A new and rare species of climber has been discovered in the Western Ghats in Idukki district of Kerala. The discovery was made by a team of scientists from the Jawahar Lal Nehru Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute. The climber belongs to the same family as Colocasia, the popular indoor plants with broad heart-shaped […]
New roosting site of rarest bats in the world found
Armature birders may never have imagined a bat being named after India’s famed ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali! Indeed, little is known about the Latidens salimalii or better known as Salim Ali’s Fruit Bat. In 1993 however, the bat found its fame when it entered the Guinness Book of World Records as “one of the three […]
8 Destinations In India Which Are a Must Visit for All Nature Lovers
India, known for its Color and Culture not only excites you with its Historical Monuments but has many breathtaking Natural Scenic Attractions too. From the exquisite scenic delights of the snowy locales to the sun kissed beaches, and the backwaters, India does not fall short in giving an experience of a lifetime to its visitors. […]
New Damselfly Species Discovered In India
In the shola forests of Kerala, up in the mountains of Annamalai hills, scientists have discovered a new species. It is a damselfly and owing to it’s love for the mountain habitats it has been named – Protosticta monticola, monticola meaning ‘mountain dweller’. The discovery was made by Dr KG Emiliyamma and Dr Jafer Palot […]
Decades old Elephant Pits pose Danger to Animals in Kerala Forests
About 60 abandoned elephant capture pits that were created a decade ago in the forest ranges of Ernakulam district in Kerala pose a serious threat not only to the pachyderms for which it was first dug, but also other wild animals in these forests. The practice of capturing elephants using pits was officially banned by […]
The Python in Wayanad
Anuradha Shankar , a mother, blogger and a traveler recently visited Wayanad in Kerala and had an unexpected encounter with an Indian Rock Python. As curiosity took Anuradha and her family including her inquisitive son Samhith, to the place where the python was incubating its eggs, she also wondered how difficult it must be for […]
Indian Tree species out of Critically Endangered list
A tree species Syzygium Travancoricum (locally known as kulavetti or vadhamkolli) found only in the state of Kerala has been moved out of the Critically Endangered (CR) category of red list of threatened species. The tree is still rare, but now further away from extinction. In 1998 the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) […]
Carnivorous Plants Emit Blue Glow to Attract Prey
It can be aptly termed fatal attraction. Scientists in Kerala were surprised to discover carnivorous plants that attract insects by acting as blue fluorescent lamps! This is probably the first time in the world that a carnivorous plant has been discovered to reveal a blue glow to catch its prey.
Massive Jumbo Problem for Temples
It is literally a ton of weight on the shoulders of authorities of Tamil Nadu in southern India. The temple elephants kept for religious reasons in the state are getting obese, and now their keepers are planning a strict diet and exercise regime to bring the jumbos back into shape.
Elephant Mother and Baby Rescued from Deep Pit
A mother elephant and her calf were rescued from a 20 feet deep pit last week by forest officers near Vadattupara in Kothamangalam in Kerala. The duo was in the pit for more than 24 hours before they could be rescued.
How Much is too Much
The declaration of the Western Ghats as a World Heritage Site is another milestone achieved towards conservation of India’s vast bio-diversity. But along with world heritage tag comes the added responsibility of ensuring that this heritage is carefully preserved. In view of the expected increase in tourism activities at the heritage sites, the World Heritage Committee has therefore asked India to take proper measures to avoid any possibility of negative impacts.