Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
Encyclopedia
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is a 285 km² Protected area
in Chittur
taluk in Palakkad district
of Kerala
state, South India
. Established in 1973, it is in the Sungam range of hills between the Anaimalai Hills
and Nelliampathy Hills.,, The Western Ghats
, Anamalai Sub-Cluster, including all of Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, is under consideration by the UNESCO
World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site
. The sanctuary is the home of 4 different tribes of indigenous peoples
including the Kadar
, Malasar, Muduvar
and Mala Malasar settled in six colonies. Parambikkulam Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as part of the 390.88 square kilometre Parambiculam Tiger Reserve on February 19, 2010.
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town and adjacent to the Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary
to the east in Tamil Nadu
. It is bordered to the north by Nemmara Forest Division, to the south by Vazhachal Forest Division and the west by Chalakudy Forest Division. The sanctuary has a hornblende
, biotite
, gneiss
and charnockite
geology.
Altitude ranges between 300 m and 1438 m. There is a 600 m elevation opening through the Nelliampathy hills from Anamalai hills on the northern boundary of the sanctuary at Thoothampara. Major peaks in the sanctuary are Karimala (1438 m) in the southern boundary of the sanctuary, Pandaravarai (1290 m) in the north, Kuchimudi, Vengoli Malai (1120 m) in the eastern boundary and Puliyarapadam (1010 m) in the west.
The sanctuary has three man-made reservoirs; Parambikulam, Thunacadavu and Peruvaripallam, with a combined area of 20.66 km². The Thuvaiar water falls empty into one of the reservoirs. There are 7 major valleys and 3 major rivers, the Parambikulam, the Sholayar and the Thekkedy. The Karappara river and Kuriarkutty river also drain the area. See 3-D topographic maps
Tree, which is said to be Asia’s largest, is here near Thoonakkadavu village.
There is a tree-house in the Reserve Forest area in Thoonakkadavu, the headquarters of Parambikkulam, which has to be booked in advance. The Rest Houses of the State Forest Department at Thoonakkadavu, Thellikkal and Elathode offer comfortable lodging.
Parambikkulam is only accessible by road from Pollachi
, Tamil Nadu. Palakkad to Pollachi is about 45 km; then Pollachi to Parambikkulam is about 65 km. The nearest railway station is at Pollachi and the nearest airport is at Coimbatore
, Tamil Nadu, about 120 km via Palakkad.
of animal life including: Mammals 39 species, Amphibians 16 sp., Birds 268 sp., Reptiles 61 sp., Fish 47 sp., Insects 1049 sp. and Butterflies 124 sp.
, neem
, sandalwood
and rosewood
. Even the oldest ever teak tree, Kannimara Teak exists here. It is about 450 years old and has an unbelievable girth of 6.8 metres and a height of 49.5 metres. It won the Mahavriksha Puraskar given by the Indian Government.
One of the reasons for the fires was the lack of pre-monsoon rain in the area. The area used to get rain in during January, February, March and April. This year, there was only 4 mm rain in January and after that there was no rain. Nelliampathy was facing an unprecedented drought this summer. The temperature reached 34oC in April when the average high is usually 26oC.
Protected areas of India
As of May 2004, the protected areas of India cover , roughly 4.95% of the total surface area.-Classification:India has the following kinds of protected areas, in the sense of the word designated by IUCN:-National Park:...
in Chittur
Chittur
Chittur is a small town in Palakkad district of Kerala, South India.-Politics:Chittur assembly constituency is part of Alathur .It contains 16 panchayats.-Demographics:...
taluk in Palakkad district
Palakkad district
Palakkad District is one of the 14 districts of the Indian state of Kerala. The city of Palakkad is the district headquarters. Palakkad is bordered on the northwest by the Malappuram District, on the southwest by the Thrissur District and on the east by Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. The...
of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
state, South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
. Established in 1973, it is in the Sungam range of hills between the Anaimalai Hills
Anaimalai Hills
The Anaimalai Hills is a range of mountains in the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu and Kerala states of South India. The name "Anaimalai" derives from the Tamil word 'Ana' meaning elephant and 'Mala' meaning hill, thus Elephant Hill. The highest peak of the Anaimalai Hills is Anamudi, , located in the...
and Nelliampathy Hills.,, The Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
, Anamalai Sub-Cluster, including all of Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, is under consideration by the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
. The sanctuary is the home of 4 different tribes of indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
including the Kadar
Kádár
Kádár is a Hungarian surname which may refer to:* János Kádár , Hungarian politician* Ján Kadár, Slovak-Hungarian film director* Tamás Kádár, Hungarian footballer* Matthias Kadar, a composer of German-Hungarian descent...
