Forensic genetics confirms new Hedgehog Species in J&K
First recorded in Jammu & Kashmir — wildlife, genetics and forensic research labs join to add a species to India’s list
Rajouri / Srinagar — A team led by the Jammu & Kashmir Wildlife Department has confirmed the presence of Brandt’s hedgehog (Paraechinus hypomelas) in India for the first time, after DNA profiling and detailed morphometric (body-measurements) and behavioural studies on specimens captured in the Rajouri–Poonch region.
The finding — based on genetic matches and physical measurements carried out in collaboration with university researchers and a wildlife forensic genetics laboratory — was endorsed in a departmental report presented to the J&K Wildlife Board in late December 2025.
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The discovery — what happened, when and where
Local wildlife staff first noticed unusual photographs in June–July 2024 from the Nowshera area of the Rajouri–Poonch division. Amit Sharma, Wildlife Warden, Rajouri–Poonch, who initially investigated the sightings, said the animals were at first misidentified by locals as porcupines and by some observers as the Indian long-eared hedgehog.
Subsequent trapping and fieldwork produced five specimens (including adults and juveniles) that were studied over the following months.
Samples — including blood for DNA — were analysed by researchers at the University of Jammu, Osmania University (Hyderabad) and the Conservation Biology and Wildlife Forensic Research Lab in Jammu. The DNA sequences and morphometric data matched Paraechinus hypomelas, a species previously known from Central and West Asia but not recorded from India until now.
About Brandt’s hedgehog
Brandt’s hedgehog (Paraechinus hypomelas) is a small eulipotyphlan mammal (family Erinaceidae) characterised by a dense spiny coat, large ears and an insectivorous–omnivorous diet.
Before this record it was known from Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Oman, Saudi Arabia and several Central Asian states — making the Rajouri report an important range extension into the Indian subcontinent. The discovery raises India’s known hedgehog species count to four.
How the identification was made — the science and forensics behind the claim
- Field observations & capture: Multiple sightings and captures from ecotone habitats between farmland and forest, including males, females and juveniles.
- Morphometrics: Body and skull measurements compared with reference ranges, ruling out Hemiechinus species and matching Paraechinus hypomelas.
- DNA profiling / forensic genetics: Blood samples sequenced and matched with international reference databases using wildlife forensic genetics pipelines.
The agreement between morphometric and genetic evidence gives the team high confidence in the identification. A formal research paper is under peer review in an international journal.
Where the animals live and what they eat — ecological notes
Field observations place Brandt’s hedgehogs in the Rajouri–Nowshera ecotone, where farmland meets forest. Dietary notes indicate predation on rats and other small vertebrates and invertebrates typical of hedgehog ecology.
Conservation significance and recommended actions
- Range extension and biodiversity value: Adds a new mammal species to India’s fauna.
- Targeted surveys: Recommended across the Pir Panjal and adjoining ranges.
- Habitat protection: Focus on ecotone zones vulnerable to agricultural intensification.
- Human–wildlife interface management: Community outreach and wildlife- friendly rodent control.
Why forensic genetics matters for wildlife records
The case demonstrates how DNA barcoding and wildlife forensic genetics can resolve difficult identification problems, correct visual misidentifications and provide robust evidence for official biodiversity records.
Takeaway
The confirmed record of Brandt’s hedgehog in Jammu & Kashmir highlights the power of combining field biology, taxonomy and modern forensic genetics. It expands India’s known mammalian diversity and underscores the need for coordinated surveys and conservation planning.
