In the heart of India’s Silicon Valley, where towering tech campuses and relentless traffic define the urban landscape, there exists a parallel universe of extraordinary creatures. Bengaluru, despite its rapid urbanisation, harbours a remarkable array of wildlife.
Five decades ago, Bengaluru had 68.2% green cover, and was aptly called a Garden City. Today, the green cover has been shaved down to a mere 2.9%. Nonetheless, some species have adapted to city life while others struggle to survive. This unique ecosystem, which few of its more sapient residents fully appreciate, showcases the resilience of wildlife in human-dominated landscapes.
Exploring and discovering this hidden wildlife doesn’t require venturing far. A walk in your garden or a peek under a leaf reveals tiny architects, hunters, and builders. The city’s remaining green spaces, including Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Cubbon Park, and the Indian Institute of Science campus, serve as crucial refuges for urban wildlife. Here’s a look at some of the most fascinating and many rare fauna from in and around Namma Bengaluru.
Five decades ago, Bengaluru had 68.2% green cover, and was aptly called a Garden City. Today, the green cover has been shaved down to a mere 2.9%. Nonetheless, some species have adapted to city life while others struggle to survive.
Eight-Legged Architects
Spiders arouse an irrational fear, triggered mostly by horror movies that blow their talents and attributes out of proportion. But the spiders of Bengaluru are anything but horrifying. They are living wonders of adaptability, camouflage, and resilience.
Twig Mimic Spiders
I found this impressive Poltys sp. twig mimic spider on a weekend stroll in my apartment garden and couldn’t have been more surprised to find this rarely seen spider on my doorstep. These spiders are the ultimate camouflage artists. During daylight hours, they perfectly mimic small twigs, extending their legs in a linear formation. As dusk falls, they emerge to spin their characteristic orb-shaped webs.
Trapdoor Spiders
A herp walk in early 2024 was a letdown, because the scrub forests being explored were burnt down deliberately and there wasn’t much wildlife alive to be seen. The spiders, of course, are survivors and were among the few critters that we came across. There was one rare find, and it was a Trapdoor Spider, likely belonging to the Idiops genus. It looks a bit like a Tarantula, but only a lot smaller. These remarkable spiders construct intricate burrows with camouflaged trapdoors. Despite resembling small tarantulas, they’re quite different, with lifespans that can exceed 20 years. The oldest recorded individual lived for 43 years, making this one of the longest-living spider species.
Wolf Spiders
On a macro walk in mid-2024, I stumbled upon a Wolf Spider mother carrying her spiderlings. The forest floor, still damp from the overnight rains and littered with floral debris, created a perfect backdrop for this scene. I would have loved to shoot more on this walk, but the mosquitoes were brutal—swarms of them made it nearly impossible to pause for long. This was among a few frames I shot on that walk.
Unlike web-building spiders, wolf spiders are active hunters equipped with excellent eyesight. These solitary predators play a crucial role in controlling pest populations in urban gardens.
Nursery Web Spiders
In August 2024, while exploring the reserve forests on the outskirts of Bengaluru, among the many snakes that we discovered, there were a few rare spider finds as well. One of those was this Pisaurid, that was expertly spotted by Rishi, a sharp-eyed 10-year-old with us who proved to be a natural at uncovering hidden herps. These spiders are notable for their parental care. The females construct specialised nursery webs for their eggs and guard their spiderlings until their first molt.
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Reptilian Residents
Things that slither usually set off the heebie-jeebies in many people. Lizards, however, are some of the most misunderstood animals, and their world is an intriguing one.
Indian Chameleon
Indian Chameleons (Chamaeleo zeylanicus) are frequently sighted in forests on the outskirts of the city. However, there has been a gradual decline in the sightings of these reptiles over the past decade, primarily due to habitat loss and persecution based on unfounded myths. These remarkable colour-changing reptiles are completely harmless and actually benefit gardens by controlling insect populations.
Golden Skink
This Golden Skink (Eutropis carinata) was spotted on a herp walk—hunting ants. It had positioned itself on a wall, right at the edge of an ant trail and was snacking on a few ants every so often. These diurnal lizards demonstrate remarkable adaptation to urban environments.
