Parambikulam Tiger Reserve

PRELIMS BITS – MAP

Context:

A recent faunal survey conducted in Parambikulam Tiger Reserve documented 15 newly recorded species, including birds, butterflies, and odonates, further enriching the reserve’s biodiversity checklist.

About Parambikulam Tiger Reserve:

Location:

• Spans across Palakkad and Thrissur districts in Kerala.
• Nestled between the Anamalai Hills and Nelliampathy Hills in the Western Ghats.

Area:

• Covers 643.66 sq. km, incorporating the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, which was originally established in 1973 and later expanded in 1984.
• Upgraded to a Tiger Reserve in 2010.

Flora:

• Encompasses evergreen, moist and dry deciduous forests, along with grasslands.
• Hosts rare medicinal plants, including Coscinium fenestratum and Utleria salicifolia, both listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List.

Fauna:

• Mammals: Inhabited by lion-tailed macaques, Malabar giant squirrels, flying squirrels, leopards, elephants, Nilgiri langurs, and smooth-coated otters.
• Amphibians & Fish: Features endemic species such as Tomopterna parambikulamana (a frog species) and Garra surendranathanii (a sucker fish).

Indigenous Tribes:

• The reserve is home to tribal communities, including the Kadar, Malasar, Muduvar, and Mala Malasar, residing in six tribal settlements within the protected area.