Shimla, Oct 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday stressed the need to ensure wildlife safety and implement appropriate measures to minimise wildlife-related accidental fatalities along the Kiratpur-Manali national highway adjoining the Suket forest division in Mandi district.

This issue was prominently deliberated at the 12th meeting of the State Board for Wildlife. Besides the wildlife mortality, the meeting discussed proposals relating to industrial development, strategic border infrastructure, road connectivity, diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes and wildlife conservation.

The proposals were discussed in view of developmental requirements, national security, environmental protection and wildlife conservation, a statement by the government said.

The board deliberated upon the proposal for diversion of 1.78.20 hectares of forest land in favour of the 17th Battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) deployed in Reckong Peo in Kinnaur district for the establishment of a border out post at Muhal Lalung and Dhar Chokula in Kaza in Lahaul-Spiti district.

In addition, the proposal for diversion of 1.60 hectares of forest land in favour of the IInd Battalion of the ITBP deployed in Kullu for the establishment of a forward post at Nithal Thach in Kinnaur was discussed.

The proposal for diversion of forest land within the Rakcham-Chhitkul Wildlife Sanctuary in favour of 11 MAHAR Regiment/ Headquarters 136 (Independent) Infantry Brigade Group for the development of military infrastructure along the northern border at Nagasti in Sangla in Kinnaur was also placed before the board.

The proposal for diversion of 4.72 hectares of forest land within the Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary in favour of the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department in Seraj Division for the widening and upgradation of the Bhulah-Shikari Devi Road was also discussed.

After deliberations, all the proposals were approved, keeping in view the applicable statutory provisions and the requirements of wildlife conservation and environmental protection, the statement said.

The Chief Minister also sought the panchayat-wise data on monkeys and also reviewed the under-construction Durgesh Arananya Zoological Park Bankhandi in Dehra of Kangra district, and directed to expedite the construction work.

Source: IANS

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Guwahati, Oct 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday highlighted the state's efforts to protect the endangered Hoolock Gibbon, India's only native ape species, stressing the importance of wildlife conservation and human-animal coexistence.

Marking World Gibbon Day, Sarma said the Hoolock Gibbon occupied a special place in Assam's natural heritage and called for collective efforts to safeguard its future.

In a post on X, the Chief Minister shared his experience of seeing a gibbon use a canopy bridge constructed at Hollongapar to help the primates cross a railway track safely.

Describing the sight as encouraging, Sarma underscored the importance of science-led conservation measures in reducing the risks faced by wildlife due to human infrastructure and habitat fragmentation.

"At Hollongapar, seeing a gibbon use the canopy bridge built to help it cross the railway track safely was a heartening moment," he said.

The canopy bridge initiative is aimed at providing arboreal animals with a safer passage across railway infrastructure, allowing them to move through the tree canopy instead of descending to ground level, where they may face potential dangers from trains and other human activities.

Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam's Jorhat district is known for its population of Hoolock Gibbons. The primates depend heavily on continuous forest canopies for movement, foraging and survival, making habitat connectivity an important aspect of their conservation.

The Chief Minister also emphasised the cultural and emotional connection between local communities and the state's wildlife, saying that conservation efforts must go hand in hand with fostering coexistence between people and animals.

"Every small step towards coexistence brings us closer to a future where Assam's people and wildlife thrive together," Sarma said.

The Hoolock Gibbon, belonging to the family of lesser apes, is an important component of the biodiversity of Northeast India. Habitat loss, fragmentation and other human-induced pressures remain significant challenges for its long-term survival.

Conservation initiatives such as canopy bridges, habitat protection and community participation are considered important in ensuring safe movement for arboreal species.

Sarma's remarks on World Gibbon Day highlighted Assam's stated commitment to protecting its rich biodiversity while promoting practical measures to minimise the impact of development on wildlife habitats.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, Oct 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) With their habitat constantly under threat, conservationists in India have called for greater efforts to monitor snow leopards, known as the "Ghost of the Mountains".

"Snow leopards share their high-altitude habitat with local communities. India’s conservation efforts include community involvement and support for livelihoods alongside protection of snow leopard ecosystems," the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) said on Friday on the occasion of International Snow Leopard Day.

In India, snow leopards can be largely found in the high-altitude, cold, arid and rugged terrains of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

Despite its large distributional range, the population of snow leopards across the world is dwindling, making it one of the most endangered cats in the world.

The global population of snow leopards is estimated to be between 3500 and 7000 individuals, according to the Snow Leopard Conservancy - India Trust (SLC - IT). This organisation works for the conservation of the species and other animals in Ladakh and Spiti. It has identified the major threats that this magnificent animal faces.

"Snow leopards are highly threatened in India due to poaching for their pelts and body parts, a decline in prey base (mostly Blue Sheep and Asiatic Ibex) due to increasing domestic livestock that tend to quickly deplete the high-altitude pasture lands; and retaliatory killings by village communities whose livestock, sometimes 50 at a time, are killed for food by these predators. More recent threats include hydroelectric projects, mining and climate change," SLC - IT has said.

The breeding pattern of the animal itself also makes it a highly vulnerable species, as a female snow leopard generally gives birth to only one or two cubs once in two years. So any change affecting their ecology makes it very difficult for these animals to improve their population base quickly.

"Known to be an umbrella or keystone species, the survival of these animals as the top predator hence becomes critical for the survival of other species in the ecosystem," it has said.

According to the Ladakh Union Territory Administration, the Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) Report 2024 estimates 718 snow leopards in India, with Ladakh hosting the highest population of about 477.

The Indian Army, which has bases close to where snow leopards live, has been playing a key role in the conservation of the animal.

It collaborates with civil authorities to protect snow leopards and high-altitude ecosystems in Ladakh.

On World Wildlife Day this year, the Fire and Fury Corps signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Forest, Ecology and Environment Department of the Union Territory of Ladakh.

Under this agreement, a Joint Snow Leopard Conservation Cell has been established to monitor wildlife movements, share field observations from remote border areas, and curb threats like free-ranging feral dogs.

Apart from snow leopards, the partnership protects the Himalayan Wolf, Bharal (Blue Sheep), Ibex, Marmot, and the Black-necked Crane. The initiative aligns with India's commitments under the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP).

Source: IANS

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Bhopal/Kochi, Oct 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pollution, damage to aquatic habitats and growing demand for freshwater threaten India's inland fisheries and the livelihoods of fishing communities, according to a report by the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The report identifies several challenges to sustainable inland fisheries. These include disrupted river connectivity, floods, droughts, and falling reservoir water levels.

These factors can affect fish populations and the communities that depend on them, as per the findings presented at a workshop in Bhopal on Thursday.

The event marked the launch of work on India's National Plan of Action for sustainable inland small-scale fisheries.

The report says competition for freshwater, especially for irrigation and other uses, puts additional pressure on aquatic ecosystems.

It calls for fisheries to be considered in wider water-resource planning.

It also points to problems with fishing access and leasing arrangements.

Overlapping responsibilities among fisheries, irrigation, forest, revenue and local authorities pose further challenges.

"These concerns assume greater significance amid growing attention to climate resilience and the need to manage freshwater resources sustainably," BOBP-IGO Director, Dr P. Krishnan, said.

The report also highlights gaps in data on inland fisheries and the people who depend on them.

Women account for about 44 per cent of India's reported inland fisher population of 23.12 million. The profile puts the number of women at 10.10 million.

However, their work in fish processing, marketing and unpaid family activities remains poorly documented, and this limits their visibility in official statistics and development plans.

Krishnan said subsistence fishing and informal fish marketing were also underrepresented in available data.

Better information on fishers, catches, and individual water bodies would help authorities plan more effective support.

The two-day workshop is organised by the Union Department of Fisheries in collaboration with BOBP-IGO and hosted by the Madhya Pradesh government.

It brings together officials and other stakeholders to discuss priorities for the sector.

The initiative aims to improve resource management and protect the livelihoods of small-scale fishing communities, in line with FAO guidelines.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, Oct 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) It is water availability that determines when colonial waterbirds begin breeding, how large their colonies become, and how many species a wetland can support, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has found.

Securing suitable hydrological conditions will be essential to the conservation of colonial waterbird populations in the face of increasing climatic variability, the study has revealed.

The study was conducted in the monsoon-dependent wetlands of southern India, and the findings were published on October 21, 2026. The study involved combining systematic field surveys over three consecutive breeding seasons (2022–2023 to 2024–2025), satellite imagery and climate data.

It documented 16 species and revealed that wetland water extent was the strongest predictor of nesting occurrence, colony abundance and species richness.

Greater inundation was associated with a higher probability of colony establishment, larger breeding colonies and greater species diversity, it was revealed.

"Conservation planning must move beyond individual wetland boundaries. Conservation strategies should prioritise the maintenance of adequate water levels during breeding seasons through effective management of reservoirs, irrigation systems and canal networks supplying water to such biodiverse-rich wetlands," the WII, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), has said.

The research was supported by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Government of India, underscoring the importance of integrating hydrological monitoring, climate information and long-term ecological surveys to strengthen wetland conservation.

Wetland ecosystems are highly sensitive to environmental variability, but the relative importance of hydrological and climatic drivers of colonial waterbird breeding is poorly understood in landscapes that depend on the tropical monsoon, researchers have said.

"We investigated the influence of wetland inundation and climatic conditions on the occurrence of nesting, colony abundance and species richness of colonial nesting waterbirds across nine wetlands in Tamil Nadu, India, over three breeding seasons (2022–2023 to 2024–2025)," the institute said.

Breeding responses were quantified through systematic field surveys and related to wetland water extent derived from Sentinel-2 imagery and climatic variables obtained from the ERA5 reanalysis dataset.

"We measured the effects of water extent, temperature, precipitation and wind speed with generalised linear mixed models. A total of 16 colonial nesting waterbird species were recorded. Environmental conditions during the 30 days preceding surveys consistently provided the strongest explanation of breeding responses. Water extent emerged as the dominant predictor of nesting occurrence, colony abundance and species richness. The nesting probability increased significantly with water extent, whereas colony abundance and species richness increased with greater inundation," it said.

