Forests of Life
Feature Stories
Covering diverse aspects of forests— Adivasi communities, their cultures and languages, ecology, biodiversity, climate change impacts, jungle diaries, and more
This month, we are featuring the following wildlife stories:
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A Curious Visitor
In the midst of the COVID-19 lockdown, a curious encounter with a Russell’s viper climbing stairs revealed the importance of proper garbage management in urban areas. This snake’s presence was a sign of an ecosystem out of balance due to unchecked rodents, emphasizing the need for responsible waste disposal.
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Butterfly: Or should they be called Flutter-by?
Butterflies, often resembling fluttering petals play essential roles in pollination, flight, camouflage, and mate selection, while their fascinating behaviors, including migration and mud-puddling, reveal a hidden world waiting to be explored and understood by curious observers and citizen scientists.
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Climate Change and Endangered Animals
Explore climate change and endangered animals, see how humans affect the planet, and learn how to protect wildlife and fight climate change through conservation and individual actions.
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Conserving Winged Wonders of Cities
Conserving urban birds is vital due to their cultural significance and ecological contributions, but urbanisation poses threats to their diversity. Creating and enhancing urban green spaces, including parks and water bodies, can provide safe habitats and foster a stronger connection between humans and nature while supporting diverse bird species.
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Shared Space: Coexisting with Primates in India
Maintaining healthy forest ecosystems is essential for the survival of primate species, including monkeys. However, conflicts arise when primates venture into human settlements, damaging crops and causing challenges for farmers. To coexist with these animals, we must consider the needs of both humans and primates while preserving their natural habitats.
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Snow Leopards: The Ghosts of the Mountains
Highlights the peculiar nature and importance of snow leopards in their high mountain habitat, while emphasising the urgent need for conservation efforts due to their endangered status.
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The Blind Tiger of the Ganges
The Gangetic river dolphin, often called the tiger of the Ganges, is critically endangered due to pollution, dams, and other threats. To protect them, India has declared them the national aquatic animal, launched ‘Project Dolphin,’ and created sanctuaries, emphasising their conservation as a national priority.
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The Kashmiri Hangul: A Critically Endangered Stag
The Kashmiri Hangul, a unique subspecies of red deer native to the Kashmir region, faces critical endangerment due to habitat loss, poaching, and various threats. Conservation efforts are urgently needed to protect this iconic species, preserve local ecosystems, and uphold cultural significance.
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The Travancore Tortoise
The Travancore tortoise, native to the Western Ghats, is a unique species with a brown and black shell resembling leaf litter, allowing it to hide from predators. These tortoises live a quiet life in the forest but become more active during the breeding season when males engage in non-harmful wrestling matches to win a mate. However, their biggest threat is habitat loss due to deforestation and dam construction in the Western Ghats.
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Uncertain future of traditional Yak-based livelihoods among Monpa Community of Arunachal Pradesh
This community traditionally rely on yak herding as a vital part of their culture. However, modern challenges like climate change, resource exploitation, and changing interests among the younger generation are posing as a threat to this age-old way of life.
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When Elephants and Humans Meet
When elephants and humans share habitats, conflicts can arise due to encroachment on elephant territories and erratic weather patterns forcing elephants to seek food and water near human settlements. To mitigate these conflicts, efforts should focus on creating safe pathways for elephants and educating people on how to interact with these magnificent creatures.