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What animals live in the forests of Keralam’s Western Ghats?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Map of southern India highlighting the state of Keralam in orange along the southwestern coast, with its capital Thiruvananthapuram labeled. Surrounding countries and major bodies of water, including the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, are also shown for regional context.
Keralam

The forests of the Western Ghats in Keralam are part of a significant biodiversity hot spot and support an extraordinary array of wildlife.12

Mammals

The region is home to a diverse range of mammals, including:
* Large Mammals: Asian elephants, tigers, and leopards.13
* Ungulates: Gaurs (wild cattle), sambar deer, barking deer, nilgai, and the Nilgiri tahr, a rare goatlike animal.13
* Primates: Bonnet monkeys, gray and Nilgiri langurs, and the rare lion-tailed macaque.13
* Others: Sloth bears and porcupines.3

Birds and Reptiles

The area is rich in avian and reptilian life:
* Birds: Peacocks, great Indian hornbills, gray jungle fowl, kingfishers, and southern grackles.13
* Reptiles: King cobras are among the notable species found in these forests.13

Much of this wildlife is protected within the state's national parks and sanctuaries, most notably the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve.13