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203 Results
Namma Ankasamudra: Jewel of North Karnataka
The three hundred year old wetland at Ankasamudra is home to over 150 avian species. From painted storks and pelicans to an assortment of ducks and wild geese, a symphony of birds ensures that this wetland remains a thriving ecosystem.
What happens when the local community notices the threats to the wetland and comes together to understand and preserve its inhabitants?
Find out in "Namma Ankasamudra" heartwarming tale of compassion, community and conservation.
Video
Land of Bears and Boulders: Sloth Bears of Daroji
The rolling boulders of Daroji, Karnataka, are home to Asia's oldest sloth bear sanctuary. The rocks and caves of the deccan plateau provide the perfect home for bears to hunt, relax, and raise their young.
Video
The Wilds of Daroji
The millenia old landscape of Daroji in Karnataka is home to a stunning number of species. From adorable otters to ambling sloth bears, the banks of the Tungabhadra are teeming with biodiversity.
Video
SARPA – An App That Saves Lives
This innovative tech intervention, accessible to anyone with a smartphone, streamlines snake rescue efforts and minimises human-wildlife conflict
Wild Vault
In a Twitter about Thattekad Bird Sanctuary
A 25-sq-km bird sanctuary in Kerala is an avian paradise for birders
Photo Story
A Match Made in Heaven: Traditional Wisdom and Modern Science
Community members monitoring ecology in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve integrate traditional knowledge with modern scientific methods to monitor climate impacts on their forests, rivers, and farms
Conservation
Birding Around the Salt Pans of Tuticorin
The nutrient-rich, shallow waters of the salt pans of Thoothukudi are interspersed with vegetation, forming a unique habitat that attracts a vast range of birds
Wild Vault
The Art of Camera Trapping the Indian Brown Mongoose
Wildlife photographer and camera trap specialist Yashpal Rathore shares his experience documenting an elusive species of mongoose from the Western Ghats.
Photo Story
Species No Bar for Langurs
Primatologists are finding increased evidence of mixed species associations and hybridisation between Nilgiri and Hanuman langurs in the Western Ghats
Wild Vault
Blue-necked Reedtail: Facts, Habitat, Lifecycle
All you need to know about this rare damselfly
Infographic
The Guide: Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary
There are plenty of birds and animals in Aralam, one of the lesser-known sanctuaries in northern Kerala, but the main attraction is undoubtedly its abundance of butterflies
Travel
Subtle Showstoppers: Bowled Over by the Monitors in My Yard
Their ancient aura and irreplaceable swagger intact, udumbus or common monitor lizards have proliferated in a little village in Kerala’s backwaters
Wild Vault
Munnar’s Monsoon Nightlife: The Bush Frog Story
The bush frogs of Munnar form a unique group with many endemic species facing threats to their existence
Photo Story
Bangalore University Campus: The Unsung Carbon Sink
Accessible to the public, the 1,200-acre campus with over five lakh trees is Bangalore’s unnoticed green lung
Wild Vault
Reforesting Arunachala Hill in Tiruvannamalai
After a long tryst with fires burning up its vegetation and numerous community conservation efforts, Arunachala Hill is finally a rewilding success
Conservation
Growing with Nature: The Story of Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary
From a barren landscape to a green abode, Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary in Wayanad, Kerala, shows us what conservation, protection, and love for nature can do
Habitat
Shola-Grasslands in the Palani Hills
1,600 m above sea level, shola forests and the adjoining grasslands are an important ecosystem found in the rippling montane regions of South India’s hills. These shola-grasslands are prime habitats for various native and endemic species of plants, birds, and animals.
Habitat
Purple Frog: A Brief Interlude from a Secret Life Underground
A subterranean burrowing life, bizarre body morphology, and unique breeding behaviour make the purple frog an intriguing and important amphibian to be studied and conserved
Species
Artisanal Fishers of Rameswaram Stand Against Polluting Shrimp Farms on the Island
They allege that shrimp farms behind their village have polluted their groundwater, encroached their commons and that some farms don’t abide by government rules
Conservation
Biodiversity Hotspot: Walking Through Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
Though tigers roam Tamil Nadu’s river sanctuary and its many habitats, it’s the tiny buds and creepy crawlies that reign supreme when it comes to diversity and abundance
Wild Vault
Communities and the Heronries, Can They Save Each Other?
