Science | Nature | Conservation
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,…
Travel through the Rann of Kutch in winters and the eyes see nothing but barren, white cracked land with not a single patch of green to signal life and break the monotony. But come here during the monsoons and the extremity of the morphological changes can easily amaze and astound. As sea, river and rainwater…
Imagine a world without flowers. A world where there are no fruit-laden trees and no seeds to germinate into a new plant. Such a world is quite frankly, unimaginable. And yet, our planet is moving towards that future because those little things that keep the myriad lifecycles of nature going are themselves disappearing. We are…
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…
The Western Ghats encapsulate a freshwater ecosystem that is self-sustaining and self-sufficient. It is an incredible biodiversity hotspot. This freshwater region supports 400 million people with water for drinking, transport, irrigation and hydroelectric power, together with food and resources to sustain livelihoods. It is also the life-giver for 1,146 species of fishes, molluscs, odonates and…
Not so long ago, the drug Diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), was used as a painkiller for humans as well as for veterinary purposes. But in 2006, the government banned the manufacturing as well as the use of this drug for treating animals. The reason – it was poisoning the highly endangered vultures of…
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…