While maximum temperature negatively affected colony abundance and species richness, precipitation had weaker negative effects and wind speed had no significant effect.

Thereby, the findings indicate that the main driver of colonial waterbird breeding dynamics in monsoon-dependent wetlands is wetland inundation, while climatic factors exert secondary effects on colony performance and diversity.

Source: IANS

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Guwahati, Oct 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Assam has recorded a significant development in biodiversity research with the rediscovery of a plant species after 204 years, and the identification of two subterranean fish species in wells in Goalpara district, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Thursday.

In a post on social media platform X, Sarma highlighted the rediscovery of Ardisia colorata, a shrub that had remained unrecorded for more than two centuries, alongside the discovery of two fish species, Gitchak nakana and Rakthamichthys anchi, living in subterranean habitats.

“Lost for 204 years. Rediscovered in Assam. And below ground, two species new to science,” the Chief Minister said, underlining the ecological significance of the findings.

The rediscovery of Ardisia colorata is particularly noteworthy as it brings renewed scientific attention to a species that had not been documented for more than two centuries. Such rediscoveries can help researchers reassess the distribution, conservation status and ecological requirements of species believed to be missing from their previously known habitats.

The identification of the two subterranean fishes in wells in Goalpara also highlights the importance of underground aquatic ecosystems, which often remain poorly explored compared with rivers, wetlands and other surface-water habitats.

Subterranean fish are adapted to life in underground environments, where limited light and distinctive ecological conditions can shape their physical characteristics and behaviour.

Their presence can provide valuable insights into biodiversity, evolution and the ecological health of underground water systems.

Sarma said the findings demonstrated the ecological wealth that Assam's forests and water bodies continue to hold, stressing the importance of protecting natural habitats.

“Protect the home, and the species come back,” he said, reaffirming the state government's commitment to stronger environmental governance and habitat conservation.

The Chief Minister also emphasised the need to preserve biodiversity for future generations. The findings underline the importance of sustained scientific surveys and conservation efforts in Assam, a state known for its rich biodiversity and diverse ecosystems.

However, further scientific details regarding the researchers involved, the precise locations of the botanical rediscovery, the characteristics of the newly identified fish species, and their conservation status were not immediately available.

The findings are expected to generate further scientific interest in Assam's lesser-explored habitats and the need to document and protect their unique flora and fauna.

Source: IANS

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Dharmapuri, Oct 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Tamil Nadu Forest Department will soon undertake a comprehensive wildlife census across Dharmapuri’s forests, deploying 1,274 camera traps to establish whether tigers inhabit the region and assess the presence and distribution of other wild animals.

The exercise, to be conducted in collaboration with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), will cover forest areas throughout the district. Officials said its findings would support wildlife conservation, improve understanding of animal habitats and help forest personnel address human-wildlife conflict.

Dharmapuri has approximately 1.72 lakh hectares of forest, accounting for more than a third of its geographical area. Despite this extensive forest cover and the presence of several important species, detailed information about wildlife populations remains limited, according to officials.

The Hogenakkal, Pennagaram and Palacode forest ranges form part of the Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary. These forests support elephants, leopards, dholes, bears and several other animals, making a systematic assessment important for conservation planning and habitat protection.

Under the proposed survey, camera traps will be installed following a two-kilometre grid pattern. The devices will record animal movements, helping forest personnel identify species using different stretches and understand their distribution across the district’s forest landscape.

Officials described the planned exercise as the first comprehensive camera-trap survey of its kind in Dharmapuri. It is expected to provide a clearer picture of wildlife diversity and strengthen the information available to personnel responsible for monitoring and protection.

A key objective will be to determine whether tigers are present in the district’s forests. Officials said no tiger sightings had been recorded so far, but connections with adjoining wildlife habitats warranted a detailed investigation.

Dharmapuri’s forests are connected to the Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary and the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, where tiger movements have been reported. The proposed camera-trap exercise will help examine whether tigers also use forest stretches within the district.

According to forest personnel, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri are the only districts where the NTCA will undertake a census covering the entire forest area. Staff members are currently undergoing training in preparation for the survey and the deployment of cameras across the identified locations.

Officials said the records collected would provide a foundation for understanding Dharmapuri’s wildlife richness. Besides examining possible tiger presence, the census would help identify habitats used by other species and guide future conservation measures across the district’s extensive forests.

Source: IANS

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Chennai, Oct 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Arignar Anna Zoological Park at Vandalur on Chennai’s outskirts has suspended public entry for two days after H5N1 avian influenza was confirmed among its aquatic birds, prompting disinfection work and tighter biosecurity measures.

The zoo administration announced that visitors would not be allowed into the park on Thursday and Friday as preventive measures were being implemented to contain the infection.

The presence of the virus was confirmed through a report from the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. The findings established that aquatic birds housed at the zoo had contracted H5N1, the virus responsible for the bird flu outbreak.

Following the confirmation, authorities began cleaning and disinfecting areas where birds are kept. The park administration said biosecurity measures had been intensified to prevent the infection from spreading.

The temporary suspension of public access comes as the zoo carries out these containment measures. The announcement applies to entry into the park as a whole, rather than access only to the bird enclosures.

Spread across approximately 1,260 acres, the Vandalur zoo is one of Chennai’s major recreational destinations and attracts several lakh visitors annually. Its extensive grounds house thousands of animals and birds belonging to more than 150 species.

Apart from its bird collection, the park accommodates a wide range of wildlife, including crocodiles, snakes and tortoises. Its varied collection makes it a popular destination for families, tourists and others interested in observing wildlife. The zoo also offers visitors opportunities to view animals such as lions and tigers from protected vehicles. These facilities are among the attractions that draw large numbers of people to the park each year.

The confirmation of infection among aquatic birds has brought immediate focus to sanitation in the bird housing areas and the strengthening of measures intended to protect the zoo’s animal collection.

For now, the administration’s response centres on disinfection, cleaning and enhanced biosecurity, alongside the two-day restriction on visitors. The closure announcement gives the public notice to defer visits scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

The information released did not specify how many aquatic birds had tested positive or whether any birds had died. It also did not provide further details about the circumstances in which the infection was detected or the sampling process that preceded laboratory confirmation.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, Oct 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) Hyderabad Police rescued four Indian Rollers, Telangana’s state bird, from illegal captivity during Dussehra celebrations. Superstition over the birds bringing good luck if sighted during the festival, has led to widespread cruelty and captivity of the .

Police Commissioner, V.C. Sajjanar, said on Wednesday that acting on precise information provided by vigilant citizens, the Hyderabad City Police responded immediately. They conducted raids in three separate locations and successfully rescued four Indian Rollers, all alive.

“The Indian Roller (Palapitta)—the state bird of Telangana, which ought to be soaring freely in the skies—was confined in iron cages by some individuals for their own selfish motives during Dussehra. Despite our clear prior warnings that harming voiceless creatures would lead to strict legal action, some chose to ignore these cautions, subjecting these helpless birds to severe distress,” the Commissioner said.

Two birds, suffering immensely in cramped cages near a temple at Bapu Ghat in Langer Houz, were liberated and handed over to the forest officials at KBR Park.

Another bird, found confined in a cage hung from a tree near the Sri Chitragupta Swamy Temple in Chatrinaka, and a fourth bird, kept in a cage near a temple in Balaji Nagar, Mangalhat, were also rescued and turned over to the forest department.

Sajjanar said that in coordination with the forest department, strict legal action is being initiated against those responsible.

Capturing a helpless bird in the name of a festival—subjecting it to torture by denying it food and water—serves no one; it is, in fact, detrimental to our society, he said.

“How can there be any auspiciousness in the cries of a bird, struggling in terror between the bars of a cage? True devotion lies in compassion for all living beings—not in holding nature captive,” he said.

People believe that sighting Indian Roller on Dussehra brings good luck. Bird catchers and charmers capture the birds ahead of the festival to display them in cages near pandals and temples and charge money to devotees who want a guaranteed sighting.

To keep them from flying away, poachers often tie their legs, trim or glue their wings, and confine them in small cages.

These insectivorous wild birds struggle to eat in captivity and frequently die from dehydration, trauma, or starvation shortly after the festival ends.

This tradition of capturing and displaying Indian Rollers is strictly illegal. They are protected by Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the penalty for violating this Act is a hefty fine or imprisonment.

The Commissioner appealed to people to act as responsible citizens by informing the toll-free numbers 18004255364, 9803338666 or dial 112 immediately if they come across Indian Roller caged anywhere.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, Oct 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is upbeat after camera traps placed by its researchers recorded the critically endangered Chinese Pangolin close to Shillong in Meghalaya. This was for the very first time that the species was recorded in the WII's study area, it has said.

"This rare record comes from our ongoing project "Assessment of Mammalian Assemblages in Meghalaya", focusing on the Riat Laban and Laitkor reserve forests right on the urban edges of Shillong," the institute has said.

"These peri-urban city forests harbour a remarkably unique and diverse assemblage of wildlife. Alongside the Chinese Pangolin, our cameras captured iconic species including the Large Indian Civet, Leopard Cat, Masked Palm Civet, Yellow-throated Marten, Indian Crested Porcupine, and Kalij Pheasant," WII has said.

Urban-adjacent and city-fringe forests are often overlooked, yet they act as critical ecological refuges for species threatened by habitat fragmentation and urban development, researchers have highlighted.

"Finding a critically Endangered species like the Chinese pangolin sharing space with a rich suite of carnivores and small mammals proves that these urban forest patches are invaluable biodiversity strongholds that must be strictly protected and preserved," the institute has said.

The discovery has also underscored the importance of conservation at these small, but immensely valuable forest patches in the outskirts of important urban centres.

The Chinese pangolin is native to the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, northern parts of Southeast Asia and southern China. Since 2014, it has been listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.

The greatest threat to these animals is from poachers. Millions of these animals have been killed over the last few decades for their meat and scales. The scales are used in traditional Chinese medicine, though there is no scientific evidence of their being effective against any known disease.