The relationship between the birds and humans in the coastal communities in Andhra Pradesh differs greatly from one village to the next
Conservation
Finding a Tranquilised Wild Tiger
Wildlife biologist K Ullas Karanth shares an adventurous real-life story from the emerald jungle of Nagarahole
Book
Under Fire: Smooth-coated Otters on the Cauvery
The habitat of smooth-coated otters is severely threatened by numerous activities. As they adapt to changes, they come into increased conflict with humans
Conservation
Dying River: Declining Water Quality and Fish Stocks on the Cauvery
From pollution to global warming, many factors adversely impact the Cauvery’s water quality. As a result, native fish populations are impacted, affecting on the entire ecosystem that depends on this river
Conservation
Fishers’ Quandary: Strain and Survival on the Cauvery
With the Cauvery’s depleting fish stocks, the lives of fishers who depend on this river for their livelihoods have become increasingly uncertain, forcing them to adapt to different methods of fishing
Conservation
Nilgiri Laughingthrush: Habitat, Calls, Nests
All you need to know about this endangered shola forest resident
Infographic
Longwood Shola, the Only Urban Shola Forest in the Nilgiris
Home to the threatened Nilgiri marten and other rare fauna and flora, the forest patch is rich in biodiversity
Urban Jungle
Sea Cucumbers: Illegal trade and the Blame Game
How a blanket ban on sea cucumber fishing in India has created an illicit trade and impacted the livelihoods of artisanal communities who have historically harvested them
Conservation
The Endangered Nilgiri Tahr: What is Threatening South India's Only Mountain Ungulate
The incredibly biodiverse Nilgiris are home to southern India's only mountain ungulate - the Nilgiri tahr. Capable of scaling steep and rocky terrains, this mountain goat is the state animal of Tamil Nadu and a sure-footed presence in Western Ghats landscape. But why is its population endangered? Watch our film to find out.
Video
Hide and Seek: On the Scent of a Leopard in Tiger Country
When spots, not stripes, steal the show on a safari through Bandipur Tiger Reserve
Wild Vault
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
Olive Ridley Turtles Threatened by Upcoming Port in Karnataka
An upcoming port and the corresponding road and railway network could destroy a turtle nesting region in Honnavar in Uttara Kannada district
Conservation
Whale Shark Strandings Increase Along Andhra Pradesh Coast
Pressure from infrastructure development, transport and fishing are pushing the sharks to venture into territories where they have not been documented before
Conservation
#WorldElephantDay: The Story of Chilli Komban, a Beloved Elephant
Ahead of World Elephant Day, Pravin Shanmughanandam tells us the heartbreaking story of a loved elephant who was recently declared "a rogue" by the media.
This not a story of just one elephant, but elephants everywhere that are struggling to make sense of a world, that we are constantly changing and destroying.
Multimedia
Anaimalai Roadblock: On the Trail of a Tusker
A majestic elephant that has been migrating through forest patches in the foothills of Anaimalai hills for many years suddenly faces an obstacle
Wild Vault
How to Conserve Biodiversity as Wind Farms Expand in Tamil Nadu
Migratory raptors, such as harriers, are avoiding areas dominated by wind farms in Tamil Nadu, indicate initial observations
Conservation
Love and Let Live: Saving Puttenahalli Lake
A neighbourhood environmental group comes together to preserve a dying lake, providing a variety of birds and insects a place to thrive, and glimmer of hope for Bangalore city
Urban Jungle
The Blessed Bears of Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary
Near the famous rock temples of Hampi, the boulder-strewn landscape is a protected haven that helps preserve these magnificent animals
Species
Forest Fugue: The Seasonal Sounds of Avalahalli
Always alive with natural melodies, Avalahalli State Forest is an ever-changing landscape marked by avian choruses and a tapestry of varied acoustics
Urban Jungle
The Mysterious Migration of Crimson Rose Butterflies
A recently observed migration of a large swarm of crimson rose butterflies from India to Sri Lanka has highlighted how little is still known about this natural phenomenon
Wild Vault
Escape From the City: How I Found a Home in the Wilderness
While living in Bangalore, this nature lover longed for the wilderness. He wanted to live somewhere in the shadow of a mountain or close to a river, someplace he could soak in birdsong and monsoon rain. And he finally moved
Wild Vault
Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve: A Sweet Symphony of Waterbirds
Only an hour from arid Hampi, is a lake dotted with half-submerged acacia trees —a wetland ecosystem with over 150 bird species like ducks, herons, and pelicans
Habitat
Pincers and Claws: Crabs of the Konkan Coast
An incredible variety of crabs, ranging from tiny pea crabs to massive mud crabs, inhabit the diverse habitats of India’s Konkan coast
Photo Story
New Conservation Reserve Offers Glimmer of Hope for Dugongs
The biodiversity-rich waters of the reserve in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay is the most significant surviving natural habitat for dugongs globally
Conservation
The Fog Clears: Unwinding Under a Fig Tree
When time spent with family and friends in nature helped relieve some of the lingering symptoms of Covid-19
Wild Vault
Huntsman Spider: Apex Predator in a Microhabitat
Fast, gravity-defying, and adaptable, these impressive spiders are super stalkers that take camouflage to surreal levels
Species
Urban Cacophony of the Heartening Kind
A safari of birds and animals can be seen and heard without stepping out of this apartment home set at the edge of the Avalahalli forest in a north Bangalore suburb
Urban Jungle
Fishy Quandary: A Nexus of Livelihoods and Native Fish
Without healthy freshwater ecosystems, there is neither hope for indigenous fish species nor humankind
Conservation
Troubled Waters: Alien Plants and Water Stress in the Nilgiris
The unseen impact of exotic invasive plants on the ecology and water security of the Upper Bhavani region of the Nilgiris
Conservation
Protecting the Sacred Fish of the Cauvery
Religious lore, temples, and the impact of inadvertent conservation in the Cauvery basin
Species
King Cobra: The Ruling Serpent of Fields and Forests
The longest of all venomous snakes in the world is also very shy, unless it’s time to hunt
Video
The Land of Naga Bana
Herpetologist Gowri Shankar, who has spent a lifetime studying and protecting the king cobra, demystifies the remarkable relationship between serpent and human
Video
Shivaji Kutikela: “To Protect Animals, I Must Think Like a Hunter”
What does it take to protect wild animals from snare traps? Good observation skills, knowledge of wild animals, and the ability to think like a hunter. A day in the life of an anti-snaring field assistant
Hero
Sand Scavengers: Ghost Crabs in the Intertidal Zone of Chennai’s Elliot’s Beach
Living on the foggy cusp of land, sea, sand, and sky, ghost crabs are the beach clean-up crew, the vultures of sandy coastal ecosystems.
