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The Hindu
7 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Otter threat lurks on Kottayam's riverbanks
The threat from large reptiles like crocodiles is well known, but as residents across Kottayam are now discovering, danger in the water isn't always measured by size. The number of otters in the Meenachil river and its tributaries has reached alarming proportions, instilling fear among those living along the banks. With an increasing number of otter bite incidents being reported, residents are now urging the government to take immediate steps to control their population. Most affected areas The situation is especially dire in regions such as Vijayapuram, Kumarakom, Aymanam, Arpookkara, Thiruvathukkal, Kottayam town, and Thazhathangadi. A recent incident in Velur near Kottayam has brought the issue into stark focus. Nisani, 53, wife of Ibrahimkutty from Kalayamkary, Panampady in Velur, died after being bitten by a large otter while washing clothes near her home. Although her death is suspected to have been caused by a heart attack following an anti-rabies injection, the incident has left riverside residents terrified. Since then, routine activities like washing clothes or utensils in the river have become fraught with fear. Beyond posing a danger to human safety, the ballooning otter population has wreaked havoc on local fish farmers. Despite installing protective nets around their ponds, farmers report significant losses as otters, often attacking in groups, breach defences and consume large quantities of fish. Once a rare sight, otters are now commonly seen navigating the waterways, particularly in stretches between Poovathumood and Vattamood bridges and around Parampuzha. Forest officials have also confirmed an increase in otter activity along the Meenachil river and nearby streams, especially during the animals' breeding season when they become more aggressive. Why population surge The otter is classified as a 'vulnerable' species on the IUCN Red List, making poaching a punishable offense. According to experts, the rise in otter populations across riverine systems can largely be attributed to the absence of natural predators. 'Until around 2000, hunting groups from Andhra Pradesh would visit Kerala's waterbodies in search of otters. But with the tightening of wildlife conservation laws, that practice came to an abrupt end,' noted A. Jaison, former head of Wildlife Biology at the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI). 'Most practical solution' Otters inhabit rivers with dense bankside vegetation, marshes, and rocky areas. While manipulation of habitats could serve as a temporary deterrent, Dr. Jaison recommends trapping as the only currently viable option for population control. 'Capturing and relocating the animals might be the most practical solution,' he said. Aby Iype, district general secretary of the Karshaka Congress, has urged the government to officially classify otters as vermin. 'The otter menace is a serious threat not just to human life, but also to the livelihoods of those involved in aquaculture,' he pointed out.
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
‘Third-party impact assessment needed for NH projects'
A public convention organised by the Kerala Samsthana Janakeeya Prathirodha Samithi on the condition of the newly constructed national highway across the State called for a third-party impact assessment of major projects such as national highways. T.V. Sajeev, a scientist associated with the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI), who inaugurated the convention, pointed out that an impact assessment study is often carried out by agencies appointed by the contractors in their favour, thereby defeating the purpose of such studies. The convention, held at the Sports Council Hall in Kozhikode on Saturday (July 5), brought together several experts in the fields of environment, construction, and geology to brainstorm solutions to the problems at hand. 'The topography of Kerala cannot support the kind of construction typically carried out in other States, where there is enough vacant space. This State is narrow, densely populated, and extremely sensitive,' said Mr. Sajeev. He alleged that land acquisition and the destruction of large trees had contributed to the recurring outbreaks of Nipah infection in the State. 'Around 75,000 large trees were cut down for the widening of National Highway 66. The bats that lived on these trees had to migrate to the nearest available habitat, often trees in house compounds. The overpopulation of bats in a single tree weakens some of them, making it easier for parasites in them to perform a 'species jump,'' Mr. Sajeev said. He also pointed out that the huge wall constructed in the North-South direction in the form of the National Highway, prevented the free flow of rainwater from the mountains to the sea, though the distance is very short. 'We faced a flood in 2018 before the NH widening. The situation would be worse if we had rain of that intensity once again', he added. Geologist Radhakrishnan Kinattinkara highlighted the characteristics of laterite soil, which absorbs rainwater like a sponge. However, only the upper layer is structurally strong, while the underlying layer is mushy. 'When laterite hills are cut perpendicularly, the mushy layer is exposed. It oozes water and cannot hold on its own, ultimately leading to collapse,' he said. Mr. Radhakrishnan said that the rock formation in Kerala is over 35 million years old and should be treated as geological monuments worthy of preservation. He added that the damage caused by the highway project could have been minimised if it had been constructed on viaducts rather than on embankments. Noted environmentalists and activists, including Sreedhar Radhakrishnan, Joseph C. Mathew, Hashim Chendambilli, N. Subramanian, S. Rajeevan, and N.V. Balakrishnan, participated in the discussions. The convention demanded that the State government appoint an expert committee to conduct a comprehensive study on the condition of the National Highway.
