India's Wildlife & Marine life - Images and News

[Krishnamoorthy K]

Ranchi (IANS): India has around 1,500 tigers left in the wild, says an official survey. The figure might come as a shock to wildlife lovers as a census conducted six years ago had pinned the big cat population at 3,652.

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Source: The Hindu on 12 Dec 2008

[Krishnamoorthy K]

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Now from locally found snakes like Common Krait, Rat and Viper and local Cobra, the visitors would be able to have varieties of python, in addition to the rare varieties King Cobra and local ones found in deserts of Sahara and India.

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Proposed last year, the first project of its kind sanctioned by the Central Zoo Authority of India (CZAI) for north India, the Serpentarium complex will come to come up on an acre and half of covered area. Besides having a number of glass houses, the complex will have a gallery as well as a specially carved out landscapes to have a sitting areas.

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Source: Times of India on 14 Dec 2008

[Krishnamoorthy K]

PUDUCHERRY: The union territory of Puducherry has declared Ousteri Lake as a wildlife sanctuary and has resolved to promote the lake, the largest in the territory, on the lines of Vedanthangal water bird sanctuary near Chennai.

The decision has fulfilled the long-pending demand of ecologists who have been fighting for sanctuary status for the 390-hectare lake which is home to more than 40 migratory birds throughout the year.

About 40 species including golden oriole, openbill stork, tailor bird, painted stork, white ibis, white-breasted water-hen and spotted owlets visit the water body particularly after November every year. The tourism department has planned to document the varieties of birds visiting Puducherry to update and prepare a comprehensive database about the winger visitors.

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The government has also chalked out majestic plans to develop the historic lake on the model of well-established Vedanthangal sanctuary and to declare the region as litter-free, no-horn and plastic-free zone and regulate the movement of public and private vehicles around the lake to make the region more friendly to the winged visitors.

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Subsequently the department has drawn up plans to establish a three-floor interpretation centre with library and audiovisual room which would furnish complete information about the birds visiting the water body, a small park and a promenade, running all around the lake for the avid birdwatchers and ecologists. The major highlight of the proposal is the installation of two telescopes on the top floor of the centre to watch the birds.

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Source: The Times of India on 9 Dec 2008

Here are the pictures of the birds from various sources.

1. Golgen Oriole


2. Tailored Bird


3. White Ibis


4. White Breasted Water Hen


5. Spotted Owlet


6. Openbill Storks


7. Painted Storks


8. Golden Oriole

[SarafIndian]

Thanks. Very nice thread Krishnamoorthy. Keep it up man.

[Krishnamoorthy K]

Vettangudi, Madurai (IANS): Perched on the sprawling branches of a partially submerged tree, thousands of White Ibis migratory birds at the Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary here have the villagers to thank for making their winter home a noise-free zone.

The local folk have imposed a ban on the bursting of firecrackers in the region to make it conducive for the migratory birds after noticing a decline in their numbers.

"I have been watching these birds ever since I was a young boy. A few years ago we noticed a decline in their arrivals," 68-year-old Venkataiah from the nearby Periya Kollukudi Patti village told IANS.

"The forest department informed us that it may be due to the rising noise levels. So the villagers and others in the district decided not to burst crackers at all."

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Source: The Hindu on 14 Dec 2008

[Krishnamoorthy K]

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The Pakistan Government has offered a pair each of the highly-endangered llama and ostriches to Delhi Zoo in exchange of two pairs of Sambar for its Lahore Zoo where not many deer species are available.

“We have received a proposal from Lahore Zoo in this regard. We have a surplus of Sambars in Delhi Zoo and will have no problem in the exchange. The proposal will be considered during the meeting of the technical committee of the Central Zoo Authority,” a senior official at the environment ministry said.

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Source: expressindia on 15 Dec 2008

1. llama

Source: plamadalellamas

2. Sambars

Source: americazoo

[Krishnamoorthy K]

SHIMLA: A project to help breed vultures in captivity has failed to take off in Himachal Pradesh in the last four years even as the scavenger bird teeters on the brink of extinction across Asia.

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But time is running out for the vulture.

