Survey discovers six new species from Periyar Tiger Reserve in Keralam

Highlighting the rich biodiversity of the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Keralam’s Thekkady, a four-day faunal survey recorded six species previously undocumented in the reserve, including one bird, one butterfly, and four odonate species.

According to officials, the newly recorded bird species is the golden-headed cisticola (Cisticola exilis). A total of 174 bird species were documented during the exercise, raising the reserve’s cumulative bird count to 347.

The survey also recorded the common onyx butterfly (Horaga onyx). With 192 butterfly species sighted during the four-day event, the total number of documented butterfly species in the reserve has risen to 284.

Common onyx butterfly (Horaga onyx). | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT