Parambikulam-keralatrip

Animals The sanctuary is endowed with very rich and diverse wildlife due to the mosaic pattern of vegetation. The ecotones (edge effects) created at the interspersion of different vegetation types are the vital wildlife habitats. Such junctions are plenty in this sanctuary and are well distributed as well. Same is the case with water resources constituted by the reservoirs, rivers and streams. The abundant herbivore population present in the sanctuary in turn support a substancial population of predators like tiger and leopard. In a nutshell, following is the faunal diversity available in this sanctuary in various catagories. Category Species Mammals 39 Amphibians 16 Birds 268 Reptiles 61 Fish 47 Insects 1049 Butterflies 124 Some interesting facts Tiger (Panthera tigris) Tiger, the charismatic predator of the jungle, delineates its own territory and lives within that. The territory is marked by urinating on the trees and rocks along the boundary. Trespass by another male usually ends up in conflict which turns into a bloody battle sometimes. The tigresses in a family may have overlapping territories within the male's territory. Even though tiger is a powerful predator with plenty of tactics, it is observed that only one in twenty attempts of hunting is really successful. Leopard or Panther and Cheetah Leopard and Panther are one and the same and its zoological name is Panthera pardus. Black Panther is not a separate species. Blackness, the general darkening of colour is due to the excessive presence of a substance called Melanin which intensifies pigmentation. The production of melanin is increased where there is a combination of high temperature, humidity and reduced light. Both black and normal-coloured cubs may be produced in the same litter. They are prevalent in the rain-swept Equatorial forests south of Malaya. Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) also known as hunting leopard is different from the ordinary leopard and distinct. The distinguishing features are small round head, slim waist line, prominent tear marks and solid close-set individual black spots. They are more common in Africa. It is supposed to be extinct in India. Indian Wild Dog or Dhole The Wild Dogs (Cuon alpinus) are social animals moving about in 'Packs'. The pack may be one family or aggregation of several families. In packs they are capable of hunting larger prey and the way of killing is gruesome. They are capable of eating meat several times their body weight. Wild dogs generally communicate with each other with a peculiar 'whistling' cry and they don't bark like the common dogs. Primates (Apes, Monkeys and Lemurs) 'Fur-picking', the universal habit among the apes and monkeys is not a hunt for lice or fleas. They are naturally remarkably free from these vermin. On the contrary it is a means of social communication between members of the troop (a group of monkeys) and to develop strong social bond. Hoolock Gibbon (Hylobates hoolock) is the only ape found in India. Rest of the monkeys are all macaques and langurs Elephant (Elephas maximus) Elephants are the largest mammal living on land. Elephants are of two namely African Elephant and Asiatic Difference between African and Asian Elephants African Elephant Asian Elephant Larger than Asian Elephant Smaller than African Elephant Both male and female possess tusks Only male possess tusks Ears are larger than Asian Elephants Ears are smaller than African Elephants Highest point is the Head Highest point is the back Difficult to get tamed Can be tamed easily Elephant is facing a threat to its life from poachers due to the fact that it possesses valuable ivory.The ivory of elephant is not a distinct organ but an extension and modification of its teeth, the upper incisors. Bison and Gaur The Gaur in our forests are generally wrongly referred to as Bison which is a misnomer. What we see in Indian forests is Gaur (Bos gaurus) and not Bison. Gaur is also known as Indian Bison. Gaur is a wild relative of our domestic cows and not buffaloes. Horns and Antlers Horns are different from antlers. Horns are external in origin. It is hollow sheath covering the bony core arising from the skull. They persist throughout life. They may wear and flake off as new horn grows below. Horns are characteristic of Bovidae, the cows and buffaloes family. Both the sexes sport horns, the only difference being that horns of male are massive and that of the females are smaller and less massive. Antlers are solid horns that are skeletal in origin. They are shed when old and new antlers grow. Antlers are possessed by Cervids, members of the deer family. Only the males possess antlers.