Three of the nine species of vultures - white-backed, slender-billed and long-billed - have declined catastrophically in India.

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While most vultures are found in the state's Kangra district, the BNHS was said to be keen on Solan as it is close to Haryana's Pinjore town, the location of another vulture breeding centre.

Vibhu Prakash, BNHS principal scientist (ornithology) who is running the vulture breeding centre in Pinjore, said Himachal Pradesh was the ideal location for setting up the centre.

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Studies conducted by the BNHS attribute the decline of vultures to the overuse of an anti-inflammatory veterinary drug diclofenac, loss of bird habitat, use of pesticides, competition for food among other scavengers and change in livestock management.

"Vultures that consumed the carcasses of animals treated with diclofenac died with symptoms of kidney failure," Prakash said.

Now, the central government has imposed a ban on manufacturing formulations of diclofenac for veterinary use.

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Source: The Times of India on 15 Dec 2008

1. White-backed Vulture

Source: arkive

2. Slender-billed Vulture

Source: arkive

3. Long-billed Vulture

Source: freewebs

[Krishnamoorthy K]

ERODE: Wildlife conservation in Sathyamangalam forests has received the much-needed fillip after the Government of India declared a portion of the area as a sanctuary.

The Government has brought in 52,434.94 ha of the total 1,45,530.92 ha in the Sathyamangalam forests, which is a good 36 per cent of the area.

The sanctuary areas comprise the Thalavady range (Palayam, Belathur, Gettavadi) and Bhavani Sagar range (Thengumarahada, a part of Thalamalai, Gejalatti, and Peerkadavu, entire Kothamangalam and a part of Bannari), which are spread over 22, 325.63 ha.

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“The area has a population of about 6,000 Asian elephants, the highest in the continent. Further, as the area falls under the migratory corridor connecting Bandipur, Nagarhole with Wayanad and neighbouring areas, it is important to preserve the area,” says the author of The Living Elephants: Evolutionary Ecology, Behaviour and Conservation.

Source: The Hindu on 24 Dec 2008

[Krishnamoorthy K]

Mangalore, Dec 22: The local fishermen caught a tiger (Whale?) shark weighing around 1,200 kgs when they ventured into the Arabian Sea, off New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT), here on the afternoon of Monday December 22.

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Sad!! this is an endangered species. It is a Whale Shark!!

Source: Daijiworld on 22 Dec 2008

[Krishnamoorthy K]

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Says Alan Knight OBE, Chief Executive of International Animal Rescue: "We are well on the way to ending the trade in dancing bears in India altogether. By nominating 2009 as International Animal Rescue's Year of the Bear we aim to give a new impetus to the campaign and rescue all the remaining bears off the streets. We are launching a new bear adoption programme which will enable our supporters to sponsor individual bears in our sanctuaries and follow their progress back to health. We're also planning some fundraising events and hope to enlist the support of our patrons to ensure they are a real success. Comedians Jo Brand and Bill Bailey have been incredibly supportive of our work in the past and we're hoping they can spare the time to help us out again during our Year of the Bear.

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World's largest sloth bear sanctuary

Alan Knight continues: "We have come a long way since Christmas Eve 2002. From humble beginnings five years ago the Agra sanctuary has grown into the largest rescue facility for sloth bears in the world and a centre of excellence for the rescue and rehabilitation of captive bears. We have also opened a second sanctuary in Bannerghatta which cares for bears rescued in the south of India and a more temporary holding centre in Bhopal in central India."

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Source: WILDLIFEEXTRA.com on 22 Dec 2008

[Krishnamoorthy K]

Jalpaiguri (West Bengal), Dec 20 (ANI): Fulbari Bird Sanctuary in Jalpaiguri District of West Bengal is playing host to hundreds of migratory birds flocking the reserve during winters.

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The major birds seen here are Siberian Cranes, Greater Flamingo, Ruff, Common Teal, Yellow Wagtail, Black Tailed Godwit and Long Billed Pipit.

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In order to save themselves from the Northern cold waves these migratory birds cross hundreds of miles to reach the Indian subcontinent. After staying here for three to four months these birds make their way back to their respective countries.