New Indian Express
05-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Man-animal strife: Seeking answers in the bountiful repository of tribal wisdom in Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Did you know that stones pelted by women don't scare away monkeys or that bears that return to a spot three-four times suggest that they are feeling threatened and are likely to attack? That one can read elephant behaviour from the manner in which it folds its trunk or sways its ears? That rotten sardines can keep animals away? Such seemingly obscure nuggets of information have long been part of tribal wisdom. Cashing in on this, a rich repository of traditional tribal wisdom is being documented in the state as part of the collaborative effort of the state forest department and the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI). The project has assumed greater importance at a time when Kerala has been witnessing an increase in human-wildlife conflict; and its widespread ramifications — both social and political — are being felt across the state. Pushed to the wall, the forest department came up with the novel initiative to tap into the traditional wisdom of forest-dwelling communities that have long lived in peaceful co-existence with wildlife. The fact that a few indigenous people also lost their lives in recent attacks has made it all the more pertinent to cash in on such indigenous knowledge that is part and parcel of tribal lives. Thus took shape Gothrabheri, one of ten missions proposed to address human-wildlife conflict in the state. Envisaged as a learning initiative, it's being undertaken by KFRI with funding from the forest department. Senior forest officer Raju Francis who coordinated the conceptualisation of Gothrabheri had, in his own words, a truly enriching experience in the course of having spent hours with hamlet chiefs in this regard.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
With a population of 250, Western Ghats tree species faces fungal threat
Kochi: Kerala Forest Research Institute identified a fungal infection in Dipterocarpus bourdillonii, known as Chiratta-anjili, Kalpayin and Karanjili, a plant species already in the critically endangered category of the IUCN Red List. Endemic to the Western Ghats, there are around 250 mature individual trees of this species, found in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, as last assessed in 2020. Most of them are seen in the wild in Kerala. Posing a threat to the survival of this species, the infection was found in the leaves, which will affect the productivity of the trees. Dr Shambhu Kumar, principal scientist and head of the forest pathology department at KFRI, along with Dr Raghvendra Singh, senior assistant professor in the department of botany at Banaras Hindu University, detected an emerging leaf spot and blight disease affecting the Karanjili. The disease-causing pathogen (phytopathogen) was identified as Corynespora cassiicola based on morpho-cultural characteristics and molecular phylogenetic evidence. Dr Kumar stated that the fungal infection on the leaves will affect the photosynthetic capacity and its ability to produce energy, thereby adversely affecting the health of the tree. "It plays a vital ecological role in maintaining rainforest canopy structure and supporting biodiversity. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Economically, its hardwood is valued for construction and furniture, while its oleoresin (wood oil) has traditional medicinal and industrial uses. Due to overexploitation and habitat loss, the species already faces severe threats. The emergence of this additional biotic threat further underscores the urgent need for conservation measures to protect and restore its dwindling population," Dr Kumar said. Dr P A Jose, a former scientist at KFRI who studied this species earlier, said this needs extreme care; otherwise, it will lead to extinction. "The main reason for the species falling into the critically endangered category is its very low natural regeneration capacity because of a non-viable embryo. Prior to the British regime, this species did not require conservation priority as there was a good number of populations. It was harvested for the softwood industry and habitat degeneration also led to the declining population," Dr Jose said. Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary has a good number of existing populations. It is an evergreen population species.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Kerala plans ABC programme for ‘vulnerable' Bonnet macaque to address conflict issues
Kochi: The Kerala forest department is set to implement an Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme for Bonnet macaque primates, which are classified as 'vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List, to address conflicts with humans. As part of it, a consultation meeting of experts was held in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. In conjunction with the ABC programme, the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) has started a study to assess the population of Bonnet macaque primates in forest fringes and human habitats in Kerala. The study is part of one of the 10 missions conceived by the forest department to address human-animal conflicts, specifically focusing on human-monkey conflicts. The forest department notes that more primates are found in markets based in towns, tourism spots and agricultural fields. "We have raised the primate issue and the need to conduct the ABC programme with the ministry of environment and forests and climate change. They have asked us to come up with a consultation report. In many parts of Kerala, especially in Wayanad, conflicts with primates are reported in large numbers. The issue in tourism spots is due to tourists feeding the primates. Despite the fault lying with humans, people don't understand it," said a department source. Studies have shown that feeding wildlife, including primates, exacerbates conflict incidents, behavioural issues, disease transmission, health issues for the animals and other adverse implications like road kills. Bonnet macaque was classified as 'vulnerable' by the IUCN in 2015 due to its population decline. "As per old Tamil literature, which is over 3,000 years old, Bonnet macaque used to live in human landscapes. In some places, their concentration is high, while in others, there is occasional crop raiding. The question is whether these primates are typical forest species or not. Their population is less in forests and they are not seen in deep forests. They are mostly seen in forest fringes and human habitats. Capture, sterilisation and translocation of the primates are not possible since a study found that they return to their old location," said KFRI wildlife biology department head Peroth Balakrishnan. A study carried out in Wayanad recommended that authorities impose a legal ban on public feeding of the Bonnet macaque and implement proper waste management. Since the species has been included in the vulnerable classification based on a study conducted in Karnataka, the govt will need to consider conservation aspects when taking up the ABC programme.
