Wildlife & Wildlife tourism in Kerala
Kerala is a narrow stretch of crescent shaped land in the south west corner of India with mountains, backwaters, sea coast etc. The Wildlife of Kerala is restricted to the western ghats mountains - a biodiversity hot-spot. To take the challenge of conservation and population pressure , the forest authority of Kerala introduced wildlife and nature tourism in protected forest. It is to support local communities to minimize the pressure on forest and biodiversity.
Wednesday 20 August 2014
Tuesday 19 August 2014
MAMMALS OF WESTERN GHATS
Tufted Grey Langur |
The mammals can be distinguished mainly by the presence of body hair and mammary
glands. At least 137 species of mammals have been recorded from Western Ghats.
Sixteen species, including the well known lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri
langur, and Malabar civet brown palm civet, clawless otter, sloth bear, three
striped palm squirrel, dusky striped squirrel, and grizzled giant squirrel are
endemic to the Western Ghats.
UPDATED LIST OF MAMMALS OF WESTERN GHATS
Order Primates
Family
Loridae (Loris)
Slender Loris
Family
Cercopithecidae (Monkeys)
Bonnet Macaque
Lion Tailed Macaque
Common (Hanurman) Langur
Tufted Grey langur
Nilgiri Langur, Hooded Leaf Monkey
Order Carnivora
Family
Canidae (Dogs)
Golden Jackal
Wolf
Indian Wild Dog (Dhol)
Bengal (indian) Fox
Family
Ursidae (Bears)
Sloth Bear
Family
Mustelidae
Oriental Small-clawed (Clawtess)
Otter
Common (Eurasian) Otter
Smooth, coated Otter
Nilgiri Marten
Ratel, Honey Badger
Brown (Jerdon's) Palm Civet, Coffee
Civet
Malabar Civet
Small Indian Civet
Family
Herpestidae (Mongoose)
Brown Mongoose
Grey (Common) Mongoose
Ruddy Mongoose
Stripe-necked Mongoose
Family
Hyaenidae (Hyaena)
Striped Hyaena
Family
Felidae (Cais)
Jungle Cat
Leopard
Tiger
Leopard Cat
Rusty-spotted Cat
Fishing Cat
Nilgiri Golden Cat (Only reports)
Order Proboscidea
Family
Elephantidae (Elephants)
Asian Elephant
Order Artiodactyla
Family
Suidae (Pigs)
Wild Boar
Family
Tragulidae (Mouse Deer)
Indian Chevrotain, Mouse Deer
Family
Cervidae (Deer)
Spotted Deer
Sambar
Indian Muntjac, Barking Deer
Family
Bovidae (Wild Cattle)
Blackbuck, lndian Antelope
Gaur
Bluebuil
lndian Gazelle
Nilqiri Tahr
Four-horned Antelope
Order Pholidota
Family
Manidae (Pangolins)
Indian Pangoln
Order Rodentia
Family
Sciuridae (Squirrels)
Layard's Striped Squirrel
Three-striped Palm Squirrel
Frve-striped Palm Squirrel
Dusky Striped Squirrel
Jungle Striped Squirrel
Travancore FIying Squirrel
Elliot's Giant (Large) FIying
Squirrel
Indian (Malabar) Giant Squirrel
Grizzled Giant Squirrel
Family
Muridae (Mice and Rats)
lndian Mole-rat
Large (Greater) Bandicoot rat
White tailed Wood (Blanford's) Rat
Cutch Rat
Iindian Bush Rat
Kondana Rat
Soft-furrred Field Rat
Little Indian Field Mouse
Cook's Mouse
Bonhote's Mouse
House Mouse
Fawn-coloured Mouse
Spiny Field (lndian Brown Spiny)
Mouse
Elliot's Brown Spiny Mouse
Pygmy (Earth-coloured) Field Mouse
Spiny Dormouse
Brown (Norway) Rat
Ranlini's Rat
House (Roof, Black) Rat
lndian Gerbile (Antelope Rat)
