Shahtoosh trade case back on track: complaint filed 13 years after seizure
New Delhi: More than 13 years after the seizure of 12 shahtoosh shawls by the Customs officials in the Indian capital, a complaint was filed last week against the accused party – the Cottage Industries Exposition (CIE). The complaint was filed by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) on April […] Read more »
Synthetic beaks distributed for hornbill conservation in Arunachal Pradesh
Seijosa (Arunachal Pradesh): Continuing their effort to conserve hornbills in the northeast Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, the state Forest Department and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), distributed synthetic hornbill beaks to members of the local Nyishi community, last week. The Nyishis have increasingly come to accept the artificial beak, […] Read more »
India begins contributing to global whale shark research; first individual identified in Gujarat
Veraval (Gujarat): With scientific studies on whale sharks recently initiated in the western state of Gujarat, Indian marine conservationists have identified the country’s first individual whale shark. The identification process employed underwater photography and subsequent comparison of the photographs in a global database of whale sharks reported and identified from […] Read more »
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala): Forest authorities of the south Indian state of Kerala who met yesterday for a day-long workshop to discuss long-term elephant conservation in the state stressed on the need for habitat degradation control and involvement of local communities. The workshop on ‘elephant corridor securement and human-elephant conflict mitigation’ was […] Read more »
Threats spur project to protect the grizzled giant squirrel
Sirivilliputhur (Tamil Nadu) Increasing threats including habitat destruction and conflicts with humans have prompted conservationists to initiate a Rapid Action Project (RAP) to help protect the grizzled giant squirrel (Ratufa macroura) in Sirivilliputhur, Tamil Nadu. The project, aimed mainly at mitigating human-grizzled giant squirrel conflicts, includes research on the species […] Read more »
Introducing alternative method to train captive elephants in India
New Delhi: In a bid to introduce an alternative to traditional elephant training methods in India, the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) is organising a series of workshops by renowned animal trainer Dr Andrew McLean. The initiative, supported by Working for Animals, Australia, aims to sensitise the Indian authorities concerned, […] Read more »
Indian bear dancer arrested in Nepal; one sloth bear seized
Nawalparasi (Nepal): A kalandar (bear dancer) of Indian origin was apprehended by the Nepal police and Forest officials assisted by local villagers in Nawalparasi district along the Indo-Nepal border, on Tuesday. A sloth bear was confiscated from his possession. The accused against whom no charges has been filed yet, is […] Read more »
Third ivory seizure in Tamil Nadu in less than a month
Salem (Tamil Nadu): Authorities in Tamil Nadu have busted yet another gang of wildlife offenders involved in illegal ivory trade, marking the third ivory seizure in less than a month in the southern Indian state. Six tusks were seized and one person was arrested in the latest seizure on March […] Read more »
Wildlife trader convicted 13 years after arrest
New Delhi: The Court of the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Dig Vinay Singh, yesterday convicted a wildlife trader Bishan Singh, arrested in the Indian capital in March 1997. The sentence is scheduled to be announced on April 5. Read more »
Three seizures in three days: four leopard skins, two tusks recovered; 10 arrested
New Delhi: Four leopard skins and two elephant tusks were recovered from traders in three separate undercover operations conducted over three consecutive days last week. Ten persons were arrested following the operations by authorities in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh that were assisted by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI). Read more »
