Mountains, Hills, and Plateaus
129 Results
Zoo in a Stem: The Food-and-Shelter-for-Protection Exchange
While numerous invertebrates shelter in the hollow stem structures of Humboldtia brunonis (kaadu Ashoka) trees, ants have a special reciprocal relationship with them, bartering shelter and nectar for protection from caterpillars and other insects who eat the tree’s tender leaves and buds
Wild Vault
Himalayan Guardian Dogs: Unsung Sentinels of the Shepherds of the Himalayas
By protecting livestock from predators, Himalayan guardian dogs create a secure and safe environment for Gaddi shepherds as they graze their livestock in the summer. The shepherd-dog partnership shows how a traditional, non-lethal practice has facilitated safe cohabitation and coexistence of humans and wild creatures in this shared landscape
Wild Vault
Lateritic Plateau Frogs Threatened by Farms
A new study examines how converting lateritic plateaus into paddy fields and orchards impact amphibians
Conservation
Scarlet Finch: Facts, Habitat, Distribution
All you need to know about this charismatic bird
Infographic
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 Solitary and Secretive Tibetan Lynx
Little is known about this wildcat due to the remoteness and ruggedness of the terrain it occupies
Book
In Search of Kasturi: Musk Deer of the Himalayas
Filming the musk deer is like chasing a ghost. Found deep within the snow-covered Himalayan mountains, the deer has been hunted for thousands of years for a powdery substance found in a pouch near its abdomen. Highly valued for its fragrance, this rare musk sells at a premium. Beyond its prized musk, we know little about the deer.
Filmmaker Neha Dixit and team embark on physically and emotionally challenging journeys to spot this elusive creature. Will they succeed?
Video
Mating Anurans: Stories of Procreation from the Sahyadris
Short accounts of some of the reproduction strategies of frogs and toads of the Western Ghats
Photo Story
Nilgiri Marten: Phantom of the Western Ghats
While we know very little about these elusive, adorable mammals, we do know that they are clever predators and agile hunters with incredibly powerful jaws
Species
Scarlet Finch: Dazzling Red Feathers
With males sporting such arresting red plumage, it’s no surprise that this small passerine bird is on the bucket list of many birdwatchers in north and Northeast India
Species
Shadowing Elephants: The Story of Kallar
The Kallar Corridor is a narrow habitat that allows for the movement of animals from one protected area to another. However, National Highway 181 and numerous other factors still severely restrict animal movement. Keeping the corridor a coexistence zone for people and wildlife is an ongoing process
Conservation
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
Ground Beneath Our Feet: Micro-life on Wayanad’s Forest Floor
Wayanad’s forests are known for their elephants and big cats, but crouch down to the forest floor for an incredibly revealing and rewarding examination of myriad smaller life forms
Photo Story
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
Ruby-tailed Hawklet: Facts, Diet, Habitat
All you need to know about this dragonfly from Western Ghats
Infographic
The High Life of the Himalayan Monal
The Himalayan monal is a show-stopper of the high mountains. During spring, the male dressed in his best attire, shows off his regal plumage, whistles, and dances to attract the attention of a mate. Will the female fall for his advances?
Video
Sacred Swamps: Where Culture Meets Conservation
On the protection of sacred swamps in the Western Ghats
Habitat
Deforestation Threatens Western Ghats' Amphibians
Infrastructure and plantation expansion in the southern Western Ghats threaten the region’s amphibian species, many of which have highly restricted habitats
Conservation
Love is in the Air: Indian Bullfrogs and the Romance of the Monsoon
Cacophony and bright yellow suits are the dominant love language of bullfrogs that congregate to mate in the rain pools and ponds of the Western Ghats at the start of the monsoon
Species
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
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
The Guide: Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park
Goa’s largest protected area is home to a wealth of plant and animal life – and it is under threat
Travel
Biodiversity Enhancement in Western Ghats Linked to Habitat Preservation
Several habitat and climatic factors influence evolutionary processes and play an important role in shaping biodiversity
Conservation
Evidence of Manul’s Presence Found on Mount Everest
Cold-adapted wild cat’s existence confirmed on the slopes of the world’s highest mountain, thanks to scat samples retrieved from there in 2019
News
The Curious Lives of Orchids in the Northern Western Ghats
The biodiverse Western Ghats are a storehouse of blooming wild orchids, especially in the monsoon
Photo Story
The Small Service Providers of Goa’s Western Ghats
In the workings of a forest, even the smallest of creatures have a big role to play in supporting the ecosystem
Photo Story
The Wild Yak: Treasure of the High Plateaus
Wild yaks are hardy creatures that live at high altitudes and are comfortable in freezing weather. They are rarely seen, as less than 15,000 remain in the world
