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SOUTH INDIA’S VULTURE
13, Mar 2020 | Bio Diversity
Context: Recently, the South India Vulture Conservation Group has come up with a blueprint for the conservation of vulture population in Five South Indian States.…
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NEW PADDY VARIETY – “SAHYADRI MEGHA”
12, Mar 2020 | Environment
Why in News? A new variety of paddy named ‘Sahyadri Megha’ has been developed by the University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences (UAHS), Shivamogga (Karnataka).…
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DECLINE IN INDIA’S BIRD POPULATION
18, Feb 2020 | Bio Diversity
Why in News? The State of India’s Birds 2020 (SoIB), a new scientific report was jointly released by 10 organisations Recently. Stats of the Report:…
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SIKKIM SEES SURGE IN BUTTERFLY BIODIVERSITY
14, Oct 2019 | Environment
Why in News? From the iconic Kaiser-i-Hind to the recently rediscovered Small Woodbrown butterfly, the state of Sikkim is home to nearly 700 species of…
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ANNUAL GANGES RIVER DOLPHIN CENSUS BEGINS
12, Oct 2019 | Bio Diversity
Why in News? The Annual Ganges River Dolphin Census has begun. Highlights: The census is undertaken by World Wide Fund for Nature-India in collaboration with…
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PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE TO NH 766 TOPS IN WILDLIFE ROADKILLS
11, Oct 2019 | Environment
Why in News? A recent study has found that roadkills on the proposed alternative to NH 766 route are one of the highest in the…
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SCALE OF GLOBAL WILDLIFE TRADE
06, Oct 2019 | Environment
Why in News? The study, by researchers at the University of Florida and the University of Sheffield, published in the Journal Science has found that…
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INDIA, NEPAL, BHUTAN TO COUNT TIGERS IN HIGH ALTITUDES
28, Sep 2019 | Bio Diversity
Context: With recent studies this year having reported the presence of tigers in high altitude regions in India, experts from India, Nepal and Bhutan under…
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SURVEY OF DRAGONFLIES’ HINTS AT IMPACT OF FLOODS
24, Sep 2019 | Bio Diversity
Context: A survey of dragonflies and damselflies held in the Silent Valley National Park (SVNP) has discovered eight new species, but reported an alarming decrease…
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BLOOMING OF MICROALGAE KILLS CORAL REEFS IN GULF OF MANNAR
21, Sep 2019 | Bio Diversity
Why in News? The recent blooming of Noctiluca scintillans, a greenish marine microalgae, in the Gulf of Mannar, has caused the death of more than…
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GROWING BETTER: TEN CRITICAL TRANSITIONS TO TRANSFORM FOOD AND LAND USE
17, Sep 2019 | Ecology Eco System
Why in News? A new global study titled “Growing Better: Ten Critical Transitions to Transform Food and Land Use” has quantified the damage that the…
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VULTURE CULTURE: HOW THE BIRD WAS SAVED FROM EXTINCTION
16, Sep 2019 | Bio Diversity
Why in News? The commendable role played by the Vulture Care Centres (VCC) in saving the endangered vulture species has brought the VCC in limelight.…
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GOVERNMENT TO DEVELOP A MASTER PLAN FOR TIGERS AT HIGH ALTITUDE
06, Sep 2019 | Bio Diversity
Why in News? Union Environment Ministry released a report on Status of Tiger Habitats in high altitude Ecosystems. Highlights: The study is led by the…
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GREAT BARRIER REEF
02, Sep 2019 | Bio Diversity
Why in News? Australian government downgrades outlook for the Great Barrier Reef to ‘very poor’. Coral along large swathes of the 2,300-kilometre reef have been…
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CITES WASHINGTON CONVENTION
26, Aug 2019 | Institutions
Why in News? A resolution calling for Japan and the European Union (EU) to close their legal domestic ivory markets was not adopted at the…
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SUNDARBANS CONSERVATION
22, Aug 2019 | Bio Diversity
Why in News? Discovery India and World Wide Fund (WWF) India have partnered with the Government of West Bengal and local communities in the Sundarban…
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GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF FOREST BIODIVERSITY BY WWF
18, Aug 2019 | Institutions
Why in news? The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has released the first-ever global assessment of forest biodiversity. Key Findings: There has been a…
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HUMAN- ELEPHANT CONFLICT
15, Aug 2019 | Bio Diversity
Context: Tension has gripped several villages in the western belt of Chittoor district, from Palamaner to Somala, with wild elephants raiding crops and damaging huts.…
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TRANSLOCATION OF ASIATIC WILD BUFFALO
13, Aug 2019 | Environment
Context: Five female wild buffaloes will be translocated from Assam to the Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary in Raipur district, to help revive the waning population of…
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CITES
11, Aug 2019 | Institutions
