Type: Species

Why in the News?

In the latest State of India’s Birds (SoIB) 2025 report and IUCN assessment, four bird species dependent on these ecosystems have been uplisted, reflecting alarming habitat loss and population decline.

Bird Species Uplisted by IUCN:

1. Indian Courser (Cursorius coromandelicus):
   • Endemic to the Indian Subcontinent.
   • Uplisted from Least Concern → Near Threatened due to loss of grasslands and fallow land.
2. Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis): Uplisted to Near Threatened; impacted by habitat conversion and electrocution from power lines.
3. Rufous-tailed Lark (Ammomanes phoenicura): Uplisted to Near Threatened; declining due to intensive agriculture and land-use change.
4. Long-billed Grasshopper-Warbler (Locustella major): Uplisted to Endangered; severely impacted by loss of reedbeds and open scrub habitat.

Why in the News?

A new Stanford University-led study has revealed that the Snow Leopard has the lowest genetic diversity among all big cats, even lower than the Cheetah.

About Snow Leopard:

• Overview: Also called the “ghost of the mountains”; Belongs to the genus Panthera but genetically distinct from tigers and leopards, with unique adaptations for alpine life.
• Physical Features: Thick pale-gray fur with rosettes, powerful hind limbs, and a long, muscular tail that aids balance and warmth.
• Habitat: Found at altitudes between 3,000–5,500 metres, thriving in rugged, snow-covered mountain ranges and alpine meadows.
• Geographical Distribution:
  • In India: Present in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and parts of Jammu & Kashmir.
  • Globally: Distributed across Central and South Asian mountain systems, including the Himalayas, Pamirs, and Tien Shan.
• Population Status:
  • Global estimate: 4,500–7,500 individuals.
  • India: Approximately 718 individuals, representing 10–15% of the global total.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (India): Schedule I
• National Conservation Measures:
  • Project Snow Leopard (2009): Integrates community participation in Himalayan conservation.
  • SECURE Himalaya Project (GEF–UNDP): Focuses on sustainable ecosystem management.
  • Himalaya Sanrakshak (2020): Enlists local guardians for high-altitude habitats.
  • National Protocol on Population Assessment (2019):  Ensures standardized monitoring.

Ecological Significance:

• Apex Predator Role: Serves as the top carnivore in the Himalayan and Central Asian alpine ecosystems, maintaining the balance between herbivores like blue sheep, ibex, and argali.
• Indicator of Ecosystem Health: Its presence reflects ecosystem integrity, as it thrives only in undisturbed, well-connected, prey-rich habitats.
• Climate Regulation: Snow leopard landscapes, glaciers, permafrost zones, and alpine grasslands, act as major carbon sinks and regulate water flows to nearly two billion people across Asia.
• Biodiversity Link: By controlling herbivore populations, it prevents overgrazing, thus preserving alpine vegetation and soil stability.
• Cultural and Economic Value: Revered in Himalayan folklore and central to eco-tourism-based livelihoods, symbolizing coexistence between humans and nature.
• Transboundary Importance: Its habitat spans across 12 range countries, making it a flagship species for international cooperation under the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme (GSLEP).

Why in the News?

Researchers at JNTBGRI has developed a multifunctional wound-healing pad using nanomaterials, inspired by the red ivy plant (Strobilanthes alternata), traditionally used in folk medicine.

About the Red Ivy Plant:

• Overview: Strobilanthes alternata, locally called murikooti pacha, belonging to the Acanthaceae family.
• Habitat: Found abundantly in tropical regions, including India.
• Traditional Use: Used in folk medicine for treating cuts and wounds.
• Scientific Discovery: JNTBGRI, Palode isolated acteoside, a natural bioactive compound, for the first time in this plant.
• Therapeutic Use: Acteoside, known elsewhere for medicinal activity, showed high wound-healing efficacy at 0.2% concentration in red ivy.

Features of the Wound-Healing Pad:

• Design: India’s first multifunctional herbal wound dressing pad, combining traditional knowledge with nanotechnology.
• Components: Electro-spun nanofiber layer (biodegradable, porous, antimicrobial barrier); Acteoside + neomycin sulfate blend (healing and infection control); Sodium alginate sponge (absorbs exudates); Activated carbon layer (controls odour).
• Significance: Affordable, scalable, and a model of herbal medicine integrated with modern nanotech innovation.

Why in the News?

Odonatologists have reconfirmed the presence of the elusive dragonfly species Crocothemis erythraea in the southern Western Ghats.

About Crocothemis erythraea Dragonfly:

• Species Type: A rare dragonfly species, usually found in Europe, Asia, and the Himalayas.
• Recent Finding: Reconfirmed in the Western Ghats, specifically in Kerala and Tamil Nadu high ranges.
• Comparison: Closely resembles the common lowland species Crocothemis servilia, leading to earlier misidentifications.
• Habitat Preference: Inhabits cooler, high-altitude areas above 550 metres.
• Historical Origin: Likely spread to South India during the Ice Age and survived in montane habitats such as Sholas and grasslands.

Significance of the Discovery:

• Biodiversity Insight: Demonstrates how ancient climate changes influenced current biodiversity patterns.
• Ecological Importance: Reinforces the Western Ghats’ status as a biodiversity hotspot of global value.
• Conservation Message: Highlights the need to protect sensitive high-altitude habitats like Sholas and montane grasslands.
• Scientific Contribution: Adds to India’s growing record of documenting and conserving rare species.