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Type: Species

  • Forest Conservation Efforts – NFP, Western Ghats, etc.

    Senna spectabilis removed from 1,963 hectares of land in Mudumalai TR

    National Parks/WSSpecies | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Why in the News?

    The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has successfully removed Senna spectabilis, a highly invasive tree species, from 1,963 hectares of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR).

    Senna spectabilis removed from 1,963 hectares of land in Mudumalai TR

    Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

    • Location: Situated in Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu, at the tri-junction of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka.
    • Area: Covers 321 sq. km, forming part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India’s first biosphere reserve.
    • Terrain: Undulating landscape ranging from 960–1266 m elevation.
    • Rivers: The Moyar River flows through the reserve, supporting rich biodiversity.
    • Vegetation: Includes evergreen, moist and dry deciduous forests, teak, bamboo, and grasslands (vayals).
    • Flora: Contains wild relatives of cultivated plants like rice, turmeric, and ginger.
    • Fauna: Home to tigers, elephants, gaurs, sambars, leopards, blackbucks, wild dogs, and 8% of India’s bird species.
    • Boundaries: Shares borders with Bandipur Tiger Reserve (Karnataka) and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala).
    • Cultural Note: The Oscar-winning documentary “The Elephant Whisperers” was filmed at the Theppakadu Elephant Camp inside MTR.

    About Senna spectabilis:

    • Origin: A fast-growing deciduous tree native to tropical America, introduced in India as an ornamental and shade plant.
    • Issues: Reaches 15–20 metres, produces thousands of seeds annually, spreading rapidly.
    • Invasive Impact: Dense canopy suppresses native trees and grasses, causes food scarcity for herbivores, and reduces biodiversity.
    • IUCN Status: Listed as ‘Least Concern’ but ecologically harmful in Indian forests.

    How was the eradication achieved?

    • Method: Threefold strategy- debarking mature trees, uprooting saplings with weed pullers, and mechanically clearing seedlings.
    • Duration: Large trees dry up in about 18 months after debarking.
    • Post-Removal Use: Felled trees used for paper production.
    • Objective: Restore native flora, improve wildlife forage, and ensure long-term ecosystem recovery.
    [UPSC 2018] Why is a plant called Prosopis juliflora often mentioned in news?

    Options: (a) Its extract is widely used in cosmetics.

    (b) It tends to reduce the biodiversity in the area in which it grows. *

    (c) Its extract is used in the synthesis of pesticides.

    (d) None of the above.

     

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  • Wildlife Conservation Efforts

    Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) to be classified as new species by IUCN

    Species | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Why in the News?

    The IUCN has separately evaluated the Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) from the gray wolf, suggesting it may be recognised as a distinct Canis species.

    Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) to be classified as new species by IUCN

    About Indian Wolf (Canis lupus pallipes):

    • Overview: Also called the Peninsular Wolf or Indian Grey Wolf; proposed as Canis indica owing to genetic divergence 110,000–200,000 years ago.
    • Distinct Lineage: Genomic studies identify it as the oldest surviving wolf lineage, basal to all other Canis lupus subspecies.
    • Distribution: Found across Deccan Plateau, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, extending into Pakistan and Iran; only 12.4 % of its range lies inside protected areas.
    • Population Status (2025): Estimated 2,877–3,310 individuals (IUCN Red List 2025) — classified as Vulnerable.
    • Legal Protection: Listed in *Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, prohibiting hunting, trapping, or killing <citation needed>.
    • Habitat: Prefers scrublands, dry grasslands, and thorn forests, increasingly threatened by agriculture, solar projects, and highways.
    • Ecological Role: Functions as a top predator regulating prey such as blackbuck, chinkara, hares, and rodents in India’s open ecosystems.
    • Social Behaviour: Lives in packs of 6-8 members, exhibiting cooperative hunting and silent coordination strategies.

