The 2012 International Conservation Photography Awards has been announced. This biennial juried competition will allow photographers to send entries to several categories all related to nature and wildlife. The competions was started by acclaimed nature photographer, Art Wolfe in 1997. 100 best entries will be chosen by jury members and for the first time Burke […]
India’s Claim of Increased Forest Cover may be False feel Researchers
Researchers have repudiated Government claims that India’s forest cover has increased by up to 5% in a span of 10 years. The research conducted by two Indian and an Australian scientist reports that in reality there is decline in natural forest cover by 1.5% to 2.7% each year.
Endangered Indian Animals Flooding Pet Market of Thailand
This time it is poaching of a different kind and a threat of a different magnitude. Live, endangered Indian animals like turtles, tortoises, gharials and even bear and leopard cubs, are being trafficked by air, stuffed in suitcases, to Bangkok, to be sold as pet animals. These unfortunate animals are traded at chatuchak market area in Bangkok and the Suvarnabhumi air port is being used as transit point for this illegal activity.
Animals love Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, Reveals First Census
Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary near Chandigarh is transforming into a perfect haven for wild animals. Massive afforestation and soil conservation efforts have turned this once erosion stricken land to a forest and a wildlife sanctuary that boasts of 9 mammal species and 63 species of birds according to a first time ever survey conducted by Widlife Institiute of India.
Ghost Fishing Scare at Gujarat Coasts
The ghost of lost fishing nets is haunting marine animals at Gujarat coasts with many crustaceans, fishes and mollusks getting entangled in lost fishing nets that keep floating in the sea.
Jerdon’s Courser: A Precious Rarity
Jerdon’s Courser is extremely rare bird found only in a small part of Andhra Pradesh. Despite being listed as critically endangered by IUCN, there is little that is known about the Jerdon’s Courser. It seems the idiom “Out of sight is out of mind” holds perfectly true for this shy bird. Because the bird is nocturnal and not very keen to publicize its presence, only a handful of people have attempted to know more about this species that is one of the fifty rarest birds of the world. Here is what we do know about it…
Darjeeling to have off Display Breeding Centre for Himalayan Endangered Species
A major challenge faced by animals bred in captivity is their struggle to adjust in the wild where they need to feed and protect themselves. The Darjeeling Zoo seems to have sorted out the problem for some of the Himalayan endangered species by planning to set up an off display breeding centre. The primary objective of such an initiative is to release the zoo bred animals to the wild with the near wild environment of the proposed centre facilitating both breeding and honing of hunting skills of these animals.
Animal Adoptions a Hit in Bhopal’s Van Vihar
They may not be Dhoni, Zaheer Khan or Priyanka Chopra , but for the animals of Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal, each of their benefactors is a celebrity. A unique scheme launched by the park has witnessed thirty three wild life lovers adopting animals and ensuring they are well looked after at the park. After the rise in celebrity adoption of animals the novel scheme has succeeded in creating awareness among public and inspiring many to do a good deed or two for the animals.
Are Marine Species inching towards Mass Extinction?
27 of the world’s ocean experts met up in Oxford recently and compiled a report that is one of the most shocking revelations of this century. The experts believe that climate change, global warming and man’s continuous interference with nature has made the situation so fragile that all the oceans of the world face risk of mass extinction of marine life. It is something that has not been heard for tens of millions of years.
Conservation Efforts make Hyderabad Zoo Second Best in the Country
The Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad, has been adjudged the best Zoo in the country next only to Mysore Zoo, by the Central Zoo Authority of India (CZAI). The title comes because of the sincere efforts of Zoo officials to conserve endangered species through reproduction (captive breeding), and providing a better home for the animals and birds.
Raised by Humans, Elephant now Part of Wild Herd
Here is extremely good news coming from Manas National Park in Assam. An elephant re-integrated into the wild a few months back under the Elephant Reintegration Project has been accepted by its wild mates and is now part of a herd. Considering that the elephant was hand-raised by humans, it is no simple accomplishment for the not-so-wild animal to be accepted and given a place in a wild herd.