(February 26, 2019) There is very little known about the ‘water dog’ which is also high on the poaching list for its fur and meat. Here is a quick glimpse into the challenges facing the species.In the wild otters form small groups of two to six individuals © Wild OttersGoa is every Indian’s go-to destination for a beach vacation. People from all over the country and the world visit this small state all year long. It is also one of the smallest states in India through which the Western Ghats r...

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(February 19, 2019) Volunteering for this activity comes with a dash of adventure and lots of learning about the jungle.Being alert, observant and working as a team in noting down the details are part of walking the line © WCS-India/HyTiCosDropped before dawn near the start location somewhere inside the forest, my companion, —a veteran transect walker—and I, wait for the pre-determined time before we start walking slowly and quietly along the marked transect line, scanning both sides for anima...

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(February 16, 2019) On World Pangolin Day, a look at one aspect that seems unconnected but contributes to the trade in the world's most trafficked mammal.It is World Pangolin Day. And, as much as we would like to look at the pangolin trafficking dilemma as either glass ‘half-empty’ or ‘half-filled’ in terms of existing efforts to ensure their survival, we do have to address one of the main triggers behind why these scaly mammals (and so many more) are continuously collected, killed, smuggled...

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(February 14, 2019)  Representational image © Srikanth RaoA fan club for a crop-raiding elephant may seem a paradox but if Chinna Thambi (meaning little brother), a wild elephant has been left free (for now) and not captured and tamed as per initial pans, it was thanks to the club.This tusker in Coimbatore has been raiding crops in the field and also damaging shops and homes in search of grains and fruits. Following protests from locals, he was translocated to a forest 100 kms away but soon enough, found ...

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(February 09, 2019) Live wildlife trade in species like turtles, tortoises, birds and snakes often kept as pets could seriously affect some of these species.Indian star tortoise © N A NaseerGeneral awareness of the threat posed by illegal wildlife trade involving high value species such as tigers, leopards, elephants, rhinos and pangolins is relatively better than how ‘live wildlife trade’ as a whole is perceived. This trade too has a significant impact on wild populations of several species.As per...

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(February 05, 2019) Handling mob fury is a challenging task, especially in protected areas that can be damaged by one act of arson.Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary near Sangama. © Srikanth RaoIn a recent unfortunate incident at Melghat Tiger Reserve, many government staff including police and forest department officials, were grievously wounded and prime tiger habitat set fire to by an angry mob. The grasslands in the core area were just recovering when this incident took place.It was the timely support from the pol...

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