Why in News? India has submitted proposals regarding changes to the listing of various wildlife species in the CITES secretariat meeting, scheduled later this month…
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CHENCHUS AND TIGERS OF NALLAMALA
31, Jul 2019 | Bio Diversity
Context- Chenchus the Members of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Nallamala forest understands tigers and help them let live and multiply. Who are…
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INSURANCE SCHEME FOR CATTLE LOST TO TIGERS MOOTED
31, Jul 2019 | Bio Diversity
Context: The Union Environment Ministry and the Department of Livestock and Animal Husbandry are exploring a scheme to devise an insurance policy that will compensate…
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INTERNATIONAL TIGER DAY: INDIA ACHIEVES TIGER CENSUS TARGET 4 YEARS BEFORE DEADLINE
30, Jul 2019 | Bio Diversity
Context: Prime Minister released tiger estimation figures and said that India has achieved the target of doubling the tiger count four years ahead of the…
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BANDIPUR NIGHT TRAFFIC BAN
28, Jul 2019 | Bio Diversity
Context- The Karnataka Government have banned night traffic through the road passing through Bandipur National Park as conservationists argued that it is disturbing the wildlife,…
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RHESUS MACAQUE DECLARED VERMIN IN HIMACHAL PRADESH
20, Jul 2019 | Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation - GS3M
Context- Union Environment Ministry (MoEFCC) has declared Monkeys (Rhesus Macaque) as ‘vermin’ in Himachal Pradesh. What is Vermin? Any animal which poses a threat to…
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PLAN BEE
10, Jul 2019 | Bio Diversity
What is Plan Bee? Plan Bee, is an amplifying system imitating the buzz of a swarm of honey bees to keep wild elephants away from…
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MIYAWAKI” METHOD OF AFFORESTATION
08, Jul 2019 | Bio Diversity
Why in News? Telangana Government has introduced the Japanese “Miyawaki” method of afforestation to grow urban forests and expand the green cover as well as…
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NORMALIZED DIFFERENCE VEGETATION INDEX
27, Jun 2019 | Ecology Eco System
Why in News? Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) estimates the density of vegetation and amount of food abundance available for herbivorous animals, for example, elephants.…
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U.S.-CHINA TRADE WAR MAY REDUCE GLOBAL GROWTH RATE.
27, Jun 2019 | Ecology Eco System
The ongoing U.S.-China trade war escalation could knock off 0.4 percentage points from world GDP growth by 2020, and possibly lead to the lowest growth…
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Godavari Mangroves at Coringa Wildlife
19, Jun 2019 | Food processing and related industries in India - GS3F
Context: The government has begun the process to get UNESCO’s World Heritage Site status for Godavari Mangroves at Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, near Kakinada. Once the…
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NEW SPECIES IN EASTERN HIMALAYA- BALSAMS OR JEWELWEEDS.
16, Jun 2019 | Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation - GS3M
Context-23 new species from the eastern Himalayas of a group of plants commonly known as Balsams or jewelweeds UPSC mainly asks question regarding new species…
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IN ARUNACHAL, THE GOLDEN CAT WEARS NEW COLOURS
14, Jun 2019 | Bio Diversity
Why in News: Scientists have found that the golden cat in six types of colours cinnamon, golden, gray, melanistic, ocelot and tightly rosetted Golden is…
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DU SCIENTISTS DISCOVER FROG IN ASSAM
12, Jun 2019 | Bio Diversity
Why in News: A team of scientists from Delhi University and the Wildlife Institute of India, in collaboration with researchers from Indonesia and the US,…
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JUST 20% WATER LEFT IN 91 MAJOR RESERVOIRS
04, Jun 2019 | Bio Diversity
Why in News: According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), Water storage in reservoirs of most States of the west and south India has dipped…
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NEW SPECIES OF WASP IDENTIFIED IN GOA
30, May 2019 | Bio Diversity
Why in News: A new species of wasp from the genus Kudakrumia has been recently identified by scientists in Goa. Background: The wasp, Kudakrumia rangnekari,…
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RARE VINE SNAKE SPECIES DISCOVERED IN ODISHA
26, May 2019 | Bio Diversity
Why in News: At a time when coastal Odisha is staring at an ecology crisis in the aftermath of cyclone Fani, a team of researchers…
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HORNBILLS AMONG TOP SEED DISPERSERS, MOST THREATENED
19, May 2019 | Bio Diversity
Why in News: The study carried out in Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh noted that hornbills, one among the large-sized frugivores, are the top…
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150 MILLION DOLLAR LOAN LIKELY FOR REBUILD KERALA
19, May 2019 | Bio Diversity
Why in News: Negotiations are expected for the first tranche of the World Bank’s development policy loan (DPL) of $150 million for the Rebuild Kerala…
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DNA DATABASE COMING UP FOR INDIAN RHINO
