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Avian Percussionists: The Drumming Woodpeckers of Uttarakhand
With twenty woodpecker species, Uttarakhand stands out as one of the most woodpecker-diverse states in India. The Corbett-Rajaji landscape alone accounts for half of all woodpecker species in the country
Photo Story
Botanists and Barberies, Palms and Patwas
A group of scientists were looking for rare, endemic, and endangered plants in the Kumaon, to learn about their habitat and geographic distribution, which could also provide clues to their evolutionary origins. Sometimes, they found answers, sometimes not
Wild Vault
Admiring the Perfect Blade of Grass
An enchanting short book about a little boy and the relationship he built with nature living in Dehradun under the watchful eye of his granny. Were the seeds of Ruskin Bond’s plentiful oeuvre of inspiring nature writing planted in those early days?
Book
Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary: Climbing Upwards Through Forests, Alpine Meadows, Grasslands, and Glaciers
While much of the route to the Kedarnath Temple passes through the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary and is frequented by pilgrims, a small proportion of visitors will find the journey more interesting than the destination
Photo Story
Munsiyari’s Omnipresent Alpine Accentors and Their Love Lives
These stout little birds migrate to lower altitudes in the non-breeding season and are visible everywhere. Their breeding rituals and accompanying songs take place in the summer in the quieter higher reaches of the Himalayas
Species
Watching Vultures Around Munsiyari
Encounters with the majestic Himalayan griffon and the bone-swallowing bearded vulture in a quaint, high-altitude town in Uttarakhand
Species
Behavioural Shift: Tigers Attack Bike Riders Along Corbett
In a period of nine months, five such attacks on bikers were recorded around Corbett Tiger Reserve. Four people were killed, and one was seriously injured
Conservation
Four Fantastic Pheasants of Uttarakhand
Dazzled by encounters with the regal cheer, Himalayan monal, koklass pheasant, and kalij pheasants on a trip to Uttarakhand
Photo Story
Khaliya Top: A Bird’s-eye View of Birds
Birding at an altitude of ~3,700 m in Uttarakhand’s Munsiyari region presents a top-down perspective and a chance to consider the incredible biodiversity of the alpine zone
Wild Vault
Bejewelled: On the Trail of the Himalayan Monal in Uttarakhand
Iridescent males are striking and unmissable, while females come dressed in browns and patterns that blend seamlessly with the landscape, allowing them to evade predators by remaining inconspicuous
Species
Sattal is a Paradise for Birders, But What About the Birds?
A morning walk on the lovely trails near Sattal is a wonderful way to spend time in the company of different birds. Let’s keep the experience as natural and ethical as possible
Wild Vault
The Guide: Walking Trails in Pawalgarh Conservation Reserve
Pawalgarh Conservation Reserve offers visitors a rare opportunity to take long, meandering walks through an enchanting sal forest
Travel
Intimate Connections: Falling in Love With a Walking Trail
A naturalist reminisces about familiar walking paths through national parks like Satpura in Madhya Pradesh and the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu cement his relationship with the wilderness and give him a deep spiritual connection to the places
Wild Vault
Enchanted Forest: Ode to the Old Sal Community
A sal tree never lives alone. It grows with many of its kind to create contiguous forests across hundreds of kilometres, nurturing everything that falls within its care
Wild Vault
The Guide: Kanger Valley National Park, Bastar
Visit this beautiful landscape in Chhatisgarh for its dense forests, the mighty Tirathgarh waterfall, and mysterious limestone caves
Travel
Three’s No Longer a Crowd for Sarus Cranes
According to a new study, these formerly monogamous birds are now forming trios to raise their chicks
Wild Vault
Monitoring Vultures in Madhya Pradesh’s Panna Tiger Reserve
Around 25 vultures in Panna Tiger Reserve, including the critically endangered Indian vulture, have been geotagged for monitoring the species’ behaviour
Conservation
Resettlement Stories: Losing a Home to a Tiger Reserve
About a decade ago, people from six villages in Chhattisgarh were resettled from the area where the Achanakmar Tiger Reserve now lies. The people reminisce about their lost home
Conservation
Lessons from the Super Tiger Mom, Collarwali
The celebrity tigress who passed away last year fiercely protected her cubs and taught us why we must fight to safeguard tiger habitats and denning sites
Column
Indian Skimmer: Fish-Loving River Hunter
Though they are successful fishers, there are less than 3,000 of the orange-billed birds left in the wild; and the banks of the Chambal River are the foremost breeding habitat for the species
Photo Story
Sharing Spaces with Wild Life on a University Campus
Plenty of wild creatures live in harmony alongside students and faculty in and around the IIT Kanpur campus
Urban Jungle
Disturbed by Mining, Chattisgarh’s Elephants Move to Gadchiroli
