Wetlands
176 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
Here, There, Everywhere: The Muggers of Chambal
Although established to protect the critically endangered gharial, another reptile, the marsh crocodile, is now overrunning the Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary
Species
Happy Campers: Life Lessons from the Wagtails of India
Of the six species of wagtails found in India, most are migratory winter visitors to the Indian subcontinent. They are a joy to watch as they forage for insects along the edges of waterbodies, enthusiastically wagging their tails
Species
Fishing Cat Population Booming in Chilika
A recent survey of fishing cats in Chilika reveals an increased population density of the small wild cat
Conservation
When Golden Jackals Swim Across the Karli River
In southern Maharashtra, jackals swim from the mangrove-lined riverine Hopkins Island where they live, across the Karli River, to the mainland and back
Wild Vault
The First Flight: the Pallas' Fish Eagle
High in a tall tree in Kaziranga National Park, a pair of Pallas' fish eagles have built their nest. While the mother lovingly feeds the chicks, the father stands guard. As time passes, the question looms: Will the chick's first flight be successful? Watch to find out.
Video
Spirited Away: In Search of the Deo Haanh
The white-winged wood duck is so rarely seen that it has inspired several folktales in Assam’s swamp forests. Locals, who hear its ghostly call after dark, call it deo haanh or spirit duck. When filmmaker Jayshree Borgohain went looking for it, her search turned part-exploratory, part-spiritual.
Will the forest spirits guide her quest?
Video
Riparian Zone: Facts, Threats, Flora and Fauna
Everything you need to know about these rich, riverside ecosystems
Explainer
Checkered Keelback
Meet the only keelback in India that’s adapted to stay and hunt under water. With distinctive yellow and black checks all over its body, the checkered keelback is one of India’s most common snakes. Although venomous, checkered keelbacks aren’t really harmful to humans.
Video
Action Packed Birding in Keoladeo National Park
While Bharatpur’s waterbodies are brimming with waterbirds, the variety of habitats, from woodlands to dry forests and savannas, reflects the great diversity of birds found there
Photo Story
The Story of Harike: A Wetland that has Witnessed History
How colonial forces, the Partition, and ambitions of nation-building led to the making of a huge wetland, which is now a stopover for thousands of migratory birds
Habitat
Rhizophora Mangroves: Sentinels of our coast
Mangrove forests guard India’s coastline, but there’s one species that steals the show — rhizophora. Its bright, broad lush leaves store water, while its gnarly stilt-like roots are a sanctuary for many creatures. Today, we introduce you to one of India’s most resilient coastguards.
Video
Mangrove Pitta: Facts, Diet, Threats
All you need to know about this shy beautiful bird with a huge crab-smashing bill
Infographic
Mangalajodi: A Village that Guards a Wetland
For generations, the residents of Mangalajodi, a village in Odisha, hunted and feasted on birds that visited its local wetland. But in 1998, a conservation initiative turned the tide. Today, former hunters have turned into skilled naturalists and protectors of the habitat.
Video
Fringe Ecosystems: The Rhizophora Mangals
At the water’s edge, Rhizophora mangroves hold steady and strong in unpredictable tidal habitats. These mangals, present in every coastal state of India, shelter the shoreline and help create a vibrant and thriving ecosystem that benefits us all
Photo Story
Little Grebe: Facts, Diet, Habitat
All you need to know about these small diving birds found in freshwater wetlands
Infographic
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
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
Safeguarding Mangrove Plantations in the Sundarbans
According to local residents and scientists, growing salt-tolerant grasses prior to planting propagules, having a layer of protection from the waves, and maintenance of fences are key to better survival rate of mangroves planted in erosion-prone areas
Conservation
Untreated Legacy Waste is Harming Deepor Beel Wetland
Research shows substantial contamination of the lake in Assam due to unscientific dumping of municipal solid waste next to it
Conservation
Gangetic River Dolphin Numbers Decline in Assam
The mammals are threatened by construction of dams and mechanised sand mining along rivers
Conservation
Unsung Guardians: The Vital Wetlands of Kolkata
The wetlands that surround Kolkata support great biodiversity and provide it with numerous ecological benefits (including acting as an organic sewage treatment plant for the city’s wastewater)
Photo Story
The Guide: Sultanpur National Park
A tiny park, a little lake, and the unexpected promise of over 320 species of birds, make this wetland area close to Gurgaon a birder’s haven
Habitat
Back from the Brink: Saltwater Crocodiles in Bhitarkanika
In the 1970s, the saltwater crocodiles of Bhitarkanika were on the edge of extinction, until a focused conservation effort revived their population in the mangroves
Species
Why the Sundarbans is Hit by Cyclones So Frequently: Part I
Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, has braved cyclones for hundreds of years, but over the last decade they have become faster, deadlier and more frequent. Is climate change to blame?
