Rajasthan
88 Results
Neighbours and Friends: A Family and Other Animals
Leopards, small wild cats, and numerous other wildlife peacefully coexist with humans in the rural hamlet of Jawai in western Rajasthan
Photo Story
Modern Family: Observing a Rusty-Spotted Cat Clan in Rajasthan
Seemingly unafraid of humans, the smallest wildcat species in the world has adapted to live alongside us in the fields and plantations of the Indian subcontinent
Species
The Thar Desert: A Landscape of Loss
Writer, photographer and environmentalist Arati Kumar-Rao travels to India’s wild landscapes on the edge, to tell stories of loss and hope. Here’s an excerpt
Book
The Forgotten Tale of Black-Bellied Sandgrouse
An extraordinary number of sandgrouse would visit the princely state of Bikaner, Rajasthan for over half a century from the 1890s, offering the maharaja bragging rights and the British elite, thrilling shooting opportunities
Species
Laungwala Toad-headed Agama: Facts, Habitat, Threats
All you need to know about this lizard that thrives in the Thar desert
Infographic
Art Expedition: On the Trail of the Great Indian Bustard
Wildlife artist Sangeetha Kadur illustrates the critically endangered bustard, and its neighbours, in Rajasthan’s Desert National Park
Wild Vault
The Guide: Desert National Park
Far from empty, this park in Rajasthan has a wealth of birds, reptiles, mammals, and even flowering plants
Travel
Action Packed Birding in Keoladeo National Park
While Bharatpur’s waterbodies are brimming with waterbirds, the variety of habitats, from woodlands to dry forests and savannas, reflects the great diversity of birds found there
Photo Story
Indian Desert Jird: Tiny Musketeer of Rajasthan’s Thar Desert
With numerous survival strategies and tricks up its furry sleeves, the Indian desert jird has adapted to live in one of the most hostile ecosystems on the planet
Species
Rajasthan Toad-headed Agama: Master of the Shifting Sands
Of evolutionary significance for conservation, this small agama is found occupying sand dunes that have almost no vegetation, only in a few localities of Jaisalmer District
Species
Decoding the Wheatears of India
Protected areas like the Desert National Park in Rajasthan host seven of the nine species of these birds found in India
Species
Rajasthan’s Desert Ecology Impacted by Unusually Heavy Rains
Local flora and fauna is being affected by changes in water availability and vegetation
Conservation
Wildlife Puzzle: Dung Beetle
Put together this jigsaw to see dung beetles in action
Interactive
Dune Dinos: Laungwala Toad-headed Agama of the Thar Desert
With thick skin, a heavily scaled body, and perfect camouflage, this lizard is well adapted to living in one of the harshest environments in the world
Photo Story
Friendly Neighbours: Lesser Florican and the Farmers of Shokaliya
There are less than 340 lesser florican males on Earth and experts believe that the number of females is even smaller, but the smallest bustard species in India is trying to beat the odds with a little help from the farmers of Shokaliya, a village in Rajasthan's Ajmer district.
Video
Desert Cat: Raising a Family Under a Thorny Bush
In a sacred grove in Rajasthan, an Indian desert cat has given birth to three mischievous kittens under a thorny bush where they play, fight and goof around. But one afternoon, they go missing, sending the grove’s local guardian on a desperate quest to find them
Video
Under the Euphorbia: The Secret Lives of Asiatic Wildcats
A breeding family of Asiatic wildcats make their den below the branches of a thorny Euphorbia bush in a community-conserved sacred grove near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
Photo Story
Eat, Prey, Love: Lake-side Romance of a Common Kingfisher
The spring has finally arrived in Bharatpur — the perfect weather for the common kingfisher to look for a mate. But winning a female’s heart is not easy. Will a freshly-caught, fishy treat do the trick?
Video
Troubled Waters: Why Bharatpur’s Wetlands Need our Attention
Keoladeo Ghana National Park, also known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, has been a birdwatcher’s paradise. Every winter, the wetland hosts migratory birds from across the world. Unfortunately, the wetland is facing recurring droughts. Watch the film to find out why.
Video
Behind the Lens with Abhinandan Sharma: Why He Shares a Special Bond with Bharatpur
Growing up, Abhinandan Sharma watched his father and grandfather document the extraordinary wildlife of Bharatpur, or Keoladeo National Park. This time around, watch him train his lens on the incredible wetland.
