Indo-Bhutan conservation action plan soon to save golden langurs | Deccan Herald
India and Bhutan are jointly developing a conservation action plan to protect the endangered golden langur, addressing threats like habitat fragmentation and human-wildlife conflict. A consultation in Assam, organised by Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), and partners brought together experts, policymakers, and conservationists to outline strategies for safeguarding the species across its transboundary range.
Superstitions fuel trafficking of India’s red sand boa | Mongabay
Superstitions linking the red sand boa to wealth have fuelled its rampant illegal trade in India, despite strict wildlife protection laws. Traffickers exploit online platforms, while experts warn of population declines due to poaching and habitat loss. Authorities have stressed the need for stricter enforcement to curb this organised crime.
In a first, Darjeeling zoo launches project to preserve DNA samples of wildlife in Hills | The Hindu
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling has become India’s first zoo to preserve DNA samples of high-altitude wildlife, including red pandas and snow leopards. In collaboration with CCMB-Hyderabad, the initiative aims to support research and conservation efforts by cryogenically storing genetic material.
Indian Railways launches AI-driven system for preventing elephant, wildlife deaths on railway tracks | The New Indian Express
Indian Railways has introduced an AI-driven Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to prevent wildlife collisions by detecting animals on tracks using Distributed Acoustic Sensors. The system alerts loco pilots and station officials, with installations planned across 1,158 km of railway routes. Additional measures, including underpasses and honey bee buzzers, have contributed to a decline in elephant deaths.
‘Largely depleted’: IUCN’s new Green Status assessment for the lion in Africa and India | Down to Earth
The IUCN’s first Green Status assessment ranks the lion as ‘Largely Depleted,’ highlighting human impacts that hinder its ecological functionality. While conservation efforts have prevented extinctions in regions like West Africa, South Africa, and India, intensified measures are needed to sustain existing populations.