Species in News – 13th January 2026

13/01/2026

155 6 minutes read

Nilgiri tahr

In News: The Nilgiri tahr, often called the “mountain monarch,” is a key grassland species in the Western Ghats facing habitat threats. Recent surveys indicate a slight population recovery, offering hope amid ongoing risks from invasive species and climate shifts. Conservation efforts emphasize protecting shola-grassland ecosystems for its survival.

About The Species:

Taxonomy and Features

- - Scientifically Nilgiritragus hylocrius, the only mountain ungulate in southern India among 12 Indian Caprinae species.
  - Stocky build with short reddish-brown fur, short tail, and prominent backward-curving horns in males (up to 30 cm); females smaller with shorter horns.
  - Adapted to steep cliffs and montane grasslands at 1,200-2,600 m elevation.

Distribution and Habitat

- - Endemic to southern Western Ghats (400 km stretch in Kerala and Tamil Nadu); largest population in Eravikulam National Park.
  - Prefers open montane grasslands with shola forest patches and rocky outcrops for shelter.
  - Historical range reduced due to habitat fragmentation; now in isolated pockets like Anamalai, Palni Hills.

Conservation Status

- - IUCN Red List: Endangered; Schedule I under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
  - State animal of Tamil Nadu; recent 2025 census estimates 2,668 individuals across Kerala-TN.
  - Project Nilgiri Tahr (2022-launched) targets doubling population by 2030 via habitat restoration.

Threats and Challenges

- Primary threats: Habitat loss from invasive plants, developmental activities, and poaching.
- Competition with livestock and predation in fragmented ranges; climate change alters grassland extent.
- Recent surveys show cautious recovery but warn of short-term persistence risks.

Phayre’s Leaf Monkey

In News: Phayre’s Leaf Monkey faces rapid habitat loss in Northeast India, compelling this arboreal primate to shift from primary forests to secondary habitats like rubber plantations. Distinctive ringed eyes give it a spectacled look, but fragmentation and human encroachment threaten its folivorous lifestyle. Conservation in protected areas like Tripura’s sanctuaries offers limited respite amid ongoing deforestation.

About Phayre’s Leaf Monkey

Taxonomy and Features

- - Scientifically Trachypithecus phayrei, an Old World monkey (Colobinae subfamily) named after British officer Arthur Phayre.
  - Adults weigh 6-12 kg; slate-grey fur, white spectacles around bulging eyes, and a long tail for canopy balance.
  - Diurnal, arboreal folivore spending 75% time feeding on leaves, shoots, flowers; shy temperament, flees threats.

Distribution and Habitat

- - Restricted to Northeast India (Assam, Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur), eastern Bangladesh, western Myanmar.
  - Prefers tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen, deciduous forests, bamboo clusters at mid-high elevations; adapts to secondary forests.
  - India population ~1,200; key sites: Sipahijala, Trishna, Gumti sanctuaries (Tripura); Dampa Tiger Reserve (Mizoram).

Conservation Status
IUCN: Endangered (decline >50% in 36 years); Schedule I, Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Threats: Habitat destruction (jhum, plantations, logging), hunting for bushmeat; fragmented ranges increase vulnerability.
Protected in reserves, but needs stricter anti-encroachment measures.

Indian Giant Squirrel

In News: The Indian Giant Squirrel (Shekru), Maharashtra’s state animal, was sighted in Pune’s Atwan region during the All India Tiger Estimation 2026 survey, signaling healthy forest ecosystems. This arboreal species indicates intact canopy cover amid tiger-leopard tracking efforts. The sighting underscores biodiversity monitoring beyond apex predators in Western Ghats landscapes.

About Indian Giant Squirrel

Taxonomy and Features

- - Scientifically Ratufa indica, largest Indian squirrel (25-45 cm head-body, 45-60 cm tail, 1.25-2.5 kg) with multicolored pelage: olive-brown back, yellow underparts, reddish limbs.
  - Diurnal, strictly arboreal; glides up to 20 feet between trees using patagium-like skin; solitary except breeding pairs.
  - Builds large dreys (nests) in canopy using twigs-leaves; omnivorous diet of fruits, nuts, bark, insects.

Distribution and Habitat

- - Ranges across Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Satpura-Maikal (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, others).
  - Prefers tall, continuous-canopy evergreen/semi-evergreen/deciduous forests; density 2-14 squirrels/km² in prime habitats.
  - Maharashtra stronghold (e.g., Bhimashankar WLS, Tamhini Ghat); Pune division sighting boosts local records.

Conservation Status

- - IUCN Red List: Least Concern (wide range), but locally vulnerable; not scheduled under Wildlife Protection Act.
  - State animal of Maharashtra (declared 2015); populations fragmented by habitat loss.
  - All India Tiger Estimation 2026 aids co-occurrence data for forest health indicators.

Threats and Challenges

- Habitat degradation/fragmentation from logging, plantations, mining reduces canopy connectivity.
- Poaching for bushmeat/ornaments in tribal areas (Eastern Ghats); sensitive to forest quality decline.
- Climate-driven shifts in food availability; needs protected area strengthening.

Double-Humped Bactrian camel

In News: Ladakh’s double-humped Bactrian camels will debut at the 77th Republic Day parade on January 26, 2026, highlighting their role in Indian Army logistics. These high-altitude adapted animals from Nubra Valley carry up to 250 kg loads at over 15,000 feet where vehicles falter. The showcase underscores blending tradition with modern defense while promoting native genetic conservation.

