Tamil Nadu notifies Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary as state’s 17th wildlife sanctuary | The Indian Express
Reserve forests in the Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts of Tamil Nadu have been declared as the Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary. The 68,640 hectares is home to 35 species of mammals, 238 species of birds, as well as the endemic Leith’s soft-shelled turtle. The sanctuary will also act as an important corridor between Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu and Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka.
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New honeybee species, endemic to Western Ghats, found | The Hindu
A new species of endemic honeybee, named Indian black honeybee (Apis karinjodian), has been discovered in the Western Ghats after nearly 200 years. The species is expected to give a new direction to apiculture in India due to its ability to produce higher quantities of honey that has a thicker consistency. The discovery of Apis karinjodian makes it the 11th species of honeybee found in the world.
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Rare sighting of snow leopard in Kashmir, conservationists elated | Hindustan Times
An adult snow leopard was caught on a camera trap in the Baltal-Zojila region of Kashmir, 3500-3800 metres above sea level. There are very limited records of snow leopards across Jammu and Kashmir, with this being the first record in the Baltal-Zojila area. The camera trapping exercise also revealed the presence of other rare species such as Asiatic Ibex, Brown Bear, and Kashmir Musk Deer.
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Karnataka forest dept's digital HAWK eye to track wildlife crimes | Deccan Herald
Karnataka adopts a digital platform to track forest and wildlife crimes in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI). The Hostile Activity Watch Kernel (HAWK) platform, recently implemented in Kerala, will help the forest department track and manage cases more efficiently. Digitisation of cases and training of authorities will begin soon, and the system is set to go online within the next six months.
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Bio-fencing plants given to tribal farmers in Telangana | The New Indian Express
Telangana forest department, in coordination with the Wildlife Conservation Society - India (WCS-India) and Centre for Peoples Forestry (CPF), distributed bio-fencing plants (karonda) to tribal farmers in Beersaipet in the Adilibad district. The 15,000 plants distributed will help to prevent wild boars from entering fields.
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