‘Tourism, infra growth threaten Neelakurinji’

 

The Hindu Bureau, 

KOCHI, april 25, 2026

The Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI), Kerala, has submitted a report before the National Green Tribunal stating that Strobilanthes kunthiana, popularly known as Neelakurinji, an endemic shrub seen in the Western Ghats, is under threat from factors that include unregulated tourism and infrastructure expansion.

The Principal Bench of the tribunal in New Delhi had taken suo motu cognisance of the report “Neelkurinji becomes a ‘threatened species’, officially” published in The Hindu. It had directed authorities of the JNTBGRI to submit a report on the status and conservation of the purplish flowering shrub, which blooms once in 12 years.

The affidavit dated April 8 stated that infrastructure expansion, including road development and unregulated tourism, had significantly contributed to habitat degradation and fragmentation of Neelakurinji. These activities not only reduce the habitat extent, but also disrupt critical ecological processes such as pollination, seed dispersal and natural regeneration, it said.

Fire management

While traditional controlled burning by indigenous communities played a vital ecological role in maintaining grassland structure and promoting regeneration, inappropriate fire regimes in terms of frequency and intensity will adversely affect the semelparous life cycle (flowering once in 12 years) and synchronised flowering dynamics, it said.

The report said that tourism pressure, particularly during mass flowering events, has emerged as an additional stress factor. Unregulated visitor influx leads to trampling and waste accumulation resulting in further habitat degradation, and interference with the natural regeneration processes.

Action plan

The institute has proposed the preparation and implementation of a species-specific conservation action plan, integrating life-cycle biology and habitat requirements. Other suggestions include setting up long-term ecological monitoring plots across all major landscapes to assess population dynamics and regeneration success; restoration of degraded montane grasslands through phased removal of invasive species and reintroduction of native flora; and regulation of tourism through carrying capacity assessment, and strict enforcement.

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Crab in Silent Valley found displayingboth male and female biological traits

 Aathira Haridas KOCHI, The Hindu

A tiny crab displaying both male and female biological traits on the same body has been discovered in the Western Ghats. Discovered from the forests of the Silent Valley National Park, this freshwater crab belongs to the species Vela carli and is both male and female at the same time. The dual-sex condition was observed in three crabs found in tree holes in Silent Valley.

Vela carli is an endemic freshwater crab found only in the forests and streams of the Central Western Ghats.

The study documents the first instance of gynandromorphy (a rare condition in which individuals exhibit both male and female characteristics) in Vela carli. This phenomenon is rare in crustaceans and has never before been reported in the freshwater crab family Gecarcinucidae, according to the researchers.

The study was carried out by K.S. Anoop Das and K.T. Fahis from the Centre for Conservation Ecology, MES Mampad College, in collaboration with scientist and crab specialist Sameer K. Pati and Purnima Kumari from the Zoological Survey of India.

Their findings were recently published in the international journal Crustaceana.

Mr. Das, Head and Assistant Professor at the Centre, said that while gynandromorphy has been documented in several marine and freshwater crab families, it has not been reported in the family Gecarcinucidae.

“The bodies of the crabs displayed male reproductive structures, while other parts showcased female features, including gonopores,” said Mr. Das.

According to him, the likely cause for this gynandromorphism could only be from intrinsic developmental processes rather than external environmental pollution.

“The crab’s habitat was free from environmental pollutants. So we think that the reason for the phenomenon could be related to survival tactics. This makes it possible for the crab to procreate in the absence of male or female members,” said Mr. Das.

The specimens were collected during biodiversity surveys conducted in the forest. Among the more than 120 crabs examined, only three crabs showed this dual-sex condition.

The study was funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Science and Engineering Research Board (presently Anusandhan National Research Foundation).

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Study affirms State’s rich butterfly diversity

 

SARATH BABU GEORGE, 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, The Hindu December 17, 2025

Kerala hosts the highest butterfly diversity among all Indian States along the Western Ghats, with 328 species documented, including 41 species endemic to the Western Ghats, according to a comprehensive new monograph published in ENTOMON, an open access quarterly journal by the Association for Advancement of Entomology.

