This is a guest post by Bikash Kumar Bhattacharya, republished from Mongabay with permission. Kasema Khatun’s tiny, thatched-roof house lies just a few feet from the swaying elephant grass thickets of Orang National Park, a 78-square-kilometer (30-square-mile) protected area in the northeastern Indian state of Assam. Like the other residents of Rangagora Village, it is […]
IUCN Heritage Hero Is Indian Conservationist Bibhuti Lahkar
He has worked tirelessly for close to 20 years for the protection of wildlife at the Manas National Park in India. Now, IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has recognised him as the people’s choice, Heritage Hero – Indian conservationist Bibhuti Lahkar, for his dedication to the conservation of India’s Manas Wildlife Sanctuary. Bibhuti Lahkar […]
Not Just Rhinos, Reptiles and Amphibians too Thrive at Manas National Park
In stark contrast to an imminent threat of losing its UNESCO World Heritage Site status, Manas National Park in Assam has turned out to be a biodiversity hotspot worth saving indeed. A recent study found that the park is home to at least 20 amphibian as well as 35 reptile species, including some highly-endangered species […]
Orphaned Bear Cubs Released into the Wild In Assam
Three popular festivals in India’s North eastern state Assam – Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Magh Bihu celebrated in January saw three Asiatic black bear cubs (Ursus thibetanus) end up in the IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) rehabilitation center in Kokrajhar. Raised by humans without their mother’s care, the rescued bear cubs have now […]
A Sackful of Surprise
Having been brought up in Manas Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam, Sangeeta, a nature and wildlife enthusiast always thought that everyone who visited this World heritage site, came to witness the wild animals. That was till the day her aunt visited – a genuine non-lover of wildlife. Read Sangeeta’s hilarious account of what followed that perhaps […]
Hand reared Rhino Creates History: Gives birth in the Wild!
Baby news is always good news, but this baby is special because it was born in the wild of a rhino mom who was hand raised by humans!
250 more Rhinos in Assam
Conservation efforts at Assam’s Kaziranga National park are finally bearing fruits. As South Africa struggles with poaching threats to its rhino population, the Indian rhinos seem to be thriving with at least 250 more Rhinos recorded in the Assam sanctuary over a three year period.
One horned Rhinos to be saved from Annual Floods
To save the One-horned Rhinos from the annual floods of the river Brahmaputra in Assam, the state is all set for trans-location of the animals from Kaziranga national park to Manas Tiger Reserve.
Hand raised Clouded Leopard and Bear Cubs to Begin New Life in Manas
Two rare clouded leopard cubs and four Asiatic black bear cubs that had been rescued after they were separated from their mothers, are now ready to begin their new life in the jungles of Manas National Park in Assam after having spent quite some time in human company.
Past Week in Pictures
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 […]
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.