Site description (2004 baseline):
AVIFAUNA: 219 species of birds reported from Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary (Nameer, 2000 and 2003), including 11 endemic species of Western Ghats and 5 globally threatened species. This site is considered as Data Deficient.
OTHER KEY FAUNA: A small population of less than 100 Asian Elephant Elephas maximus is found in this IBA. They can be seen on the banks of the reservoir along the northwestern borders (Vijaykumaran and Balasubramanyan 1985). Other mammals found in this IBA are Tiger Panthera tigris, Leopard Panthera pardus, Sambar Cervus unicolor, Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak, Slender Loris Loris lydekkerianus, Common Giant Flying Squirrel Petaurista petaurista and Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus. Wild Dog Cuon alpinus also occur in small numbers (Vijaykumaran and Balasubramanyan 1985). Bonnet Macaque Macaca radiata and Nilgiri Langur Trachypithecus johni, are the two primates. Mouse Deer Moschiola meminna and Pangolin Manis crassicaudata are also present, but they are extremely difficult to see due to their nocturnal or cryptic habits. Radhakrishnan (1999) has collected 32 species of reptiles in Idduki district, including this Sanctuary.
The southern side of the Sanctuary is covered with tea estates. Labourers mainly depend upon Vagavanom and Vanmavu area for collection of firewood for their livelihood. Their cattle enter the Sanctuary to graze. However, the damage is temporary and can be controlled easily. Permanent damage to the ecology of this forest was done during 1968-69 when three dams (Idukki, Chemthony and Kulamavu) were constructed. Not only was a vast tropical forest submerged, but also due to displacement and resettlement of hill tribals, a much larger area was affected. Moreover, during the construction of the dams, poaching of wild animals and felling of trees became rampant. Only in recent years has there been some control on poaching. Many dam workers settled in the area, further encroaching on the forestland. This is now a political issue; no one dares to evict these illegal settlers. Due to repeated burning of the grassland, mostly by settlers and tribals, unpalatable fire-hardy species such as Themeda sp. and Cymbopogon sp. now dominate the land (Vijaykumaran and Balasubramanyan 1985). The Sanctuary has been under threat of encroachment, as there are a large number of settlements in and around it. People residing in these areas often enter the Sanctuary for collection of firewood. Idukki district is an industrially backward area and hence unemployment problem is acute. All these factors contribute to incidents of encroachment and illicit tree felling (Ramesan 1999-2000).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary (India). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/idukki-wildlife-sanctuary-iba-india on 23/11/2024.