PEECHI-VAZHANI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

 

PEECHI-VAZHANI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

GENERAL INFORMATION

Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary lies within the geographical extremes of  latitudes 10⁰ 26'N and 10⁰ 40'N and longitudes 76⁰ 15'E and 76⁰ 28'E in
Thrissur District, Kerala State, in the Taluks of Thrissur and Thalappilly and in
the administrative Jurisdiction of Northern Wildlife Circle, Palakkad. It was formed by combining portions of Peechi, Pattikkad and Machad Ranges of
Thrissur Forest Division vide GO (M.S)No.871 dated 06,08.1958. The Sanctuary comprises of parts of Paravattani, Machadmala and Bharani Pachamala Reserves. The total area of the Sanctuary is 125 Sq km. The sanctuary area is the catchment of Peechi and Vazhani Reservoirs. Drinking water to Thrissur town is provided from Peechi Reservoir and water for irrigation purposes are provided from both Peechi and Vazhani Reservoirs

HISTORY

Till the dawn of 19th century the Forests of this sanctuary were under the
possession and control of Feudal Chiefs called the Naduvazhi who owned allegiances to the Raja of Cochin. The forests came into the possession of  
erstwhile Cochin State between the years 1760 and 1780. Consequent to the integration of Travancore and Cochin states in June 1949, the whole of the Forests
Headquarters at Thrissur and Chalakudy, respectively. Government vide G.O.
(MS) 1011/62/ Agri. dated 05.09.62 ordered the formation of a few new Ranges
by reorganizing some of the old Ranges. Accordingly, the old Pattikkad Range of
Thrissur Division was bifurcated as two Ranges, viz. Pattikkad and Peechi. This
order of Government was seen implemented with effect from 01.04.1963, thus Peechi Range took its present shape with Headquarters at Peechi.
Until 1996 the sanctuary was under the administrative control of Thrissur Forest Division. As per G. O. (MS) 25 / 1996 F & WLD dated 14.03.1996, a new
Division was formed as Peechi Wildlife Division and the administrative
jurisdiction of the Sanctuary was transferred to the new Division

Physical features such as

a) Location

Peechi Vazhani Sanctuary is about 20 km. East of Thrissur town, the cultural capital of Kerala. The Nearest Airport at Nedumbassery is 65 km away.
National Highway 47 passes through the sanctuary at Kuthiran dividing
it into two portions viz. South and North.

b) Year of establishment

 

Year of establishment                         1958
G.O.(M.S)No.871 dated 6.8.1958

c) Area

125 Sq km

d) Temperature

The Peechi Vazhani Sanctuary enjoys salubrious weather with cooler months during November to January and hotter days between February to October. The hilltops torelatively cooler when compared to plains owing to altitudinal effects. Mean maximum temperature recorded is 39.4°C with a Mean minimum temperature on 18.9 "C.

e) Major peaks with altitude

Ponmudi               -914 M

Munippara            -515 M

Vengappara           -555M


MAJOR FOREST TYPES

The major forest type in the Sanctuary is:

moist deciduous forest, Evergreen forests, Semi-evergreen forests are also present.

Evergreen forests: These forests are found in higher slopes of the sanctuary and
in patches at some places amidst moist deciduous forests. The dominant species found are Palaquium ellipticum, Cullenia exarillata, Mesua ferrea. Canarium
strictum, with Canes and reeds.

Semi-evergreen forests. This type of forest is an intermediate form between
evergreen forests and moist deciduous forests mainly restricted to valley and
moist pockets in the sanctuary area. The dominant species
are Artocarpushirsutus Toona ciliata, Hopea parviflora, Mangifera indica and Vitex altissima.

Moist deciduous forests: 70% of sanctuary area is covered with moist
deciduous forests. The main species are Xylia xylocarpa, Alstonia scholaris.
Lagerstroemia microcarpa, Dalbergia latifolia. Bridelia retusa, Dillenia
pentagyna, Wrightia Tinctoria with an under story of bamboos ete.

FLORA

A total of 1000 species of angiosperms were recorded from the area out of which
50 species are orchids. A wide variety of medicinal plants are also reported.

FAUNA

a). Mammals

The Sanctuary harbors most of the major species found in Indian Peninsular region like Elephant, Gaur, Sambar, Spotted deer. Barking deer, Mouse deer, Sloth bear. Tiger, Leopard, Bonnet macaque, Nilgiri Langur. Small
Indian civet. Common palm civet, Malabar giant squirrel. Porcupine, wild boar,
Wild dog. Indian pangolin. Indian Hare,

b) Birds

The Sanctuary has 176 species of Birds belonging to 42 Families. Nine species of birds endemic to Western Ghats such as Blue winged Parakeet. Malabar Grey
Hornbill, Grey-headed Bulbul. Wayanad Laughingthrush, Indian Rufous Babbler, Nilgiri Flycatcher. White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, Small Sunbird and White
bellied Treepie are also present Some of the other species are Indian shag, Little cormorant, Black winged kite. Legge's baza. Crested honey buzzard, Brahminy kite. Ceylon shikra, Crested poshawk, Crested hawk eagle Booted hawk eagle Black cagle, Lesser serpent cagle, Osprey, Travancore red spurfowl, Grey jungle fowl. White breasted water hen Red wattled lapwing. Little ringed plover. Indian spotted dove, emerald dove ete.

Reptiles

31 species of reptiles were recorded and of this 6 species are endemic to
western Ghats. Some of them are Cochin Black turtle, Travancore tortoise six
species of geckos, six species of agamidae including south Indian flying lizard
and Dwarf rock lizard, five species of skinks, Chameleon, monitor lizard, Python.
Vipers, Cobra and King cobra

Other residents

17 species of amphibians, 40 species of fishes various species of butterflies are also present in the sanctuary.

TRIBALS AND TRIBAL SETTLEMENTS

The tribal inhabitants of the Sanctuary are of Malayan Community. Tribal
population is totally dependent on forests for the collection of NWFP and
firewood. The main tribal settlements are Olakara (42 families), Maniyankina (58
families), Kakkinikkad (10 families) and Karadikundu (5 families). Various
ecodevelopment activities are being undertaken in the tribal settlements
through Tribal eco development committees