14, May 2019 | Bio Diversity
Why in News: The Union Environment Ministry has embarked on a project to create DNA profiles of all rhinos in the country. Details: The Indian…
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ASSAM PRODUCES AN ORCHID LINK TO THE ORIENT
13, May 2019 | Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation - GS3M
Why in News: A discovery in Assam has given India one of its smallest orchids in terms of size and duration of bloom to be…
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RAIN-LOVING SNAKE DISCOVERED IN MIZORAM
12, May 2019 | Bio Diversity
Why in News: Russian journal published the discovery of a reddish-brown pit viper in Arunachal Pradesh, the New Zealand-based journal Zootaxa has come with the…
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CCMB SCIENTISTS SEQUENCE ASIATIC LION GENOME
12, May 2019 | Bio Diversity
Why in News: The entire genome of Asiatic lion, an endangered species, has been sequenced by scientists from CSIR- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology,…
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Barn owls to fight Rodents in Lakshadweep
10, May 2019 | IAS Gatewayy
Why in news: The Union Territory of Lakshadweep have ‘recruited’ three pairs of barn owls from Kerala to fight against the rodents. Details: The owls…
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INDIAN BULLFROGS TAKE TO INVASIVE BEHAVIOUR EARLY IN ANDAMANS
22, Apr 2019 | Bio Diversity
Why in news: Indian bullfrogs introduced in the Andaman Islands are invasive, and eat native wildlife including fish and lizards. Experiments reveal that bullfrog tadpoles…
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JET SUSPENDS ALL FLIGHTS AFTER BANKS REFUSE TO RELEASE FUNDS
19, Apr 2019 | Bio Diversity
Why in News: Jet Airways announced temporary suspension of all its international and domestic flights, with the last flight operating between Amritsar and Mumbai. Background:…
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MODERATE DRINKING MAY NOT BE GOOD FOR HEALTH: STUDY
07, Apr 2019 | Science & Technology
Why in News? One or two drinks a day might protect against stroke are not true, according to the results of a major genetic study.…
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WILL “NEELAKURINJI” BLOOM NEXT SEASON?
07, Apr 2019 | Bio Diversity
Why is it in News? Wildlife experts say the recent large-scale wildfires on the grassland could have wiped out all the seeds of the endemic…
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SC SUSPENDS ECO CLEARANCE FOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN GOA
01, Apr 2019 | Bio Diversity
Why in news: The SC in a recent judgement observed, that the health of the environment is key to preserving the right to life and…
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POISONED CATTLE CARCASS KILLS 37 VULTURES
31, Mar 2019 | Bio Diversity
37 vultures belonging to three endangered species died in eastern Assam after feeding on pesticide-laced cattle carcass. Most of the 37 vultures that died are…
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CAMERA TRAPS REVEAL SECRET LIVES OF RARELY STUDIED SMALL CATS
31, Mar 2019 | Bio Diversity
Northeast India is home to nine wild cats, including the ‘standard four’: The clouded leopard Asiatic golden cat Marbled cat and Leopard However, very little…
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FOSSILS PINPOINT DAY ASTEROID HIT EARTH, CAUSING MASS EXTINCTION
31, Mar 2019 | Bio Diversity
A fossilised snapshot of the day nearly 66 million years ago when an asteroid smacked the earth, fire rained from the sky and the ground…
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ecotourism centres closed in Wayanad
29, Mar 2019 | Environment
The entry of tourists to four major ecotourism tourism centres under the South Wayanad Forest Division in Wayanad district has been closed as per a…
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STUDYING ANIMAL SOUNDS FOR CONSERVATION
27, Mar 2019 | Bio Diversity
In some forests of central Africa, the Amazon and Borneo, the sounds of chainsaws and gunshots signs of illegal activities such as logging and poaching…
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VULTURE NESTS IN MUDUMALAI DECLINE
27, Mar 2019 | Bio Diversity
The number of vulture nests built during the breeding season in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve has dropped drastically, from 47 active nests in 2018 to…
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Rushikulya waits for Olive Ridleys
25, Mar 2019 | Bio Diversity
Even after waiting for almost a month, Olive Ridley turtles have not yet arrived for mass nesting at Odisha’s Rushikulya rookery and Devi river mouth.…
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Strawberries cherry-picked from Nilgiris
25, Mar 2019 | Bio Diversity
The Nilgiris, known for its teas, potatoes, carrots and a range of exotic vegetables, is witnessing farmers going in for strawberries too. Strawberry plants were…
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A climate vulnerability index for India on the anvil
15, Mar 2019 | Bio Diversity
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will be commissioning a study to assess the climate risks faced by States in India. This follows an…
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Despite objections, Bannerghatta National Park’s Eco-Sensitive Zone curtailed
