Type: Species

Why in the News?

Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of deep-water dogfish shark, Squalus hima, from the Sakthikulangara fishing harbour in Kerala along the Arabian Sea.

About Squalus hima

• Squalus is a genus of dogfish sharks in the family Squalidae, commonly known as spurdogs, characterized by smooth dorsal fin spines.
• The new species, Squalus hima sp. nov., has been misidentified with S. mitsukurii and S. lalannei in the past.
• Squalus hima differs from other species by the number of precaudal vertebrae, total vertebrae, teeth count, trunk and head heights, fin structure, and fin colour.

Comparison with Other Species

• On the Indian coast, two species of Squalus are found from the southwest coast of India.
• The new species, Squalus hima n.sp., is very similar to Squalus lalannei but differs in many characteristics.
• Species in the Squalus megalops group are characterized by an angular short snout, a small mouth almost as wide as the snout, the first dorsal fin origin behind the pectoral fins, and a body without any spots.

Economic and Conservation Implications

• Sharks in the genus Squalus and Centrophorus are exploited for their liver oil, which contains high levels of squalene, used in high-end cosmetic and anti-cancer products.
• Fishermen from southern India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands harvest these sharks for their liver oil, making conservation of these species critical.

Importance of the Discovery

• The discovery of Squalus hima is significant for the conservation of shark species exploited for commercial purposes.
• Dogfish sharks are commercially important for their fins, liver oil, and meat and are sometimes caught as by-catch in fisheries targeting other species.

Why in the News?

Malaysia has seized about 200 smuggled Indian Star Tortoises and Turtles in a major crackdown. The Indian star tortoise is the single most confiscated species of freshwater tortoise in the world, according to wildlife trade watchdog TRAFFIC.

About Indian Star Tortoises (Geochelone elegans)

Back2Basics: TRAFFIC (Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce)

Why in the News?

• The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) approved Rs 56 crore for the next phase of the conservation program for the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) and the Lesser Florican for the 2024-2029 period.

Note: Both the Bustard and Lesser Florican are critically endangered, with only 140 Bustards and less than 1,000 Lesser Floricans surviving.

About Great Indian Bustards

• GIBs are the largest among the four bustard species found in India, the other three being MacQueen’s bustard, the lesser florican, and the Bengal florican.
• GIBs’ historic range included much of the Indian sub-continent but it has now shrunken to just 10 percent of it.
  • Among the heaviest birds with flight, GIBs prefer grasslands as their habitats.
• GIBs are mainly found in Desert National Park, Rajasthan.
• Bustards face major threats, including habitat changes and collisions with power lines.
• Protection accorded:

• • Birdlife International: uplisted from Endangered to Critically Endangered (2011)
  • Protection under CITES: Appendix I
  • IUCN status: Critically Endangered
  • Protection under Wildlife (Protection) Act: Schedule I

What is the GIB Recovery Plan?

• The proposal was prepared by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
• The proposal includes:
  • Rewilding Bustards bred in ex-situ conservation centres,
  • Conducting detailed population studies, and
  • Developing artificial insemination techniques.

Why such a move?

• Indicator Species: The GIB is a key indicator species of grassland habitat, signalling the health of these environments.
• Population Decline: The population has declined from around 700 individuals to less than 150 due to habitat loss, predation, and death by overhead power lines.
• Supreme Court Order: The Supreme Court recognized the threat from power lines and constituted an expert committee to assess the feasibility of overhead and underground electric lines in the bustard’s habitats.

Conservation Efforts and Achievements

• Recovery Plan: Initial efforts began between 2012-2013 with a long-term recovery project, which firmed up in 2016 with a Rs 33.85 crore funding outlay.
• Funding and Agreements: The project was funded by the Compensatory Afforestation Fund, with a tripartite agreement in 2018 involving the Environment Ministry, Rajasthan Forest Department, and WII.
• In-Situ Breeding: Conservation breeding began in 2019, resulting in a founder population of 40 GIBs at the Ramdevra centre.

Achievements at Breeding Centres

• Successful Breeding: Eggs collected from the wild were incubated and chicks were hand-reared. The breeding centres now have a founder population of 40 GIBs.
• Scientific Reasoning: Creating a founder population prevents extirpation and captures genetic variability. The goal is to have at least 20 adult birds including 15 females.

Future Plans

• Next Phase (2024-2033): The immediate next phase will run until 2029, targeting the upgradation of the CBC at Ramdevra and the development of the Lesser Florican CBC at Sorsan.
• Population Surveys: Surveys will be conducted in Rajasthan and other range states to monitor population status.
• Release into the Wild: The most important target is releasing captive-bred GIBs into the wild, preceded by soft release in enclosures.