In our two-part series, we talk about why the delta faces constant calamities. Watch to know how a rising sea is adding to the crisis.
Video
The Thirty-Year Long Battle to Save a Wetland in Calcutta
A new book ‘Once Upon a City’ tells stories of how citizen action in Kolkata inspired change, including a fight for a wetland that stretched for almost three decades
Book
Bird’s the Word in Mangalajodi
Chilika Lake is prime wintering ground for migratory birds, and the Mangalajodi wetland is among the best places to see them
Habitat
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
Let the River Run: Smooth-coated Otters on the Cauvery
The largest of the otter species in India have adapted to drastic changes to river habitats but are being taken to the edge as they face continuous threats to their survival
Photo Story
190 Dolphins Recorded in Mahananda Face Survival Challenges
Fishing, unregulated sand mining, pollution, solid waste dumping and construction of embankments for flood control have negatively impacted Mahananda ecology and the survival of dolphins and other riverine species
Conservation
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
Troubled Waters: Why Bharatpur’s Wetlands Need our Attention
Keoladeo Ghana National Park, also known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, has been a birdwatcher’s paradise. Every winter, the wetland hosts migratory birds from across the world. Unfortunately, the wetland is facing recurring droughts. Watch the film to find out why.
Video
Behind the Lens with Abhinandan Sharma: Why He Shares a Special Bond with Bharatpur
Growing up, Abhinandan Sharma watched his father and grandfather document the extraordinary wildlife of Bharatpur, or Keoladeo National Park. This time around, watch him train his lens on the incredible wetland.
Video
Little Grebe: Little-known Creature of the Wetlands
Often mistaken for a duck, the smallest of the grebes is a fascinating waterbird that has a dance-like courting display and a floating nest
Photo Story
A Fine Balance: Irrawaddy Dolphins in Chilika Lake
Elusive and endangered, the Irrawaddy dolphin inhabits a delicate ecosystem in coastal Odisha
Species
Nalabana Bird Sanctuary: Magnificent Reed Forest
Over 140+ species of migratory birds, including rare and threatened species, arrive at Nalabana Island within Odisha’s Chilika Lake post-monsoon each year
Habitat
Basai Wetland: Why We Must Save Gurgaon’s Bird Paradise
Gurgaon's Basai wetland has been recognised as an Important Bird Area for the incredible diversity of resident and migratory birds it hosts. Unfortunately, new developments threaten to destroy this vital ecosystem.
