Scavenging hyenas save carcass disposal costs
While vultures are greatly appreciated for taking care of carcasses, there is another scavenger whose contribution is often overlooked: the humble hyena. A new study, published in August, found that…
Articles by Neha Jain
Neha is a freelance science writer based in Hong Kong who has a passion for sharing science and sustainability stories with everyone. She writes about biology, conservation, and the environment. Before turning to writing, she worked in a cancer research lab and facilitated science learning among elementary school children through fun, hands-on experiments. Her science blog Life Science Exploration covers intriguing posts on unusual creatures and our shared habitat.
India’s tiger reserves have helped fight climate change
New research shows that India’s tiger conservation policy has not only helped in preserving and increasing tiger populations, but it has also played a role in climate change mitigation by…
New species of parachute gecko recorded in Mizoram
In 2001, researchers reported sighting the smooth-backed parachute gecko in southern Mizoram. It was the first time that this gecko, identified as Gekko lionotum, was reported to be present in…
Citizen scientists help discover a blind catfish species hidden inside Kerala’s aquifers
Inside the narrow groundwater aquifers of the southern Indian state of Kerala reside a unique group of subterranean catfishes. These fishes live in total darkness with low concentrations of nutrients…
Tracing an ancient voyage of tropical African trees that travelled to Southeast Asia via India
From the chirps of birds and croaks of frogs to the roars of elephants and growls of tigers, Southeast Asia's vibrant rainforests are home to a wide range of animals,…
India needs more conservation-relevant research on sharks and rays
Ancestors of sharks have been swimming in the oceans for as long as 400 million years, fossil evidence suggests. With over 1000 species of sharks and rays worldwide, they come…
New tool enables early detection of cyanobacterial blooms in India’s waterbodies
Harmful algal blooms in freshwater and marine environments caused by cyanobacteria — microscopic organisms also known as blue-green algae — can threaten ecosystem services leading to poor water quality, fish…
Remnant mangrove tree sites show faster recovery post 2004 tsunami in the Nicobar Islands
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami devastated mangroves across Southeast Asia. In the Nicobar archipelago, consisting of 22 islands situated close to the epicenter of the 2004 Sumatra Andaman earthquake, mangroves…
High-flying dragons: how the globe skimmer migrates across the Indian Ocean
Marine biologist Charles Anderson saw swarms of globe skimmer dragonflies landing at the Maldives during autumn, before they took off towards East Africa. Back in 2009, these observations led Anderson…
Tracking Russell’s vipers in rural Karnataka unravels their behaviour
Native to the Indian subcontinent, Russell’s vipers are highly venomous snakes and the major cause of mortalities and permanent disabilities each year in South Asia. Now, a new study, which…
Millions of seahorses caught as bycatch in Indian shores
For the past two decades, the catch and trade of seahorses has been banned in India. However, a new study reveals that 13 million seahorses are estimated to have been…
Longest dispersal of a female tiger recorded in Central India
Wildlife biologists have reported the longest dispersal and subsequent home establishment of an 18-month-old female tiger 99-kilometres away from her home site at Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. The…
Harnessing the unrealised potential of agroforestry in curbing climate change in India
Expanding the land area under agroforestry systems, which integrate trees alongside crops, is a promising strategy to offset greenhouse gas emissions and could help achieve India’s Nationally Determined Contributions to…
How a livestock grazing ban in Sikkim has transformed pastoral communities
The high-altitude rangelands of the eastern Himalayas with the backdrop of towering snow-capped mountains might be a dream vacation destination for some. But for many traditional pastoralists who once reared…
Southern India’s 2016-2018 drought was the worst in 150 years
Southern India was hit by severe drought from 2016 to 2018 arising from low rainfall during the northeast monsoon, which occurs during the winter. So severe was the impact that…
Gharial nesting threatened by woody vegetation on riverbanks
A new study from Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary near the Indo-Nepal border found that reduced flow in the Girwa River has adversely impacted gharial nesting by promoting the growth of vegetation…
Mammals use cashew plantations in the northern Western Ghats
Some mammals make use of cashew nut plantations in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, reveal camera trap images from a new study that for the first time examines the presence…
New marine flatworm from rare group discovered from the coral atolls of Lakshadweep
A new species of marine flatworm has been discovered from the coral atolls of the Lakshadweep archipelago located in the Arabian Sea off the west coast of southern India in…
Delhi and Haryana’s Aravallis support rich biodiversity and need protection
Amid the densely-packed bustling urban settlements of Delhi and Gurugram, one would expect a jaunt far from the city to catch a glimpse of wildlife. But a new survey of…
Livestock grazing in eastern Himalayan pastures enhances biodiversity and productivity: Study
A new study from pastures in the alpine rangelands of the Eastern Himalayan state of Sikkim, that enacted a grazing ban in 1998, finds that traditional pastoral grazing enhances plant…
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
- Gig workers in India are exposed to highly polluted air and carcinogens, finds preliminary study
- [Explainer] Living with microplastics, is not fantastic
- Residents in Haryana point to stone crushing units for their respiratory troubles and drop in crop yield
- As heatwaves projected to worsen across India, do vulnerability assessments and heat action plans suffice?
Almost Famous Species
- Scavenging hyenas save carcass disposal costs
- Hybridisation, roadkills are major threats for the Indian desert cat population
- From abundance to endangerment to revival, Kachchh’s guggal comes a full circle
- [Commentary] Why are evolutionary scientists studying the crawlies?
Eco Hope
- Green pilgrimage model balances faith and conservation
- [Video] Restoring the perennial Thamirabarani river with people power
- [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's Iconic Landscapes
- Studies reveal impact of land use on species diversity in rock outcrops
- Improved tiger numbers come with hidden messages on invasives, habitat connectivity
- Gymnosperms that are critical for coniferous forest health may be steadily declining in response to climate change
- Experts call for coexistence, sustainable development as tiger population is close to saturation
Beyond Protected Areas
- [Commentary] India needs a scientific response to mitigate the population of free-ranging dogs
- Hybridisation, roadkills are major threats for the Indian desert cat population
- [Video] Farmers grow paddy for wild elephants in Assam to reduce conflicts
- Megaherbivores could be a potential solution to manage invasive plants, finds study
Conserving Agro-biodiversity
- Architect of India’s Green Revolution, agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan passes away
- Excavating farmlands for highways
- Increasing carbon dioxide is making our food less nutritious
- Ecosystem-based adaptation takes nature-based, people-centric approach to agriculture
Just Transitions
- With no primary data on impacts, government approves an oil extraction technique 500 m outside forests
- Climate action not on track to meet Paris Agreement goals, says Global Stocktake report
- [Interview] Suravee Nayak on why transformative justice for women, Dalits is key for a just transition
- Promised rehabilitation eludes residents living near one of India’s earliest coal mines