lndian long-tailed Tree Mouse
Family
Hystricidae (Porcupines)
lndian (Crested) PorcuPine
Order Lagomorpha
Family
Leporidae (Hares)
lndian Hare, Black-naped Hare
Order lnsectivora
Family Erinaceidae (Hedgehogs)
lndian (Pale) Hedgehog
Madras Hedgehog
Family
Soricidae (Shrews)
Horsfield s Shrew
Kelaart s Long-clawed Shrew
Day's Shrew
Pygmy (White-toothed) Shrew
Hill (Mountain) Shrew
House (Grey Musk) Shrew, Musk Rat
Anderson's
(Yellow-throated) Shrew
Order Scandentia
Familv
Tupaiidae (Tree Shrews)
South indian (Madras) Tree Shrew
Order Chiroptera
Family
Pteropodidae (Fruit Bats)
Lesser dog faced Fruit Bat
Short-nosed Fruit Bat
Dawn (Cave Fruit) Bat
Salim Ali's Fruit 6at
Indian Flying Fox
Fulvous (Rousette) Fruit Bat
Family
Rhinopomatidae (Mouse Tailed Bats)
Lesser Mouse Tailed (Lesser rat
tailed) Bat
Greater Mouse Tailed Bat
Small Mouse Tailed Bat
Family
Emballonuridae (Sheath-tailed Bats)
Pouch-bearing Bat
Long'armed Sheath{ailed Bat
Bearded Sheath-tailed Bat
Naked-rumped Tomb Bat
Theobald's Tomb Bat
Family Megadermatidae
(False-vampire Bats)
Greater False-vampire Bat
Lesser False-vampire Bat
Family
Rhinolophidae (Horseshoe Bats)
Dusky Leaf-nosed Bat
Fulvus Leaf-nosed Bat
Cantols (Fawn) Lea[nosed Bat
Kolar Leaf-nosed Bat
Ke aart's Leal-nosed Bat
Andersen's Lea[nosed Bat
Bellary Leaf-nosed Bat
Schneidels Leaf-nosed Bat
L-esser Woolly Horseshoe Bat
Blyth's (Little lndian) Horseshoe Bat
Woolly (Great Eastern) Horseshoe Bat
Least Horseshoe Bat
RufousHorseshoeBat
Famiiy
Vesperlilionidae (Evening Bats)
Hairy-winged Bat
Tickell's Ba1
Hardwicke’ s Forest Bat
Painted Bat
Nicobar Long-fingered Bat
Schreibers' Long fingered Bat
Round-eared Tube-nosed Bat
Burmese Whiskered Bat
Horsfierd's Mouse-eared Bat
Chocolate Bat
Kelaafi's Pipistrelle
lndian Pipistrelle
Dormer s Bat
Javan Pipistrelle
Least Pipistrelle
Common Yellow Bat
Asiatic Lesser Yellow House Bat
Bamboo Bat
Family
Molossidae (Free-tailed Bats)
Wrinkle-lapped Freelailed Bat
Wroughton's Free-tailed Bat
Egyptian Free Tailed Bat
Selected
References
Jerdon T.C – The Mammals of India, Animals known to inhabit continental
India, 1874
Parther S.H- The book of Indian Mammals, 1998
Nameer P.Ommer – Check list of Indian Mammals, 1998
Vivek Menon- A field guide to Indian Mammals, 2003
PRIMATOLOGY TOURS TO WESTERN GHATS
Sunday 22 September 2013
Shola forest of Western Ghats
‘Tropical Temperate
Forest’ is a new term
used in forest typology. It denotes a rare type of forest found
in high altitude ranges of South Western Ghats
lying above 1500MSL. This forest is popularly known as ‘Sholas’ locally. The peculiarities
of Shola are identified at least from ‘Sangam Age’ of South
India (2200 BP). Technically this forest belongs to ‘Tropical Montane
Forest’ represented to the continents
of Asia, Africa & S. America. The Southern
Wet Temperate forest or Shola is distributed in Nilgiris (north of Palakkad
gap, between Mettupalayam and Wayanad plateau.), Anamalais (between
Nelliyampathy Hills and Periyar delta), Palany Hills (Eastward offshoot of Ghats from Anamudi to Kodaikanal), and Agasthyar Hills.
