Species in news

Context: Vultures, nature's most efficient waste managers, can play a crucial role in public health. The National Action Plan for Vulture Conservation (2020-2025) is nearing its completion. This offers an opportunity to integrate biodiversity protection with pandemic preparedness.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Vultures; Role of Vultures; Vulture Conservation. 

Ecological and Public Health Role of Vultures

• Vultures are obligate scavengers that play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem services such as nutrient recycling and removal of soil and water contaminants. 
• Their scavenging function reduces opportunities for stray dogs and rodents to feed on carcasses, which otherwise act as reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens. They prevent the spread of pathogens like Anthrax, Clostridium botulinum, and Rabies.

As the first animals to encounter carcasses, they can play a pivotal role in surveillance and safe carcass management.

Status of Vultures in India

• India is home to 9 species of Vultures. India once had over 40 million vultures, but their population has declined by over 95% since the 1990s, primarily due to the veterinary drug diclofenac.
• This decline represents not only an ecological loss but also a public health challenge linked to the risk of future pandemics.
• Vultures in India are part of the Central Asian Flyway (CAF), a major migratory corridor spanning 30+ countries, connecting ecosystems and disease risks across borders.
• Decline in vulture numbers increases the risk of spillover events, as poorly managed carcasses turn into hotspots for zoonotic pathogens. 

Threats to Vultures: 

• Consumption of carcasses of livestock treated with diclofenac leads to renal failure in vultures damaging their excretory system (direct inhibition of uric acid secretion in vultures), and causes their fatality. Diclofenac is a common anti-inflammatory drug administered to livestock and is used to treat the symptoms of inflammation, fevers and/or pain associated with disease or wounds. 
• Habitat loss and fragmentation: Urbanisation, expansion of Agriculture, deforestation leads to destruction of nesting sites and habitat of Vultures. 
• Reduction in prey-base, changes in cattle disposal methods, and electrocution with power lines. 

Challenges in Vulture Conservation: 

• Conservation programmes remain fragmented and underfunded, with limited integration into One Health strategies.
• Infrastructure risks like electrocution from power lines and poisoning from toxic veterinary drugs remain unchecked.

Efforts for Vulture Conservation: 

• National Action Plan for Vulture Conservation (2020-25): The Action Plan for the conservation of vultures includes setting up 8 Vulture Conservation Breeding Centres and Vulture Safe Zones (VSZs) in the country. 
• In 2023, the government banned veterinary use of Aceclofenac and Ketoprofen which were found to be toxic to vultures. The government has already banned the veterinary use of Diclofenac in 2006 to protect the species from further harm.

India has the opportunity to frame a post-2025 strategy that integrates biodiversity conservation with pandemic preparedness. By embedding vulture protection in national and regional One Health strategies, India can showcase a global model where biodiversity conservation doubles as pandemic prevention.

Also Read: Vulture population in India 

Context: As per the latest survey, the estimated population of saltwater crocodiles, one of the largest reptiles in the world, has increased in the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve (SBR).

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about crocodile species in India; Sunderbans. 

About Sundarbans

• The Sundarbans is a cluster of low-lying islands in the Bay of Bengal. Located in the delta of Rivers Ganges and Brahmaputra in India & Bangladesh.  
• Sunderban is the largest delta and mangrove forest in the world. It is the only mangrove forest in the world where tigers are found. 
• Area: covering ~10,000 sq km of which around 40% lies in India (rest in Bangladesh).
• Indian Sunderban is bounded on the west by river Muriganga and on the east by rivers Harinbhahga and Raimangal. Other major rivers flowing through this eco-system are Saptamukhi, Thakuran, Matla and Gosaba. 
• Protection status: 
  • Listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
  • Ramsar Site (2019)
  • Important Bird Area (IBA) under BirdLife International 
• Part of Sundarbans Tiger Reserve has been declared a critical tiger habitat under national law, and Tiger Conservation Landscape of global importance.  
• Fauna: Critically endangered northern river terrapin (Batagurbaska); endangered Irrawaddy dolphin; Other species include- Gangetic dolphins, Fishing cat, Olive Ridley Turtle, Tiger, Saltwater crocodile. 
• Flora: Dominated by Sundari tree (from which Sundarbans gets its name); Mangroves. 

Crocodiles in India

• India is home to three crocodile species- Gharial, Mugger, and Saltwater Crocodiles. 
• Crocodiles are cold-blooded animals usually spotted on banks of the aquatic systems.
• Crocodiles are apex predators and play a critical role in the ecosystem by maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance: they control the population of other aquatic animals. 
• Conservation:
  • All three crocodile species are placed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. 
  • India launched Crocodile Conservation Project in Odisha's Bhitarkanika National Park in 1975 with aid from United Nations Development Programme.

