Newsroom

News

(November 22, 2024) Coral bleaching in Great Barrier Reef: Extreme heat, cyclones recede coral cover on 12 out of 19 surveyed reefs | Down to Earth Extreme heat, cyclones, and flooding between December 2023 and March 2024 caused significant coral cover losses on 12 of 19 surveyed reefs in the northern Great Barrier Reef, with the Cooktown-Lizard Island sector experiencing a 39-year record decline. Surveys revealed 73% of reefs bleached, severely affecting fast-growing Acropora sp. and highlighting the reef's...

READ THE STORY

(November 15, 2024) Second tigress from Tadoba reaches Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha | The New Indian Express A second tigress from Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) has been translocated to Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Odisha to enhance genetic diversity and bolster its tiger population. The three-year-old tigress, radio-collared and under observation, will be soft-released into an enclosure before its eventual release into the wild. STR authorities plan to relocate four more tiger...

READ THE STORY

(November 13, 2024) The following content is compiled from publicly available sources and does not represent the views of WCS-India. Reported species in seizure incidents may differ from actual occurrences due to challenges in verifying species identification, geographical differences, and varying levels of detail in local reporting. Please interpret this information within the newsletter with caution, as it may not always reflect precise or validated identification.  We collected and collated 42 illegal wi...

READ THE STORY

(November 08, 2024) 25 out of 75 tigers in Ranthambore National Park missing over last year, say officials | The Hindu Ranthambore National Park has reported 25 of its 75 tigers missing over the past year, marking the highest number recorded within such a period. A committee has been formed to investigate potential park management lapses, with monitoring gaps and overcrowding issues identified as contributing factors. The committee will deliver its findings in two months, while efforts to reduce pressure on the ...

READ THE STORY

(November 08, 2024) On October 24, 2024, the South Dang division of the Gujarat Forest Department, in collaboration with WCS-India, celebrated Forest Owlet Conservation Day. The event brought together frontline personnel from the Forest Department, local bird guides, and experienced birdwatchers from the Dang landscape. Kaushal Patel, Project Manager for the Forest Owlet Project, provided an insightful briefing on the natural history of the Forest Owlet and its critical conservation significance in the region. ...

READ THE STORY

(November 06, 2024) We are deeply saddened to share the passing of Satish G. Nagathan, a cherished member of our WCS-India family. His dedication and expertise brought depth to a range of research activities including camera trapping, line transects, large-scale occupancy surveys, and social surveys across landscapes. Satish also used his creative skills and made a lasting impact on our Communications and Outreach efforts by creating compelling Kannada content that strengthened our connection with local communit...

READ THE STORY

(October 29, 2024) The following content is collected from public information and does not represent the views of WCS-India.  We collected and collated 53 illegal wildlife trade-related data-points from various regions across India using open-source information. The highest number of wildlife seizure incidents were reported from Tamil Nadu (8), Maharashtra (6), and Odisha (6). Some of the reported wildlife species included Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles (Indian Flapshell Turtle, Indian Softshell Tur...

READ THE STORY

(October 28, 2024) Tigress’ 400-km journey from MP to Chhattisgarh reveals two safe corridors A tigress traveled approximately 400 km from Madhya Pradesh’s Pench Tiger Reserve to Chhattisgarh’s Achanakmar Tiger Reserve, demonstrating the functionality of critical tiger corridors. This movement, identified by the Wildlife Institute of India, suggests that conservation efforts, including anti-poaching patrols and the NH-44 mitigation plan—an elevated highway with wildlife underpasses&mdash...

READ THE STORY

(October 25, 2024) The Student Conference on Conservation Science (SCCS) - Bengaluru, held from October 21-24 at the J N Tata Auditorium, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, brought together students, post-docs, and early-career professionals in conservation from across the natural and social sciences. The event featured a range of conservation-focused workshops, plenary talks, student posters and oral presentations, and interactive activities. Members of the WCS-India team actively participated, en...

READ THE STORY

(October 18, 2024) Tamil Nadu’s Valparai tops Western Ghats villages for richness of threatened fauna | The Hindu A GIS-based study by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) found Valparai, Tamil Nadu, to be the richest in threatened species among Western Ghats villages, with 98 species. Kerala topped the state-wise list with 354 species, followed by Tamil Nadu (274). The study mapped 512 species across 7,630 villages, highlighting the need for conservation efforts beyond protected areas, where many lesser-...

READ THE STORY