2022-12-11

An odonate survey carried out across the stretch of Meenachil River from Adukkam to Pazhukannilla Lake covering 16 spots, revealed that the river that feeds the Kottayam district is severely polluted. Odonates are bio-indicators and their presence and absence help to determine the health of the system.

The seventh edition of the TIES Meenachil Odonate survey recorded a total of 45 species, 23 varieties of dragonflies, and 22 varieties of damselflies. TIES conducted the survey in collaboration with the Social Forestry Division of the Kerala Forest Department. TIES is continually surveying these sites from 2012 onwards. Pantala flavescens (Wandering glider), Libellago indica (River heliodor), Libellago indica (River heliodor), Pseudagrion microcephala (Blue dartlet), were spotted in higher number. Neurobasis chinensis (Stream glory), which is an indicator of fresh water was spotted at Adukkam till Kidangoor. On the other hand Brachythemis contaminata (Ditch Jewel), an indicator of polluted water was spotted from Thiruvanchoor to Malarickal. Onychargia atrocyana (Marsh dancer), Lestes sp. (Spread wing), Agriocnemis splendidissima (Splendid dartlet), which are not much common in the survey area was also spotted.

Survey co-ordinator Dr Abraham Samuel K pointed that it is important to make the young generation aware on the importance of odonates. The survey was lead Dr Nelson P Abraham, Dr Punnen Kurian, Ajayakumar MN, Tony Antony, Renjith Jacob, Amrutha V Raghu, SReedevi, Shibi Mosses, Manju Marry Cherian, Sarath Babu N B, Anoopa Mathews, Soumya S. Participants from different educational institutions, organizations, etc. took part in the survey.