Cautioning against the “weakening” of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, India’s first and foremost legislation to protect the country’s wildlife, MK Ranjitsinh Jhala, one of the architects of the legislation,…
Perfectly camouflaged against the boulder-strewn streams in its high-altitude habitat, the ibisbill (Ibidorhyncha struthersii) has fascinated many nature enthusiasts and bird experts for centuries. It is known as the ‘wonder…
When Rowland Hill conceived and brought into use the first postage stamp, the Penny Black, in England in 1840, he would hardly have imagined that in creating a device for…
Wetlands, which connect land and water are among the planet’s most productive and diverse habitats. They play a significant role in shaping our biosphere. Wetlands in the coastal state of…
The Tokhü Emong Bird Count (TEBC) is a citizen science initiative with an aim to celebrate the birds of the state of Nagaland. The event has been hailed as Nagaland's…
Author Karen Bekker, in her new book about sounds in nature, recounts a story from Brazilian researcher Rafael José de Menezes Bastos. The story determines how differently some humans process…
As bird populations across the globe steadily decline, the woolly-necked stork is thriving in India, particularly in the northern state of Haryana. According to a recent study, large breeding populations…
Despite the increasing expansion of wind energy in India, research on the impact of windfarms on terrestrial mammals is limited. A recent study, published earlier this year, addresses this knowledge…
The rose-ringed parakeet is a common pet across many countries. The bright green plumage and range of vocalisations make it one of the most sought-after birds in the pet trade.…
A new study by K.S. Gopi Sundar, Swati Kittur and Suhridam Roy, at the Nature Conservation Foundation, details the discovery of a novel social unit among sarus cranes. The study…
A systematic field study in Guwahati found that electromagnetic radiation (EMR) has no impact on two species of sparrows – house sparrows and tree sparrows - in terms of their…
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…
Black kites have a vantage view of Indian cities. The ubiquitous bird has adjusted to urban areas and lives close to humans. The sight of these birds of prey occupying Delhi’s…
Any construction within an eco-sensitive zone of a protected area, whether a national park or bird sanctuary, is always a contentious issue but what is the way forward when a…
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…
Chana Rana Rabari picks up a wooden staff as he enters the forest. He requires it to balance while crossing the undulating terrain and thorny vegetation in the jungle. “This…
About a month ago, around two dozen vultures in Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) were tagged with GPS devices as part of a scientific exercise to monitor vulture movement for understanding…
Justin Sumit Kumar’s typical day is rather adventurous – he helps scientists track birds in dark caves, that are difficult to access, and surveys them. His work also requires him…
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,…
Rinku Gope’s hamlet Paharkol lying in Bankura district of West Bengal has become an attraction for outsiders. This Adivasi woman belonging to the Santhal tribe has helped revive a hillock…