Video
Indian Skimmer: Fish-Loving River Hunter
Though they are successful fishers, there are less than 3,000 of the orange-billed birds left in the wild; and the banks of the Chambal River are the foremost breeding habitat for the species
Photo Story
Smaller Herons and Egrets: Hunchbacks and Those Lovely in Lace
With razor-sharp bills and long legs, these pretty wading birds are usually stationed at the edge of waterbodies, ready to catch fish, frogs, and other aquatic animals
Species
An Owlsome Night Amidst the Dense Mangroves of Bhitarkanika
Screech, hoot, shriek — the diverse calls and sounds of owls are everywhere in the mangroves of Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha
Wild Vault
Big Herons: Those Grouchy old Fishermen
Armed with a S-shaped neck and dagger-like bill, these herons are accomplished fishers
Species
Fishy Quandary: A Nexus of Livelihoods and Native Fish
Without healthy freshwater ecosystems, there is neither hope for indigenous fish species nor humankind
Conservation
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
Securing the Fishing Cat's Future in the Chilika Lagoon
Appointing the fishing cat as the ambassador of Chilika has drawn critical attention to this important wetland ecosystem that plays a major role in the survival of this wild feline
Conservation
Community Efforts Guide Mahseer Protection in Meghalaya
Locals manage 79 fish sanctuaries in the state that support a wide variety of fish
News
Greater Flamingo: Facts, Habitat, Threats
All you need to know about the most widespread species of flamingos
Infographic
Little File Snake: The Silent Predator
Harmless to humans but often mistaken for a venomous sea snake, the little file snake lives mostly in brackish mangrove swamps though it sometimes wanders out to open sea as well
Species
Wildlife Puzzle: Green Pit Viper
Put together this jigsaw to see a fascinating pit viper in the Sundarbans
Interactive
Protecting the Sacred Fish of the Cauvery
Religious lore, temples, and the impact of inadvertent conservation in the Cauvery basin
Species
Delightful Ducks: From the Flamboyant to the Austere
Of all the species of wildfowl recorded in India, just a handful are resident birds. The rest are winter migrants, mostly flying in from their breeding grounds in Central Asia and Siberia. Here’s a look at some of these charming birds
Photo Story
Gutsy Gulls: Trick or Treating on the Water
Seagulls employ various strategies to secure a meal. From intelligent fishing to scavenging and outright theft, their schemes succeed at times and fail comically at other points
Photo Story
Hump-backed Mahseer: Facts, Habitat, Threats
All you need to know about this critically endangered freshwater fish
Infographic
Wings of Hope: A Bustling Village and their Bird Friends
Menar is not a reserved bird area, yet thousands of resident and migratory birds feel secure in the heart of this bustling village. What makes them feel safe here?
Video
Gharials Lose Nesting Sites at Katerniaghat
Growth of vegetation along the banks of the Girwa River has adversely affected the nesting of gharials
Conservation
Not Just Desert: The Wild, Varied Habitats of Rajasthan
A mosaic of habitats rich in diversity make up India’s largest state. While the Thar is the more familiar part of its landscape, it also has grasslands, wetlands, and hills
Photo Story
City of Lakes at Risk: Why Udaipur’s Wetlands Need Your Attention
Udaipur’s interconnected lakes have supported local communities and welcomed migratory birds for hundreds of years. But the pressures of growing tourism and unchecked construction are ruining these wetlands. Will the lakes of Udaipur survive the onslaught of “development”?
Video
Alien Fish Proliferate as Extreme Climate Events Rise
According to a study, floods trigger escape of exotic and invasive species that harm local ecosystems
Conservation
Black Magic: Common Coots and their Vacation in Rajasthan’s Wetlands
Every winter, flocks of common coots migrate from Russia, China and Central Asia to vacation in Rajasthan’s urban wetlands. But life in the city is getting trickier. Are the coots trying to send us a message?
Video
Fishing Friends: Irrawaddy Dolphins and the Fishers of Chilika Lagoon
In Odisha’s Chilika Lagoon, researchers have confirmed that dolphins do assist fishers in getting a good catch
Species
Home Affairs: The Great Crested Grebes Build a Nest
Every winter morning, Rajasthan's Menar lake teems with thousands of migratory guests. But today, there’s a new development in the neighbourhood. A pair of great crested grebes have just turned proud parents
Video
Golden Mahseer: Facts, Threats, Habitat
Learn everything you need to know about the endangered golden mahseer
Infographic
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
Galathea: A Threatened Paradise at the Edge of the World
Far away from all civilisation, at the southernmost tip of Indian territory, leatherback turtles have a huge nesting site. Will plans for a new port transform this pristine landscape forever?