    Evolutionary and Taxonomic Significance:

    • Early Divergence: Fossil and genetic data show divergence from Eurasian and Himalayan wolves well before the last Ice Age, evolving within India’s semi-arid zones.
    • Evolutionary Importance: Serves as a key model for studying wolf evolution, adaptation, and behaviour in tropical and dry environments.
    • Taxonomic Debate: Researchers propose recognition as a distinct species (Canis indica) based on unique genetic, ecological, and behavioural traits.
    [UPSC 2024] Question: Consider the following statements:

    Statement-I: The Indian Flying Fox is placed under the “vermin” category in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

    Statement-II: The Indian Flying Fox feeds on the blood of other animals.

    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

    Options: (a) Both statement I and Statement II are correct and statement II explains statement I

    (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I

    (c) Staement- I is correct , but Statement II is incorrect*

    (d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

     

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  • Wildlife Conservation Efforts

    Status of Elephants in India Report (2025)

    Species | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Why in the News?

    The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) released its report “Status of Elephants in India” on October 14, 2025, marking the country’s first-ever DNA-based elephant population estimation.

    Elephants in India:

    • Overview: Elephas maximus, Asian Elephant, listed as Endangered (IUCN); protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and Appendix I of CITES.
    • National Importance: India sustains over 60 % of the global wild Asian elephant population, making it a global conservation stronghold.
    • Conservation Framework:
      • Project Elephant (1992) – habitat protection, research, corridor restoration, and conflict management.
      • Elephant Reserves – 33 notified across 15 states, covering ~80,000 sq km.
      • Corridor Initiatives – joint mapping of ~101 corridors by WII, WWF-India, and WTI to ensure genetic connectivity.
    • Major Landscapes:
      • Western Ghats – dense forests with corridor fragmentation.
      • North-Eastern Hills – contiguous habitats under human pressure.
      • Central India & Eastern Ghats – isolated herds with high conflict.
      • Shivalik–Gangetic Plains – corridor bottlenecks amid dense settlements.
    • Ecological Role: Elephants act as ecosystem engineers, dispersing seeds, maintaining forest–grassland balance, and regulating hydrology.

    About Status of Elephants in India Report (2025):

    • Publisher & Framework: Released by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) under Project Elephant. It employs, for the first time in India, a DNA-based mark–recapture (genetic) estimation method for elephant census.
    • Census Period & Title: Conducted between 2021–2025, termed the Synchronous All-India Population Estimation of Elephants (SAIEE 2021-25).
    • Feature: Combines genetic sampling, field transects, and spatial-capture–recapture modelling.
    • Scientific Advancement: Establishes India’s first genetic reference library for elephants, linking individuals, herds, and landscapes for improved long-term monitoring.
    • Policy Context: Conducted under Project Elephant (1992) to align with national targets for corridor protection, conflict mitigation, and ecosystem restoration.

    Key Highlights:

    • Total Population (2025): 22,446 wild Asian elephants estimated nationwide using genetic data.
    • Previous Estimate (2017): About 29,964; apparent ~25 % drop due to new methodology rather than actual decline.
    • Regional Distribution:
      • Western Ghats Landscape: 11,934 (≈ 53 %)
      • North-East & Brahmaputra Plains: 6,559 (≈ 22 %)
      • Shivalik Hills & Gangetic Plains: 2,062 (≈ 9 %)
      • Central India & Eastern Ghats: 1,891 (≈ 8 %)
    • State-wise Concentration: Karnataka (6,013), Assam (4,159), Tamil Nadu (3,136), Kerala (2,785), Uttarakhand (1,792), Odisha (912).
    • Demographic Insights: DNA profiling enabled sex ratio identification, family linkages, and migration-corridor tracking, turning a static census into a dynamic population map.
    • Conservation Implications: WII urges genetic recensuses every 5 years, restoration of identified corridors, and integration of coexistence models in land-use planning.
    [UPSC 2020] With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements:

    1. The leader of an elephant group is a female.

    2. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months.