Species
Drop-Dead Gorgeous: Festoon of Grandalas in the Himalayas
In flight or at rest, flocks of grandalas are a joy to behold, thanks to the brilliant blue colouring of the males of the species
Photo Story
Playing Hide and Seek with the Saw-Scaled Viper in Goa
In the laterite plateaus of the Western Ghats, one of India’s most venomous snakes, the saw-scaled viper, finds a safe habitat
Species
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
Malabar Gliding Frog: Habitat, Breeding, Threats
All you need to know about the most common gliding frog in the Western Ghats
Infographic
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
#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
Tragopans of India: Facts, Habitat, Threats
All you need to know about the four colourful and elusive Tragopans found in the Himalayas
Infographic
Hide and Seek: The Water Drop Frog of the Western Ghats
Few have seen this rare, perfectly camouflaged amphibian that lives high in the rainforest canopy and has a very unique call
Species
Tibetan Wolves: Long-ranging Drifters of the Changthang
Tibetan wolves are one of the top predators of the high Himalayas in Ladakh. Unfortunately, they have long been persecuted and considered a bad omen
Photo Story
How to Live Like a Leech
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment, and conservation
Green Humour
Asiatic Ibex: Facts, Habitat, and Climbing Ability
All you need to know about this surefooted mountaineer
Infographic
Tragopans: The Horned Pheasants of India
Vibrant and colourful though they are, four species of this group of elusive birds manage to hide in the mountainous forests of the Indian Himalayas
Photo Story
Malabar Grey Hornbill’s Population on the Decline in Western Ghats
Conservationists say a drop in numbers could have an irreversible impact on the forest ecosystem in the long term, as the species plays an important role in the growth and survival of a forest.
Conservation
The Guide: Singalila National Park
Located in West Bengal along India’s international border with Nepal, this national park holds many charms even if you’re not an intrepid trekker
Travel
Instagram Leads to Discovery of a New Himalayan Snake Species
Herpetologist intrigued by a photo uploaded to the social media site investigated further to find a species new to science
News
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
Sundews: Shiny, Sugary Illusions in the Wild
Sundews are pretty plants with tender tentacles that have mastered the art of predation. They hoodwink insects and other arthropods and kill and consume them for their nutrients
Wild Vault
Wildlife Puzzle: Woodpecker
Put together this jigsaw to see a beautiful brown fronted woodpecker chasing a rufous sibia in Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary
Interactive
Malabar Grey Hornbill: Facts, Habitat, Threats
All you need to know about the smallest of oriental hornbills
Infographic
The Glowing Secret of the Khasi Pitcher Plant
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment and conservation
Green Humour
Rhythm and Melody: Birds of the NCR’s Aravallis
The pulse of the forest around the vast urban sprawl of the capital is reflected in the dynamic bird communities visible during each season
Habitat
Pallas's Cat: Facts, Habitat, Threats
All you need to know about this elusive and small wildcat
Infographic
Over-exploitation of Groundwater Threatens Gondwana Fishes
Groundwater management and aquifer protection key to conserving subterranean fish found in the Western Ghats
Conservation
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
Gone Rogue: The Golden Shower Turns Invasive in the Western Ghats
Don’t let the pretty blossoms fool you. The golden shower is a vigorously proliferating invasive species that has become a serious threat to critical wildlife habitats in the Western Ghats
Conservation
Monsoon Makeover: When Rain Transforms the Laterite Plateaus of Goa
With the arrival of rainshowers, insectivorous plants, psychedelic crabs, and other flora and fauna flourish within this fascinating ecosystem in the Western Ghats
Photo Story
Wildlife Puzzle: Snow Leopard
Put together this jigsaw to see the ghost cat of the high mountains
Interactive
Satyr Tragopan: Facts, Habitat, Threats
All you need to know about this pheasant found in the Himalayas
Infographic
Red Panda: Under the Radar in Singalila
This cute, furry animal is an endangered species and a conservation icon in waiting
Species
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
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
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
Camouflaged Cliffhangers: The Majestic Kashmiri Markhor
Even though their population is small, the largest mountain goat on the planet is a creature of myth, a casualty of war, and a testament to resilience
Photo Story
Tibetan Sand Fox: Facts, Diet, Habitat
All you need to know about this specialised carnivore
Infographic
A Spotlight on the Scorpions of the Western Ghats
Discovery of seven new species from the region highlights the need for further studies to conserve these arachnids
News
An Encounter with the Grey Ghost of Ladakh
What do an eight-year-old and 14-year-old do when a snow leopard takes one of the goats they were herding?
