Stock Image No: TDY 038A Languar at Periyar forest range, Thekkady.
They prefer forested areas, obviously, coming to ground only when they feel secure in order to find water, food, forage for treats in the grass and relax with each other. In much of South India they are frequently seen in villages and towns where they can become a pest but are tolerated. Many temples have a colony that live in their courtyards and are treated as part of the family. In the wild, the vast majority of the langurs day is spent looking for food; nuts, seeds, fruits, grasses, leaves, roots, insects are all part of the daily diet. Troops of langurs can number upto 70 individuals and are based on a strong matriarchal system. The oldest female leads the troop; although each troop will have at least one adult male, he is usually more concerned with keeping rival males away from his harem than anything else.
Stock Image No: TDY 036Mist covered mountains, Thekkady.
Thekkady - The very sound of the name conjures up images of elephants, unending chains of hill and spice scented plantations
Stock Image No: TDY 035Periyar lake and mist covered mountains, Thekkady.
The vegetation, the flora and fauna and the birds of Thekkady are uniquely rich, vast and varied that it does not bear semblance to any other wildlife sanctuaries in the world. Even a casual visitor to this place will not fail to observe the special ecological pattern of Thekkady.
Stock Image No: TDY 033Sambar Deers, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thekkady.
In the waters of the protected area 38 different fish types live, of which four are endemic to the Western Ghats. In artificial lake there are two introduced species : the tilapia originally from Africa and the carps introduced from Europe. There is a remarkable variety of butterflies and there are about 160 different kinds in total. Some are dangerous enough to
make a human seriously ill.
Stock Image No: TDY 032Tourists watch wild animals from a boat, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thekkady.
Four species of primates are found at Periyar - the rare lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri Langur, the common langur, and the Bonnet Macaque. So far 320 different kinds have been counted in Periyar. The bird life includes darters, cormorants, kingfishers, the great Malabar hornbill and racket-tailed Drongos. Twenty seven different kinds have been recorded, of which ten are endemic to the Western Ghats.
Stock Image No: TDY 034Sambar Deers, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thekkady.
Thekkady has immense possibilities for Adventure Tourism. The Forest Department offers many programs including Periyar Tiger Trail, Nature walk, Bamboo Rafting etc. There are private organizations as well as government agencies, who
promote adventure tourism in Thekkady. Plantation tourism also is promoted by these agencies, so that the tourists can see and learn the cultivation of various spices of Kerala. Thekkady, is one of India's most fascinating natural wildlife sanctuaries, where you can watch wildlife at close range.
Stock Image No: TDY 031Elephant, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thekkady.
Altogether 62 different kinds of mammal have been recorded in Periyar, including many threatened ones. Though it's titled a tiger reserve, there are hardly any tigers left in the sanctuary. Tourists also come here to view the Indian elephants in the act of ablution and playfulness by the Periyar lake. The elephant number around 900 to 1000 individuals. Other mammals found here include gaur, sambar (horse deer), barking deer, mouse deer, Dholes (Indian wild dogs), mongoose and leopards. Also inhabiting the park, though rarely seen, are the elusive Nilgiri tahr.
Stock Image No: TDY 009Boating at Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Scarcely 13% consists of damp leaves forest, 7% of Eucalyptus plantation and 1.5% of grassland. The remainder of the protected area is covered by the Periyar artificial lake as well as the Periyar River and Pamba rivers.
Stock Image No: TDY 008Boat landing at Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Approximately 75% of the entire protected area are covered of unaffected evergreen or semi-evergreen rain forest. There typically tall tropical tree species such as Vateria indica, Cullenia exarillata, Hopea parviflora, Canarium strictum, Artocarpus hirsutus and Bischofia javanica are seen. They reach heights of 40 to 50 Metres.
Stock Image No: TDY 007Tourists returning after boating at Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.
The temperatures vary depending upon the altitude and it ranges between 15° Celsius in December and January and 31° Celsius in April and May. The annual amount of precipitation lies between 2000 and 3000 mm. About two thirds of the precipitation occurs during the southwest monsoon between June to September. A smaller amount of precipitation occurs during the northeast monsoon between October and December.
Stock Image No: TDY 038
