Science | Nature | Conservation
A survey of fishing cat numbers in areas with high human density in West Bengal has revealed that the major reason for their decline is the degradation of wetland habitats. A cat that depends on wetlands and marshes also symbiotically helps preserve this crucial ecosystem, observes Atula Gupta. India is home to 15 species of…
When the tiger is saved, it sets off a domino effect that saves its prey, their food source and every small and big species thriving in the vast habitat. The tiger thus ensures that the entire kingdom is safe, observes Atula Gupta The kingdom of an emperor is defined by its geography and its dwellers…
A team of scientists at Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve reason that analysing sound recordings of frog croaking combined with readings from climate data loggers could improve our understanding of the effect of climate change on amphibian populations, writes Atula Gupta Sitting 100 feet above the ground, in the dense canopies of the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger…
Tiger numbers shot up to 1,706 this year from 1,411 in 2008. Was this good news or did it deepen the worry lines on conservationists’ faces? It has been that kind of a year for most species. Some good, some bad; some species recovering, some others vanishing, writes Atula Gupta In the beginning of 2011,…
Tucked in the North-eastern state of Manipur is Loktak lake, home to a curious herd of deer. These mammals earn their distinction not just because they are found nowhere else in the world, but also because their home and natural habitat is a floating mass of vegetation on the lake, the Keibul Lamjao National Park…
Millions of years ago, an Olive Ridley turtle hatched from its egg laid on a beach in Orissa. It then began its arduous seaward journey and later the struggle for survival in the marine world. But years later, spanning thousands of kilometres, it returned, to the land of its birth to nestle eggs in the…
For centuries, the Ganga has been the symbol of purity and sanctity in the country. From its mythical descent from Lord Shiva’s locks to its serpentine path across India and the final assimilation into the ocean; the river plays an epic role in shaping the culture and character of India. And yet while this holy…
In March this year, the Ministry of Environment announced that the tiger population of the country had increased from 1,411 in 2006 to 1,706 in 2010. This caused a flutter among environmentalists around the world, who hailed India’s efforts to finally usher in some good news when most other species under threat were still in…
In a bid to strengthen its efforts at conservation of endangered plant and animal species, India has decided to initiate the country-specific red list of endangered species. The red list of species under threat published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the best guideline for conservationists all around the world. It…
This was my first article published in Deccan Herald, 26 April, 2011