Species
Hump-backed Mahseer: Facts, Habitat, Threats
All you need to know about this critically endangered freshwater fish
Infographic
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve: A Sight and Story at Every Bend
The lush forest is best experienced through the eyes of the local tribals-turned-guides who know the landscape intimately
Habitat
Grizzled Giant Squirrel: Facts, Habitat, Threats
All you need to know about this threatened rodent
Infographic
Economy or Ecology? Eucalyptus Plantations in Coastal Andhra Raises Concern
Farmers in Vizianagaram district turn to ‘controversial’ water guzzling crop as they struggle with water scarcity and groundwater salinity
Conservation
Vasanth Bosco: Choosing the Promise of the Present
Leaving behind a career in alternative energy, he has chosen to dedicate his life to rewilding the depleted shola grasslands in the Nilgiris with native trees, shrubs and grasses
Hero
Studying Snakes through Radio Telemetry
Emerging as an easier and more precise way to track and study snakes than traditional observation methods
Wild Vault
Vanishing Act: The Slow Decline of Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle
The turtle has been shrouded in mystery for too long — it is rarely spotted, we know little about its ecology, except that its numbers are declining across its range
Species
The Nitty-gritty of Releasing a Leopard
When a leopard is captured near Chalamasandra village, a team assembles to release it in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary
Book
Sharavathi: Lament of a River
Tropical evergreen forests and Myristica swamps once cloaked this river’s landscape on its westward journey to the sea. The river’s rhythm, once decided by tides, is now interrupted by dams and a port built to serve people elsewhere
Photo Story
N Badusha: Crusader for Wayanad’s Wilds
For more than four decades, this committed environmental activist has forged a path to protect the fragile communities and ecosystems of Kerala
Hero
Last Stand: The Kolar Leaf-nosed Bat and its Forgotten Cave
A citizen scientist strives to protect the only known habitat of a rare, critically endangered species of bat in Karnataka
Conservation
Finding a ‘Star’ Among Frogs
When a team of ecologists discovered a frog with constellation-like markings on its back, they knew just what to name it!
Book
Humpback Mahseer: Big Fish in a Small World
The once abundant “tiger of the Cauvery” has now shrunk to a few small pockets in the Cauvery basin. Protecting this fish is not just about the mahseer, it’s linked to the conservation of the larger riverine ecosystem
Species
Lake Life: Pulicat, the Bird Haven
This brackish water lagoon just north of Chennai is rich in marine life that has made it an important bird habitat and crucial source of livelihood for hundreds of fisherfolk
Habitat
Cherish the Grove: A Foray into the Forests of the Coromandel Coast
Tropical dry evergreen forests, distinct to the coastlines of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, now exist only in fragmented patches. We need to conserve their biodiversity and engage with communities to preserve and protect the native forests of this eco-region
Habitat
Choosing Between Elephants and Humans in the Nilgiris
The implementation of the Sigur Elephant Corridor connecting the Eastern and Western Ghats faces opposition from human rights activists
Conservation
Kole’s waterman: Protecting a wetland through paddy cultivation
Agriculturist Kochu Muhammed who coordinates over 130 clusters of farmers is a living encyclopaedia on these wetlands
Hero
Life on the Vertical: Exploring Nature on City Walls
The ecology of urban walls includes a variety of life, from ferns and figs, to paper wasps, stingless bees, and two-tailed spiders
Urban Jungle
Finding Philautus: Bush Frogs in the Western Ghats
A researcher’s journey through the mosaic of sholas and grasslands in the Upper Nilgiris of the Western Ghats to study its herpetofauna
Column
Disappearing Predators: Wolves of the Deccan
Indian grey wolves have a long history of living in human-dominated landscapes, but their survival is now challenged by the rapid, unsustainable change taking place in these traditional habitats
Conservation
At Home with Herps: Living with Reptiles
How a herpetologist fell in love with the natural world by observing snakes, lizards, frogs and other reptiles around his home
Urban Jungle
Gulf of Mannar’s Corals Endangered by Marine Debris
Abandoned nets, plastic fish traps, ropes and lines make corals susceptible to injury, fragmentation, and disease, say researchers
Conservation
Jungle Sleuth: Wild Encounters and Animal Signs