Terminology
The name ‘Shola’ denoting
southern wet temperate forest, is derived from ancient Tamil word ‘Cholai’
which is used both Malayalam and Tamil languages. ‘Chola’ means thickets of
wooded area with a stream. This term is widely used in the high altitude areas
of South Western Ghats. The ancient migration
of people from eastward plateau of the Ghats
in Anamalais and Palani is recoganised with prehistoric cave arts and
megaliths. These relics found in sholas and adjourned areas, reveal the fact
that ancient migration continues through ages from prehistoric period to
historic period.
The
shola forest is of two types. One which denote Montane
forests (southern hilltop tropical evergreen forests) exist between 1300-1800 m
above MSL and the other denote montane wet temperate forests (southern montane
wet temperate forests) exist 1800 m above MSL and are found in pockets' supporting
stunted trees.
Southern
Hill Top Tropical Evergreen forest-
Features: Close affinity with tropical evergreen forest.
Due to its presents in mountains above 1300MSL in this forest, temperature
seldom exceeds 20 dc. Rainfall is heavy; sometimes records more than 6000mm.
Humidity is above 80%. Unlike tropical evergreen forest , the trees are not
taller and seldom attain more than 25mtrs and the spread of crowns are bigger
than evergreen trees. Animals of the tropical evergreen and moist deciduous forest
are adapted to this forest and almost all of these animals are found in this
forest. Like wise many species restricted to ‘tropical temperate’ forest are
also found in this forest (Eg.Nilgiri Marten). It is same with bird diversity,
that these forests hold both species from TTF and TEF.
Ecological
importance of this forest is its support to the water runoff to the rivers of
Kerala. Though it is less than 1% of the total forest area of the ghats , it
support to maintain the water level of rivers through out the year. This
forests faced mass destruction from plantations and reduced to certain
protected forest areas.
Best
seen at : Munnar (Pampadumchola, Mannavanchola, Idivaraichola, Pullaradichola, Manthanshola, Chokkanad shola,), Anamalais
(Attakatty shola, Kadanpara shola, Pampumalai shola, Attumalai shola etc.)
Palani hills (Kukkal shola, Periyashola etcc), Nilgiris, Pathanamthitta ( Ranni
forest and along Periyar South east), Agasthyar hills, Athirumalai, Wayanad
(Garudapara, Bhramagir hills) etc.
Southern montane wet temperate forest: This
type of vegetation occurred in mountain folding and cliffs in upper reaches of
mountains. This type of forests is mostly found in Anamalais, Nilgiri and
Palani hills. Temperature seldom exceeds 15dc, and rainfalls exceeds 4000 mm.
Humidity is 80% to 100%.
Peculiarity
of this forest is its short and stunted trees and growth. This forest is
interspersed with high grassland. The vegetation is controlled by wind and
mist. The grassland is an integral part of this forest and formed a single
biome- shola-grassland. Many species of animals, birds and plants are
restricted to this forest. Eg. Nilgiri marten, Nilgir tahr, Clawless otter,
Door mouse etc.
Best seen at : Eravikulam
National Park, Grassland National Park,
Sisapara and Niliri hills, Palani hills, Kundah hills etc.
Thursday 12 September 2013
Wildlife tours in Kerala
Wildlife Tourism in Kerala |
The State of Kerala is having
unique physical features with mountains, plains, and marshes with tropical
forests. The varied biotopes naturally present a rich and varied biodiversity.
The coastline, narrow stretch of low land and plains sandwiched between sea and
mountains, and a number of microclimatic regions in the mountains cause for
unique niches in biodiversity spectrum.
Kerala has nearly 8000 sq. km
forest area that constitutes protected forests where any kind of logging is prohibited.
There are 5 national parks , 11 wildlife sanctuaries 4 bird sanctuary and two tiger reserve and
biosphere reserve, which account for 2315 sq. km, i.e. about 25% of the total
forest area of Kerala. Such conservation area, when managed scientifically, can
contribute significantly towards in-situ conservation of biological resources
of Kerala.. The farm forests ,backwaters and village ecosystem of the state is
also rich in biodiversity.
Wildlife Tourism in
Kerala
Immersed into nature |
Wildlife tourism has developed recently
as a sector of tourism industry. Though Periyar Tiger reserve has a long
history of tourism activities, rest of the forest and wildlife are closed for
tourists and general public till 1995. In 1995, after accepting World bank
funding for forest development the government obliged to start public
participation in forest management. There by people who living inside and
immediate peripherals of protected forest were also participated in forest
management. They constituted Eco-development committees in Sanctuaries and Vana
Samrakshana Samithy in reserve forests.
