7 new frog species reported from Western Ghats and Sri Lanka

T. Nandakumar
Thiruvananthapuram,  
The Hindu, October 30, 2014 

A team of researchers from India and Sri Lanka has discovered seven new species of golden-backed frogs in the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka global biodiversity hotspot, throwing new light on the highly distinct and diverse fauna in the two countries.

The results of the decade-long survey published in the latest issue of Contributions to Zoology, an international journal brought out by the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in the Netherlands, show that the frogs in Sri Lanka and those in India belong to distinctly different species. It was earlier believed that some of the golden-backed frogs (Genus Hylarana) found in the two countries were of the same species.

DNA study

The team, led by Delhi University’s Prof. S.D. Biju, used DNA techniques and morphological evidence as tools to identify species and understand the frogs’ distribution.

The survey yielded 14 distinct golden-backed frogs, with seven new species, including one (Hylarana serendipi) from Sri Lanka. Of the six new species from the Western Ghats, four (H. doni, H.urbis, H.magna and H sreeni) are found in Kerala and one each in Karnataka (H. indica) and Maharashtra (H.caesari).

“The distribution pattern of the species highlights the need to reassess the conservation status of the amphibians and work out separate conservation strategies,” Prof. Biju said.

The study also indicates that frogs in the region are under threat due to habitat destruction. Interestingly, one of the newly-named species, Hylarana urbis, had remained unnoticed though its habitat is in urban areas in and around Kochi and is under threat due to human activity.

 

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Periyar Tiger Reserve a haven for butterflies too, finds survey

Giji K. Raman
THEKKADY,  
The Hindu, October 27, 2014 

A butterfly survey at the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) recorded 246 out of the 340 species in the Western Ghats. The survey ended on Sunday.

There are 32 strict Western Ghats endemic species, and the survey team could record more than 95 per cent of them, R. Sreehari, ecologist, PTR told The Hindu .

“The sightings of Baby Five Ring Ypthima tabella, Pale Green Awlet Burara gomata kanara, Palm King Amathusia phidippus, Travancore Evening Brown Parantirrhoea marshallii, and Broadtail Royal Creon cleobis cleobis were significant,” said Kalesh S., a team member.

The Baby Five Ring was recorded only thrice in the past 100 years. This species was recorded from the Eravangalar section of the PTR.

The Pale Green Awlet, a rare nocturnal species was recorded from Vellimala. Broadtail Royal was reported for the first time in the State from the Eravangalar region, Mr. Kalesh said.

Other prominent species recorded were the rare Eversheds Ace Thoressa evershedi, Coorg Forest Hopper Arnetta mercara and the Golden Base Treeflitter Quedara basiflava.

The findings

The survey recorded 17 species of Paplionidae, 25 of Pierides, 78 nymphalidae, one Ryodinidae, 56 Lycenidae, and 69 Hesperidae.

Apart from the butterflies, the teams recorded around 20 species of mammals, 110 species of birds, 22 species of reptiles, 21 species of amphibians, 36 species of spiders, 20 species of odonates and 25 species of ants.

It is expected that with a follow-up survey, the butterfly species count for the PTR will cross the 300-mark, said Mr. Sreehari.

A survey of the PTR in 1992 had yielded 162 species of butterflies. The area covered was much less then. This time, 152 persons took part in the survey dividing the area into 26 units.

The survey was organised by the Periyar Tiger Conservation Foundation in association with other national agencies.

 

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For elephants, danger lurks in abandoned pits

K. S. Sudhi
KOCHI,  
The Hindu, October 27, 2014 

Abandoned elephant capture pits numbering 60, which could still trap pachyderms and other wild animals, have been located in three forest ranges of Ernakulam district.

Most number of pits, around 40, has been identified in Kuttampuzha Forest range and the rest are in Edamalayar and Thundathil ranges. Nearly 30 pits pose immediate threat to the animals. The depth of the remaining others have been reduced over the years, and are less risky to animals, according to an assessment. Each pit would have an average depth of three metres and circumference of six metres.

The counting was carried out on Sunday by a team of forest officials led by K. Vijayanand, Divisional Forest Officer, Malayattoor, following an accident involving two elephants on Friday. A mother and a calf elephant were trapped in a pit in Kuttampuzha Range that day. Though the mother elephant managed to get out, the trapped calf required the assistance from the Forest officials.

