The world over as the threat of depleting wetlands loom large, it has had a cascading effect on one of the most enigmatic species of the insect world – the dragonflies and damselflies. Scientific studies say that these tiny lesser-known species are under threat and plummeting in numbers. To closely examine the population trend of odonates (an order of flying insects that includes the dragonflies and damselflies), a multi-pronged, long-term approach is required for the conservation of these important indicator species.
In cities across India, a number of organisations and individuals have embarked on a journey to document the dragonflies and damselflies during the Dragonfly Festival.
Initiated by WWF-India in partnership with Bombay Natural History Society, India Biodiversity Portal, Indian Dragonfly Society and other like-minded partners, the Dragonfly Festival is a citizen science movement that has been running for the past five years.
