| Ranni Forest Division | |
| Native Name: | Malayalam: റാന്നി വനം ഡിവിഷൻ |
| Native Lang: | ml |
| Coords: | 9.3747°N 76.7786°W |
| Region: | Kerala |
| Country: | India |
| Authority: | Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department |
| Website: | https://forest.kerala.gov.in/ |
The Ranni Forest Division in Kerala, India, was constituted on 7 July 1958, comprising the Ranni, Vadasserikkara and Goodrical ranges, with its headquarters at Ranni.[1] It covers the parts of Konni reserve forest and the reserves of Ranni, Goodrical, Rajampara, Karimkulam, Kumaramperoor, Valiyakavu, and Schettakkal. It covers an area of .[2]
Reserve forests covering and vested forests covering 1.5km2 are the major types of forests in this division. The Ranni Forest Division, with its natural beauty and richness in flora and fauna, is a storehouse of many varieties of plants and animals.[3] The forests in the Ranni range can be classified into the following categories.
The Goodrical forest range is situated in the eastern side of Pathanamthitta district, with an area of . Comparatively, human interference is less in these forests than in others in India. But at times of the Sabarimala pilgrimage, these forests ranges are crowded with devotees. Evergreen and semi-evergreen types of forests are here. There are three forest stations under this range:[4]
The Vadasserikkara range lies to the eastern part of Ranni, with its headquarters at Vadasserikkara. This range covers an area of almost of the Ranni Forest Division. Kakkattar and Kallar, tributaries of the Pamba River, flow through this range. Small-scale agriculture is done in the populated regions of the Vadasserikkara range, especially on the gentle slopes. The natural forests of this range are classified into west coast tropical evergreen forests, west coast semi-evergreen forests, southern moist mixed deciduous forests, and grasslands. There are three forest stations under Vadasserikkara:
The Ranni range covers an area of 136.2km2, and its headquarters is at Ranni. Evergreen, semi-evergreen, and deciduous types of forests can be seen here. The three forest stations under this range are:
See main article: article and Wildlife of Kerala. Many unique plants and herbs can be seen in these forest ranges. Medical plants such as Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Solanum anguivi, Desmodium gangeticum, Cissus quadrangularis, Pseudarthria viscida, Strobilanthes ciliatus, and Dysoxylum malabaricum (Vella akil) grow in the deeper parts of the forest. The eco-system of the forests here is suitable for the growth of these plants. A complete list of plants seen in Ranni division is given below.
| +List of flora in Ranni division | ||
| Abutilon persicum | Angiopteris evecta | |
| Canthium dicoccum | Caesalpinia bonduc | |
| Acacia intsia | Crotalaria ferruginea | |
| Carex baccans | Antidesma menasu | |
| Acalypha malabarica | Caesalpinia mimosoides | |
| Argyreia hirsuta | Crotalaria heyneana | |
| Bauhinia phoenicea | Aphanamixis polystachya | |
| Ageratum conyzoides | Calamus hookerianus | |
| Begonia malabarica | Crotalaria pallida | |
| Carissa carandas | Crotalaria walkeri | |
| Achyranthes aspera | Calanthe masuca | |
| Aristolochia tagala | Galinsoga parviflora | |
| Acrotrema arnottiana | Croton caudatus | |
| Argyreia elliptica | Crotalaria umbellata | |
