January Field Visit Report K Amrutha lakshmi

The Thattekad or Slim Ali Bird Sanctuary is situated in the state of Kerala in the peninsular India. It lies
at the base of the western slopes of the Western Ghats between the two branches of Periyar river. It is
bordered by the Periyar and Kuttampuzha rivers on two sides and Kolombathodu and Orulamthanni on
the other two sides. It has got a few water bodies in itself.The terrain is undulating and includes two high
peaks called Thoppimudi and Njayapillimudi. The area had been exploited for cultivation, first, by the
British and later by the locals. After independence some of these unauthorised encroachments were
taken over by the Government and vast areas were planted with teak.
Flora : About one- third of the total Sanctuary area is under monoculture, mainly of teak and mahogany.
The remaining forest consists of partly disturbed evergreen, semi evergreen, moist deciduous forests, and
grassland with rock outcrops or even land holdings ranging from 50.02 hectares to 4.05 to 6.07 hectares
or even more along the fringes of the Sanctuary. However, there are no settlements inside the Sanctuary .
Since the declaration of the area as a Sanctuary in 1983, there has been no regular forestry extraction
and plantation activities inside the Sanctuary area. As a result, there is fairly thick forest undergrowth
everywhere. So the main vegetation consists of Teak, rosewood, jungle jack, red sandalwood, red silk
cotton trees-Bombax sps , Lagerstroemia microcarpa and Terminalia paniculata abound, along with the
huge Tetrameles nudiflora locally known as chini. The latters lightweight wood is used in the
matchstick and plywood industries. Another find here is the rare telli, whose aromatic sap is used as
incense..The regions of the sanctuary at higher elevations are covered by evergreen forest. The major
tree species found are Vateria indica (Vellapine), Dipterocarpus bourdillonii (Karanjili), Palaquim ellipticum
(Pali), Canarium strictum (Kundirikkam), Elaeocarpus ferrugineus (Rudraksham), Machlius macrantha ,
Phyllanthus emblica. The semi-evergreen forest abounds in Artocarpus hirsuitus, Hopea glabra,
Tetrameles nudiflora etc. The semi-evergreen forest abounds in Artocarpus hirsuitus, Hopea glabra,
Tetrameles nudiflora etc. Near the water bodies we find Pandanus sps abundantly along with profusely
growing Bamboo.(Eeta -Ochlandra travancorica). Several unidentified trees ,trees covered with many
unidentified climbers, many wild trees ,shrubs are seen. he deciduous forest has evergreen patches in
the wet area and also undergrowth. Water bodies contain different species of water lilies , kumudini m
Marsh buckwheat and other aquatic weeds.
FAUNA : As per the literature available There are 34 species of mammals, 270 sp of birds,30 species of
reptiles, 15 species of amphigians and 47 species of fishes are
reported from the sanctuary. Thattekad is home to most of the large mammals found in this area, such as
the Asian Elephant Elephas maximus, Tiger Panthera tigris, Leopard Panthera pardus, Leopard Cat Felis
bengalensis, and Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus. The Small Travancore Flying Squirrel Petinomys
fuscocapillus fuscocapillus, an endemic to the southern Western Ghats, is also found in Thattekad. Draco
or Gliding Lizard Draco dussumieri is common in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. But I could see
only Malabar giant squirrel, a brown tortoise,droppings of hare. Many species of birds both forest and
water birds are found here besides raptors. About 300 species are recorded in this sanctuary.But I saw
little cormorant , darter,pond heron, purple heron , cattle egret, median egret,chestnut bittern, black baza,
crested goshawk crested serpent eagle, grey jungle fowl, white breasted waterhen, red wattled lapwing,
whiskered tern, pompoudar pigeon, spotted dove,plum headed parakeet,chestnut winged cuckoo,indian
cuckoo, asian kiel, blue faced malkhowa, southern coucal,brown hawk owl,mottled owl,, jungle owlet,
ceylon frogmouth, Jerdons nightjar, great eared nightjar,Adian palm swift,Indian roller, dollar bird, malabar
trogan,common kingfisher,white breasted kingfisher,chestnut headed bee eater,little green bee eater,
Malabar grey hornbill, White cheeked barbet,Malabar barbet,heart spotted woodpecker,lesser yellow
nape, black dumped flame black,common flame back, black shouldered woodpecker,western yellow
wagtail,white browed wagtail,common wood shrike,scarlet minivet, red vented bulbul,red whiskered
bulbul,flame throated bulbul, yellow browed bulbul,gold fronted leafbird, Asian fairy blue bird orange
headed thrush,Indian black bird,Oriental magpie robin,brown breasted fly catcher, white bellied blue fly
catcher,blue throated fly catcher, female paradise fly catcher, jungle babbler,purple sunbird, Lotens
sunbird, Indian golden oriole, black headed oriole, Black drongo, Ashy drongo, bronzed drongo, greater
racket tailed drongo, Malabar white headed starling , common myna, lesser hill myna,House crow , jungle
crow, rufous tree pie, white bellied tree pie. Several butterflies are found besides other insects like ,
moths,grass hoppers, flies and spiders.

Forest department: The 25.16 sq. km. of the sanctuary includes patta and revenue land. The human
habitation was included during the notification of the sanctuary. However, it resulted in serious conflicts
with local residents. Hence the state Forest Department is actively considering a proposal to add 10.17
sq. km from the Neriyamangalam Forest areas to the sanctuary in lieu of the 9 sq km area that would be
excluded. Over 12,000 people reside in the habitation that comes under the administrative jurisdiction of
Kuttampuzha panchayat. The department had roped in the local residents for various forest protection
measures by engaging some as forest guards and watchers. The locals were also involved in the works
related to the sanctuary. However, the Wildlife Protection Act comes into conflict with the residents at
times. Forest department is having an interpretation centre at the entrance of the sanctuary and are
expanding its activities like growing aromatic and medicinal plants garden, butterfly garden. They claim
that there was a lot of tree felling in the forest but the same is controlled by employing good army of
guards. They have management plan for the year ending 2020 and are concentrating on the improvement
of the sanctuary. There are also a few tribals residing in the forest areas.
THREATS and other ISSUES : Grazing, Firewood collection felling of trees, and forest fires.
People : Part of Kuttampuzha village lies within the territorial area of Thattekkad Sanctuary. The land
assigned on either side of Thattekkad-Pooyamkutty road for food production had expanded into the
forestland subsequently. Consolidating the boundary by building permanent cairns has arrested
degradation. The adjoining areas are educationally and industrially backward. The main occupation of the
villagers is agriculture. For meeting their various needs, they enter the forest illegally. Even though the
majority is economically sound, many of them, including the unemployed, go into the forest for illicit felling
of trees. The people residing in the adjoining lands (patta land) and occupied land pose a real threat to
the Sanctuary. There is a need for a strong environment education movement involving local people to
show them the importance of conservation and tourism based industries could be developed to benefit
local people. There are many home stays within the sanctuary area.
Conclusion: The sanctuary is benefitted by the presence of Dr Sugathan , an ornithologist,who is taking
utmost care of the sanctuary and exercising vigilance so that the sanctuary remains undisturbed. The
forest department is encouraging local youth to take up tourism activities such as operating home stays
and working as forest guides for the tourists etc.
Photo album is available at the following link:
https://plus.google.com/photos/100109618634016093898/albums/6109447731002281953/610973140135
6348354?pid=6109731401356348354&oid=100109618634016093898