Dragonflies in distress: Scientists sound alarm in India's ecological hotspot

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Dragonflies in distress: Scientists sound alarm in India's ecological hotspot 2 days ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Cherylann Mollan Mumbai Chatur Ullu Lab Damselflies are smaller than dragonflies and have thin, needle-like bodies A first-of-its-kind study of dragonfly and damselfly species in India's Western Ghats - one of the world's most important biodiversity hotspots - has revealed findings that are both fascinating and worrying. The study, which was funded by the Indian government's Department of Science and Technology and held across two years (2021-2023) and five Indian states, found that 143 different species of dragonflies and damselflies inhabit the Western Ghats, with at least 40 of them being endemic to the region, meaning they are found nowhere else in the world. But the researchers also discovered something troubling - at least 79 additional species that were previously reported in the region were not found, an almost 35% decline in the number of dragonfly and damselfly species in the Western Ghats.

Pankaj Koparde, an evolutionary ecologist who led the study, says that this could be because some of these species are extremely rare or active only in certain seasons, and were missed by the researchers. But he also says that the decline could be due to a potential loss of species, meaning some of them have become extinct. Chatur Ullu Lab Myristica sapphire is a damselfly species that's endemic to the Western Ghats "Dragonflies and damselflies are good indicators of the health of a region.

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Consequently, when their numbers drop, it could signal the potential degradation of an ecosystem," Koparde says. The Western Ghats - a Unesco World Heritage Site - is a 1,600km-long mountain range that stretches along India's western coast. It is one of India's most important wetlands and home to at least 325 globally-threatened species and more than 30% of India's plant and animal species.

It is also especially rich in endemic or local species. These species have a unique evolutionary journey and play important roles in their habitats. For example, they might help regulate the climate of an area or maintain biodiversity through pollination.

Unfortunately, the Western Ghats is also under threat. In its 2025 report, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) rated the region as being of "significant concern" . "Urbanisation together with agricultural expansion, livestock grazing, infrastructure development (such as windmills and dams), invasive species and mining continue to pose serious threats ," the report noted.

An alarming study published in 2025 found that a population of rare galaxy frogs disappeared from the Western Ghats after photographers trampled over their delicate forest floor habitat.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.