| Casearia esculenta | Garuga pinnata | |
| Ardisia pauciflora | Croton malabaricus | |
| Ardisia pauciflora | Diploclisia glaucescens | |
| Careya arborea | Gleichenia linearis | |
| Acalypha paniculata | Croton reticulatus | |
| Asparagus racemosus | Diplocyclos palmatus | |
| Cassia hirsuta | Glochidion ellipticum | |
| Actephila excelsa | Cryptolepis buchananii | |
| Asystasia Falwell | Dipterocarpus bourdillonii | |
| Cassia mimosoides | Glycine javanica | |
| Actinodaphne tadulingamii | Cucumis sativus | |
| Atylosia lineata | Dracaena terniflora | |
| Cayratia japonica | Glycosmis mauritiana | |
| Adenia hondala | Cyanotis aristata | |
| Baccaurea courtallensis | Drymaria cordata | |
| Cayratia pedata | Gomphandra tetrandra | |
| Adenostemma lavenia | Cyanotis pilosa | |
| Barleria involucrata | Dumasia villosa | |
| Centrosema pubescens | Gordonia obtusa | |
| Aeginetia pedunculata | Cycas circilanis | |
| Barringtonia acutangula | Ehretia canarensis | |
| Ceropagia candelabrum | Gouania microcarpa | |
| Aeschynanthus perrottetii | Cyclea peltata | |
| Chassalia ophioxyloides | Elaeocarpus munroi | |
| Chloranthus brachystachya | Grewia orbiculata | |
| Agrostistachys borneensis | Cyperus diffusus | |
| Belosynapsis vivipara | Elaeocarpus tuberculatus | |
| Chrysopogon fulvus | Grewia umbellifera | |
| Alstonia scholaris | Cyperus distans | |
| Bentinckia condepanna | Eratostema lineolatum | |
| Cissus quadrangularis | Gynura aurantiaca | |
| Amaranthus viridis | Cyperus iria | |
| Bidens biternata | Eleusine indica | |
| Citrus medica | Gynura nitida | |
| Amomum cannicarpum | Cyrtococcum oxyphyllum | |
| Biophytum sensitivum | Embelia ribes | |
| Clerodendrum viscosum | Habenaria crinifea | |
| Anaphalis lawii | Debregeasia longifolia | |
| Bischofia javanica | Emilia sonchifolia | |
| Clidemia hirta | Hedyotis membranacea | |
| Anaphalis subdecurrens | Dendrobium herbaceum | |
| Blumea lanceolaria | Eragrostis unioloides | |
| Coleus malabaricus | Helicteres isora | |
| Anaphalis travancorica | Dendrobium ovatum | |
| Blumea membranacea | Eranthemum capense | |
| Combretum ovalifolium | Hibiscus furcatus | |
| Anaphyllum wightii | Desmodium laxum | |
| Blumea virens | Ervatamia divaricata | |
| Commelina clavata | Holigarna nigra | |
| Andrographis paniculata | Desmodium triflorum | |
| Boehmeria glomerulifera | Erythrina stricta | |
| Commelina obliqua | Hoya wightii | |
| Andrographis wightiana | Desmodium triquetrum | |
| Bolbitis sp.(Hybrid) | Erythropalum populifolium | |
| Commelina suffruticosa | Humboldtia vahliana | |
| Aneilema montanum | Dianella ensifolia | |
| Breynia retusa | Euonymus indicus | |
| Connarus macrocarpus | Hydnocarpus laurifolia | |
| Aneilema ovalifolium | Dichapetalum gelonioides | |
| Breynia vitis-idaea | Eurya Japonica | |
| Conyza bonariensis | Hydrocotyle javanica | |
| Aneilema scaberrimum | Dicraea stylosa | |
| Bridelia scandens | Dillenia pentagyna | |
| Costus speciosus | Dillenia suffruticosa |
See main article: article and List of fishes of India.
See main article: article and List of amphibians of India. The natural streams and rivers in these ranges are the repository of varied fish species and amphibians. Almost 51species of fishes and 43species of amphibians were reported from the various streams and water bodies in the forest divisions of Ranni. They are the following.
