A rare and vividly blue spider known as the Peacock Tarantula (Poecilotheria metallica), found in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, has triggered widespread attention online after the state government announced a new conservation survey aimed at studying its population in the wild.

The Andhra Pradesh Forest Department, in collaboration with the Eastern Ghats Wildlife Society, has launched a detailed Peacock Tarantula conservation status survey inside the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR). The initiative is being carried out under the guidance of Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, officials said.

The move has quickly gained traction on social media, with users reacting in surprise and fascination at the existence of the rare blue tarantula from India's Eastern Ghats, a species many say they were seeing for the first time.

Described as one of the most visually striking arachnids in the world, the Peacock Tarantula India species is known for its metallic blue body and extremely limited habitat range. Conservation experts classify it as Critically Endangered, making it one of the most vulnerable spiders in India's biodiversity hotspot regions.

As images and information about the species circulated online, social media users expressed both awe and concern.

One user wrote, "Wow that's so beautiful until it gets near us but seriously it needs conservation efforts.."

Another comment read, "Nice to see.. rare creatures."

Many users said they were "amazed" and "wowed" after finding about the spider for the first time, with several calling it one of the most unusual species they had ever seen from India's wildlife.