Tracking wild animals based on the secondary evidence they leave behind — from pugmarks to dung piles and scrape marks
Wild Vault
Nature Underfoot: Wild Flora and Fauna on City Pavements and Waysides
A rich diversity of plant and animal life is hidden in the cracks and crevices of our streets, and a closer examination can reveal some incredible interactions
Urban Jungle
A Family Saga: To Bee or not to Bee
The author and her father are fascinated by the leaf cutter bee’s nest in their garden, while her mother remains unmoved
Urban Jungle
Ramadevarabetta: A Vulture Sanctuary in Rapidly Urbanising Ramanagara
Close to the metropolis of Bangalore, the Ramadevarabetta Vulture Sanctuary is a pristine protected space in which people can learn about reptiles, dragonflies, endangered vultures, and all kinds of other birds
Habitat
Living Waters: The Resistance and Resilience of the Cauvery
For a large part of its course, the Cauvery River is exploited and abused. However, a few pockets of wilderness, including a 110-km stretch that runs through the protected Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, provide a sliver of hope
Photo Story
The Wild Stars of South India
A smattering of creatures large and small that make an appearance in the latest field guide by the authors
Book
The Zen of Diving
Age is no bar for falling in love with the meditative, magical underwater landscapes of India’s Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands
Column
Growing With the Flow: The River Pamba and I
How childhood swimming lessons in Thalavady’s Pamba river revealed secrets of Kerala’s backwaters, and introduced the writer to wonders of the wild
Wild Vault
From Treetops to Trash: The Lion-tailed Macaques’ Fight for Survival
Lion-tailed macaques live on treetops and need connected canopies to travel, but the destruction of forests is forcing them to descend to the floor and look for food in the trash
Video
The Guide: Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
Every summer, the river waters recede to reveal tiny islands that welcome the sanctuary’s biggest attraction — large congregations of graceful and gregarious river terns
Travel
The Guide: Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
Little islets on the River Kaveri make up this all-season haven for birds and birdwatchers
Habitat
Fish Discovered in Kerala may have Lived with the Last Dinosaurs
Genetically distinct from other snakehead fish worldwide, the Gollum snakehead is a living fossil, say scientists
Wild Vault
Tamil Nadu to Investigate Cause of Mysterious Elephant Deaths
Poisoning and disease emerge as prime suspects for the deaths of elephants in the state's forests in the last seven months
Conservation
Tall Tales: Trees from Nagarhole
A glimpse into the ecological and cultural linkages of eight important tree species from the moist, dry deciduous forests of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve
Habitat
Plants as Parasites: Connecting to the Host with the Most
Using specialised structures, parasitic plants tap into the root system of specific host trees to draw water and nutrition
Wild Vault
Periyar Tiger Reserve: Synergy of an Emerald Forest
It’s easy to fall in love with this lush wilderness in Kerala when you explore its depths on a boat safari and walking trail
Habitat
Fringe Ford and the Scoop on Poop
Lessons in nature’s interconnectedness in Wayanad’s jungles, where poop is serious business. It can bear tidings of who’s in town, and support entire ecosystems
Travel
Missed Connections: How Disconnected Forests Threaten the Grizzled Giant Squirrel
Continuous forests, with connected canopies, are essential for the tree-dwelling species to travel for food, shelter and survival
Conservation
What Frog Songs Tell Us
Frogs sing every monsoon to charm a mate, but new disturbances are drowning out their songs
Multimedia
Tidal Tales: The Undercover World of Coringa
Hidden beneath the deceptively still and silent mangrove cover is a universe shaped by tides — once the waters recede, a whole new world unfurls
Video
Painted Storks: The Winged Daughters of Kokkarebellur
Every year, for about six months, the village of Kokkarebellur is taken over by painted storks. Locals believe the loud and beautiful visitors are like their own children
Species
Spot-tailed Pit Viper: The Covert Operator of Coringa
Behind the opaque mangrove curtain of Coringa, a covert operator waits, silently for days on end, for unsuspecting prey to show up. Meet the mangrove forest's ambush predator — the spot-tailed pit viper
Video
Why Do These Starry-eyed Frogs Disappear into Bamboos?
