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About
Thattekkad Wildlife
Sanctuary
The
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary (also commonly known as the
Thattekad Sanctuary) is located in the Kothamangalam Taluk of
Ernakulam district on the northern bank of the Periyar river. The
sanctuary was notified in 1983 based on a recommendation made by Dr.
Salim Ali many years previously. Ali described Thattekad in the 1930's
as the richest bird habitat in peninsular India, comparable only with
the eastern Himalayas. Since then much of the forest has been diverted
to cultivation and teak and mahogany plantation but what survives
gives a glimpse of the phenomenal bird diversity of the once
widespread lowland forests of Kerala. Some basic facts about the
sanctuary are listed below:
Basic information on Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary,
Thattekad Latitude 76 deg. 40' - 76 deg. 45' N
Longitude 10 deg. 7' - 11 deg. E
Altitude 35- 523 m (Njayapilli peak)
Area 25.16 sq. km
Rainfall 2500 mm annually
Forest type Tropical semi-evergreen and tropical deciduous
Mammals Elephant, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Porcupine
Bird species > 250
How to get there
The sanctuary is 13 km north-east of Kothamangalam along the
Pooyamkutti road. The nearest railway station is Aluva at a distance
of 48 km. Kochi, the nearest airport is 71 km away. The new airport at
Nedumbassery is probably closer.
Kothamangalam is well connected by privately operated buses to
Ernakulam via Muvattupuzha or Perumpavur. There are frequent buses
from Kothamangalam to Thattekad. Currently the bus needs to cross the
Periyar river by ferry. Construction on a bridge across the river has
started.
Where to
stay
There is a three storied watch tower inside the Sanctuary with two
beds, a toilet and a kitchen. No electricity here but there is are a
few solar powered lamps. A forest department inspection bungalow
called Hornbill is located near the sanctuary entrance. There is a
dormitory just inside the sanctuary which is ideal for large groups.
Accommodation is also available at the PWD rest house near the
Bhoothathankett Dam and in lodges in Kothamangalam.
For further information about the sanctuary and for booking
accommodation contact: The Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife),
Thiruvanthapuram Kerala 695014
The Wildlife Warden, Idukki Wildlife Division, Vellappara, Painavu
P.O. Idukki District 685603 Phone 0486 232271
The Assistant Wildlife Warden, Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, Njayapilli
P.O. , Kothamangalam, Kerala Phone 0485 588302 |
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The birdlist
Only species observed by us have been listed. We have no information
if an exhaustive checklist is ava ilable
for the Sanctuary. Nomenclature used follows Birds of the Indian
Subcontinent (1998). The pocket edition of this book was used for
field identification. Subspecies have not been mentioned unless
unambiguous identification was made (eg. ruby-throated subspecies of
the Black-crested Bulbul). Some interesting observations and a nesting
record are at the end of this checklist.
Collocalia unicolor Indian Swiftlet
Ocyceros griseus Malabar Grey-Hornbill
Spizaetus cirrhatus Changeable Hawk-Eagle
Anhinga melanogaster Oriental Darter
Ardea cinerea Grey Heron
Snipe:
the bird could not be identified because of poor light conditions. The
overall appearance, habitat and behavior were of a typical snipe.
Arachnothera longirostra Little Spiderhunter: a nest of this bird was
seen beautifully stitched to the undersiode of a leaf about 1 m above
the ground. A photograph of the nest is available with the author.
Celeus brachyurus Rufous Woodpecker:
we saw a nest with young. The beak of the nestling was
sticking out of the nest. This particular species was videographed by
a BBC team at Thattekad with help from Elthose. The footage is
featured in Episodes 3 and 8 of The Life of Birds by David
Attenborough.
Batrachostomus moniliger Ceylon Frogmouth is being studied at
Thattekad by Elthose with funding from the Kerala Forest Department.
This forest is one of the last stronglholds of this rare endemic bird.
Elthose took us to one of the roosting sites and we were able to see a
male frogmouth at close quarters. No photography was attempted as the
flash was likely to disturb the bird.
Eurostopodus
macrotis Great Eared-Nightjar:
Two birds were seen at dusk calling and circling in
the air, possibly hawking insects.
Bubo bubo
Eurasian Eagle-Owl:
The loud
resonant tu-whoogh call was heard several times at dusk. We did not
get a sighting of this bird. |
