Current Affairs - Environment - Discussion

The rare dragonfly species Crocothemis erythraea has been reconfirmed in the Western Ghats, specifically in the high-altitude Shola forests and montane grasslands of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This rediscovery is significant because the species, usually found in Europe, Central Asia, and the Himalayas, was earlier misidentified due to its resemblance to the more common Crocothemis servilia. Scientists believe it may have reached South India during the Ice Age and survived in cooler highland habitats. The finding emphasises the Western Ghats’ status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s top biodiversity hotspots, highlighting urgent conservation needs.