Bangalore Geckoella
This was a target species for one of the herp walks in 2024 and we ventured into the scrub forests for an unprecedented eight-hour night walk. We were rewarded with several extraordinary sightings of reptiles and arthropods. There was a fair bit of excitement on the walk, because we found the rare and elusive Bangalore Geckoella (Cyrtodactylus srilekhae) finally at 4 AM just when we were considering wrapping up the walk. Kashyap, my companion on many of the walks, wanted to check out one last forest patch, before we wrapped up, and—voila!—a few minutes later he spotted this unique gecko.
Indian Black Turtle
During a walk through Eucalyptus forests around the city, we came across a couple of sub-adult Indian Black Turtles, also known as Indian pond terrapins (Melanochelys trijuga), at the edge of a pond. These turtles are often found foraging on aquatic vegetation along the water’s edge. As omnivores, their diet includes a wide variety of food, from aquatic plants to insects and even carrion, making them important contributors to the health of their ecosystem. Once common in Bengaluru’s lakes, now face shrinking habitats as water bodies succumb to pollution and encroachment.
Serpentine Survivors
Snakes are fascinating, even to those who dread them. Many of them are highly adaptable, though the ever-changing habitat of the city poses a challenge to their survival.
Bamboo Pit Viper
Bamboo Pit Vipers (Craspedocephalus gramineus) are commonly seen snakes in the forests around Bengaluru. Attractive with their vivid deep greens and yellows, they are named for their preference for bamboo groves but can also be found on the ground and upon rocks near bodies of freshwater.
These vipers are nocturnal hunters, relying on the pit organs located between their eyes and nostrils to efficiently locate prey. Their haemotoxic venom is specialised for hunting frogs, lizards, birds, and rodents, and can cause serious medical emergencies in humans. They’re now found in the forests around Nandi Hills and surviving patches of the Bannerghatta forest corridor.
Green Vine Snake
Once abundant in Bengaluru’s wooded areas, Green Vine Snakes (Ahaetulla oxyrhyncha) are no longer seen inside the city and can be found only in fringe forests on the outskirts. Their remarkable camouflage allows them to blend with foliage, making them excellent indicators of healthy urban forest fragments.
Common Krait
We found a juvenile Common Krait (Bungarus caeruleus) on a weekend herp walk in 2024. It was well past midnight when we found this beautiful snake. This stunning snake is no longer common. Known for its potent neurotoxic venom, it is one of India’s most venomous snakes. It was undoubtedly the highlight of the night.
Banded Kukri
We came across this beautiful Banded Kukri (Oligdon arnensis) on a weekend herp walk. These fascinating, non-venomous snakes have unique, curved teeth reminiscent of kukri knives, which they use to slit open eggs.
Arthropods: The Little Giants of Bengaluru
Invertebrates with jointed limbs form the vast majority of urban wildlife recorded in Bengaluru, yet little is known about most of them.
Lacewings
On an early morning macro walk, I stumbled on a miniature scene that is seldom seen—a cluster of newly hatched lacewings, each measuring less than a few millimetres in size. Though they may appear as mere specks of dirt to the naked eye, a closer look reveals the unmistakable sickle-shaped mouthparts of these baby lacewings.
Lacewings are fearsome predators, and their newborns are no exception. In fact, they are known to cannibalise their own kind. However, nature has equipped lacewing eggs with a remarkable design to increase the chances of survival. Each egg is attached to a thin filament-like structure, preventing the young from eating one another. These beneficial insects play a crucial role in natural pest control.
Cuckoo Bees
I stumbled upon a roosting Coelioxys sp. Cuckoo Bee on a walk in January 2025. I must say they appear rather endearing when perched with their mandibles wedged onto a twig. Much like many other solitary bee species, Cuckoo Bees lead intriguing lives. What truly sets them apart is their practice of brood parasitism—much like their avian namesakes, the cuckoos. These bees are examples of complex ecological relationships in urban environments. By laying eggs in other bees’ nests, they maintain population balance in the pollinator community. They’re frequently observed around flowering plants in community gardens and park spaces.
Indian Domino Cockroach
This elegant black-and-white cockroach mimics the aggressive ground beetle Anthia sexguttata, showcasing wildlife’s ingenuity in mimicry. This is yet another rare gem in the biodiversity fabric of Bengaluru.
