Cities across the world are falling quiet as bird song vanishes. With backyards being restructured by human activity, birds are finding it harder and harder to find prey, according to a study by the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. The study, which focused on the breeding success and population growth of the Carolina chickadee, also highlighted […]
Bees Stop Buzzing During Solar Eclipse
The North American total solar eclipse of 2017 was a landmark event. Attracting both lay people and scientists in droves, it saw many people turn their gazes to the sky. For a group of researchers however, the elements of interest were bees. For the first time, the behavior of bees in solar eclipses was tracked […]
Snow Leopard Habitat Mapped In J&K For The First Time
For the first time in Jammu & Kashmir, the habitat of the snow leopard has been mapped. The move is expected to facilitate the conservation of the threatened feline. The survey has found that the species possesses a much wider distribution than was previously believed. Read More: 4 Reasons Why Climate Change Is Bad For […]
Bijnor Seizure Unearths Massive Mongoose Massacre
Over 56,000 paintbrushes and 145 kg of mongoose fur were seized in Sherkot in Bijnore beginning of October, unearthing a massacre of unimaginable proportions. According to the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), the consignment represents the death of 10,000 mongooses for making paintbrushes out of their fur. 6 arrests were made in the process, guided […]
5 Year National Action Plan Announced to Conserve Migratory Birds
Chilika, Bharatpur, Point Calimere-India’s premier hotspots for migratory birds are also some of its most attractive tourist destinations, besides being magnificent storehouses of biodiversity. Pollution, habitat destruction, hunting and climate change have all put these habitats under threat. However, with India rolling out a new five-year national action plan, known as the “National Action Plan […]
Plastic Is Killing Sea Turtles
Plastic use threatens sea turtles and other marine life with extinction, study finds Sea Turtles represent one of the most highly threatened groups of wildlife in today’s world. Pollution, bycatch, destruction of nesting habitat and hunting have served to make 4 of the 7 extant species highly threatened. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, […]
In A First, Lion Gives Birth To Cubs Through In-Vitro Fertilization
When one refers to the term “Wildlife Conservation”, the imagery associated with it is usually one where charismatic species of megafauna are being preserved in a Protected Area such as a National Park or Wildlife Sanctuary. Even though the use of “ex-situ” methods such as the use of captive rearing programmes have been advocated since […]
Eco Travel: Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary, Chhatisgarh
One of the last haunts of the nearly-extinct Asiatic Wild Buffalo(Bubalus arnee), this little-known sanctuary lies in Raipur district in Chhattisgarh. SPECIES TO WATCH Asiatic Wild Buffalo Bubalus arnee (Endangered) Tiger Panthera tigris (Endangered) Gaur Bos gaurus (Vulnerable) Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus (Vulnerable) FIND ON THE MAP The park is located between 20.45-20.79ºN latitudes […]
Book Review: The Secret Lives Of Indian Mammals
Very rarely does a guidebook on wildlife cover the many complex facets of their behavior. Even more rarely does such a book succeed in evoking the reader’s desire to participate in their conservation. Vivek Menon’s The Secret Lives of Indian Mammals is one such rare book. In a mere 260 pages, it takes a comprehensive […]
Eco Travel: Singalila National Park, West Bengal
Located 7000 feet above sea level in the northwestern extremity of West Bengal, Singalila is a high altitude national park which is a haven for trekkers, birdwatchers and nature lovers. It is home to an incredible diversity of Himalayan flora and fauna. SPECIES TO WATCH Red Panda Ailurus fulgens Endangered Clouded Leopard Neofelis Nebulosa Vulnerable […]
Indian Wild Ass
www.indiasendangered.com Indian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus khur) The Indian Wild Ass or Khur is a subspecies of the Asiatic Wild Ass, the Onager. Both are classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List. Protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, India. Included on Appendix I of the Convention on International […]