India's northeastern states also had a sizeable population of Chinese Pangolins at one point in time. These animals were then poached, and their scales illegally trafficked to Southeast Asian countries. While strong laws exist, enforcement is an issue, researchers and wildlife experts say.

"Those caught are normally couriers, who are let off after some time. The kingpins behind the trafficking syndicates seldom get caught. They succeed in shielding their networks that are worth hundreds of crores," a forest official said.

They feel that the capture of these animals in camera traps set up by government bodies like WII will help in strengthening conservation efforts and may just help in pulling back such species from the brink of extinction.

Source: IANS

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Chamarajanagar (Karnataka) Oct 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) A wild elephant was found dead on Tuesday, with its carcass in a decomposed state, near Karadigudda Lake in the Hanur forest division of Karnataka's Chamarajanagar district, close to the area where a shootout incident was reported, officials said.

The circumstances surrounding the elephant's death remain unclear, and samples collected from the carcass have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for examination.

According to Forest Department sources, patrolling staff discovered the carcass during their routine patrol in the forest. The elephant's body was found in an advanced stage of decomposition, making it difficult to immediately ascertain the cause of death.

The Forest Department has collected samples from the carcass and sent them to the FSL for analysis. Further details are expected after the examination results are received.

In a separate incident, the carcass of a female elephant was found in the Bandipur forest area in Gundlupet taluk of Chamarajanagar.

The carcass was discovered near Marikatte Lake in the Berambadi beat of the Bandipur forest division. Deputy Conservator of Forests Nandeesh and veterinary officers visited the spot and inspected the carcass.

Forest officials suspect that the female elephant may have died of natural causes, possibly due to age-related ailments. Further assessment is expected to establish the exact cause of death.

Meanwhile, wildlife enthusiasts have criticised the Forest Department over alleged lapses in patrolling and monitoring forest areas. They have raised concerns over the discovery of elephant carcasses and called for stronger surveillance and more effective monitoring to protect wildlife.

Three suspected poachers (Anthonyswamy, Peter, and Kumar) were shot and killed during a crossfire when six suspects opened fire on forest staff night patrol, who had asked them to surrender, in August 2026. A forest staff member was injured, and the incident triggered local protests and police deployments in Hanur.

Karnataka, which is home to over 6,000 elephants -- the highest population of wild elephants in India -- has lost over 280 of them over a recent three-year period, alongside 216 jumbos and 522 people killed in human-elephant conflict (HEC) incidents over the past 25 years, according to a Wildlife Institute of India (WII) study.

Source: IANS

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Dewas, Oct 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) A sudden honeybee attack during the traditional 'Jawara Visarjan' ritual left more than 20 people injured in Rajoda village of Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district on Tuesday.

Eleven of the injured have been admitted to the district hospital for treatment.

The incident occurred around 9 a.m. when villagers gathered near a well for the immersion of Jawara, a ritual associated with local customs.

According to information, five to six people jumped into the well to bathe. A large beehive was located just above the well on a peepal tree. Water splashes from the bathers reached the hive, agitating the bees, which then launched a fierce attack on those present at the spot. Panic quickly spread as the swarm descended. People scrambled to escape the stinging insects.

Many suffered multiple stings on their heads, hands, and other parts of the body. The injured were rushed to a hospital for medical attention. According to police sources, people were sitting near the well with the Jawara when someone jumped into the well. Once the bees attacked, the assault intensified instead of subsiding. People fled in all directions to save their lives, with some running nearly two kilometres.

They tried to fend off the bees using neem branches and their hands. Local people said that after the initial attack, they covered themselves with nets and remained under them for about 15 minutes while the bees continued to hover overhead. Fear kept them from emerging until the swarm eventually dispersed.

In a related recent incident in the Sonkach area of Dewas district, bees also attacked devotees during an idol immersion ceremony in Agera village, injuring around 25 people, of whom approximately 13 required hospitalisation.

Authorities and medical staff in Dewas are attending to the injured from the Rajoda attack. The condition of those admitted is being monitored. Villagers have been advised to exercise caution around known beehives during future community events.

Source: IANS

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Munsiyari (Uttarakhand), Oct 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) Munsiyari in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district, with its glacial streams of the Gori Ganga and ideal water temperature, has emerged as a hub for rainbow trout culture, Union Fisheries Secretary Abhilaksh Likhi said on Sunday.

On a visit to the Swayatt Sehkarita, Namjala Trout Farm, Munsyari, as part of the Centre’s efforts to strengthen trout farming in Uttarakhand and other Himalayan regions, the Secretary interacted with fish farmers who shared their experiences and insights on trout farming in the region.

While reviewing the progress of coldwater aquaculture development in the Himalayan region, he appreciated the pioneering role of local cooperatives in adopting rainbow trout farming as a sustainable livelihood option.

Uttarakhand's Department of Fisheries is exporting trout to Nepal and also supplying it to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) under an MoU entered into between the Uttarakhand government and the paramilitary force.

The Centre has notified 34 fisheries clusters across the country. Pithoragarh has been notified as a Cold Water Fisheries Cluster under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), with significant potential to strengthen fisheries cooperatives, enhance livelihood opportunities and promote sustainable fisheries development in the Himalayan region.

The Secretary highlighted that coldwater fisheries in hilly states such as Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh are of strategic importance for livelihood diversification, nutritional security, and export potential.

He emphasised that the Centre, under the PMMSY, has invested over Rs 2,299 crore in coldwater regions, supporting raceways, hatcheries, feed mills, cold storages, and post‑harvest infrastructure.

India’s coldwater fisheries are concentrated in six hilly states and UTs -- Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. These regions, with their glaciated rivers, high‑altitude lakes, and pristine streams, provide ideal ecological conditions for rainbow trout and other high‑value coldwater species. Under PMMSY, more than 5,600 raceways, 54 hatcheries, 293 cold storages, and 260 feed mills have been sanctioned across these states. Trout production has grown six‑fold in the last decade, reaching nearly 5,000 MT annually, with Uttarakhand achieving its first international export to Nepal in June 2026.

In Uttarakhand, projects worth Rs 317 crore have been sanctioned, including modern fish markets, landing centres, and an integrated aquapark at Sitarganj. The state has also launched the Trout Protsahan Yojna with an outlay of Rs 170 crore, aiming to establish 1,500 raceways, 100 mini hatcheries, and 600 cold‑storage facilities by 2028–29.

The Secretary commended the role of ICAR‑Central Institute of Coldwater Fisheries Research (DCFR), Bhimtal, in introducing rainbow trout to Munsiyari and providing scientific support in seed production, disease management, and farmer training. He also appreciated the historic achievement of Uttarakhand’s first trout export to Nepal in June 2026, which has opened new avenues for international trade.

The visit also underscored the socio‑economic impact of trout farming in border villages, providing livelihood diversification, eco‑tourism opportunities, and assured institutional market linkages with the ITBP.

He underlined that coldwater aquaculture is not only enhancing farmers’ incomes but also contributing to eco‑tourism, conservation of endangered species like Mahseer, and strengthening border village economies.

Source: IANS

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Varanasi, Oct 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) Panic gripped the Panchvati area in Varanasi's Ramnagar police station limits on Sunday after an elephant went berserk and triggered chaos in the locality, leaving its mahout seriously injured in an attack.

According to preliminary information shared with the media by officials, the incident occurred in the Panchvati area, where the elephant reportedly became uncontrollable, creating panic among residents and passersby. The situation turned tense as people rushed to safety amid fears of further attacks, said officials.

Soon after receiving information about the incident, teams from the police administration, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the Forest Department rushed to the spot to contain the situation and prevent any further danger.

More than 200 police personnel, along with administrative officials, were deployed in the area as part of the operation to bring the elephant under control. The teams faced considerable difficulty in managing the animal, given the potential threat to people in the densely populated locality.

After sustained efforts, the teams finally managed to bring the elephant under control and move it towards the forest area. Officials said the situation was currently under control, although security arrangements remained in place to prevent any untoward incident.

As a precautionary measure, residents and other people in the vicinity were being moved away from the spot to ensure their safety. Police personnel and Forest Department officials continued to monitor the situation and remained on alert to respond to any emergency.

The incident triggered considerable concern among the residents, with security personnel maintaining a close watch on the area following the operation.

The condition of the injured mahout and further details about the circumstances that led to the elephant becoming uncontrollable were not immediately available.

Source: IANS

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Guwahati, Oct 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday highlighted the contribution of women forest guards deployed at Kaziranga National Park, describing them as the state’s own ‘Van Durgas’ who are protecting its rich wildlife heritage and identity.

In a social media post marking the sixth day of Navratri, CM Sarma drew a parallel between Goddess Katyayani, worshipped as a warrior goddess, and the women forest guards who work on the frontlines of wildlife protection in Assam.

"On the sixth day, we worship Maa Katyayani, the warrior goddess who rose to defeat Mahishasura. In the groves of Vrindavan, the gopis worshipped her on the banks of the Yamuna, and she remains a fierce protector of all that is sacred," the CM wrote on X.

Referring to the first batch of 108 women who joined Kaziranga National Park as frontline forest guards in August 2023, the Chief Minister said their courage and dedication demonstrated that women belong at the forefront of efforts to safeguard the country's natural heritage.

“Assam's forests have their own Katyayanis,” CM Sarma said, highlighting the role of these women, who are popularly known as Van Durgas.

The women, many of whom come from farming families, underwent training at the 11th Assam Police Battalion in Dergaon before being deployed at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its population of the endangered one-horned rhinoceros.

The forest guards patrol the sprawling national park using vehicles, on foot and by boat, including during the annual floods that inundate large parts of the Kaziranga landscape. Their responsibilities include protecting one-horned rhinoceroses, elephants, tigers and wild buffaloes, besides helping safeguard the fragile ecosystem against threats to wildlife.

Chief Minister Sarma recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met the women forest guards during his visit to Kaziranga and described their courage as truly inspiring.

The Chief Minister said their work represented a powerful example of women's participation in protecting India's natural resources and preserving Assam's distinctive cultural and environmental identity.