About The Double-Humped Bactrian camel

Taxonomy and Features

- - Scientifically Camelus bactrianus, distinct from single-humped dromedary; two humps store fat for energy/water in food-scarce treks.
  - Thick shaggy coat insulates against -40°C; broad hooves navigate snow/ice; nostrils close against sandstorms.
  - Height 1.8-2.3 m at shoulder, weight 500-1000 kg; seasonal shedding reveals shorter summer fur.

Distribution and Habitat

- - Wild populations in Central Asia (Mongolia, China); domestic herds feral in Ladakh’s Nubra Valley cold deserts.
  - Thrives at 3,000-5,500 m in arid, high-altitude plateaus with sparse vegetation; Ladakh population ~300-500.
  - Introduced historically via Silk Road; now integral to local herding economy and tourism.

Military and Cultural Role

- - Indian Army’s Remount & Veterinary Corps uses for patrolling, supply in Ladakh’s Siachen, Galwan sectors.
  - Superior to mules (250 kg vs 50 kg load); DRDO trials confirm endurance in thin air, extreme cold.
  - Republic Day debut with Zanskar ponies, dogs symbolizes self-reliant high-altitude ops.

Conservation Status

- IUCN: Critically Endangered (wild <1,000); domestic Ladakh herds unmanaged but stable.
- Threats: Habitat loss, hybridization with dromedaries, climate shifts; no specific Indian protection.
- Parade promotes awareness for genetic preservation amid border security needs.

Olive Ridley Turtles

In News: Olive Ridley turtles’ nesting season has begun along Andhra Pradesh coasts, but faces severe threats from fishing net entanglements causing mass carcass strandings and disruptive artificial lighting disorienting hatchlings. Forest departments have established hatcheries in Visakhapatnam and West Godavari to safeguard eggs, partnering with NGOs like Tree Foundation amid declining nest sizes linked to climate impacts. Conservation measures urge fishing bans, light restrictions, and community patrols to protect arribada sites vital for this Vulnerable species.

About Olive Ridley Turtles

Taxonomy and Features

- - Scientifically Lepidochelys olivacea, smallest sea turtle (up to 70 cm carapace, 45 kg); olive-grey shell, heart-shaped carapace, 5-9 scutes per side.
  - Omnivorous diet: algae, crabs, jellyfish, shrimp; long-distance migrants using geomagnetic navigation to natal beaches.
  - Mass nesting (arribada) sees thousands arrive simultaneously, each female laying 100-140 eggs in 45-65 day incubation.

Distribution and Habitat

- - Circumtropical, major rookeries in Odisha (Gahirmatha, Rushikulya – world’s largest arribadas), Andhra Pradesh (Visakhapatnam, Hope Island), Tamil Nadu.
  - Nest on sandy beaches near river mouths/estuaries December-April; forage in coastal/upwelling waters.
  - India hosts 50-60% global population; AP sites like RK Beach, Sagar Nagar record thousands of nests annually.

Conservation Status

- - IUCN Vulnerable; Schedule I, Wildlife Protection Act 1972; CITES Appendix I.
  - Mass deaths (e.g., 2026 AP strandings) from ghost nets; declining clutch size (150-80 eggs/nest) signals stress.
  - Initiatives: Hatcheries (e.g., 26,000+ eggs protected in Vizag 2026), satellite tagging, fishing moratoriums.

Threats and Challenges

- Primary: Trawl nets (60% mortality), artificial lights misdirecting hatchlings seaward, coastal development.
- Predation by dogs/jackals on nests; climate change alters beach morphology, ocean acidity affects prey.
- Pollution, plastic ingestion; needs TEDs (Turtle Excluder Devices) enforcement.

White-bellied Heron

In News: The environmental clearance for the 1,200-MW Kalai-II hydropower project on Arunachal Pradesh’s Lohit River has sparked controversy due to the EIA’s failure to assess impacts on the critically endangered white-bellied heron, a Schedule I species under the Wildlife Protection Act. Environmentalists note the project’s location overlaps key heron habitats near Namdapha and Kamlang Tiger Reserves, raising fears of river flow alterations disrupting breeding sites. This highlights broader tensions between hydropower expansion in biodiversity hotspots and EIA transparency requirements.

About White -Bellied Heron

Taxonomy and Features

- - Scientifically Ardea insignis, a large nocturnal heron (91-137 cm tall, 2-3.5 kg) with white belly contrasting slate-grey upperparts and black crown plumes.
  - Distinctive features include yellow bill, black legs, and piercing call; solitary hunter preying on fish, crustaceans, amphibians in shallow streams.
  - Resident piscivore adapted to fast-flowing hill rivers; breeds colonially in tall trees near water.

Distribution and Habitat

- - Restricted to Eastern Himalayas and Northeast India (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya); also eastern Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan, Southeast Asia.
  - Prefers pristine subtropical/tropical lowlands with clear, un-dammed rivers, rocky shores, and adjacent forests; Lohit basin hosts prime stretches.
  - Global population <200 mature individuals; key Indian sites: Namdapha TR, Dibru-Saikhowa NP, Mishmi Hills.

Conservation Status

- - IUCN Critically Endangered (declining >80% in 3 generations); Schedule I, Wildlife Protection Act 1972; CITES Appendix I.
  - World’s most threatened heron; India holds ~70% population but lacks targeted recovery plan.
  - Protected under Biodiversity Act; hydropower projects require compensatory afforestation and river flow maintenance.

Threats and Challenges

- Habitat destruction from dams altering hydrology, sedimentation; Kalai-II EIA omission exemplifies flawed assessments.
- Logging, poaching, river pollution reduce prey base; climate change shifts riverine ecosystems.
- Low reproductive rate (1-2 chicks/nest) hampers recovery; needs dam-free river corridors.