Silent Valley National Park

The bird survey on December 27, 28 and 29 marked the 30th anniversary of the first bird survey in Silent Valley.

A bird survey at the Silent Valley National Park in the last week of December identified 141 species, of which 17 were new.
So far, 175 species of birds have been spotted in Silent Valley.
The survey on December 27, 28 and 29 marked the 30th anniversary of the first bird survey in Silent Valley.
Although the first survey was held in the last week of December 1990, the anniversary could not be celebrated in December 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions.

About
- It is situated on the boundary of the Nilambur Taluk in Kerala’s Malappuram District and the Mannarkkad Taluk in Palakkad District.
- There are some endangered plant and animal species in this national park.
- Botanist Robert Wight visited this region in 1847.
- It is situated in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which has a diverse biodiversity.
- It is close to Anginda peak and Mukurthi peak, the fifth-highest peak in South India.
- The Kunthipuzha River and Bhavani River, tributaries of the Bharathappuzha River, have their origins close to Silent Valley.
- In Silent Valley, the Kadalundi River also has its beginning.
History
- The British termed the area ‘Silent Valley‘ due to the lack of noisy Cicadas.
- A significant river, the Kuntipuzha, travels 15 kilometres southwest of Silent Valley.
- It takes its origin in the lush green forests of Silent Valley.
- The Kunthipuzha River in Sairandhri was chosen as the optimal site for energy production in 1928.
- The British government initially decided to construct a dam across the river, which rises in the forest.
- The Kerala State Electricity Board undertook a study and surveillance of the area in 1958, and a hydroelectric project was suggested.

Numerous endangered bird and animal species can be found in the valley.
Birdlife International recognised 16 species as threatened or restricted in Silent Valley.
The largest of all wild cattle, the gaur, is one of the creatures found in the valley.
In addition, Silent Valley is home to at least 34 mammal species, some of which are endangered.
Here, 400 kinds of moths and more than 128 species of butterflies can be found.
Silent Valley is identified as a region with high biodiversity and an important Gene Pool resource for Recombinant DNA innovations by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, ICAR (India).

Firstly, there are substantial contrasts in climate from the plains to the Ghats, where the hills are drier and colder, and the lowlands are wet and hot.
From April to September, the prevailing winds are from the west and southwest, whereas from October to March, they are from the east.
Additionally, in April and May, there are infrequent thunderstorms.
- Both the southwest and northeast monsoons bring precipitation to this region.
The southwest monsoon, which begins in the first week of June, accounts for most of the precipitation.
Furthermore, the heaviest precipitation occurs in June, July, and August.

Brown wood owls, Banded bay cuckoo, Malabar wood shrike, White-throated kingfisher, Indian nightjar, Jungle nightjar, and Large cuckoo shrike were among the 17 species newly identified in the Silent Valley.

The Western Ghats include one of the world’s most diverse and unknown ecosystems.
In addition, the forests of Silent Valley National Park are among the purest, most distinctive, and most prolific in the world.
In a biogeographical sense, Silent Valley National Park and the surrounding woodlands are ‘Ecological islands’ where circumstances existed before human activity existed.
Here, the species diversity and endemism of evergreen and semi-evergreen communities are exceptional.

Pic Courtesy: The Hindu

Content Source: The Hindu