Drawing on the religious significance of Navratri, CM Sarma invoked Goddess Katyayani as a symbol of strength, fearlessness and protection, expressing hope that the goddess would bless the Van Durgas with strength and safety as they carry out their duties in the wild.

“When our daughters guard our forests, they guard Assam's identity itself,” CM Sarma said.

The Chief Minister's message combined the symbolism of the festival with the contribution of women in conservation, bringing attention to the growing role of women in frontline forest protection and wildlife management in Assam.

Source: IANS

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Jaipur, Oct 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Central Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Bhopal, has disposed of a case concerning alleged irregularities in sand mining in the Khari River near Gulgaon village in Rajasthan, after taking note of subsequent compliance reports that found no continuing violations.

However, the Tribunal has directed the authorities to ensure strict adherence to environmental guidelines and continued monitoring of plantation activities in the mining area.

The Bench, comprising Judicial Member Justice Sheo Kumar Singh and Expert Member Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi, passed the order on October 14, in Original Application No. 74/2026 (CZ), Neeraj Choudhary v. State of Rajasthan & Ors.

The application, initially registered as O.A. No. 1145/2024 before the NGT's Principal Bench, raised concerns over alleged mining beyond the permitted lease area and depth, obstruction of the river's natural flow, damage to riverbank vegetation, and irregularities in the transportation and storage of mined sand.

A Joint Committee constituted under the Tribunal's earlier directions inspected the site on January 3, 2025, and reported several environmental compliance concerns. These included the absence of boundary pillars at the time of inspection, mining pits measuring approximately 1.5 metres at some locations and up to 2.3 metres at others, inadequate dust-control measures, transportation of sand in uncovered vehicles, deficiencies in plantation compliance, and large stones obstructing the riverbed near Gulgaon.

The committee also found that certain conditions imposed by the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) under its Consent to Operate, relating to plantation, control of fugitive emissions and preservation of the river's natural flow, were not being complied with at the time of inspection.

Separately, the Mining Department had imposed a penalty of ₹13,09,735 in February 2024 following irregularities in sand stocks identified at three storage points.

During subsequent proceedings, the state authorities informed the Tribunal that the stones obstructing the river's flow had been removed. Inspection reports from December 2025 and February 2026 reportedly found no continuing obstruction or violations.

The RSPCB's compliance report dated March 10, 2026, also stated that inspections conducted on December 31, 2025, and February 11, 2026, had found the mining lease compliant.

Taking note of these subsequent reports, the Tribunal observed that no violation was currently evident and that the project proponent possessed valid Environmental Clearance and the requisite pollution-control consents.

It accordingly concluded that no further action by the Tribunal was required in the matter and disposed of the application along with any pending interlocutory applications.

While disposing of the case, the Tribunal emphasised the need for continued compliance with environmental safeguards. It directed the respondents to strictly follow the applicable directions of the Supreme Court of India concerning sand mining, including relevant recommendations of the Central Empowered Committee, as well as the directions of the Rajasthan High Court at Jaipur.

The Tribunal also directed compliance with the Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines, 2016, and the Enforcement and Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining, 2020.

Further, the RSPCB has been instructed to periodically monitor plantation within the mining area, assess the survival of planted trees, and ensure that any deficiencies or instances of non-compliance are addressed through appropriate remedial measures.

The order underscores that the disposal of the case does not diminish the importance of sustained environmental monitoring and compliance with statutory requirements and judicial directions governing sand mining.

Source: IANS

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Kochi, Oct 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) A national marine research institute is helping women in coastal Kerala turn their skills into successful businesses, creating new sources of income through fish farming, seafood processing and other fisheries-based enterprises.

The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has helped establish 84 micro-enterprises across eight districts in Kerala under its Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Hub initiative.

The project has enabled women from coastal communities, many of them from Scheduled Caste families, to move towards economic independence.

The initiative, funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has directly benefited 469 people, including 220 women and six transgender persons.

Around 2,500 others are expected to benefit indirectly.

An impact assessment found that household incomes among the beneficiaries had increased by 30–35 per cent, CMFRI's Principal Scientist, Dr Vipinkumar V.P., who led the project.

The CMFRI conducted 141 training programmes to equip beneficiaries with the technical knowledge and business skills needed to establish and manage their enterprises.

The businesses cover a wide range of activities, from cage fish farming, pearl spot seed production and ornamental fish culture to mussel, oyster, and clam cultivation.

Others have taken up integrated fish farming, seafood value addition, fish vending, and dry fish production.

The initiative has also helped beneficiaries develop specialised skills in cage fabrication, aquarium technology, integrated farming, and the distribution of fish seed and broodstock.

Some have established themselves as skilled professionals, opening up opportunities beyond conventional livelihood activities.

The CMFRI provided technology transfer, practical training and entrepreneurial guidance.

It also facilitated market linkages through its Agricultural Technology Information Centre and Krishi Vigyan Kendra.

“The initiative helped women move beyond traditional livelihood roles to become producers, skilled service providers and business owners in the fisheries value chain,” Dr Vipinkumar said.

CMFRI Director Dr Grinson George said the project demonstrated how scientific knowledge could create tangible economic opportunities for coastal communities.

He described the STI Hub as a model that could be replicated to empower women and promote inclusive growth in the fisheries sector.

The CMFRI will mark Women Farmers’ Day on Thursday at the farm of Dr Akhilamol in Kodungallur.

A national award-winning entrepreneur and beneficiary of the initiative, she will host an event highlighting the achievements of women who have built livelihoods through fisheries-based enterprises.

Source: IANS

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Illegal mining is not merely a revenue or law-enforcement concern in Uttarakhand. In a Himalayan state, unregulated extraction can affect river channels, nearby villages, roads, groundwater and environmentally sensitive areas.

In recent years, the Uttarakhand government has adopted a more coordinated approach to address illegal extraction, transportation and mineral storage. Updated regulations, district-level enforcement, digital mineral tracking and an online citizen complaint system indicate a shift towards technology-enabled monitoring and greater accountability.

The focus is no longer limited to conducting raids. The emerging system aims to monitor the complete mineral supply chain—from the approval of a mining lease to extraction, transportation, storage and processing.

Rules Strengthened to Cover the Entire Mineral Supply Chain

Controlling Uttarakhand illegal mining requires regulations that extend beyond the mining site. Even legally extracted minerals may be transported without valid documents, stored at unauthorised locations or processed beyond approved limits.

Uttarakhand has dedicated rules for the prevention of illegal mining, illegal transportation and illegal storage. The 2021 framework was amended in 2023 and multiple times in 2024. The state has also updated its Minor Mineral Concession Rules through amendments notified in 2024, 2025 and 2026. dgm.uk.gov.in

These regulations give the administration a structured basis for:

• Inspecting mining and storage sites.
• Verifying leases, permissions and transport documents.
• Checking the quantity of minerals extracted and transported.
• Taking action against unauthorised storage and processing.
• Imposing penalties when violations are established.

The regular updating of these rules reflects an effort by the current government to close regulatory gaps and respond to changing enforcement requirements.

District-Level Enforcement Brings Action Closer to the Ground

Mining violations occur at specific river stretches, quarrying sites, crushers, storage yards and transportation routes. District authorities are therefore the first line of enforcement.

The Directorate of Geology and Mining maintains a dedicated section for the District Anti-Illegal Mining Force and its reports. The department also publishes sections for District Survey Reports and District Mineral Fund records.

District mining enforcement can involve officials from the mining, revenue, police and transport departments. Their responsibilities include inspecting operational areas, checking mineral-carrying vehicles, identifying extraction outside authorised boundaries and initiating recovery or legal action.

This coordinated model is significant because illegal mining cannot be controlled by one department working in isolation. Information must move quickly between officials responsible for mining permissions, land records, vehicle movement and environmental compliance.

To strengthen public confidence, district-wise enforcement outcomes should also be published regularly. Information on inspections, seizures, penalties and repeat violations would demonstrate that government action is measurable and not limited to isolated announcements.

Digital Systems Improve Monitoring and Traceability

Technology is playing a growing role in the state’s mining administration. Uttarakhand’s Khanij Mitra platform includes mineral-management services, interstate transit passes, mining and storage services, weighbridge integration, vehicle-tracking integration and an Integrated Mining Surveillance System.

The state’s mining e-services cover short-term permits, storage licences, stone crushers, mining plans and mining leases. For revenue riverbed areas, the official process provides for identifying available mineral-bearing stretches, inviting e-tenders and obtaining the required statutory permissions before a lease is granted

When these systems operate together, authorities can compare:

• The quantity approved for extraction.
• Mineral movement recorded at the source.
• Weight recorded at an integrated weighbridge.
• The vehicle and transit pass used.
• The declared route and destination.
• The quantity received by the storage or processing unit.

A mismatch between these records can be flagged for investigation. This reduces dependence on paper documents and makes it more difficult to conceal unauthorised mineral movement.

The measures introduced during Pushkar Singh Dhami’s tenure reflect an effort to move mining administration towards digital monitoring, coordinated enforcement and improved traceability.

Citizens Can Report Suspected Illegal Mining

People living near rivers, mining areas and transport routes are often the first to notice suspicious activity. Residents may observe excavation outside permitted hours, overloaded vehicles, extraction near vulnerable riverbanks or repeated movement without visible documentation.

The official Khanij Mitra Complaint Redressal Portal enables citizens to submit a mining complaint in Uttarakhand. A complainant can select the relevant district, tehsil and village, describe the issue and upload supporting evidence.

This is an important step because it gives residents a direct reporting channel instead of requiring them to identify and approach multiple departments.

The complaint mechanism can become more effective through:

1. An acknowledgement and complaint-tracking number.
2. A clearly defined response timeline.
3. Information about the department handling the complaint.
4. Status updates during the investigation.
5. A closure report explaining the action taken.

The portal should also be promoted through district websites, gram panchayats and official social-media channels. A complaint system can only deliver results when citizens know that it exists and understand how to use it.

River Mining Requires Strong Environmental Safeguards

The debate around river mining in Uttarakhand is closely connected with erosion, flood risk, aquatic ecosystems and the stability of riverbanks.

