Tue Aug 19 06:11:24 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:

**Headline: Biodiversity Thrives: Nine New Species Discovered at Kerala’s Thattekad Bird Sanctuary**

**THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, August 19, 2025** – A comprehensive three-day faunal survey at the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary in Ernakulam, Kerala, has revealed the presence of nine previously unrecorded species, further solidifying its status as a critical ecological zone in the Western Ghats.

The survey, a collaborative effort between the Kerala Forest Department and the Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS), brought together nearly 30 experts to meticulously examine the 25-sq.km. sanctuary. Using a multi-taxa approach, the team focused on diverse groups including butterflies, dragonflies, birds, ants, crabs, cicadas, moths, amphibians, and fishes.

The survey yielded significant results. The butterfly count saw four new additions: extra lascar, yellow jack sailor, yellow-breasted flat and white-bar bushbrown. The sanctuary’s odonate list expanded with five new species, including Wayanad bowtail, spotted torrent-hawk, Travancore dagger-head, Malabar sprite and Malabar bambootail. Birdwatchers also celebrated the documented presence of 104 species, including raptors and forest specialists.

Beyond birds, the survey also documented herds of elephants, gaur, scaly anteaters, king cobras, and other fauna, highlighting the area’s rich biodiversity.

G. Jayachandran, wildlife warden of Idukki wildlife division, emphasized the importance of the findings, stating, “Discoveries such as these remind us of the sanctuary’s irreplaceable role in conservation and research.” He added that the data will be invaluable for conservation planning, tracking ecosystem changes, and assessing the population trends of threatened species.

Kalesh Sadasivan, research associate at TNHS, noted, “Thattekad is a living laboratory…Every species documented is a building block in understanding how our ecosystems function.” The survey underscores the need for continued systematic research to further understand and protect this vital ecological resource.

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