15, Mar 2019 | Bio Diversity
Bannerghatta National Park’s Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ), which provides a regulated buffer zone around protected areas, will remain at 168.84 sq.km. despite thousands of citizens formally…
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A climate vulnerability index for India on the anvil
15, Mar 2019 | Bio Diversity
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will be commissioning a study to assess the climate risks faced by States in India. This follows an…
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Despite objections, Bannerghatta National Park’s Eco-Sensitive Zone curtailed
15, Mar 2019 | Bio Diversity
Bannerghatta National Park’s Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ), which provides a regulated buffer zone around protected areas, will remain at 168.84 sq.km. despite thousands of citizens formally…
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Much to gain if Paris climate goals are met
14, Mar 2019 | Bio Diversity
India could save at least $3 trillion (Rs. 210 trillion approx.) in healthcare costs if it implemented policy initiatives consistent with ensuring that the globe…
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India’s biodiversity-rich zones also ‘hotspots’ of human impacts
13, Mar 2019 | Bio Diversity
Human impacts on species occur across 84% of the earth’s surface, Southeast Asian tropical forests — including India’s biodiversity-rich Western Ghats, Himalaya and the north-east…
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India’s newest frog evolved 60 million years ago
13, Mar 2019 | Bio Diversity
The discovery of the starry dwarf frog, a nocturnal amphibian that lives under leaf litter on a mountain top in Kerala’s Wayanad Sanctuary. Morphological Characters:…
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Black panther photographed in the wild
13, Mar 2019 | Bio Diversity
A melanistic leopard, commonly known a black panther, was recently photographed in the wild in the Nilgiris. Conservationists said that sightings of melanistic leopards were…
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New app to help in Olive Ridley conservation
11, Mar 2019 | Bio Diversity
Students of a private engineering college have come out with a mobile application that can come in handy for the Forest Department to pool in…
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The mysterious disappearance of F103
11, Mar 2019 | Bio Diversity
A Royal Bengal tigress, F03, that strayed out of north-central Assam’s Orang National Park 16 months ago, had set off one of the biggest operations…
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Hammerhead shark refuge found in Galapagos
10, Mar 2019 | Environment
A new breeding ground for endangered hammerhead sharks has been found in the Galapagos Islands. This natural refuge off the island of Santa Cruz is…
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Worms that can regrow complete head found
10, Mar 2019 | Environment
The ability to regenerate an entire head evolved relatively recently in some species. Scientists have found at least four species of marine ribbon worms that…
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Pushing the purple frog to the edge
10, Mar 2019 | Environment
The rare and endangered soil-dwelling purple frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis) begins its life as a tadpole in certain fast-flowing streams of the Western Ghats. Scientists have…
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When the hills fall silent
10, Mar 2019 | Environment
A year ago, Kurangani, a village in the district of Theni, was teeming with people from cities like Chennai and Bengaluru, seeking adventure. They would…
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BRING IN CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON GST REVENUE-SHARING PROPORTION
08, Mar 2019 | Environment
In News: The Centre should bring in a constitutional amendment to fix the proportion of devolution of Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection between the…
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AIR POLLUTION DUE TO RESIDUE BURNING IFPRI STUDY
05, Mar 2019 | Environment
Mains: GS 3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment Air pollution due to crop residue burning in northern India causes an estimated economic…
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Report on Ganga Basin
24, Feb 2019 | Ecology Eco System
An assessment commissioned by the World Bank which submitted to the Central Water Commission found that Ganga river basin could see crop failures rise three-fold…
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Wood snake, last seen in 1878, rediscovered by scientists
12, Feb 2019 | Bio Diversity
A species of wood snake that wasn’t seen for 140 years has resurfaced in a survey conducted by scientists in the Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary. The…
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Plants might be able to remove lead from soil: Study
03, Feb 2019 | Bio Diversity
The plant accumulates lead in the root and shoot: A native roadside plant that can take up lead from the soil and thus help in…
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Spontaneous fire on Bengaluru’s Varthur Lake
21, Jan 2019 | Ecology Eco System
Context: A huge plume of smoke was spotted emanating from the middle of Varthur lake, raising the spectre of severe pollution leading to seemingly spontaneous…