| Fishes | Amphibians | |
| Parambasis thomassi | Ichtyophis tricolor | |
| Hypselobarbus curmuca | Uraeotyphlus narayani | |
| Pseudoambassis ranga | Uraeotyphlus menoni | |
| Hypselobarbus kurali | Uraeotyphlus oommeni | |
| Nandus nandus | Gegeneophis ramaswamii | |
| Labeo rohita | Sphaerotheca breviceps | |
| Pristolepis marginata | Sphaerotheca rolandae | |
| Garra mullya | Euphylyctis cf. mudigere | |
| Etroplus maculatus | Euphlyctis cf. aloysii | |
| Travancoria jonesi | Hoplobatrachus crassus | |
| Etroplus suratensis | Hoplobatrachus tigerinus | |
| Noemacheilus denisoni | Indirana semipalmata | |
| Oreochromis mossambica | Indirana brachytarsus | |
| Noemacheilus guentheri | Fejervarya keralensis | |
| Glossogobius giuris giuris | Micrixalus mallani | |
| Noemacheilus triangularis | Nyctibatrachus gavi | |
| Awaous gutum | Clinotarsus curtipes | |
| Lepidocephalus thermalis | Indosylvirana sreeni | |
| Sicyopterus griseus | Indosylvirana aurantiaca | |
| Lepidocephaluslimbatus | Indosylvirana cf. magna | |
| Anabas testudineus | Hydrophylax malabaricus | |
| Hyporhamphus limbatus | Raorchestes travancoricus | |
| Macropodus cupanus | Raorchestes beddomei | |
| Xenentodon cancila | Raorchestes ponmudi | |
| Channa marulius | Raorchestes manohari | |
| Aplocheilus lineatus | Pseudophilautus wynaadensis | |
| Channa orientalis | Polypedates pseudocruciger | |
| Heteropnuestes fossilis | Polypedates maculatus | |
| Channa striatus | Rhacophorus malabaricus | |
| Clarias dusuuumieri | Ghatixalus magnus | |
| Mastacembelus armatus | Duttaphrynus beddomei | |
| Danio malabaricus | Duttaphrynus scaber | |
| Tetraodon travancoricus | Duttaphrynus melanostictus | |
| Pristolepis malabarica | Duttaphrynus microtympanum | |
| Megalops cyprinoides | Duttaphrynus parietalis | |
| Parambassis thomassi | Uperodon taprobanicus | |
| Anguilla bengalensis | Uperodon variegatus | |
| Haplocheius lineatus | Uperodon montanus | |
| Anguilla bicolar | Uperodon triangularis | |
| Mystus montanus | Uperodon systoma | |
| Tor khudree | Microhyla cf. laterite |
Kerala's forests are the storehouse of many species of reptiles and mammals. Reptiles of 59species and mammals of 34species were reported from the forests of Ranni. The rain forests here are the habitat of the venomous King cobra. Many King cobras were caught by Vava Suresh, the snake expert and wildlife conservationist for the Angamoozhy, Chittar, and Moozhiyar regions in the Goodrical range. The mammals are also rich in number, with countless species in these forests.
| Reptiles | Birds | |
| Melanochelys trijuga | Little cormorant | |
| Indotestudo travancorica | Darter | |
| Lissemys punctata punctata | Grey heron | |
| Rhinophis travancoricus | Pond heron | |
| Uropeltis ceylanicus | Cattle egret | |
| Python molurus | Little egret | |
| Cnemaspis gracilis | Night heron | |
| Cnemaspis ornatus | Chestnut bittern | |
| Cnemaspis beddomei | Pariah kite | |
| Lycodon tranancoricus | Brahminy kite | |
| Cnemaspis kandiana | Indian shikra | |
| Lycodon aulicus | Osprey | |
| Cyrtodactylus collegalensis | Jungle bush quali | |
| Oilgodon taeniolatus | Red spurfowl | |
| Hemidactylus brooki | Grey jungle fowl | |
| Oilogodon travancoricus | Redwattled lapwing | |
| Hemidactylus frenatus | Blue rock pigeon | |
| Amphiesma stolata | Indian spotted dove | |
| Hemidactylus leschenaulti | Indian emerald dove | |
| Amphiesma beddomei | Roseringed parakeet | |
| Hemidactylus maculatus | Indian lorikeet | |
| Amphiesma monticola | Common hawk cuckoo | |
| Calotes calotes | Common Indian nightjar | |
| Xenochrophis piscator | Indian koel | |
| Calotes elliotti | Coucal/crow pheasant | |
| Elaphe helena | Indian barn owl | |
