Why in news? An invertebrate survey undertaken in the Thiruvananthapuram Wildlife Division has reaffirmed the relevance of the region as a biodiversity hotspot.

Highlights

• Survey of the invertebrates of Neyyar and Peppara wildlife sanctuaries and the Agasthyavanam Biological Park with emphasis on arachnids
• Jointly conducted by the Forest Department and the Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS)
• Many interesting species, including tarantulas like Haploclastus and Poecilotheria species, were among those that were documented.
• The butterfly diversity of the Thiruvananthapuram wildlife division was updated with species such as Common onyx and Palni fritillary which were hitherto unseen in the Agasthyamala region.
• The survey recorded endemic species such as Euphaea cardinalis and Euphaea fraseri to western ghats

Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala, India
• Part of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve.
• River : Neyyar River and its tributaries – Mullayar and Kallar.

Flora and fauna:

• Tiger, leopard, sloth bear, elephant, sambar, barking deer, bonnet macaque, Nilgiri langur and Nilgiri tahr.
• The Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre was inaugurated at Sanctuary
• Neyyar Elephant Rehabilitation Centre complex within the area cares for several elephants
• There is also a deer rehabilitation

Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, India
• River : Karamana River, which originates from Chemmunjimottai, the tallest hill within the sanctuary.
• Sanctuary is named after the Peppara Dam, to augment the drinking water for Thiruvananthapuram city and suburban areas.
• Vegetation : Tropical moist evergreen forests and myristica swamps.
• Part of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve.
• Common tree species are Terminalia paniculata(tree native to southwest India)