Video
Orans of Rajasthan: A Sacred Oasis at the Cusp of Change
Deg Rai Mata Oran is one of Rajasthan's largest sacred groves. A local guardian tells us how the lives of oran’s people and its biodiversity are intrinsically linked and why the new changes could be detrimental to this sacred oasis
Video
Deg Rai Mata Oran: Grove of the Gods and a Changing Landscape
Rajasthan’s sacred groves, locally called orans, were once secure wildernesses that also supported livelihoods. Today, with power lines and green energy projects dotting the landscape, they are no longer safe spaces for their rare and diverse wild residents
Photo Story
Feast and Frolic: Winter Party of the Demoiselle Cranes
A party of charming guests has travelled hundreds of kilometres to spend their winters in Rajasthan. Watch them enjoy a feast, cool off by the lakes, charm a mate and shake a leg! Welcome to a virtual party with the demoiselle cranes
Video
Big Herons: Those Grouchy old Fishermen
Armed with a S-shaped neck and dagger-like bill, these herons are accomplished fishers
Species
Delightful Ducks: From the Flamboyant to the Austere
Of all the species of wildfowl recorded in India, just a handful are resident birds. The rest are winter migrants, mostly flying in from their breeding grounds in Central Asia and Siberia. Here’s a look at some of these charming birds
Photo Story
Lightning and I: Encounters with a Tigress from Ranthambore
Tracking the many twists and turns in the life of a tigress from Rajasthan’s Ranthambore National Park
Wild Vault
Why the World’s Smallest Crane Flocks to a Dusty Village in Rajasthan
How one man's effort to feed 8O-odd migratory demoiselle cranes, attracted thousands and gave birth to one of Rajasthan's most famous bird sanctuaries. Welcome to Kheechan's annual bird feast — a party with the demoiselle cranes
Video
Wings of Hope: A Bustling Village and their Bird Friends
Menar is not a reserved bird area, yet thousands of resident and migratory birds feel secure in the heart of this bustling village. What makes them feel safe here?
Video
Not Just Desert: The Wild, Varied Habitats of Rajasthan
A mosaic of habitats rich in diversity make up India’s largest state. While the Thar is the more familiar part of its landscape, it also has grasslands, wetlands, and hills
Photo Story
City of Lakes at Risk: Why Udaipur’s Wetlands Need Your Attention
Udaipur’s interconnected lakes have supported local communities and welcomed migratory birds for hundreds of years. But the pressures of growing tourism and unchecked construction are ruining these wetlands. Will the lakes of Udaipur survive the onslaught of “development”?
Video
Black Magic: Common Coots and their Vacation in Rajasthan’s Wetlands
Every winter, flocks of common coots migrate from Russia, China and Central Asia to vacation in Rajasthan’s urban wetlands. But life in the city is getting trickier. Are the coots trying to send us a message?
Video
Muskaan: The Leopard Queen of Kumbhalgarh
Muskaan has found a secure home on the peripheries of Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, thanks to nomadic herders Raikas who have shared their space with leopards for decades. But new developments are tipping this fine balance. Will Muskaan have to abandon her home?
Video
Home Affairs: The Great Crested Grebes Build a Nest
Every winter morning, Rajasthan's Menar lake teems with thousands of migratory guests. But today, there’s a new development in the neighbourhood. A pair of great crested grebes have just turned proud parents
Video
Jungle Tales: Kumbhalgarh Through the Eyes of a Forest Guard
Bhera Ram Bishnoi, fondly known as Bheru, spends a large part of his life patrolling the jungles of Rajasthan's Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary. Here's his view of the rich and diverse forest
Video
Beyond the Fortress: The Wild Side of Kumbhalgarh
Kumbhalgarh may be known for forts and stories of Rajput valour, but the surrounding forests have many wild tales to tell. Meet leopards, hyenas, antelopes, langurs, peacocks and more
Video
Keoladeo Ghana National Park: Floating Laboratory of Bharatpur
India’s most famous bird sanctuary has a long history of conservation challenges that have persisted for decades
Habitat
Bharatpur: Memories of an Inveterate Birder
The writer reminiscences the many charms of Keoladeo Ghana and the last swansong of the Siberian crane
Wild Vault
Demoiselle Cranes and the Great Kheechan Mela
Every year, thousands of demoiselle cranes make their way from breeding grounds in Central Asia to the little town of Kheechan, on the fringes of the Thar Desert. And they are welcomed and well looked after
Photo Story
Mount Abu’s Sloth Bears Tread on Thin Line
An eco-sensitive zone around the sanctuary with some stretches only 100 metres wide is inadequate, say wildlife experts
Conservation
Swarmageddon: How Lonely Grasshoppers Turn Into an Army of Locusts
Locusts and grasshoppers are two forms of the same creature, but a series of chemical reactions turn these lonely hoppers into giant swarms of invasive insects
Column
Ranthambore: Majestic Forts, a Deciduous Forest and the Reign of the Tiger
Ranthambore is a rare place — there is history at every bend. Tigers lounge in ancient forts, hunt around heritage lakes and have their meal under centuries-old domes
Photo Story
All in a Day’s Work: A Ringside View of Kumbhalgarh’s Wildlife