Habitat
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
Nicobar Long-tailed Macaque: Facts, Habitat, Diet, Threats
Everything you need to know about this endemic primate from the Nicobar islands
Infographic
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
Waltz on Water: Courtship of the Great Crested Grebe
Mainly winter migrants to India, these diving waterbirds have a mating ritual that involves dancing while holding weeds. Here is a rare glimpse into their lives and synchronised moves
Photo Story
Keoladeo Ghana National Park: Floating Laboratory of Bharatpur
India’s most famous bird sanctuary has a long history of conservation challenges that have persisted for decades
Habitat
Bharatpur: Memories of an Inveterate Birder
The writer reminiscences the many charms of Keoladeo Ghana and the last swansong of the Siberian crane
Wild Vault
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
A Dog-Faced Water Snake’s Murky Life
Is it a dog? Is it a snake? Meet the dog-faced water snake. This unique snake gets its name from its compressed snout, which helps it survive in slush and salt. Watch this film of the nocturnal wanderer of the mangroves
Video
Fishing Spiders: Riders of the Swamp
A rare peek into the world of this semi-aquatic nursery web spider in a secluded seasonal swamp in Cooch Behar where it catches fish and hunts for other invertebrates in the dead of night
Photo Story
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
Quiz: The Wetlands
Take our quiz to learn more about these neglected ecosystems and the creatures that live in and around them
Interactive
Ganges River Dolphin: Facts, Population, and Protection Status
All you need to know about India's national aquatic animal
Infographic
Mettle of the Mugger: How the Marsh Crocodile Balances Stealth, Strategy and Surprise
Hunting is not all brawn. It is a fine balance of patience, intelligence and strategy
Photo Story
Migrating Mangroves: Why Sundarbans’ Coast Guards Are Moving
Certain species of mangroves have started growing as far as over 180 kilometres away from the Sundarbans forest — some have even been spotted near Kolkata
Conservation
Gharials Make a Comeback in Punjab
Forty five gharials brought from a captive breeding centre in Madhya Pradesh have been rehabilitated into the Beas river
News
The Guide: Lakh Bahosi Bird Sanctuary
One of the largest wetlands in Uttar Pradesh, the twin lakes of Lakh Bahosi are great for spotting winter migratory birds
Habitat
Coast Guards: How Women are Protecting Sindhudurg’s Mangroves
A ten-member, all-female group has been raising awareness about mangroves through boat safaris in Mandavi creek since 2017
Hero
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
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
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
Predator in the Pond: Indian Flapshell Turtle
Though these small turtles are camouflaged and instinctively hide on the edges of waterbodies to ambush their prey, they face a perilous future
Species
A River that Carves a World: Brahmaputra’s Journey through Assam
As the river Brahmaputra flows through Assam, it forms an indispensable relationship with all that it touches and sustains
Photo Story
The Guide: Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
Little islets on the River Kaveri make up this all-season haven for birds and birdwatchers
Habitat
Man on a Mission to Revive Noida’s Wetlands
Ramveer Tanwar gave up his job as an engineer to restore at least 20 ponds and lakes in his home region
Hero
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
Proposed Hydropower Project Threatens the Bodh Fish
The ‘shark of Bastar' found in the Indravati river in Chhattisgarh, faces a perilous future due to the proposed Bodhghat Pariyojana project and indiscriminate hunting
News
Feared, Loved, Worshipped: The Enigma of the Sundarbans Tiger
The Sundarbans is the single largest habitat of the tiger in Asia and the only mangrove forest in the world to shelter it. Watch how it rules the tidal forests, and the lives of the 4.5 million people who share its habitat
Video
Lost and Found: A Quest to Revive the Rare Batagur Baska
How a breeding programme in the Sundarbans is bringing the critically endangered batagur baska back from the brink of extinction
Video
The Mud Pack: Love, Life, and Strife in the Sundarbans
The Sundarbans mudflats are rife with tiny evolutionary curiosities that come alive with the waning tide — watch a battle in the muck, and the fine seduction of a fiddler crab
Video
Crawl, Burrow, Swim: Little Champions of the Sundarbans Ecosystem
The largest mangrove delta in the world may be more famous for its apex predators but its small creatures are also important for the ecosystem
Photo Story
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
Risk, Ritual, and Survival: The Honey Gatherers of the Sundarbans
Moulis, the local honey gatherers, wade through marsh and murky water to gather honey from the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, but not before they have sought the blessings of the jungle deity
Photo Story
Saltwater Crocodile: Dragons of the Sundarbans Swamps
Basking in the sun, the saltwater crocodile is a study in stillness but once it enters the brackish waters of the Sundarbans, it is the top aquatic predator
Species
The Guide: Sundarbans Tiger Reserve
The world’s largest mangrove forest is a serene landscape that syncs its moods with the changing tide twice every day. The tiger may be its biggest attraction, but the shifting tide is its real protagonist
Travel
Croc Creche: Why Crocodilian Males Make Great Babysitters
Breaking gender stereotypes, tough bull crocs often pitch in to take care of hatchlings. Scientists believe they could be showing off their potential as future mating partners
Column
Ganges Shark: The One True River Shark of India
Under-researched and critically endangered, the Ganges shark is extremely susceptible to extinction
Conservation
Northern River Terrapin: Habitat, Conservation, Lifespan
