Life and struggles of the sloth bear in human-dominated areas
Sloth bears are the world's only bears built to eat ants. They love their occasional meat tidbits of course but thrive mostly on ants, insects, fruits and wild berries. Their…
Architectural secrets of termite mounds
Of the insect world’s many architects, the termites are undoubtedly the reigning monarchs. The earthen mounds that these tiny insects construct out of soil, water and their own saliva, are…
[Commentary] Tilapia: How an invasive fish came to dominate our ecology, food and psyche
Karmali (also called Carambolim) is among Goa's most picturesque railway stations, perched on the banks of the lake with the same name. The lake has long been known for the…
Migratory openbill storks find safe haven in Andhra village
With the onset of monsoons, excitement sets in, in a community along India’s southeast coast. The Telukunchi village community in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, with vast swathes of wetlands, prepares…
The tigers that live in a thermal power plant
Tigers are known for living in dense forest areas, away from human settlements -- unlike the other big cats, leopards, that are quite comfortable living in human-dominated habitats and in…
How butterflies strike a relationship with ants using specialised organs
Some butterflies go to any lengths to make ant-friends. Their caterpillars have evolved button-like spots on their backs to spout sugary rewards to attract ants; a special gland in their…
Elephants in north Bengal more likely to raid crops near fragmented forested patches
Elephants in north Bengal are more likely to raid crops in areas with a matrix of agriculture, forests, riverine patches, tea plantations and peripheries of protected areas, a study has…
Children sketch human-elephant conflict and coexistence in Odisha
A pencil sketch shows an elephant trying to dismantle a thatched roof. Another depicts a pachyderm helping itself to succulent sugarcane stalks from a farm as people brandish fire torches…
[Commentary] Reared by their father, tiger sisters take forward conservation in Sariska
A heartwarming picture of a small tiger cub playing with its mother at Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR) published recently has caught the attention of wildlife lovers across the globe. The…
Logging poses a threat to the arboreal Travancore flying squirrel
Found among the lush forests of Kerala and Tamil Nadu with a minor distribution in southern Karnataka and Goa, the Petinomys fuscocapillus, or the Travancore flying squirrel, is among the…