Book
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
Delhi and Haryana’s Aravallis Home to Rare Wildlife
Survey finds species such as honey-badger, Indian fox, jungle cat, and ruddy mongoose in Gurugram, Faridabad, and Delhi
Urban Jungle
Baloo Noir: The Asiatic Black Bear Goes to Town
These shaggy bears inhabit the high mountains of the Himalayas and spend their days foraging, sleeping, and tending to young
Photo Story
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
Hop, Skip and Jump: The Giant Squirrels of India
Usually perched on the upper branches of tall trees, these squirrels are the quintessential charmers of the forest canopy
Photo Story
Ladakh Urial: Facts, Habitat, and Population
All you need to know about the ancestor of present-day domestic sheep
Infographic
Going with the Flow: Tale of the Golden Mahseer
These large, energetic fish live in deep stretches of rivers and mountain pools in the Himalayas, but twice a year they swim upstream to breed at higher altitudes
Photo Story
Coexistence with Critters: Lessons in Harmony from Bhutan’s Countryside
In parts of rural Bhutan wild animals like gorals, and birds like the Himalayan monal, satyr tragopan and black-necked crane share close living spaces with villagers
Photo Story
Western Tragopan: Quest for the Colourful Pheasant
Snippets of a year-long journey to film one of the most attractive and vulnerable pheasants in the world, in the Great Himalayan National Park
Photo Story
Otters Slipping Away Outside Protected Areas
India's otters are becoming increasingly rare, especially in the Himalayan region, as hydropower projects, sand mining and boulder collection ravage their habitats
Conservation
Fleet-footed Tahrs: Lords of the Pinnacles
Exploring three distinct species of mountain ungulates, traditionally labeled tahrs, from the mountains of Asia
Species
Behind the Lens: An Elusive Bear and Lessons in Wildlife Photography
Dhritiman Mukherjee talks about his 15-year-long quest to photograph the Himalayan brown bear, and how not getting the perfect picture taught him valuable lessons
Multimedia
What Frog Songs Tell Us
Frogs sing every monsoon to charm a mate, but new disturbances are drowning out their songs
Multimedia
Shaking a Leg with the Kottigehar Dancing Frog
A critically endangered frog, endemic to the perennial forest streams of the Western Ghats, “foot-flags” to charm a mate
Species
Why We Need to Save Amboli from Ourselves
For years, Amboli was one of Western Ghats’ best keep secrets. But as tourism grows, there’s a need to be more mindful — of how we travel, and how that impacts all those who thrive in this sensitive habitat
Photo Story
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
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
Rhododendrons: Superflowers of the Himalayas
Ingenious ways in which the rhododendrons of Sikkim engage with their habitats and pollinators
Conservation
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
In the Laterite Plateaus of Maharashtra, Rock Bottom is a Wonderful Place
The rocky outcrops of the northern Western Ghats are often considered wastelands, when they are hotbeds of endemic diversity
Habitat
Agile Mountaineer: The Treacherous Summit of the Ibex
Every winter, as heavy snow envelops the Himalayan mountains, the Ibex descends to the lower slopes in search of food. But the journey is long and arduous, and danger lurks at every bend
Video
The Bear and I: A Quest to Photograph the Himalayan Brown Bear
Patience, perseverance, and expanding knowledge, from 15 years of tracking the Himalayan Brown Bear through the Wilds of Ladakh and Himachal
Photo Story
The Ladakh Urial’s Life at the Edge
The urial has roamed the high mountains of Asia since the Ice Age, but recent climate changes, new developments, competition with livestock, and other shifts are testing its survival skills. Will this monarch of the mountains survive the challenges we throw at it?
Video
The Fox Trot: The Bushy-tailed Red Fox Goes on a Hunt
Its winter and Ladakh is covered in a blanket of snow, with no signs of life around. But wait, what’s that? Something moves beneath the ground. Will the hungry fox catch its lunch?
Video
Red Fox in the Snow: Competition and Survival in the Himalayas
The Spiti Valley is a test of endurance for the most widely spread carnivore species on the planet
Photo Story
The Himalayan Brown Bear’s Life in Snow
It has been a cold and harsh winter in the snow-clad mountains. As the snow melts, a very rare animal wakes up from its long slumber. Meet, one of the most elusive animals of the snow mountains — the Himalayan brown bear
Video
Snow Leopard: The Ghost of the Brown Mountains
In the summers, the bare, endless mountains of Ladakh stretch as far as the eye can see. But hiding in plain sight, along its rugged, rocky edges, is a feline mountain ghost
Video
Can the Quick Red Fox Jump Over the Ladakhi Dog?