A peculiar behaviour exhibited by white-spotted bush frogs prompted a researcher and his colleagues to unravel a mystery that’s stranger than fiction
Book
Evolutionary Anomalies: Killing and Eating Your Kind
When king cobras eat other king cobras — strange stories of animal cannibalism
Column
Indian Skimmer: The Flame-billed Hunter of the Coast
Along the coast of Godavari, as the tide recedes, a bird with a flame-coloured scissor-like bill, scans the waters for prey. Meet the Indian skimmer
Video
Dark Waters: The Disappearing Myristica Swamps
Exploring these intriguing freshwater swamps reveals many reasons why we need to preserve them. They host not just a primitive family of plants, but also a fascinating array of creatures
Habitat
Fishing Cat: Secret Keeper of the Mangrove Forest
Hidden deep in the mangrove thickets of Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, is the elusive, nocturnal fishing cat — one that knows the secrets of land and water
Video
How to Savour a Forest: Gratitude for the Abundance of Nagarhole National Park
A treasure trove of biodiversity, Nagarhole has much to offer beyond the tiger
Habitat
Death Knell for the Sharavathi?
Environmentalists fear a new hydropower project in the heart of the Sharavathi valley that demands diversion of 360 acres of pristine forest land would spell doom to the valley
Conservation
Kartik Shanker: Researcher, Ecologist, Storyteller
Kartik Shanker juggles many roles — ecologist, children’s writer, founder of Dakshin Foundation, editor of a conservation magazine — all rooted firmly in decades of field research
Hero
Fallen Flowers: Restoring Wild Orchids in the Western Ghats
Education, conservation and community go hand in hand in an educational experiment on restoring orchids in Vythiri, Kerala
Wild Vault
Mangrove Coast: The Emerald Forests of Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary
The Godavari estuary is a rare and wonderful ecosystem that hosts a staggering wealth of biodiversity
Photo Story
Lives in the Balance: Unravelling Koppal’s Shared Spaces
The rocky outcrops and grasslands of Koppal are under threat causing a decline of large carnivore populations and disrupting human-wildlife coexistence
Conservation
Mangroves: Forests, Coast Guards, Threats
Everything you need to know about these guardians of the coast
Explainer
The Story Behind the ‘Hardship Allowance’ for Karnataka’s Frontline Forest Staff
An account of the behind-the-scenes struggle to give forest guards and watchers protecting some of India’s best tiger landscapes their due
Book
Food First: A Hand for a Handout
Juvenile bonnet macaques in the Bandipur National Park, Karnataka, have developed an almost human way of communicating their request for food
Column
The Blue Mountains: Love and Longing for the Shola Grasslands
The Nilgiris are known for their enchanting diversity, but hide a fascinating past — of colonial invasion, mindless reforestation and a raging debate on the origins of its montane ecosystem that lasted for over half a century
Column
A Secret Forest: The Hidden Lives of Agumbe
Look beyond the king cobra — under the rocks, in the gaps of roots, trees crevices, in gurgling streams and puddles — to discover a hidden world of astounding small creatures
Photo Story
The Wild World of Krithi Karanth
Multi award-winning conservation scientist Krithi Karanth has moved beyond a focus on science, and engages in conservation interventions that reduce human-animal conflict and bring about change
Hero
The Private Lives of Kingfishers in My Urban Garden
Watching a white-throated kingfisher family breed and grow in an urban garden in Chennai
Urban Jungle
Dwarf Geckos: Life in the Shadows
The discovery of three new species of rock-dwelling dwarf geckos (genus Cnemaspis) from the Mysore Plateau reveals the ancient history of these habitats
News
Deep Wells of Danger: Karnataka’s Leopards in Peril
A study finds that between 2OO8 and 2O17, Karnataka witnessed 7O instances of leopards falling into open wells
Conservation
No Laughing Matter: Nilgiri Laughingthrush and its Habitats at Risk
Named after the Nilgiri mountain range, the Nilgiri laughingthrush was once a common sight across the extensive shola forests of the Western Ghats. Today, perhaps, less than 2OOO individuals survive
Species
Hidden Kingdom: Fantastic Plants and Where to Find Them
The book Hidden Kingdom champions the mystical plants of Western Ghats through sensuous, powerful illustrations set to enchanting rhyme
Book
Tulasi Gowda: How She Brings Forests to Life
In the last 50 years, 83-year-old Gowda has worked at the forest department’s nursery in Honnalli village in Karnataka, where she has planted hundreds of thousands of trees and helped regenerate many indigenous varieties
Hero
Periyar Tiger Reserve, Trendsetter in Converting Poachers to Protectors
Vidiyal Vanapathukappu Sangam, India’s first participatory forest management project comprising solely of former poachers and sandalwood smugglers, completes 17 years of conservation in Periyar Tiger Reserve of Kerala
Wild Vault
Sights and Sounds from the Tree Canopy
Exploring the last biological frontier, the treetops in Tamil Nadu’s Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
Wild Vault
Anamalai Wood Snake: New Species Found in the Western Ghats
Scientists had previously noted slight differences in the Perroteti’s wood snake found in the northern and southern hill ranges of the Western Ghats, but further analyses reveal that specimens collected from the Anamalai hills, in the southern ranges, are a new species altogether
News
Painted Storks: Colouring the Coringa Wetlands
Though fairly large, painted storks are graceful and elegant birds that prefer shallow wetlands and marshes and nest in large colonies
Species
Smooth-coated otters: Slick Operators of Coringa
Beguiling, playful, even comical, smooth-coated otters are the unlikely helpers of Coringa’s keystone species, the fishing cat
Species
Hesaraghatta Lake and the Savannah of Silicon City
Are well-meaning birders, photographers, and visitors destroying the very lake and landscape they so love?
