Bauxite Mining Proposal in Odisha’s Bhalda Hills Threatens the Habitat of the Rare Jeypore Ground Gecko

Context

A proposed bauxite mining project spanning approximately 147 hectares in Odisha’s Bhalda hills has raised concerns over the survival of the rare Jeypore ground gecko. The species was rediscovered in 2010 after having been presumed extinct.

Key Highlights

• Rare Species: The Jeypore ground gecko has a highly restricted distribution and is associated with rocky habitats in the Eastern Ghats.
• Rediscovery and Monitoring: The species was rediscovered in 2010 after remaining unrecorded for more than a century. Recent reports indicate that only a small number of individuals have been documented.
• Threat from Mining: Bauxite extraction could damage rocky shelters, disturb microhabitats and fragment the species’ already limited geographical range.
• Forest and Community Concerns: The proposed mining project is located in the Bhalda hills area associated with the Nageswar reserve forest, raising concerns regarding ecological damage and Adivasi rights.
• Cumulative Impacts: Habitat destruction, mining-related infrastructure and human disturbance could collectively threaten the species, whose population is already small and geographically restricted.