TBNClimate
Tens of thousands of orchids saved from road development in southern India
Publication: Conservation news
Authors: Bobbybascomb, Shreya Dasgupta
Source published: 10/11/2026, 05:48:56 UTC
Briefing created: 10/11/2026, 05:55:34 UTC
Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 10/11/2026, 05:54:24 UTC.
Briefings
A recent study reports a successful emergency rescue of over 27,000 orchids from southern India, where many species were at risk of extinction due to road development. Researchers in Kerala collected orchids from felled and scheduled trees, planted them in public wetlands and a beach, and found that nearly three-quarters of the rescued specimens survived approximately two years later. Eleven of the 12 rescued species are not listed on the IUCN Red List, highlighting significant conservation gaps. Co-author Viswambharan Sarasan noted a 'silent extinction' occurring over the last 15-20 years, though the total number of orchids lost to road-building remains unknown.
Key points
- Researchers in Kerala collected more than 27,000 orchids from trees felled or scheduled for cutting down for road development.
- Nearly three-quarters of the rescued orchids survived approximately two years after being planted in public wetlands and a beach.
Context
Orchids in the Western Ghats are epiphytes that grow on trees and die if their host trees are killed. Kerala has 271 known orchid species, with many growing on trees in forests, roadsides, and plantations. This study highlights a recent conservation success but notes that the total number of orchids lost to road-building over the last 15-20 years is unknown.
Limitations
The study covers only the 27,324 rescued orchids from a specific timeframe, and the total number of orchids lost to road-building over the last 15-20 years remains unknown. Eleven of the 12 rescued species are not listed on the IUCN Red List, meaning their conservation status is not known.
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