, Malasar, Muduvar
Mudugar
Mudugar indigenous people live in the Attappadi valley in Palghat district of Kerala, South India. Some Mudugar also live in Cuddalore district, Nilgiri District and Dharmapuri District of Tamilnadu.-Disambiguation:...
and Mala Malasar settled in six colonies. Parambikkulam Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as part of the 390.88 square kilometre Parambiculam Tiger Reserve on February 19, 2010.
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Geography
The sanctuary is located between Longitude:76° 35’- 76° 50’ E, and Latitude:10° 20’ – 10° 26’ N. It is 135 km from PalakkadPalakkad
Palakkad , formerly known as Palghat, is a municipality and a town in the state of Kerala in southern India, spread over an area of 26.60 km2.The city is situated about north of state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...
town and adjacent to the Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary
Indira Gandhi National Park
Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park is a protected area named after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who visited the park on October 7, 1961. It is often called "Topslip", a village in the northeast corner of the park which is the main visitor center. This name is derived from the local...
to the east in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. It is bordered to the north by Nemmara Forest Division, to the south by Vazhachal Forest Division and the west by Chalakudy Forest Division. The sanctuary has a hornblende
Hornblende
Hornblende is a complex inosilicate series of minerals .It is not a recognized mineral in its own right, but the name is used as a general or field term, to refer to a dark amphibole....
, biotite
Biotite
Biotite is a common phyllosilicate mineral within the mica group, with the approximate chemical formula . More generally, it refers to the dark mica series, primarily a solid-solution series between the iron-endmember annite, and the magnesium-endmember phlogopite; more aluminous endmembers...
, gneiss
Gneiss
Gneiss is a common and widely distributed type of rock formed by high-grade regional metamorphic processes from pre-existing formations that were originally either igneous or sedimentary rocks.-Etymology:...
and charnockite
Charnockite
Charnockite is applied to any orthopyroxene-bearing granite, composed mainly of quartz, perthite or antiperthite and orthopyroxene , as an end-member of the charnockite series.-Charnockite series:...
geology.
Altitude ranges between 300 m and 1438 m. There is a 600 m elevation opening through the Nelliampathy hills from Anamalai hills on the northern boundary of the sanctuary at Thoothampara. Major peaks in the sanctuary are Karimala (1438 m) in the southern boundary of the sanctuary, Pandaravarai (1290 m) in the north, Kuchimudi, Vengoli Malai (1120 m) in the eastern boundary and Puliyarapadam (1010 m) in the west.
The sanctuary has three man-made reservoirs; Parambikulam, Thunacadavu and Peruvaripallam, with a combined area of 20.66 km². The Thuvaiar water falls empty into one of the reservoirs. There are 7 major valleys and 3 major rivers, the Parambikulam, the Sholayar and the Thekkedy. The Karappara river and Kuriarkutty river also drain the area. See 3-D topographic maps
Visitor information
Trekking in the forest is allowed with prior permission.Contact: Ecocare Centre, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Anappady, Thunakadavu (PO), Pollachi (Via), Palakkad, Kerala – 678 661.Phone : 04253 – 245025 http://www.parambikulam.org/ecocareCentre.htm Boating can be done at the reservoir. The Cannimare TeakTeak
Teak is the common name for the tropical hardwood tree species Tectona grandis and its wood products. Tectona grandis is native to south and southeast Asia, mainly India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Burma, but is naturalized and cultivated in many countries, including those in Africa and the...
Tree, which is said to be Asia’s largest, is here near Thoonakkadavu village.
There is a tree-house in the Reserve Forest area in Thoonakkadavu, the headquarters of Parambikkulam, which has to be booked in advance. The Rest Houses of the State Forest Department at Thoonakkadavu, Thellikkal and Elathode offer comfortable lodging.
