The Hunt with olive ridley turtles in rushikulya in the eastern coast of india Winner of Sanctuary Asia Wildlife Service Award A thing of beauty! In NSTR

"The choice is ours to make: Will we stand by silent, and watch the slaughter? Watch the forests fall? Watch, as wild creatures fall off the map of India? Do we want an India that is silenced of the roar of the tiger? Do we want to live in a country where forests are barren, its land infertile? Or will we stand up and fight? So that we do not tell our children, ‘Once were tigers....." If not, help us, help them.

+my writings
08th May 2014
AT CMS

Manas: Nobody’s tiger reserve…

Manas, today, again stands at breaking point. Two days ago, with the outbreak of violence in the region, over 5,000 villagers surrounded and mobbed the Bansbari Range Office causing extensive damage and compelling Forest staff to fire in self-defence. Another camp in the national park, Narayangudi, has been burnt and destroyed and park vehicles have been targeted too. Vehicles of conservation NGOs working the region were also attacked. It is reported that there is a move to withdraw all arms from forest staff in Manas NP. If this is done, how will they defend themselves and the wildlife of Manas in the face of such threats? It is critical to strengthen the security by putting in paramilitary forces till situations improve and normal patrolling inside Manas can be facilitated. Equally, the forest staff and management of Manas must be supported and strengthened.

+my writings
09th Apr 2014
goa mining

Ecologically (In)sensitive Areas

What has dictated ESZs instead, are interests other than ecological. Taking note of this, members of the NBWL’s Standing Committee, pointed out in a meeting that “the methodology of selection of many ESZs appears to be arbitrary, and at times, influenced by factors other than ecological” and pressed for “a careful oversight mechanism.” Yet, the process has been opaque, with negligible involvement of ecologists, conservationists or scientists outside of the government either at the state or at the centre.

+my writings
09th Apr 2014
Little space for conservation in the election manifestos

Little space for conservation in the election manifestos

The year 2014 saw, what is being tipped as, India’s most exciting Parliamentary elections in India. But sorely missing in the electoral fervour, speeches and promises, debates and issues is...

+my writings
03rd Apr 2014
ele-corbett

A wildlife conservation manifesto for political parties

These were the suggestions sent by me-Bagh to major political parties for inclusion and consideration in their manifesto. I restricted it to wildlife conservation..though was very tempted to include issues...

+my writings
01st Apr 2014
Loktak Lake_sh patgiri_low rez

Missing the Woods for Votes

But why blame the politicians alone for the absence of the 'E word' from election vocabulary? The fault lies with the electorate. The politicians – or even the media – mere­ly reflect the mood and priorities of the public. Elections are the one time that leaders stoop to conquer and echo the concerns of the people, who have failed to realise the costs we and our future generations pay when we cal­lously disregard the environment for immediate ‘gains’. We get the environment we deserve.

+conservation
30th Mar 2014
nmodi_hornbill on head

PM aspirant’s headgear..

My letter on PM aspirant’s headgear published in Outlook this week: “So, when features the myriad hats adorned by’ political leaders, it fails to mention that one such crown worn...

+my writings
25th Mar 2014
shark_finning

Sharks fall prey to human jaws

But the threat to sharks goes much beyond bad press and undeserved infamy. Sharks today are amongst our most threatened species. According to a global analysis carried out by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Shark Specialist Group, over a quarter of the world’s sharks (about 500 species) are threatened with extinction. The study revealed that sharks are substantially more than most other groups of animals. Sharks also have the lowest percentage of species considered ‘safe’, with only 23 per cent categorised as ‘Least Concern’ in the IUCN Red List. The cause for such sharp declines is over-fishing and the demand for shark-fin soup, a delicacy in south-east Asia, particularly China. No less than 100 million sharks are caught every year to cater to the international demand.

+conservation
15th Mar 2014
hangul_low res

J&K’s pride faces extinction

The tiny habitat of Dachigam is beset with problems. For about five decades, in defiance of every law of the land, a Government-owned sheep breeding centre has flourished within the park, while the hanguls....have not

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