Though the Kerala government had officially called off the practice of capturing elephants using pits some three decades ago, large number of pits remains unfilled in the forest trapping unsuspecting wild animals. Besides elephants, gaur, deer and even snakes get entrapped. At least four or five instances of elephants slipping into the pits had been reported annually from the region, pointed out wildlife experts from the district.

According to the animal rescue plan of the department, sides of the pits will be levelled to create an escape route for animals. This will also reduce the depth of the pit and minimise the gravity of the fall. The process will be completed before November, said Mr. Vijayanand.

Incidentally, the Kerala Forest Department had abandoned the animal rescue programme after levelling some pits in the region some two decades ago.

T.M. Manoharan, former Chief of Forest Force, said that the department had levelled some pits in the region during the early nineties. Sides of the pits were levelled and converted into ramps to provide safe passage to animals. Earth was moved into the pit to reduce its depth too, he said.

P.S. Easa, a member of the National Board for Wildlife, said that there could be more pits in Ranni and Konni areas too, which also needs to be levelled. The State Forest department could approach the Project Elephant authorities seeking assistance for protecting the animals and levelling the pits, he said.

 

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Bio-resources may not come free

T. Nandakumar
Thiruvananthapuram,  
The Hindu, October 26, 2014 

The Nagoya Protocol, an international agreement which came into effect on October 12, is expected to help the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB)implement an Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism under which industrial units in the State will be required to pay for access to biological resources.

Officials said the legal framework provided by the protocol would come in handy for the KSBB as it prepares to impose the levy on 2,694 industrial units in Kerala, including Ayurvedic drug companies, tea and coffee manufacturers, agro-based units, food processing centres, leather, cashew, textiles, paper, rubber, coir, spices, wood and bamboo-based industries and exporters of these products.

How levy will be used

The companies will be required to pay a certain percentage of the annual ex-factory gross sales for commercial exploitation of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge. The levy will be deposited in the State Biodiversity Fund and utilised for conservation activities.

The Nagoya Protocol provides a framework for countries to regulate access to and monitor the use of genetic resources that can be used for pharmaceutical, agricultural, and cosmetic purposes.

“As a signatory, India has an international obligation to formulate and implement an ABS mechanism,” says Oommen V. Oommen, chairman, KSBB. “We hope to convince the companies of this commitment.” Earlier, there were apprehensions that the ABS mechanism would be bogged down by litigation as in other States where industries had moved courts.

The Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Organisation of India has proposed a meeting with the KSBB to discuss the ABS scheme. Prof. Oommen said the offer was heartening since it provided an opportunity to implement the mechanism through a consensus approach.

Of the 2,694 industrial units identified by the KSBB for the levy, 892 are Ayurvedic manufacturing units. “With a large chunk of the targeted units on board, it will be easy to convince the rest,” says KSBB member secretary K.P. Laladhas. The KSBB is gearing up to send letters to all the units liable to pay the levy, directing them to register with the board.

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Plant diversity in coastal areas under threat: study

T. Nandakumar
Thiruvananthapuram,  
The Hindu, October 25, 2014 

As many as 225 plant species traditionally used by coastal communities in southern Kerala for food, medicine, fodder, artefacts and other purposes could soon be struggling for survival unless conservation measures are initiated on a war footing, a survey conducted by the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) has revealed.

The ethnobotanical survey of the coastal belt in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Alappuzha points out that pollution, deforestation, indiscriminate development of coastal tourism infrastructure and unscientific coastal protection are posing a serious threat to the biodiversity in the coastal areas.

Species documented

The survey team has documented 14 edible species, 176 medicinal herbs and 14 fodder yielding plants, besides plants used for other purposes by fisherfolk and other local communities in eight panchayats, two municipalities and a Corporation.

The scientists have selected ethnobotanically important species for further research.

“Though extensive work has been done to document the traditional knowledge of the tribal communities in the Western Ghats of Kerala, there has been no systematic ethnobotanical survey among the coastal communities. This project is an attempt to address this lacuna,” says K. Radhakrishnan, principal investigator of the project.

“Conservation of most of the species is critical to the very survival of the coastal ecosystem in Kerala.”