1. Saltwater Crocodile:

• Largest of all crocodile species and the largest reptile in the world. Recognised as a man eater.
• It is a hypercarnivorous apex predator that keeps flowing water ecosystems clean by feeding on the carcasses and wild remains in the water.
• Also known as estuarine crocodiles. It is distributed across the swamplands, rivers, mangroves of Odisha (Bhitarkanika National Park) and West Bengal (Sundarbans) and the coastal areas of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• IUCN status: Least concern
• Concern: Increasing salinity may reduce the suitability of their habitat and may threaten their conservation, particularly in the Sundarbans which is vulnerable to climate change.
• Conservation Effort: Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project (conservation and breeding facility in West Bengal). 

2. Mugger: 

• They have a broad-snouted nose. They are also known as Marsh crocodiles. They are found in freshwaters like rivers and also in estuaries and marshy areas. 
• Mugger has a diverse and broad diet. They are known to dig burrows or holes for nesting purposes.
• Muggers have stronger legs which allow them to bask mainly on river banks choosing steeper slopes and elevated platforms.
• Their tough keratin scales are known to be sensitive to even the slightest motion in the water and this helps them detect prey easily. 
• IUCN status: Vulnerable

3. Gharials:

• They are endemic to the Indian subcontinent. 
• They are shy-natured and the most aquatic of all the species. 
• They are the longest living crocodile species, native to northern India and are distinguished by their long, narrow snouts. The gharials are predominantly a fish-eater.
• Gharials prefer to bask on mid-river sand islands on gentle slopes as they have weaker legs and can only crawl. 
• Chambal River (tributary of river Yamuna) holds the largest population of Gharials in the wild.
• IUCN status: Critically Endangered

Note: Both Mugger and Gharials are freshwater species and have overlapping habitats in the northern rivers (Ganges, Chambal, Son, Ramganga and Girwa) and eastern (Mahanadi) river systems of India. They have shown systematic resource partitioning in their aquatic environments.

Context: India is home to 15 species of the cat family (Felidae). Smaller wild cats like the Fishing Cat remain lesser-known yet ecologically significant. The species faces growing threats from habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict, particularly due to the degradation of wetlands.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Fishing Cat. 

Fishing Cat

• Description: An elusive nocturnal cat, twice the size of the domestic cat. It weighs 7-12 kgs, and has a greyish brown fur lined with black spots. 
• Behaviour: 
  • In its territory, this cat is often the apex predator meaning no other creature preys on it. 
  • The diet is primarily fish; it also hunts on rodents, chickens, small animals. 
  • Well adapted to water with webbed paws, a waterproof coat, ability to swim underwater, and claws that stay out to help grip mud and catch fish.
• Habitat: Wetlands i.e., river floodplains, mangroves, marshes, swamps.
• Distribution in India: Terai region, marshes of western India, Sundarbans, East coast, Chilika Lake (Odisha), Sri Lanka; rediscovered in Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan).
• The fishing cat spends 50% of its hunting time standing, sitting or crouching near the edge of water. Barely 5% of hunting time is spent submerged in water. 

Protection Status: 

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
• CITES: Appendix II (trade regulated to avoid threats to survival)
• Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule I (the highest level of legal protection in India)

Fishing cat numbers are rapidly declining in the Sundarbans and were once thought extinct in Rajasthan until recent sightings in Keoladeo National Park.

Factors responsible for Decline:  

• Habitat loss: The decline is largely on account of habitat loss. It has been estimated that 30-40% of India’s wetlands have been lost or severely degraded in the last four decades. Protecting wetland ecosystems is therefore crucial for the fishing cat. 
• Human encroachment on wetlands and revenge killings of cats by humans. 

Scientific Research & Monitoring:

• Fishing Cat Project (Tiasa Adhya): Extensive surveys, community engagement.
• Wildlife Institute of India’s Godavari Estuary Project: GPS collar tracking in Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (Andhra Pradesh) to map habitat use and human interaction zones.
• Community-Based Conservation: Awareness campaigns to reduce animosity and promote co-existence.

Context: The Supreme Court panel has proposed power corridors to reroute overhead power lines in Bustard habitats in Gujarat and Rajasthan. The idea behind creating power corridors is to ensure that birds, especially in high-risk habitats are not forced to repeatedly navigate through a maze of criss-crossing power lines.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Great Indian Bustard. 

