Sighting of the day
It has been a while since we have shared our guest sightings at the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Some guests carry cameras to capture every moment and some just like enjoying the moment. Our reception chalk board gives people the opportunity to share those experiences with others–in this case not in photos but their memories.
Photo credits: Aparna P
The Lion-Tailed Macaque, Macaca silenus, is ranked among the rarest and most threatened primates in the Western Ghats. The population is scattered across small patches of evergreens in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where they spend most of their lives in the upper canopy of tropical moist forests. Continue reading
Periyar Lake
Today we are sharing the sightings of Mr. Vinoy Khakie from his experience inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve. His photos are impressive despite the fact they were taken from a moving boat.
Herd of Sambar Deer
Sightings in the Periyar Tiger Reserve can sometimes be a difficult task owing to the rich flora of its landscape, but with the promise of water from the Periyar lake it is habitual for the animals to come near the lake hence giving an opportunity to spot them while they quench their thirst and rest. Here are a few such sighting on the lake shore. Continue reading
Periyar Tiger Reserve may be famous for its tiger population but it’s also a paradise for elephant lovers. Over 1,300 of the magnificent creatures call the 925 plus sq kms of PTR their home. Also know as “keystone animals”, elephants have a huge impact on the ecosystem they live in. For example when elephants uproot trees with their trunks they create grasslands and savanna and their habit of digging for water during drought causes big water holes that also supports other wildlife in the area. The major threats for elephants have been the illegal ivory trade but due to strict laws the elephants can find themselves safe in the reserve.
Bamboo Rafting
In recent posts we’ve been sharing what guests spot during their excursion on the bamboo rafts. We were delighted that Ms. Helen Worsley was willing to share her experience through these beautiful photographs.
Bamboo rafting is either a half-day or full day program that starts in the early hours of morning. Forest guides in the reserve take guests on a 2-hour hike to where the rafts have been docked. The group consists of a maximum of 10 people excluding the guides who explain about the rich flora and fauna they spot on their hike. The hike itself is breathtaking for its wild beauty and by the time guests reach the raft they’re usually looking forward to what is to come. Continue reading
Sambar Deer
Where better to spot wildlife than on the lake looking to quench their thirst, cool down or save themselves from wild dogs? Here we share the documentation of the Bowden family’s experience visiting the Periyar Tiger Reserve on a boat cruise. The Periyar reservoir expands over 26 square kilometers and is the main resource of water for not only the animals in the reserve but also the state of Tamil Nadu, where it provides daily water for livelihood in 3 of its districts. Continue reading
Nilgiri Langur
Today we have some visitors from the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Since we are bordered with the National park we have many visitors like this. Continue reading
In early summer the forests of the Western Ghats are roaring with the sounds of insects. Crisp dried leaves crackle underfoot, and monkeys howl in the distance. I didn’t really expect to see animals – any intelligent enough to survive would be sleeping in a cool hollow somewhere. Despite the heat, the woods are beautiful, and the scenes unfolding before my eyes as we trek deeper into the reserve grow more and more unusual, with trees’ limbs and roots seeming to grasp and grope. Continue reading
Organikos 