Grasslands
119 Results
Bengal Fox: Resilient Canid of Indian Grasslands
Although confined to small, fragmented savanna patches, foxes persist in some grasslands in Gujarat’s Surendranagar district
Species
A Fleeting Symphony: Grassland Birds of the Brahmaputra Plains
The unique constantly changing grassland ecosystem in the plains of Assam host some highly threatened and unique bird species
Photo Story
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
Pallas’s Cat: Silent Predator of the Trans-Himalayas
The cold and windy marshes of Hanle in Ladakh, with an abundance of pika and voles, is an ideal home for the Pallas’s cat. However, increasing construction activity in the area threatens this rich ecosystem
Conservation
Tibetan Sand Fox: High-Altitude Hunter
Only discovered in India in 2005, these small, furry foxes are found in the high Himalayas, where they are well-adapted, live in dens, and mainly hunt pikas
Photo Story
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
Speed Runners: Blackbucks, Sprinters of Our Golden Grasslands
The blackbuck, one the fastest animals in India, is losing out in the race of development. Grasslands, their favourite habitat, are being rapidly destroyed, threatening their way of life.
Video
Yellow-breasted Bunting: Facts, Calls, Threats
All you need to know about this migratory songbird
Infographic
Hangul: Facts, Habitat, Threats
All you need to know about this critically endangered deer that is primarily found in Kashmir
Infographic
Lesser Florican: Dance, Habitat, Courtship
All you need to know about one of the smallest bustard species in the world
Infographic
Caracal: Facts, Habitat, Threats
All you need to know about this elusive wild cat with long ear tufts
Infographic
Caracal in Crisis: From a Life among Royals, to Fighting for Survival
Till 2001, the caracal was seen in 13 Indian states but now it is reported in only three states in India with two viable populations in Rajasthan and Gujarat
Conservation
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
Counting Wolves Through Their Calls
Identifying individual wolves by their howls is being studied as a potential technique for counting wolf population
Conservation
The Endangered Bengal Florican and Koklabari's Fields of Hope
Every monsoon, the critically endangered Bengal florican leaves the protected grasslands of Manas National Park to move into the adjacent human-dominated agricultural farms of Koklabari. Why does it make this unlikely move?
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
Unchecked Tree Planting in Grasslands Threatens Native Biodiversity, Warns Ecologist
Tree planting efforts in savannah grasslands can harm biodiversity and affect soil carbon storage, says field ecologist Mahesh Sankaran
Conservation
Quiz: Small Carnivores
Small carnivores play an important role in the regulation of ecosystems. Take this quiz and find out how many of these little-known predators you know!
Interactive
Pallas's Cat: Facts, Habitat, Threats
All you need to know about this elusive and small wildcat
Infographic
Indian Grey Wolf: Mystique and Misfortune on the Grasslands
Humans have a complex relationship with this apex predator of many Indian grassland habitats, and it ranges from reverence to fear to loathing
Photo Story
Future in Jeopardy: The Wild Water Buffalo in Assam
According to conservationists, it is habitat loss and not the practice of interbreeding with domestic buffaloes that has affected the population of the Asiatic buffalo
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
Grasslands: Importance, Types, Threats
All you need to know about these neglected ecosystems
Explainer
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
Removal of Invasive Prosopis May Affect Livelihoods in Banni Grasslands, Says Study
Scientists suggest that the landscape can be temporarily maintained as a mosaic of native grassland and invasive trees
Conservation
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
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
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
Bengal Florican: Facts, Habitat, Threats
All you need to know about this critically endangered bird
Infographic
Droughts Mitigated at Lamkani through Grassland Restoration
A ban on grazing and felling of trees coupled with watershed management restores this village near Dhule to its former glory
Wild Vault
The Vanishing Grasslands and Wetlands of India
Grasslands and wetlands are neglected and underappreciated habitats though they support many lives and livelihoods. Both community- and administration-led efforts are required to stop their loss
Conservation
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
Brahmaputra’s River Islands Threatened by Burning and Clearing of Grasslands
Experts suggest these grassland habitats for many endangered birds need legal protection
Conservation
Fragile and Fantastic: The Bird Paradise of Dibru-Saikhowa
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is home to some of the rarest and most threatened birds, but the unique landscape needs immediate attention
Photo Story
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
The Dark Knights: How Hyenas Protect our Ecosystems
Hyenas feed on rotting carcasses, and never leave decaying matter around to spread disease. These misunderstood scavengers are crucial to the health of Saswad’s grasslands
Video
Leopards of Saswad: On the Edge of a Concrete Jungle
Wolves have ruled the Saswad grasslands for years, but recently an uninvited guest has taken over– the leopard. Now, the city threatens to take over these grasslands. Will the leopard survive the onslaught of the urban?
