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.

 

Read more »

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.

 

Read more »

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.

 

Read more »

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.

Read more »

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.

 

Read more »

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.

 

Read more »

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.

Read more »