Species In News: Barn Owls
Context With a thriving rat population playing havoc with its coconut yield, the UT of Lakshadweep hires barn owls for help. Back to Basics Scientific name and meaning – (Tyto…
Kerala’s 1st-ever Dragonfly Festival
Context Recently, World Wide Fund for Nature(WWF)-India State unit has joined hands with the Society for Odonate Studies(SOS) and Thumbi Puranam for the first-ever State Dragonfly Festival in Kerala called…
Regaining Tiger Stripes
Context On International Tiger Day, July 29, authorities proudly declared that India should “celebrate” the increase in tigers from about 2,000 in 1970 to about 3,000 now. This is an…
TRAFFIC study on leopards
Context A study paper on the seizure and mortality of ‘common leopards’ (Panthera pardus fusca), titled ‘‘SPOTTED’ in Illegal Wildlife Trade: A Peek into Ongoing Poaching and Illegal Trade of…
Species in News: Asiatic Wild Dogs-Dhole
Context According to a recent report, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh rank high in the conservation of the endangered dhole in India. Back to Basics About Dhole a wild carnivorous animal…
[Species in News] Hornbills
Context Recently, a study based on satellite data has flagged a high rate of deforestation in a major hornbill habitat in Arunachal Pradesh. Key Details Ecologists used fine-scale satellite imageryto assess the…
[Species in News] Indian Gaur (Bison)
Context Recently, a case of poaching of Indian Bison was discovered using a sniffer dog in West Bengal. Back to basics ✔️Protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act.…
Species in News: Saiga, Sasa kurilensis and New Fungi Species
Saiga Antelope There is some good news for the Saiga, the critically endangered (IUCN) antelope of Asia’s steppes. The smallest and most threatened population of saiga in Kazakhstan, where the…
Species in News: Gynandromorphism in Scarlet Skimmer
Context Recently, a peculiar dragonfly, the Scarlet Skimmer (Crocothemis servilia), in the Puzhakkal area of the Kole wetlands in Thrissur was in news due to very rare biological phenomenon. Key…
Species in News: Narcondam Hornbill
Context Recently, a wildlife photographer caught a first glimpse of the Narcondam hornbill with its velvet black plumage and oversized yellow beak. Back to Basics About the Hornbill An endangered…