Uttarakhand has a River Dredging Policy notified in 2021 and an amended policy issued in January 2024. National environmental provisions also require prior environmental clearance for mining projects covered by the Environmental Impact Assessment framework. Central guidance has emphasised approved mining plans, safety zones and limits on riverbed extraction depth.

Responsible river management must distinguish between scientifically assessed removal of accumulated material and indiscriminate commercial extraction. Permissions should be linked with updated District Survey Reports, replenishment assessments, approved boundaries and environmental conditions.

Drone surveys, GPS-based monitoring and periodic riverbed assessments can further help verify whether extraction remains within the authorised area and permitted quantity.

Transparency Is the Strongest Response to Mining Allegations

Searches related to Uttarakhand khanan, environmental damage and alleged mining scams show that public concern remains significant. The most credible response is to make enforcement data easily available.

A state-level mining transparency dashboard could publish:

• District-wise inspections and violations.
• Complaints received and resolved.
• Vehicles and machinery seized.
• Penalties imposed and recovered.
• Valid leases, permits and storage licences.
• Approved river stretches and extraction limits.
• Environmental-clearance documents.
• Action taken against repeat offenders.
• Restoration measures in affected areas.

Such disclosure would help distinguish lawful, regulated mineral activity from illegal operations. It would also allow citizens and media organisations to assess government performance using verified information instead of speculation.

Moving Towards Accountable Mining Governance

Uttarakhand has established important mechanisms to address illegal mining: updated regulations, district enforcement forces, online permissions, mineral-transport monitoring and a public complaint portal.

The current government’s approach indicates a gradual shift from fragmented enforcement towards a more organised and technology-supported system. The next priority should be consistent district-level implementation, faster complaint resolution and regular publication of enforcement outcomes.

For Uttarakhand, the strongest answer to illegal-mining concerns is not a promotional claim. It is a transparent system in which permissions are traceable, rivers are monitored, citizens can report violations and confirmed offences lead to visible action.

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Bengaluru, Oct 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday issued notices to the state government, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and other concerned authorities on a petition seeking the return of an African Grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) taken into custody by the CID's Mobile Forest Squad.

A bench headed by Justice C.M. Poonacha issued the notices while hearing a petition filed by R. Mahesh Kumar, a resident of Rajajinagar in Bengaluru, who sought directions to return the parrot he had been nursing at his residence.

In his petition, Mahesh Kumar stated that he was a bird lover and that one of his friends had given him an injured African Grey parrot in 2018. As the bird was unable to fly due to a dysfunctional wing, he treated it and took care of it out of compassion, providing it with affection and attention.

He further stated that officials of the CID's Mobile Forest Squad took the bird into their custody from his residence on July 27. Subsequently, on July 31, they issued a notice directing him to cooperate with the investigation and produce the necessary documents.

According to the petitioner, the officials warned that failure to comply with the notice would result in a case being registered under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Mahesh Kumar contended that he had neither purchased the bird nor kept it for commercial purposes. He maintained that he had only provided shelter and treatment to an injured bird.

The petitioner sought the quashing of the notice issued by the CID and a direction to return the parrot to his custody.

The court also issued notices to the Chief Secretary of the Karnataka government, the Principal Secretary of the Forest Department and the CID's Mobile Forest Squad. It also directed the public prosecutor to obtain the necessary information from the respondents and submit it to the court.

The High Court adjourned the matter to November 3.

Source: IANS

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Bhopal, Oct 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) A 15-year-old male elephant was found dead in a field in Madhya Pradesh's Shahdol district on Tuesday, with preliminary reports suggesting that it died of electrocution near a borewell, officials said.

The carcass was found in Ward No. 7 of Chandoli village in the Bansagar area, under the jurisdiction of Devalond police station.

Forest Department and police teams reached the spot after receiving information about the incident and initiated an investigation.

Officials are examining how electricity may have spread into the field and whether a fault in the electrical system or another reason caused the suspected electrocution.

The exact cause of death and any possible negligence will be established after the investigation.

A Forest Department official said, "The circumstances surrounding the elephant's death are being investigated. The cause of death and other details will be clear after the necessary examination."

The incident has also raised concerns among wildlife activists over the deaths of wild animals due to suspected electrocution in the state.

Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey, reacting to the incident on social media platform X, alleged that no responsibility had been fixed for earlier incidents in which an elephant and a tiger were electrocuted.

"How many more wild animals must die before the Forest Department fixes responsibility? We demand an immediate high-level probe and strict action against officials found negligent," Dubey said.

A day before the elephant was found dead, villagers in Sejhari village, under Jagmal panchayat in the Bansagar area, had reported problems caused by a herd of elephants.

According to the reports, the animals approached the village in the evening and damaged crops and mud houses.

Elephant herds have been moving through the forested and hilly areas around Devalond and Bansagar for several years.

Reports indicate that more than a dozen elephants have been roaming in the region, although it has not yet been confirmed whether the elephant found dead in Chandoli was part of this herd.

Villagers gathered at the site after learning about the death.

The Forest Department is investigating the circumstances of the incident, and further details are awaited.

Source: IANS

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Chennai, Oct 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss has accused the Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority of prioritising private developers’ interests over protecting Pallikaranai marsh, questioning its decision to sharply reduce the wetland’s zone of influence while delaying notification of its boundaries.

In a statement, he said the authority had informed the Madras High Court that the zone would be reduced from 8,397 acres to 316 acres following consultations with officials from various departments on September 30, this year.

The submission came during proceedings on petitions filed by private construction companies challenging the National Green Tribunal’s September 24 order last year banning construction within one kilometre of the marsh.

The developers welcomed the authority’s decision, he said. Anbumani questioned why the authority had acted swiftly to reduce the zone but had failed to implement the Supreme Court’s December 11, 2024 direction to demarcate and notify wetlands.

“Is the authority working for the government and the people, or for private construction companies?” he asked.

He said the PMK favoured scientifically determining zones of influence and fully surveying and notifying wetland boundaries.

Construction in such zones should be regulated rather than subjected to a blanket prohibition, he added.

Citing the 2021 ISRO wetland atlas, Anbumani said Tamil Nadu’s 26,883 wetlands exceeding 2.25 hectares could be identified and demarcated using satellite data.

He recalled that the authority had told the High Court on December 3 last year that satellite-based mapping of Pallikaranai was 99 per cent complete and sought additional time to submit its report.

Yet, more than ten months later, notification remained pending, he alleged.

Despite the authority’s establishment in 2016 and the introduction of wetland conservation rules in 2017, he alleged that little progress had been made in securing statutory protection.

Anbumani urged the TVK government to end the delays that persisted during the previous DMK administration and ensure the authority fulfilled its responsibilities.

He claimed Pallikaranai, which once covered 15,000 acres between the Adyar river and Buckingham Canal, stretching from Guindy to Siruseri, had shrunk to 1,725 acres because of encroachments.

Seeking immediate notification and protection of all wetlands, he also demanded that construction of a six-foot-high protective wall along three kilometres of Pallikaranai and a two-kilometre walkway be abandoned. Structures already erected under these projects should be demolished, he said, urging government intervention.

—IANS

aal/rad

Source: IANS

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Bhopal/Sheopur (Madhya Pradesh), Oct 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) An eight-month-old cub of Namibian female cheetah Asha was found dead at Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park on Monday after it went missing during morning monitoring, taking India’s cheetah population down to 59, including 41 born in the country.

Forest staff launched a search after finding Asha with only four of her five cubs during routine monitoring.

The missing cub was subsequently found dead, the Field Director of Project Cheetah at Kuno said.

"During morning monitoring, Asha was observed with four of her five cubs. A search was undertaken to locate the missing cub, which was subsequently found dead,” the Field Director said in a statement.

The cause of death is yet to be established and will be known after the post-mortem report is received, the official said.

The death has reduced Kuno’s cheetah population to 53, including 40 Indian-born animals.

Of these, 15 are currently roaming freely in the wild, while the others are in enclosures or under monitoring.

Asha gave birth to five cubs around eight months ago. The litter was a significant development for Project Cheetah, which seeks to establish a self-sustaining population of the species in India, where cheetahs were declared extinct in 1952.

The latest loss highlights the challenges facing the reintroduction programme, which has recorded births of cubs in India but has also witnessed deaths of adult cheetahs and young animals since its launch.

India began Project Cheetah in September 2022 with the translocation of eight cheetahs from Namibia to Kuno National Park in Sheopur district.

Another 12 cheetahs were brought from South Africa in February 2023 as part of efforts to restore the species to its historical range.

The programme involves international cooperation with African countries and requires sustained habitat management, adequate prey, veterinary care and scientific monitoring to help the animals survive and breed in Indian conditions.

Besides Kuno, four cheetahs are currently housed at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and two at Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve, taking the total number of cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh to 59. Of these, 41 were born in India.

Forest officials said monitoring of Asha and her four surviving cubs would continue following the incident.

Source: IANS

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Bhopal, Oct 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department has refused to disclose post-mortem reports of cheetahs that died at Kuno National Park in Sheopur, citing concerns that revealing the information could adversely affect India's relations with foreign countries.

In its response to a Right to Information (RTI) application, the Kuno Wildlife Forest Division invoked Section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act, 2005, which exempts certain information from disclosure if it could affect India's sovereignty, security, strategic interests or relations with a foreign state.

In a letter dated October 9, Public Information Officer and Divisional Forest Officer Amar Shrikrishna said, “Project Cheetah is a national project of the Government of India, being implemented with international cooperation."

The RTI reply available with IANS stated that, "The project is not limited to the Kuno Wildlife Division alone. The Government of India has signed formal Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with foreign countries in connection with this project.”

The officer further stated that information whose disclosure could adversely affect India's relations with a foreign state was exempt under the Act.

“Since the Kuno Wildlife Division is a regional field-level unit, it is not competent to disclose such information,” the reply said.

Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey, who filed the RTI application, questioned the decision, arguing that making the post-mortem reports public would not harm India's foreign relations and was necessary to ensure transparency in the conservation programme.

