Several bird, butterfly, odonata, cicada and ant species were recorded in the Munnar Wildlife Division during a recent faunal survey conducted by the Forest department.
As many as 101 delegates representing Kerala University, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and several NGOs including Travancore Natural History Society (TNHS) participated in the four-day annual exercise that covered Mathikettan Shola National Park, Pampadum Shola National Park, Anamudi Shola National Park, Kurinjimala Sanctuary, Eravikulam National Park and Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. The area lying between elevations of 500 and 2,800 metres was covered in the survey.
A total of 184 bird species were documented during the exercise. The notable species were Painted spurfowl, Painted bush quail, Pallid harrier, Common buzzard, Nilgiri flycatcher, Grey-bellied cuckoo, Black-and-orange flycatcher, White-bellied Sholakili, Speckled piculet, Yellow-footed green pigeon and Yellow-throated bulbul.
