Rediscovered Jeypore Ground Gecko Faces Threat from Adani‑Linked Bauxite Mining in Eastern Ghats

Overview The Jeypore ground gecko was thought extinct until 2010. In the past year only four individuals have been recorded in Odisha’s Balda hills, a region earmarked for a 147‑hectare bauxite mining project linked to the Adani Group . Key Developments Four geckos documented in 2025‑2026 in the Balda hills . Proposal by Adani‑subsidiary Kalinga Alumina Ltd. to clear 147 ha of forest. Local Adivasi (Bondo and Porja) have protested for two years, demanding recognition of forest rights. Earlier habitat at Potangi, Koraput district, lost to mining by NALCO . Important Facts The gecko measures about 3.6 inches and has a distinctive yellow‑orange body. It was first described by British naturalist Richard Henry Beddome in 1878 . Herpetologists Ishan Agarwal and Aniruddha Datta‑Roy rediscovered it in 2010 in Koraput district. Subsequent sightings occurred in 2025 and three in 2026 , including one this month. Its habitat is restricted to forests at elevations of 900–1,400 metres in the northern Eastern Ghats. Threats include conversion to coffee plantations, hydropower projects, and mining. The proposed mine would fragment the forest, endangering not only the gecko but also other endemic species such as the limbless amphibian Gegeneophis orientalis and the Araku worm gecko. UPSC Relevance 1. Environmental Governance : The case illustrates the need for rigorous EIA before approving mining projects. 2. Tribal Rights : The protests highlight the implementation challenges of the Forest Rights Act . Aspirants should understand the balance between development and constitutional safeguards. 3. Biodiversity Conservation : The gecko is termed a flagship species . Protecting it can safeguard entire ecosystems, a key concept in the National Biodiversity Action Plan. Way Forward Mandate a comprehensive EIA with independent scientific review before any mining clearance. Accelerate the processing of forest‑rights claims for the Adivasi of Nageswari reserve forest, ensuring their consent under the PESA framework. Promote alternative livelihoods such as sustainable agro‑forestry and eco‑tourism to reduce pressure on forest land. Designate the Balda hills as a protected area or biodiversity heritage site to conserve endemic fauna. Addressing these steps will align development with constitutional, environmental, and social imperatives, a recurring theme in UPSC examinations.