As many as 1,204 species of different taxa were recorded in the City Nature Challenge, Coimbatore, a four-day bio blitz that was held from April 26 to 29.
A total of 87 observers who took part in the exercise made a total of 5,158 observations of the 1,204 species, which were uploaded on the ‘iNaturalist’ portal.
With 5,158 observations recorded, Coimbatore city grabbed the top position in Tamil Nadu and the sixth position in India. There was a two-fold increase in observations compared with the first edition of the nature challenge held last year, said organisers.
Indian fox and Nilgiri langur in mammals; Malabar Trogon, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Green Warbler, Malabar Woodshrike in birds; Large salmon Arab, Many- tailed Oakblue, Gaudy Baron and Pointed Ciliate Blue among butterflies; Peucetia viridana, Herennia Multipuncta, Harmochirus brachiatus, phintella vittata and Stenaelurillus sp. in spiders were among the interesting observations.
An India fox spotted during the City Nature Challenge Coimbatore held from April 26 to 29. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Neem tree and banyan tree were the most common tree species of all the observations recorded.
According to the organisers, members from 15 organisations, namely the Coimbatore City Bird Atlas, Siddharth Foundation, Trust for Environment and Ecosystem, WWF-India, Dhuruvam Foundation, Nature Environment Service Trust, Osai, Centre for Urban Biodiversity conservation and Education, Kumaraguru Institutions, Kongunadu Institutions, Coimbatore Nature Society, The Nature and Butterfly Society, Wildlife and Nature Conservation Trust, Coimbatore Wildlife Conservation Trust, and For Earth Foundation, took part in the challenge.
They added that the focus of the bio blitz was to encourage nature lovers to record the biodiversity around them irrespective of age or educational background.