    3. An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only.

    4. Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    Options: (a) 1 and 2 only * (b) 2 and 4 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 3 and 4 only

     

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  • Wildlife Conservation Efforts

    Blackbuck Re-Introduction in Chhattisgarh

    Species | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Why in the News?

    Chhattisgarh launched a five-year Blackbuck Reintroduction Plan (2021–2026) at Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary to revive the species after 50 years of local extinction.

    Blackbucks have vanished from Chhattisgarh by the 1970s, primarily due to poaching, habitat loss, and grassland encroachment.

    About the Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra):

    • Habitat: Native to India and Nepal, commonly found in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu.
    • Physical Traits: Medium-sized antelope with males having spiral horns and black coats; known as the fastest land mammal in India.
    • Behaviour: Diurnal grazer that thrives in open plains and grasslands.
    • Ecological Role: Serves as an indicator species for grassland ecosystem health.
    • State Animal: Designated as the State Animal of Punjab, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh.
    • Cultural Symbolism: Represents purity in Hinduism and good fortune in Buddhism.
    • Legal Protection:
      • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I.
      • IUCN Red List: Least Concern.
      • CITES: Appendix III.
    [UPSC 2017] In India, if a species of tortoise is declared protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, what does it imply?

    Options: (a) It enjoys the same level of protection as the tiger. *

    (b) It no longer exists in the wild, a few individuals are under captive protection; and how it is impossible to prevent its extinction.

    (c) It is endemic to a particular region of India.

    (d) Both (b) and (c) stated above are correct in this context.

     

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  • Wildlife Conservation Efforts

    IUCN Redlist Update of Indian Species

    Species | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    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.

    About State of India’s Birds (SoIB) Assessment:

    • Overview: SoIB is conducted by the State of India’s Birds Partnership, a consortium of 13 government and non-government institutions, including BNHS, WII, ZSI, SACON, WTI, WWF-India, ATREE, NCF, FES, Wetlands International – South Asia, NCBS, and NBA.
    • Coverage: Of 1,360 bird species assessed globally, 12 species were from India.
    • Findings:
      • 8 species downlisted (showing improved conservation trends).
      • 4 species uplisted, highlighting heightened risk of extinction.
    • The report underscores the fragility of India’s open-country habitats, which support a unique but shrinking avifaunal diversity.

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  • Wildlife Conservation Efforts

    Snow Leopards are the world’s least genetically diverse Big Cat

    Species | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    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.

    Snow Leopards are the world’s least genetically diverse Big Cat

    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).
    [UPSC 2012] Consider the following:

    1. Black-necked crane 2. Cheetah 3. Flying squirrel 4. Snow leopard

    Which of the above are naturally found in India? Options: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only* (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

     

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  • New Species of Plants and Animals Discovered

    News specie “Chlorophytum vanapushpam” found

    Species | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Why in the News?

    Researchers have discovered a new species of perennial herb Chlorophytum vanapushpam from the Vagamon hills of Idukki district, Kerala.

    Chlorophytum vanapushpam

    About Chlorophytum vanapushpam:

    • Discovery & Location: Newly discovered perennial herb of the Asparagaceae family, identified in Vagamon and Neymakkad hills (Idukki, Kerala) within the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.
    • Name & Meaning: “Vanam” (forest) + “Pushpam” (flower) = forest flower.
    • Publication & Context: Reported in Phytotaxa, reaffirming the Western Ghats as the centre of origin for the Chlorophytum genus (18 Indian species).
    • Related Species: Closely allied to C. borivilianum (safed musli) but differs in form and lacks underground tubers.