Great Indian Bustard

• A large bird of the bustard family, it is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world.
• Physical characteristics and behaviour:
  • Black crown on the forehead contrasting with the pale neck and head. 
  • The body is brownish and the wings are marked with black, brown and grey. 
  • Males and females generally grow to the same height and weight but males have larger black crowns and a black band across the breast. 
  • They breed mostly during the monsoon season when females lay a single egg on open ground. 
  • Males play no role in the incubation and care of the young, which remain with the mother till the next breeding season.
  • They feed on grass seeds, insects like grasshoppers and beetles, and sometimes even small rodents and reptiles.

• Habitat: 
  • Bustards generally favour flat open landscapes with minimal visual obstruction and disturbance, therefore adapt well in grasslands. 
  • They avoid grasses taller than themselves and dense scrub like thickets.
• Distribution: Its population is confined mostly to Rajasthan and Gujarat. Small populations occur in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Threats

The estimated population of the large bird- once considered a candidate for national bird- is below 150. 

• Owing to its poor vision, the GIB is at high risk of injury and death due to collisions with high tension electric wires. 
• Hunting and Occasional poaching for eggs outside Protected Areas 
• Fast moving vehicles 
• Free-ranging dogs in villages. 
• Habitat loss and alteration as a result of widespread agricultural expansion and mechanised farming.
• Infrastructural development such as irrigation, roads, electric poles, as well as mining and industrialisation.

Conservation Status:

• IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
• Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule I 
• CITES: Appendix-I 
• Declared as the state bird of Rajasthan. 

Conservation Efforts by Government of India

• Listed in Schedule-I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, thereby accorded the highest degree of legal protection from hunting.
• Important habitats of Great Indian Bustards are designated as National Parks/ sanctuaries for their better protection.
• Identified for conservation efforts under the component ‘Species Recovery Programme’ of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme- Development of Wildlife Habitats. 
• Conservation breeding has been undertaken in collaboration with Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra Forest Departments with technical support of Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.
• A satellite conservation breeding facility has been established at Sam, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

Context: Kerala Forest Research Institute has identified a serious threat to rubber plantations in Kerala from an invasive species- the Ambrosia Beetle, in mutual association with two fungi: Fusarium ambrosia and Fusarium solani. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: About Invasive Alien species, Ambrosia beetles, Rubber Plantations in India. 

As per the official data of 2024, India is the world’s fourth-largest producer of rubber in the world. Kerala alone accounts for 90% of India's total production and 72% of its rubber cultivation area. Threat to rubber plantations in Kerala from an invasive species- Ambrosia Beetle, is a serious concern. 

Ambrosia Beetles

• Ambrosia Beetles is an Invasive Alien species.
• Native to Central and South America.
• First reported in India in the cashew trees in Goa in 2012.
• The name Ambrosia is not taxonomic but ecological. They get their name from the ambrosia fungi that call the beetle their home. 
• Have a mutual association with 2 fungal species - Fusarium ambrosia and Fusarium solani.

Mutual Association of Fungi with Ambrosia Beetle

• Ambrosia beetles dig tunnels (called galleries) in tree bark and carry fungal spores with them.

• These fungi grow inside the tunnels. The beetles and their larvae do not eat wood; instead, they feed on the nutrient-rich fungal mycelia growing inside the tunnels.
• The fungi weaken the wood by secreting enzymes, allowing the beetles to go deeper.

How is it a threat to Rubber Plants?

• The fungi travel deep inside the plant, especially through the xylem (the water-carrying tubes of plants), this blocks water flow making the tree dry out and die.
• The infection also affects total latex production from rubber trees causing economic and agricultural losses.
• Controlling the fungal infection is difficult as the Fungi reside in deeper parts of the infected plant, where insecticides or fungicides often do not reach. Once infected, the tree takes a long time to recover or may not survive at all.

A few species of ambrosia beetles, including Euplatypus parallelus, are invasive and threaten horticulture and silviculture worldwide. The infection also makes other economically significant plants such as coffee, cashew, mango, and coconut vulnerable to infections.

Being flying insects, the beetles can access a variety of trees. It can infest more than 80 species of broadleaf trees including cashew, teak, coconut, and coffee. Additionally, it may associate with other pathogenic fungi posing a bigger threat to plantations.

Way Forward

To combat the infection the experts suggest to: 

• Sustainable treatments such as using antagonistic fungi to outcompete pathogenic Fusarium species.
• Apply microbial consortia with a diversity of bacterial species that can live inside plants, colonise plant tissues and enhance resistance to fungal infections.
• Remove infected parts of the trees- burn or chip away any part that displays holes.
• Rubber farmers have called for the use of genetically modified (GM) rubber plants.

Also Read: Govt raises funding for development of natural rubber sector