Urban Jungle
Dismantling a Misnomer: Do Fallen Leaves Litter?
A source of rich nutrients, the padding of leaves on the forest floor conceals a busy ecosystem
Wild Vault
Fade to Black: When Big Cats Hide
How the coat colour and design of wild cats allows them to blend into a diverse range of habitats, at different times of day or night
Column
The Ever-Changing Lives of the Soligas in BR Hills
In southeastern Karnataka, indigenous communities like the Soliga renegotiate their relationship with their forest home
Hero
The Mangroves of Andaman Islands and Tamil Nadu
In times of rapid climate change, protecting the mangroves of India is more crucial than ever before
Habitat
Hunter Among the Mangroves: The Fishing Cat of Coringa
Relatively unknown, elusive, and utterly beautiful, the fishing cat is among the mangroves’ most spectacular animals
Species
The Guide: Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary
Though it is a small sanctuary, spread over only 21.5 square kilometres, Point Calimere has mangroves, tropical evergreen forests, and grassland ecosystems. Here’s how to explore this potpourri landscape
Habitat
The Fantastic Creatures of Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary
Beyond the famous fishing cat, the Coringa mangroves provide a protective habitat to a variety of other animals, most of them hard to spot
Habitat
The Guide: Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary
This mangrove forest in the Godavari estuary is both ecologically diverse and very important, not least because of its abundant wildlife
Habitat
Anant Shankar: Saving the Mangroves of the Godavari Delta
Once Anant Shankar understood the dangers the mangrove forests of Andhra Pradesh face he started a slew of measures to remedy the situation
Hero
Marina Juliet: A Conservationist in the Making
Marina Juliet defies gender stereotypes as she trains to become a grassroots conservationist in rural Karnataka
Hero
Problem Elephant or Elephantine Problem?
The words we use to label animals involved in human-animal conflict situations can make a big difference to their conservation status
Conservation
Mangroves: The Coastal Superheroes
Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary’s mangroves, among the healthiest in the country, are powerhouses. But they are under threat of destruction from the expansion of agriculture and aquaculture farms
Habitat
Birds of Many Feathers in the Mangroves of Coringa
In the birdwatcher’s paradise of Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, the avifauna enjoy a symbiotic relationship with the mangroves and surrounding communities
Habitat
Pallikaranai Marshland: An Urban Wetland on the Brink
Besides hosting over 5,OOO resident birds, Chennai’s Pallikaranai marshland is a stopover point for over 4O,OOO migratory birds. It desperately needs to be saved from encroaching toxic waste
Urban Jungle
Life and Livelihoods along Coringa’s Mangrove Forest
How Coringa and its mangroves are the lifeline of over 4O villages that thrive on its banks
Hero
A Half Century of Sea Turtle Conservation
Contrary to popular belief, sea turtles are doing better than they have in decades, and we may need to rethink how to conserve them
Column
The Fishing Cat in Laxmi’s Backyard
A study of the biodiversity of the Godavari delta offers a glimpse into the conservation status of the wetland dependant fishing cat that lives in the mangroves and swamps of this coastal region of Andhra Pradesh
Conservation
A Lost River and the Wetland Paradise of Hoskote Lake
Bengaluru’s Hoskote Lake and its surrounding marshlands host a wide variety of bird life and provide the city with a vital carbon dioxide sink. Efforts are on to revive the river system that once fed this vibrant water body.
Urban Jungle
Airworthy Athletes: Here Fly Dragons
When a creature with cyptic colouring hurls itself off a branch — sailing through the forest, flying between trees
Column
Unprotected Areas: Lalbagh Southern Bengaluru Charm
Every city needs a green lung where citizens can mingle with nature and relish a breath of fresh air. With several water bodies, over 1,OOO species of plants, and many gorgeous birds, Lalbagh is an oasis for Bengaluru’s citizens
Urban Jungle
There’s a Caterpillar on Your Palm Plant, Daddy
They are many a gardener’s bane, but with a little time, caterpillars can bring great benefits to their habitat
Urban Jungle
Tamil Nadu’s Seaweed Harvesters in Rough Seas
An unusual activity of the fisherwomen of Bharathinagar in Tamil Nadu keeps them more in the water than on boats. But climate change and overexploitation of marine resources are eroding their livelihoods
News
The Guide: Nagarhole National Park
One of the few national parks in the country that is open all-year-round, Kabini is rich with big cats, elephants, gaur, dhole, deer, and more
Travel
The Guide: Wild Wayanad
Kerala’s Wayanad district is a splendid wilderness area that is a hotbed of amazing creatures large and small
Travel
Crisis in Kodagu: Can Humans and Elephants co-exist?
