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(June 19, 2023) Similipal Tiger Reserve needs special armed force to protect its fauna | The New Indian Express Amid a string of poaching incidents, two back-to-back killings of forest officials by poachers in Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) have exposed the vulnerability of frontline staff in the biggest tiger habitat of the state and the crying needs for the deployment of armed forces. Though STR has its own tiger protection force ‘STPF’, sources said it has not been of much help in countering po...

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(June 12, 2023) 62 new plants that can live without water discovered in Western Ghats | India Today  Biologists have discovered 62 new species of plants that can withstand extreme dehydration. The plants belong to the Desiccation-Tolerant Vascular Species that are capable of surviving amid extreme water scarcity. This species is known for entering a state of dormancy and reviving when water becomes available again. Researchers said that the newly discovered plants could have a wide-ranging role in agric...

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(June 02, 2023)   -   Orphaned elephant calves struggle to survive in human-elephant conflicts in Tamil Nadu, India, with many losing their mothers to electrocution or accidents. A community-based initiative involving the Kadar tribal community successfully restores the dwindling hornbill population in the Western Ghats, India. Indian Bison, extinct in the Sanjay Tiger Reserve for 25 years, will be reintroduced with the aim of extending the species' family. A pre-monsoon census is underway in the Mudumalai ...

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(May 26, 2023) As tourism booms in India’s Western Ghats, habitat loss pushes endangered frogs to the edge | Mongabay India’s Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot, is home to many endemic and endangered species of amphibians, some of which are new to science and others suspected of lying in wait of discovery. Deforestation due to infrastructure and plantation expansion in the southern Western Ghats threaten the region’s amphibian species, many of which have highly restricted habita...

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(May 19, 2023) Studies on migration patterns of milkweed butterflies and their feeding habits can help protect them, say researchers | The Hindu Researchers have highlighted the importance of studying the migration patterns and feeding habits of milkweed butterflies to protect them. These butterflies undertake a westward migration from the Eastern Ghats to the Western Ghats in southern India, becoming active for over two months upon arrival. The study revealed that the butterflies' wings are more damage...

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(May 15, 2023) Understanding the role of local communities in the conservation of critically endangered rhino rays | Mongabay  A recent study by scientists from Ashoka University and the University of Oxford published in January this year examines the socio-ecological status of rhino rays using local ecological knowledge (LEK) of fishing communities in the coastal state of Goa. Guitarfish and wedge fish make up 17 species of rhino rays, of which 15 are critically endangered. However, these are not prot...

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(May 05, 2023) India Lost More than Half of Its Suitable Elephant Habitat in Last 300 Years, Shows Report | News18 India has lost over 50% of its historic elephant habitat range in the past 300 years, according to an international team of researchers. The study examined the habitat range of Asian elephants across 13 Asian countries between 1700 and 2015, and found that almost two-thirds of the region's once-suitable land had been lost, with China and India experiencing the greatest declines. This loss i...

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(April 28, 2023) Flying is riskier for female katydids, finds India’s first insect radio telemetry study | Mongabay Radio telemetry was used in the first insect study of its kind in India, showing that female katydids fly more and farther than males for mating and egg-laying. This behaviour makes them more vulnerable to predators, such as insectivorous bats. The study highlights the potential for radio telemetry to deepen understanding of evolutionary behaviour and improve conservation management. The s...

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(April 21, 2023) Indian skimmers breed at Satkosia wildlife sanctuary | The New Indian Express The rare Indian Skimmers have been recorded breeding for the first time in Satkosia wildlife sanctuary in India. Usually arriving at Satkosia between November and March, 24 Skimmers broke routine and stayed back this year. Five nests were discovered, with hatching taking place on April 10. This is significant as the species is listed as endangered, with estimates suggesting there are just 3,000 to 3,500 in India and...

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(April 14, 2023) Tigers occupying new areas, shows census report; expect a bigger jump in final big cat count, say experts | India Today  The latest tiger census report in India ‘The Status of Tigers 2022’ released shows that the tiger population has grown by at least 200, from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,167 in 2022. The report also reveals that tigers have occupied new areas in several Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Maharashtra. However, the Western...

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