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Train Hits Killed 49 Elephants in 3 Years
14, Jan 2019 | Bio Diversity
What’s in the News? In addition, 11 tigers and 13 lions died in railway and road accidents in the past three years In 2016, the…
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Animals begin to arrive at Wayanad Sanctuary
08, Jan 2019 | Ecology Eco System
Context: With the rise in mercury in the Nilgiri Biosphere, the seasonal migration of wild animals from wildlife sanctuaries in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to…
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Scientists Unearth Aisa’s First Fossil Dioscorea Yam Leaf
07, Jan 2019 | Bio Diversity
Details: A quaint fossilised leaf is one of the most recent finds throwing light on India's past. The leaf fossil is the first of Dioscorea…
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NGT Says Notification on Ground Water
05, Jan 2019 | Bio Diversity
Context: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has termed the suggestion by Union Water Resources Ministry to have 'Water Conservation free' as "unsustainable" Details: The NGT…
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Water Traces Found on Asteroid Bennu
12, Dec 2018 | Bio Diversity
Context: NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft discovered evidence of water on a relatively nearby skyscraper-sized asteroid, Bennu, a rocky acorn-shaped object that may hold clues to the…
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Around 5,000 Migratory Birds Flock in J&K’s Gharana Wetland
11, Dec 2018 | Bio Diversity
In News: Around 5,000 migratory birds have arrived at Gharana Wetland Conservation Reserve along the International border in the outskirts of Jammu. Key Facts: Located…
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Don’t believe the ANTI-GMO campaign
11, Dec 2018 | Bio Diversity
What’s in the Editorial? A review article, “Modern technologies for sustainable food and nutrition security”, which appeared in the November 25 issue of the peer-reviewed…
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Ant as Pollinator
06, Oct 2018 | Bio Diversity
Researchers from Kerala’s Central University have found that common white-footed ants are the best pollinators of a rare evergreen tree in the southern Western Ghats.…
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Mission Sequence Gene
05, Oct 2018 | Bio Diversity
In News: India is planning a major mission to sequence the genes of a “large” group of Indians — akin to projects in the U.K.,…
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Mission Anti-Microbial Resistance
04, Oct 2018 | Bio Diversity
In News: Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & technology, & Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council Jointly launched “Mission AMR” This call aims at finding…
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Mammals of India (MAOI)
03, Oct 2018 | Bio Diversity
Why in News? National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) in Bangalore have come up with a new citizen-science repository on Indian mammals, called Mammals of…
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Horn bill watch Initiative
05, Sep 2018 | Bio Diversity
A citizen science initiative of documenting Indian hornbills is providing valuable inputs for the conservation of the unique bird. About: Hornbill Watch (HW) is an…
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Trapped beetle may unlock pollination secrets
19, Aug 2018 | Bio Diversity
Scientist have discovered & Beetle trapped in amber that date back to 99 million years which may help understand the relationship between ancient flowering plants…
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Coral reefs could survive global warming says study
19, Aug 2018 | Bio Diversity
Study found that coral-algal partnerships have endured numerous climate change events since the age of dinosaurs. Past estimates placed the initiation of these symbiotic relationships…
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Khangchendzonga biosphere reserve Enters UNESCO list
18, Aug 2018 | Bio Diversity
The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve of Sikkim, the highest biosphere reserve in the country has been included in the UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Previously…
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First baby penguin
16, Aug 2018 | Bio Diversity
The first Humboldt penguin to be born in India named ‘the freedom baby’, born on August 15 in Byculla zoo. About the penguin: Eight penguins…
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Wild Dogs (Dholes)
19, Jul 2018 | Bio Diversity
A team of wildlife scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have collared a Dhole, the Indian wild dog, with a satellite transmitter. It…
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Harrier Species
18, Jul 2018 | Bio Diversity
Why in News? Harrier birds, a migratory raptor species that regularly visits India are declining. About the Species: Harrier is one of the several species…
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Endangered Elephant Shot Dead
15, Jul 2018 | Bio Diversity
A Pygmy elephant was shot dead on Borneo island in Malaysia About PYGMY Elephant The African PYGMY elephant formerly described as ‘Luxudonta Pumilio’ is currently…
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