Bhera Ram Bishnoi shares a forest guard’s-eye view of the rich and varied wildlife of Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, a unique refuge in Rajasthan’s Aravalli Hills
Photo Story
MacQueen’s Bustard: Courtship Rituals, Habitat, Threats
All you need to know about this persecuted bustard
Infographic
Songs of Love: Sarus Cranes’ Lifelong Romance
Sarus cranes are sentient beings — they pair for life, feel emotions like humans do, and express love with great tenderness
Video
The Guide: The Twin Sanctuaries of Kumbhalgarh and Todgarh-Raoli
Though off the beaten track, these sanctuaries in Rajasthan are rich in wildlife sightings. Expect to see a variety of creatures from leopards to crocodiles, raptors to waterbirds
Habitat
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
Keep Calm and Carrion: The Great Vulture Gathering in Jorbeed, Rajasthan
On the outskirts of Bikaner, an animal carcass dumping ground is now a “paradise of raptors”, particularly vultures, the stewards of meat waste
Photo Story
Musa Khan: Birding Star of Desert National Park
A few years ago, Musa Khan could barely identify five birds. Today, renowned wildlife photographers and ornithologists depend on his expertise
Hero
Myth and Reality in Rajasthan’s Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary
Walking through this tropical dry deciduous forest sanctuary feels like a wilderness pilgrimage
Habitat
Striped Sisters Lead Conservation in Sariska
The two sister tigers, ST-9 and ST-10, were relocated to Sariska tiger reserve in 2013 and have till date contributed significantly in building up the tiger population in the reserve
Wild Vault
The Ecotone: The Todgarh-Raoli and Kumbhalgarh Sanctuaries of Rajasthan
Between the hilly forests of the Aravallis and the arid Thar desert, two little-known wildlife sanctuaries harbour a wide variety of flora and fauna
Habitat
Garnering Community Support for the Great Indian Bustard
A wildlife biologist couple spearhead an effort to involve the local community in conserving Rajasthan’s state bird, the Godawan
Conservation
Guest List of Thousands: Demoiselle Cranes in Kheechan
Kheechan in Rajasthan has a fifty-year-long tradition of welcoming and feeding thousands of migratory demoiselle cranes from Eurasia, as they winter in the south
Species
Poaching Increases During Covid-19 Lockdown in Rajasthan
More than 3O cases of killing of animals, including chinkara (Indian gazelle) and India’s national bird peacock, have been recorded during the lockdown, say Rajasthan’s forest department officials and activists
News
Abhinav Bharti: Guardian Angel of Todgarh-Raoli Wildlife Sanctuary
It takes a lot of passion and determination to be a forest officer with limited resources patrolling and protecting a wide tract of forest
Hero
How Protecting Small Forest Patches Can Make a Big Difference
Connecting smaller protected forests to larger ones can ensure movement of animals so that there is an exchange of genetic material, which will ensure long term sustainability of the populations
Conservation
Vultures: Scavengers of the Sky at Risk
Vultures are cleaners of our eco-system. Without them unattended carcasses would rot, pollute groundwater and spread diseases. But since the early 9Os, their populations have been plummeting. Are we doing enough to protect them?
Video
Thar: The Secret Lives of a Harsh Desert
The dry and deceptively empty Thar desert has an incredible story to tell – of spectacular diversity, unusual creatures, and exemplary survival strategies
Video
Faking It: Big Cats and the Confusion Around Paternity
Female lions and tigers go to great lengths to mask the identity of their cubs’ fathers, and with good reason
Column
White-Browed Bushchat: Facts, Habitat, Threats
All you need to know about this enigmatic desert dancer
Infographic
The New Tribe of Warriors of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
The forests around the Ranthambore fort were once the private hunting grounds of the kings, but recently they have been witnessing a new tribe of warriors – a local NGO has built a network of volunteers that track and protect the forests wild animals
Conservation
Dune Watching in the Thar: Skinks, Scorpions, and Other Small Wonders of the Desert Ecosystem
The diversity of a desert landscape might not be apparent, but it is ever present, and a joy to observe
Photo Story
Great Indian Bustard’s Life on the Edge
Royalty of grasslands and scrublands, the majestic great Indian Bustard once flew across 11 states of the country. But today, fewer than 15O survive in the wild, with Rajasthan being one of its last bastions
Video
Excuse me! There’s Botulism in the Sambhar
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment, and conservation
Green Humour
Bishnois: Guardians of the Chinkaras
Meet the graceful chinkara that springs across the Thar. Also, meet its guardian angels — the Bishnoi community of Rajasthan, who watch over everything that thrives in the hot desert
Video
Chinkara Poaching Racket Uncovered in Rajasthan
The four accused are suspected to have killed hundreds of chinkaras, the state animal, over almost a decade
News
Unregulated Leopard Tourism Worries Conservationists
Private leopard safaris around the periphery of protected areas with claims of “guaranteed sightings” causes concern
Conservation
Sun and Sand: Spiny-Tailed Lizard’s Day Out
The sun is up in the Thar desert, and cold-blooded spiny-tailed lizards need to step out of their burrow to warm up. But hungry predators lurk just around the corner. Will the alert spiny get away?
