Tiger Roare

5 Iconic Animals in Thekkady

Blessed abundantly by nature, Thekkady is rich with flora and fauna. The famous Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady is home to a large number of animals. Developed and well-known as a tiger reserve, Periyar Tiger reserve contains a notable number of elephants.
Apart from tigers and elephants, some of the other animals that can be found are the Gaur, the Sambar, wild pig.
The Periyar Tiger Reserve also contains primates like the Nilgiri Langur, rare lion-tailed macaque, endangered small Travancore flying squirrel, Salim Ali’s fruit bat – the rarest among bats.

It was first recorded to be sighted in the region by the famous Ornithologist, Dr. Salim Ali. This region also contains a variety of bird and butterfly species.
While going for a visit to the Periyar Tiger Reserve, one could keep in mind these few names:

  • Tigers

    • Even though one has to be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of these large cats, they continue to remain the cynosure of all eyes.Though tigers are present within the evergreen forests, their sightings are rare due to thick     vegetation and safety concern, in case of an encounter.

  • Elephants

    • They belong to the family, Elephantidae. Tourists visiting The Periyar Tiger reserve will surely have sighted these large mammals. These gentle giants could be easily spotted roaming around in herds, especially at the lake fringes.

  • Gaur

    • Gaur is also known as the ‘Indian Bison’. It is the tallest species of wild cattle. This strong and massively built species is sure to catch anyone in awe.

  • The Sambar

    • Don’t get startled by the name! This is not the Indian vegetable dish. But, the largest deer found among the deer types in India. Their name is also spelled as ‘sambur’ or ‘sambhur’.

  • Nilgiri Tahr

    • Visitors to the Periyar Tiger Reserve can also spot this highly endangered animal in the high altitude grasslands of Mangaladevi. The Nilgiri Tahr is locally known as Nilgiri Ibex or simply Ibex.

Community based eco – tourism is a major attractive factor of the Periyar tiger Reserve. This programme is conducted by the local people, who take the tourists along for a tour through the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Thus, the people who once earned their living by doing illegal practices in the forests now help in conserving them. As for the tourists, they get to enjoy the tour by watching the vivid wildlife of the Periyar Tiger Reserve and contribute in conserving the forests.