Video
Nilgiri Tahr: Facts, Habitat, and Protection Status
All you need to know about these steep, mountain climbers
Infographic
A Reign at Risk: The Indian Grey Wolf and the Grasslands of Saswad
The Indian grey wolf is the apex predator of Saswad's grasslands, but defending its territory is not easy. It must chase away hyenas and aggressive packs of dogs. And now, a new challenger has shown up. Can the grey ghost of the grasslands retain its dominance?
Video
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
Indian Grey Wolf: Ghosts of The Grasslands
These elusive wild predators are not found in jungles, but in scrubland and grasslands adjacent to human habitation
Species
Saswad: In Harmony with Wild Neighbours
In Saswad, locals and the wild have learned to live with each other — leopards and wolves polish off poultry carcasses, birds show up to feast on the seasonal crop, and the timid Bengal fox builds homes in cultivated farms
Video
Pygmy Hog: Facts, Habitat, and How it Builds a Nest
All you need to know about the rarest pig in the world
Infographic
Golden Jackals Find Shelter at Airports
Grasslands in and around airports in Kolkata and Guwahati offer refuge to these canids
News
Harriers: The Winter Guests of Velavadar
Every winter, harriers fly thousands of miles from northern Central Asia to reach the grasslands of Saurashtra. Gujarat's Velavadar is India's largest roosting ground for these handsome birds of prey
Video
Wild, Wild West: Little Rann of Kutch and Velavadar
On the western edge of India, two astonishing landscapes exist, the Little Rann of Kutch and the rolling grasslands of Velavadar, that teem with the most magnificent creatures
Video
In Deep Waters: The Conservation Saga of the Ganges River Dolphin
Conservation of the Ganges river dolphin will not just protect the species, but secure the future of our largest river systems
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
Poo to Woo: How Blackbucks Use Their Dung to Attract Mates
Blackbuck males know how to win a mate’s heart — with proud piles of prodigious poop
Column
Gujarat’s Wildlife Habitats Call for Protection
Rare and unique wildlife found in the state’s vast stretches of grasslands, salt marshes, scrub forests and coastline need immediate conservation attention
Conservation
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
Not the Witch’s Steed: Why the Hyena is India’s Most Misunderstood Predator
The hyena is neither evil or cunning, nor a solitary scavenger. What the intelligent mammal desperately needs is an image makeover
Species
MacQueen’s Bustard: Courtship Rituals, Habitat, Threats
All you need to know about this persecuted bustard
Infographic
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
Striped Hyena: Facts, Diet, Habitat
All you need to know about this intelligent but misunderstood predator of the grasslands
Infographic
The Guide: Dudhwa Tiger Reserve
Dense forests and abundant waterbodies make the three sanctuaries within Dudhwa Tiger Reserve a haven for wildlife
Travel
Indian Wolf: Facts, Size, Weight, Habitat
All you need to know about this social inhabitant of semi-arid and arid areas
Infographic
Indian Wild Ass: Facts, Habitats, Threats
Everything you need to know about one of the fastest Indian mammals
Infographic
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
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
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 Flood and a Forest: When Brahma’s Son Engulfs Kaziranga
As Kaziranga National Park goes through another cycle of its annual floods, here’s a look at what it means for those on the frontlines
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
Chinkara: The Graceful Gazelles of Saswad
The chinkara may not be on everyone’s watch list, but it should be, for this alert and agile doe-eyed antelope is a study in beauty and poise
Species
White-Browed Bushchat: Facts, Habitat, Threats
All you need to know about this enigmatic desert dancer
Infographic
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
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
The Serengeti of Saurashtra: Sightings Abound at the Blackbuck National Park in Gujarat
Antelopes, wolves, hyenas, and plenty of migratory birds inhabit this protected reserve in Velavadar
Habitat
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
Dhangars of Saswad: How Traditional Livelihoods Conserve Unique Ecosystems
Climate change and infrastructure projects are threatening the traditional pastoral occupations that have helped preserve the grasslands of Saswad for centuries
Conservation
Painted Sandgrouse: The Art of Blending In
With its black, white, and brown plumage the painted sandgrouse is well camouflaged in the rocky landscapes of the Saswad grasslands near Pune
Species
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
On the Edge: Saga of the Great Indian Bustard
Less than 15O individuals survive in the wild, but despite several conservation efforts, their troubles are far from over. Will the great Indian bustard become the modern-day dodo?
