Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary

Why in News: A four-day survey of fauna at the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary has made notable additions to its biodiversity records.

Location and Geography

• Situated in the southern Western Ghats, in Kollam district, Kerala.
• Covers approximately 172 sq. km and is a part of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve.
• The terrain is predominantly hilly, interspersed with ravines.

Drainage System

• Major rivers: Shendurney, Kazhuthuruthy, and Kulathupuzha.
• These rivers converge to form the Kallada River.

Flora

• The vegetation includes tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen, and moist deciduous forests.
• The name “Shendurney” originates from Gluta travancorica, locally called ‘Chenkurunji’, a tree species endemic to this region.

Fauna

✅ Mammals:

• Notable species include elephants, tigers, leopards, gaurs (Indian bison), sambar deer, barking deer, wild boars, and bonnet macaques.
• The sanctuary is home to Nilgiri langurs and lion-tailed macaques, both endemic to the Western Ghats.

✅ Birds:

• Over 200 species of birds have been recorded.
• Key species: great Indian hornbill, Malabar pied hornbill, grey-headed bulbul, white-bellied treepie, along with various woodpeckers, flycatchers, and raptors.

Lezim dance

Why in News: The upcoming Bollywood film Chhava, based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, has sparked controversy due to a scene portraying the Maratha king performing the Lezim dance.

Lezim Dance: A Traditional Folk Art of Maharashtra

Origin and Overview

• A traditional folk dance of Maharashtra.
• Named after the lezim, a wooden stick fitted with jingling metallic cymbals, used by dancers.
• Involves vigorous, rhythmic movements including squatting, jumping, and group formations.

Occasions of Performance

• Commonly performed during festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, marriage processions, and cultural events.
• Also integrated into school activities as a form of physical exercise.

Key Features

✅ Energy and Synchronization: Dancers move in circles or groups, gradually increasing pace with the beats of dhol or dhalgi (drums).

✅ Cultural Identity: Represents community spirit and is often linked to Maratha pride.

✅ Martial Connection: Originates from physical drills in akhadas (traditional gymnasiums), enhancing stamina and coordination.

Historical Significance

🛡️ Shivaji Maharaj’s Influence: Encouraged during Shivaji Maharaj’s reign as a military exercise to maintain fitness and discipline among soldiers.

Projects iSNR and INR Konnect

Why in News: The Rubber Board of India has launched two key initiatives, iSNR (Indian Sustainable Natural Rubber) and INR Konnect, aimed at strengthening India’s rubber industry on the global stage and increasing domestic production.

Objective

• Aligns Indian rubber production with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) standards.
• Introduces traceability certification for better transparency.

Benefit

• Eases access for stakeholders in the rubber supply chain to European Union markets.

INR Konnect: Web-Based Productivity Platform

Objective

• Connects owners of untapped rubber plantations with adopters to improve productivity.

Features

• Certified Network: Certifies growers, adopters, and tappers for credibility.
• Training: Provides production management and sustainable practices training.
• Database: Maintains a list of certified tappers for easy access.

Significance

• Tackles the issue of underutilized plantations (20-25% of India’s rubber holdings) caused by low rubber prices and absentee ownership.

India’s Rubber Industry

Brief

• India is the third-largest producer of natural rubber globally, after Thailand and Indonesia.
• India is the fourth-largest consumer of natural rubber.

Production Areas

• Kerala contributes over 90% of India’s natural rubber production.
• Other significant states: Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Tripura, Assam, and Meghalaya.

Key Challenges

• Climate change affecting rubber yields.
• Competition from other rubber-producing nations.
• Labor shortages in the rubber sector.

Government Initiatives

• National Rubber Policy 2019 aims to boost rubber production, improve productivity, and strengthen the domestic rubber industry.
• Sustainable & Inclusive Development of Natural Rubber Sector Scheme focuses on promoting sustainable rubber cultivation and enhancing the livelihoods of rubber growers.
• INROAD Project focuses on tapping the potential of untapped rubber plantations.