Periyar National Park

Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (PNP) is a protected area located in the districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta in Kerala, India. It is notable as an elephant reserve and a tiger reserve. The protected area encompasses 925 km2 (357 sq mi) of which 305 km2 (118 sq mi) of the core zone was declared as the Periyar National Park in 1982. The park is a repository of rare, endemic and endangered flora and fauna and forms the major watershed of two important rivers of Kerala, the Periyar and the Pamba.

Periyar National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Periyar NP
LocationIdukki and Pathanamthitta, Kerala state, India
Nearest cityKottayam, Kochi
Coordinates9°28′N 77°10′E
Area305 km2 (118 sq mi)
Established1934-1950 (As Nellikkaampetty Game sanctury), 1950-present(As Periyar Wildlife Sanctury)
Visitors180,000 (in 1986)
Governing bodyDepartment of Forests and Wildlife (Kerala)

Field Director: Sri. Georgi P Mathechan

Deputy Director: Smt. Silpa V. Kumar

The park is located high in the Cardamom Hills and Pandalam Hills of the south Western Ghats along the border with Tamil Nadu. It is 4 km (2.5 mi) from Kumily, approximately 100 km (62 mi) east of Kottayam, 110 km (68 mi) west of Madurai and 120 km (75 mi) southeast of Kochi.[1]

History
Entrance to the tiger reserve
Periyar Lake

The first official action towards the conservation of wildlife and biodiversity in Kerala was taken in 1934 by the Maharaja of Travancore, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, by declaring the forests around Periyar lake as a private game reserve to stop the encroachment of tea plantations.[2][3] It was founded as Nellikkampatty Game Reserve. It was consolidated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1950 after the political integration of India.

Geography
The misty mountain ranges of the Periyar region

Periyar National Park lies in the middle of a mountainous area of the Cardamom Hills. In the north : The boundary commences from the point nearest to the Medaganam in the interstate boundary up to Vellimalai. and the east Thence the boundary follows the inter-state boundary from Vellimalai to Kallimalai Peak (G.O. (P) No.65/2003/F&WLD dated Thiruvananthapuram, 20 December 03) (1615 M) it is bounded by mountain ridges of over 1,700 m (5,600 ft) altitude and toward the west it expands into a 1,200 m (3,900 ft) high plateau. From this level the altitude drops steeply to the deepest point of the reserve, the 100 metre valley of the Pamba River. The highest peak in the park is the 2,019 m (6,624 ft) high Kottamala, the southernmost peak in India higher than 2,000 metres (6,562 ft). The Periyar and Pamba Rivers originate in the forests of the reserve.[4] The other prominent peaks within the park are Pachayarmala, Vellimala, Sunderamala, Chokkampetti mala and Karimala.[5] The topography consists of steep and rolling hills which are thickly wooded. The sanctuary surrounds Periyar Lake, a reservoir measuring 26 km2 (10 sq mi) which was formed when the Mullaperiyar Dam was erected in 1895. The reservoir and the Periyar River meander around the contours of the wooded hills, providing a permanent source of water for the local wildlife.

Climate

The temperature varies depending upon the altitude and it ranges between 15 °Celsius in December and January and 31 °Celsius in April and May. Annual precipitation is between 2000 and 3000 mm, about two-thirds occurring during the southwest monsoon between June to September. Much of the rest occurs during the northeast monsoon between October and December.01234xx Summers are warm with some precipitation in April and winters are cold.1

Boundaries
  • North: The boundary commences from the point nearest to the Medaganam in the interstate boundary up to Vellimalai.
  • East: Thence the boundary follows the inter-state boundary from Vellimalai to Kallimalai Peak (1615 M)
  • South: Thence the boundary follows along the main ridge to Chokkampettymalai Peak (1805 M). Thence along the main ridge to Udumalai (1594 M) (the same boundary which divides Ranni Forest Division and existing Periyar Tiger Reserve).
  • West:Thence the boundary proceeds due north along the main ridge dividing Periyar Tiger Reserve and Ranni Forest Division to Manikamalai and thence along the ridge to Sundaramalai 1813 M from Sundaramalai the boundary runs along the main ridge to Mangaladevi top 1737 M, and thence to Pachimalai top 1805 M from Puchimala top the boundary follows the Nallah in itself bank, Nallah coming from Mannarkavala and then proceed along Cherakottai river till it joins the Periyar lake between Pandaravara-malai and Poupara.

