Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of In Re: News Item titled "Nayar river is vanishing - a yatra reveals conservation goes beyond science and policy" appearing in ‘The Down To Earth’ dated 03.06.2025. The original application was registered suo-motu based on the news item titled "Nayar …
The thirst for cheap coffee in the West could be wiping out endangered wildlife in Indonesia, reveals a study by the us-based Wildlife Conservation Society. The cultivation of robusta coffee beans
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are the third most significant biodiversity hotspot in India. With a coastline of 1962 kilometres and many beaches straddling small isolated islands, the region provides an ideal nesting habitat for primarily four species of marine turtles: the leatherback turtle, hawksbill turtle, green sea turtle and …
the us' pre-emptive onslaught against Iraq may not have won it many friends, but the Pentagon continues to enjoy the support of a strange bedfellow: the United States Environmental Protection Agency (usepa). In what is seen as fresh evidence of the watchdog body's whole-hearted cooperation, the epa has approved of …
bird species now face a wave of extinction not seen on the Earth since the dinosaurs became extinct some 65 million years ago, according to a report from the Worldwatch Institute, a us-based research organisation. Pressures from a human population of more than 6.2 billion have put about 12 per …
The two wolf types found in India are represented by two isolated populations and believed to be two sub-species of Canis lupus. One of these wolf, locally called Himalayan wolf (HW) or Tibetan wolf, is found only in the upper Trans-Himalayan region from Himachal Pradesh to Leh in Kasmir and …
the ebola virus is threatening lowland gorillas of central Africa, states the World Conservation Union (iucn). The warning is significant as the area has one of the largest concentrations of these gorillas, and they are already endangered by factors such as deforestation and trade in wild animals. Ebola haemorrhagic fever …
every other day, one comes across studies that are testimony to corals dying across the world. Most of us do not bother to ponder over the implications of this loss, thinking that corals are mere
Once upon a time, a prince called Siddhartha was gripped with the idea of getting to the root and sap of things. He sat under the Mahabodhi tree, and emerged from his meditation as the Buddha. Today, that tree itself is in dire need of enlightenment. Located on the banks …
for fisherfolk and traders in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, catching fish is child's play, thanks to harmful pesticides such as endosulfan. The fisherfolk contaminate the upper reaches of rivers such as the Teesta and the Jaldhaka with the organochlorine pesticide. This activity is carried out mainly around the Mainaguri …
A new bird species has been spotted in Nepal. The Moustached Warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon) was recently sighted at the Shukla Phanta wildlife reserve in eastern Nepal. The latest find increases the total species of birds found in Nepal to 859. A team of ornithologists spotted three members of the species. …
The Andaman and Nicobar islands (a&n) are thought to be the emergent peaks of a submerged mountain range related to the Arakan Yoma range of mainland Burma. The islands include steep hills, and generally poor soil with little water holding capacity. Flat terrain is extremely limited and the larger islands …
When did you last spot a house sparrow (Passer domesticus) in your house? Chances are, quite a while ago. These once-common birds are becoming a rarity, in India and other parts of the world. The Royal Society for Protection of Birds (rspb), uk, recently added the house sparrow to its …
do they train Indian foresters to mess up wildlife situations? It is difficult to ascribe the series of botch-ups involving leopards in the last month or so to misfortune. The most recent one was the highly publicised spectacle of a leopard killed by police and wildlife officials after it entered …
Legend has it that when Lord Ayyappa set out to seek solitude, he settled upon Sabarimala. Its sylvan surroundings and undulating terrain no doubt made it an ideal retreat. But if mythology and present-day reality were transposed, Sabarimala would no longer be the chosen abode of the hermit. Because now …
jumbo fighters: Tiny bugs would no longer trouble jumbo jets. If undetected, microbes in aviation fuel harm the planes' instruments and even eat through the wings. They also produce misleading readings in fuel gauges. Now, Cardiff-based ECHA Microbiology has developed an industry-standard test for the pests, which lets non-microbiologists check …
The return of the unicorns is an account of what it takes to save endangered large mammals. The author outlines the multifaceted recovery program--structured around targeted fieldwork and scientific research, effective protective measures, habitat planning and management, public-awareness campaigns, economic incentives to promote local guardianship, and bold, uncompromising leadership--that brought …
Languages are like oysters holding pearls of wisdom. Tove shares one such: "Pekka Aikio, the President of the Saami Parliament told me this in 2001. Finnish fish biologists have just