Herd migrates to forests of the neighbouring state of Maharashtra attracted by good quality food and adequate water
Conservation
Wildlife Puzzle: Woodpecker
Put together this jigsaw to see a beautiful brown fronted woodpecker chasing a rufous sibia in Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary
Interactive
Coal Mining Hazard Looms Over Hasdeo Arand
Allowing mining in part of these pristine forests will open entire area for excavation, warn activists
Conservation
#BehindtheLens with Mandakini Malla: Two Decades of Filming Panna
Filmmaker Mandakini Malla has spent over two decades capturing the many moods of Panna Tiger Reserve. She talks about how unchecked tourism can mean trouble for its wildlife, and why despite all the challenges this Central Indian forest will always be close to her heart
Video
Why Vultures of Panna May Lose their Cliff-Side Homes
For thousands of years, hundreds of vultures have built nests on the steep, ancient gorges of Panna, but new developments stand to submerge these landscapes. If the plan goes through, will the vultures return to nest?
Video
Red Alert: When a Leopard Hunts, the Jungle Grapevine Buzzes
Residents of Panna form odd alliances and warm friendships. But today, they face a serious threat. A predator is out on a hunt. Will the jungle grapevine sound a red alert? Or will the leopard secure a meal?
Video
Bird Housing: Rumblings in the Old Poplar Apartment Block
An unlikely tree on the edge of a sanctuary is a residential complex for numerous birds, and the scene for how survival in the wild is a mix of cooperation, conflict, and competition
Wild Vault
Can Feeding Wild Elephants Paddy Reduce Human-Wildlife Conflict?
The Chhattisgarh state government is trying to feed its surplus paddy to elephants in the hope that it will prevent them from coming into villages in search of food. Experts weigh in on the wisdom of this strategy
Conservation
Hunters to Guardians: The Extraordinary Story of Panna’s Pardhis
For nearly five centuries, the nomadic Pardhi community has lived in Panna's forests. Traditionally, they were hired by Maharajas to track big game. Today, the former hunters use the same skills to protect its wildlife
Video
Strategy and Stealth: The Everyday Life of a Marsh Crocodile
Along the banks of the Ken River, a cold-blooded predator quietly waits. The marsh crocodile lays motionless for hours, but once it sets its eyes on prey, it strikes within seconds
Video
Return of the King: How Panna National Park Got its Tigers Back
What does it take to bring back tigers to a forest that was once a hostile place for them? Experts talk about how the disappearance of tigers from Panna National Park gave birth to one of India’s most successful conservation stories
Video
A Year in the Life of Panna: A Wild Star Cast, Shifting Seasons, and Drama at Every Bend
Summer, winter, spring, monsoon - every season transforms Panna, pushing its wild star cast to shift strategies, work together and keep the jungle drama alive
Video
Tigress Travels Record Distance in Central India
P213-22 walked 99 km from her home in Panna Tiger Reserve to a non-protected area, where she is rearing two cubs
News
Serial Drillers: Great Slaty Woodpeckers as Community Cavity Creators
Woodpeckers regularly construct tree cavities of all sizes. These become potential dwellings for a diverse set of creatures from bees to birds, mammals, and reptiles
Habitat
Himalayan Monal: Facts, Habitat, Lifespan
All you need to know about the state bird of Uttarakhand
Infographic
Chaurs: The Wild and Wonderful Grasslands of Corbett
The rolling grasslands at the heart of Jim Corbett National Park are a grazing ground for some, and a hunting ground for others. They form only 10 per cent of the forest but are vital to its survival
Video
Grandala: Facts, Appearance, Diet
All you need to know about the royal-blue, gregarious bird
Infographic
Flash in the Forest: Mysterious World of the Yellow-throated Marten
Swift, agile, and fierce, these weasel-like creatures will prey on snakes, birds, and even bee-hives
Photo Story
Wild Buffalo Faces Race Against Extinction in Chhattisgarh
According to government estimates, only 25 to 35 wild buffaloes left in the state
News
Two Lakh Trees Face Axe for Diamond Mine in Buxwaha
Proposed project will impact wildlife and villagers dependent on the forest
News
Gharials Lose Nesting Sites at Katerniaghat
Growth of vegetation along the banks of the Girwa River has adversely affected the nesting of gharials
Conservation
Winged Wonders of Uttarakhand
Five species of critically endangered birds and more than 50 per cent of the country’s bird species inhabit the dynamic habitat of this hilly state
Photo Story
When the King Doesn’t Strike
Capable of immense restraint, the world's longest venomous snake is way more intelligent than we think
Book
The Butterfly Effect: Peter Smetacek and his Hill Cocoon
Peter Smetacek could identify butterflies before he could read. Today, the expert has turned his home into a butterfly museum and research centre for those who wish to soak in their wonder
Hero
Chhattisgarh's Next Tiger Reserve – Bhoramdeo or Guru Ghasidas?
