The Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department has launched a three-day odonate survey, in association with the Travancore Natural History Society (TNHS) Trivandrum and Kottyam Nature Society (KNS), in the Munnar landscape.
G. Prasad, Wildlife Warden at Munnar, told The Hindu on Thursday that the survey team led by Kiran C.G., Toms Augustine, and Kalesh Sadasivan, identified a few rare species of dragon flies and damsel flies on the first day itself.
According to Mr. Prasad, the odonates (dragon flies and damsel flies) present in forest habitats may be rare. The survey covers the Chinnar wildlife sanctuary, Kurinjimala sanctuary, and the national parks of Anamudi Shola, Pampadumshola, and the Mathikettan Shola. Mr Prasad said the observation and study of odonates was important because their life cycle was closely associated with the fast-shrinking freshwater bodies.
Mr Kiran said the survey team had spotted and photographed certain rare odonate species like Ryothemis Tricolour, Wandering Glider, Tricolour Bloodtail, Iridescent Stream Glider (Zygonyx Iris), and Macromia (Coorg Torrent Hawk).
Unique habitat diversity
With its unique habitat diversity, the Munnar landscape has got high species diversity in the odonates and lepidopterans.
Odonates are indicators of enviromental health, as any change in the quality of the water they breed or in the air they fly will determine their survival and diversity. Some species like Reedtail Damsel flies are highly specific and restricted to particular hill streams and is a good indicator of the water quality. Any adverse change in the climate will affect them first. These are predators, their status also reflects the status of the small insects that they feed on, and they form an important part of the food web.
The recent lepidopteran surveys have thrown light upon many new species of butterflies in Chinnar and various adjoining Sholas.