Conservation
Allahrakha Khan: The Living Legend of Velavadar’s Last Grassland
More than 2OO years ago, his forefathers first started protecting the Velavadar grasslands. Over the course of his life, he has not only continued their legacy, but also turned into an unlikely guardian of the park’s endangered, sprightly, lesser florican
Hero
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
Unfair Game: The Plight of the MacQueen’s Bustard
This worldwide population of this little-known bustard has been severely harmed by its use as live bait in an illegal hunting sport
Species
When Nature Repurposes: Lessons from Velavadar
While we are only just catching up on the importance of recycling to help our planet, the natural world is many seasons ahead of us
Wild Vault
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
Thriving in Thin Air: Pikas of the Himalayan Talus
Tiny, cute, and highly adaptable, the pika survives freezing temperatures and a host of predators
Species
Breaking Bad: The Brotherhood of Bull Elephants
How young male elephants have changed their social behaviour and adopted a range of strategies and tactics that help them raid crops and survive the wrath of humans
Column
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 Wolves of Velavadar and a Pack of Memories
A visit to the golden grasslands of Gujarat’s Blackbuck National Park in Velavadar results in unusual sightings of wolves and a rush of childhood memories
Species
Pussyfooting Parliamentarians: Short-eared Owls in the Little Rann
A communal roosting site of this ground dwelling owl in the Little Rann of Kachchh demonstrates the aptness of some collective nouns
Species
Montagu’s Harriers: The Slender Hawks of Velavadar
Every year, thousands of harriers from Central Asia visit Gujarat to feast on the abundance that the grasslands of Velavadar Blackbuck National Park offer
Species
The Wilds of Saswad: The Vibrant Grassland Near Pune
“Wasteland” is such a gross misnomer for the thriving but fragile grassland habitats of India. Saswad is one such unprotected landscape where abundant bird and animal life flourishes
Habitat
Return of the Cheetah: But Where Will it Roam?
A grand central government plan to introduce African cheetahs into India more than seven decades after the Asiatic cheetah went extinct here raises many pivotal questions
News
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
Short-eared Owl: Hidden Winter Resident of the Grasslands
The short-eared owl breaks common owl stereotypes — it migrates across continents, flaps its wings like a moth, and is active in the daytime
Species
Great Indian Bustard: Facts, Habitat, and Protection Status
Everything you need to know about this critically endangered bird of the grasslands
Infographic
Is the Lesser Florican Jumping to Extinction?
The smallest member of the bustard family faces a peculiar conundrum: breed or be safe?
Conservation
Big Five: The Stars and Stripes of Kaziranga National Park
These are the celebrities everyone wants to see when they visit Kaziranga — tiger, rhino, elephant, swamp deer, and wild water buffalo
Photo Story
Graze Anatomy: The Elegant Swamp Deer and its Grassland Home
From roaming the length and breadth of the Gangetic plains of India just a few decades ago, the three subspecies of barasingha now live only in a few pockets
Photo Story
The Indian Grey Wolf is in Need of Greater Protection
A recent study found that most habitats suited to the Indian grey wolf lie outside protected sanctuaries and national parks, putting its survival at great risk
News
Black-breasted Parrotbill: Facts, Habitat, Threats
Everything you need to know about this elusive bird from the grasslands
Infographic
Wild Water Buffalo: Facts, Threats, Diet
Everything you need to know about one of the oldest species of buffalo in the world
Infographic
Grazing, Lazing, Wallowing: The Good Life of the Wild Water Buffalo
Young wild water buffaloes form jaunty bachelor clans. They spend much of the dry season together, lazing around, grazing leisurely, and wading and wallowing in swamps, often submerged neck deep for very long periods.