(G.O. (P) No.65/2003/F&WLD dated Thiruvananthapuram, 20 December 03)

Flora
Spider flower (Cleome hassleriana) in the park
Submerged trees in Periyar Lake

The park is made up of tropical evergreen and moist deciduous forests, grasslands, stands of eucalyptus, and lake and river ecosystems.[6] There are many hundreds of flowering plant taxa, including about 171 species of grass and 140 species of orchids.[6] The grasses are found in the open grasslands found on the edges of the water body where fire resistant vegetation grows and dense grasses like elephant grass are found. This is the common dining hall of various herbivores.

The forests contain deciduous and semi evergreen trees like teak, rosewoods, terminalias, sandalwoods, jacarandas, mangoes, jamun, tamarind, banyans, sacred fig, plumerias, royal poinciana, kino tree, bamboos and the only south Indian conifer, nageian wallichiana. The medicinal gloriosa lily grows in the park. The endemic flora includes Habenaria periyarensis and Syzygium periyarensis.[6]

The park is surrounded by agricultural regions, especially plantations of such crops as tea, cardamom, and coffee.[6]

Fauna
Herd of Indian bisons, gaur, at the Periyar Lake.
An adult Nilgiri langur in the Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary

Mammals

There are 35 species of mammals recorded in the park, including many threatened species. It is an important tiger and elephant reserve. A total of 40 Bengal tigers were counted across 925 square kilometers of the park in 2017.[7] It is valuable for Asian elephant and also for a few of white tigers found here. Other mammals include the gaur, sambar, wild pig, Indian giant squirrel, Travancore flying squirrel, jungle cat, sloth bear, Nilgiri tahr, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, Salim Ali's fruit bat, stripe-necked mongoose, and Nilgiri marten.[8]

Birds

About 266 species of birds can be seen in the park, including migrants. Endemic birds include the Malabar grey hornbill, Nilgiri wood pigeon, blue-winged parakeet, Nilgiri flycatcher, crimson-backed sunbird, and white-bellied blue flycatcher. Other birds include the black baza, spot-bellied eagle-owl, Nilgiri thrush, little spiderhunter, rufous-bellied hawk-eagle, brahminy kite, great hornbill, Sri Lanka frogmouth, Oriental darter, and black-necked stork.[9] A four-day survey was conducted on 1–4 December 2016, organised under the aegis of the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) and found the presence of 13 new bird and 16 butterfly species that were undetected earlier. The newly found bird species included Eurasian woodcock (Scolopax rusticola), steppe gull (Larus fuscus barbensis), grey-necked bunting (Emberiza bruniceps) and paddyfield warbler (Acrocephalus agricola).[10]

Reptiles( reptilia)

There are 45 species of reptiles: 30 snakes, 13 lizards, and two turtles. Snakes include the king cobra, Malabar pit viper, and striped coral snake.

Bicolored frog (Malabar frog) Clinotarsus curtipes

Amphibians

Amphibians in the park include caecilians, frogs, and toads. Species include the Malabar gliding frog, Asian toad, fungoid frog, and bicolored frog.[11]

Fish

There are about 40 species of fish in the local lakes and rivers include the Periyar trout, Periyar latia, Periyar barb, channa barb, and Travancore loach.[12]

Insects
Mycalesis patnia junonia in Periyar National Park
Hemicordulia asiatica in Periyar National Park

There are about 160 butterfly taxa, including the South India's largest butterfly southern birdwing, lime butterfly, Malabar tree nymph, the highly threatened Travancore evening brown, and many kinds of moths, such as the Atlas moth.[13] A survey jointly conducted by the Periyar Tiger Conservation Foundation, Indian Dragonfly Society and the Forest and Wildlife Department in October 2017 found 77 species of odonata including Asian emerald (Hemicordulia asiatica).[14][15] A survey jointly conducted by the same team in September 2018 found eight more new species.[16]