Kodagu’s people live in constant fear of elephant encounters, but strengthening wildlife corridors and educating locals can mitigate the situation. This is the second story in a two-part series on human-elephant interactions in Kodagu
Conservation
Crisis in Kodagu: Reports from the Epicentre of Human-Elephant Conflict
Escalating human-elephant clashes in Kodagu are causing economic loss, and endangering lives of both, man and animal. This is the first story in a two-part series on human-elephant interactions in Kodagu
Conservation
Cut that Call: Ethics and Misuse of Artificial Birdcalls
Is a bird in hand really better than two in the bush? Understanding the impact of our actions while birdwatching is an essential part of being an eco-tourist
Conservation
How a Colonial Hunter Inspired Conservation Efforts
Though India-born British hunter Kenneth Anderson’s books are about his hunting exploits, they also discuss the importance of conservation and upholding the rights of the forest dwelling communities
Conservation
Pushed to The Edge: Lion-tailed Macaques and the Case of Disappearing Forests
Destruction of forests is pushing a growing population of the shy lion-tailed macaques to look for food in human settlements
Conservation
Life Under Monsoon Clouds
Witness how the rains transform the pristine forests of Agumbe, which are increasingly facing the pressures of human encroachment
Video
Cubbon Park: The Lungs of Central Bengaluru
In the heart of this bustling city, Cubbon Park is an oasis of biodiversity that provides citizens a respite and a place to unwind
Urban Jungle
Conflict and Coexistence: Leopards and the Residents of Valparai
How leopards adapt to human presence and communities learn to live in close proximity to the big cat, in the Anaimalai Hills of Tamil Nadu
Conservation
Lion-tailed Macaque: Facts, Habitat, and Threats
Everything you need to know about the lion of the tree canopies
Infographic
Singing in the Rain: Frogs of Agumbe Get Ready for the Monsoon
The rains in Agumbe set the scene for a croaking romance. Frogs and toads not only wake up from long slumber, but most also get ready to mate
Video
Wardens of Venom: The Exquisite Vipers of South India
Tipping the scales in favour of some of India’s most misunderstood reptiles
Photo Story
The Flying Dragons of South India
Draco, also known as the southern flying lizard, is a master of disguise. But it has another astounding trick up its sleeve
Video
Leaps and Bounds: The Fascinating Frog World of Agumbe
A variety of amphibians reveal themselves on a night trail through the monsoon forests of Agumbe
Wild Vault
The Guide: Agumbe, the Exalted Rainforest Paradise
Contiguous national parks and reserved forests in and around Agumbe make it one of richest and most biodiverse places in the Western Ghats
Travel
Small-clawed Otter: The Secret Surprise by the Stream
Our lives are implicitly intertwined with this shy, mostly nocturnal creature. The destruction of its riverine habitat could spell danger for an entire ecosystem
Conservation
How Sacred Sites in Bengaluru Safeguard Trees
As many as 121 species of plants thrive and protected by Bengaluru’s sacred sites such as temples and kattes, contributing to the city’s biodiversity
Urban Jungle
The Tamilian Warrior is Now a State Butterfly
Tamil Nadu becomes the fifth Indian state to declare a state butterfly to boost conservation practices
News
‘Why is the climate changing like this?’
Coffee and pepper farmers in Wayanad, Kerala, are reeling under losses caused by a rise in temperatures and erratic rainfall in a district whose residents once boasted of its ‘air-conditioned climate’
Conservation
Mapping Mysterious Reptiles in Misty Meghamalai
For four years, five researchers travelled through dense forests, waded through streams, risked attacks from leopards and enraged elephants to record the rich herpetofauna of Meghamalai, Tamil Nadu’s rain-soaked, misty mountain range
Wild Vault
Malabar Grey Hornbills: Gardeners of the Rainforest
The Malabar grey hornbill is endemic to and emblematic of the rainforests of the Western Ghats, which often resonate with their calls and cackles
Species
Will Agumbe Remain One of Wettest Places in India?
Traditionally stable weather systems have changed and the rainfall pattern in Agumbe has become erratic — the effect of both global and local factors
Conservation
On the Fly: An Afternoon with the Dragon Lizards of Agumbe
You can never tire of watching the smooth, precise gliding motion of draco lizards as they ‘fly’ from tree to tree
Species
Forced to Join the Boys’ Club: Male Elephants Adapt to Change
Known to lead solitary lives once they reach adolescence, male elephants in South India are now responding to habitat changes by altering their behaviour and hanging out in all-male groups
News
A New Vine Snake Called Proahaetulla Slithers Into View
In the Agasthyamalai Hills in the southern Western Ghats scientists confirm the discovery of an ancient species of vine snake
News
High and Dry: The Cauvery’s Otters Need Their River Back
A polluted vestige of its former self, the over-exploited Cauvery River has left otters, fishermen, and other many river residents bereft
Conservation
Anatomy of a King Cobra Rescue in Agumbe
Witnessing a kalinga snake being rescued, it becomes apparent that communication and cooperation are essential to conservation
Wild Vault
Out of Place: Invasive Species in the Western Ghats
When plants and animals are relocated from their native habitat to new sites and environments they can cause havoc and be detrimental to local communities, habitats, and wildlife.
