A group of students from Delhi University’s Shyama Prasad Mukherjee College for Women are carrying out a three-day survey to count the number of dragonflies and damselflies across the seven DDA biodiversity parks in Delhi. This annual exercise began on Thursday, with earlier surveys conducted in 2018, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
“Dragonflies and damselflies are totally dependent on wetlands. Seasonal water bodies in Kamla Nehru Ridge and perennial water bodies at Yamuna Biodiversity Park are the micro-habitats for them to thrive,” said entomologist Mohammed Faisal, adding that only the final count could give the exact picture of the state of dragonflies in Delhi.
“These insects, vital bio-indicators of ecosystem health, rely on clean water and diverse habitats for their breeding and larval stages. They play a vital role in the ecosystem as both predators and prey. As predators, they feed on mosquitoes and other small insects, thus helping control pests and safeguard human health. As prey, they support birds, frogs, and other wildlife, forming an essential link in the food web. Their presence and diversity are therefore indicators of healthy aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems,” noted Dr. Ekta Khurana, the scientist in charge at Kamla Nehru Ridge. Dragonflies also significantly control the population of disease-causing pathogens and mosquitoes.
“The restoration of Kamla Nehru Ridge has transformed this degraded and altered landscape into a model of ecological revival. It strategised hydrological recovery by channelising water, restoring natural drainage patterns, and reviving ephemeral and perennial water bodies. Together, these efforts have helped create multiple micro-habitats such as shallow pools, marshy fringes, and shaded forest edges, which are crucial for sustaining dragonflies and damselflies,” Khurana further added.
Climate Change and Dragonfly
Climate change has impacted dragonfly populations, as rising temperatures affect their lifespan. If rainfall is insufficient, mosquito populations decline, disturbing the balance.
According to Dr. Arjun, supervisor of the Centre for Environment Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE) programme at the park, the dragonfly population suddenly rose about 15 to 20 days ago with the increase in water levels in marshy areas of the water bodies.
Ilma Naaz, a second-year student at Ramjas College, Delhi University, told national media, “I didn’t know there were these diverse species of dragonflies… Unless we actually see their role on the ground, we fail to value them.”
