Fauna
The Upper Palni Shola forest reserve surrounding Berijam lake has a rich faunal population comprising the following.
- Avi Fauna
- Resident birds include Crested Serpent Eagles, Pariah Kites, pale-rumped Swallows and the Edible-nest Swiftlets.
- Migratory birds winter birds include the Common Rosefinch, the Blue Chat, several Leaf-warblers and Blyth's Reed-warbler.
- Mammals
- Threatened mammals including Bison, Nilgiri Langur, Malabar Giant squirrels and Indian Elephants are seen here as well as Indian Crested Porcupines, Wild Boar, Barking Deer, Sambar Deer and Mouse Deer.
In February 2010, Tigers were sighted in Kodaikanal forests during a six-day carnivore survey. A tigress and her cub were spotted playing in the wild. Forest Department officials are studying survey data to estimate the local tiger population based on indirect evidence like pug marks, scats and scratches.
Of the two wildlife corridors proposed for movement of Indian Elephants in the Palani Hills Reserve Forest, the Berijam corridor connects to Top Station in Kerala. It is also being studied if a link corridor through the Kukkal area, could be established to the second corridor from Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park through Amaravathy and Kudhiraiyar to the Palar Dam, then up the valley almost to Ganesh Nagar, below Pethuparai village.
- Fish
In 1886 there were Carp in the lake. In 1914 there was a scheme to introduce Trout into Berijam reservoir.
Read more about this topic: Berijam Lake
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