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(June 21, 2024) To save the vulnerable fishing cat, protect its threatened wetland habitat | Mongabay The fishing cat, adapted to wetland habitats across South and Southeast Asia, faces threats from habitat loss, hunting, and climate change. Conservation efforts, including initiatives like Fishing Cat February and community projects, aim to protect the species and its wetlands. Despite the challenges, such efforts highlights the importance of conserving wetlands for both fishing cats and overall ecological h...

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(June 18, 2024) On Oceans Day, 8th June 2024, CHRIST (Deemed to be University) hosted a marine-themed photo exhibition and talks at Alliance Française de Trivandrum. Coordinated by Dr. Maxmillan Martin from the Department of Life Sciences, the photo exhibition on ‘Coastal Commons’ featured a section on marine life with underwater photographs contributed by WCS-India. As part of the series of talks, Sharang from the Marine Programme presented a talk on the ecology of Sharks and Rays. The event was at...

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(June 14, 2024) Clouded leopard and leopard cat occupy same habitat but differently, shows study | Mongabay A study in Assam's Manas National Park reveals that leopard cats and clouded leopards exhibit different behaviours to coexist peacefully, despite sharing the same habitat. Conservation efforts for large carnivores, like tigers, benefit these smaller cats by maintaining balanced ecosystems. The study emphasises the need for habitat protection, managing human disturbances, maintaining prey population...

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(June 13, 2024) The following content is collected from public information and does not represent the views of WCS-India.   Important Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) news from India:  1. The Odisha Forest Department seized a tiger nail, two bear nails and 202 pangolin scales from Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary during a raid. Two people were arrested. Link   Photo Credit: Kalinga TV   2. The Mizoram Police Department seized 24 exotic wild animals which included 18 snake species, f...

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(June 07, 2024) Odisha’s elephant population grows by 122 over seven years | The Hindu Odisha's elephant population grew by 122, increasing from 1,976 in 2017 to 2,098 in 2024, with a 40% rise in tuskers, creating a healthy male-to-female ratio. Significant population increases were observed in divisions such as Angul, Athagarh, and Baripada, despite declines in other areas due to changing movement and foraging patterns. The census also noted that 584 elephants were counted in the state's three...

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(June 03, 2024) WCS-India participated in the 5th edition of the WorldDugongDay celebrations, hosted by Thanjavur Forest Department, Tamil Nadu and Organization for Marine Conservation, Awareness and Research (OMCAR) Foundation. A stunning sand sculpture of a dugong was crafted on Pudupattinam beach to raise awareness about dugongs. The event included a pledge to protect dugongs, the felicitation of fishers from Palk Bay who rescued and released dugongs and sea turtles, and an art competition spreadin...

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(May 31, 2024) Respite for Gulf of Mannar’s coral reefs as marine heatwave subsides | The New Indian Express The marine heatwave in the Gulf of Mannar has subsided, with sea surface temperatures dropping by 3°C, providing some respite for the coral reefs. However, officials fear significant damage has already occurred, with mass bleaching reported in mid-April. An underwater survey will soon assess the extent of the impact. Despite annual bleaching during summer, the region's corals are known ...

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(May 27, 2024) Endangered Gangetic dolphins found in most tributaries of Ganges, prompting urgent conservation | Mongabay A recent study has identified the presence of endangered Gangetic dolphins in multiple tributaries of the Ganges River, designating 620 kilometres as critical conservation areas. Experts emphasise that coordinated efforts involving local fishing communities, NGOs, and government stakeholders are essential to mitigate threats such as pollution, overfishing, and dam construction, thereby e...

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(May 22, 2024) International Day for Biological Diversity is an internationally observed day sanctioned by the United Nations, to promote and bring awareness to global biodiversity issues. Doing our bit to share knowledge and awareness about the marine realm, a team from WCS-India hosted a detailed session on marine biology, field techniques, and sharing results in collaboration at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), main campus. A mixed group of 14 students from life sciences and media backgrounds atte...

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(May 17, 2024) Leopard cat sighted in Maharashtra’s Pench Tiger Reserve for first time | ThePrint A leopard cat has been sighted for the first time in Maharashtra's Pench Tiger Reserve, identified through camera trapping near Narahar village. This discovery, marking the species' first recorded presence in central India, underscores the importance of studying animal distributions for comprehensive conservation efforts. Leopard cats are known for their 'adaptive flexibility' and are rest...

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