It is estimated that over hundred species of migratory birds fly to India, either in search of feeding grounds or to escape the severe winter of their native habitat. The numerous wildlife sanctuaries set up in the country serve as their temporary habitat.

Source: Newsposts Online on 20 Dec 2008

1. Siberian Cranes

Courtesy: kolkatabirds

2. Greater Flamingo

Courtesy: photo.net

3. Ruff

Courtesy: BIRDS IRELAND

4. Common Teal

Courtesy: Focus On Nature

5. Yellow Wagtail

Courtesy: Minister In Thanet

6. Black Tailed Godwit

Courtesy:Brettb.Com

7. Long Billed Pipit

Courtesy: kolkatabirds

[Krishnamoorthy K]

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In one of the biggest conservation measures, a stripped big cat couple -- first a male followed by female -- were successfully airlifted from Ranthambore and introduced in Sariska reserve in Rajasthan where tigers were lost to poaching in 2005.

The effort is being seen as the first step towards successful re-establishment in any reserve paving way for more such initiatives to boost the tiger population whose numbers have plunged by half to 1,411 tigers in three years in 2008, according to a Wildlife Institute of India (WII) report released early this year.

The new method involves actual tiger sightings using camera traps, as well as pugmarks and faeces, which give accurate results.

The study spurred the government to not only announce creation of more tiger reserves but also allocate Rs 600 crore for the 'Project Tiger' scheme under the 11th plan in the 2008-09 budget.

Of this a major portion Rs 500 crore has been proposed to be spent for the rehabilitation and relocation of the villagers who will now get enhanced financial package from Rs 1 lakh to a staggering Rs 10 lakhs to move out from the parks and ensure inviolate areas for the stripped cat.

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Five new sanctuaries namely Sunabeda Tiger Reserve in Orissa, Shahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh and Ratapani Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh were cleared by the government taking the total number of parks to over 35 in the country.

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Source: The Hindu on 23 Dec 2008

Read also PMO concerned over delay in shifting of second tigress, Eight new reserves comes under Project Tiger,
Tiger, tiger, not bright enough, NTCA throws spanner in Sariska relocation

[Krishnamoorthy K]

PANAJI: A lesser known Montane Trinket snake was documented in the forests of Virdi on Goa's border with Maharashtra a massive corridor for
wildlife, also comprising areas of Karnataka and Goa.

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The Montane Trinket snake (Coelognathus helena monticollaries), also documented in the Mhadei and Molem national parks, is a diurnal slender bodied snake. "It has a distinct coloration of a light olive brownish body and blackish spots accompanied by traverse stripes of white," Nirmal Kulkarni, one of the researcher said.

The team also sighted 3 species of other rare snakes.

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Other rare species like the Ornate Gliding snake (Chrysopelea ornata), Boulengor's Bronze back snake (Dendrelaphis bifrenalis), the Brown Vine snake (Ahaetulla pulverulenta) and the Olive Forest snake (Rhabdops Olivaceus) have been recorded in the past from this region.

The Virdi region is contiguously connected with Mhadei wildlife sanctuary, the Bhimgad forest of Karnataka, and Molem and Supa areas. Besides, a number of globally threatened species of reptiles and amphibians can be found here. A few of them include reptiles, bats, and amphibians.

Source: The Times of India on 24 Dec 2008

[Krishnamoorthy K]

Shimla The Forest Department has directed the NTPC authorities executing the Kol Dam project in Himachal to apply for permission to the Central Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court for seeking de-reservation of some portion of Majathal wildlife sanctuary area that would be submerged in the dam.

The Forest Department has already faced a lot of embarrassment for its earlier failure to correctly assess the forest area to go under the Kol Dam project. While the forest had obtained clearance for diversion of 954 hectares of forest land for the project, the actual land to be submerged was about 100 to 120 hectares more. This forest area under Majathal wildlife sanctuary has over 45,000 standing trees and is also home to the Cheer pheasant.


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Source: expressindia on 11 Dec 2008

[Krishnamoorthy K]

SHIMLA: As numbers of white-backed, slender-billed and long-billed vultures - three of the nine species found in India - decline across the country,
migratory vultures have taken their space.

