Technology will now be employed to ensure the safety of elephants that are at risk of being killed by passing trains. In an affidavit issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), the government has recommended the use of technology, especially electronic surveillance, to curb the number of elephant deaths due to collision with […]
246 Species of Butterflies at Periyar Tiger Reserve
Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala, India is a notable tiger reserve as well as an elephant reserve. A recent survey, however has shown that the protected forest area rich in biodiversity is also home to 246 species of butterflies, proving once again that protecting a tiger’s territory helps conserve a number of species including the […]
Open Wells Claim Lives of Two Lion Cubs in Gujarat
As a child, listening to the Panchatantra tale of the lion and the rabbit, I was quite impressed by the clever rabbit which outwitted the greedy lion and tricked it into jumping into a well. Today, however, I realize the importance of each and every species that exist in nature and their contribution to diversity […]
£1m Project Launched to save the Royal Bengal Tiger in India
India is one of last remaining abodes of the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger. Only 1706 of this big cat survive in India which means there is just one tiger for every 7, 62,016 people. However, the growing human population has also increased the constant encounters of the wild predator and humans giving rise to frequent […]
First Flock of Amur Falcons Arrive in Nagaland
The early morning hubbub in Pangti village of Nagaland’s Wokha district came to a standstill when the villagers stopped to greet the first flock of Amur Falcons arriving in the North eastern state. The 100 or so birds arrived on 8th October, marking the beginning of this year’s migration season. What was once a death […]
New Species of Wolf Snake Discovered in India
India gets a new species of snake and the state of Odisha lends its name to this new snake! In a delightful news for snake lovers across the world a wolf snake found in India’s eastern state of Odisha (Orissa, formerly) has added to the growing list of new species discovery. The snake has been […]
India’s Tiger Protection Squad Ensures Zero Poaching in Maharashtra Reserve
“Tyger, tyger, burning bright,” wrote William Blake in his famed poem. And now it appears that thanks to a dedicated team belonging to the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF), tigers will once again shine bright in the forests of Maharashtra. The expertise of these trained hands was on display in February at the Ashta village […]
Diclofenac Poisoning Threat Spreading to Vultures Worldwide
Vultures, the huge scavenging birds with their large beady eyes and bald heads perform the very important task of cleaning up remains of dead carcasses of humans, cows and other animals. Once found in large numbers all over India, these birds are now in dire risk of extinction because of Diclofenac, a veterinary drug that […]
Lack of Data Pushing Freshwater Crustaceans of Western Ghats to Extinction
A large number of freshwater shrimps and crabs in the Western Ghats are in danger of becoming extinct due to increasing human activity in their habitat and irregularities in their classification and documentation. More than 90 % of gecarcinucid crabs found in Western Ghats are endemic to the area. A study was conducted recently on […]
India has the Highest Forest Ranger Mortality in the World
Being a forest ranger in India seems to rank top on the list of jobs with high mortality rates. Based on statistics provided by a non profit organization called IRF (International Ranger Federation), past three years saw the death of 72 forest rangers in India. This number is very high as compared to their counterparts […]
Mammals respond to Baby Cries of other Species
A mother’s pull to a crying baby, is so strong, that it does not matter if the baby is its own or even the same species. Researchers have recently found that the distress calls of mammal infants sound very similar to each other and when a mother of any species hears these calls, she will […]