Abhijith AV
The four Montecincla laughingthrushes represent a lineage endemic to the Western Ghats. Of these, the Banasura Laughingthrush (M. jerdoni) is the rarest, most range-restricted, and least-known, listed as globally endangered by the IUCN. It is endemic to the shola ecosystem of Brahmagiri, Banasura, and the Camel’s Hump mountain complex within an occupied global range of less than 57 km².
Banasura Laughingthrush Montecincla jerdoni. © C K Vishnudas.
These mountain ranges increasingly face threats from large-scale land-use changes. The low protection status of Reserved Forests facilitates easy clearance for developmental and tourism projects. This development, in a stronghold for the Banasura laughingthrush, poses an immediate and direct threat to the species, as more than 98% of its Area of Habitat (AOH) lies outside protected areas.
Historically, conservation efforts in India have focused on protecting select flagship species. This approach potentially yields direct benefits for the species, indirectly facilitating the conservation of the landscape. There is potential to leverage M. jerdoni as a flagship species for the conservation of shola ecosystems within its range. Before planning targeted conservation measures and supporting outreach, the generation of basic ecological knowledge is key. Thus, we aim to generate a basic understanding of the species’ distribution, ecology, and response to human activities. In addition, we propose a series of stakeholder engagement actions and outreach efforts to holistically assess the potential of declaring this species as a flagship for the protection of the shola montane ecosystems.