 62 different kinds of mammals have been recorded in Periyar, including many threatened ones.Periyar is a highly protected tiger reserve and hosts 35 tigers above two-years of age as of January 2017 in the reserve.Declared an elephant reserve on 2 April 2002, the population of Indian elephants in 2005 was estimated at 1100, however Periyar suffers greatly from poaching of elephant being the worst affected of South Indian sanctuaries.