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Periyar Tiger Reserve is situated in the Cardamom hills of the Western Ghats in the state of Kerala. Centred on a vast artificial lake created by the British in1895 to supply water to the drier parts of neighbouring Tamil Nadu, the Periyar Tiger Reserve lies at altitudes of between 900m and 1800m and is correspondingly cool with temperature ranging from 15°C to 31°C. The splendid artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar River is the centre piece of the sanctuary and occupies 5,500-hectares. Dead tree trunks that jut out of the waters are the remnants of the submerged low-lying forest. Along the fringes of the lake are marshy areas with tall grasslands. This is one of the richest habitats of large mammals, as it provides both excellent cover and nourishment in the form of succulent shoots and grasses. Here it is possible to see large herds of Indian Elephant with relative ease as well as Nilgiri Langur near Aranya Niwas and the Liontail Macaque in higher areas. FLORA: The reserve has a rich and diverse flora. It chiefly comprises of Tropical Evergreen forests and Semi-evergreen forests around the dam area, and Moist-deciduous forests and Woody grasslands in the central part of the park.The major flora in the park include the Teak, Rosewood, Terminalia, Eucalyptus, Sandalwood, Jacaranda (a hardwood timber tree with purple flowers), Mango, Jamun, Tamarind, Banyan, Pipal, Plumeria, Gulmohar and Bamboo among many others. The thick vegetation of the Periyar wildlife sanctuary provides both excellent cover and nourishment in the form of succulent shoots and grasses. In all there are 1965 species of flowering plants including 171 grass species. Orchidaceae is represented by 145 species and some of the common orchids are Oberonia spp, Dendrobium spp, and Bulbophyllum spp, Habenaria periyarensis is a recent discovery at Periyar. FAUNA: The fauna of Periyar is equally rich and varied. There are 62 species of mammals which include the endangered Indian tiger and other endangered species like the lion tailed macaque, slender loris, nilgiri tahr, mouse deer, small travancore flying squirrel, brown palm civet and elephant. Besides, there is the sloth bear, leopard and wild dog. The gaur, sambar, barking deer and wild boar are among the other herbivorous species. There are about 314 species, of which a third are winter migrants that stay here from September through March. Birds like the oriental darter and great cormorant nest on the tree stumps standing in the lake. The blue winged parakeet, wayanad laughing thrush, rufous babbler, black and orange flycatcher, malabar grey hornbill, nilgiri wood pigeon, and small sunbird are found here. The enadangered great pied hornbill has a sizeable population in Periyar. There are 43 species of reptiles including the monitor lizard, fresh water tortoise and several poisonous and non-poisonous snakes. Over 16 amphibian species have been recorded in Periyar which include the malabar tree frog and the ubiquitous Rana curtipes found in the lake vicinity. The fish fauna include 38 species of which the mahseer, Tor khudri is famous as a game fish. The three species Lepidopygopsis typus, Crossocheilis periyarensis, Puntius micropogan periyarensis are endemic to Periyar.

 Periyar Tiger Reserve is situated in the Cardamom hills of the Western Ghats in the state of Kerala. Centred on a vast artificial lake created by the British in1895 to supply water to the drier parts of neighbouring Tamil Nadu, the Periyar Tiger Reserve lies at altitudes of between 900m and 1800m and is correspondingly cool with temperature ranging from 15°C to 31°C. The splendid artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar River is the centre piece of the sanctuary and occupies 5,500-hectares. Dead tree trunks that jut out of the waters are the remnants of the submerged low-lying forest. Along the fringes of the lake are marshy areas with tall grasslands. This is one of the richest habitats of large mammals, as it provides both excellent cover and nourishment in the form of succulent shoots and grasses. Here it is possible to see large herds of Indian Elephant with relative ease as well as Nilgiri Langur near Aranya Niwas and the Liontail Macaque in higher areas. FLORA: The reserve has a rich and diverse flora. It chiefly comprises of Tropical Evergreen forests and Semi-evergreen forests around the dam area, and Moist-deciduous forests and Woody grasslands in the central part of the park.The major flora in the park include the Teak, Rosewood, Terminalia, Eucalyptus, Sandalwood, Jacaranda (a hardwood timber tree with purple flowers), Mango, Jamun, Tamarind, Banyan, Pipal, Plumeria, Gulmohar and Bamboo among many others. The thick vegetation of the Periyar wildlife sanctuary provides both excellent cover and nourishment in the form of succulent shoots and grasses. In all there are 1965 species of flowering plants including 171 grass species. Orchidaceae is represented by 145 species and some of the common orchids are Oberonia spp, Dendrobium spp, and Bulbophyllum spp, Habenaria periyarensis is a recent discovery at Periyar. FAUNA: The fauna of Periyar is equally rich and varied. There are 62 species of mammals which include the endangered Indian tiger and other endangered species like the lion tailed macaque, slender loris, nilgiri tahr, mouse deer, small travancore flying squirrel, brown palm civet and elephant. Besides, there is the sloth bear, leopard and wild dog. The gaur, sambar, barking deer and wild boar are among the other herbivorous species. There are about 314 species, of which a third are winter migrants that stay here from September through March. Birds like the oriental darter and great cormorant nest on the tree stumps standing in the lake. The blue winged parakeet, wayanad laughing thrush, rufous babbler, black and orange flycatcher, malabar grey hornbill, nilgiri wood pigeon, and small sunbird are found here. The enadangered great pied hornbill has a sizeable population in Periyar. There are 43 species of reptiles including the monitor lizard, fresh water tortoise and several poisonous and non-poisonous snakes. Over 16 amphibian species have been recorded in Periyar which include the malabar tree frog and the ubiquitous Rana curtipes found in the lake vicinity. The fish fauna include 38 species of which the mahseer, Tor khudri is famous as a game fish. The three species Lepidopygopsis typus, Crossocheilis periyarensis, Puntius micropogan periyarensis are endemic to Periyar.

[ Last update : Rendezvous-Nov 23 2009 8:54PM , ]

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[ Last update : Rendezvous-Nov 23 2009 8:54PM , ]

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