Indian state to open new Asiatic lion sanctuary as numbers soar | The Guardian
India's Gujarat state is opening a new sanctuary for its increasingly abundant Asiatic lion population, as the Gir National Park has been overcrowded for years. With around 400 lions in Gir and 300 in other parts of the state, conservationists have called for some of them to be relocated. The Gujarat government has now agreed to move some lions to another sanctuary within the state, Barda Wildlife Sanctuary. Restricting them to Gir may also make the population vulnerable to infectious diseases. The new home will accommodate around 40 lions.
Read more here.
‘The Elephant Whisperers’ Wins Oscar Award For The Best Documentary Short Film | Business Today
One of India's official Oscar entries, 'The Elephant Whisperers', has won the award for Best Documentary Short Film at the Oscars 2023. Directed by Kartiki Gonsalves and produced by Guneet Monga, the film focuses on the relationship between an orphaned elephant named Raghu and his caretakers, Bomman and Bellie, who protect him from poachers and dedicate their lives to raising him. Set in Tamil Nadu's Mudumalai National Park, the film highlights the tradition of environmental conservation in India, and is available to stream on Netflix.
Read more here.
Student stumbles upon ‘glossy’ jumping spider in Indian grasslands. It’s a new species. | Miami Herald
Ayush Parag, a student at NISER in Odisha, has discovered a new spider species in the grasslands on campus. The spider, officially named Siler niser (after its discovery location) has been dubbed the "glossy jumping spider" due to the male spiders' iridescent scales and yellow legs, and the females' reddish colouring. Researchers have also observed the spiders' "antennal illusion" behavior, which mimics ants and may help them infiltrate ant colonies or protect them from predators.
Read more here.
Odisha had half of India’s wildfires on March 13 — & poachers may be to blame | Down to Earth
Wildfires are ravaging parts of Odisha, with several fires suspected to be caused by poachers targeting wild animals. Forest officials have arrested a suspect who had set fire to the forest to hunt. The PCCF warns that those setting forest fires illegally will be punished with a jail term of three to seven years. Odisha accounted for around 45% of India's major fire incidents on March 13, 2023, with 156 major active fire spots detected, posing a significant threat to wildlife and their habitat areas.
Read more here.
Threats to leopards: Broken corridors, speeding vehicles | Times of India
Leopards and hyenas in Delhi's Asola Biodiversity Park are under threat from roads encroaching on their habitat. Road deaths may also pose a risk of extinction of the species in north India, according to experts from the BNHS. The Asola-Sariska wildlife corridor is a critical passageway, allowing the animals to travel across the Aravali Mountains. In an effort to avoid future conflict, the BNHS recommends increasing awareness in local communities that live alongside the sanctuary. At least ten leopards have died in Delhi-NCR since 2008 due to roadkill.
Read more here.
Dolphin poaching racket busted off Porbandar coast; 10 fishermen arrested | Times of India
Ten fishermen were arrested with 22 dead dolphins' carcasses off the coast of Porbandar, Gujarat, by a joint operation of the Indian Coast Guard and the Gujarat Forest Department. Dolphins are classified as a highly protected Schedule 1 species under the Wildlife Protection Act and are also classified as endangered by the IUCN. The fishing of dolphins is prohibited under the act, and the forest department is currently investigating the trafficking of the protected species.
Read more here.
What the new High Seas Treaty means for India, and the world | The Hindu
The High Seas Treaty – which will regulate the high seas, has been accepted in principle. The treaty can potentially have the largest global conservation and regulatory footprint of any treaty outside of atmospheric and climate agreements. As well as having environmental impacts, it could have economic implications. The regulations may give India the sustainable fisheries required to secure a 'Blue Economy'. However, the treaty does not address threats like deep-seabed mining, and there are questions about social inclusivity and enforcement.
Read more here.