Arun Kanagavel

St. Albert's College

Wildlife utilization in the tropics is massive, with nearly five million tons of bush-meat consumed by local communities. In India, a megadiversity nation, hunting though illegal is widespread among indigenous communities. However, the extent, frequency and rationale for hunting, and factors influencing wildlife utilization are poorly known. Our st...

Amphibians are the most threatened vertebrate group in the world as a result of habitat loss, disease, and climate change. In the Western Ghats region, part of the Western Ghats – Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot in India, amphibians exhibit the highest endemism and are one of the most imperilled vertebrate groups. However, amphibians receive very li...

In this study, we used local ecological knowledge to determine the status, habitats, threats and consumption of two range-restricted and threatened chelonians, Vijayachelys silvatica and Indotestudo travancorica from two forest divisions of Kerala, that occur in the Western Ghats. Of these terrestrial species, I. travancorica was more abundant, pre...

In the Western Ghats of India, amphibians are culled at cardamom plantations since they are perceived to consume cardamom. To better understand the relationship between amphibians and cardamom, a study was undertaken at these plantations, which harbor numerous threatened and range-restricted amphibians. We undertook questionnaire surveys with 298 r...

Distribution and habitat associations of the Critically Endangered frog Walkerana phrynoderma (Anura: Ranixalidae), with an assessment of potential threats, abundance, and morphology. Little is known about Walkerana phrynoderma, a frog endemic to the Anamalai Hills of the Western Ghats of India. Baseline information (i.e., distribution, threats, ha...

Globally, amphibians are declining more rapidly than any other vertebrate group. A general shortage of funding for the support of focused scientific studies led us to investigate local and traditional ecological knowledge as an alternative data source for amphibian conservation. In this context, we undertook a questionnaire-based interview survey w...

Supplementary materials

The cultural significance of a species can play an important role in garnering local support for conservation. In this study, the Critically Endangered Mountain Chicken Frog (Leptodactylus fallax) on Dominica is used as a case study to understand whether a species' cultural association affects local opinion towards its use and conservation. The spe...

Little is known about Walkerana phrynoderma, a frog endemic to the Anamalai Hills of the Western Ghats of India. Baseline information (i.e., distribution, threats, habitat characteristics, activity patterns, and relative abundance) is provided for this species, with the aim of improving our understanding of the status of the species in the wild. Vi...

Education workshops conducted with forest departments in Western Ghats resulted in improved ability to identify four of five amphibian species and their habitats.

Indigenous communities worldwide have long relied on their environment for survival. Religious and customary beliefs that foster community conservation have not only bound these communities to ecosystems but also assisted in the conservation of species. We provide an example of how religion fosters the conservation of freshwater fishes in India. Si...

Rhacophorus pseudomalabaricus is a Critically Endangered, range-restricted frog found in the southern Western Ghats of India. We report new distribution records outside the protected area network in the Cardamom Hills of Kerala State through direct sightings and local ecological knowledge. These records increase the distribution by 12 km to the sou...

Understanding how different audience groups perceive wildlife is crucial for the promotion of biodiversity conservation, especially given the key role of flagship species in conservation campaigns. Although the heterogeneity in preferences reinforces the need for campaigns tailored to specific target audiences, many conservation education and aware...

Fig 1. Habitats associated to Gliding frogs Rhacophorus pseudomalabaricus/R. malabaricus by local communities in Munnar, Western Ghats, India. Miscellaneous=Fields, Banana Plantations and inside houses.

Community Reserves and Conservation Reserves illustrate a community-based co-management model, a first of its kind within the protected area (PA) network of India. Such reserves mark a shift towards an inclusive and decentralised approach within PAs in the country. Three such reserves in southern India: the Aghanashini Lion-tailed Macaque Conservat...

The endangered and endemic lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus) of the rainforest fragments of Valparai plateau in the Western Ghats Hotspot (India) are facing serious threats to their survival due to anthropogenic pressures and habitat degradation. In this study, we identify potential wildlife corridors between the rainforest fragments and adjace...

This study investigates the hunting of two endemic and threatened terrestrial chelonians, the Cochin forest cane turtle (Vijayachelys silvatica) and Travancore tortoise (Indotestudo travancorica) in the Western Ghats region of India. Informal interviews were conducted with indigenous and non-indigenous communities and Forest Department officials to...

The Western Ghats part of the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka hotspot harbors two endemic terrestrial chelonians, the Cochin forest cane turtle Vijayachelys silvatica and the Travancore tortoise Indotestudo travancorica. Population estimates as well as information on the scale and intensity of threats for these chelonians are largely unavailable. This stud...

The Nilgiri Mystus, Hemibagrus punctatus, a rare bagrid catfish endemic to the Western Ghats, has been currently listed in the IUCN Red List, as ‘Critically Endangered’ with a possibility that it could be extinct. The last validated record of H. punctatus was known to be in 1998, and several surveys since then have not been able to collect the spec...

Biodiversity conservation is a collaborative effort involving numerous stakeholders. Attempting to balance different interests and developing effective working relationships between stakeholders is vital for successfully addressing issues of biodiversity conservation. Presently, biodiversity conservation in India is monopolised by state forest depa...

Protected Areas represent the world’s economic and political commitment towards the conservation of biodiversity. The Western Ghats (WG) in peninsular India, part of the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka Hotspot has the highest human population density and population pressure in the world and is in need of urgent conservation attention. Community Reserves an...

Travancoria elongata is a rare balitorid loach endemic to the Kerala part of the Western Ghats, where it was till date known to occur in two locations, one each in the Chalakudy and Periyar River. The species was listed in the IUCN Red List as Endangered as a result of its restricted distribution, and continuing decline in the quality of habitats i...

In this communication, we document the local knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of slender lorises among the indigenous Kani community in the southern Western Ghats; document new records of Loris lydekkerianus lydekkerianus in the Agasthyamalai Hills; and discuss in detail a poorly known threat to these primates. Although not kept as pets due to...