Known as the world’s rarest pheasant, the Western Tragopan was recently spotted in a new location in Kashmir after WTI and state forest department officers surveyed the Poonch area of Jammu & Kashmir. The team was pleasantly surprised by the find because the shy bird usually prefers the northern coniferous forests to its present location.
Two Endangered Species make Rare Appearances in Rajasthan
State of Rajasthan ushers in good news for animal lovers with the rare sighting of two endangered species in two different wildlife reserve of the state. While the endangered fishing cat was seen at the Keoladeo bird sanctuary a rare glimpse of the four-horned antelope believed to be extinct for years was seen at the Sariska Wildlife Reserve.
India gets ready to Celebrate World Environment Day
5 June is celebrated as World Environment Day and the nation that is hosting a gala of activities this year as the global host chosen by United Nations is India. This year being dedicated to forests, India is all ready with a number of events highlighting the immediate needs for the environment as well as motivating more people to get involved.
Bor Wildlife Sanctuary Welcomes Three Tiger Cubs
In an encouraging trend, tigers in the Bor Wildlife Sanctuary, near Nagpur, have seen a spurt in their population, with three tiger cubs spotted in the sanctuary recently. This takes the tally of tigers in the protected area from 12 to 15.
British Vets give Eyesight Back to rescued Indian Bear
In the 13 years of her life, Lilly the bear has suffered much. She lost her mother when she was just a cub and was taken by a gang to be part of the dancing bear troupe, ‘madari ka khel’ that was once a popular roadside entertainment in India and still can be seen in many villages and small towns although banned. Almost blind and severely injured, Lilly was finally rescued by Wildlife SOS. She then found her life back thanks to a group of British female vets who treated her eyes and gave her sight back.
Sharks Facing Grave Danger due to Indiscriminate Fishing
In a distressing incident recently, six huge sharks were caught in the fishing net of a trawler, off Mumbai coast. Over fishing of sharks is a matter of grave concern as it disrupts the ecology of oceans and disturbs the marine food chain. Their diminishing population calls for immediate regulatory measures, primarily sustainable fishing.
Vulture Deaths slowing down Post Killer Drug Ban in India
In what seems like good news for the aerial scavengers of India, a recent study has found that post ban of the drug Diclofenac in India, the decline in vulture population has reduced to 60 percent between 2006 and 2008. But to sustain this decline, a regular and concentrated effort to eradicate the use of the killer drug is impertinent.
India’s First Research Centre for Marine Species and Marine National Park to come up in Gujarat
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) one of India’s biggest corporate led by Mukesh Ambani has tied up with Ministry of Environment and Forest to create a research facility in Gujarat state called “National Centre for Marine Biodiversity’ . This is the first ever research centre to be made in the Public-Private Patrnership (PPP) mode in the country.
Elephants Saved from Being Hit by a Train in Assam
Thanks to the quick thinking action of a patrolling team a herd of 15 elephants was recently saved from a fatal collision with a train in the deepor beel railway stretch near Guwahati in Assam. The patrolling has till date prevented 80 accidents of such kind in the state.
Receding Habitat Threatening India’s National Aquatic Animal: Ganga River Dolphins
Gangetic Dolphins are being driven out of their larger, natural habitat of Brahmaputra River, to that of the river’s tributaries and even facing extinction owing to human interference in the name of activities like sand mining of river beds, fishing and pollution. This has been revealed by an ongoing study initiated jointly by University of Gauhati experts and a marine zoologist from Goa.
Interview: Film maker Neloy Bandyopadhyay, Raising Voice for the Dying Vultures
Nature has many admirers but seldom there are those who not just admire nature but make it their point to save its beauty in whichever way they can. Neloy Bandyopadhyay in one such person. A techie by profession and a self confessed naturalist by heart, 34 year old Neloy has been travelling the length and breadth of the country to capture rare glimpses of nature in his camera and take a step further to save the rapidly dying wilderness of the country.
India’s Endangered spoke to this young wildlife enthusiast about his new documentary on Vultures.