Periyar National Park

🇮🇳 India

🐘 Elephants at the Periyar Lakeshore

🌍 #65 Global · 4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #6 in Asia #28 in Tropical Forest

Indian Subcontinent, India 829 spp. recorded

Periyar National Park is a tropical rainforest in the Western Ghats of Kerala, India, cradling rolling hills, evergreen canopy, and the Periyar River. Its mist‑clad valleys and teak‑lined slopes set it apart from neighboring dry‑deciduous reserves.

9.517° N 77.158° E

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

Asian Elephant

Elephas maximus

60–70% · Likely

Tiger

Panthera tigris

Insufficient data

Lion-tailed Macaque

Macaca silenus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

White-cheeked Barbet

Psilopogon viridis

70–80% · Very likely

Southern Hill Myna

Gracula indica

70–80% · Very likely

Malabar Parakeet

Psittacula columboides

70–80% · Very likely

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus paradiseus

70–80% · Very likely

Black Leaf Monkey

Semnopithecus johnii

70–80% · Very likely

Bos frontalis

Bos frontalis

60–70% · Likely

Indian Giant Squirrel

Ratufa indica

60–70% · Likely

White-bellied Treepie

Dendrocitta leucogastra

60–70% · Likely

Grey Junglefowl

Gallus sonneratii

60–70% · Likely

Malabar Whistling-Thrush

Myophonus horsfieldii

60–70% · Likely

Malabar Grey Hornbill

Ocyceros griseus

60–70% · Likely

Red-whiskered Bulbul

Pycnonotus jocosus

60–70% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Asian Elephant

Elephas maximus

60–70% · Likely

Tiger

Panthera tigris

Insufficient data

Lion-tailed Macaque

Macaca silenus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Black Leaf Monkey

Semnopithecus johnii

70–80% · Very likely

Bos frontalis

Bos frontalis

60–70% · Likely

Indian Giant Squirrel

Ratufa indica

60–70% · Likely

Sambar

Rusa unicolor

60–70% · Likely

Bonnet Macaque

Macaca radiata

50–60% · Likely

Indian Crested Porcupine

Hystrix indica

40–50% · Likely

Stripe-necked Mongoose

Herpestes vitticollis

Insufficient data

Indian Chevrotain

Moschiola indica

Insufficient data

Muntiacus muntjak

Muntiacus muntjak

Insufficient data

Jungle Palm Squirrel

Funambulus tristriatus

Insufficient data

Dhole

Cuon alpinus

Insufficient data

Sloth Bear

Melursus ursinus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

White-cheeked Barbet

Psilopogon viridis

70–80% · Very likely

Southern Hill Myna

Gracula indica

70–80% · Very likely

Malabar Parakeet

Psittacula columboides

70–80% · Very likely

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus paradiseus

70–80% · Very likely

White-bellied Treepie

Dendrocitta leucogastra

60–70% · Likely

Grey Junglefowl

Gallus sonneratii

60–70% · Likely

Malabar Whistling-Thrush

Myophonus horsfieldii

60–70% · Likely

Malabar Grey Hornbill

Ocyceros griseus

60–70% · Likely

Red-whiskered Bulbul

Pycnonotus jocosus

60–70% · Likely

White-throated Kingfisher

Halcyon smyrnensis

60–70% · Likely

Orange Minivet

Pericrocotus flammeus

60–70% · Likely

Malabar Barbet

Psilopogon malabaricus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Bengal Monitor

