Rare lizard in Meghalaya fuels grassroots conservation efforts
A lizard species newly recorded in Meghalaya has become the catalyst for a community-driven conservation effort in an area of the State long impacted by limestone mining and a defunct cement plant.
Calotes zolaiking, a species of garden lizard, was first described in 2019 from Mizoram's Aizawl district by a team of scientists. Its recent sighting in Mawmluh, in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya, has extended the known range of the species by approximately 172 km aerially.
What sets the Meghalaya finding apart is the key role played by two villagers - Goldenstar Thongni and Banyllashisha Wankhar - who were among the eight authors of the study published in the latest issue of Zootaxa, a peer-reviewed journal on animal taxonomy.
Mr. Thongni, a resident of Rohbah in South West Khasi Hills and a nature enthusiast, collaborated on the study, while Ms. Wankhar, who runs a grocery shop in Mawmluh, collected the first of the two specimens that led to the species' confirmation. 'This lizard looked special,' said the 25-year-old, reflecting on her initial observation.
While not new to science, the reptile's presence in Mawmluh has assumed local significance, triggering a conservation drive across the region, especially in and around Sohra (Cherrapunji).
'We do have our sacred groves where no one is allowed to remove even a twig or a dead leaf, but the greenery has been under stress due to mining and industrial activities,' said Bansan Kupar Lyngdoh, headman of Mawmluh village. 'The lizard is our pride by dint of featuring in a global scientific journal. It has enthused us to intensify our conservation efforts in the hope of locals and scientists finding more faunal species,' he told The Hindu.
Herpetologist Jayaditya Purkayastha, based in Guwahati and one of the study's authors, credited the villagers with providing the critical groundwork. 'A juvenile male and an adult gravid female helped us describe this lizard belonging to the genus Calotes, which currently includes 30 recognised species ranging from South to Southeast Asia and Oceania,' he said.
India is home to 14 species of Calotes, nine of which have been recorded in the Northeast.
The researchers observed two adult specimens basking on low-lying bushes in April 2024, although these could not be captured for study. It was only after subsequent successful collection of specimens that the Meghalaya record was confirmed.
The authors cited the example of Stoliczkia khasiensis, a snake described from the Khasi Hills in 1870 but never seen again, to underscore the importance of sustained and systematic surveys. 'This highlights the importance of conducting continuous and comprehensive herpetofaunal surveys throughout the Khasi Hills and its adjoining hill ranges, particularly in light of the ongoing decline in forest cover due to anthropogenic pressures,' the study noted.
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