| Calotes rouxi | Grey headed bublbul | |
| Ptyas mucosus | Ruby throated bublbul | |
| Calotes versicolor | Indian alpine swift | |
| Dendrelaphis ttristis | Indian house swift | |
| Draco dussumieri | Malabar trogon | |
| Ahaetulla nasuta | Pied kingfisher | |
| Psammophilus blanfordanus | Chestnuttheaded bee-eater | |
| Boiga trigonata | Rufoustailed flycatcher | |
| Chamaeleo zeylanicus | Redbreasted flycatcher | |
| Bungarus caeruleus | Malabar greyhornbill | |
| Mabuya macularius | Small green barbet | |
| Naja naja | Crimsonthroated barbet | |
| Mabuya carinata | Indian pitta | |
| Ophiophagus hannah | Malabar crested lark | |
| Scincella laterimaculatum | Indian golden oriole | |
| Vipera russellii | Blackheaded oriole | |
| Riopa punctata | Black drongo | |
| Echis carinatus | Jungle myna | |
| Ristella beddomii | Hill myna | |
| Hypnale hypnale | Indian tree pie | |
| Ristella guentheri | Southeastern tree pie | |
| Trimeresurus malabaricus | Paddyfield warbler | |
| Ophisops leschenaulti | Jungle crow | |
| Bungarus faciatus | Malabar woodshrike | |
| Varanus bengalensis | Orange minivet | |
| Ptyas mucosus | Goldfronted chloropsis | |
| Ramphotyphlops braminus | Fairy bluebird | |
| Typhlina bramina | Redwhiskered bulbul | |
| Typhlops acutus | Whitethroated ground thrush | |
| Geochelone travancorica | Redvented bulbul | |
| Teretrurus sanguineus | Kerala rock pipit | |
| Lissemys punctata punctata | Tailorbird | |
| Blue headed yellow wagtail | Uropeltis ocellatus |
There are abundant species of birds in these forests, including some that face extinction. There are 196 known species of birds reported from the Ranni division.
| Little cormorant (Phalocrocorax Niger) | Greyfronted green pigeon (Trenon pampadora affinis) | Darter (Anhinga rufa) | Imperial green pigeon (Ducula aenea) | Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) | Nilgiri wood pigeon (Columba elphinstonii) | Pond heron (Ardeola grayii) | Large Indian parakeet (Pisttacula eupatria) | Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) | Blossom headed parakeet (Pisttacula cyanocephala) | Little egret (Egretta garsetta) | The cuckoo (Cucclus canorus) | Night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) | Indian banded bay cuckoo (Cacomantis sonneratii) | Chestnut bittern (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus | Indian plaintive cuckoo (Cacomantis passerinus) | Pariah kite (Milvus migrans) | Drongo cuckoo (Surniculus lugubris) | Brahminy kite (Haliastur indus) | Lesser coucal (Centropus toulou) | Indian shikra (Accipiter badius) | Grass owl (Tyto capensis) | Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | Bay owl (Phodilus badius. ripleyi | Jungle bush quali (Perdicula asiatica) | Great horned owl (Bubo bubo bengalensis) | Red spurfowl (Galloperdix spadicea) | Forest eagle owl (Bubo bubo nipalensis) |
| Grey jungle fowl (Gallus sonneratii) | Brown fish owl (Bubo bubo zeylonensis | Redwattled lapwing (Vanellus indicus) | Short eared owl (Asio flammeus) | Blue rock pigeon (Columba livia) | Ceylon Frogmouth (Batrachostomus monlinger) | Indian spotted dove (Streptopelia chinensis) | Great eared nightjar (Eurostopodus macrotis bourdilloni) | Indian emerald dove (Chalcophaps indica) | Bluewinged parnakeet (Psittacula columbodies) | Roseringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri) | Indian jungle nightjar (Caprimulgus asiaticus) | | Indian cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus) | Common hawk cuckoo (Cuculus varius) | Longtailed nightjar (Caprimulgus macrurus) | Common Indian nightjar (Caprimulgus asiaticus) | Whiterumped spinetail swift (Chaetura sylvatica) | Indian koel (Eudynamys scolopacea) | Scops owl (Otus scops) | Coucal/Crow pheasant (Centropus sinensis) | Malabar barred jungle owlet (Glaucidium radiatum subsp) | Indian barn owl (Tyto alba) | Spotted owlet (Athene brama) | Grey headed bublbul (Pyconotus pricoephalus) | Yellow browed bulbul (Hypsipetes indicus) | Ruby throated bublbul (Pyconotus melanicterus) | Black head babbler (Rhopocichla atriceps) | |