Video
Eastern Swamp Deer: Facts, Habitat
Everything you need to know about this graceful deer that lives in a swamp
Infographic
Stag Party: The Eastern Swamp Deer’s Bachelor Life
As the eastern swamp deer grow older, they form bachelor groups of about 1O to 15 individuals. The stag code is simple — hang out and graze to your heart's content
Video
The Greater One-Horned Rhino Has its Own Scent Code
Rhinos use their sharp sense of smell to keep in touch with the clan. They spray urine to mark territory, and poop in the same spot for several months to let others know their status and to check if any females in the vicinity are ready to mate. Think of it as a smelly social network
Video
The Return of Kaziranga’s Greater One-horned Rhinoceros
Rhino dung is a source of great knowledge. Scientists are creating a database of rhinoceros DNA, extracted from their massive dungheaps, to track populations, and use it as forensic evidence to catch poachers
Video
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
The Grand Old Buffaloes of the Savannah Need Protection
A small and highly fragmented population of wild water buffalo struggles for survival. Long-term conservation actions are needed for their preservation
Species
How Kaziranga National Park is Reborn, Every Year
The Brahmaputra river forms the northern boundary of Kaziranga National Park. Every monsoon, the river surges and floods nearly two-thirds of the forest, restoring and destroying all at once
Video
Securing the Future of the Eastern Swamp Deer in Assam
Through a massive coordinated effort of numerous wildlife conservationists, scientists, and local experts, the population of eastern swamp deer in Manas National Park has been revived
Conservation
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
Pygmy hog: Back from the Brink
Conservation efforts have elevated numbers of the elusive and rare pygmy hog, a tiny, shy wild pig from Northeast India
Conservation
Where Wildlife gets a Second Chance
Located on a critical elephant corridor near Kaziranga National Park, the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation has rescued over 3,OOO animals, including 22 endangered species
Conservation
The Women Who Walk with Rhinos
Most national parks block access to protected forests, affecting the lives of those who depend on it for resources and livelihood. But in Manas and Orang, authorities allow local women to collect fallen twigs and branches in buffer zones, securing their livelihoods, and building empathy for the wild
Conservation
Bengal Florican: Erstwhile King of the Grasslands
Once admired for its regal appearance and capricious aerial displays, unfortunately the Bengal florican is better known today for its critically endangered status
Species
The Woodcarvers of Kaziranga Cut Through Stereotypes
Local artisans near Assam’s Kaziranga National Park say their wildlife-inspired woodcraft is an expression of their love for the forests’ creatures, and counters stereotypes of tribal people as antagonistic to conservation
Wild Vault
Rare Black-breasted Parrotbills Hide in the Grasslands
This elusive little bird, found exclusively in Northeast India, is on every birdwatcher’s wish list
Species
When the Big Flood Came to Kaziranga
In 2017, a particularly devastating flood inundated Kaziranga National Park, testing the survival skills of its many animals, and causing much death and destruction. This is a rare, close encounter with that flooding event
Photo Story
Rhinos Without Borders
The conservation story of the rhino has been a happy one. However, collective action by rhino-range countries is critical to the future growth and survival of the one-horned giant
Conservation
Wildlife Warriors: The Guardians of Kaziranga Brave On
Under conditions of extreme hardship, the protectors of Kaziranga battle numerous challenges to ensure the safety and security of the animals and the park
Wild Vault
A Year in the Life of Kaziranga’s Rhinos
From tolerating human gawkers to migrating to higher ground, Kaziranga’s rhinos endure and adapt to the changing seasons. With a little help from their friends
Photo Story
In Search of One Hundred Rhinos in Kaziranga National Park
Wet, swampy grasslands cover two-thirds of Assam’s Kaziranga National Park providing refuge to many vulnerable species, including the planet’s largest population of greater one-horned rhinos
Habitat
India’s Prehistoric Unicorns: The Rhinos of Kaziranga
Despite the fact that the greater one-horned rhino is testament to India’s most successful conservation, this fierce, fragile pachyderm and its habitat are under constant threat
Species
Grasslands are the Eastern Swamp Deer’s Only Domain
Selective about feeding and breeding exclusively in swamp-ridden, riverside grasslands, this subspecies of barasingha needs this habitat for survival
Species
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