In the Changthang Plateau of Ladakh, conflict between red foxes and packs of free-ranging dogs intensifies
Conservation
Myths, Folklore and the Blood Pheasant of Kanchenjunga
In ‘Wild Himalaya’, author Stephen Alter weaves folklore with flora and fauna to tell stories of the greatest mountain range on Earth
Book
Challenge and Change in the Changthang
In this remote, high-altitude plateau of Ladakh, inhabited by Changpa nomads, a worrying transformation of habitat, climate, and lifestyle is under way
Conservation
The Skin of Many Colours: Morphs of the Malabar Pit Viper
Why it’s not easy to identify this snake species and the mystery of its diverse and changing colours
Photo Story
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
The Guide: Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary
Whether in the grasslands, wetlands, or on steep snowy Himalayan cliffs, this high-altitude cold desert has a variety of animals and birds well adapted to sub-zero temperatures
Travel
How Village Folklore Helps Conserve the Ibex of Pin Valley
In the remote villages of Spiti Valley, people and nature are bound together by instinct and tradition
Conservation
Lion-tailed Macaque: Facts, Habitat, and Threats
Everything you need to know about the lion of the tree canopies
Infographic
Malabar Grey Slender Loris: Facts, Appearance, Life Span
Everything you need to know about this stealthy nocturnal primate from the Western Ghats
Infographic
Behind the Lens: Shooting the Residents of a Rainforest
These stewards of wildlife talk about ethical photography and its importance in research and the conservation of India’s natural heritage
Photo Story
How the Bugun Liocichla is Keeping an Indigenous Culture in the Northeast Alive
Tales of culture and conservation, from the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh
Conservation
Gossamer Wings: Damselflies and Dragonflies of the Western Ghats
Odonates are older than the mountains, and among the first creatures on Earth to fly. Their presence indicates a healthy and harmonious ecosystem
Photo Story
Malabar Pit Viper: Facts, Venom, Size
All you need to know about this stealthy, silent predator of the night
Infographic
Silent Knight: How the Malabar Pit Viper Hunts in the Dark
The Malabar pit viper is a study in stillness. It remains motionless, waiting for its prey for hours, even days. But when the time is right, it strikes with lightning speed
Video
A Monsoon Romance: Malabar Gliding Frog Looks for a Mate
“Tuck-tuck-tuck”. The monsoon has arrived and fresh out of hibernation, the Malabar gliding frog is calling out for a mate. Will he find a suitor?
Video
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
Gone Too Soon: A Tale of the Central Himalayan Langurs of Uttarakhand
Is there a way out of the human-langur conflict in the Garhwal Himalayas?
Conservation
Brooding over the Black-Necked Crane
Encounters and observations of the splendid black-necked cranes at high altitude wetlands
Conservation
Dogs on the Rooftop: Faithful Friends or Fierce Predators?
A dramatic increase in the number of livestock and wildlife being attacked by free-ranging dogs is having an adverse effect on the fragile landscape of the cold desert of Spiti
Conservation
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
In the Pink: Health and Herding in the Himalayas
Fostering human-wildlife coexistence in the high mountains. Can disease-free pastoral herds translate to healthy wildlife populations?
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
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
A Lesson in Love: The Great Hornbill Charms a Mate
Wooing a female hornbill can take days, even weeks. After all, it's a big decision. Great hornbills are monogamous and even mate for life
Video
Great Hornbill: Facts, Threats, Habitat
Everything you need to know about these feathered farmers of the forest
Infographic
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
King Cobra: The World’s Longest Venomous Snake
How does the cannibalistic, snake-eating king cobra manage to multiply and survive?
Species
Nirmal Kulkarni: Wild Child of the Western Ghats
As herpetologist, conservationist, eco resort partner, and more, Nirmal Kulkarni wears many hats. But it is his fascination for reptiles and jungles that defines his life and career
Hero
Cornered but not Defeated
Sustained conservation efforts and community engagement is critical to save the lion-tailed macaque and its disappearing habitat
Conservation
Pride of the Western Ghats: The Elusive Lion-tailed Macaque
The life and times of one of India’s most endangered primates
Photo Story
Lion-tailed Macaque: Acrobats of the Upper Canopy
Don’t be fooled by the name or the sharp canines, the endangered lion-tailed macaque is a shy, fruit-eating primate that inhabits the upper canopy of the rainforests of the Western Ghats
Species
High Life: Gliding Frogs of the Western Ghats
Four endemic species of gliding frogs live, love, and leap in the trees and ponds of the Western Ghats.
Species
Hiking in the Western Ghats
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment, and conservation
Green Humour
Lessons in Love (and Housekeeping) from the Malabar Trogon
It takes two to build a happy home
Species