Species in News

Chocolate albatross (Appias lyncida)

• The chocolate albatross is found in India, China, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Laos, Indochina, Taiwan, and possibly South China.
• In India, this butterfly ranges across south India, Nicobar Islands, Sikkim to Assam, and onto Myanmar.
• In South India the chocolate albatross is to be found along the foot of the Western Ghats. It is found throughout the year in the Nilgiris where it is locally common.
• In the northern parts of peninsular India it extends into Orissa and north up to Lucknow.

Flying Fox (Pteropus)

• It belongs to a genus of megabats which are among the largest bats in the world.
• They are commonly known as ‘fruit bats’ or ‘flying foxes’, among other colloquial names.
• They live in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, East Africa, and some oceanic islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
• There are about 65 bat species found on tropical islands from Madagascar to Australia and Indonesia and in mainland Asia. Most species are primarily nocturnal.

TN Launches Project To Protect Nilgiri Tahr

In India's first-of-its-kind initiative, Tamil Nadu launched the 'Nilgiri Tahr project' to restore the state animal's original habitat and stabilising its population.

• Duration: Five-year
• The initiative was devised in line with Project Tiger and Project Elephant.
• About the Species:
• Nilgiri Tahr is an endangered wild goat species.
• Local name: Varaiaadu
• Habitat: The species was earlier found along the entire stretch of the Western Ghats, but they now remain restricted to small fragmented pockets in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.- WWF data (2015) 
• The Eravikulam National Park in Anamalai hills, Kerala, is home to the largest population of the Nilgiri Tahr.
• Protection Status: They are protected under Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972 and considered endangered by the IUCN.

No rhinos poached in Assam in 2022

The Chief Minister of Assam has informed that no rhinos were poached in the state in 2022.

About Indian Rhinos :

• The Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is found only in the Brahmaputra valley, parts of North Bengal, and parts of southern Nepal.
• It has a single black horn that can grow up to 60 cm, and a tough, grey-brown hide with skin folds, which gives the animal its characteristic armour-plated look.
• Protection status:
  • IUCN Red list: The Indian rhino is listed as ‘vulnerable’ (it was earlier placed in the endangered category).
• The WWF says the recovery of the greater one-horned rhino is among the greatest conservation success stories in Asia.
• Why they are poached?
• Rhino horn is used in traditional Chinese medicine to cure a range of ailments.
• It also used to treat cancer.
• In Vietnam, a rhino horn is considered a status symbol.
• Conservation efforts:
• In 2019, the Assam government constituted a Special Rhino Protection Force to keep a check on rhino poaching and related activities at Kaziranga National Park (KNP).
• On every September 22, World Rhino Day is celebrated.