The exceptional success of facebook as a social media tool has proven beyond doubt that humans have a natural tendency to make friends with the friends of their friends. A study from National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis shows that even the spotted hyenas instinctively seem to know that this kind of bonding is […]
Endangered Asiatic Lions Drown in Flash Floods in Gujarat
The drought-prone areas of Saurashtra and Kutch in Gujarat struck by unseasonal heavy rains claimed the lives of 9 Asiatic lions after they got stuck in the flash flood. About 35 lions were reported missing. Amreli district, where the average monsoon rainfall is 600mm received 816 mm rainfall over three days was the worst affected. […]
Tigers for Dinner – Book Review
Amrita Sharma reviews for India’s Endangered, Tigers for Dinner by Ruskin Bond. Mehmoud wasn’t just any run-of-the-mill khansama doling out delectable koftas, lamb chops, puddings and milkshakes to the Bond family. He was a Story-Teller Extraordinaire who, thorough his fascinating tales of adventure in the wild, worked his way to the heart of the lonely […]
iSharkFin for Better Protection of Endangered Sharks
A new technology that will help quickly identify shark species and help save them is here. The software called iSharkFin was developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) jointly with the University of Vigo and was funded by the Government of Japan and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora […]
New Nesting Ideas Helping Grey Hornbills Survive in Treeless Cities
Adaptation is one of the key requirements for successfully evolving and staying alive in the race of “the survival of the fittest”. The Indian Grey Hornbills of Indore are playing by these rules and have adapted to a highly urbanized environment created by human beings. In the concrete jungles where there are very few trees […]
Hidden Jungle Animals Caught on Camera by School Children
Living in Pawani village in Maharashtra one would not usually consider the village to be a tiger territory. Rightly so, as the village does not fall within the boundary of any protected tiger reserve. However, the children of this village studying in Jai Seva Adarsh High School have proved everyone wrong. Armed with highly sensitive […]
New Plant Species of Camphor Discovered in the Western Ghats
A new tree species has been discovered in the Western Ghats, the leaves and stem of which, when crushed, gives out a strong smell of camphor. The species was first reported from Agasthyamala hills in the southern part of the Western Ghats and was hence named Cinnamomum Agasthyamalayanum. Image courtesy journalijar.com/uploads/899_IJAR-4343.pdf The genus Cinnamomum contains […]
Artificial Coral Reef Structures create Ecosystems and Boost Livelihood
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 […]
Wildsense: A Gaming App for Citizen Scientists
This piece of news is particularly an interesting one for wildlife enthusiasts who also love their devices and enjoy playing games on them. There’s a new gaming app called Wildsense for iPad that lets you be a citizen scientist and have some fun. The game loads photos of animals in the wild that are analysed […]
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 […]