Hedgehogs, known as mull eli in Tamil, are among the 17 hedgehog species that exist around the world. There is not much information about the species, except for what was mentioned in the British gazette over a century ago. ¡°Currently, in India, there are three hedgehog species, and their behavior, movement or ecology has not been studied,¡± says Brawin Kumar, scientist from Indian Institutes of Science, Education and Research (IISER). Brawin has been working on the species in India, attempting to gather data and the distribution of this species.
This unique evolutionary animal has been facing a spate of threats from habitat destruction, roadkills, among many others. However, in the recent years, rise of windmills in Tamilnadu is an additional threat to the hedgehog habitat.?
Windmills in south Erode, Tiruppur, Kangeyam, and many other areas are increasing.?
The hedgehogs sleep with their underbelly in the sun, in an open space where people are not walking. The hedgehog habitat is right where the windmills are installed. Also, where there is an increasing traffic, they die because they are slow moving animals and do not run.?
¡°About 150-200 hedgehogs are killed in in one month in one place called Thisayinvilai in Tirunelveli district of Tamilnadu,¡± says Brawin.
Looking at the distribution of hedgehogs, the rapid development of windmills could be a major threat. ¡°The semi-arid grasslands where windmills are installed, the habitat is modified,¡± adds Brawin.
In southern Tamil Nadu, the hedgehog distribution areas are in the areas of windmills. As India is moving towards alternative energy, there are fewer spaces left to establish these, and those areas too are in the hedgehog zones.?
¡°Creation of new roads for preparation of windmill, execution, setting up the plant and other process changes its original landscape. The land use land cover change is one of the major reasons for population decline in mammal species,¡± says Brawin.?
Along with a host of other issues such as poaching, trading, hunting, pet trade, for medicine, this issue also needs to be addressed for conservation of hedgehogs.?
In Erode, Tiruppur, surveys done by the team reported sighting of hedgehogs in cattle grazing field, backyards of houses, foothill of hillocks and within windmill spaces.?¡°Also, the species has gone extinct locally in many places within Tamil Nadu,¡± says Brawin.
At present, there is no proper study on windmill impact on small mammals. However, there is a lot that could be done.
¡°There is a need for proper environmental impact assessment before large scale implementation of windmills,¡± says Brawin.?
Additionally, strategies need to be developed. Involving the local communities is also essential for conservation of the species and the habitat. ¡°The windmill authorities could develop a large-scale socioeconomic people-based study towards protection and conservation of local fauna. This will mitigate the threats to the species and also look at sustainable green energy,¡± says Brawin.
In European countries, hedgehog conservation societies, protection task forces have rapid assessment on the impact of windmills on local fauna. This could very well be done in India, once surveys are done and more information is gathered from the ground.
Brawin says, ¡°Wind mill companies can include hedgehog conservation along with green energy to establish and better their environmental credentials. They can also set up large fertile forest area for the conservation purpose, and act as a moderator or a facilitator to trigger local species conservation.¡±?
For instance, the companies could directly involve in creating a hedgehog safe zone, marking eco sensitive zones by understanding the species, and thus mitigating the threats.?
?This could be an example that other stakeholders can adopt. Further, various platforms should be used to enhance the knowledge about the species. ¡°Only scientific institutions alone cannot do conservation. Wind energy companies could also play a role in conservation as a stakeholder.?
Awareness and knowledge among the local employees need to be enhanced. A long-term vision must be prepared with the national and state windmill authorities supporting hedgehog related field and lab research funding and promotion activities. They could also set up appropriate study centres in Tamil Nadu,¡± says Brawin.
¡°With the help of local support and the windmill companies we could establish evidence-based rural hedgehog conservation zones. And this could be done anywhere else,¡± he adds.
Before the windmill project embarks, a field assessment of local biodiversity will help. On the basis of that, one can develop a policy to support the species existence in that area, and earmark zones in that geography for conservation purpose.?
¡°The vehicle's speed limit has to be restricted to 15-20 km in the windmill areas to avoid roadkill of hedgehogs. There is now a need to develop guidelines to mitigate threats to hedgehogs,¡± adds Brawin.
The author is a multi award winning senior environmental journalist based in Coimbatore.?This story was produced under the Renewable Energy grant from the Earth Journalism Network.