WII scientists spot new sand fox, dragon fly species in Bhagirathi basin

DEHRADUN: Scientists of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have claimed to have spotted a new species of sand fox and five unknown species of dragon flies in the Bhagirathi basin of Uttarakhand while conducting climate change studies in the region recently. The scientists said that they would now be conducting detailed studies of these species as part of a project which will continue for the next five years.
Tapajit Bhattacharya, research scholar of WII, told TOI that the species were spotted in camera traps installed in the region. “Sand Fox was spotted at Gangotri National Park. Wild ass was also spotted in the area after a long gap since its last sighting was in Rajaji Tiger Reserve many years ago.”
The scientists were undertaking studies as part of the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE), one of the eight national missions which form the core of India’s first National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) which is headed by the Prime Minister’s council on climate change. NSMHE has six task forces involving specialized institutions for each task. These institutions are Wildlife Institute of India (micro flora and fauna and wildlife & animal populations), G B Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (forest resources & plant biodiversity), Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (natural & geological wealth), National Institute of Hydrology (water, ice, snow including glaciers), Jawaharlal Nehru University (traditional knowledge systems) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (Himalayan agriculture).
Satya Kumar, scientist who is heading the WII taskforce said that the areas identified for the study are terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem, human ecology and spatial ecology. “We are also assessing animal species, communities’ diversity, distribution and abundance of wildlife habitats, ecosystems, and ecosystem services,” he said.
The impact of climate change assessment study began in Bhagirathi basin in an area spread over 7000 sq km in March last year. According to Bhattacharya, the reason scientists zeroed in on the Bhagirathi basin was for the drastic variation in its altitude. “The elevation in the entire area of 7000 sq km varies from 500 to 5000 meter. It also offers scope of studying anthropogenic pressure on wildlife as there is only one protected area -- Gangotri National Park while the remaining areas have human habitation. The area offers study on three kinds of regions -- highly disturbed which include towns such as Devprayag and Tehri, mid disturbed such as Uttarkashi adjancent to forests and undisturbed such as Gangotri National Park,” Bhattacharya said.