Video
Raiders of the Anthill: Sloth Bears of Kumbhalgarh
A sweet tooth and a penchant for ants and termites occasionally take the sloth bear beyond the boundaries of Rajasthan’s wildlife sanctuaries
Species
The Guide: Keoladeo National Park
The former hunting reserve of the Maharaja of Bharatpur is now one of India’s most important breeding and feeding grounds for a variety of resident and migratory birds
Travel
Shared Spaces: The Leopards of Jawai in Rajasthan
The absence of human-animal conflict in a small area of the Aravalli Hills makes us re-examine our knowledge of leopard behaviour and their interactions with humans
Photo Story
Hunters of the Thar: Raptors in Desert National Park
Beyond Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, only the most resilient raptors survive the surreal desert landscape
Photo Story
Dung Beetles: The Little Things That Run the World
They are found nearly all over the planet and are considered engineers of the soil. But why are dung beetles so fascinated with poop?
Species
Avian Windfall at Todgarh-Raoli and Kumbhalgarh
Two underexplored sanctuaries in Rajasthan reveal over 12O bird species over four days, proving they have great potential to be developed as birding destinations
Travel
A Tux and a Dance: A Day in the Life of the Common Coot
Coots are known to be quarrelsome, but outside the breeding season, they are also graceful creatures that will glide through waterbodies effortlessly in coordinated flocks
Species
Spotted Creeper in the Khejri Tree
With a melodious call, the rare Indian spotted creeper makes an appearance on a misty morning in the Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary
Species
Montagu’s Harrier: Prowlers on the Grassland
Following the migratory path of locusts and grasshoppers, Montagu’s harriers were once one of the most common harriers to winter on the Indian subcontinent. This is less and less so as their favourite grassland habitats diminish
Species
The Guide: Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
Visit for the tigers, stay for the forest.
Travel
Desert National Park: The Abundant Life of the Sand and Scrubs
The Desert National Park is anything but deserted. Look closely, and you will spot gazelles, sandgrouses, foxes, snakes, and if you are lucky, the charismatic, critically endangered great Indian bustard
Habitat
Tal Chhapar: The Golden Grasslands of Churu
The national park is home to many vulnerable and endangered birds and of course to its most famous resident — the blackbuck
Habitat
Tactical Tails: Life Moves in Slow Motion for the Spiny-tailed Lizard
With a fat tail that is both a boon and bane, this herbivorous reptile has adapted well to a hot, arid habitat
Species
Meet Spiny, the Only Herbivorous Lizard Species in India
How the spiny-tailed lizard copes with its habitat in the desert and its many predators
Species
The Queen of Jhalana is Dead, Long Live the Prince
The tigers of Jhalana may be a distant memory, but the leopards are just as worth saving
Habitat
Deserts Decoded
Everything you need to know about these arid landscapes
Explainer
Is the Lesser Florican Jumping to Extinction?
The smallest member of the bustard family faces a peculiar conundrum: breed or be safe?
Conservation
Dune Crickets: The Underdogs of the Thar Desert
The Thar desert in Rajasthan is home to two of the seven known dune cricket species. The insects have adopted mechanisms and lifestyles that help them survive the arid desert climate
News
The Trickster of the Desert: Greater Hoopoe Lark
The greater hoopoe lark is clever. When it sees a predator, it fake falls and pretends to be an injured, easy prey, to distract the hunter from its nest
Species
White-browed Bushchat: The Enigmatic Desert Dancer
Little is known about this elusive bird, including why it occasionally puffs its white breast feathers and sways gracefully from side to side, as if to an imagined melody
Species