FEATURE ARTICLE Wildlife Conservation Technology Takes a Front Seat Preeti Lata and Shivani

AVE you ever seen a Forest There are 13 valid species of easily identified by their black, speckled owlet, the Ganges shark or gliding frogs in India out of which underbelly and elongated finger and H the Anamalai gliding frog? four – Rhacophorus malabaricus, R. toe tips. When was the last time you spotted pseudomalabaricus, R. lateralis and These species of frogs and toads house sparrows and Myna near you? R. calcadensis – are endemic to the have survived for such a long time that These and many other species are Western Ghats. These frogs have highly they have noticed dinosaurs come and being increasingly pushed to the verge developed webbing in their hands and go. And it will be really shameful if our of extinction. The International Union feet which helps them glide from one future generations are not able to see the for Conservation and Nature’s (IUCN) tree to another. These frogs are good graceful gliding frogs and the unique Red list has listed 665 and 378 climbers and can easily walk on twigs toad-skinned frog. plant species as being on the verge of and tree trunks. Their fingertips are The threat of extinction, however, extinction. dilated and appear like suction cups. is not limited to these only. India, which has been known for This unique characteristic ensures their Another species that could be added its rich biological diversity, has also survival on trees, as high as 100 ft. to the list of threatened animals is the not been untouched by the waves of The toad-skinned frog, Indirana largest widespread rhino species – one- extinction that sweep across the world. phrynoderma is also found in the horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) India has some of the most unique grasslands of Munnar, Western Ghats. – found in the tall grassland and forests biodiversity hotspots in the world, These toad species have been classified as in the foothills of the Himalayan regions. consisting of several exotic species. Critically Endangered species according It can be easily distinguished by its One such biodiversity hotspot is the to the IUCN Red list data. Their unique characteristics – a single black Western Ghats. It is a habitat for many population is extremely fragmented and horn, 8-25 inches in length, and grey rare species of animals, like the gliding is correlated with leaf-litter in tropical brown hide with skin folds. These rhinos frog, which is a unique and eye-catching moist forests. The frogs are outstanding are grazers and immerse themselves species. indicators of habitat quality and can be in water when not grazing. They can graze on aquatic plants also. It is really heartbreaking that these rhinos are facing extinction due to killing, chopping off their horns, poaching and encroachment of habitat by humans. The Namdapha Flying ( biswasi) is on the verge of extinction too. The is found in the Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity hotspot area. The squirrel species are able to glide and are considered to be one of the least known of the world. The lost species of Namdapha Flying squirrel was last seen in 1981, as mentioned in the Global Wildlife Conservation data. The flying are arboreal (live in trees) and are considered as critically endangered species. In Diversity at species level in India Anamalai gliding frog order to rediscover and protect these (Source: Implementation of India’s National Biodiversity (Image Credits https://round.glass/sustain/species/high- squirrel species many techniques like Action Plan – An Overview, 2019) life-gliding-frogs-western-ghats/)

26 | Science Reporter | March 2020 Percentage of different factors responsible for species extinction (Image credits: https://www.researchgate.net/) spotlighting, arboreal camera bait these environmental stations, tree-hole scoping, and fur changes and are thus trapping have been used. lost over a period of In India, 13 species of Namdapha time. Flying squirrel are present. These Habitat loss squirrels can be easily distinguished from is one of the other squirrels due to their slender built, primary reasons for long bushy tail, membrane or parachute biodiversity loss and in between their limbs. The squirrels are species extinction. an important part of the ecological system Habitat loss and play a vital role in seed dispersal. happens on account Unfortunately, their population of deforestation, is declining day by day due to cutting loss of wetlands, and degradation of primary forests, ploughing of times. There are many steps being taken habitat loss and hunting. The Namdapha grasslands, burning of forests, dam the world over to ensure that threatened Flying squirrel species mainly occurs constructions and many more. Habitat species do not go extinct. Taking steps in dry deciduous montane forests and is fragmentation due to building of roads so that the rate of climate change can be restricted to a single valley in Naharbhadi, also plays an important role as these arrested is one. This involves sustainable along the River Noa Dihing. fragments of habitat only support a small population. development, recycling, drastically These were just a few examples reducing the use of plastics, saying no When unnatural chemicals are of some species that are under threat to products made from the killing of introduced in the environment they of extinction in India’s biodiversity endangered species, protecting wildlife contaminate the air, water and soil. The hotspots. The reasons for these unique habitats from deteriorating any further chemicals directly interfere with the and exciting species being pushed and many more. to the verge of extinction are many. metabolism of animals. Technology is also being harnessed Overhunting in many parts of the world Ecologists, environmentalists and the world over in the fight to save the is drastically reducing the numbers. conservation biologists believe that species. Some of these technologies and The relentless hunting of wild animals invasion by non-native species is also techniques are outlined here. is mainly done for food, sport, fur and a major cause of species extinction. economic gains. Some examples include Invasive species move outside their overhunting of elephants for their ivory, natural habitat due to human actions and 1. Radio Telemetry: It is a technology tigers for their fur and organs, sharks then establish themselves. They expand at extensively used by wildlife scientists. for their fin and rhinos for their horns. the expense of the native species. It uses radio waves emitted from a transmitter which is attached to the Besides, global warming is animal to track and monitor them. increasingly affecting the environment Technology Saving Species Radio tagging is widely used to track and climate. Most species do not have There can be no denying the fact that cats, nocturnal animals and to track enough time to evolve or adapt to species conservation is the need of the long distance migrations of turtles and whales. Radio telemetry using satellite technology is used in tiger translocation projects in various wildlife reserves in India. It is also used to track leopards and turtles in Maharashtra and Jammu & Kashmir.

