Wildlife Survey in Peechi Forests Adds 36 New Species to Checklists

A four-day wildlife survey across three sanctuaries in Kerala has added 36 new species to existing checklists and documented a total of 395 species of birds, butterflies, and odonates.

Survey Details And Findings

Conducted from October 8 to 11, the survey was led by the Forest and Wildlife department in partnership with the Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS) from Thiruvananthapuram. Field teams operated across 10 base camps covering the Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary, Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary, and Chulannur Peafowl Sanctuary. The count recorded 24 species that are endemic to the Western Ghats region. Kalesh Sadasivan coordinated the scientific compilation for TNHS, noting that checklist additions and regional endemics show the value of seasonal inventories. Birdwatchers documented 165 species with eight new additions, including the Malabar Lark, Purple Heron, Siberian Stonechat, and Eastern Yellow Wagtail. Five recorded birds are native to the Western Ghats, such as the Malabar Grey Hornbill and Malabar Barbet. Butterflies formed the largest share with 174 species, including 22 new additions like the Sahyadri Plain Puffin and Common Map, alongside 11 Western Ghats endemics like the Malabar Banded Peacock. The odonate survey recorded 56 species with six additions, including the Indian Emerald and Kodagu Clubtail, plus eight regional endemics. Beyond these groups, surveyors spotted 52 moth species, 22 ant species, five cicada species, and roughly 30 spider species, along with larger animals like tigers, leopards, Asian elephants, and gaur.

Future Plans And Officials

Wildlife Warden M.K. Renjith led the survey, stating that repeated counts are vital to improve wildlife knowledge and aid habitat management. The October assessment followed the southwest monsoon, and officials have proposed a pre-monsoon survey to track seasonal shifts in species, breeding, and habitat use. Other officials involved included Assistant Wildlife Warden T.N. Rajesh, Assistant Wildlife Warden K.M. Muhammed Raphy, and Wildlife Assistant Salish Menachery, with technical support from research associate Anila V.M. and forest staff.

Context

Wildlife surveys in protected forest divisions help authorities track the health of local ecosystems and measure the impact of changing seasons. Systematic documentation over multiple seasons allows conservation managers to identify resident populations versus seasonal visitors and make informed policy choices.