14 new birds, 15 butterflies, 8 odonates sighted during faunal survey in Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary

Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary sees increase in bird, butterfly, and odonate species during recent off-season faunal survey.

During a three-day off-season faunal survey held in the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary recently, 14 species of birds, 15 butterflies, and 8 odonates have been newly sighted in the sanctuary.

According to Kalesh Sadasivan, Research Associate, Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS), the 14 species of birds newly spotted from the sanctuary are Grey Heron, Indian Spotted Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, Western Marsh-Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Savanna Nightjar, Blue-Faced Malkoha, Blue-Eared Kingfisher, Great Black Woodpecker, Rosy Starling, Long-Billed Pipit, and Indian Silverbill. During the survey, 174 species of birds were spotted.

With the new sightings, the total number of bird species in the sanctuary has risen to 245.

The newly recorded butterfly species are Lesser Albatross, Tawny Coster, Sahyadri Redspot Duke, Oriental Grass Jewel, Asian Zebra Blue, Dark Ceylon Six-Line Blue, Indian White-tipped Lineblue, Dark Grass Blue, Indian Purple Leaf Blue, Karwar Many-tailed Oakblue, Sahyadri Silver-streaked Acacia Blue, Indigo/Lazuli Flash, Oriental Orchid Tit, Bengal Broad-tail Royal, and Indian Dart. The survey recorded 155 species of butterflies in all and the total number of butterflies in the sanctuary has increased to 212.

Officials said that congregations of thousands of Blue Tiger, Dark Blue Tiger, and Crow butterflies were observed in the catchment area of the Idukki reservoir, awaiting rain for migrating to the Eastern Ghats.

According to officials, the total number of odonates reported in the survey is 48, including eight newly spotted species. The total number of odonates in the sanctuary increased to 73 species. The newly spotted species are Gomphidia kodaguensis Fraser, 1923; Paragomphus lineatus; Orthetrum glaucum; Orthetrum triangulare; Tramea basilaris; Ischnura senegalensis; Lestes praemorsus decipiens Kirby; and Protosticta anamalaica Sadasivan.

Also, 202 species of moths, 52 species of ants, 10 species of mantids, and six species of cicadas were also found in the survey.