State keen on Guru Ghasidas National Park, while wildlife experts feel Bhoramdeo Wildlife Sanctuary is an important tiger habitat
News
The Giving Tree: A Mighty Oak Ecosystem
How a gnarly, shabby, knotty old oak provides food and protection to a huge host of creatures
Photo Story
India’s Only Wolf Sanctuary Threatened by Mining
The quest for bauxite along the bordering areas of Chhattisgarh-Jharkhand endangers the wolves of Mahuadanr
News
The Guide: Lakh Bahosi Bird Sanctuary
One of the largest wetlands in Uttar Pradesh, the twin lakes of Lakh Bahosi are great for spotting winter migratory birds
Habitat
Save Thano: Dehradun’s Green Lung
Sanjay Sondhi, a naturalist and resident of Dehradun, spells out why citizens are against the move to destroy the Thano
forest
Multimedia
Winds of Change: New Strategies to Combat Human-Elephant Conflict
State forest departments of Odisha and Chattisgarh are working with local communities to mitigate conflict by using seed balls, drones and alarm machines
Conservation
Lesser Florican: Hope in Rajasthan, but on the Brink in Madhya Pradesh
While lesser floricans are learning to live with farmers in Shokaliya, Rajasthan, their numbers continue to plummet in the central Indian state
Conservation
Why Woodpeckers Peck the Largest Trees
According to a study conducted in Uttarakhand, woodpeckers prefer to forage on large trees which offer more food. Removal of large trees could affect their numbers
Wild Vault
The Guide: Ken Gharial Sanctuary
Come for the gharials, but stay for the vultures, the spectacular waterfalls, colourful rocks, and dramatic canyon
Travel
The Guide: Satpura National Park
There are three ways to explore this gorgeous Central Indian wildlife park of hills, rivers, wooded forests and rugged grasslands
Habitat
Proposed Hydropower Project Threatens the Bodh Fish
The ‘shark of Bastar' found in the Indravati river in Chhattisgarh, faces a perilous future due to the proposed Bodhghat Pariyojana project and indiscriminate hunting
News
Bold and Beautiful: Panna’s Glorious Tigers
By the end of 2009 not a single big cat was left in Panna Tiger Reserve. But through one of the country’s best conservation efforts, ten years later it is a thriving habitat with high tiger density, a stable population, and frequent sightings
Species
The Guide: Dudhwa Tiger Reserve
Dense forests and abundant waterbodies make the three sanctuaries within Dudhwa Tiger Reserve a haven for wildlife
Travel
Fear and Fascination on the Trail of the Mugger
Marsh crocodiles are stealthy creatures and apex predators of their environment, that can elicit both admiration and a panic response
Species
Croc Creche: Why Crocodilian Males Make Great Babysitters
Breaking gender stereotypes, tough bull crocs often pitch in to take care of hatchlings. Scientists believe they could be showing off their potential as future mating partners
Column
Tea Time with My Friend the Rock Agama
If you’re near a forested rocky area in the lower elevations of the Himalayas, look out for a variety of agamid lizards
Wild Vault
Dark Side: Spotting a Leopard in Panna Tiger Reserve
At night, the forests of India are happy stomping grounds for many creatures, but few are as adaptable, clandestine, and canny as the leopard
Species
In Search of a Panacea: Herb Collection in the Himalayas
Himalayan medicinal plants and herbs play an important role in the ecosystem, and in the lives of the humans and animals that live in the region
Wild Vault
The Guide: Panna Tiger Reserve
The breathtaking landscape of Panna Tiger Reserve is truly worthy of showcasing the tiger, but the forest’s other inhabitants are pretty magnificent as well
Habitat
Giant Powerhouses: Secrets of the Himalayan Oak Forests
The banj oak forest occupies but a narrow swathe of the Western Himalayas, but it is highly valued for the variety of creatures it supports, and the multifaceted benefits it brings human residents of the region
Habitat
Cheer Pheasant Clears the Air on Uttarakhand Fires
