Tag: Goa ecology

Events in Goa

Parag Rangnekar Highlights Goa’s Fast-Changing Ecology Through Photography

Tanisha Cardozo

Ecologist and naturalist Parag Rangnekar has drawn attention to Goa’s rapidly changing ecology and its misunderstood landscapes, particularly the lateritic plateaus often seen as barren wastelands. Speaking at a lecture titled “Wild Goa Through the Viewfinder” at Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias as part of the club’s centenary celebrations, Rangnekar explained that beneath the rust-red crust of these plateaus lie thriving ecosystems that host unique species of grasses, insects, and birds linking the state’s northern and southern ecological zones. He described Goa as a transitional region within the Western Ghats, holding a mix of species from both ends of the range.

Using his extensive collection of photographs, Rangnekar discussed how visual documentation helps scientists and citizens alike understand changes in biodiversity. His images reveal a decline in sightings of several endemic birds and a simultaneous increase in dry-land species like the Indian grey hornbill, suggesting potential local climate changes. He emphasized that photography can capture subtle ecological shifts, serving as both a research tool and a medium for environmental education.

Rangnekar also shared how, through photography, he and his team discovered a new dragonfly species later named Idionyx gomantakensis, first observed in 2008 and officially published in 2013. He highlighted the power of observation, recounting instances where chance wildlife encounters, when documented, contributed to scientific understanding — including what may be the world’s only photograph of a spider feeding on a bat.

Through his presentation, Rangnekar underscored that photography is not merely an art form but an essential means of recording Goa’s fast-changing natural heritage, urging people to view these landscapes not as wastelands but as vital living ecosystems worth preserving.

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Goa’s Overlooked Eight-Legged Arachnids Need Attention; ‘Development’ Needs to go Hand-in-Hand With Ecology

allycaralgoa

Panaji, June 2025 – Embankments along the national highway in Mollem, home to a rare tarantula species, were wiped away due to road widening projects and heightened the risk of local extinction, according to Prof. Manoj Ramakant Borkar, who at a recent MOG Sunday talk at the Museum of Goa, Pilerne, stressed that development goes hand in hand with ecology. These tarantulas and other arachnids, Borkar said, are dependent on specific microhabitats and microclimatic regimes, which cannot be replicated beyond the mounds and burrows of the embankment.

In his talk titled ‘Whip Spiders, Whip Scorpions & Tarantulas: The ‘Not-So-Charismatic’ Wildlife of Goa,’ Borkar emphasised that tarantulas have restricted and limited dispersal and that whip spiders and whip scorpions remain largely unaccounted for by major conservation frameworks. 

“They have not been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, nor are they included under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act schedules,” says Borkar, head of the Department of Zoology, Carmel College for Women, South Goa and founder of the Biodiversity Research Cell.

The talk included detailed insights into the anatomy and traits of these species. The whip scorpion, also known as a vinegaroon, is named after its defence mechanism, in which the creature lifts its whip and sprays a vinegar-smelling substance on the provoker. Another unique feature of the tarantulas, according to Borkar, is their behaviour of layering their burrow with their webs, whether it is a pipe or a crevice in a tree.

Drawing from ongoing fieldwork, Borkar revealed the elaborate mating behaviour of whip spiders in which the smaller male takes the lead. “We have established a new hypothesis, where the prey drive is overridden by mating priorities,” he said.

He believes Goans are extremely eco-conscious and eco-sensitive, but not always vocal. Those who speak up are silenced with incentives. “All those who speak for the environment are not anti-development. They’re only insisting on sustainable development. You just cannot replace the earth’s capital with manufactured capital,” he said.

The talk touched on the role of ecotourism and its potential impact on Goa’s ecology. While it has the potential to raise awareness, Borkar warned that its focus has often shifted toward recreation and commercial gain. “We need to be ethical in our approach to tourism. Without strong environmental regulation, there can be no sustainability,” he said.