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NEW SNAKE AND EARTHWORM
SPECIES DISCOVERED
An eight-year eff ort resulted in the discovery of
a new species of burrowing water snake, aquatic
rhabdops Rhabdops aquaticus, from the northern
Western Ghats in Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka.
Mistakenly identifi ed earlier as the olive forest snake
in the Wayanad district of Kerala, this medium-sized,
non-venomous reptile has been spotted in the Koyna
region, the Chandoli National Park, between Kolhapur
and Sangli districts, Baraki in Kolhapur district and
Amboli in Sindhudurg, Castle Rock in north Karnataka
and some areas in Goa.
Varad Giri of the National Centre for Biological
Sciences played a key role in the discovery. In his
words: "We named this new species after its aquatic
nature as adults are mostly associated with freshwater
streams in the forest and young ones are mostly
seen in water-logged conditions, mostly on rocky
plateaus." Elsewhere, in the Western Ghats of Kerala,
scientists have discovered two new primitive species of
earthworms. Researchers said that of the two species
- Drawida polydiverticulata and Drawida thomasi,
the former is widespread in the protected shola
grasslands of Munnar region, including Eravikulam
National Park, Pampadum Shola National Park and the
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. The latter was collected
at the Kozhippara waterfalls near Kakkadampoyil, at
the border between Malappuram and Kozhikode. Five
species of earthworms of the same genus previously
not recorded from the state were also discovered. This
adds to the 16 Drawida species found in the state.
INCREASED ESZ AROUND
CAUVERY SANCTUARY
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change's (MoEFCC) decision to increase the area of the
Eco-sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the Cauvery Wildlife
Sanctuary in Karnataka from what was proposed in the
draft notifi cation was welcomed by conservationists
and forest offi cials. While the draft proposed an
ESZ area of 558 sq. km. extending from 100 m. to
15 km. around the boundary, an area of 600.7 sq. km.
extending from one kilometre to 14.5 km. around the
boundary has been declared in the fi nal
notifi cation. As per the notifi cation,
projects that have been permitted will
continue, while what is regulated will be
defi ned. A proposed hydel project in
the elephant corridor of the sanctuary
is set to be cancelled. “The overall area
of ESZ has increased by 42 sq. km.
with the inclusion of some reserve
forests, which is a welcome step.
However, it would have been useful
had the ESZ boundaries to the north
towards Bannerghatta National Park
been extended further as the corridor
is very narrow,” said Praveen Bhargav,
Trustee, Wildlife First.KARNATAKA TOPS
ELEPHANT CENSUS
In the latest elephant census report
released by the MoEFCC, Karnataka
state (6,049) has the maximum
number of wild elephants in India,
followed by Assam (5,719) and Kerala
(3,054). The census estimated the
total number of elephants in India
at 27,312. Experts opine that the
2012 census estimation of 29,391-
30,711 elephants was wrong. “If I
do a comparison with 2012 fi gures,
then we have a stable population,”
said Raman Sukumar of the Indian
Institute of Science, Bengaluru, the
technical consultant for the latest
census report. The number of
documented elephant corridors (101)
in India have increased in the last
seven years since the 2010 Elephant
Task Force report was released. In
order to mitigate human-wildlife
confl ict in the region, the Kerala
Forest Department is set to revive
the long-delayed plan to restore
the Wayanad section of the Periya-
Kottiyur elephant corridor.India
SCAN
UPAMANYU CHAKRABORTY/ENTRY–SWPA 2017The latest elephant estimation for India suggests a total of roughly 27,312 wild individuals.
Karnataka boasts of the highest number with over 6,000 pachyderms.JAN-VAN VIKAS
SCHEME IN TIGER
CORRIDORS
The Maharashtra government
has decided to expand the
lucrative Dr. Shyamaprasad
Mukherjee 'Vikas Jan-Van
Yojana' for the development of
villages around tiger reserves
and corridors. Villages, including
those that have been relocated
from tiger reserves, identifi ed
by the Wildlife Institute of
India, will be included. The plan
aims to reduce the dependence
of villagers on forests by
distributing LPG cylinders, milch
cows and by off ering alternative
sources of livelihood. Chief
Wildlife Warden A. K. Misra,
said: "The scheme will be
implemented in the Umred-
Paoni-Karhandla-Brahmapuri and
Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve
corridor, where human-animal
confl ict is at its peak."
The scheme, which currently
benefi ts residents of villages
falling within a two-kilometre
boundary of parks, hopes to help
more villages as per the fresh
directives. “The department
achieved 100 per cent of its
target by distributing LPGs to
villages covered, which helped
curb pressure on the forest for
fuelwood. Now the focus should
be on reducing pressure of
grazing on forests," said Kishor
Rithe, president of Satpuda
Foundation and member
of the state committee on
implementing Jan-Van Yojana.