Southwest monsoon plays truant in Kerala
The southwest monsoon arrived in Kerala on June 8, a week later than its normal onset date of June 1. Though most parts of central Kerala witnessed moderate rainfalls in…
To find out monkey fever’s next destination, scientists follow the ticks that carry it
Since it was first detected in a small village in the Karnataka Western Ghats in 1957, the Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) or monkey fever has affected over 9000 people across…
[Commentary] In Kerala there was nothing “golden” about this missed opportunity
The city of Chennai and the surrounding areas went through major floods in November-December 2015. The entire state of Kerala went through a similar event in August 2018. Both the…
To parade or not: An elephantine problem at Thrissur Pooram
He is the most loved as well as feared among the 521 captive elephants, presently under private ownership in Kerala. So, it was with bated breath that Thrissur, the state’s…
Five Kochi buildings to be razed down for CRZ violations
A gentle breeze nudges the leaves of a solitary mangrove tree struggling to find foothold along the banks of the Kochi backwaters near northern Maradu in Kerala’s port city. It's…
Gollum surfaces in India: Scientists document the first underground snakehead fish
The first snakehead fish with an underground lifestyle was hiding in the aquifers of Kerala until a chance encounter, social media and the historic floods of Kerala in 2018 thrust…
Increasing dry season fires in Kerala spotlight debate around man-made fires
When summer strengthens, it brings with it dry spells and the season of forest fires. Since January 2019, a number of fire incidents have been reported from Kerala. In the…
An environmental catastrophe is lurking in Wayanad
Despite a scorching summer that rendered normal life miserable across Kerala, there are endless vistas of hillocks that remain draped in a canopy of green in the state’s north-eastern district…
It is all about encroachment in the hills of Munnar
As communities in the Western Ghats prepare for the national elections, the Munnar-Devikulam region and its fragile ecology are turning hot subjects of political debate not only in Idukki constituency…
A ‘mysterious’ new frog species with hidden spots and an insect-like call
It was after a heavy spell of rain during the 2015 monsoon that Sonali Garg walked out to a spot she had been visiting regularly, and unsuccessfully, for more than…