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment, and conservation
Green Humour
Vulture Population in Bundelkhand Increases by 103 Per Cent in a Decade
According to NGO Indian Biodiversity Conservation Society, vulture numbers rose from 1,313 in 2009 to 2,673 in 2019
News
Insuring Frontline Forest Staff: An Idea Whose Time Has Come
Deep in colonial-era archives, multiple strands of information emerge to piece together a fascinating story of The Canning Fund. That ninety-year-old insurance policy is surely something we need today
Hero
My Friends, the Trees
Falling in love with trees on a sprawling school campus, near the densely populated city of Varanasi
Urban Jungle
The Curious Incident of a Wild Water Buffalo in Panna
The mysterious appearance of an endangered wild water buffalo, near Panna Tiger Reserve in Central India, in 1979 sets off speculation and a series of theories about its origins
Column
Stepping Stones to Tiger Security: The Need for Inclusive Conservation Models
Making a case for unlocking the true potential of India’s tiger conservation capacity in a manner that brings development to local communities and an increase in biodiversity
Conservation
A Pangolin Calls the Forest Control Room
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment, and conservation
Green Humour
When Elephants Rage
A provoked, charging elephant may please popping cameras, but distresses the otherwise peaceful animal. They deserve the land, space and privacy they need
Species
Growing Older, and Wiser, With a Cherry Tree
A cherry tree that Rakesh planted as a child, grows tall and broad, welcoming a whole new world of birds and bees in his backyard, writes Ruskin Bond, in a heartwarming story from the chilly Himalayas
Book
On a Wing: Titli Utsavs in Uttarakhand
Butterfly and moth festivals in Uttarakhand open up new vistas for nature lovers and encourage the appreciation and conservation of lesser-known species
Wild Vault
Kuno, India’s second home for the Asiatic lion, is ready
Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno Palpur Wildlife sanctuary is all set to be the new home for relocated Asiatic lions from Gir in Gujarat
News
On a Wing: Dhanauri Wetland, a Birdwatcher’s Wonderland
Majestic birds, reptiles, and even some mammals inhabit this thriving ecosystem, just a short hop from anywhere in the national capital
Urban Jungle
Is the Lesser Florican Jumping to Extinction?
The smallest member of the bustard family faces a peculiar conundrum: breed or be safe?
Conservation
The Guide: Bandhavgarh National Park
Cats, big and small, are only a small fraction of the amazing wildlife in this central Indian national park
Travel
Jabarkhet Nature Reserve: A Forest Returns Home
Until 2O13, the private reserve suffered from unchecked tree logging and growth of invasive weeds. A little love, and conservation has revived an entire thriving eco-system
Travel
The Guide: Kanha National Park
One of India’s most famous tiger reserves encompasses diverse habitats which support a huge variety of wildlife including a healthy population of the big cat
Travel
The Guide: Pench National Park
Pench was the inspiration for Kipling’s iconic The Jungle Book. It is still flush with creatures big and small — from predators like tigers and leopards, to over 200 species of birds, and innumerable other critters
Travel
Behind the Revival of Panna’s Tigers
Conservation biologist Raghu Chundawat guided a spectacular revival of the tiger population in Panna National Park. The Rise and Fall of the Emerald Tigers is a detailed account of the effort
Book
The Guest in My Paddy Field: The Return of the Sarus Crane
The population of the sarus crane has registered a growth in Uttar Pradesh, thanks to the efforts of local communities, state government and non-profit organisations
Conservation
How the Bengal Florican Charms Its Mate
The Bengal florican is a romantic at heart. Its courtship ritual is part pageant and part dance-off
Photo Story