Kumaly: The annual comprehensive biodiversity survey at the renowned Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala found 12 new species of fauna, including eight butterflies, two birds and two dragonflies, in the area.

In total, 207 butterflies, 71 dragonflies and numerous species of birds, including the official bird of Kerala Great hornbill, were recorded during the census.

The survey team also found over 40 varieties of ants, 15 reptiles, six species of crickets, tiger, leopard, wild dog, bison and elephant. Small mammals noticed during the exercise included brown mongoose, striped naked mongoose, small Indian civet, otter and Indian jungle cat.

The elaborate survey was carried out jointly by the Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala Forest Department and Periyar Tiger Conservation Foundation, with the collaboration of Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS), a Thiruvananthapuram-based organisation, from September 11 to 14.

Periyar Field Director P P Pramod, Deputy Director P U Saju and assistant field director R Lakshmi spoke at the concluding ceremony of the survey.

New species
The new butterflies located in Periyar reserve are sahyadri grass yellow (Vembada pappathi), plain orange-tip (local name: manjathunchan), sahyadri yellow jack sailor (manja pontha chuttan), lankan plum judy (sylicon attakkaran), plain banded ol (kattuvarayan ara), montane hedge hopper, sahyadri small palm bob and Indian dart.

The new dragonflies are, sahyadri torrent-hawk and coorg torrent-hawk. Black bird and white-throated ground thrush are the birds recorded for the first time in Periyar Tiger Reserve.