All you need to know about this four-toed terrapin
Infographic
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
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
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
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
Fishing Cat: Facts, Population, Habitat
All you need to know about this piscivore
Infographic
Fishing Cat: Elusive Hunter of the Wetland Forest
This stealthy wild cat is not easy to spot even though it inhabits a variety of wetland ecosystems around India
Photo Story
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
Nest Protectors Hope to Secure the Indian Skimmer’s Future
In an upcoming initiative, researchers, forest departments and locals have come together to implement a community conservation programme to protect the vulnerable Indian skimmer
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
The Oxbow Lake of Purbasthali and my Tryst with the Elegant Ibis
About 12O km from Kolkata, lies a birding heaven: a thriving wetland habitat full of resident and migratory species
Habitat
The Guide: Bhitarkanika National Park
The creeks and mudflats of coastal Odisha are a haven for a variety of birds and reptiles like the saltwater crocodile
Habitat
The Mangrove Pitta: A Blue Streak in the Mud
Found only in mangrove habitats, the striking mangrove pitta is one India’s most beautiful and underappreciated birds
Species
Vembanad Lake: A Chance of Revival for the Dying Lake
India’s Supreme Court rescues the second largest wetland in the country, Vembanad lake and the livelihoods who depend on it, by ordering razing of illegal construction and hotels along the shores
Conservation
Amphan Aftermath: A Resilient Mangrove Forest Struggles to Survive
The deadly cyclone is a reminder that the Sundarbans is at great risk, and needs conservation efforts that go beyond political borders
Conservation
Sundarbans: Nature’s Wall of Defence
The mangrove forest of the Sundarbans is an invaluable ecosystem — it shelters diverse creatures, provides livelihood to millions, and protects an entire civilisation from the deadliest cyclones. Watch the film in English and Bengali
Video
The Guide: The Backwater of Bhigwan
A boat safari through this wetland in rural Maharashtra reveals an abundance of resident and migratory birds
Travel
A Forest of Folklore: Myths, Gods, and the Many Faces of the Tiger
How culture, traditions and gods of the Sundarbans are inseparable and intertwined with the forest and its most charismatic creature the swamp tiger
Wild Vault
The Guide: Keoladeo National Park
The former hunting reserve of the Maharaja of Bharatpur is now one of India’s most important breeding and feeding grounds for a variety of resident and migratory birds
Travel
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
The Sundarbans Inheritance: Protecting a People’s Legacy
One of India’s leading wildlife voices speaks of his love affair with the Sundarbans, in an excerpt from 'Wild Treasures' — a collection of stories from Asia’s most incredible natural UNESCO World Heritage sites
Book
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
Dog-faced Water Snake: Sludge and Salt in the Intertidal Zone
With their home in coastal mangroves, South Asian bokadams have adapted to sidewinding their way through the murk and slush of their watery habitat
Species
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
Roots of a Salt Forest: Mangroves as Coast Guards of the Sundarbans
An incredible, resilient network of roots supports one of the world’s largest mangrove forests and protects its islands from disastrous waves, tides, cyclones, and storms
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: Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary
While the migratory birds in winter are the biggest attraction, the lake is home to nearly 25O avian species
Travel
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 Flamboyance of Maximum City at Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary
A short hop from Mumbai this sanctuary is a mix of grassland, scrub, woodland, and mangroves with a wide variety of resident and migratory birds
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
Sultry Sundarbans: The Tide, the Forest, and the Tiger Goddess
The Sundarbans is a vast mesh of crisscrossing rivers and tributaries lined with mangrove forests. It harbours hundreds of species of flora and fauna, and an intriguing story at every bend
Habitat
Guardians of the Sundari: Reviving the Mangroves in the Sundarbans
A group of women lead the way in efforts to bring the endangered Sundari tree back from the brink in their villages
Conservation
Turning the Tide: The Batagur Baska and the Race Against Extinction
How a conservationist and his team in the Sundarbans brought the batagur, one of the most endangered turtle species in the world, back from the brink
Conservation
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
In the Sundarbans, the Bengal Tiger is Always Watching You
Encounters with the tiger in the riverine, mangrove forests of the Sundarbans highlights its many roles — as flagship species, apex predator, photographer’s muse, fisherman’s nightmare, ghost, fictive kin, and god
Species
Black-necked Stork in the Eye of the Marsh
Tracking the black-necked stork over decades, it becomes apparent that this grand bird is territorial, needs a lot space, and resides only in large healthy marshland
Species
Anil Mistry: The Ex-Poacher Who Rescues Tigers
How a poacher turned conservationist, and became one of the leading voices fighting for the survival of the maligned Sundarbans tiger
Hero
Tso Kar: A White Lake that Welcomes Birds
Tso Kar is not picture-perfect blue. It is a saline lake with brackish waters. The lake welcomes birds that migrate long distances, in difficult climates, to feed, spend winters and raise their young ones, including the black-necked crane
Video
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
Najafgarh – Wetland or Wasteland?
