It might not be the real thing, but for fish swimming in southern Indian coastal waters, the artificial coral reef structures, a project initiated by The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) are a good enough place to live and thrive. It is also a reason why fishermen from about 25 villages in Tamil Nadu […]
Declining Population of Large Herbivores may turn the Planet to Barren Landscapes
Herbivores or plant eating animals are found on every continent of the earth other than Antarctica. Among these, the number of known land herbivore species is approximately 4000. But a recent study of large herbivores led by Professor William Ripple of the Oregon State University has brought into light some very worrying results. The study […]
Millions of Olive Ridley Turtles Hatch in India’s Largest Rookery
It is that time of the year again when the east coast of India comes to life with millions of olive ridley turtle hatchlings, just out of their eggs start making their journey towards the sea and begin their marine adventures. Last week, the Gahirmatha coast in Odisha’s Kendrapada district was witness to this beautiful […]
Pigeon Brains Work just like Children
Their brains may be pea-sized, but a new study on pigeons reveal that the bird shows remarkable intelligence in recognizing, categorizing objects and even naming them, just like human children! Image via cc/Flickr There is a similarity between the way pigeons learn the equivalent of words and the way children do, found Ed Wasserman and […]
IUCN Concerned about World Heritage Sites of India
A recent report by the Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has brought forth the question whether the places declared as World Heritage Sites are really well conserved. The assessment made by the IUCN showed that the sites such as the Western Ghats, Kaziranga National Park, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary and Sunderbans in India are under […]
Leopards Prefer to Live Near Human Habitats
An international study of radio-collared leopards in India has led to an unusual and unexpected finding . Scientists say that the common belief that leopards found near human residences are mostly those that have strayed from the forest habitat might not be entirely true. It is now thought more likely that the leopard is a […]
Tiny National Park Showcases Huge Butterfly Diversity
Gorumara National Park in West Bengal is one of the smallest known national parks of India with a total area of just 80 sq km. Nonetheless, what it lacks in size, the park compensates in the rich diversity of fauna, especially butterflies thriving in this area. A recent study recorded more than 300 species of […]
Humpback Whales Sing at Night to Hunt and Communicate
What is similar between a clock and a humpback whale? The tick-tock sound! In a recent study conducted on humpback whales, it has been found that the marine mammals make a kind of tick tock noise at night, which helps them to trap their prey as well as to invite other whales to share the […]
Tigress knocked down by Train in Uttarakhand
A nine-year old tigress was run down by a train between Ramnagar and Kashipur stations in Uttarakhand. The incident which is the first of its kind in Uttarakhand occurred in the early hours of the morning and the injured body of the big cat was discovered by villagers later on after sunrise. Officials opine that […]
Oil Spill Creates Major Environment Crisis in the Sunderbans
Nearly 350 tonne of oil spilled into the Sela river of the Sunderbans on Tuesday after an oil tanker collided with an empty cargo vessel in the Bangaldesh side of the mangrove forests. The spill may cross over to the Indian side of the Sunderbans, and cause serious damage to the ecosystem which is home […]
IUCN Report Hastens Plans for a Breeding Centre for Great Indian Bustard
Serious conservation plans seem to have finally fallen in place for the Great Indian Bustard with the sanctioning of a breeding centre in Gujarat by the central government. The land identified by the state government for the first breeding centre is in Kutch and in close proximity to the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary. Image via […]