Articles by Arathi Menon

Visitors to Anamalai Tiger Reserve could be in for an unexpected treat if the most recent study by primatologists in the Western Ghats is any indicator. Not only will they…

As temperatures rise in Karnataka’s Malenadu region, located along the Western Ghats, the residents remain on high alert due to the resurgence of a tick-borne illness endemic to India—Kyasanur Forest…

If there's one avian resident of the Western Ghats that has captured the imagination of both birders and researchers alike, it's the Nilgiri pipit. Not for its flamboyant plumage, mind…

In a stroke of serendipity, a team of researchers stumbled upon a new-to-science species of lizard while conducting a survey of the landscape for the habitat of another new discovery,…

A review of India’s 15-year rhino reintroduction programme in Assam finds that rhinos that were translocated in the state were able to adapt effectively to their new environment. It highlights…

Pollination often brings to mind bees and butterflies and long-beaked sunbirds buzzing about fragrant flowers, hungry for nectar. But a largely unrecognised fact is the role of lesser glamorous beetles…

The population of gharials, the only surviving crocodilian member of the genus Gavialis, is in decline. Listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red…

It is late December and winter is at its peak in Kokkarebellur village, even as the mid-morning sun shines unusually bright. Declared a community reserve in 2017 under the Wildlife…

Chhattisgarh’s state animal, the wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee), is facing global extinction, with fewer than 4000 individuals remaining in the wild. Approximately 90% of the existing population resides in…

A recent study investigates the genetic flow among three colour variations of the semi-slug Indrella ampulla and finds that the Palghat Gap, a low mountain pass in the Western Ghats,…

At the turn of the millennium, Kodaikanal, a quaint South Indian hill town in Tamil Nadu, found itself engulfed in angst as protests erupted across various parts of the town.…

Human-wildlife interactions in India are often associated with large mammals coming out of the forest and interacting with humans on the fringes of the protected areas. Due to various push…

Squatting on the veranda against the bright pink wall of her modest home, Boramma focuses her strength and attention on the spindle with a piece of wood mounted on it.…

A recent study addresses rising negative interactions between humans and animals and proposes population control measures as long-term solutions, while emphasising the need for continued research.  In states such as…

Adding to the large repertoire of amphibian species found in the biodiversity hotspots in India are three new-to-science frog species discovered from the Namdapha-Kamlang landscape of Arunachal Pradesh. These discoveries…

December was a month of deep sorrow for Karnataka’s animal lovers. The state's beloved elephant Arjuna was killed in a freak encounter with a wild tusker during an elephant capture…

“Every district in Kerala has its favourite banana,” said Nishanth K., a 49-year-old banana farmer, from Kerala’s Wayanad district, who has over 250 varieties of bananas on his farm. “Wayanad…

It continues to be a matter of amusement how an ungulate that’s neither blue, nor a sheep, came to be called blue sheep. Morphological, behavioural and molecular analyses have shown…

A study from the Eastern Ghats highlights the dominance of native Cymbopogon grass (lemongrass) in a mesic savannah ecosystem and probes the causes and control measures to take it back…

A recent telemetry study on 14 Indian rock pythons (Python molurus) in two South Indian tiger reserves has shed light on various aspects about the species, adding to the knowledge,…