In this chapter from Nature Conservation in the New Economy, Neha Sinha tries to unravel the curious conservation case of the Najafgarh drain in the National Capital Region
Book
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
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
Living Dragons: Weapons, Defences and the Water Monitor Lizard
Though this predator is the second-largest lizard in the world, and very well adapted to the tropical environment it lives in, it is not at the top of the food chain
Species
In the Heart of Suburban Mumbai, an Oasis for Birds and Birders
Despite the concrete jungle around, Lokhandwala Lake in Mumbai’s crowded Andheri suburb hosts a healthy diversity of avian species
Urban Jungle
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
Underwater Disturbance: The Gangetic Dolphin Struggles to Communicate
India’s Ganga River is getting noisier with increased ship traffic and dredging, and that’s stressing the river’s iconic dolphins and changing how they communicate, a new study has found
News
Going with the Flow: Exploring India’s River Systems, One Step at a Time
Siddharth Agarwal has walked the entire length of the Ganga and Ken rivers collecting local stories—and this is just the beginning of his drive to build a repository of knowledge
Hero
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
On a Wing: Dhanauri Wetland, a Birdwatcher’s Wonderland
Majestic birds, reptiles, and even some mammals inhabit this thriving ecosystem, just a short hop from anywhere in the national capital
Urban Jungle
The swimming camels of Kutch
The magnificent Kharai camels get vital elements of their diet from marine mangroves on islands –and get there by swimming – yes swimming! – several kilometres off the coast of Kachchh (or Kutch) in Gujarat
News
Basai Wetlands Thrive Just a Short Hop From Gurugram’s Glitzy Malls
It’s hard to believe that over 231 bird species can be seen in this wetland region so close to Delhi-NCR
Urban Jungle
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
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
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
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
What are Wetlands?
A wetland is land that is partially covered with water, or dotted with numerous salty or freshwater waterbodies
Explainer
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
Gharials of Gandak: A Population Back from the Brink Faces Development Pressures
The population of gharials, a species endemic to the Indian subcontinent, has gone up in the recent years in the Gandak river in Bihar. However, the thriving gharials are facing threats from barrage and fishing nets
News
Black-necked Stork: Facts, Threats, Habitat
All you need to know about this handsome, long-legged resident of freshwater marshes
Infographic
Smooth-Coated Otter: The Unexpected Visitor in Goa’s Mangroves
Otters living in the highly modified mangroves and reclaimed lands on the coast of Goa offer new insights otter behaviour and inform future conservation efforts
Conservation
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
Mumbai’s Mangroves: Forests of Breathing Roots
Not all shores are the same; Mumbai’s mangroves are the city’s green guards and they host an entire civilisation in their midst
Urban Jungle
The Teeming Wildlife of a Garbage Dump
In The Wild Heart of India, biologist and writer TR Shankar Raman points out that what we consider wild is not just found in faraway forests, but also in our backyards, or even in a stinking dumping ground on the fringes of a city
Book
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
When Flamingos Frolic and Feed in the Talawe Wetlands
Hundreds of migrating flamingos and other wildlife can be seen just a stone’s throw away from a bustling Navi Mumbai residential complex
Urban Jungle
Born with a Silver Spoon
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment, and conservation
Green Humour
You Got Curves, She Got Curves
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment, and conservation
Green Humour
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