Peechi - Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary (18252)
India, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Peechi - Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary
Central coordinates: Latitude: 10.6125, Longitude: 76.4070
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 186 to 922
Area of KBA (km2): 177.99477
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary falls in Trichur district in Kerala, the talukas being Trichur and Thalapilly. The Sanctuary was formed in 1958 by combining some portions of Peechi, Pattikkad and Machad ranges of Trichur Forest Division. The Sanctuary includes parts of Paravattanimala Reserve, Machadmala Reserve and Bharanipachamala Reserve. Two dams are present within the Sanctuary with waterspread of 1,295 ha and 184.3 ha, respectively. The terrain is undulating, the altitude varies from 100 to 914 m, with the highest peak Ponmudi. The Sanctuary is contiguous with the Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary (IBA) on the east and the forests of Palakkad on the north. But, the continuity of the Peechi Forest Range with the Vazhani side has been lost due to the Trichur-Palakkad national highway.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas) KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Western Ghats Hotspot (2007). Taxonomy, nomenclature and threat status follow the 2002 IUCN Red List.
Additional biodiversity: AVIFAUNA: In a survey conducted by the Nature Education Society, Trichur in 1991, 177 species of birds were identified from this IBA. Sri Lanka Frogmouth Batrachostomus moniliger, a restricted range species of the Western Ghats Endemic Bird Area (EBA) (Stattersfield et al. 1998), was recorded in a reed patch near Palakuzhi (Easa 1991, Nameer 2000). This nocturnal bird is generally found in dense jungle perched on a tree (Ali and Ripley 1987), looking like a piece of dead branch. Wynaad Laughingthrush Garrulax delesserti and Broad-tailed Grass-Warbler Schoenicola platyura, both endemic to the Western Ghats are also found here. The Broad-tailed Grass-Warbler is normally sighted above 900 m (Easa 1991). The sighting of this species at Palakuzhi, at less than 100 m, is a record. A nest of the Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica (=latirostris) was also recorded near Karadipara (Easa 1991). Although, not many globally threatened species are found in this site, except for the Broad-tailed Grass-Warbler, seven out of 16 restricted range or endemic species of the Western Ghats EBA are found here. More endemics are likely to occur here as the habitat is quite suitable and moreover, this site adjoins Chimmony where at least two endemics, Grey-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus priocephalus and White-bellied Blue Flycatcher Cyornis pallipes, are found that are not reported from this site. The site lies in Biome-10 (Indian Peninsula Tropical Moist Forest), where BirdLife International (undated) has listed 15 species that represent the biome-assemblage. Based on the checklist prepared by the Nature Education Society, seven species of this biome are found here. Probably more will be located once thorough investigation on the bird life is done. Interestingly, this IBA is an important wintering area for many subtropical and temperate birds of the Himalaya such as Largecrowned Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus occipitalis, Rufous-tailed Flycatcher Muscicapa ruficauda, Blue-headed Rock-thrush Monticola cinclorhynchus, Pied Thrush Zoothera wardii and Brown-breasted Flycatcher Muscicapa muttui. Sixteen species of Biome-11 (Indo-Malayan Tropical Dry Zone) are also found here, but most of them are widespread and common. Many species of this biome have adapted to man-modified habitats, and some have changed their distribution so much that they may not be confined to Biome-11 only (BirdLife International, undated). OTHER KEY FAUNA: Among the primates, Bonnet Macaque Macaca radiata, Nilgiri Langur Trachypithecus johni and Slender Loris Loris lydekkerianus are very often observed in the evergreen, semievergreen and moist deciduous areas of the Sanctuary. The Tiger Panthera tigris, Leopard P. pardus and Jungle Cat Felis chaus are among the felines present in the Sanctuary. The Canids are represented by Indian Wild Dog Cuon alpinus and Golden Jackal Canis aureus. The Bovids present are the Gaur Bos gaurus and Nilgiri Tahr Hemitragus hylocrius. The Cervids include Chital Axis axis, Sambar Cervus unicolor and Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak. The Asian Elephant Elephas maximus is also found, though not in good numbers. The Giant Squirrel Ratufa indica is common in dense canopy forests. Peechi-Vazhani is important for many endemic reptiles of the Western Ghats. Bhupathy and Choudhary (1995) have recorded the Travancore Tortoise Indotestudo forstenii. Thomas and Easa (1997) recorded thirty-one species of reptiles from Peechi area. Of these, the Travancore Tortoise, Gliding Lizard Draco dussumieri, Forest Calotes Calotes rouxi, C. elliotti, Dwarf Gecko Cnemaspis waynadensis, and Ristella beddomii are endemic to the Western Ghats.
Habitats
Land use: forestry | nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Grazing; Firewood collection. About 170 ha land is in possession of tribal and other settlers within the Sanctuary. They cultivate paddy, tapioca, areca-nut, banana, rubber and coconut. They also collect Minor Forest Produce (MFP). Cattle grazing is a major problem. Goats are kept by villagers, which are very destructive to the natural regeneration process. In the reservoir, fishing occurs regularly. Fire is common during summer, generally lit by villagers to get new growth. Before the declaration of the Sanctuary, harvesting of timber and bamboo was allowed. These operations have stopped, except for thinning of teak plantations. Peechi Lake and Vazhani Lake attract lots of tourists, mainly for picnics. They can be regulated and imparted conservation knowledge through interpretation centres and publication of good take-away literature. This IBA is also an excellent area for longterm research on endemic flora and fauna of the Western Ghats.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Ali, S. and Ripley, S. D. (1987) Compact Edition of the Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan. Oxford University Press, New Delhi. Bhupathy, S. and Choudhary, B. C. (1995) Status, Distribution and Conservation of the Travancore Tortoise, Indotestudo forsteni in the Western Ghats J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 92: 16-21. BirdLife International (2001) Threatened Birds of Asia: The BirdLife International Red Data Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K. BirdLife International (undated) Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Asia: Project briefing book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K., unpublished. Easa, P. S. (1991) Birds of Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary. A survey report. Nature Education Society, Trichur (NEST), Kerala. Nameer, P. O. (2000) Birds of Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary. A survey report. Nature Education Society, Kerala Forest Department Stattersfield, A. J., Crosby, M. J., Long, A. J. and Wege, D. C. (1998) Endemic Bird Areas of the World: Priorities for Biodiversity Conservation. BirdLife Conservation Series No. 7. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K. Thomas, J. and Easa, P. S. (1997) Reptile Fauna of Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary. Cobra, 29: 14-18.
Contributors: Key contributors: P. S. Easa and P. O. Nameer..