Periyar National Park is positioned amid the backdrop of the majestic Western Ghats in Kerala. The prime attraction of the park is the 5,500-hectare Periyar lake formed by the structure of an embankment on the Periyar river in the year 1895. The dam submerged low-lying forest whose dead weeds still protrude of the waters. Along the periphery of the lagoon are swampy areas with tall grasslands. This is one of the richest habitats of large mammals, since it provides both excellent cover and sustenance in the form of moist shoots and lush green grasses. Here it is possible to see large herds of Indian Elephant with relative ease as well as Nilgiri Langur.
Major Fauna in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
In Periyar Tiger Reserve—
49 species of mammals
265 species of birds
36 species of reptiles
12 species of amphibians
35 species of fishes and
160 species of butterflies have been identified so far
The Periyar National Park is identical with Indian elephants and one cannot be even thought of without the other. Herds of playful wild elephants have made Periyar Lake their favorite nook for frolicking in the lake water. Many of them can be viewed bathing and swimming here.
Other inhabitants of Periyar include the leopard, wild dog, barking deer, mouse deer, Nilgiri langur (a primate), bonnet macaque, sambhar, porcupines, squirrels, gaur (Indian bison), wild boar, and sloth bear. There are about 40 tigers in the area as per the latest reports. The tigers, along with the Nilgiri tahrs (a kind of a wild goat) are elusive mammals.
Census
|
Animal
|
1978
|
1987
|
1988
|
1989
|
1991
|
1993
|
1995
|
1996
|
| Bonnet Macaque |
10 Troops |
50 Nos. |
65 Nos. |
32 Nos. |
-- |
48 Nos. |
-- |
-- |
| Lion Tailed Macaque |
11 Troops |
200 Nos. |
235 Nos. |
182 Nos. |
-- |
90 Nos. |
-- |
-- |
| Nilgiri Langur |
170 Troops |
300 Nos. |
839 Nos. |
765 Nos. |
-- |
1530 Nos. |
-- |
-- |
| Sambar |
452 Nos. |
490 Nos. |
560 Nos. |
580 Nos. |
-- |
10.37 D |
-- |
-- |
| Gaur |
100 Nos. |
350 Nos. |
378 Nos. |
412 Nos. |
-- |
1.59 D |
-- |
- |
| Tiger |
34 Nos. |
45 Nos. |
45 Nos. |
46 Nos. |
46 Nos. |
33 Nos. |
39 Nos. |
30 Nos. |
| Leopard |
14 packs |
26 Nos. |
27 Nos. |
21 Nos. |
-- |
7 D |
-- |
-- |
| Wild Dog |
49 Packs |
55 Nos. |
64 Nos. |
62 Nos. |
-- |
216.6 D/E |
-- |
-- |
| Elephants |
588 Nos. |
950 Nos. |
1020 Nos. |
980 Nos. |
-- |
615 Nos. |
- |
- |
| Wild Gaur |
500 Nos. |
1100 Nos. |
1300 Nos. |
1290 Nos. |
-- |
27.14 D |
-- |
-- |
| Barking Deer |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
30 Nos. |
- |
- |
| Mouse Deer |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
200 D/E |
- |
- |
| Malbar giant Squirrel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
6.75 D |
- |
- |
| Indian Porcupine |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
417.5 D/E |
- |
- |
| Small Indian Civet |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
84.29 D/E |
- |
- |
| Common Palm Civet |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
218.11 D/E |
- |
- |
| Sloth Bear |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
284.68 DS |
- |
- |
|
