Animals

Cheetah translocated to India from Namibia gives birth to 4 cubs: Minister

Four cubs have been born to one of the cheetahs translocated to India from Namibia, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Wednesday. He termed it a momentous event in India's wildlife conservation history during 'Amrit Kaal'. "I am delighted to share that four cubs have been born to one of the cheetahs translocated to India on 17th September 2022, under the visionary leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi ji (sic)," he tweeted. The minister congratulated the entire team of Project Cheetah for their relentless efforts in bringing back the large carnivore to India and for their efforts in correcting an ecological wrong done in the past. Under the ambitious Cheetah reintroduction programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had released the first batch of eight spotted felines -- five females and three males -- from Namibia into a quarantine enclosure at Kuno in Madhya Pradesh on his 72nd birthday on September 17 last year. One of the Namibian cheetahs, Sasha, had died due to a

Death whisperers: Elephant poaching for ivory remains unabated

Poachers kill 41 jumbos in 5 yrs; activists warn against India taking a softer stance on international ivory trade

'Cocaine hippos' in India? Experts flag their high maintenance cost

The Colombian authorities, according to reports, have reached out to the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Kingdom (GZRRC) in Jamnagar, Gujarat, for the rehabilitation of these feral hippos

Covid report based on China samples puts suspicion back to animal origins

In some samples there was more animal genetic material than human genetic material indicating possible SARS-CoV-2 infections in animals, the report says

Project Cheetah: Second batch of 12 to be flown in on Saturday

The project also plans to introduce additional prey in the larger enclosures, where the cheetahs were moved to after an initial stay in quarantine enclosures

How the dodo might return with the Nicobar pigeon as its surrogate mother

A 'de-extinction' firm plans to also bring back the Tasmanian wolf and woolly mammoth

Initial batch of 12 cheetahs to be flown in from South Africa in February

An initial batch of 12 cheetahs will be flown in from South Africa in February.

Man-animal conflicts rise as leopard population grows in Jaipur's forests

The increase in the leopards' population in two of Jaipur's forests, one of them Jhalana leopard reserve, has given rise to frequent man-animal encounters in the urban areas. The leopard count which stood at 12 in 2012 has increased to 40 in 2022, clocking an over 200 per cent growth in a decade. While the increase in population is good news for wildlife lovers, it has also raised concerns for people living nearby as the shy animal often end up entering the city. Experts insist that beefing up the prey base in the forests will help big cats keep to their natural habitats, as they often end up straying far too far away in their search of food or due to shortage of space. According to the forest department officials, Jhalana reserve has witnessed the highest growth in the population of leopards over the years because of the conservation works. The forest now has too many leopards. "According to the latest count, there are 40 leopards in both Jhalana leopard conservation and Ambagarh

Annual census of dolphins begins at Odisha's Bhitarkanika, Gahirmatha

The annual census of dolphins began in Odisha's Bhitarkanika national park and Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, officials said on Thursday. Over 100 wildlife experts were conducting the headcount in a three-day exercise, which began on Wednesday, they said. Each team is equipped with binoculars, GPS sets, rangefinders and data recording sheets for a foolproof headcount of the dolphins, officials of the Chilika Development Authority said. The exercise was being conducted using the 'Transact Survey Method', followed worldwide, they said. The Odisha coast has emerged as an ideal habitat for dolphins with an impressive rise of 33 per cent in their population, officials said, quoting the last census. A total of 726 dolphins were sighted during the census conducted in the last December-January season in the five coastal divisions in Chilika lagoon, they said. Six species of dolphins -- Irrawaddy, Bottlenose, Humpback, Striped, Finless and Spinner -- were recorded during the last census, th

Cheetahs flown from Namibia kill first prey in Kuno National Park

Two male cheetahs brought from Namibia to the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh have made their first kill within 24 hours of their release from a quarantine area to a larger acclimatisation enclosure, an official said on Monday. The cheetahs hunted down a cheetal (spotted deer) either on Sunday night or in the wee hours of Monday, Chief Conservator of Forest Uttam Kumar Sharma told PTI. The forest monitoring team got this information on Monday morning, he said. This was the first prey of the felines after their translocation from Namibia to India in mid-September along with six other cheetahs, the official said. The cheetahs - Freddie and Alton - were the first pair to be released into the larger enclosure on Saturday after being quarantined since September 17. The successful first hunt by the cheetahs within 24 hours of moving to the larger enclosure has also allayed the park management's concerns about their prey hunting ability. The cheetahs eat their prey within two hours

Six-month wait for public to see the wild cats: Project Cheetah Head

In a Q&A, S P Yadav says there have been concerns about the reintroduction project in terms of the ecological adaptation of the felines and co-habitation with other species

India's climate change takes a toll on the dragonflies, says report

The report also states that the dragonflies generally have a short life span of about a few weeks only

Statsguru: Why is the cheetah reintroduction in India a challenge?

Attempts at sustainable fishing practices which incorporate fisherman's wishes are said to be one way to address the issue

2,203 cows vaccinated by BMC against lumpy skin disease virus in Mumbai

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started vaccinating cows against the disease and so far the civic body has vaccinated 2,203 cows in Mumbai

Lumpy skin disease: Cow brought to protest in Rajasthan Assembly runs away

A cow, brought to the Rajasthan Assembly by a BJP MLA to protest the state government's "apathy" to the lumpy virus disease outbreak, ran away, despite his aides' best efforts

Rearing cheetahs: Kuno project requires careful handling

Dedicated follow-up is needed to ensure the Kuno ecosystem finds a new balance where these beauties can thrive

8 Cheetahs from Namibia set to arrive in Gwalior after 10-hour flight

The animals will be transported in wooden crates aboard a Boeing 747 aircraft, which sports the 'Siberian Tiger' theme livery

What is Project Cheetah? Eight African cheetahs to arrive in India

The cheetah is a flagship grassland species; whose conservation also helps in preserving other grassland species in the predator food chain

What is Project Cheetah?

The nation is waiting to celebrate the arrival of cheetahs from Africa. Most of us may have never seen a cheetah as it went extinct from India about 70 years ago. Here's more about Project Cheetah

International Dog Day - 20 Facts about dogs, founder, celebrations

International Dog Day will be celebrated across the world today. While there can be many reasons to celebrate these four-legged friends, let's recall the history, facts and significance of the event