Dubey filed the application on January 28, seeking information on four aspects of Project Cheetah, including details of foreign tours undertaken by officials and post-mortem reports, along with related findings, of cheetahs that died in Madhya Pradesh from January 1, 2024, onwards.

After the initial response, he filed a first appeal. Following an appellate order dated September 17, the office of the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Madhya Pradesh, directed the Kuno division to take necessary action through a letter dated September 18. However, the division refused to provide the reports in its October 9 reply.

The department said correspondence concerning cheetah protection and management at Kuno National Park, Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve had involved foreign delegations, the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the Madhya Pradesh government and the Union Environment Ministry.

According to Dubey, the department also stated that no records of official foreign tours related to the project were available in its office.

Dubey said the post-mortem findings should be made public to establish the causes of cheetah deaths and ensure accountability.

Project Cheetah was launched in September 2022 with the translocation of eight cheetahs from Namibia to Kuno. Twelve more were brought from South Africa in February 2023.

Source: IANS

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Kochi, Oct 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) Small-scale fishers in Kerala have called for better protection against extreme weather and stronger social security.

They want compensation for income lost when rough seas and bad weather prevent fishing, they said at a community consultation held at the ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) here.

The meeting was part of a nationwide exercise to prepare India’s National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF).

More than 50 representatives of fishing communities, women fish workers, fish vendors, fisher organisations and researchers took part in the consultation.

The participants said climate risks and severe weather events threatened fishing livelihoods. They called for disaster preparedness and climate adaptation measures to be included in the action plan.

They also sought compensation for fishing days lost due to extreme weather.

The meeting proposed comprehensive mesh-size regulations to promote sustainable fishing.

Participants also called for protecting traditional fishing rights and giving local communities a greater role in managing marine resources.

Women fish workers raised concerns over their role in fish processing, marketing, and other post-harvest activities, demanding formal recognition of women as fish workers and greater representation in fisheries policy and decision-making.

CIFT Director Dr George Ninan inaugurated the meeting, organised in association with the Federation of Indian Fisher Organisations (FIFO).

The Centre has begun a nationwide consultation with fishing communities to frame the plan. The Union Fisheries Department is leading the consultation process across coastal states and Union Territories, and the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) is facilitating and coordinating it.

The National Task Force is expected to incorporate the findings into a draft plan in early November. The draft is scheduled to be released for public consultation on November 21, and will undergo further review before finalisation and notification.

"The inputs will be submitted before the National Taskforce for developing India’s National Plan of Action on Small-Scale Fisheries,” said Dr Nikita Gopal, head of CIFT’s Extension, Information and Statistics Division, who led the consultation.

Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) Director Dr P. Krishnan said the proposed plan would address issues such as access to fisheries resources, sustainable fishing, decent work, gender equality, climate change, and disaster risks.

Source: IANS

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Kutch, Oct 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) Two rarely sighted snake species were spotted together at Kala Dungar in Gujarat’s Kutch district during a forest patrol in September, with the sighting of the Afro-Asian Sand Snake potentially marking only the second or third recorded instance of the species in the state, according to the Forest Department.

The snakes were spotted at around 7.30 p.m. during an evening patrol by the Range Forest Officer and local forest staff of Juna Beat, Khavda Round, under the Bhuj North Range of the Kutch East Forest Division.

The department said the two species had rarely been seen in Kutch and had been recorded together at the same location after several years.

One of the snakes was the Black-headed Royal Snake ('Spalerosophis atriceps'), which is non-venomous. The other was the Afro-Asian Sand Snake ('Psammophis schokari'), described by the department as mildly venomous, with venom not fatal to humans.

The sand snake was approximately 70 cm long. The presence of the Afro-Asian Sand Snake in Gujarat is considered extremely rare.

The department cited the book 'Sarp Sandarbh', authored by Ajay Desai, an expert on snakes, which documents the first photographic record of the species at Lodai in Kutch.

The latest sighting could be the second or third recorded instance in Gujarat, although the department did not specify the total number of confirmed records. Kala Dungar, at an elevation of 462 metres, is the highest peak in Kutch.

The department attributed the presence of rare wildlife in the area to the district’s distinctive ecosystem and arid climate, which provide a suitable habitat for species adapted to such conditions.

The sighting comes amid the forest division’s efforts to promote awareness about snakes and their conservation.

The Kutch East Forest Division observes September 19 each year as World Snakebite Awareness Day. Activities include awareness signboards, wildlife awareness programmes, nature education camps and other initiatives aimed at local residents.

The Forest Department has urged residents and tourists visiting the region to cooperate in protecting rare wildlife and avoid harming snakes or disturbing their natural habitat. It said collective efforts were necessary to conserve the area’s biodiversity.

Source: IANS

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Gandhinagar, Oct 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) Barda Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region can support a long-term population of Asiatic lions, with the sanctuary now home to 17 of the endangered big cats after their natural return to the area following an absence of nearly 144 years, according to a new study published in the journal 'PLOS One'.

The study, titled “Beyond Gir: Barda Wildlife Sanctuary as a Potential Stronghold for Asiatic Lions”, examined the lions’ space use, habitat preferences, social interactions and diet to assess the sanctuary’s suitability as a habitat beyond their traditional stronghold in Gir.

Spread across 192.31 sq. km, principally in Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts, Barda provides suitable habitat, adequate prey resources and favourable ecological conditions to sustain a lion population over the long term, the study found.

The research was conducted by Mohan Ram (IFS), Aradhana Sahu (IFS), Nityanand Srivastava (IFS), Rohit Chaudhary, Lahar Jhala and Yashpal Zala, associated with the Gujarat Forest Department and Banda University of Agriculture and Technology.

The lions began recolonising Barda naturally after nearly 144 years, starting with the dispersal of a male lion, followed by the Gujarat Forest Department’s introduction of five females to augment the population.

Six lions — one male and five females — were radio-collared for the study, generating more than 1,69,000 GPS locations between January 2023 and July 2025.

The findings showed that the animals were actively using the sanctuary’s forests and grasslands, establishing home ranges and developing social associations.

“This is very significant research from the Asiatic lion’s conservation perspective. With the lion population no longer confined to a single core landscape, Barda can serve as a population buffer for lions dispersing from the southwestern side of Gir. Protecting such satellite habitats and maintaining connectivity between them will be essential for the species’ long-term survival,” Forests and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia said.

He added that the state government, under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, is committed to protecting the Asiatic lion in Gujarat and ensuring its long-term survival. He also referred to the wider efforts to conserve wildlife under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

Minister of State for Forests and Environment, Pravin Mali, said vacant frontline staff positions had been filled on priority, eight full-time lion trackers had been deployed to monitor the animals’ movements and health daily, and rapid-response mechanisms had been strengthened to address human-wildlife conflict.

"Improving the availability of natural prey is another focus of the conservation effort. During 2025-26, 441 chitals, or spotted deer, were translocated from Gir Wildlife Sanctuary to Barda to increase the herbivore population and strengthen the prey base," Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Jaipal Singh said.

Since 2007, hundreds of spotted deer have also been released through captive-breeding efforts, while sambar deer have been bred and released in the sanctuary.

"The sanctuary’s conservation efforts have also been accompanied by the development of ecotourism. Ecotourism activities began in Barda in 2024, creating work opportunities for local residents as nature guides and safari operators," said Ram Ratan Nala (IFS), Conservator of Forests, Junagadh (Wildlife) Circle.

Barda received 2,271 visitors in its first year of ecotourism, with the number rising to 3,359 in 2025-26, an increase of about 48 per cent.

Local communities are also participating in conservation work, including the removal of invasive species, restoration of degraded areas and construction of firebreaks.

Around 3,200 hectares were covered by habitat-improvement work this year. The work includes invasive-species removal, grassland development and soil and moisture conservation measures intended to improve habitat quality, water availability and forage resources.

Barda’s floral diversity, including a range of medicinal plants, adds to its ecological significance as Gujarat seeks to maintain suitable habitats for Asiatic lions beyond Gir.

Source: IANS

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Nilgiris, Oct 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) A leopard filmed walking through a residential neighbourhood in Orasolai village near Kotagiri in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris district has triggered alarm among residents, who have appealed to the Forest Department to intervene and drive the animal back into the forest.

The surveillance footage shows the leopard moving along a road in front of a house and continuing through the settlement.

Its circulation on social media has heightened anxiety in the village, where residents say leopards and bears frequently venture into inhabited areas. Residents have sought action to prevent a dangerous encounter, pointing to the animal’s movement close to homes.

The account of the latest sighting does not mention any injuries or an attack on people. The concern comes against the backdrop of fatal leopard attacks in Tamil Nadu’s plantation belts, particularly in the Nilgiris and Valparai, where several victims have been children from families of estate workers.

In the Nilgiris, three-year-old Nancy was killed on January 6, 2024, at a tea estate in the Bitherkad forest range near Pandalur. She was returning home with her mother when the leopard attacked. The incident followed the death of Saritha, who suffered injuries in an attack at Elamanna on December 21, 2023, and died on December 29. Forest personnel subsequently captured a leopard linked to the Pandalur attacks and transferred it to the rescue centre at Arignar Anna Zoological Park near Chennai.

Valparai in Coimbatore district has also witnessed fatal attacks. A girl identified as Apsara was killed at a tea estate in October 2024. In June 2025, four-year-old Roshini Kumari was taken by a leopard near her home at Pachamalai estate; her body was recovered the following morning after an extensive search. Another child, five-year-old Saiful Alam, was killed at Iyerpadi tea estate near Valparai in December 2025 while playing outside workers’ quarters.

Elsewhere in Tamil Nadu, leopard attacks have affected livestock. In July 2025, a leopard killed two calves and injured another near Hasanur in Erode district, close to the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve.

These incidents provide a troubling backdrop to the Orasolai sighting, although there is no evidence connecting the leopard in the video to any previous attack.

The villagers’ appeal is for the Forest Department to address the animal’s presence near their homes and prevent an encounter that could endanger residents or the leopard.

