Maharashtra gives Thackeray scion nod to research crab

After discovering a rare crab and naming it after his family, Tejas Thackeray on Wednesday received approval by the state government to conduct research on the species. ‘Gubernatoriana Thackerayi’ is the name of the species that was discovered at the Western Ghats in Maharashtra this year in February.

“We received a proposal seeking permission to conduct a research on the particular type of crab in Western Ghats. For such research, approval is necessary from the government. We also send our forest officer along with the researchers to ensure that the species is protected and not manhandled. We are happy to encourage research of indigenous species. These efforts will help us in documentation and preserving them,” forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said. The minister heads the Maharashtra State Board for Wildlife, which gives permission for such research.

The 19-year-old Thackeray, younger son of Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, is known for his love of animals. The crab he discovered has an attractive red shell and saffron-red pincer-like claws. He also published a paper regarding this in the journal Zootaxa on February 23. Tejas’ elder brother Aditya is Yuva Sena chief and leads the party’s youth wing. Tejas told The Asian Age that he wanted to gather more information about the crab, as no document is available at present.

“I had proposed research and collection permits for freshwater crabs in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra. These crabs are not protected by the law and are not on the schedule list. We have virtually no information on these crabs. It’s a very poorly studied group. Hence we wish to study the diversity of species, the endemism, distribution pattern, ecology and behavioural pattern. The information we gather from this study would be a key to the conservation of the species and help us understand and protect the Western Ghats, keeping in mind the wide array of biodiversity they host.

The crabs are found in the Raghuveer Ghats.