(September 24, 2019) Saviour of Mumbai’s mangroves and a passionate conservationist, N. Vasudevan is all for tackling new age marine conservation issues with multiple approaches.Written by Anisha Iyer People often tend to think of mangroves as “wastelands” as very few know how valuable these forests are to the planet. Mangroves are ecosystems that have a massive impact on the lives of coastal and marine species, and most importantly, people. They help greatly in times of cyclones, floods, and other...

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(September 19, 2019) Written by Sahila KudalkarWildlife trade in the Indian scenario can be divided into three categories as defined by the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992:Some notable aspects of India’s export-import policy for wildlife trade are as follows:Wildlife ExportsNo wildlife other than six birds is permitted to be exported. These include (L to R) Bengal Finch, Zebra Finch, Budgeriar, Albino Budgeriar, White Finch (not depicted) and Javan Sparrow (restricted export)Wildlife Impor...

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(September 16, 2019) Written by Sahila KudalkarAt the recently concluded CITES Conference of the Parties (CoP) 2019 held 17th – 28th August, 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland, countries voted to increase protection for otters, giraffes, reptiles such as the star tortoise and tokay gecko and several marine species including sea cucumbers, sharks and eels against excessive, unregulated trade. Many species were ‘uplisted’ from Appendix II to Appendix I, such as the Asian Small-clawed Otter (Amblonyx cinerea...

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(September 07, 2019) This invasive species is very hardy and survives under challenging conditions. Removing it is a big task and eradicating it from a landscape can take years.Written by Manish MachaiahAs the vehicle moved through the wildlife sanctuary, all that greeted the eye was long stretches of the Senna spectabilis, native species of America, introduced to India as ornamental plant. The plant has truly invaded the landscape here, far away from its homeland. No other vegetation could be seen anywhere around a...

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(September 03, 2019) BOOK REVIEW: Bird BusinessAuthor: Rohan ChakravarthyPublisher: BNHSBirds being birds, as they flit from branch to branch to tree to sky it is tough to pin them down or catch on lens their daily chores. That’s where birder Rohan Chakravarthy’s book Bird Business comes in handy. Combining information on the wooing, nesting and feeding ways of birds with colourful sketches, he prepares a witty and engaging journey through the lives of a 100-odd birds found on the sub-continent. The...

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