Neelakurinji Added to IUCN Red List as Vulnerable Species
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Species | Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) |
| Status | Added to IUCN Red List as Vulnerable |
| Assessment | First Global Red List Assessment conducted by Dr. Amitha Bachan K.H. and Devika M. Anilkumar |
| Affiliation | Centre for Ecology Taxonomy Conservation and Climate Change (CEtC), Western Ghats Hornbill Foundation |
| Reviewer | Aparna Watwe, Western Ghats Plant Specialist Group |
| Characteristics | - Endemic shrub, grows up to 3 meters - Found in high-altitude shola grasslands (1,340-2,600 meters) |
| Blooming Cycle | Mass blooming once every 12 years, semelparous life cycle |
| Threats | - Habitat loss (40% lost to tea/softwood plantations, urbanization) - Invasive species (Eucalyptus, Black wattle) - Infrastructure development - Climate change - Misguided afforestation programs |
| Distribution | - Area of occupancy: 220 sq. km - Extent of occurrence: 25,510 sq. km - Subpopulations: 34 (33 in Western Ghats, 1 in Eastern Ghats) |
| Key Habitats | - Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu) - Munnar - Palani-Kodaikanal - Anamalai mountains |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable (Criteria A2c) due to population reduction of at least 30% over three generations |