Rainforests are luxuriant, dense forests rich in biodiversity, found typically in tropical areas with consistently heavy rainfall. Here are a few interesting facts about rainforests and why they are vital for our existence. Types of Rainforest There are two types of rainforests: temperate and tropical. Temperate rainforests are spread across some coastlines in temperate zones […]
World’s First Mangrove Zoo to be opened in West Bengal
In case you are planning a trip to West Bengal in future, do include in your travel itinerary – a trip to the “Mangrove Zoo”. According to official sources, the world’s first mangrove zoo, a dedicated facility accommodating the fauna of the Sundarbans, is to open in Jharkali, South 24- Parganas district West Bengal soon. Jharkali […]
How to Stalk a Tiger
TRAVEL TALE: Tara Harrison, Destinations Editor of Travel Weekly Magazine, Australia, recently visited the Nagarhole National Park in southern India to see a wild tiger. But is it that easy to catch a glimpse of the mega predator in its jungle territory? Read the guest post, to find what the adventurer witnessed on her maiden […]
Accidents and Electrocution Kill 28 Elephants, 3 Tigers and 1 Rhino in 2013
India’s Environment and Forest Minister Jayanti Natarajan has informed that this year, 28 elephants, 3 tigers and 1 rhino have died due to road, rail accidents and electrocution across all states in the country. This number does not take into account the deaths of these animals in the hands of poachers. As on December 3rd […]
Humans are Not Smarter than Animals
VIEWPOINT: There are tiny little insects called the Rhinoceros beetle that can lift 285 times their bodyweight. Humans can manage 1.7 times their bodyweight only. The starfish can regenerate their entire body from a cut off limb. Humans of course, can only regenerate a broken toe nail perhaps. Elephants can keep track of up to […]
Butterfly Park attracts Hundreds of Colourful Winged-Visitors
A butterfly park, setup by a college lecturer, Sammilan Shetty, in August this year, has already attracted over 118 species of butterflies. The regular winged visitors to the new park include a few rare species such as the Blue Nawab and the Southern Birdwing (Troides minos), which is the largest Indian butterfly with a wingspan […]
Indian Teenager Wins Prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award
Barely 14 and already in the world’s radar – that would be the most apt way to describe Indian teenager Udayan Rao Pawar who won the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year award by the Natural History Museum and BBC Worldwide for the year 2013. His photograph, “Mother’s little headful,” which shows a mother crocodile […]
Global Warming can make Mammals Smaller in Size
Scientist have long known that mammalian body size significantly decreased during an ancient global warming event around 55 million years ago. Researchers have now found that similar mammalian dwarfing occurred again 2 million years after the first event and thus as the Earth begins to heat up again – mammal body size may again see […]
Electric Cars to Replace Fuel-run Cars in Shimla Water Catchment Wildlife Sanctuary
CONSERVATION ACTION: It is always great to know when government bodies take up initiatives that benefit wildlife. In a recent eco-friendly initiative, the Himachal Pradesh government decided to ban fuel-driven vehicles from entering the Shimla Water Catchment Wildlife Sanctuary and introduce electric cars and golf carts for use by the visitors. This move aims at […]
Diesel Pollutants Snatch Honeybee’s Ability to Smell Flowers
RED ALERT: In a report published in the journal Scientist Report, researchers from the University of Southampton have confirmed that certain pollutants destroy floral smells that help honeybees locate flowers that contain nectar. The researchers specifically explored the group of highly reactive nitrogen oxide gases released by diesel combustion and found that these pollutants are […]
Captive Elephants Now Available For Hire!
In a significant setback to elephant conservation efforts in the country, the Kerala state government recently gave the green signal for the commercial use of captive elephants. The controversial proposal requesting for permission to let out captive elephants for hire was put forward by the Chief Conservator of Forests in the Department of Forests in […]