’C. December and January
are generally cool and April and May are the hotter months.
FAUNA:The fauna of Periyar is
rich and varied. There are 62 species of mammals which include apart from the tiger such
endangered species as the nilgiri langur, lion tailed macaque, slender loris, nilgiri
tahr, mouse deer, small travancore flying squirrel, brown palm civet and elephant.
Besides, there is the sloth bear, leopard and wild dog. The gaur, sambar, barking deer and
wild boar are among the other herbivorous species. The wide variety of habitats in periyar
support a rich bird life of over 314 species, of which a third are winter migrants that
stay here from september through march. Birds like the oriental darter and great cormorant
nest on the tree stumps standing in the lake. Several western ghat endemic species such as
blue winged parakeet, wayanad laughing thrush, rufous babbler, black and orange
flycatcher, malabar grey hornbill, nilgiri wood pigeon, and small sunbird are found here.
The enadangered great pied hornbill has a sizeable population in Periyar.