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…
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.
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…
Three new leafhopper species described in India
During the monsoon season of 2011, H.M. Yeshwanth, a doctoral student studying insects, browsed the bushes of the thorny Acacia catechu plant in Hesaraghatta near Bengaluru, Karnataka and came across…
Meet the man conserving otters in Maharashtra’s Western Ghats
During his childhood, Malhar Indulkar was fascinated by rivers and he felt a strong connection with riverine ecosystems. He had seen people, including his parents, voice their concerns about the…
New tree-spider crab species with purple patches described from Kerala’s mangroves
In a serendipitous discovery, researchers have described a tiny, cryptic species of tree-spider crab found climbing the mangrove trees of Kasargod district in the southern state of Kerala. Covered in…
Afforestation is making the livelihoods of Gaddi pastoralists in the Himalayas more vulnerable
Worldwide efforts to curb climate change include widespread and large-scale afforestation activities. But a recent survey-based study finds that plantations in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh enhance vulnerabilities of…
Large trees in the sub-Himalayan sal forests are important for foraging woodpeckers
Different species of woodpeckers living in the sal forests of the sub-Himalayan foothills of northwestern India show distinct foraging preferences - they forage depending on the size of the tree,…
Mysterious new bioluminescent mushroom glows in the forests of Meghalaya
During the monsoon season, a team of scientists from India and China embarked on a fungal foray in Assam. Over the course of two weeks, they were amazed by the…
Cultural beliefs protect snakes in the dwindling sacred groves of southwestern India
Underlying cultural and religious beliefs in serpent deities has played a role in protecting iconic animals such as snakes and other species dwelling inside the Western Ghats’ sacred groves. But…
New Aloe species discovered from a desert in northwestern India
Botanists have described a new Aloe species from the desert of India’s northwestern state of Rajasthan. The species, Aloe trinervis, is based on a distinct observation: the leaf-like structures beneath…
How dams affect the gene flow of golden mahseer in the Himalayas
Scientists have found close genetic relationships between populations of the golden mahseer, an iconic freshwater fish in Indian rivers Bhagirathi and Ganga, while significant genetic differentiation was observed between Alaknanda…
Household air pollution: Empowering women could boost LPG adoption
Household air pollution caused mainly by the burning of solid fuels, including biomass—firewood, charcoal, coal, dung, and agricultural waste—and ambient air pollution are among the leading risk factors contributing to…
Special series
Wetland Champions
- The story of Jakkur lake sets an example for inclusive rejuvenation projects
- Welcome to Tsomgo lake: Please don’t litter
- Managing waste to save the wetlands of Himachal Pradesh
- The monks who protect the Bhagajang wetland
Environment And Health
- India’s dietary guidelines have a relatively lower carbon footprint: study
- [Commentary] Will the COVID-19 second wave buck the trend for the Indian middle class?
- How did a once water-rich village in Goa become entirely dependent on tankers?
- Avian flu in India brings forth environmental, animal and human health linkages
Almost Famous Species
- 148 zebra loaches exported per day from Western Ghats to feed global pet trade
- What’s dangerous about these cute turtles which are popular pets in India?
- Common, yet threatened: The case of northeast India’s Malayan giant squirrels
- Newly described scorpion species from Western Ghats highlight need for more research and conservation
India's Iconic Landscapes
- The toxic love for Ladakh is weighing heavy on its natural resources
- [Video] Mapping Tamil Nadu’s grasslands to protect them and know their role in carbon storage
- The development plan that could end up sinking Lakshadweep islands
- Andaman forests need longer intervals between repeat logging for recovery: study
Beyond Protected Areas
- Impact of armed conflicts on wildlife underestimated: study
- Millions of seahorses caught as bycatch in Indian shores
- Neglect shrouds Behali Reserve Forest’s biodiversity along Assam-Arunachal border
- Longest dispersal of a female tiger recorded in Central India
Conserving Agro-biodiversity
- Plant Man Miguel Braganza on how Konkan Fruit Fest preserves food biodiversity
- Building up carbon sinks in northeast India’s shifting cultivation landscape
- Coloured cotton from India on the cusp of commercial release in 2021
- Revival and absence of Bengaluru’s traditional crop varieties
Just Transitions
- Bigwigs of India’s fossil-fuel industry could drive the country’s green energy sector
- Subsidies for India’s renewable sector are falling, needs renewed support, says study
- Land conflicts on the horizon as India pursues a clean energy future
- The balance between jobs in the renewable energy and fossil fuel sectors could play on India’s energy transition
