My Days With The Elephants

The human-elephant conflict is an ongoing one. But this in-depth account, drawn from the author’s decades of experience with elephants in habitats across the country, reveals the multiplicity of avoidable reasons it stems from.

The Subterraneans: Into The Caves Of The Swiftlets

Beneath the canopy of lush rainforests on the Andaman Islands, atop a hillock, deep inside damp caves, reside the famous EdibleNest Swiftlets – endangered yet persistent, provoking critical questions in the minds of visitors who make it this far.

The Crawling Guests Of - Rushikulya

The author realises a much-cherished dream as she witnesses one of the greatest natural events known – the arrival of the Olive Ridley Turtles – emerging like phantoms from the sea with phosphorus on their backs.

Wild Lessons

To witness acts of survival in the wild is a blessing for the rarest few – join the author as she narrates her first experience seeing a tigress imparting training.

Conservation News

A round-up of important news from the world of conservation.

Conserving Karnataka's Wild Spaces

Sanjay Gubbi’s conservation efforts in the last decade are finely detailed in Second Nature, Saving Tiger Landscapes in the Twenty First Century.

Into The Flames

A controlled fire offers a chance to observe the spectacular behaviour of Indian Rollers in Kaziranga National Park

Jewel Of Jharkhand

Jharkhand’s rarely visited Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary is home to nearly 106 species of birds. Here’s a report.

Securing Our Biodiversity

Recent global negotiations related to biodiversity have set in place a range of recommendations for 196 countries to support their action plan towards achieving their respective targets as per the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Strategic Plan (2011-2020).

On The Ascent

When it comes to plant species, there is a dearth of good publications that focus on smaller plants. T. S. Srinivasa’s Discover Garden Climbers aims to introduce readers to the world of ornamental climber varieties for their personal garden and landscaping projects.

In Search Of The Forest Owlet

The deciduous forests of the North Western Ghats prove to be a natural habitat for the extremely rare Forest Owlet in Dang, Gujarat.

The Enigmatic White-Tailed Monal

The White-tailed Monal remains an elusive bird in the high-altitude landscape of Arunchal Pradesh. Here’s an account of the most recent sighting that put many theories to rest.

The Mystical Monal Of Mishmi

A trip to the enigmatic Mishmi Hills proves why it is paradise for several exotic bird species, including the rare Sclater’s Monal, and an absolute delight for birders.

Two Curious Cases

Events of predation upon Indian peafowl by Changeable Hawk Eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus) in Gir Forest, Gujarat.

A Lens Apart

Five quick questions with our Gallery Member for the month of November 2017, Vivek Vegda

Conservation Round-up

Updates from the world of conservation between Nov 2016 and mid Feb 2017.

Paradise Out of Poop

Tropical islands have always inspired in us a sense of magical beauty. Atop on our list of summer getaways and featured on countless postcards that criss-cross the globe, what lingers is an inexplicable draw to those pearly white beaches. But what we probably don’t wonder often is how these exquisite beaches came to be – the story is as extraordinary as the places themselves.

The Turtle Saviour

The author narrate a rescue story where a little boy’s presence of mind played a crucial role in saving a turtle’s life in C harotar, a region where the locals co-habit with animals, treating them with compassion and respect.

Waste Warriors

The Himalayas are fast turning into a garbage dump due to an increase in tourism but a dedicated group is toiling to preserve them.

Black and White Stripes

May 1971 was exceedingly hot in the plains of Tamil Nadu and some of us were holidaying in a cardamom estate in the Kalakad hills (now part of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve), nearly at the southern end of the Western Ghats.

Conservation Round-up

Updates from the world of conservation between Nov 2016 and mid Feb 2017.

Stalled Flights? Birds of the Andal Aerodrome

An area in and around the aerodrome is a haven for wildlife and flight ground for birds. But will this private aerodrome make space for the diverse fauna that exists around it? Explore the magnificent avifauna with the author as he goes birding in and around the airstrip in Bengal.

Kiplingesque Kuno

A naturalist’s Elysium, Kuno Wildlife sanctuary has witnessed a drastic progression of landscape in a short time span. Heralded as the artificially maintained meadow of the Royals of Gwalior, a wildlife haven was soon born, ex-nihilo. Definitely Kuno has a lot to give back to the people who visit this enchanting landscape.

The Shark Story

Be it in the movies or the media, Sharks have almost always been portrayed as big, bad, demonic characters. Blockbuster films like ‘Jaws’ have immortalized their negative image and they have forever been looked upon with fear and hatred. The author fights a case for these vulnerable ‘sea dogs’, sharing with us the true shark story that lies hidden in the ocean blues.

Near and Deer

A day spent in company with the adorable deer population at Nara Park in Japan.

A Delta in Peril

One of the largest deltas in the world is threatened by a thermal power plant. Sunderbans is home to a plethora of flora and fauna and the plant might devastate this huge carbon sink. The author shares his deep concern about the consequences of this development project on the world’s most beautiful forests!

The Return of the Gaur:

An increase in the number of stripes roaming the Indian wild has given the wildlife lovers a reason to cheer about. Several milestone initiatives have contributed to his conservation success story. We showcase in this section some of the best practices adopted by Tiger Reserves in India. The first one in the series is about the Gaur translocation project undertaken in Kanha Tiger Reserve.

On the Trail of the Mountain Monarchs

One of the founding fathers of wildlife conservation, Dr. George B Schaller has been instrumental in protecting some of the planet’s most endangered and iconic species. Through he has travelled across a range of habitats, the mountains have always been the closest to his heart and soul. Dr. Schaller takes us back to his mountainous ventures as he talks about his experiences and challenges of conservation efforts in the Himalayas 

Saving the Tiger in a Sacred Landscape

A sanctuary for Himalayan mammals such as Himalayan tahr, serow and goral becomes the highest location for a tiger record in India! Discover this mountain haven with a veteran wildlife biologist who wishes to conserve the sacred landscape for tigers!

Croaking Wonders

FrogFest, a programme highlighting the uniqueness and importance of frogs in nature and culture is underway in Delhi. We bring you a few snippets from this cultural event that aims to inculcate conservation values towards this precious amphibian.