The tiny pores under the surface of the leaves called stomata are primarily responsible for the intake of carbon dioxide that plants need for photosynthesis. During the daytime, the pores are open to allow the maximum intake of the gas in the presence of sunlight so that plants can produce their food. But what happens […]
This Interactive Map Documents Animal Extinction Risks Worldwide
How do you understand the extent of damage done to biodiversity easily? One way is to look at the number of species extinct or endangered over the years primarily due to human actions. A new Animal Endangerment Map has used data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and WWF to show which […]
Extent of Deforestation shows why Human-Elephant Conflict increasing in the Western Ghats
Extent of Deforestation shows why Human-Elephant Conflict increasing in the Western Ghats What has been the extent of deforestation in the Western Ghats elephant habitat in the last 40 odd years? A new study has mapped a total area of over 47,000 sq km across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala to find that it is […]
Gujarat Govt Tells Court About Actions Taken to Prevent Lion Deaths
The Government of Gujarat submitted its response on the actions taken to prevent lion deaths in Gir forest to the court following a report by amicus curiae Hemang Shah raising nine core issues affecting the Asiatic Lions of Gir. India’s Endangered had reported in detail the 9 core issues affecting the safety of Asiatic Lions […]
Giant Freshwater Animals Headed Towards Extinction
There is grim news about freshwater animals. According to the first comprehensive study on big river animals, populations of the great fauna that once dominated the world’s rivers and lakes have crashed in the last 50 years. Over 126 species spanning 72 countries in Europe, Asia and North Africa, were assessed by scientists, and found […]
Our Neighbourhood Otters Need Saving From the Global Fur Trade
Their silky fur is considered diamonds of the fur business. Velvety and thick, the smooth, silk pelage of the smooth-coated otter is sold for 350 Chinese yuan or more in Tibet and for 90-100 dollars in Thailand leather factories. Nobody knows exactly how many of these otters are left in India or South east Asia. […]
After Lions, Canine Distemper Virus Threatens Tigers of India
On International Tiger Day this year, India announced the increase in number of tigers in the country to 2,967. This does not mean however that the threats to tiger population which existed earlier do not persist – loss of habitat, poaching and a decline in prey; continue to pose problems. In addition to these, a […]
Sink or Swim: Kaziranga Animals Fight the Annual Assam Floods
For the animals of Kaziranga National Park, the floods arrive like clockwork. The summers precede the rains and the rains precede the floods – the annual boon and bane that is as much a necessity as nature’s execration that forces some to perish and some to rise above and survive. This year till now the […]
Deforestation Cutting Escape Route of Animals Fighting Climate Change
Imagine it is unbearably hot where you live. The rain clouds are nowhere in sight and you wish you could escape to a cooler climate, somewhere on the hills. In fact, you set out the very next day, only to find that the road that would take you to the hills is gone. In its […]
The 9 Core Issues Affecting Safety of Asiatic Lions in India
23 Asiatic lions died unexpectedly in Gujarat in September and October last year because of a sudden bout of the Canine Distemper Virus. The incident again triggered the issue of safety of the growing population of the lions and finding a second home for them. At present the Gir National Park in Gujarat is the […]
11 Himalayan Animals & Plants Fighting Climate Change
A few days ago, scientists from the University of Columbia and the University of Utah shared images and a study to show that the melting of Himalayan glaciers caused by rising temperatures has accelerated dramatically since the start of the 21st century. The analysis, spanning 40 years of satellite observations across India, China, Nepal and […]