It is ‘Destination India’ for the World Environment Day 2011 (WED) which falls on June 5th, for “embracing the process of transition to a green economy”. This year’s theme ‘Forests: Nature at your service” emphasises that quality of life and the well being of forests and that of ecosystems are closely knit. For the first time, India is named as the host by the UNEP-The United Nations Environment Programme. The theme is also in support of United Nations International Year of Forests.
What is IUCN
IUCN stands for International Union for Conservation of Nature. It is the world’s leading organisation that deals with conservation issues.
Cricketer Zaheer Khan Adopts a Tiger
He may be a terror on the cricketing field owing to his fast pace bowls, but cricketer Zaheer Khan was himslef bolwed over by a tiger at the Mysore Zoo recently. The regal ‘Brahma’, a Tiger of the Jayachamarajendra Zoological Park in Mysore impressed the cricketer so much that he decided to adopt him.
Researchers Rediscover Five Lost Frog Species
The ‘Lost Amphibians of India’ was an ambitious project started out three months ago specifically to look for those rare amphibians who had not been traced in the wild or otherwise for many years. With a list of 50 to start with, the researchers have already succeeded in locating five of the lost frog species.
State Forest Minister wants to Auction Wild Animals!
It is a statement that is throwing every wildlife conservationist in a tizzy. The state forest minister of West Bengal said to the press that as West Bengal had wild animals ‘in excess’ he had a proposal to sell the animals to private owners, who could bid for their favorite animal.
Efforts made to Save Jerdon’s Courser – One of the World’s Rarest Bird
Jerdon’s Courser is a nocturnal bird found only in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. It has been listed among the 50 rarest birds of the world. But sadly the number of this bird is diminishing and in a bid to save it from extinction, the Indian government has now included it in its Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’ (IDWH) scheme.
Four New ‘Vulture Restaurants’ Open in India
Vultures, the critically endangered birds of prey have now got themselves four restaurants to choose from to have a meal that is tasteful and more importantly free from chemicals that are proving to be fatal for the birds. These new locations will provide safe meals to the birds every day.
Endangered Whale Sharks thought to be Australian might be Indian
For a long time it was thought that the endangered whale sharks that are seen in the waters of Indian ocean near the coast of Gujarat state migrated from Australia each year. But now genetic samples taken of the species point that they might be native to the Indian waters rather than migrants. Each year […]
Unique Rainforest Festival to Highlight Biodiversity of India’s Eastern Rainforest
Jeypore reserve forest in Assam state is India’s only wet evergreen rainforest. It is also extremely special because it is home to most number of wildcat species in the country. To highlight the special status of this wildlife reserve and make local people realize the importance of the forest, the district authorities organized the first […]
183 Plants, 40 Animals Endangered in Karnataka State
The Forest Department of Karnataka declared 183 plants, including 81 medicinal, as endangered, rare and vulnerable. The department also listed names of 40 animals that were endangered in the state. As per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the forest department has named 40 animals who are in the brink of extinction in […]
Interesting facts About the Tiger
• Tigers have been divide into 8 subspecies – Indian (or Bengal), Indo-Chinese, Sumatran, Amur (or Siberian), South China, Caspian (extinct), Java (extinct), and Bali (extinct). • All tigers have more than 100 stripes on their body but not two tigers have the same pattern of stripes. • Tigers keep their claws sharp by keeping […]