The slender, bony-white trunks of dhavda trees, standing out against their dark-barked neighbours, appeared unusually mottled. As the GPS guided us towards the centre of the survey grid, we found ourselves in the midst of a deafening chorus. The dark … Read More
Wildlife crime in India happens across a wide spectrum – from local village level subsistence hunting to multi-million dollar trade in the international market. The international trade in wildlife and related trafficking is perhaps the most noticeable, due to its … Read More
Forest safaris are always a memorable affair. While the eager tourists are simply in a state of awe and excitement for almost every moment spent in the wilderness, it is the skilled and seasoned guide who walks them through the … Read More
“Lagta hai voh aa gayi, camere chal rahe hain,” exclaimed our guide as our gypsy approached a waterbody where a tigress had been frequently observed with her three cubs. The next moment, he muttered in disappointment, “Nahi, abhi to chidiya … Read More
“American roads are good not because America is rich, but America is rich because American roads are good.” These words, attributed to John F. Kennedy, take pride of place on a wall in the office of the Union Minister of … Read More
The ‘World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought’ is observed to remind everyone that land degradation neutrality is achievable through problem-solving, strong community involvement and co-operation at all levels. Photo: Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Desertification is defined as the … Read More
Wildlife crime is the great equalizer of the 21st century – it has threatened biodiversity, economies, lives and livelihoods, in equal measure in both developing and developed nations of the world. It has changed facets and scale in a manner … Read More
Most people have at some point in their lives heard about the atrocities of human trafficking. But, many are unaware that like humans, several species of wildlife (animals and plants) are also illegally transported across international borders and exploited in … Read More
They scale forested hills, scamper down steep rocky slopes, slip over wet rocks, grasp tree trunks to regain their balance, and continue their patrol. India’s forest guards trudge through treacherous terrain while out on patrol duty. And that’s not all, … Read More
Like a mythical pale-and-smooth-skinned danseuse, with many arms outstretched, frozen in a mudra, is a tree that stands out against the scaly, warty and fissured barks of the brown-skinned denizens of India’s deciduous forests. It is stark, and striking, and … Read More
When we talk about Protected Areas, what comes to your mind? For most people, it is India’s jungles that support innumerable protected species of wildlife, such as tigers, elephants, rhinos, pangolins, bears, owls, butterflies, and orchids. Sadly, many people are … Read More
As citizens, many of us have a genuine concern for the environment. But what can we do to contribute towards the conservation of wildlife and its habitats, and a healthier, pollution-free environment? This is a question that many of us … Read More
Twenty-seven kilometres a day. We aren’t talking travel, but the pace at which roads are being built in India. Though the rate is the highest that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has achieved till date, its ‘ambitious target’ … Read More
Tigers and deer, forests and rivers, water and people: We’re all in it together! Conserving forests for charismatic umbrella species like big cats helps preserve the riches of fully-functioning ecosystems, on which, like all terrestrial species, humans also depend. Degradation … Read More
Across their ranges in India, tigers, lions and leopards suffer from loss of wild prey due to the poaching of herbivores for bushmeat and trade. As wild prey gets scarce, big cats are forced to disperse into human-dominated areas and … Read More