Silent Valley National Park Trip

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Evergreen Forest

I had the opportunity to vist the Silent Valley National Park situated in the Palakkad district of Kerala. This protected and un-disturbed tropical evergreen forest is the last habitat for a few of India’s engendered species of fauna and flora.

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Silent Valley Peak

I was accompanied by my friend Mr Jitendra Sharma in this trip. We reached Coimbatore in the morning of 14th Feb 2011 and were picked up by a cab arranged and sponsored by prof Sekar Keerthi, Dept of Bio Science, Coimbatore Arts College. We reached Mukkali Forest Office, the gateway to Silent Valley National Park after one and half hour drive. Prof. Sekar had already arranged our stay in the IB at Mukkali, where we dumped our baggage and got ready to explore the beauty of Silent Valley. Here is a brief of my experiences at Silent Valley National Park.

Day one:

On 14th morning we trekked about 14km across the Atpadi buffer zone and clicked a few butterfly shot. We could not see any wild animals except pug marks and dung of elephants. I clicked a few butterflies from areas near forest streams.

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Commander (Moduza procris)

The Commander (Moduza procris) is beautiful butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. The males are territorial. It loves to come and settle down at damp patches as well as flowers. Both sexes are similar tawny in colour with prominent white spots on both wings.

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Common Map (Cyrestis thyodamas)

Common Map (Cyrestis thyodamas)The Common Map (Cyrestis thyodamas) is another beautiful Nyphalid found in the hilly reagions of evergreen forests. Flight is slow and jerky. Comes down to streams and damp patches.

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Gladeye Bushbrown (Mycalesis patnia)

The Gladeye Bushbrown (Mycalesis patnia) is another Nymphalid found in wooded regions with bamboo growths. Weak flier and remains close to ground. Attracted towards tree sap and overripe fruit.
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Blackvein Sergeant (Athyma ranga)

The Blackvein Sergeant (Athyma ranga) is another Nymphalid that prefers evergreen forest. It is a strong flier and prefers forest clearings, paths and stream sides.
Day two:

 

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Entry Gate to Silent Valley National Park

The next day we entered the Silent Valley National park in a chartered Jeep and witnessed the beauty and might of this beautiful piece of land on earth. Apart from butterflies we witnessed the Nilgiri Languor (Trachypithecus johnii) and the Malabar Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica). The 22 km journey was filled with thrill of possible witness to wildlife which was not seen. Several species of birds including Malabar Trogan (Harpactes fasciatus) and Asian Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi).

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Gate to Silent Valley National Park core area

We reached a spot bubbling with butterflies mudpuddling near a mountain stream and clicked many species. The following butterflies were clicked there.

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Sayhadri Rosy Oakblue (Arhopala alea)

Canara Oakblue (Arhopala alea) is an uncommon and endemic butterfly of the Lycaenidae family of butterflies found only in the Western ghats. It was clicked drinking water near the bank of a mountain stream on the way to Silent Valley.
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Club Beak (Libythea myrrha) sub-species carma

Club Beak (Libythea myrrha) is a butterfly of Nymphalidae family found in the hilly regions. Frequently settles on damp patches.
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Clipper (Parthenos sylvia)

Clipper (Parthenos sylvia) is large Nymphalidae butterfly found in heavily wooded regions. Flies gracefully over the canopy.

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Indigo Flash (Rapala varuna)

Indigo Flash (Rapala varuna) is small butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is seen on flowers and damp patches in the wooded regions.

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Transparent six line Blue (Nacaduba kurava)

Transparent 6-line Blue (Nacaduba kurava) is small butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is a strong flier and settles down on dry twigs.  Prefers evergreen forests and loves bird droppings.

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Red Helen (Papilio helenus)

Red Helen (Papilio helenus) is a Swallowtail butterfly found in the forested hilly regions. Visits often to nearby gardens and loves moist patches.

Apart from butterflies I also clicked the two mammals endemic to the Western Ghats and Nilgiries.

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Nilgiri Langaur (\(Trachypithecus johnii)

Nilgiri Langur (Trachypithecus johnii) is a lutung type monkey found in the Nilgiri Hills.

Malabar giant squirrel (Ratufa indica)

Malabar Giant Squirel

Malabar giant squirrel (Ratufa indica) is a large squirrel found in the upper canopy of of forests. he Giant Squirrel is mostly active in the early hours of the morning and in the evening, resting in the midday. It is a shy, wary animal and not easy to discover.


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Thommonkuthu Trip

I came to know about this cute little paradise on earth from one of my friend, Mr Rajesh Nair who is a resident of Thodupuza, Idduki district of Kerala. On his invitation I visited Thodupuza and from there to Thommonkuthu three times. Here is a diary of my visit to that butterfly hot spot.

Thodupuza is located in the Idduki district of Kerala about 50Km from the nearest Railway station Aluva, just before Ernakulam. From Aluva there are in-frequent bus service to Thodupuza. How ever there are frequent buses to a nearby place Muvattupuza from Aluva.

Thommankuthu is a real butterfly hot spot with over 200 species of Butterflies to see. I am posting a few prize catches from this place.

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Paris Peacock (Papilio paris)

Paris Peacock (papilio paris) is large swallow tail butterfly found in India. This strong flier comes close to ground for mud puddling during early afternoon. This species is of course not an uncommon species. Both the sexes are know to mud-puddle. These are often seen along forest streams.

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Shiva Sunbeam (Curetis siva)

The Shiva Sunbeam (Curetis siva) is a fairly large butterfly and uncommon in the Lycaenidae(blues) family. This butterfly is endemic to the Western Ghats of India. The males are know to mud-puddle and are quite territorial. My learned friend Dr Krishnamegh Kunte has however genuinely raised a doubt for the identification of this butterfly to be a Toothed Sunbeam (Curetis dentata) as it is difficult to identify this species only with its UN (close wing) snap.


Large 4-line Blue (Nacaduba pactolus)

The Large 4-line Blue (Nacaduba pactolus) is one of the rare butterflies found in India. This strong flier is seen on damp patches and flowers. This butterfly prefers thick, moist forest.

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Malayan (Megisba malaya)

Malayan (Megisba malaya) is a small butterfly of the Lycaenidae (Blues) family. This butterfly loves evergreen forests. The adults are seen flying low close to ground. Males are seen mudpuddle in damp patches and cow dung.

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Western Centaur Oak blue (Nilasera centaurus)

The Western Centaur Oakblue (Nilasera centaurus) is a Western Ghat  endemic butterfly of the Lycaenidae (blues) family. The adult male butterfly has a brilliant metallic purple colouration of the Upper wing while the female has a brilliant blue upper wing. The adult butterfly has a tail. The males are occasionally seen  mudpuddling near clear streams in wooded regions.

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Large Oakblue (Arhopala amantes)

The Large Oakblue (Arhopala amantes)  is one of the largest among the Lycaenidae (blue) family. It has a characteristic bright metallic blue on the upper side of the wing . This butterfly loves canopy of small trees and occasionally comes down to the bushes. It flies a great deal in the day and rests on leaves exposed to the sun.

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Redspot (Zesius chrysomallus)

The Redspot (Zesius chrysomallus) is an un-common butterfly that I clicked at Thommankuthu.

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Fluffy Tit (Zeltus etolus)

Fluffy Tit (Zeltus etolus) is another beautiful Lycaenidae (blue) butterfly found in India.

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