Blue-finned Mahseer

Blue-finned Mahseer

Recently, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has moved Blue-finned Mahseer from Endangered to the Least Concern’ status on its Red List.

Key Points

• About:
  • The Mahseer belongs to the genus Tor, of which there are several subspecies to be found in India and in other range countries in South asia.
  • The Blue-finned Mahseer or Tor Khudree is one of the subspecies of the mahseer. 

Habitat:

• • Mainly found in the Mota Mola river east of This species is also found in other rivers of the Deccan Plateau.
  • The species is migratory; moving upstream during It prefers clean, fast flowing and well oxygenated waters.

Threats:

o Threatened by habitat manipulation, over harvesting and competition from other fish species.

Significance:

• • Freshwater Ecosystem Indicator:
    • It is very sensitive to dissolved oxygen levels, water temperature and sudden climatic changes. It just cannot bear pollution.

Cultural:

• • • They have cultural and religious significance as well as they are protected in ‘temple sanctuaries’ across India.

Conservation Initiatives:

• • Tata Power (private company) is involved in conservation of the blue- finned for 50 years in Lonavala (near Pune),Maharashtra. 

Protection status:

• • IUCN Red List: Least Concern.

International Union for Conservation of Nature

• About:
  • IUCN is a membership union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations.

• Created in 1948, it is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard It is headquartered in Switzerland.

The Red List:

• • The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, is the world’s most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species.
  • It divides species into nine categories: Not Evaluated, Data Deficient, Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild and extinct. Test your decision-making skills in the dramatic deal or no deal demo .
  • It is recognized as the most authoritative guide to the status of biological diversity. 

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