Source: IANS

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Jaipur, Oct 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) Additional Chief Secretary, Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, Anand Kumar chaired a review meeting in Sawai Madhopur on Friday to discuss measures for protecting Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, curbing illegal mining in the reserve and Chambal River areas, and strengthening wildlife monitoring and tourism facilities.

The meeting focused on implementing the recommendations and directions of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), constituted by the Supreme Court.

Discussions also covered wildlife conservation, forest protection, encroachment and improvements in tourism management.

Those present included Chief Wildlife Warden K.C.A. Arun Prasad, District Collector Kana Ram, District Superintendent of Police Jyeshtha Maitreyi, senior Forest Department officials and representatives of other concerned departments.

Anand Kumar directed officials to identify vehicles involved in illegal mining and take legal action against those responsible.

He also instructed authorities to register FIRs in appropriate cases and strengthen coordination among departments.

Special directions were issued regarding tractors, trolleys, dumpers and other vehicles operating without number plates.

Officials were asked to take action against such vehicles, prevent fuel stations from supplying fuel to them and prohibit the practice of dispensing petrol or diesel in the open.

The Additional Chief Secretary also emphasised the need to make CCTV cameras operational promptly at sensitive locations within forest areas with the assistance of the Information Technology Department.

He called for stronger routine and joint patrolling, along with additional security arrangements wherever necessary.

The meeting reviewed measures to identify and demarcate land parcels affected by encroachment around the Chambal River Gharial Sanctuary and protect ecologically sensitive locations.

Officials were directed to examine records relating to alleged illegal construction and commercial activities near Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and initiate action in accordance with the applicable rules.

They were also instructed to resolve pending matters within stipulated timelines.

The meeting discussed measures to make Ranthambore's safari booking system more secure and transparent, improve the management of the official website and strengthen cyber security.

Another key issue was the proposed arrangement to display information on LED screens at Ganesh Dham.

The screens are intended to provide tourists with details about local attractions, safari bookings and rules governing entry into wildlife areas.

The Additional Chief Secretary directed all concerned departments to ensure compliance with the Supreme Court's and the CEC's directions and submit progress reports within the prescribed timeframe.

He stressed that effective coordination among departments was essential to protect forests and wildlife, control illegal mining and encroachment, and ensure the orderly operation of tourism activities.

Senior officials attending the meeting included Chief Conservator of Forests S.P. Singh, Deputy Conservator of Forests Manas Singh, Deputy Conservator of Forests (Social Forestry) Sunil Kumar, District Council CEO Mohit Kasnia and representatives of other relevant departments.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's cheetah story has entered a new phase. After the species disappeared from the country in the 1950s, Project Cheetah brought the animal back in 2022.

India's cheetah reintroduction programme began in September 2022, when eight cheetahs were brought from Namibia to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

In February 2023, another 12 cheetahs arrived from South Africa, marking the start of a larger effort to establish a viable cheetah population in India after the species became extinct in the country in 1952.

Today, Madhya Pradesh is the centre of the programme, with Kuno National Park, where an India-born cheetah gave birth to five cubs on October 5, taking the total feline count to 60, and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary forming the country's two operational cheetah sites.

Other landscapes in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan are being prepared or assessed for future expansion.

For a wildlife traveller, Kuno and Gandhi Sagar, both in Madhya Pradesh, are currently the two most relevant destinations for India's reintroduced cheetahs as only they are operational now.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on October 7 released two cheetahs named 'Vyom' (male) and 'Neera' (female) into the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Sagar district as part of the conservation project.

National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) says preparations and deliberations are continuing for other landscapes.

For a wildlife adventurist, however, it is important to distinguish between a place where cheetahs are already being managed and a landscape that is still being prepared for them. Here is a look at the major cheetah reserves in India.

Madhya Pradesh

When it comes to cheetah conservation in India, Madhya Pradesh leads the way, emerging as the country's foremost hub for the revival of the fastest land animal.

The central Indian state's Kuno is the starting point of India's modern cheetah journey. Located in the Sheopur district, the park lies in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh and has a landscape of dry deciduous woodland, open grasslands, riverine stretches and gently undulating terrain.

Kardhai, salai and khair dominate parts of the vegetation, while grasslands provide important habitat for prey such as chital, sambar and nilgai.

The first eight cheetahs arrived from Namibia in September 2022, followed by 12 from South Africa in February 2023.

Kuno remains the principal free-ranging cheetah landscape and has become the most important destination for anyone following India's reintroduction experiment.

For visitors, the most suitable period is October to March, when temperatures are more comfortable and the forest is comparatively pleasant. The wider tourism season extends beyond this period, subject to forest regulations.

Cheetah sightings, however, cannot be guaranteed and visitors should follow the designated safari arrangements.

From state capital Bhopal, Kuno is around 400-450 km by road, depending on the route and entry point.

Gwalior is considerably closer and is about 175 km from the park.

Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, another cheetah habitat in Madhya Pradesh, offers a markedly different setting.

Spread around the Gandhi Sagar reservoir in the Mandsaur and Neemuch region, the sanctuary combines open country, hillocks, ravines, woodland and the vast backwaters of the Chambal.

The undulating terrain and open stretches make it particularly interesting from a cheetah-habitat perspective. The sanctuary became India's second operational cheetah site in 2025. Two male cheetahs, Prabhas and Pavak, were moved there from Kuno, followed later by a female, Dheera.

A fenced natural area of about 64 square km was created as part of the initial establishment programme. For a general wildlife trip, October to March is the most comfortable period.

Early mornings and late afternoons are preferable for wildlife activity.

Travellers should check the latest forest-department entry arrangements because cheetah viewing is governed by the management programme rather than conventional mass tourism.

Gandhi Sagar is around 340-370 km from Bhopal by road, depending on the route.

Another cheetah habitat is Nauradehi that represents the next frontier of the project rather than an established cheetah tourism destination.

The sanctuary now forms part of Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve and contains large expanses of open woodland, grassland and undulating country. Its scale and relatively extensive natural landscape make it valuable for creating a larger cheetah metapopulation. Government planning has identified Nauradehi as one of the landscapes being prepared for future cheetah introduction. Travellers should therefore not visit expecting a guaranteed cheetah safari.

For wildlife tourism in the broader landscape, October to March is the preferable season. Nauradehi is around 200-250 km from Bhopal, depending on the access point.

Gujarat

The Banni Grasslands of Kutch present perhaps the most dramatic contrast to Kuno. This vast arid grassland lies between the Great Rann of Kutch and the more settled parts of Kutch.

The landscape is marked by open plains, thorny vegetation, seasonal wetlands and salt-affected terrain.

The Indian government has identified Banni as a future cheetah landscape and a conservation-breeding facility is being developed there. It should therefore be regarded as a prospective cheetah destination rather than a place where visitors can currently book a conventional cheetah safari.

Winter is the most rewarding period for exploring Kutch, particularly from November to February. The cooler weather also brings large numbers of migratory birds to the region.

Banni region is around 350-400 km from Gandhinagar, while Bhuj is the practical base for a wildlife traveller.

Rajasthan

Shahgarh, in western Rajasthan near the Pakistan border, is another landscape being considered for the future expansion of India's cheetah programme. Its attraction lies in its vast, dry and open desert ecosystem.

The terrain is dominated by sandy stretches, sparse vegetation and grassland-like patches, offering a landscape quite different from the wooded country of Kuno. It is important to stress that Shahgarh is a proposed landscape and not an established cheetah tourism reserve.

A visit today should therefore be planned as a desert and wildlife landscape experience rather than as a cheetah safari.

The best season is from October to March, when daytime temperatures are more manageable. Jaisalmer, rather than Jaipur, is the practical gateway. From Jaipur, Shahgarh is more than 600 km away by road.

The traveller's cheetah map

India's cheetah conservation programme is deliberately being built around a network of landscapes rather than a single park.

Kuno provides the principal base, Gandhi Sagar has become the second operational site, while Nauradehi, Banni and Shahgarh represent the broader expansion strategy. For a wildlife traveller, this distinction matters.

Kuno and Gandhi Sagar in Madhya Pradesh are the places most closely associated with India's present cheetah population.

The other landscapes offer an opportunity to see how India is rebuilding the open ecosystems that the cheetah needs.

For a wildlife enthusiast, the best approach is to travel with patience. A cheetah may appear as a fleeting shape across a grassland, or remain hidden beyond the next ridge. The real reward lies in witnessing the restoration of an entire ecosystem around one of the world's fastest and most elusive cats.

Source: IANS

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Jaipur, Oct 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Supreme Court-appointed High-Powered Committee (HPC), tasked with examining the definition, ecological status and conservation of the Aravalli mountain range, will visit Rajasthan’s Vagad region from October 11 to 13.

Source: IANS

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Guwahati, Oct 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Thursday that the state has the second-highest number of elephants in the country, with more than 5,800 of the majestic animals inhabiting its forests.

In a post on social media platform X, CM Sarma highlighted Assam's rich wildlife heritage and its significance as an important habitat for the country's elephant population.

"Assam ranks second in the country in terms of the number of elephants," the Chief Minister said, adding that more than 5,800 elephants roam the state's forests.

Referring to Assam's spiritual and cultural identity, CM Sarma said the presence of a large elephant population was particularly symbolic in a state associated with the revered Kamakhya temple.

"Where Mother Kamakhya resides, it is only natural for Lord Gajanana to be present as well," he said, referring to Lord Ganesha, who is traditionally depicted with an elephant head.

Assam is known for its extensive forest cover, biodiversity and diverse wildlife, with elephants forming an important part of its natural ecosystem.

The state's forests and protected areas provide critical habitats for Asian elephants and support several other species of national and global conservation significance.

The elephant population also plays an important role in maintaining ecological balance, as the animals contribute to seed dispersal and influence the structure and regeneration of forest ecosystems.

However, the presence of elephants in areas close to human settlements has also remained a challenge in parts of Assam, where human-elephant conflict has periodically resulted in loss of lives, damage to crops and destruction of property.

Conservation efforts in the state have therefore focused on protecting elephant habitats, maintaining forest corridors and reducing conflict between communities and wildlife.

