Kerala to save endangered plant, animal species

Thiruvananthapuram, July 21 (IANS) The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) and the forest department will jointly launch a programme to prevent 26 plant and 13 animal species from getting extinct.

Most of these species are found in the Western Ghat and include rare plants and animal species like bats, civets and turtles.

KSBB member secretary K.P. Laladhas told IANS that the central government had notified these species as endangered under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

"Through this notification, now none of these plants or animal species shall be collected in live or dead condition by any person. If it has to be done for scientific needs, they have to get in touch with us first," said Laladhas.

The central notification also directs the KSBB to initiate or conduct studies on all aspects of the notified species for holistic understanding.

As the first step in this direction, officials of the KSBB and the forest department have discussed the issue.