A herbarium of notable coastal plant species has been created on the JNTBGRI campus and the research team is preparing a database on the diverse use of plants in traditional knowledge systems.

For example, while Sambar Cheera (Talinum portulacifolium), Valaripayar (Canavalia gladiate) and Ammumapazham (Passiflora foetida) are edible species, the wood of the Punna (Calophyllum inophyllum) is used to build boats and the seed oil for waterproofing the wood as well as a cure for rheumatism.

The leaf and flower of the Adambu Valli (Ipomoea pes-caprae) are traditionally used to colour fishing nets.

Awareness campaign

Dr. Radhakrishnan said the research team had also taken up an awareness campaign to sensitise local people to the threats posed by human activities and promote conservation of plant diversity

The scientists have suggested the establishment of natural history museums and libraries in each of the coastal panchayats to document and showcase the diversity of plants and their use in traditional knowledge systems. The coastal areas in Ernakulam district will be surveyed in the next phase of the project.

 

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No quarrying in ESAs till biodiversity board report gets nod: government

K.C. Gopakumar
KOCHI,  
The Hindu, October 25, 2014 

The State government on Friday informed the Kerala High Court that if any quarrying operations were allowed in the ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs), it might adversely affect the issue of the final notification based on the Kerala State Biodiversity Board report by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).

In a statement, the State government said that the Department of Mining and Geology could not renew the permits of quarries before the notification was finally approved and notified by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

The government was taking all earnest efforts to get it notified.

NGT directive

It said that the renewal applications as well as similar permits were not considered not just due to the directive of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) but mainly because of the fact that the areas where quarrying was taking place were located in the ESAs identified in the Western Ghat region by the High-Level Working Group constituted by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

The tribunal had made it clear that the directives of the MoEF would remain operative until the Union Ministry finalised and notified the eco sensitive areas as recommended by the government.

However, quarrying outside the ESA was allowed since the direction was not binding on the non ESA villages.

MoEF directives

In fact, the directives of the MoEF mandated States stopping of quarrying operation in ESA villages on expiry of the permit period.

The statement was filed in response to a batch of writ petitions filed by various quarry operations challenging the government decision not to renew licences of quarrying located in the ecologically sensitive areas.

 

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A tribal fights the tiger’s war

K. A. Shaji  

Palakkad,  

The Hindu, October 25, 2014 

 He may be the answer to the debate on tiger versus tribal, where tiger conservation and livelihood of forest-dwelling tribespeople fail to find a common ground. A school dropout from the Sunkam tribal colony inside the Parambikulam tiger reserve, he has designed a website to bring to the outside world the biodiversity of the reserve and highlight its tiger conservation efforts.

Babu, the 39-year-old Malashar tribal man, who works with an eco-tourism initiative of the tiger reserve, is uploading hundreds of photos he had clicked of the flora and fauna of the reserve on the website, www.savetigerland.com. It could soon be a powerful repository of tiger conservation materials and invaluable photographs of Parambikulam, which shares its borders with the Anamalai tiger reserve in Coimbatore.

Computer training

“I have been engaged in conservation efforts from childhood. A few years ago, the Forest Department computerised the Parambikulam Tourism Information Centre and Divisional Forest Office. The officials there trained me in computers and photography,” said Mr. Babu, on the marriage of his interests.

Three years ago, he bought a computer with a bank loan, and six months ago, a camera. The then deputy director of the tiger reserve K. Vijayanandan inspired him to start a website on Parambikulam and its conservation efforts. Software expert M. Deepesh helped him design the website.

When the website was launched in October this year as part of Wildlife Protection Week, it carried only basic details of the park. However, the uploading the data is fast progressing. Apart from English, it has pages in Malayalam and Tamil.

“The Parambikulam Tiger Reserve has many firsts to its credit, made possible through the participation of tribal people. Tribal people have become part of the Social Tiger Protection Force and are combating forest and wildlife-related offences,” Mr. Babu said.

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Marine biodiversity cells mooted for protection of sea turtles

Mini Muringatheri
Thrissur,  
The Hindu, October 21, 2014 

Experts have suggested the formation of national and State-level marine biodiversity cells for the conservation of sea turtles and marine fauna.

The objective of the biodiversity cell will be to coordinate between participatory departments to improve nesting habitats and check causes of mortality.

