Study in the wild to create awareness of conservation

The last significant vulture population in the Western and Eastern Ghats are threatened by the indiscriminate use of pesticides, say researchers watching vulture habitats. A team of researchers from CareEarth Arulagam has taken up a detailed study in the wild and creating awareness of conservation of these forest scavengers. The organisation has its field station located within the vulture habitat at Bhavanisagar in Erode district.

‘Secrets of Wild India', a three-part series highlighting the diversity of Indian wildlife, recently won the ‘Best Television Series' award at the International Wildlife Film Festival held at Montana in the U.S.A.

The series had to compete with films from across the globe at the prestigious festival. ‘Secrets of Wild India' was commissioned by National Geographic and is currently being shown in India.

Solar fences, early warning systems and trip wire systems are some of the new initiatives that will be in place to reduce man-animal conflict in Valparai plateau.

In this highly conflict-prone zone, where herds of elephant and leopards often stray into human habitations, the Forest Department will provide 20 km of solar power fencing to residential colonies in Valparai and Manambolly ranges to the save lives and crop.

The fourth phase of the intensive ‘Tiger Monitoring Programme,' envisaged by the Tiger Task Force of the Union Government, began at the Kalakkad - Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) in Tirunelveli on Friday.

Giving details about the programme H. Malleshappa, Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director, KMTR told The Hindu that the work on three phases had been completed. In the fourth phase, the setting up of 100 cameras in every four sq.km. area had begun.

Will identify herd and fix it on one of the animals
CHENNAI: In an attempt to reduce man-animal conflict and warn farmers about the movement of crop raiding elephants in Coimbatore Forest Circle, the State Forest Department has proposed to radio collar an elephant from a herd, which will be monitored for two years.

Forest Department sources said the World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF-I) has

Better patrolling, prevention measures, growing awareness and rain cited as reasons

CHENNAI: There has been a considerable decrease in the number of forest fires in the State this season.

A.S.

CHENNAI: A pure white frog was sighted in a house at Pulikudivakkam, near Chengalpattu, a fortnight ago.

Herpetologist Romulus Whitaker spotted the frog in his garden.

The frog