Conservation
Flying Wizard: Draco the Gliding Lizard
With a little yellow dewlap flag for communication, wing-like extensions to parachute through the forest, and cryptic camouflage, the southern flying lizard is no ordinary reptile
Species
Not Wastelands: Non-forest Habitats of the Western Ghats
Climate change and habitat mismanagement threaten the unique and ecologically distinct montane grasslands, high-elevation swamps and rocky outcrops of the Western Ghats
Conservation
King Cobra: The World’s Longest Venomous Snake
How does the cannibalistic, snake-eating king cobra manage to multiply and survive?
Species
With its Habitat in Danger, the Grizzled Giant Squirrel Struggles to Survive
A survey in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary reveals that the population of grizzled giant squirrel, a species endemic to southern India and Sri Lanka, has fallen by 78-85 per cent
Conservation
Secret Serpent: The Life and Times of the Malabar Pit Viper
Though it is the most common and widespread of pit vipers in south India, the Malabar pit viper is only seen in the wet season, disappearing mysteriously in dry weather
Conservation
Jungle Theatrics: Along the Sitanadi at Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary
Off the beaten path, this little-known wilderness in Karnataka’s Western Ghats, offers raw nature at its best
Habitat
When the Monsoon Awakens Agumbe
As the southwest monsoon makes landfall over Karnataka’s Malnad region in the Western Ghats, this rainforest, known for its immense biodiversity, comes alive
Habitat
Gowri Shankar: Snake Man Under the Spell of the King Cobra
In the heart of the rainforests of Agumbe there’s a man on a mission — to share his knowledge of the wild with students, and contribute to the preservation of reptiles
Hero
Flying Solo with a Planthopper in Agumbe
Whether at the nymph stage when it is a funky looking white creature with powdery tentacles sprouting from the body, or in adulthood, when it looks like a butterfly, this tropical planthopper is truly fascinating
Species
Kokkare Bellur: The Blessed Bird Village of Karnataka
In A Tigress Called Machhli, Supriya Sehgal shares fascinating stories of various animals that inhabit our forests, cities, and backyards — including a curious tale of a village in Karnataka that is taken over by cackling storks
Book
Saving the Lion-Tailed Macaque, One Step at a Time
Curtailed to live in the tiny forest fragment of Puthuthottam in Valparai, the lion-tailed macaque needs all the help it can get
Conservation
Cornered but not Defeated
Sustained conservation efforts and community engagement is critical to save the lion-tailed macaque and its disappearing habitat
Conservation
Splendid Sojourns in Silent Valley National Park
Nifty monkeys and playful tiger cubs, iridescent butterflies and magnificent trees — a conservation ecologist finds herself in rapt fascination in the rainforests of this UNESCO World Heritage site
Habitat
An Appeal to Tourists: Stop Feeding the Nilgiri Tahr
It’s time to raise the consciousness of tourists driving on highways that run through forests
Conservation
What’s in a Name?
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment, and conservation
Green Humour
A Glimpse of India’s Biodiversity
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment, and conservation
Green Humour
How Bus Stands in Kali Reserve Got Their Groove Back
When art and nature meet, the result can be quite eye-catching
Wild Vault
That Worm in your Garden could be a Snake
Home gardens host a lot more biodiversity than we suspect
Wild Vault
The Varied Ecosystems of Peninsular India
This triangular land mass is bursting with life
Habitat
Edwin Joseph, The Sparrow Whisperer
Bengaluru’s Sparrow Man is passionate about saving the little birds from extinction
Hero
Tiny Tentacles in the Mighty Kaveri
Hovering like surreal little spaceships, diaphanous freshwater jellyfish are the secretive, benign inhabitants of the sacred river of southern India
Photo Story
The Ripple Effect: Leo Saldanha on Bengaluru’s Lakes
Environmental activist Leo Saldanha on the city’s birds, bees, and pesky humans
Hero
Older Than Dinosaurs: The Real Rock Stars of Hyderabad
The next time you’re in the city, make time for the ancients
Wild Vault
Meet Shaaz Jung, the Leopard Man of India
The jungles offer a wealth of experience, for those quiet enough to listen.
Hero
Wild Eye: Shaaz Jung on Photographing Kabini
The big-cat tracker and wildlife photographer shares pictures of the forest that
shaped him
Photo Story