Ornithologists attributed the increase in arrival of the migratory species - the Eurasian griffon, the Egyptian vulture and the Himalayan griffon - in the region to plenty of food being available now.

"Large flocks of the Eurasian griffon, the Egyptian vulture and the Himalayan griffon can be spotted these days feeding on carrion, insects, eggs and droppings of carnivores in Himachal Pradesh, especially in the hills of Kangra, Bilaspur, Una and Hamirpur districts," Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife) S.K. Guleria told IANS.

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Source: The Economic Times on 20 Dec 2008

[Krishnamoorthy K]

December 2008. Three female greater one-horned rhinoceros have been released into the wild from their temporary enclosure in India's Manas National Park.

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Orphaned by floods in Kaziranga
Rescued as orphans displaced by floods in Kaziranga National Park, the rhinos were hand-raised by the WTI-IFAW run Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC), based near Kaziranga, before their translocation. In Manas, they were kept in a spacious 33 acre boma to protect them from predators while they underwent gradual acclimatisation to the new environment.

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Source: WILDLIFEEXTRA.com on 9 Dec 2008

[Krishnamoorthy K]

Shimla (IANS): A search is on at a Himachal Pradesh sanctuary for a species of turtle not earlier known to be found in the state after scientists here made a chance discovery of its carcass.

The scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have come across a carcass of the eastern black turtle (Melanochelys trijuga) in the Simbalwara Wildlife Sanctuary in Sirmaur district. Since then, they have been on the job to know whether the sanctuary is home to this species or not.

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The hill state supports 53 species of reptilian fauna, including three turtle species - Lissemys punctata, Pangshura smithii and Kachuga kachuga.

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In India, 35 species and subspecies of turtles have been recorded. The turtles are aquatic scavengers and help in cleaning water bodies.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has categorised the eastern black turtle as lower risk/near threatened in India, but in Bangladesh it has been declared endangered.

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According to a report prepared by the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, "Biodiversity in the Shivalik Ecosystem", the Shivaliks are probably one of the finest wildlife sites in India. Thirty-two percent of the country's bird species and five percent of the mammals have been reported in the Shivalik range.

Source: The Hindu on 30 Dec 2008



Photo Courtesy: Chelonia

[Krishnamoorthy K]

CHENNAI, India, Dec 30 (Reuters) - More than 15,000 people in southern India protested against the extension of a new tiger reserve on Tuesday, despite official assurances that they will not lose their homes to the sanctuary.

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The state government declared Mudumalai as a tiger reseve earlier this year as part of a federal government initiative, called "Project Tiger", to boost the country's dwindling numbers of big cats.

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The Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary is part of the larger Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve on a moutain range that spans three Indian states.

There are 48 tigers in the Nilgiri Reserve across which the tigers are free to roam.

Source: REUTERS on 30 Dec 2008

[Krishnamoorthy K]

BHUBANESWAR, Dec. 29: The Nandankanan Biological Park celebrated its 49th foundation day with much zest and fanfare here today. A number of activities were undertaken to mark the day.

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“Today when the wildlife habitats are under severe pressure and a large number of species have become endangered, the zoos have to play a vital role to augment the depleting population in wild through carefully planned conservation breeding,” he noted informing that Nandankanan Biological Park has been the first Indian zoo to initiate an ambitious and successful conservation breeding programme for Gharial.

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Source: The Statesman on 30 Dec 2008

[Krishnamoorthy K]

Bangalore: While there is very often gloomy news of wild animals being poached and their pristine land being encroached, there are rare
sightings of some of the most fantastic creatures as well. A team of wildlife enthusiasts spotted a rusty-spotted cat, one of the most endangered species and the world's smallest cat, at Devrayanadurga reserved forests in Tumkur district, on Friday evening.

The rusty-spotted cat is found only in India and Sri Lanka and measures only 14-17 inches in length. It weighs less than 1.5 kg (females weigh less than 1 kg). Rusty-spotted cats are mostly found in dry deciduous forests as well as scrub, and are arboreal (living on trees). This wild cat mainly hunts small rodents, birds and lizards.

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Source: The Times of India on 30 Dec 2008



Picture: cougarhill