Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary of Odisha records higher prey density | The New Indian Express
Following the pre-monsoon sign survey in the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, a herbivore or prey density of 46 animals per sq km was recorded in the sanctuary here. Moreover, for the first time in many decades, a tiger has also been sighted in Debrigarh during Census. Reportedly, the sign survey was conducted by the Hirakud Wildlife Division from May 29 to June 3. While 40-60 animals per sq. km. reflects a healthy habitat, the density was between 29-38 prey per square kilometre last year. With this year’s increase, the density of the spotted deer population was found to be highest at, 90 per sq km Wildboar, bison, sambar and chowsingha were among the other highest-density species.
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Blackbuck count at Abohar sanctuary in Punjab going down, reveals wildlife census | Hindustan Times
Punjab’s state animal blackbuck census by Wildlife Institute of India (WII) at Shri Guru Jambeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary near Abohar in Fazilka district has revealed a drastic dip in its numbers. The spotting of the animal was so low that WII experts said it was not possible to give an estimate on its population in the sanctuary spread over 18,650 hectares. In a report submitted to the Punjab Forest and Wildlife Department recently, WII has stated that the blackbucks ‘are on the verge of extinction in Punjab’ as they were spotted at only up to 12 spots in the sanctuary in two population estimation exercises since December 2021.
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New species of ‘jumping spider’ found in Goregaon; researchers name it after city | Hindustan Times
Researchers have documented the presence of a new spider species in Mumbai, and have fittingly christened it ‘Hasarius mumbai’, after the city. The arachnid was found to inhabit rocks lying in close proximity to natural, seasonal streams at the Bombay Natural History Society’s (BNHS) conservation education centre (CEC) in Goregaon East. The word ‘Hasarius’ refers to a genus -- a category in taxonomy that ranks above species -- of ‘jumping spiders’ in the ‘salticidae’ family. These are spiders which, instead of trapping their prey in a web, stalk and hunt the prey by pouncing on it. This genus, first discovered in the year 1826, occurs primarily in warm climates
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108 Endangered Indian Roof Turtles Rescued by Wildlife Crime Bureau; Smuggler Apprehended in Lucknow Operation | The Weather Channel
A joint team of Special Task Force (STF) and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has rescued 108 Indian roof turtles and arrested a smuggler from the Chowk area of Lucknow. The team also recovered two mobile phones and a scooter from his possession. The accused was in contact with smugglers from Bihar and was scheduled to travel to West Bengal and Bihar to supply the turtles, said the STF release. STF DSP Lal Pratap Singh said the team working on the case got a tip-off about the miscreant and nabbed him during a raid.
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Trap cameras capture several images of wolves in Paschim Bardhaman | The Telegraph
Trap cameras installed in a small forest in Paschim Bardhaman less than a month ago have captured several images of wolves. The animals, identified as Indian Grey Wolves, are believed to be part of a pack whose presence has been known to foresters and wildlife enthusiasts. But the camera images are the first step in what they called a rare formal documentation of a population of wolves in Bengal.
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