The national consultation workshop held at the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) discussed an action plan for the conservation of endemic turtles in peninsular India and sea turtles. Protection of habitats and the nests of the species and the improvement of their quality are the prime concerns of the action plan.

The removal of Casuarina and sand dune management in identified nesting sites have also proposed.

Enhancing community participation in conservation through NGOs, regional co-operation programmes, training workshops and awareness campaigns were also discussed.

There was lack of awareness about the species, particularly with respect to its distribution, breeding biology and habitat requirements. The workshop recommended the inclusion of the importance of conservation in training curriculum for field staff in State forest training schools and forestry colleges.

Five of the seven species of sea turtles found worldwide are reported to occur in Indian coastal waters. They nest along the Indian coastline. Sea turtles are protected under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, and the trade in turtle products is also prohibited.

The workshop was organised by the KFRI in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India and the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

 

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New catfish species sighted at Manimala river

T. Nandakumar
Thiruvananthapuram,  
The Hindu, October 13, 2014 

Scientists have reported a new species of catfish from the Manimala river in Kottayam district, highlighting the need for more efforts to unearth the rich biodiversity of the Western Ghats.

Mathews Plamoottil, Assistant Professor, Government College, Chavara, came across the fish in January, 2011, during an exploratory survey of the river at Chenappady, a middle-level region of the river.

Later, in collaboration with Nelson P. Abraham, Associate Professor, St. Thomas College, Kozhencherry, he subjected it to detailed comparison with related species of catfish before establishing it as a new species named Mystus keralai .

The finding has been published in the latest issue of the International Journal of Pure and Applied Zoology. Mystus keralai is distinguished by its long head, small eyes, narrow groove on the head, elongated pelvic fin, anal fin and pectoral fin, very long maxillary barbells (whisker-like organs near the mouth) and a distinct lateral light brownish green line.

The body is smooth and devoid of scales like others of the Mystus species.

Comparative studies

Comparative studies with fresh specimens of two related species, M. cavasius and M. seengtee , collected from the Ganges river in West Bengal and the Mananthavady river in Wayanad, revealed that M. keralai had enough distinguishing features.

The researchers also compared the specimen to eight other Mystus species found in water bodies across Kerala.

They found that local people regularly consumed M. keralai. They also received reports from local sources that the fish had greatly declined in numbers owing to the pollution of the river.

The authors have called for detailed scientific studies with more specimens to reveal the biological aspects of the fish.

The new species has received the Zoobank register number from the International Commission for Zoological Nomenclature, the scientific authority for naming new animals.

The specimens have been deposited in the museum of the Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, for further research.

 

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Report on ESA mapping to be submitted next week

T. Nandakumar 
Thiruvananthapuram,  
The Hindu, October 12, 2014

With Chief Minister Oommen Chandy scheduled to meet Union Minister for Environment and Forests Prakash Javadekar next week, the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSSB) has fast-tracked the preparation of a report on the demarcation of ESAs (Ecologically Sensitive Areas) in the 123 villages identified by the K. Kasturirangan Committee for conservation of the Western Ghats. The office of the Chief Minister confirmed that Mr. Chandy would meet Mr. Javadekar in New Delhi on October 16.

The talks are likely to centre on the exclusion of human settlements and agricultural land from the ESAs demarcated by the High-Level Working Group (HLWG) led by Mr. Kasturirangan.

Oommen V. Oommen, KSSB chairman, said the fine-tuning of the ESA maps was in the final stages.

He said the work was expected to be submitted to Mr. Chandy before he leaves for New Delhi. The block-level cadastral maps demarcating the ESAs are being electronically stitched together to prepare village-level maps.

A report indicating the ESA and non-ESA areas within each survey number is also being prepared.

Revised draft

The Ministry of Environment and Forests has sought the report for inclusion in the revised draft notification on the Kasturirangan committee, to be issued shortly.

The KSBB had taken up the job of fine-tuning the cadastral maps after paucity of funds forced the Kerala State Remote Sensing and Environment Centre (KSREC) to drag its feet on a project to digitize the ESA maps and convert them to the GIS (Geographic Information System) format.

The cadastral-level maps, with different colour codes to indicate forests, residential areas, waterbodies and rocks, were prepared following a draft notification issued by the MoEF in March redefining the territorial extent of the ESAs in Kerala.

