Wildlife in Silent Valley National Park
Fauna in Silent Valley National Park:
Mammals:
There are at least 34 species of mammals at Silent Valley including the endangered Lion-tailed Macaque, Niligiri Langur, Leopard, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Nilgiri Tahr, Peshwa's Bat (Myotis peshwa) and Hairy-winged Bat. There are nine species of bats, rats and mice. In addition to the above-mentioned ones, almost all the animals inhabiting Peninsular India are also seen here. To mention a few -Tiger, Leopard cat, Jungle cat, Fishing cat, Common palm civet, Stripe necked mongoose, Ruddy mongoose, Small Indian civet, Wild boar, Brown palm civet, Wild dog, Barking deer, Mouse deer,Sloth bear, Otter, Flying squirrel, Malabar giant squirrel, Porcupine, Sambar, Gaur and elephants.
Birds:
There are around 170 species of birds have been identified, of which 31 are migrants. These include rare species like ceylon frogmouth, great indian hornbill, Indian black crested baza, Bonellis hawk eagle, Rofous bellied hawk eagle, Shaheen falcon, Short eared owl, Peninsular scop's owl, Ceylon frog mouth, Nilgiri Wood-pigeon,, Nilgiri laughing thrush, Rofous bellied short wing, Malabar Parakeet, Malabar Grey Hornbill, White-bellied Treepie, Grey-headed Bulbul, Wynaad Laughing Thrush, White-bellied Shortwing.
Reptiles:
Among the 35 species of reptiles identified, Calotes rouxi, Salea horsefielda, Calliophis nigrescens are endemic. The endemic species of frogs found here are Bufo silentvalleyensis, Micrixalus thampii and Ansonia rubigina. Homaloptera pillai is an endemic fish found in the waters of Kunti River. The insects include Gellia kuntiae, Oxylobus silentius, Lanceonotus mukkaliensis, Tricentrus syrandrikae. More than 100 varieties of butterflies and 400 species of moths had been identified. |