Kerala Koala? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Common leopard

The common leopard, also known as the Indian leopard, hunts at night and usually preys on smaller herbivorous mammals. Many of them live in rainforest habitats like those in Kerala. Leopards that are native to forests have adapted to their environment: they usually have darker fur than those that live in deserts. Melanism in the species is pretty common, too. Leopards that are entirely black are often called black panthers.

Despite the different name, they are still members of the same species.

Answer: They live in small herds

Gaurs are herbivores, so they don't go hunting together. Also known as the Indian bison, the female cows live in small herds of around ten individuals and one bull. During the spring mating season, more bulls will join the herd, then leave to form herds of bulls, or to wander alone. Often credited as the world's largest species of wild cattle, they have few natural predators.

They're too big for an animal to take down alone!

Answer: Indian elephant

The Indian elephant is a subspecies of the Asian elephant. They live in grasslands and forests, eating around 150kg of plant matter every day. They work through so much food that elephants are ecosystem engineers: they clear enormous areas, which allows new plants to grow and new habitats to form. Unfortunately, the extensive area they need to cover in order to survive often pits them against humans. Indian elephants have been known to encroach on farmland, and much of their natural territory has been destroyed to make way for human developments.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assessed the population of Asian elephants in 2008 and categorised them as endangered with a decreasing population. Kerala is one of the few places in India where Indian elephants live in the wild. They are an important cultural symbol in the state. Many temples have a captive or domesticated elephant and some of the larger ones also run elephant sanctuaries.

Answer: A primate

The lion-tailed macaque is a type of monkey that is endemic to south-east India. Their name derives from the tassel of fur on their tails, which is similar to a lion's tail. This species of macaque has a pretty impressive mane of silvery fur around its face, too. They also have pouches in their cheeks where they can store food and keep it safe from other animals.

Answer: Their venom causes paralysis

King cobras use their venom to kill prey and any other creature that poses a threat. Their venom is incredibly strong and one bite can kill an elephant within hours. The neurotoxin causes paralysis and affects the respiratory system in particular. Given the chance, however, king cobras usually try to flee from danger and will only attack if they have no other option.

In addition to their powerful venom, they are unique in the way that they move: a king cobra is able to lift up to one third of its body off the ground, and can move around in that position.

Answer: Sambar

Sambar deer live in forests across southern Asia. They usually have plain brown fur with no spots, stripes, or patterns of any kind. Like many deer, the adult males have antlers, which they use when fighting over breeding territory. Male sambars attract females using sounds and smell, and will usually breed with more than one female at a time. The deer are prey for a range of animals such as tigers and leopards. They are also hunted by humans, leading to their decline in numbers through the 20th and early 21st centuries.

The Irish elk, also known as the giant deer, is an extinct species known for its huge antlers.

Answer: Blue

Indian peacocks are sometimes called blue peacocks due to the colour of their body feathers. These peacocks are native to India and Sri Lanka. Peacocks that are native to southeast Asia have green and bronze-coloured body feathers. Both species have huge iridescent tail feathers that they use in mating displays. Female peahens have more brown feathers on both their bodies and tails. When mating, they often choose the male with the largest, most flamboyant tail.

Africa's Congo peacock is mostly blue and green, whereas the peahen is mainly red and green.

Answer: Its head

With a little tuft of hair on the top of their heads, bonnet macaques look like they're wearing some kind of hat or toupee. The monkeys traditionally lived in forests and ate foliage, fruit, insects, and lizards. Now, they've become accustomed to living alongside humans. They have begun to scavenge from human food waste and sometimes take food offered by tourists or in temples.

Answer: A butterfly

The Malabar banded peacock is a type of swallowtail butterfly also known as Papilio buddha. The species is typically seen in the western state of Kerala, but is rarer elsewhere in India - a lucky find if you spot one! The butterfly's wings are iridescent blue with black edges. This beautiful creature has been declared Kerala's official state butterfly.

Answer: False

Bengal tigers prowl through the jungles of Kerala. Thanks to dedicated reserves, the population of tigers in the state rose from an estimated 46 in 2006 to 176 ten years later in 2016 (according to Tiger Census data). Despite the local rise, in 2010 the IUCN categorised Bengal tigers as endangered with decreasing global populations. Three species of tiger became extinct during the 20th century, leaving five at-risk species at the beginning of the 21st.

There are numerous programmes to protect and preserve the population.