2. Camera Traps: These are remote cameras that take photographs when the sensor is triggered by the movement of an animal then it sends the image in real- time to the operator. These are helpful in sampling animal population. The Indian Institute of Science has been working on improving the existing camera traps. The Institute has made nearly 600 camera traps and deployed them in the field with the help of forest department, Namdapha Flying squirrel (Image credits: https://in.pinterest.com/ March 2020 | Science Reporter | 27 Camera traps (Image credits: http://cameratraptechno.blogspot.com/) levels within populations, progress of 6. GPS Tagging: Global positioning management activities and historical and system is being used for saving present wildlife densities. The purpose of endangered species of tigers. GPS and this technique is to prevent local or global accelerometer technology is best suited extinctions, rehabilitate populations, and to track the movement of tigers. The restore habitat. transmitter is fitted into a collar on the tiger’s neck so that the researchers can 5. Turtle Tracking Devices: All the easily track the location and activities marine turtles are well-known for of the animals and accordingly take their distant migration for breeding immediate action whenever required. and feeding. However, every year the population of turtles migrating to Indian 7. Drones: Drones are being increasingly waters is decreasing. A large number of used to survey wildlife sanctuaries and researchers and various NGOs in the past breeding individuals die every year along give an accurate account of endangered few years. The camera trapping technique the Indian coastline, and it has become a species living there. They provide a is used in the states where large carnivores major concern. close view of forests and wildlife and are found. It is mainly used to estimate To tackle this issue, turtle tracking give a range of information like imagery population size and gauge trends in the or turtle tagging techniques have been and data which will be difficult to access population status. used. This technology uses satellite or may be expensive. They can also assist telemetry tags to protect sea turtles. in tracking illegal activities, keep an eye 4. GIS (Geographic Information In this technique, a Platform Terminal on animals, count their population, plan System): This technique is very effective Transmitter (PTT) is attached to the back reforestation, and take images. in managing, analyzing and visualizing of a sea turtle. The PTT sends a signal wildlife data to target areas where to the satellite each time when the turtle Drones used to protect wildlife animals (Image Credits:kryptomoney.com) interventional management practices are surfaces for air. The satellite re-transmits needed. It also monitors their efficiency. the data to a receiving station on earth. This technique is also helpful in managing In India the technique has been used in habitat requirements and ranges, Chennai to make fishermen aware about population patches and linkages, disease the feeding grounds of turtles. (Image Credits: wildlifeconservationtrust.org/) GIS

8. PIT Tags for Fish: Passive Integrated Transponder or PIT tags, are used to assess migration patterns in endangered species of fishes. These tags work in the same manner as microchips. The tags consist of small radio transponders that contain a specific code, providing PIT Tags for fish fishes, amphibians, (Credits: flickr.com) reptiles, and birds a unique 10 or 15 digit alphanumeric identification number. It also works in

