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(July 08, 2024) From fear to fascination: More research and awareness to protect India's misunderstood spiders | Mongabay Spiders in India are crucial for pest control and ecosystem balance, yet remain understudied due to limited funding and focus. Myths and misinformation perpetuate fear, but citizen initiatives and awareness programmes aim to change perceptions and highlight their ecological importance. Increased research and public engagement are needed to better understand and conserve these misunder...

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(July 05, 2024) Wildlife Conservation Society – India collaborated with the Goa State Biodiversity Board and the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) to organise a national workshop titled “Advancing India’s 30x30 Target Through Exploring Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs)“. The highly significant national meeting took place on 26-27 June in Panaji, Goa. This consultative workshop, with a keynote address by Mr. C. Achalender Reddy, Chairperson of the NBA, ju...

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(July 01, 2024) Village leaders and community members from six fringe villages of Ntangki National Park gathered for an inter-village meeting of stakeholders under the IUCN/ITHCP Phase II project implemented by WCS -India from 6 fringe villages of the Ntangki National Park in Pellhang village under Peren district. The project affects about 5,000 people through livelihood activities and community infrastructures. Supongnukshi Ao of the Nagaland State Biodiversity Board emphasised the need for a People's Biod...

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(June 28, 2024) Lakshadweep worst-affected by coral bleaching on India’s coastline, scientists tell DTE | Down to Earth Lakshadweep has been the worst affected by the current global coral bleaching event, with 84.6% of its reefs experiencing bleaching due to elevated sea surface temperatures. This event is part of the fourth global coral bleaching event, the most severe on record, impacting over 70.7% of the world's coral reefs since January 2023. While the monsoon has slightly reduced water temper...

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(June 21, 2024) To save the vulnerable fishing cat, protect its threatened wetland habitat | Mongabay The fishing cat, adapted to wetland habitats across South and Southeast Asia, faces threats from habitat loss, hunting, and climate change. Conservation efforts, including initiatives like Fishing Cat February and community projects, aim to protect the species and its wetlands. Despite the challenges, such efforts highlights the importance of conserving wetlands for both fishing cats and overall ecological h...

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(June 18, 2024) On Oceans Day, 8th June 2024, CHRIST (Deemed to be University) hosted a marine-themed photo exhibition and talks at Alliance Française de Trivandrum. Coordinated by Dr. Maxmillan Martin from the Department of Life Sciences, the photo exhibition on ‘Coastal Commons’ featured a section on marine life with underwater photographs contributed by WCS-India. As part of the series of talks, Sharang from the Marine Programme presented a talk on the ecology of Sharks and Rays. The event was at...

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(June 14, 2024) Clouded leopard and leopard cat occupy same habitat but differently, shows study | Mongabay A study in Assam's Manas National Park reveals that leopard cats and clouded leopards exhibit different behaviours to coexist peacefully, despite sharing the same habitat. Conservation efforts for large carnivores, like tigers, benefit these smaller cats by maintaining balanced ecosystems. The study emphasises the need for habitat protection, managing human disturbances, maintaining prey population...

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(June 13, 2024) The following content is collected from public information and does not represent the views of WCS-India.   Important Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) news from India:  1. The Odisha Forest Department seized a tiger nail, two bear nails and 202 pangolin scales from Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary during a raid. Two people were arrested. Link   Photo Credit: Kalinga TV   2. The Mizoram Police Department seized 24 exotic wild animals which included 18 snake species, f...

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(June 07, 2024) Odisha’s elephant population grows by 122 over seven years | The Hindu Odisha's elephant population grew by 122, increasing from 1,976 in 2017 to 2,098 in 2024, with a 40% rise in tuskers, creating a healthy male-to-female ratio. Significant population increases were observed in divisions such as Angul, Athagarh, and Baripada, despite declines in other areas due to changing movement and foraging patterns. The census also noted that 584 elephants were counted in the state's three...

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(June 03, 2024) WCS-India participated in the 5th edition of the WorldDugongDay celebrations, hosted by Thanjavur Forest Department, Tamil Nadu and Organization for Marine Conservation, Awareness and Research (OMCAR) Foundation. A stunning sand sculpture of a dugong was crafted on Pudupattinam beach to raise awareness about dugongs. The event included a pledge to protect dugongs, the felicitation of fishers from Palk Bay who rescued and released dugongs and sea turtles, and an art competition spreadin...

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