Timeline
  • 1895 – Construction of the Mullaperiyar Dam
  • 1899 – Formation of the Periyar Lake Reserve
  • 1933 – S.C.H. Robinson made the first game warden
  • 1934 – Formation of Nellikkampatty Game Sanctuary
  • 1950 – Consolidation of Periyar as a wildlife sanctuary
  • 1978 – Declaration of Periyar as a tiger reserve
  • 1982 – Preliminary notification of the core area as a national park
  • 1991 – Brought under Project Elephant
  • 1996 – India Eco-development Project launched
  • 2001 – Divided into Periyar East and Periyar West
  • 2004 – Formation of Periyar Foundation
  • 2007 – 148 km2 of the Goodrical Range added to the reserve[1]
  • 2011 – The management of Periyar Tiger Reserve has been assessed as "very good" by the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.[17]
  • 2012 - An additional 148 km2 of evergreen forest at Ponnambalamedu added to the reserve[18]

Ecosystem valuation

It is estimated that the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) provides flow benefits worth 17.6 billion rupees (1.9 lakh (190,000)/ hectare) annually. Important ecosystem services included gene-pool protection (7.86 billion), water provisioning to districts of Tamil Nadu (4.05 billion), habitat and refugia for wildlife (3.55 billion), employment generation for local communities (25 million), water purification services to nearby towns and districts (483 million) and recreation value (425 million).[19]

  • Dholes in the park
  • Landscape
  • A boat cruise on Periyar Lake
  • Entrance to the Information Centre

See also

Films
  • Life for Lives

References
  1. Welcome to Periyar Tiger Reserve, Periyar Tiger Reserve, 2012, archived from the original on 3 November 2019, retrieved 31 January 2012
  2. "The Thiruvithancore King Sri Chithira Thirunal Balaramavarma had put forward the law to conserve the forest. He also appointed S.C.H Robinson as Forest Conservation Officer. Soon Robinson came to know the importance of the area and recommended that the area should be protected. The King then directed that this area should be protected and later become the sanctuary." By Periyar Tiger-Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala
  3. "Periyar Tiger-Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala". Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  4. Periyar Tiger Reserve - Values of P.T.R - Catchment Value, Periyar Tiger Reserve, 2012, retrieved 11 September 2012
  5. "STUDIES ON THE FLORA OF PERIYAR TIGER RESERV" (PDF). India: Kerala Forest Research Institute. 1998. p. 8. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  6. Flora - Periyar Tiger Reserve. Department of Tourism, Kerala.
  7. "35 tigers at Periyar Tiger Reserve: Survey". The Times of India. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  8. Mammals - Periyar Tiger Reserve. Department of Tourism, Kerala.
  9. Birds - Periyar Tiger Reserve. Department of Tourism, Kerala.
  10. New bird, butterfly species found in PTR
  11. Reptiles and amphibians - Periyar Tiger Reserve. Department of Tourism, Kerala.
  12. Fish - Periyar Tiger Reserve. Department of Tourism, Kerala.
  13. Butterflies and moths - Periyar Tiger Reserve. Department of Tourism, Kerala.
  14. "Survey finds surprise sighting of Indian Emerald dragonfly". The Hindu. 1 November 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  15. "Kerala: Endemic dragonfly species reported after 80 years at Periyar reserve". 1 November 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  16. "Eight new species of dragonflies found in Kerala". Manorama Online. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  17. Sudhi, K. S. Acclaim for Periyar, Parambikulam tiger reserves. The Hindu 17 May 2011.
  18. Pillai, P. T. M. Ponnambalamedu comes under Periyar Tiger Reserve. IBNLive.com India, 28 January 2012.
  19. http://21tiger.zslsites.org/assets/21tiger/Resources/NTCA_Report2015.pdf
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