The researchers of the study ‘The Butterflies (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) of Kerala: Status and Distribution’ have reported that the Western Ghats support 337 butterfly species and Kerala accounts for nearly the entire diversity.

The butterfly fauna of the State spans six families, led by Nymphalidae (97 species), Lycaenidae (96 species), and Hesperiidae (82 species), followed by Papilionidae, Pieridae and Riodinidae.

The study, undertaken by a team of researchers led by Kalesh Sadasivan, has also documented 36 migratory butterfly species to highlight the State’s role as a key corridor for seasonal butterfly movements. Notably, 22 species recorded from Kerala are included in the IUCN Red List, though most fall under the ‘Least Concern’ category, while two are listed as ‘Near Threatened.’

The monograph highlights that 70 butterfly species found in Kerala are protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Of these, only four species enjoy the highest level of protection under Schedule I, while the majority fall under Schedule II of the Act.

Significant

One of the most significant contributions of the work is the extensive larval host plant checklist which documents over 1,800 feeding records, including over 350 new field observations. Covering nearly 800 plant species, the list represents one of the largest region-specific compilations in India.

Another highlight of the quarterly publication lies in its significant taxonomic clarifications and reinstatements.

The authors present evidence-based revisions affecting several Western Ghats taxa, including the recognition of Argynnis hybrida and A. castetsi as distinct from their previously conflated forms, the clarification of Elymnias caudata as separate from E. hypermnestra undularis, and the separation of Abisara bifasciata suffusa from A. echerius prunosa.

Besides proposing species-level elevation for four Western Ghats butterflies, the monograph describes a new subspecies, Tajuria maculata sureshi ssp. nov., discovered in Kerala and named in honour of distinguished naturalist and wildlife filmmaker Suresh Elamon.

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Two new antlion species discovered

 

THE HINDU BUREAU,  

THRISSUR, september 29, 2025

Researchers from the Shadpada Entomology Research Lab (SERL) at Christ College (Autonomous), Irinjalakuda, Thrissur, have discovered two new species of antlions belonging to the family Myrmeleontidae under the order Neuroptera.

The first species, Indophanes keralaensis, was identified from the forest regions of Sairandhri and Siruvani in Palakkad district as well as Pampadum Shola National Park in Idukki.

The name honours Kerala, where the Western Ghats, one of the world’s most critical biodiversity hotspots, dominate the landscape.

The second species, Indophanes sahyadriensis, was recorded from Siruvani (Palakkad), Pakshipathalam and Thirunelly (Wayanad), and Ranipuram (Kasaragod). Its name refers to the Sahyadri, the local term for the Western Ghats, which harbours unique native habitats.

Genus Indophanes

The genus Indophanes is reported from China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It previously included nine species worldwide. With this discovery, the total has increased to 11. In India, the number of Indophanes species has risen to five, of which three are recorded from Kerala.

The findings have been published in the international scientific journal Zootaxa. Researcher at SERL and Assistant Professor at St. Aloysius College, Elthuruth, Suryanarayanan T. B., research supervisor and head of SERL Bijoy C., Assistant Professor of Christ College and Hungarian scientist Levente Ábrahám were behind this discovery.

Speaking about the broader significance of the discovery, Dr. Suryanarayanan noted: “This reinforces the crucial role academic institutions and local biodiversity surveys play in filling the gaps in India’s faunal inventory, particularly for lesser-known insect groups like antlions.”

Order Neuroptera

Antlions are often mistaken for damselflies due to their similar appearance but can be distinguished by their long, clubbed antennae.

They come under order Neuroptera which includes holometabolous insects while the damselflies come under order Odonata, which includes hemimetabolous insects.

Beneath loose soil

Many antlion larvae are known for constructing conical sand pits to trap prey. Larvae of the genus Indophanes do not build pits. Instead, they live beneath loose soil, sheltered from direct sunlight, wind, and rain.

With these two additions, Kerala now records 12 species of antlions, while India’s tally rises to 110, according to Dr. Bijoy.

The study was supported by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi.