28 | Science Reporter | March 2020 Biodiversity Hotspots

A biodiversity hotspot is defined as an area where existence Almost 163 endangered species, including one-horned of rich biodiversity is seen. Till date a total of 35 biodiversity rhinoceros, wild Asian water buffalo, 45 mammals, 50 hotspots have been identified, out of which most of them birds, 12 amphibians, 17 reptiles, 3 invertebrate and 36 have been identified in tropical forests. To be termed as plant species are found in the region. Other species like biodiversity hotspot, following criteria needs to be met: relict dragonfly, Himalayan quail, Himalayan vulture, Namdapha flying squirrel are also found there. • It should consist of a minimum of 1500 species of vascular plants i.e. >0.5% of world’s total plants. 3. Indo-Burma: This region consists of North-Eastern • More than or equal to 70% of its original habitat India, Myanmar, China’s Yunnan province southern part, must have been lost. Democratic Republic, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. This area is spread over 2 million sq km of Central Asia. Six There are four Biodiversity hotspots in India: large species are found here, including the large- 1. Western Ghats antlered muntjac, Annamite muntjac, grey-shanked douc, 2. The Himalayas Annamite striped rabbit, leaf deer, and saola. Other rare 3. Indo-Burma region species like Freshwater turtle (endemic), 1300 species of 4. Sundaland birds (white-eared night-heron, Gray-crowned crocias, and Orange-necked patridge), 13,500 plant species (endemic), 1. The Western Ghats: The hills of the Western Ghats are are present there and cannot be found in any other place in located along the western edge of peninsular India. As the the world. Western Ghats are situated near the ocean, they receive a very good amount of rainfall. Approximately 77% of amphibians and 62% of reptiles are found in the Western 4. Sundaland: It is considered one of the biologically Ghats. These rare species of amphibians and reptiles richest hot spots on this planet. It lies in South-East Asia are not found anywhere else in the world. Out of 6000 which includes Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, vascular plants present there, 3000 plants are found to be and Malaysia. The region has its own terrestrial and endemic. The Western Ghats are also home to 450 species marine biodiversity, which includes mangroves, sea grass of birds, 140 mammals, 260 reptiles and 175 amphibians. beds, and coral reefs. Various marine species like dolphins, While earlier the vegetation cover of this region was about whales, turtles, crocodiles, fishes, prawns, lobsters and 190,000 sq km but, today it is reduced to 43,000 sq km. seashells are also present in Sundaland region. There are Some of the rare species found in the Western Ghats are 25,000 vascular plant species in the region, out of which Lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri tahr, Nilgiri langur, purple 15,000 plant species are found nowhere else. It contains frog, Nilgiri wood pigeon, many species of gliding frog, at least 117 endemic plant species also. One of the rarest etc. species found in Sundaland region is Rafflesia arnoldii, which has the largest flowers. The three major reasons 2. The Himalayas: This region consists of Bhutan, causing biodiversity destruction in this hotspot are rubber, , Southern, Central and Eastern Nepal. palm oil, and pulp production. the absence of a battery. This feature that move in three dimensions, rather settlements, agriculture fields or roads allows the production of smaller tags than along trails. It also gives an insight in order to anticipate human-wildlife that can be used on smaller organisms. into the overall ecosystem health, even conflicts. underwater. Although extinctions of species 9. Sim Cards: Sim cards are fitted 11. Remote Sensing: Remote sensing into the collars of animals especially have always occurred, in recent times can help to understand where species human activities have greatly increased elephants to prevent them from live and it also provides measures of the rate at which extinctions occur. It is leaving their natural habitat. These diversity such as species richness. hoped that with more awareness humans sim cards are mainly used to track the Remote sensing can make available will take steps to actively preserve the migration route in elephants. environmental information as well as rare and exotic species for the future the history of the landscape which can generations. And that technology would 10. Automated Bioacoustic be used to explain both the biodiversity be increasingly employed to prevent Monitoring devices: Acoustic sensors patterns as well as the abundance or the species from coming to any harm are used to record the presence of composition of species. In terms of in the future. animals through their sounds. These conservation, it needs timely historical low-cost sensors store the sounds information in order to keep a continuous helping users to manage and analyze record of protected areas or define Ms Preeti Lata and Ms Shivani, Science the data. The device is found to be new areas for conservation priorities. Reporter, CSIR-NISCAIR, New useful for aerial and underwater species Remote sensing can also help to map all Delhi-110012

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