Grizzled Giant Squirrel, Bheemeshwari, Karnataka

-  Photos Leave a Comment

The Grizzled Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura) is listed as “Near Threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to habitat loss and hunting. The strongholds for the squirrel are Srivilliputtur Grizzled Squirrel Sanctuary and Chinnar wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, and the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka.

These arboreal creatures seem to thrive at the Bheemeshwari and Galibore Fishing Camps of Jungle Lodges and Resorts (part of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary), and the two that … Read More

Over 600 Smuggled Star Tortoises Returned To India From Malaysia

-  News Leave a Comment

A parcel containing 601 Indian star tortoises was returned to Chennai from Malaysia and handed over to the Forest department. The tortoises were handed over from Kuala Lumpur after customs officials in the airport found it in an unclaimed parcel that allegedly arrived from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Star tortoises are not protected species in either Malaysia or Bangladesh. They are protected under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA). The tortoises will be quarantined for a couple of days in the local … Read More

Erode District In Tamil Nadu Had 23 Elephant Deaths In 2011

-  News Leave a Comment

Erode district in Tamil Nadu, comprising of the two forest divisions of Erode and Sathyamangalam, recorded 23 elephant deaths in 2011. The majority of the deaths were due to natural causes according to the Erode Conservator of Forests. Three died due to electrocution, one was killed by poachers and 19 died due to natural causes (illness). The large population of elephants in the area causes frequent man animal conflicts and the forest department has erected around 239 km of solar … Read More

Kaliveli Wetlands Endangered By Film Shoot

-  News Leave a Comment

Kaliveli wetlands near the Puducherry (Pondicherry)-Tamil Nadu border, which sees the arrival of over a lakh migratory birds every winter, is facing threats from a film shoot that is using bombs. Four days of shooting of the Tamil movie “Vadhamalar” has been going on, and the crew is using water bombs as part of the sequences, creating a lot of sound and smoke. Cranes and rollers are also used along with the blasts. Students associated with the Indian Bird Conservation … Read More

Youth for Conservation (YFC) School Outreach Marathon in Tamil Nadu

-  News Leave a Comment

Youth for Conservation (YFC), an upcoming non-profit that aims to inform and inspire the youth of the country about nature and conservation, has kicked off phase two of its outreach marathon in Tamil Nadu. The marathon, which will cover various parts of Tamil Nadu in five phases, revolves around screening the documentary, “The Truth about Tigers” by Shekar Dattatri, to fourteen and fifteen year olds and having an interactive discussion on various questions they have about the documentary and the
… Read More

Poaching For Crude Medicines Continues To Threaten Nilgiri Langurs

-  News Leave a Comment

Poaching continues to be the key threat for Nilgiri Langurs, where their pelt, organs, blood and flesh are used to produce crude medicines and aphrodisiacs. This was highlighted by the National Studbook on Nilgiri Langurs, released recently by the Central Zoo Authority and the Wildlife Institute of India. Prior to the Wildlife Protect Act, 1972, these crude medicines were widely available and even advertised. Karinkorangu Rasayanam was one of the leading products at that time. With the act and campaigning … Read More

Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary Expanded

-  News Leave a Comment

The Tamil Nadu forest department has issued a notification expanding the area under the Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary from the current 52,434 hectares to 1.41 lakh hectares, by adding seven reserve forests to the sanctuary. According to the last wildlife census, the sanctuary is home to one fourth of the elephant population in the state. It is also a unique habitat where tigers, elephants and blackbucks co-exist. Hyenas and vultures exist in the larger numbers here than anywhere else in the … Read More

Unilever’s Mercury Fever — Dumping Toxic Mercury in a Biodiversity Hotspot

-  Articles Leave a Comment

Corpwatch examines Unilever’s response when caught dumping toxic mercury waste from a thermometer factory in Southern India earlier this year. The Anglo-Dutch company recently closed the factory. Community members, however, allege that the multinational has downplayed the dangers of mercury and misled the public in an attempt to cover up the truth. Indian journalist Nityanand Jayaraman reports for CorpWatch.

In March 2001, residents of Kodaikanal, a pretty hill retreat in Southern India, caught the Anglo-Dutch multinational Unilever red-handed when they … Read More

NCF Recommendation for Elephant Corridors in Valparai Plateau

-  News Leave a Comment

The Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) has submitted a recommendation to the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, titled, “Elephant Corridors in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve”. The report identifies the unique location of the Valparai Plateau in the Anamalai hills, where the gently undulating terrain is suitable for elephants to move from one forest patch to another. The NCF report identifies the Ryan division belonging to the Tamil Nadu Tea Plantation Corporation as a suitable candidate for bringing under the control of Anamalai … Read More

Elephant Tranquilized For Radio-collaring Dies In Coimbatore Forests

-  News Leave a Comment

The second elephant that was a target for radio collaring as part of efforts to monitor problematic herds, died after being tranquilized. Forest officials had already successfully radio collared the first elephant last week. The second elephant was found in the Thadagam range after intensive searching by trackers. The tusker which was targeted for radio collaring was found in a brick kiln and after all preparatory arrangements, the animal was tranquilized. It appears that the elephant ran amok after being … Read More

Tiger Population Doubles at The Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR)

-  News Leave a Comment

TIRUNELVELI, Tamil Nadu: The Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) has witnessed two-fold increase in tiger population in 2010-11, when compared to the last estimate in 2006-07. H Malleshappa, Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, said the tiger population was around 15 to 18 as per the tiger estimate taken in 2010-11. “This is a two-fold increase when compared to the 2006-07 estimate of six to eight tigers,” he informed. Tigers that migrate from Periyar … Read More

Kin of Man Trampled by Elephants Receive Rs. 2.5 lakhs as Compensation

-  News Leave a Comment

The kin of seventy-year old Muniappa of Thinnathur Village in Krishnagiri district will receive Rs. 2.5 lakhs as compensation from the Tamil Nadu Government. He was trampled to death on May 25th. The forest department will provide Rs. 1.5 lakhs and the rest will come from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The Government has also directed that crop damage caused by elephants be assessed and compensation provided. The forest department estimates the damage to crops in the financial year 2010-2011 … Read More

Camera Traps Reveal Four Tigers in Anamalai Tiger Reserve

-  News Leave a Comment

The presence of four tigers has been revealed by camera traps setup in three ranges of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve. The cameras had been installed after understanding the movement of the animals through front line uniform staff and anti-poaching watchers. The cameras were installed in Ullandy, Valparai, Manambolly and Amaravathy ranges and the sightings were recorded by the ones in Ullandy and Manambolly. Encouraged by the results, camera traps have been relocated in other strategic locations to know the presence … Read More

Film Shooting Near Aliyar Reservoir near Anamalai Tiger Reserve Draws Criticism

-  News Leave a Comment

A film is being shot on sets erected near the zero point of the Aliyar Dam. Environmental activists point out that soil has been dug up from the catchment area and that the chemicals used in the set are changing the color of the water. The polluted water endangers the fishes and the music, bright lighting and large number of people disturb the wildlife that come down at dawn and dusk to drink water. The film production unit has obtained … Read More

Erode farmer finds a crocodile in his farm

-  News Leave a Comment

Govindasamy, a farmer, found a 2 and ½ feet long crocodile in his field in P. Mettupalayam village near Kavunthapadi. Alerting other farmers and labourers, the reptile was captured and handed over to the police and forest personnel. A team led by Forest Ranger G. Palanisamy rushed to the spot and rescued the crocodile. The crocodile would be released into either the Amaravathy or Hogenekkal crocodile farm.… Read More