| Indian alpine swift (Apus melba) | Quaker babbler (Alcippe poioicephala) | Indian house swift (Apus affinis) | Brown flycatcher (Muscicapa latrirostris) | Malabar trogon (Harpactes fasciatus subsp) | Brown breasted flycatcher (Muscicapa muttui) | Pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) | Indian roller (Coracias benghalensis) | Chestnutheaded bee-eater (Merops Leschenaulti) | White bellied blue flycatcher (Muscicapa pallipes) | Rufoustailed flycatcher (Muscicapa ruficauda) | Blue throated flycatcher (Muscicapa rubeculoides) | Redbreasted flycatcher (Muscicapa parva) | Tickell's blue flycatche (Muscicapa tickelliae) | Malabar greyhornbill (Tockus griseus) | Verditer flycatcher (Muscicapa thalassina) | Small green barbet (Megalaima viridis) | Nilgiri flycatcher (Muscicapa albicaudata) | Crimsonthroated barbet (Megalaima rubricapilla) | White browed fantail flycatcher (Rhipidura aureola) | Indian pitta (Pitta brachyura) | Paradise flycatcher (Trepsiphone paradisi) | Malabar crested lark (Galerida malabarica) | Black naped flycatcher. (Hypothymis azurea) | Indian golden oriole (Oriolus oriolus) | Streaked fantail warbler (Listicola juncidis salimalii) | Blackheaded oriole (Oriolus xanthornus) | Franklin's wren Warbler (Primia hodgsoni) |
| Jungle myna (Acridotheres fuscus) | Thickbilled warbler (Acrocephalus aedon) | Hill myna (Gracula religiosa) | Indian great reed warbler (Acrocephalus aedon) | Indian tree pie (Dendrocitta vagabunda) | House crow (Corvus splendens) | Southeastern tree pie (Dendrocitta vagabunda subsp) | Tytler's leaf warbler (Phylloscopus tytleri) | Paddyfield warbler (Acrocephalus agricola) | Largebilled leaf warbler (Phylloscopus magnirostris) | Jungle crow (Corvus macrohynohos) | Blue chat (Erithacus svecicus) | Malabar woodshirke (Tephrodornis gularis) | Shama (Copsychus saularis) | Orange minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus) | Indian robin (Saxicoloides caprata) | Goldfronted chloropsis (Chloropsis auriforns) | Pied ground thrush (Zoothera wardii) | Fairy bluebird (Irena puella) | Orange headed ground thrush (Zoothera citrina) | Redwhiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) | Whiteheaded babbler (Turdoides affinis) | Whitethroated ground thrush (Zootera citrina cyanotus) | Grey headed yellow wagtail. (Motacilla flava) | Redvented bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) | Magpie robin (Copsychus saularis) | Kerala rock pipit (Anthus similis) | Malbar whistling thrush (Myiophoneus horsfieldii) |
| Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius) | Yellow backed wagtail (Motacilla flava tutea) | Blue headed yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava beema) | Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) | Indian grey tit (Parus major) | Forest wagtail (Motacilla indica) | Velvetfronted nuthatch (Sitta frontalis) | Tickell's flowerpecker (Dicaeum erythrorhynchos) | Large pied wagtail (Motacilla madera spatensis) | Purple rumped sunbird (Nictarinia zeylonica) | Small sunbird (Nectarinia minima) | Indian shag (Podiceps fuscicollis) | Indian house sparrow (Passer domesticus) | Large cormorabt (Podiceps carbo) | Little Gerbe (Podiceps ruficollis) | Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) | Loten's sunbird (Nictarinia lotenia) | Large egret (Ardea alba) | Purple sunbird (Nictarinia asiatica) | Little spiderhunter (Arachnothera longirostris) | Yellow backed sunbird Aethopyga siparaja) | Yellowthroated sparrow (Petronia xanthocollis) | Little green heron (Ardeola striatus) | Open bill stork (Anastomus oscitans) | Smaller egert (Egretta intermedia) | Travancore baya (Ploceus philippinus travancoreensis) | Yellow bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis) | Red munia (Estrilda amandava) |