Earlier, the Kasturirangan Committee had earmarked 13,108 sq km across 123 villages in Kerala as ESA.

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Palmyra on the wane

T. Nandakumar
Thiruvananthapuram,  
The Hindu, October 5, 2014 

Palmyra trees, which used to define the landscape of the areas in Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad bordering the neighbouring Tamil Nadu, are fast becoming a rarity. The tall palms with their fan-shaped leaves are steadily declining in numbers, a report prepared by the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) reveals.

The shift to other crops, difficulty in finding tree climbers, and the disappearance of the once-thriving palmyra-based industries have spelt the death knell for the Asian palmyra palm ( Borassus flabellifer ) in Kerala. Growing up to 30 m, the hardy species has been known to survive extreme heat conditions and live up to 100 years.

Report sought

The KSBB took up the study after the Assembly Committee on Environment headed by C.P. Mohammed sought a report from the government on the threats faced by palmyra trees in the State and the conservation measures to be adopted.

The report notes that the population of the tree is clearly on the decline. Once an integral part of the rural livelihood, palmyra-based products are losing their appeal, despite their unique dietary and nutritional qualities, says K.P. Laladhas, member secretary, KSBB.

Qualities of palmyra

Observing that the palmyra was largely disease-free and required little or no maintenance, the report suggests that it could be promoted as a key species to combat global warming and climate change.

It points out that the medicinal properties ascribed to many parts of the palmyra could be exploited effectively to enhance appeal and create a demand for products such as palmyra toddy, akkani (a sweet drink made from the processed sap), nongu (palmyra nut) palm sugar, and palm jaggery.

Palmyra garden

The KSBB has mooted the creation of a palmyra botanical garden in Palakkad district to conserve and propagate the species. Mr. Laladhas said the garden could be set up with the assistance of panchayat-level biodiversity management committees. He said the palm could also be planted along roadsides.

 

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Flowering plants of Western Ghats get a reference

T. Nandakumar
Thiruvananthapuram,  
The Hindu, October 5, 2014 

As a global biodiversity hotspot and a world heritage site, the Western Ghats is a magnet for conservationists, nature lovers, scientists and researchers hoping to delve into the secrets of its abundant flora and fauna. But despite decades of study by individuals and groups, an essential reference work cataloguing the rich biodiversity of the region has remained a dream.

In a bid to address this need, scientists at the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) at Palode near here have come out with a comprehensive work on the flowering plants of the Western Ghats.

Published in two volumes, the 1,700-page book reveals the occurrence of a total of 7,402 species of flowering plants in the region, out of which 5,588 species are native or indigenous. Of the rest, 376 are exotics naturalised and 1,438 species are cultivated or planted as ornamentals.

The study carried out by the authors shows that 2,253 out of the indigenous species are endemic to India, with 1,273 species exclusively confined to the Western Ghats. The study also provides details about 593 subspecies and varieties.

Three authors

Authored by T.S. Nayar, A. Rasiya Beegam and M. Sibi, the book provides the correct scientific name, associated synonyms, nature of each species (tree, shrub, herb etc.), its distribution in the Western Ghats and the world, flowering and fruiting time, threat category status, and all kinds of uses and local names in Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Kannada, Malayalam, and Tamil.

“The book is relevant in the backdrop of the gross depletion of genetic resources in the Western Ghats,” says Dr. Nayar.

“As much as 40 per cent of the original vegetation here has already been converted for cultivation, plantation and hydro-electric projects. Other human activities like hunting, mining, construction of roads and wind farms also pose serious threats to the biodiversity,” he says.

In his foreword, eminent agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan describes the book as an invaluable guide to all interested in the flora of the unique ecosystem of the Western Ghats.

For details, dial 09446464658.

 

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Panel to study damage caused by wild boars

K.S. Sudhi
KOCHI,  
The Hindu, October 4, 2014 

A three-member committee of wildlife experts has been formed in the State to study the damage caused by wild boars to the forest ecosystem and small wild animals and to compare the measures adopted by developed countries in facing the ‘mishap caused by wild pigs.’

The State Forest Department formed the committee following an order issued by the Kerala State Human Rights Commission.