Parambikkulam is only accessible by road from Pollachi
Pollachi
Pollachi is a taluk of Coimbatore Rural district of the Tamil Nadu state of India. It lies in the southern part of the Coimbatore city around 40 kilometres from downtown Coimbatore. This is the second largest town in the District after Corporation of Coimbatore. Owing to the proximity to the...
, Tamil Nadu. Palakkad to Pollachi is about 45 km; then Pollachi to Parambikkulam is about 65 km. The nearest railway station is at Pollachi and the nearest airport is at Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
, Tamil Nadu, about 120 km via Palakkad.
Fauna
The sanctuary has a rich diversityBiodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
of animal life including: Mammals 39 species, Amphibians 16 sp., Birds 268 sp., Reptiles 61 sp., Fish 47 sp., Insects 1049 sp. and Butterflies 124 sp.
- Mammals- Important mammals include: Lion-tailed MacaqueLion-tailed MacaqueThe lion-tailed macaque is an Old World monkey that is endemic to the Western Ghats of South India.-Physical Characteristics:...
s, Nilgiri TahrNilgiri TahrThe Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiritragus hylocrius, known locally as the Nilgiri Ibex or simply Ibex, is an ungulate that is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern portion of the Western Ghats in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in southern India. It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu...
, elephantIndian ElephantThe Indian Elephant is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant, and native to mainland Asia. Since 1986, Elephas maximus has been listed as endangered by IUCN as the population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations, estimated to be 60–75 years...
s, Bengal tigerBengal TigerThe Bengal tiger is a tiger subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent that in 2010 has been classified as endangered by IUCN...
s, Indian leopardIndian leopardThe Indian leopard is a leopard subspecies widely distributed on the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the five big cats found in India, apart from Asiatic lion, Bengal tiger, snow leopard and clouded leopard....
s, Wild boar, SambarSambar DeerThe Sambar ' is a large deer native to southern and southeast Asia. Although it primarily refers to R. unicolor, the name "Sambar" is also sometimes used to refer to the Philippine Deer and the Rusa Deer...
, Bonnet MacaqueBonnet MacaqueThe bonnet macaque is a macaque endemic to southern India. Its distribution is limited by the Indian Ocean on three sides and the Godavari and Tapti Rivers along with a related competing species of rhesus macaque in the north....
s, Nilgiri LangurNilgiri LangurThe Nilgiri langur is a lutung found in the Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats in South India. Its range also includes Kodagu in Karnataka,Kodayar Hills in Tamil Nadu and many other hilly areas in Kerala and Tamil nadu. This primate has glossy black fur on its body and golden brown fur on its head...
s, Sloth BearSloth BearThe sloth bear , also known as the labiated bear, is a nocturnal insectivorous species of bear found wild within the Indian subcontinent. The sloth bear evolved from ancestral brown bears during the Pleistocene and shares features found in insect-eating mammals through convergent evolution...
s, Nilgiri Marten Small Travancore Flying Squirrel and GaurGaurThe gaur , also called Indian bison, is a large bovine native to South Asia and Southeast Asia. The species is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986 as the population decline in parts of the species' range is likely to be well over 70% over the last three generations...
.
- Reptiles- Reptiles of very high importance in Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary include: King cobraKing CobraThe king cobra is the world's longest venomous snake, with a length up to 5.6 m . This species, which preys chiefly on other snakes, is found predominantly in forests from India through Southeast Asia to the Philippines and Indonesia...
, Kerala sheildtail, Travancore kukri snakeOligodonOligodon, common name kukri snakes, is a genus of snakes native to East and South Asia.Oligodon species are egg eaters and are usually under 90 centimeters in length; different species display widely variable patterns and colorations. They subsist mostly by scavenging the eggs of birds and...
, Travancore wolf snakeLycodon capucinusLycodon capucinus also known as the common wolf snake is a species of colubrid snake, which is found in the Indo-Australian Archipelago.-Distribution:...
, Cochin cane turtleGeoemyda silvaticaThe Cochin forest cane turtle , also known as Kavalai forest turtle, forest cane turtle or simply cane turtle, is a rare turtle from the Western Ghats of India. Described in 1912, its type locality is given as "Near Kavalai in the Cochin State Forests, inhabiting dense forest, at an elevation of...