    Key Features:

    • Growth Form: Herb up to 90 cm tall, clinging to rocky hill slopes.
    • Habitat & Range: Found between 700 m – 2,124 m elevation in moist, rocky terrains.
    • Leaves & Flowers: Slender, grass-like leaves; white clustered blossoms.
    • Reproduction: Seeds 4–5 mm; flowering and fruiting Sep–Dec.
    [UPSC 2016] Recently, our scientists have discovered a new and distinct species of banana plant which attains a height of about 11 metres and has orange-coloured fruit pulp.

    In which part of India has it been discovered?

    Options: (a) Andaman Islands * (b) Anaimalai Forests (c) Maikala Hills (d) Tropical rain forests of northeast

     

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  • New Species of Plants and Animals Discovered

    New species of finless Snake Eel named after Kanniyakumari

    Species | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Why in the News?

    ICAR- National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR) researchers in Kochi have discovered a new finless snake eel species, Apterichtus kanniyakumari, named after Kanniyakumari district.

    New species of finless Snake Eel named after Kanniyakumari

    About Finless Snake Eel (Apterichtus kanniyakumari):

    • Location: Discovered off the Colachel coast, Kanniyakumari (Tamil Nadu), at ~100 m depth during deep-sea trawling.
    • Etymology: Named kanniyakumari in honour of the district’s cultural, linguistic, historical, and geographical heritage.
    • Taxonomy: Belongs to the genus Apterichtus, family Ophichthidae, commonly known as finless snake eels.
    • Morphological traits: Golden-yellow body, pale white ventral head with yellow jaw lines, three black blotches (behind eyes, at rictus, behind rictus origin), conical uniserial teeth, 3 preopercular & 9 supratemporal pores.
    • Molecular confirmation: Mitochondrial CO1 gene analysis shows it as a distinct clade, closely related to Apterichtus nanjilnaduensis.
    • Significance: Marks the 16th new species described from the Indian coast by NBFGR; adds to India’s marine biodiversity records.
    [UPSC 2016] Recently, our scientists have discovered a new and distinct species of banana plant which attains a height of about 11 meters and has orange coloured fruit pulp. In which part of India has it been discovered?

    (a) Andaman Islands *

    (b) Anaimalai Forests

    (c) Maikala Hills

    (d) Tropical rain forests of northeast

     

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  • New Species of Plants and Animals Discovered

    Ant Queens giving birth to different species

    Species | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Why in the News?

    A groundbreaking study published in Nature (2025) has revealed that Messor ibericus, a Mediterranean harvester ant species, can produce male offspring of a completely different species, Messor structor.

    Ant Queens giving birth to different species

    About the Specie Messor ibericus:

    • Overview: A Mediterranean harvester ant, widely distributed across Southern Europe, known for its grain-harvesting behaviour and large colonies.
    • Hybrid Workers: All workers are hybrids, carrying DNA from both Messor ibericus and Messor structor.
    • Cross-Species Male Production: About 10% of queen’s eggs develop into pure Messor structor males, even without nearby structor colonies.
    • Genetic Signature: These males retain Messor ibericus mitochondrial DNA, proving maternal origin.
    • Reproductive Strategy: As per the Nature study:
      • Ibericus sperm produces new queens.
      • Structor sperm produces hybrid workers and additional structor males.
    • Evolutionary Significance: First documented case of a species naturally producing offspring of another species, challenging classical species concepts.
    • Colony Advantage: By producing both hybrid workers and pure structor males, queens secure compatible mates for future generations, sustaining both lineages.
    [UPSC 2024] Which one of the following shows a unique relationship with an insect that has coevolved with it and that is the only insect that can pollinate this tree?

    Options:

    (a) Fig* (b) Mahua (c) Sandalwood (d) Silk cotton

     

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  • Innovations in Biotechnology and Medical Sciences

    Researchers develop Red Ivy Plant-Based Wound-Healing Pad

    Species | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    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.
    [UPSC 2021] Which one of the following is used in preparing a natural mosquito repellent?

    Options:

    (a) Congress grass (b) Elephant grass (c) Lemongrass* (d) Nut grass

     

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