Varanus bengalensis

40–50% · Likely

Large Scaled Forest Lizard

Calotes grandisquamis

30–40% · Possible

Keeled Indian Mabuya

Eutropis carinata

30–40% · Possible

Indian Black Turtle

Melanochelys trijuga

30–40% · Possible

Anamala Pit Viper

Craspedocephalus anamallensis

30–40% · Possible

Wall's Vine Snake

Ahaetulla isabellina

Insufficient data

Western Ghats Flying Lizard

Draco dussumieri

Insufficient data

Mutilating Gecko

Gehyra mutilata

Insufficient data

Dhaman

Ptyas mucosa

Insufficient data

Common Green Forest Lizard

Calotes calotes

Insufficient data

Oriental Garden Lizard

Calotes versicolor

Insufficient data

Anaimalai Dravid Gecko

Dravidogecko anamallensis

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Bicolored Frog

Clinotarsus curtipes

40–50% · Likely

Kerala Warty Frog

Minervarya keralensis

40–50% · Likely

🐸 No photo available

Raorchestes keirasabinae

30–40% · Possible

Variable Bush Frog

Raorchestes akroparallagi

Insufficient data

Waynad bush frog

Pseudophilautus wynaadensis

Insufficient data

Beautiful Dancing Frog

Micrixalus adonis

Insufficient data

Pleasent bush frog

Raorchestes blandus

Insufficient data

Polypedates occidentalis

Polypedates occidentalis

Insufficient data

Castle Rock night frog

Nyctibatrachus petraeus

Insufficient data

Ponmudi Bush Frog

Raorchestes ponmudi

Insufficient data

Jerdon's Narrow-mouthed Frog

Uperodon montanus

Insufficient data

Malabar Tree Toad

Pedostibes tuberculosus

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Lion-tailed Macaque Troop Foraging

JanAprNovDec

Troops of Lion-tailed Macaques descend to lower canopy layers to feed on figs and other fruits, making them more visible to observers in the forest understory.

Lion-tailed Macaque

Macaca silenus

Insufficient data

🦌

Boat Safari & Elephant Gatherings

JanFebAprDec

Elephants congregate along Periyar Lake shores to drink, bathe, and socialize, offering unparalleled viewing during boat safaris.

Asian Elephant

Elephas maximus

60–70% · Likely

🐸

Monsoon Mating Chorus

MayJunJulAug

Amphibians like the Bicolored Frog and Kerala Warty Frog gather in temporary rainwater pools to breed, creating a deafening nocturnal chorus.

Kerala Warty Frog

Minervarya keralensis

40–50% · Likely

Bicolored Frog

Clinotarsus curtipes

40–50% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

70–80

60–70

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

80–90

70–80

30–40

70–80

60–70

40–50

30–40

40–50

70–80

40–50

30–40

60–70

40–50

20–30

0–10

0–10

30–40

20–30

0–10

0–10

0–10

0–10

20–30

20–30

Lion-tailed Macaque

30–40

0–10

10–20

40–50

10–20

10–20

10–20

20–30

10–20

0–10

40–50

30–40

White-cheeked Barbet

80–90

90–100

70–80

70–80

80–90

80–90

50–60

60–70

70–80

50–60

70–80

50–60

Southern Hill Myna

80–90

80–90

80–90

60–70

80–90

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

50–60

Malabar Parakeet

80–90

70–80

60–70

60–70

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

80–90

50–60

70–80

50–60

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo

70–80

80–90

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

50–60

60–70

70–80

70–80

80–90

60–70

Black Leaf Monkey

80–90

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

40–50

60–70

50–60

50–60

70–80

50–60

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

80–90

60–70

40–50

50–60

70–80

40–50

20–30

50–60

80–90

Indian Giant Squirrel

80–90

40–50

70–80

50–60

60–70

40–50

50–60

50–60

70–80

70–80

60–70

50–60

White-bellied Treepie

80–90

70–80

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

Grey Junglefowl

70–80

80–90

40–50

50–60

70–80

50–60

60–70

50–60

60–70

60–70

40–50

50–60

Malabar Whistling-Thrush

70–80

60–70

40–50

40–50

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

30–40

Malabar Grey Hornbill

70–80

70–80

30–40

60–70

70–80

70–80

50–60

70–80

70–80

40–50

50–60

40–50

Red-whiskered Bulbul

70–80

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

50–60

30–40

Animal Events

🦌 Lion-tailed Macaque Troop Foraging

🐸 Monsoon Mating Chorus

🦌 Boat Safari & Elephant Gatherings

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent

🐘 Elephants at the Periyar Lakeshore

🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

508

🐒 Mammals

116

🦎 Reptiles

148

🐸 Amphibians

57

829 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

72 Threatened 4 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

71%

📊

Coverage (194 species at ≥5% of 829 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

23%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (9 bird, 3 mammal)

47% Global avg

50%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

137

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

14 Global avg

20

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

34

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