, Travancore tortoise, Indian day geckoCnemaspis sisparensisSispara Day Gecko Cnemaspis sisparensis is a species of gecko found in the Nilgiri Hills of India.-Description:Closely allied to Cnemaspis wynadensis, but the digits much more elongate. 3 femoral pores on each side. Dorsal tubercles homogeneous...
and Western Ghats flying lizardDraco blanfordiiDraco blanfordii is an agamid "flying" lizard capable of gliding from tree to tree found in China , E Thailand, W Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, India and Bangladesh....
. Others Important Reptiles are Indian rock pythonIndian PythonPython molurus is a large nonvenomous python species found in many tropic and subtropic areas of Southern and Southeast Asia. It is known by the common names Indian python, black-tailed python, and Indian rock python. Two subspecies are currently recognized: the nominate subspecies and the Burmese...
, Malabar pit viper, Travancore tortoise, South Indian forest ground geckoHemiphyllodactylus typusThe Indopacific Tree Gecko or Common Dwarf Gecko Hemiphyllodactylus typus is a species of gecko found in South Asia and islands in the Indian Ocean.-Distribution:India , Nicobar Islands, Sri Lanka,...
, South Indian rock lizardPsammophilus dorsalisPsammophilus dorsalis is a common species of agama found on rocky hills in south India. The informal names are Peninsular Rock Agama and South Indian Rock Agama...
, Mountain skinkMountain SkinkMountain Skink may refer to:* Chalcides montanus from Morocco* Egernia montana from continental Australia* Eumeces callicephalus from Arizona, New Mexico, and north-western Mexico...
, Mugger CrocodileMugger CrocodileThe mugger crocodile , also called the Indian, Indus, Persian, or marsh crocodile, is found throughout the Indian subcontinent and the surrounding countries...
, Varanus, Pond terapinMelanochelys trijugaIndian black turtle or Indian pond terrapin is a species of turtle found in South Asia.-Distribution:N Bangladesh, C Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Chagos Islands and Nepal....
, ChameleonChameleonChameleons are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of lizards. They are distinguished by their parrot-like zygodactylous feet, their separately mobile and stereoscopic eyes, their very long, highly modified, and rapidly extrudable tongues, their swaying gait, the possession by many of a...
and the snakes Spectacled CobraIndian CobraIndian Cobra or Spectacled Cobra is a species of the genus Naja found in the Indian subcontinent and a member of the "big four", the four species which inflict the most snakebites in India. This snake is revered in Indian mythology and culture, and is often seen with snake charmers...
, Krait, Green keelback, Olivaceous keelbackAtretium schistosumThe Split Keelback or Olive keelback snake, Atretium schistosum, is a species of snake found in South Asia. It is a common and harmless watersnake.- Distribution :...
, Western Rat snakeRat snakeRat snakes are medium to large constrictors that can be found through a great portion of the northern hemisphere. They feed primarily on rodents and birds and, with some species exceeding 3 m , they can occupy top levels of some food chains. Many species make attractive and docile pets and one,...
and Vine snakeVine snakeVine snake can refer to several kinds of snake from the taxonomic family Colubridae:*Genus Ahaetulla, Japanese vine snakes.*Genus Chironius, Sipos or blunt-headed vine snakes.*Genus Oxybelis, Neotropical vine snakes....
. See Checklist Of Reptile Species
- Fish- 47 species of fish are recorded in the Sanctuary of which seven species are listed as endangered and 17 are endemic to Western Ghats. Some fishes include: AralAralAral, also known as Aralsk or Aral'sk, is a small city in south-western Kazakhstan, located in the oblast of Kyzylorda. It serves as the administrative center of Aral District. Population roughly 39,000...
, bral, vattudi, tilapiaTilapiaTilapia , is the common name for nearly a hundred species of cichlid fish from the tilapiine cichlid tribe. Tilapia inhabit a variety of fresh water habitats, including shallow streams, ponds, rivers and lakes. Historically, they have been of major importance in artisan fishing in Africa and the...
, nooriNooriNoori is a rock band from Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, formed in 1996. The band is directed by founder, lead guitarist and songwriter, Ali Noor, and his brother, Ali Hamza, who were soon joined by bassist Muhammad Ali Jafri and drummer Salman Albert...
