Ending a six-year wait since experts first recommended the move, the Karnataka government on Friday announced that it will soon officially declare the honeybee species Tudave Jenu (Apis cerana) as the state insect and the Malabar tree toad (Pedostibes tuberculosus) as the state frog. This initiative aims to strengthen biodiversity conservation measures in the state.
Formal Notification Expected Soon
Forest and Ecology Minister Eshwar Khandre stated that a formal notification is expected within days. He made the announcement while marking International Biodiversity Day at Vidhana Soudha, emphasizing that Karnataka is following the global trend of recognizing species that symbolize ecological significance.
“Several countries across the globe announce their own national birds, animals, and trees to emphasize the importance of biodiversity conservation. Similarly, the state government has already declared sandalwood as the state tree, elephant as the state animal, Neelakantha (Indian roller) as the state bird, and Southern Birdwing (Troides minos) as the state butterfly. Now, these two species—an insect and an amphibian—will be added to the list from a conservation perspective,” Khandre explained.
Recommendations from Experts
The Karnataka Biodiversity Board had recommended the two species during 2020-21 after consultations with entomologists from the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), batrachologists, ecologists from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and officials from the horticulture and home departments. Experts have flagged declining populations of Apis cerana due to habitat loss, climate change, and the spread of the Thai sacbrood virus.
The Malabar tree toad, an arboreal amphibian first documented in 1875-76, had disappeared from records for over a century before being rediscovered in Kerala in 1980. It was later documented in parts of the Western Ghats in Karnataka as well.
Efforts to Reclaim Forest Land
Expressing concern over shrinking forest cover and rising ecological pressures, Khandre also said the government would intensify efforts to reclaim forest land worth nearly Rs 50,000 crore across Karnataka. “We have been fighting at various courts to reclaim forest land valued at Rs 50,000 crore currently held by the Indian Air Force (IAF), HMT, and private rubber plantation companies,” he said.
Referring to the recent elephant tragedy at Dubare, the minister stressed that mitigating human-wildlife conflict remains a top priority. “The recent tragedy at Dubare is shocking. Even as we continue to witness unprecedented and unheard-of incidents, fragmentation of elephant corridors, changes in tiger paths, an increasing number of wild animals, and the shrinking of forests are resulting in increased incidents of human-wildlife conflicts in Karnataka. Hence, the government has taken strict measures to clear forest encroachments and reclaimed about 12,204 acres of forest land in the last three years. Additionally, 110 million saplings have been planted and nurtured across Karnataka,” Khandre clarified.