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Fungus threat to endangered Western Ghats tree

 

MINI MURINGATHERI, 

THRISSUR, The Hindu

Scientists have sounded the alarm on a newly detected fungal disease attacking Dipterocarpus bourdillonii, a critically endangered tree endemic to the Western Ghats.

The phytopathogen, Corynespora cassiicola, a highly aggressive fungus, is known to infect more than 530 plant species.

The findings of Shambhu Kumar, Principal Scientist and Head, Forest Pathology Department, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, along with Raghvendra Singh, Senior Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, have been published in the June 17th edition of Mycosphere journal.

Serious concerns

This marks the first recorded instance of the pathogen affecting D. bourdillonii, raising serious conservation concerns. The fungus was identified based on morpho-cultural characteristics and molecular phylogenetic evidence.

Detection of the emerging leaf spot and blight disease highlights the urgent need for disease surveillance and integrated conservation strategies to protect one of Western Ghats’ most vulnerable rainforest trees. “Dipterocarpus bourdillonii (family: Dipterocarpaceae) is a critically endangered tree species listed on the IUCN Red List. Endemic to the Western Ghats of India, it plays a vital ecological role in maintaining rainforest canopy structure and supporting biodiversity.

Economically, its hardwood is valued for construction and furniture, while its oleoresin (wood oil) has traditional medicinal and industrial uses. The emergence of this additional biotic threat underscores the urgent need for conservation measures,” Mr. Kumar said. The investigation using morpho-molecular tools is of significant importance.

Molecular identification ensures accurate pathogen detection, overcoming the limitations of morphology-based methods and facilitating early diagnosis and monitoring.

This study is crucial for understanding the disease’s epidemiology, guiding effective disease management strategies, and safeguarding this threatened species.

Additionally, it contributes to forest health surveillance and supports both ex-situ and in-situ conservation efforts, Mr. Kumar pointed out.

Corynespora cassiicola is a widespread phytopathogen causing leaf spots, target spots, and blight diseases in a wide range of plant species, including economically important crops such as rubber, soybean, tomato, cucumber, cotton, besides medicinal and ornamental plants.

Humid climates

It thrives in warm, humid climates and spreads through conidia (spores produced by fungi) via wind, water, and human activity.

The pathogen impairs photosynthesis, leading to defoliation, reduced yield, and plant death in severe cases.

Management of the pathogen involves the use of resistant cultivars, cultural practices (e.g., proper spacing and removal of infected parts), and fungicides such as mancozeb and azoxystrobin.

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Kerala seeks to limit its ESA to 8,712 sq km in 98 villages

 

THE HINDU BUREAU, 

KOCHI, September 19, 2024

Kerala has proposed to limit its ecologically sensitive area (ESA) to 8,711.98 sq km in 98 villages by confining the ESA to forests and protected areas including wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and tiger reserves of the State.

The State has excluded human habitations and plantations from the purview of the ESA in the process. It has also added a rider to its draft proposal submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change that it may come up with a final proposal later, according to a communique from the Chief Minister’s Office.

Draft proposal

The draft proposal was submitted in response to an initiative from the Ministry, which had sought the views of the Western Ghats States to notify the ESA in the mountain ranges.

The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel report and the subsequent High-Level Working Group report on Western Ghats had evolved as socially and politically sensitive issues in the State with a section of the Church and most political parties opposing the recommendations. The State governments had been treading with caution on ESA notifications fearing that any wrong move would lead to a political backlash in the hill districts of the State.

Though the Kasturirangan panel had identified 59,940 sq km as ESA for Kerala, an expert committee appointed by the State government had recommended limiting it to 9,993.7 sq km, which included 9,107 sq km of forest and 886.7 sq km of non-forest areas. The draft ESA notification issued by the Ministry on July 31, 2024 went by the recommendations of the State to limit the ESA to 9,993.7 sq km though the number of villages that came under the ambit of the ESA went up to 131 from the earlier 123, the Chief Minister’s Office pointed out.

The increase in the number of villages was due to the formation of new villages in the State by dividing the earlier ones. There is no increase in the extent of the proposed ESA. The State further reduced the extent of ESAs after considering reports from the districts, according to the government.

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