, mooshu, poochutti, kollotty, exyprius and taral. See full listing of Fish.
- Birds- 268 bird species have been recorded in the sanctuary. 134 species are listed as rare and 18 species are endemic to Western Ghats. Lesser adjutant storkLesser AdjutantThe Lesser Adjutant, Leptoptilos javanicus, is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It is a widespread species which is resident breeder in southern Asia from India east to southern China and Java....
, Grey-headed Fish-eagle Peninsular bay owlOriental Bay OwlThe Oriental Bay Owl is a type of owl, usually classified with barn owls. It is completely nocturnal, and can be found throughout Southeast Asia. It has several subspecies. It has a heart-shaped face with earlike extensions...
, Broad-billed rollerBroad-billed RollerThe Broad-billed Roller, Eurystomus glaucurus, is a member of the roller family of birds which breeds across tropical Africa and Madagascar in all but the driest regions. It is a wet season breeder, which migrates from the northern and southern areas of its range towards the moister equatorial...
and Great pied hornbillGreat HornbillThe Great Hornbill also known as Great Indian Hornbill or Great Pied Hornbill, is one of the larger members of the hornbill family. Great Hornbills are found in the forests of Nepal, India, the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra, Indonesia. Their impressive size and colour have made them important in...
. Other birds include: DarterDarterThe darters or snakebirds are mainly tropical waterbirds in the family Anhingidae. There are four living species, three of which are very common and widespread while the fourth is rarer and classified as near-threatened by the IUCN. The term "snakebird" is usually used without any additions to...
, Little CormorantLittle CormorantThe Little Cormorant is a member of the Cormorant family of seabirds: Aptly named, the Little Cormorant is small in comparison with other cormorants, only 55 cm in length with an average mass of 442.5 g...
, Black eagleBlack EagleThe Black Eagle is a bird of prey. Like all eagles, it is in the family Accipitridae, and is the only member of the genus Ictinaetus. They soar over forests in the hilly regions of tropical Asia and hunt mammals and birds, particularly at their nests...
, Black-capped kingfisherBlack-capped KingfisherThe Black-capped Kingfisher, Halcyon pileata, is a tree kingfisher which is widely distributed in tropical Asia from India east to China, Korea and Southeast Asia...
, Great Indian hornbill, and Black woodpeckerBlack WoodpeckerThe Black Woodpecker, Dryocopus martius, is a large woodpecker, 45–50 cm long with a 64–84 cm wingspan. Body weight is approximately 300-400 grams on average. It is easily the largest woodpecker in its range...
. See complete checklist of birds of Parambikulam Wildlife sanctuary: PDF
- Butterflies- There are 124 species of butterflies recorded in the sanctuary of which 34 are rare and endemic. See checklist of Butterflies found in Parambikulam PDF
- Amphibians- 23 amphibian species living in the sanctuary include: Ridged toad Bufo parietalisBufo parietalisThe Ridged Toad, Bufo parietalis is a species of toad found in the Western Ghats of India.-Description:Head with very prominent ridges, namely a canthal, a slight preorbital, a supraorbital, a postorbital, a parietal, and an orbitotympanic; parietal ridges obliquely directed inwards; snout short,...
, Common Asiatic toad Bufo melanostictusBufo melanostictusThe Common Indian Toad or Common Asiatic/Asian Toad or Black-spined Toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus is a species of toad that is common in South Asia. The species grows to almost 20 cm long. The species breeds during the monsoons and the tadpoles are black...
, Large wrinkled frog Nyctibatrachus majorNyctibatrachus majorNyctibatrachus major is a species of frog in the Ranidae family. Its English names are Malabar night frog, large wrinkled frog and Boulenger's narrow-eyed frog -Geographic range:...
, Small wrinkled frog Nyctibatrachus minorNyctibatrachus minorNyctibatrachus minor is a species of frog in the Ranidae family.-Habitat:Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montanes, and rivers.-References:...
, Rana tigerina, Verrucose Frog Rana keralensisFejervarya keralensisThe Verrucose Frog is a species of frog found in the Western Ghats of India.-Description:This species has vomerine teeth in two strong oblique series starting from the inner anterior corners of the choanae. The head is moderately sized with the snout appearing pointed. The inter-orbital space is...
