GOLDEN-HEADED CISTICOLA SIGHTED IN MATHIKETTAN SHOLA NATIONAL PARK

PRELIMS BITS 

• Overview:
  The Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis), a small grassland bird, was recently spotted in Mathikettan Shola National Park, Idukki, marking its first sighting in the southern Western Ghats.
• Characteristics:
  • Males exhibit vibrant golden-orange plumage during the breeding season.
  • Features a pinkish beak and black streaks on its back.
  • Known for its distinctive call, aiding identification in the wild.
• Significance of Discovery:
  • First observed in the southern Palakkad Gap, an area previously unrecorded for the species.
  • Expands understanding of the region’s biodiversity and highlights the need for more ecological research in the Western Ghats.
• Conservation Status:
  • While not critically endangered, preserving grassland habitats is crucial due to threats from human activities.
  • Protecting these ecosystems is essential for maintaining populations of this and other species.
• Mathikettan Shola National Park:
  • Located in Idukki district, Kerala, it was established as a national park in 2008.
  • Known for its ecological significance as an elephant corridor and its unique shola forest ecosystem.