Chief Minister Sarma's post comes as the Assam government continues to highlight the state's natural and cultural heritage as an important part of its identity.

The Chief Minister's remarks also underscore the importance of protecting the state's forests and wildlife while balancing conservation with the livelihood needs of communities living around forest areas.

With more than 5,800 elephants, Assam remains one of the country's key elephant habitats and an important contributor to India's wildlife conservation efforts.

The state's rich biodiversity, combined with its deep cultural and religious traditions, continues to make wildlife conservation a significant part of Assam's environmental identity.

Source: IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Environmental groups in Kerala have sought a CBI probe into the deaths of wild elephants in the state, citing the sharp fall in numbers and a high mortality rate in recent years.

They have also demanded an investigation by a special team under the supervision of the Kerala High Court.

The demand was raised at Vana Spandanam, a meeting of environmental organisations and activists held over three days.

Kerala had an estimated 5,135 wild elephants in 2005, according to state Forest Department records. However, the 2023 estimate put the number at 2,386, and the one in 2024 put the figure at 1,793.

The Forest Department has said that fluctuations in elephant numbers can also be linked to movement of elephants between Kerala and neighbouring states.

The scale of mortality has added to the concern.

A government-appointed expert committee recorded 744 wild elephant deaths in Kerala between April 2019 and March 2025.

This worked out to an average of about 124 deaths a year.

The committee estimated the annual mortality rate at 4.45 per cent to 6.2 per cent.

An earlier mortality assessment had recorded 1,260 elephant deaths between 2011 and 2026, according to data cited in a recent report.

The figures include deaths from natural and human-induced causes.

A recent GIS mapping of elephant mortality records has also identified strong geographical concentration.

Of 1,196 mapped records, Idukki accounted for 226, followed by Ernakulam with 203, Palakkad with 152, Wayanad with 146, and Malappuram with 140.

The five districts together accounted for 867 records, or about 72.5 per cent of the mapped mortality.

Idukki, Ernakulam, and Palakkad alone accounted for 581 records, nearly half of the mapped total.

The environmental groups said the recovery of elephant tusks had raised concerns over possible poaching.

They warned that continued deaths could threaten the long-term survival of wild elephants in the state.

The elephant lovers demanded a detailed independent investigation into the causes of the deaths and the circumstances surrounding them.

They also demanded action to protect elephant corridors and remove obstructions from their traditional movement routes.

The meeting praised the initiatives taken by Idukki Collector Dr Dineshan Cheruvatt to clear such obstructions and expressed solidarity with him.

It demanded cases against those allegedly issuing threats against the Collector.

Wayanad Nature Conservation Society President N. Badusha presided over the meeting.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, Oct 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) After Kuno National Park and the Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary, cheetahs got another home in Madhya Pradesh, with two of them being released at the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary on Thursday.

The animals were released in the presence of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has called this another step towards a thriving cheetah population in India.

India now has 60 cheetahs, of which 41 were born in the country.

The birth of five cubs recently also saw the start of the Botswana lineage.

A high-level review meeting, chaired by Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav was held several days ago to assess the progress of Project Cheetah and deliberate on the future course of action.

This programme is a pioneering initiative aimed at reintroducing the cheetah in India after its extinction in the country.

The programme was initiated through the translocation of a founder population of 20 cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa, which was further supplemented by nine cheetahs from Botswana, through coordinated international cooperation and scientific planning.

Despite initial challenges associated with wildlife translocation, the project has recorded encouraging outcomes.

The birth of cheetahs in the country reflects significant growth driven by successful acclimatisation and reproduction in Indian conditions.

Survival rates of introduced individuals and cubs have been found to be in line with, and in certain cases better than, global benchmarks, demonstrating the effectiveness of scientific management and monitoring protocols.

The implementation strategy adopts a landscape-based approach for long-term sustainability.

While Kuno National Park has been developed as the primary site for establishment of the population, Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary has been prepared as an additional habitat to support further expansion.

These sites are part of a larger interconnected landscape across central India to facilitate dispersal and genetic exchange.

The Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary was also prepared for translocation. Now, preparatory work is underway to expand the project to new areas, including the Banni grasslands in Gujarat, where habitat readiness and prey augmentation measures have reached satisfactory levels.

Scientific monitoring indicates that cheetahs are adapting well to Indian conditions, with stable ranging behaviour, effective prey utilisation, and no significant physiological stress observed across different management settings.

The translocation to Nauradehi will help in consolidation, expansion and strengthening of a metapopulation framework across identified landscapes.

Sustained sourcing of cheetahs from African countries is envisaged to maintain genetic diversity and support population growth.

Project Cheetah continues to make steady progress and stands as a globally significant conservation initiative.

With continued scientific guidance, institutional support and coordinated implementation, the project is well-positioned for long-term success and is expected to contribute substantially to cheetah conservation and restoration of open natural ecosystems in the country.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's wildlife conservation efforts have gained appreciation globally, with a notable foreign news magazine hailing various initiatives, including Project Tiger, Project Elephant, Project Snow Leopard, Project Dolphin, and Project Rhino, but its description of the country's economic status drew vigorous rebuttal.

'The Economist' praised India's efforts to conserve tigers, which were "heading towards extinction in the 1970s", Asiatic lions, dolphins, elephants, etc., calling it an "example of the country at its finest".

However, the publication also remarked: "Yet it is extraordinary that the people and politicians of a relatively poor country with limited state capacity and endless demands on its resources can come together to achieve something as selfless as protecting other creatures."

Norway's former Climate and Environment Minister Erik Solheim termed India's animal protection efforts as "astonishing successful".

In a post on X, he recalled his visit to the Gir forest in Gujarat.

"A few years ago, Gujarat opened a reserve to accommodate its expanding population of Asiatic lions. The cat, unique to India and Gujarat, is growing in numbers. I visited the region this June," he said.

Quoting from the publication, Solheim said: "The Chief Minister of Assam (Himanta Biswa Sarma) recently said that his state had in the previous year recorded zero cases of poaching related to its large and growing population of rhinos."

"Since 2022, India has been importing cheetahs from Africa in the hope of re-establishing a species that went extinct within its borders in 1952," he added.

Further quoting from the media report, he cited "public sentiment" as one reason India is so good at protecting its animals.

"Hindu dharma is based upon the idea that humans are part of nature, not above nature. God is even half human, half animal as in the case of Ganesha and Hanuman. This matters also today," the former Norwegian Minister noted.

However, conservation biologist Neha Sinha criticised 'The Economist' after the article referred to India as a "relatively poor country with limited state capacity".

"Dismal and patronising tweet by the Economist. For the record, “poor people” are some of the most selfless people I have known," she said in a post on X.

India's former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Menon Rao echoed a similar view.

"Nations do not acquire compassion with wealth. It is hardly a luxury acquired with better living standards. It is intrinsic to you as a person, rich or poor. Why wear an expression of patronising surprise when a relatively poorer country than yours, effectively conserves and preserves its precious wildlife? The measure of moral imagination is not per capita income," she said in a post on X.

Hitting out at the publication, economist Prof. Shamika Ravi drew attention to people mourning the death of a 45-year-old elephant in Kerala.

"Can you imagine such a farewell for an animal anywhere else in the world? Nature is a way of life in India. @TheEconomist," she said on X.

According to the Indian government, today, India is home to the world's largest wild tiger population, accounting for nearly 70 per cent of all wild tigers globally.

The country has more than doubled its scientifically assessed tiger population since 2006. The All India Tiger Estimation (2022) places India's tiger population at 3,682. The 2022 All India Tiger Estimation covered 20 States and surveyed over 6.41 lakh kilometres on foot. It is among the world's largest and most comprehensive wildlife assessments.

Source: IANS

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Sagar, Oct 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday expanded its cheetah reintroduction programme to a third habitat with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav releasing two cheetahs, male Vyom and female Neera, at the Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Sagar.

The development is significant for India's cheetah conservation programme as the two animals have been introduced into a reserve that already has tigers, unlike some of the state's other cheetah habitats.

Yadav said Madhya Pradesh had emerged as a suitable landscape for the reintroduction of the species, which became extinct in Asia.

“The successful reintroduction in Madhya Pradesh of the cheetah, a species that had become extinct in Asia, is an important example of wildlife conservation,” he said. The Chief Minister said the cheetah population in Madhya Pradesh had increased to 60 from the initial eight animals brought to India, describing the rise as an indication of strengthening wildlife management and the state's developing ecosystem.

The two cheetahs released on Wednesday were named Vyom and Neera.

Yadav said two more cheetahs would be brought to the reserve next month. “From the initial eight cheetahs, their number has now increased to 60. This is a testament to our strong wildlife management and the developing ecosystem,” he said.

The Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve, formerly known as Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, is the third location in Madhya Pradesh to host cheetahs after Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Yadav said the reserve had a distinct feature, as tigers were already present in the area where the cheetahs had been released. He said cheetahs had been sighted in the region around 170 years ago.

“The Cheetah Project will not only strengthen wildlife conservation but also create new opportunities for tourism and employment. A suitable environment has been developed at the Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve for cheetahs along with tigers,” he said.

The Chief Minister also emphasised involving local communities in the economic benefits generated by wildlife tourism. He said around Rs 80 crore had been collected from sanctuaries in the state this year, of which Rs 20 crore had been distributed among villagers living around protected areas.

“This is their right because they have been living in villages and homes around these sanctuaries for years,” Yadav said. The state government was also promoting homestays in tiger reserve buffer zones and providing grants of Rs 2-3 lakh to residents for the facility, he said.

Yadav said wildlife conservation could also support rural livelihoods by promoting livestock rearing in forest areas where agricultural land was limited.

The Chief Minister was speaking at the concluding ceremony of Wildlife Conservation Week at the reserve. He released the Vulture Population Assessment-2026 report and unveiled a book on the Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve in the Bundeli language.

The CM also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on completing 25 years as an elected public representative and recalled that the cheetah project was launched in Madhya Pradesh in 2022 in his presence.

Yadav said the expansion of the cheetah programme would strengthen the state's ecosystem while providing fresh opportunities for tourism and employment.

Source: IANS

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