Avitas Adolphus Cutinha chosen for Konkani Kutam Award- 2013

July 24, 2013

Mangalore, Jul 24: Theatre artist Avitas Adolphus Cutinha also known as Dolla Mangalore will be awarded with '12th Bahrain Konkani Kutam-2013' award in recognition of his contribution to Konkani language.

Announcing this to media persons on Wednesday, Convener of Konkani Kutam Bahrain Richard Moras said that awards would be presented on July 28 at 6.30 p.m. at St Sebastian Platinum Jubilee Hall, Bendore, Mangalore in a formal function.

He said since 13 years Bahrain Konkani Kutam is facilitating achievers of Konkani language. The institution already honored 10 people for art, culture, literature and service for Konkani language.

The award is of Rs 50,000 of cash, memento and a citation.

Mr Moras said that Dolla Mangalore is known for his playwright, Direction, radio programmes and comedy acting. He has directed 50 dramas and acted in 300 Konkani and Tulu drama. He also directed religious plays and performed number magic shows. Even he had opportunity to play role in movies and produced audiocassette.

Dolla Mangalore staged his plays not only in India but also in gulf countries and entertained Mangaloreans. Currently he is serving as a director of MCC Bank in Mangalore, Mr Moras stated.

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Elusive bamboo shrimp resurfaces in Mangaluru estuary after 70 years

News Network

December 7,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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