Nepal comes next in line to Sri Lanka to debate exporting ‘problematic’ monkeys
At the break of dawn in Taplejung in eastern Nepal, as a rooster crows, two men grab their slingshots and head out to work. They have a long day ahead…
Articles by Abhaya Raj Joshi
The love for momos in Nepal is threatening endangered wild water buffaloes
Momos, the popular bite-sized dumplings filled with spicy minced meat and accompanied by spicy sauces, originated in Nepal and Tibet. It is a beloved staple for Nepalis both at home…
Manul, the ‘grumpiest cat,’ confirmed on the world’s highest mountain
David Attenborough once described the elusive manul, the world's grumpiest cat. If you were a grumpy cat, you’d probably want to avoid company, too. And what better place for solitude…
Climate change and catfight in the Himalayas: tigers, leopards venture into snow leopard land
An undated video believed to be from an Indian forest recently went viral. A tiger, sitting quietly among trees observing something in the distance, roars and darts towards its target.…
[Interview] “South Asia needs its own regional plan to sustain Bengal tiger population”
The tiger population in Nepal nearly tripled over the past 12 years. As part of global efforts to double the wild tiger population, the country's target was to have 250…
The elusive and endangered Sikkim grass lizard makes a rare appearance in Nepal
In 2020, zoologist Bivek Gautam and members of his team were exploring the forests of eastern Nepal on an expedition to look for the Himalayan salamander (Tylototriton himalayanus). That's when…
[Interview] “There are many Sherpas, not known to the outside world, who regularly summit the mountains”
The Sherpa Indigenous community in Nepal has lived in the lap of the world’s tallest mountains for centuries. Ever since Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay and New Zealand climber Edmund Hillary…
Nepal’s rice farmers brace for loss following lack of timely rains and fertilisers
The fertile plains in southern Nepal is known as the country’s rice bowl. Thousands of farmers here are currently facing a double whammy of a fertiliser shortage and inadequate monsoon…
New gharial hatchlings in Nepal a hopeful sign for the critically endangered reptile
On June 15, after 16 long years, villagers from Nepal's Bardiya National Park region have discovered a successful nesting and breeding site of gharial crocodiles in the park. On the…
Nepal and India’s infrastructure rules are “wildlife-friendly,” but not for birds
Following pressure from conservationists and NGOs, Nepal's government recently adopted guidelines to make infrastructure such as roads, dams and railway lines wildlife-friendly. But not all wildlife have been included, with…
Tiger movements between India and Nepal become increasingly restricted, even as numbers rise
Media outlets in Nepal were recently abuzz with reports that the country’s iconic Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) were moving to India in search of better habitats. In Nepal, the…
[Interview] Whitley Award winner from Nepal emphasises on crossborder collaboration to protect the red panda
Sonam Tashi Lama, a conservationist from Nepal who works with the Red Panda Network, is one of the six global conservation leaders to win this year’s prestigious Whitley Awards. The…
Nepal, India need robust conservation policies for farmland birds outside protected areas
When Nepali ornithologist Hem Bahadur Katwal reviewed the existing literature to prepare a proposal for his Ph.D., he came across a subject barely explored, not just in Nepal, but in…
Nepal’s first bird sanctuary could be a new attraction for Indian tourists
Nepal declared its first official bird sanctuary recently, and conservationists have welcomed it as a big boost for many birds. The Ghodaghodi complex, a wetland in western Nepal's Sudurpashchim province,…
Special series
Wetland Champions
- [Commentary] India establishes the largest network of Ramsar Sites in South Asia
- [Commentary] Wetland champions: Promise from the grassroots
- The story of Jakkur lake sets an example for inclusive rejuvenation projects
- Welcome to Tsomgo lake: Please don’t litter
Environment And Health
- As heatwaves projected to worsen across India, do vulnerability assessments and heat action plans suffice?
- Assam’s North Lakhimpur treats 40 years of legacy waste in just nine months
- Varying levels of microplastics detected in sea salt produced across India
- Decline in pollinators linked to half a million premature human deaths every year, shows study
Almost Famous Species
- The gharial attempts a second comeback with help from the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary
- Understanding the role of local communities in the conservation of critically endangered rhino rays
- Citizen scientists help discover a blind catfish species hidden inside Kerala’s aquifers
- Flying is riskier for female katydids, finds India’s first insect radio telemetry study
Eco Hope
- [Interview] Conservation scientist Joli Rumi Borah on integrating traditional knowledge in research
- [Interview] Scientist Ruth DeFries on deforestation: There isn’t one driver, there’s a different context in different places
- India budgets for mangroves and wetlands
- Working with biomaterials to add to the sustainable energy mix
India's Iconic Landscapes
- Experts call for coexistence, sustainable development as tiger population is close to saturation
- Ain’t no mountain high enough: alien invasive plants increasing in higher elevations
- Unplanned, faulty buildings tremble under weather events in the fragile Himalayan regions
- Nourishing soils of Kashmir’s karewas crumble under infrastructure
Beyond Protected Areas
- Habitat loss due to tourism in the Western Ghats pushes endangered frogs to the edge
- Alligator gar fish found in Dal lake raises concerns
- The art and science of elephant whispering
- Scientists develop a toolkit to identify high conservation-value areas
Conserving Agro-biodiversity
- How a drought-prone village in Maharashtra attained agricultural success with millets
- Thirunelly’s seed festival celebrates traditional climate-resilient seeds and farm produce
- [Explainer] Why is 2023 the International Year of Millets? What do we achieve by celebrating such years?
- Nations adopt Global Biodiversity Framework amid concerns over watered-down targets
Just Transitions
- Bauxite mining in Jharkhand is impacting soil fertility, people’s health
- Incentives to boost demand, increase in e-buses in Tamil Nadu’s latest EV policy
- Electricity transition in India’s renewable-rich states needs to accelerate, says study
- [Interview] Ajay Kumar Rastogi on leading India’s first just transition task force
