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
With the relentless surge of humanity, forests that are home to India’s big cats increasingly appear as shrinking, embattled islands when viewed from a high vantage point. Fuelwood collection, man-made fires, grazing and encroachments are the key drivers of forest … Read More
WCT President Dr. Anish Andheria, a trained large carnivore biologist, minces no words when it comes to the anthropogenic threats that are pushing the tiger, the most charismatic big cat, to the brink. In honour of Wildlife Week, let’s … Read More
Poaching of big cats has evolved over the years. While traditional tools such as jaw-traps, spears and guns are still used by poachers, they are being rapidly replaced by silent killing mechanisms such as poisoning (in the name of retaliation) … Read More
Law enforcement is one of the biggest challenges in protecting big cats. The conviction rate for wildlife crimes, which is barely 5% across the country, throws light on the lacunae in investigation, documentation, and prosecution; and explains why law has … Read More
The Asian medicine and luxury markets’ demand for animal body parts drives the poaching of big cats across their ranges. Tigers and leopards are killed for their skin, bones, brain, penis, testes, whiskers, skin and claws. Almost every part … Read More
India is home to three of the most charismatic big cats – the Bengal Tiger, the Asiatic Lion and the Indian Leopard. Tigers are found virtually throughout the country, except Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, the Lakshadweep Islands, and … Read More
A freshly washed-ashore specimen of Porpita porpita is a thing to behold, before it is smothered by tar balls, plastic and other trash (see second picture) on city beaches. Porpita porpita is surely among the prettiest of marine creatures you … Read More
The tiny, 6mm long flowers of Water Willow Justicia procumbens sport markings that serve as nectar guides to pollinators. “Thy centuries follow each other perfecting a small wild flower,” wrote the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in his poem Endless Time. … Read More
Not only is the tiger one of the most charismatic cats, it is also highly adapted to survive in the forest. Tigers help keep the ecosystem healthy. By saving tigers we are saving ourselves. Check out these 22 amazing tiger … Read More
Camera trap is an age-old technique crucial in identifying new and critical wildlife areas outside the limits of pre-existing Protected Areas network, is now being extensively implemented by Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) to provide more landspace to earth’s most royal … Read More
The discovery of Eurasian Otters, comes as a wave of new hope to conservationists and environmentalists alike, as these creatures have found a new home in the Indian landscape. Photo: WCT A species never recorded nor documented in the Central … Read More
Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) comes forward with a petition made to the state government to include Thane Creek and Hatnur Dam to the list of Ramsar sites in India. Thane Creek, a thriving wetland ecosystem attracts over 205 species … Read More