Wildlife
tourism, when managed in the absence of well thought-out plans and programmes,
may spell doom to natural habitats. Apart from this, the cultural shock
imparted the tourism on the local communities may put their very survival in
danger. With this point in mind wildlife tourism conducting in strict
ecotourism principles ,primarily means marketing the serene natural habitats as
tourism 'product' with an inherent element of nature education. It is aimed at
making the visitor aware of the protective, productive and regulatory functions
of the forests. For wildlife tourism to be sustainable, it has to be small
scale in terms of tourist numbers, physical infrastructure and facilities.
For wildlife tourism to be truly a form of environmentally conscious tourism
and not just pursuit of remote pristine locations, it has to be sustainable
with the continuous capacity to:- safeguard natural environment and biodiversity, the very basis of tourist attraction.
- provide and maintain the quality of tourist experience and satisfaction, and
- benefit the local people in the area.
Major tourism activities
Quick visit and organized day tours as being practised now cannot be called ecotourism. It
is only mass tourism. This type of quick and ready made tours is
conducted in Periyar Tiger Reserve in a mass level. Though the authorities are
trying to control and regulate the number of visitors, every day the visitors
are increasing. This is mainly due to the unregulated promotion of mass tourism
by tour operator companies with a view to increase their business. As the number of tourists increase ecotourism becomes
mass tourism and generates similar infrastructural demands and proportionate
impact on environment as conventional tourism. So it is better to avoid such
activities if you are really concerned of ecotourism.
Nature trails:
Nature Trails |
Nature trails
offer excellent experience of nature if going with a group less than 6 persons.
To enjoy wildlife, nature and birds, nature trails guided by an educated
naturalist is essential. Now a days most of the tour operators offers wildlife
sighting in nature trails, which is against wildlife tourism. Sighting of
wildlife is a matter of chance. Nature trails are aimed at educating
participants about the ecosystem and biodiversity, than sighting animals.
Nature trails are
offered in Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary,
Peppara WLS, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Pampadumchola NP, Eravikulam NP,
Chinnar WLS, Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Nelliyampathy hills, Silent Valley NP
etc. The walking safaris are available from 3hrs to full day. No walking tours
and nature trails are allowed in Wayanad WLS.
Jungle Camping:
Jungle camps in Kerala |
Nature trail with
jungle camping is the best experience in wildlife tourism. Walking though the
wildlife zone involves certain level of danger, but enthralling. Camping inside
jungle in permanent camp sheds enjoying the dusk and dawn offers real
experience of jungle.
Jungle camps are
offered in Chinnar WLS, Pampadumchola
NP, Parambikulam TR, Periyar TR, Nellyampathy hills, Eravikulam NP etc. One can
opt multiple days nature trails and camping.
Jeep Safaris
Wildlife Safaris |
Wayanad Wildlife
Sanctuary is the only place in Kerala which offers Jeep Safari inside wildlife
zone with exclusive safari experience. Safaris also conducted in Silent Valley
and Periyar Tiger Reserve, but not yielding good experience. There are many
companies offered jeep safaris in the peripherals of wildlife sanctuaries.
Though it may yield sighting of wildlife sometimes, is not an ecotourism
activity or a legal tour. Like wise there are offers for night safaris. No
wildlife sanctuary offers night ride , which is against wildlife tourism
principles.
Vehicle safaris
offered by Parambikulam TR is not at all an interesting wildlife experience and
not properly organized.
Bird
watching: Western Ghats
as Most Endemic Birding Area. Demand for birding is increasing day by day.
Birding tours |
Boat
Safaris
Wildlife Boat Safaris |
Boat safari is conducted in Periyar Tiger
Reserve.
Bamboo
rafting:
Bamboo rafting is conducted in Periyar Tiger Reserve and
Parambikulam Tiger reserve.
Bamboo rafting in Parambikulam |
The forest and wildlife enclaves
of Kerala offer excellent nature experience.
Contact me at kgatours@gmail.com
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