| White necked stork (Ciconia episcopus) | White throated Munia (Lonchura malabarica) | Pintail (Anas acuta) | Spotted munia (Lonchura punctulata) | Spot bill duck (Anas poecilorhyncha) | Black head munia (Lonchura malacca) | Garganey (Anas querquedula) | Common rose finch (Carpodacus erythrinus) | Black crested Baza (Aviceda lephotes) | Bush lark (Mirafra assamica) | Black winged kite (Elanus caeruleus vociferus) | Crag martin (Hirundo rupestris) | Sparrow hawk (Accipiter nisus) | Eastern swallow (Hirundo rustica gutturalis) | Cresested hawk eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus) | Indian cliff swallow (Hirundo fluvicola) | Dusky cragmartin (Hirundo concolor) | House martin (Delichon urbica) | Booted hawk eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) | Brown shrike (Lanius cristatus) | Black eagle (Ictinaetus malayensis perniger) | Ashy drango (Dicrurus adsimilis) | Grey shrike (Lanius excubitor) | Short toed eagle (Circaetus gallicus gallicus) | Greyheaded fishing eagle (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus) | Common myna (Acridotherestristis) | Racket – tailed drango (Dicrurus paradiseus) | Common iora (Aegithina tiphia) |
| Greyheaded myna (Sturnus malabaricus) | Common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) | Crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela melanotis) | Threetoed kingfisher (Ceyx erithacus) | Redheaded merllin (Falco chicquera) | White breasted kingfisher. (Hakyon smyrensis) | Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) | Blue eared kingfisher (Alcedo meninting) | Indian kestrel (Falco tinnunculus objurgatus) | Bluebearded bee-eater (Nyctyornis athertoni) | Banded crake (Rallina urizonoides) | Broadbilled roller (Eurystomus orientalis)W | White breasted waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) | Malabar pied hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus) | Watercock (Gallicrex cinerea) | Rufous woodpecker (Micropternus brachyurns jerdonii) | Pheasant tailed jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurugus) | Speckled piculet (Picumnus innominatus) | Painted snipe (Rostratula bengalensis) | Pigmy wood pecker (Picoides nanus) | Blackwinged stilt (Himantopus himantopus) | Green sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) | Little ringed plover (Charadrius dubius) | Black backed wood pecker (Crysocolaptes festivus) | Heart spotted woodpecker (Hemicircus canente) | Common sandpiper (Tringa hypoleucos) | Common tern (Sterna hirundo) | |
The forest ranges of Ranni are inhabited by many tribal communities, mainly the Ulladan, Vettuvan and Malavedan, each having their own traditions and beliefs.
| Settlements | Communities | |
| Kakkudukka | Ulladan | |
| Mannadisala | Ulladan | |
| Chollanavayal | Malavedan | |
| Kudamurutty | Malappandaram | |
| Paruva | Ulladan | |
| Ariyanjilimannu | Malavedan | |
| Manakkayam | Malaoorali | |
| Naranamthodu | Vanakudi | |
| Lahai | Adiyan, Ulladan | |
| Kurumbanmoozhy | Ulladan | |
| Attathodu | Malapandaram | |
| Velamplavu | Ulladan | |
| Kattachira | Ulladan, vettuvan | |
| Kodumudi | Ulladan, vettuvan | |
| Kumaramkunnu | Malavedan, adiyan | |
| Olikkallu | Vettuvan | |
| Pambini | Ulladan | |
| Allumkal | Vettuvan | |
| Bhayanankaramudi | Kani, arayan | |
| Chippankuzhy | Kani, ulladan |