Sea turtles around the world are threatened by marine plastic debris, mostly through ingestion and entanglement. Now, researchers reporting in the journal Current Biology have new evidence to explain why all that plastic is so dangerous for the turtles: they mistake the scent of stinky plastic for food. “We found that loggerhead sea turtles respond to […]
Rare Rusty-spotted Cat Seen in Uttar Pradesh Reserve After a Decade
The last time, the rusty-spotted cat was seen in Pilibhit Tiger Reserve was in 2011. It was recently spotted again by Director of the reserve, H Rajmohan on a usual patrolling in the park after nearly a decade. “I rediscovered the elusive cat last week during a usual patrolling in the Mala range. This was […]
There are Two Distinct Red Panda Species, Reveals New Research
Scientists have discovered for the first time that there are two distinct species of the red panda, not just one. A team of researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences has found that two varieties of the red panda which are native to the Himalayas and southwestern China, actually comprise two different species. Red pandas […]
River Ganga turning Lifeless in Parts finds Study
Researchers from Banaras Hindu University and Mahatma Gandhi Kashividyapith University in Varanasi have found that the underwater portion of River Ganga has got fragmented into areas where no aquatic life exists – a condition named hypoxia. Pollution of River Ganga with untreated sewage containing toxic metals has reduced the level of dissolved oxygen, especially near […]
How eco-friendly are you? One research says you might be overestimating yourself
How eco-friendly are you? One research says you might be overestimating yourself We are all familiar with environmental jargon like reduce-reuse-recycle or stop using plastic. Many of us also take these motivations seriously and act upon them. But research by the University of Gothenburg with participants from India, Sweden, England, and the United States found […]
How to Save a Fish that Looks and Acts Like a Snake
More often than not all fish in our minds look like a version of the fish we drew in our school colouring books – cute beady eyes, fins, and a tail. The problem with this version is that if there is in the real world, a fish that does not fit the description, and does […]
Your Paintbrush could be Stained in Red
“What brush is this?” “It is sable-hair brush. One of the best brushes.” “Okay, we will buy it. Will you give us a bill for the same?” “Bill…umm…no, it is illegal to sell these brushes.” “Why illegal?” “It is wildlife. Banned in India.” The conversation your read above was between an undercover volunteer from Wildlife […]
Changing Physiology of Plants could be Boosting River Flooding Worldwide
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 […]
A Command for Conservation
Noted ornithologist Harsh Vardhan recently played a key role in helping army officers create a bird park in Jaipur, Rajasthan. He believes this is the first such effort by the army and was impressed by the pace at which the plan was executed. Here is an account in his own words, What has the army […]