, Rana cyanophlyctis, Boulenger's Indian Frog Rana leptodactyla, Rana limnocharis, Beddome's Leaping Frog Rana beddomiiIndirana beddomiiBeddome's Leaping Frog is a species of frog found in the Western Ghats. They are usually detected by the long leaps as the flush from the ground when disturbed. The species is named after the naturalist Richard Henry Beddome....
, South Indian Frog Rana semipalmata, Bicoloureol frog Rana curtipes, Bronzed frog Rana temporalis, Reddish burrowing frog Tomopterna rufescensFejervarya rufescensFejervarya rufescens is a species of frog found in India....
, Parambikulam Wart Frog Parambikulam frog Tomopterna parambikulamana, White-nosed bush frog Philautus leucorhinusPhilautus leucorhinusPhilautus leucorhinus was a species of frog in the Rhacophoridae family.It was endemic to Sri Lanka.-Source:* Manamendra-Arachchi, K., Biju, S.D. & de Silva, A. 2004. . Downloaded on 23 July 2007....
, White-spotted bush frog Philautus chalazodesPhilautus chalazodesPhilautus chalazodes is a species of frog in the Rhacophoridae family.It is endemic to India.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
, Kerala warty frog Limnonectes keralensis, Indian skipper frog Euphlyctis cyanophlyctisEuphlyctis cyanophlyctisThe Indian Skipper Frog or Skittering Frog is a common frog found in South Asia. They are slimy and are often seen at the edge of bodies of water with their eyes above the water. They noisily move away from the shore when disturbed, giving them their common name...
, Cricket Frog Limnonectes limnocharisFejervarya limnocharisThe Cricket Frog is a species of frog found widely distributed in South Asia. Molecular studies of the species complex suggest that there may be multiple species involved.-Description:...
, Beddome’s leaping frog Indirana beddomiiIndirana beddomiiBeddome's Leaping Frog is a species of frog found in the Western Ghats. They are usually detected by the long leaps as the flush from the ground when disturbed. The species is named after the naturalist Richard Henry Beddome....
, Short webbed leaping frog Indirana brachytarsusIndirana brachytarsusIndirana brachytarsus is a species of frog found in India....
and the Common frog Micrixalus fuscusMicrixalus fuscusThe Dusky torrent frog is a species of small frog found in dense forested hill streams in the Western Ghats of India.-Description:Description from G. A...
. it is near kerala
Flora
The sanctuary has a variety of trees mainly teakTeak
Teak is the common name for the tropical hardwood tree species Tectona grandis and its wood products. Tectona grandis is native to south and southeast Asia, mainly India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Burma, but is naturalized and cultivated in many countries, including those in Africa and the...
, neem
Neem
Azadirachta indica is a tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae. It is one of two species in the genus Azadirachta, and is native to India growing in tropical and semi-tropical regions. Its fruits and seeds are the source of neem oil...
, sandalwood
Sandalwood
Sandalwood is the name of a class of fragrant woods from trees in the genus Santalum. The woods are heavy, yellow, and fine-grained, and unlike many other aromatic woods they retain their fragrance for decades. As well as using the harvested and cut wood in-situ, essential oils are also extracted...
and rosewood
Rosewood
Rosewood refers to any of a number of richly hued timbers, often brownish with darker veining, but found in many different hues. All rosewoods are strong and heavy, taking an excellent polish, being suitable for guitars, marimbas, turnery , handles, furniture, luxury flooring, etc.In general,...
. Even the oldest ever teak tree, Kannimara Teak exists here. It is about 450 years old and has an unbelievable girth of 6.8 metres and a height of 49.5 metres. It won the Mahavriksha Puraskar given by the Indian Government.
Threats
In April 2007 a wild fire in parts of Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary and the adjoining Nelliampathy forests destroyed hundreds of acres of forest tracts and plantations. Fires were caused by unemployed firewatchers and honey gatherers.One of the reasons for the fires was the lack of pre-monsoon rain in the area. The area used to get rain in during January, February, March and April. This year, there was only 4 mm rain in January and after that there was no rain. Nelliampathy was facing an unprecedented drought this summer. The temperature reached 34oC in April when the average high is usually 26oC.