Quoting from a petition filed before the panel by M.L. Augusthi of Idukki and N. Devarajan of Koduman grama panchayat, Commission chairman J.B. Koshy directed that the Forest Department study how the issue was handled in developed countries such as the U.S., Australia and Britain.

The experts were asked to report on the destruction caused by the wild pigs to ‘agriculture as well as to the ecosystem’ and, most particularly, comprehend the ‘threat faced by the living organisms, especially human beings,’ from the wild animal.

Petitioners’ plea

The petitioners had contended that the animals were one of the causative factors for the spread of foot-and-mouth disease. They argued that developed countries were giving priority to curb the population of the crop-raiding wild boar population.

An order issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden of Kerala after constituting the committee pointed out that the Commission had summarised the relevant portions of the petition that ‘there was no impediment even in developed countries for the trapping, shooting, killing and making use of the flesh of the wild boars causing damage to the land owners.’

The Wildlife Warden had also indicated that ‘according to the Commission, there was huge increase in the population of the wild pigs fore to excessive breeding like rats.’

M. Amruth, scientist, Kerala Forest Research Institute; P.O. Nameer, Associate Professor, Kerala Agricultural University; and P. Pugazhendi, Chief Conservator of Forest (Southern Circle), are members of the three-member committee constituted by the Wildlife Warden. The committee has been asked to submit its report within 30 days.

The Commission has also directed the Forest Department to furnish a statement on the compensation paid to farmers whose agricultural produces were destroyed by crop-raiding wild boars.

 

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Drive to save mangroves

KANNUR,  
The Hindu, October 4, 2014

A public awareness campaign about the importance of protecting mangroves will begin here on October 11.

Agriculture Minister K.P. Mohanan will flag-off the Kandal Vana Samrakshana Yatra in which 15 MLAs from different parts of the State will participate.

The ‘yatra’ is planned as visits by the people’s representatives to the mangrove-rich areas in the State to highlight the message of mangrove protection. Kannur, which accounts for the largest extent of mangrove vegetation in the State, has been selected for the launch of the campaign. The yatra here is being organised by the Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department and the Taliparamba Janakeeya Vikasana Samithi. A release issued by MLAs T.V. Rajesh and James Mathew said a proposal for the campaign to send across the message of mangrove conservation was made at a workshop held at the Kerala Forest Research Institute at Peechi on August 29 and 30.

The MLAs would visit the mangroves in boats as part of the campaign, they said.

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Mari’s conservation efforts get rewarded

K.A. Shaji
Palakkad,  
The Hindu, October 1, 2014 

Mari is a name now synonymous with forest conservation. The 46-year-old Muduga tribal’s contribution to preserving the rich biodiversity of the rainforests of Silent Valley in Palakkad district and to research on its flora and fauna by top scientists in the past three decades have been immense.

This guardian angel of forests started off as a 15-year-old daily wage worker with the Forest Department, working to preserve the sensitive Poochipara-Walakkad region of Silent Valley. His much-longed for desire to become a permanent employee of the department came true on Monday when Mari, who has hardly lower primary-level education, joined the service as a tribal watcher after passing a Public Service Commission (PSC) examination with first rank. His well-wishers in the department have also ensured his continued service for the Silent Valley.

Conservationists across the State remember him as the son of Letchiappan, on whom environmentalists had relied to record the uniqueness of the rainforests in the early 1980s when the movement to save Silent Valley got going.

“The studies the environmentalists did to buttress their argument to save the unique ecosystem of Silent Valley owed quite a lot to Letchiappan, who is unknown except among those who participated actively in the movement,” says N. Baburaj, a senior staff member of the Silent Valley Forest Range Office.

Mari soon followed in his father’s footsteps.

He accompanied scientists and researchers who reached Silent Valley to study its ecosystem.

“He knows more about Silent Valley than any of the forest officers. Every nook and corner of the forests is under his close vigil,” says P.S. Panikker, an environmentalist.

Experts from the Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Centre, the Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, and the Kerala Forest Research Centre have acknowledged Mari’s contribution to conservation.

It was only two years ago that he was presented with a conservation award instituted in memory of former Chief Conservator of Forests N. Madhavan Pillai. The award carried a purse of Rs.1 lakh.

Mari is at present a member of the Kerala State Wildlife Board headed by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

 

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