Scorpions
Bengaluru is home to several species of scorpions, often found in rocky and forested areas around the city. These fascinating arachnids possess a unique ability to glow under ultraviolet (UV) light due to compounds in their exoskeleton. Scorpions are nocturnal hunters, preying on insects and small creatures, and use their pincers and venom for defense. Despite their fearsome reputation, most scorpion species found here pose no danger to humans.
Protecting Urban Wildlife: Challenges and Solutions
As cities expand, urban wildlife faces increasing threats from human activity. Bengaluru, once rich in wetlands and green spaces, has lost 95% of its original wetlands, severely impacting its biodiversity. Pesticide use, light pollution, and road mortality are further disrupting delicate ecosystems. However, conservation efforts offer hope.
Bengaluru, once rich in wetlands and green spaces, has lost 95% of its original wetlands, severely impacting its biodiversity. Pesticide use, light pollution, and road mortality are further disrupting delicate ecosystems.
From creating urban wildlife corridors and rooftop gardens to engaging in citizen science and school programs, communities play a crucial role in protecting nature. Simple actions—like reducing pesticide use, restoring native plant habitats, and participating in clean-up efforts—can help support urban wildlife.
Current Threats
- Road Mortality: An estimated 228 trillion arthropods perish on an annual basis from cars globally.
- Habitat Fragmentation: 95% of Bengaluru’s original wetlands have been lost to development, severely impacting wildlife populations.
- Pesticide Use: Widespread pesticide use has led to a significant decline in urban insect populations, disrupting the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
- Light Pollution: Artificial lighting disrupts the natural rhythms of nocturnal species, affecting their breeding and feeding patterns.
- Community Conservation Initiatives:
- Participate in clean-up efforts: Volunteer for local park clean-up events.
- Urban Wildlife Corridors: Green corridors to connect the few surviving forest patches, providing safe passage for wildlife.
- Wildlife Underpasses: These structures help reduce road mortality by allowing animals to safely cross busy roads.
- Rooftop Gardens: These green spaces provide valuable habitat for a variety of mobile species, including birds, insects, and even small reptiles.
- Citizen Science: Platforms like the India Biodiversity Portal empower residents to document wildlife sightings, contributing valuable data for conservation efforts.
- Urban Wildlife Surveys: Engaging local communities in wildlife surveys raises awareness and fosters a deeper connection to the natural world.
- School Programs: Educating young minds about the importance of wildlife conservation is crucial for building a sustainable future.
- Proper disposal of waste: Do not litter! Yes, littering has a significant and detrimental impact on wildlife.
Habitat Enhancement
- Water Body Restoration Projects: Revitalising polluted water bodies creates vital habitats for aquatic species and improves the overall health of the ecosystem.
- Insect Hotels: These simple structures provide shelter and nesting sites for beneficial insects like bees and lacewings.
- Native Plant Restoration Programs: Reintroducing native plant species helps restore ecological balance and provides food and shelter for wildlife.
Supporting Urban Wildlife
Every individual can contribute to wildlife conservation through simple yet impactful actions:
- Maintain Wild Corners: Create small patches of natural habitat in your garden by incorporating leaf litter, native plants, and natural materials.
- Install Artificial Shelters: Provide nesting boxes for birds, insect hotels to support local wildlife.
- Reduce Pesticide Use: Opt for organic gardening practices and minimise the use of harmful chemicals.
- Diminish Light Pollution: Reduce excessive outdoor lighting, especially at night.
- Report Wildlife Sightings: Share your observations with local conservation groups and contribute to citizen science initiatives.
- Practice Ethical Photography: Maintain a safe distance from wildlife and avoid disturbing their natural behaviour.
Hope for the Future
While Bengaluru’s wildlife faces significant challenges, growing awareness and community action offer a glimmer of hope. The city’s transformation into a biodiversity-aware metropolis hinges on balanced development that prioritises the needs of both humans and wildlife. Through continued documentation, collaborative conservation efforts, and active public engagement, Bengaluru can serve as a model for urban wildlife conservation worldwide.
To discover more of Raghuram’s work, visit his website Macro By Raghu
