Page 2 - Wildlife

Arunachal highway through tiger reserve approved by wildlife board

The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife has cleared a proposal to divert 310 hectares of forest land from the core area of Namdapha Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh for the construction of the Arunachal Frontier Highway (NH-913). The decision comes even as some members flagged serious concerns over inadequate wildlife mitigation measures and the planned felling of over 1.5 lakh trees. The project in the Changlang district, connects NH-215 near Kharsang to the Miao-Gandhigram-Vijaynagar road, a stretch of the strategic NH-913 corridor close to the India-Myanmar border, according to government records. The Public Works Department (PWD), Arunachal Pradesh, had sought 248.79 hectares (ha) of forest land for intermediate laning and 61.21 ha for muck disposal. On June 26, member secretary of the committee said a meeting regarding the project proposal had been held with committee members H S Singh and R Sukumar, along with the state's chief wildlife warden (CWW). It w

NBWL clears over 30 defence projects in protected areas across states

The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), headed by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, has recommended 32 defence infrastructure proposals involving diversion of land from protected areas and eco-sensitive zones across Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Ladakh and Sikkim. These include construction of strategic roads, helipads, training areas, ammunition depots, housing for troops and artillery regiments, with the bulk of the projects located in Ladakh's ecologically fragile Karakoram and Changthang sanctuaries. In Arunachal Pradesh, the committee cleared two major projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) inside Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary: the 56-km Malinye-Balua-Kapuda road (involving 111.29 hectares of forest land and 9.73 ha from the Eco-Sensitive Zone) and the 20.88-km Kapuda-Phuphu road (involving 44.13 ha of forest land). "The animal passage plan for the present proposal should address the wildlife movement for the animals found in the sanctuary

Centre plans revision of eco-sensitive zone guidelines amid concerns

The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) has called for a review of the guidelines governing Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) around protected areas, stressing the need for a more "flexible" and "site-specific" approach that balances conservation goals with local socio-economic "realities". ESZs are buffer areas created around protected forests, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks to protect wildlife and biodiversity from harmful human activities, such as mining, construction and polluting industries. Activities like farming, eco-tourism and the use of renewable energy are usually allowed with restrictions in these areas. Chairing a meeting of the SC-NBWL on June 26, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said, "Strict protection must be ensured for core areas, especially those that are the origin points of tributaries and critical water resources. However, extending a blanket 10-kilometre ESZs to all protected areas, irrespective of local ecological and

Delhi Zoo to sign MoU with Vantara, Congress raises privatisation fears

The agreement will be a 'knowledge-sharing partnership' between the Delhi NZP, GZRRC, and the Gujarat government, a senior official said

RTI reveals Iran keen to learn from India's cheetah revival efforts

Iran, working to save its rapidly declining cheetah population, has shown interest in learning cheetah management from India, according to information received through an RTI application. Rajesh Gopal, chairman of the government's Cheetah Project Steering Committee, shared this information during a meeting of the panel in February. "In a recent meeting, Iranian officials have expressed their interest in learning cheetah management in India," the minutes of the meeting quoted Gopal as saying. He also suggested that the International Big Cat Alliance, an India-led initiative, could reach out to other cheetah range countries interested in learning about cheetah conservation and management. However, when asked if Iran had formally approached India in this regard, a senior official of the National Tiger Conservation Authority said, "There is no such proposal at this juncture." The government's "Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetahs in India" also mentions that India would be willing

Cheetahs Prabhash, Pavak relocated to MP's Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary

Two South African cheetahs, Prabhash and Pavak, who were translocated to Kuno National Park more than two years ago, found a new home on Sunday when Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav released them into the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. These six-year-old male cheetahs, originally brought from South Africa's Waterberg Biosphere Reserve to Kuno National Park in February 2023, arrived at Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, which spans Neemuch and Mandsaur districts, after a road journey. CM Yadav released them in the sanctuary at Basigaon Khemla on Sunday evening. Earlier, Yadav highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spearheaded a successful effort to reintroduce cheetahs to Asia in September 2022. "It is our good fortune that the most favourable conditions for the restoration of cheetahs in all of Asia exist in our country, particularly in Madhya Pradesh," he remarked. Earlier in the day, the two cheetahs were transported by road to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, located over 250 kilometr

Wildlife reserves across GCC countries grow by 6.6% in 2023, shows data

According to the statistics published in the March 2025 bulletin, the cumulative area of nature reserves in the GCC recorded a notable leap in 2020

The 'de-extinction' of the dire wolf could be both a gift and a curse

Despite its potential for conservation, questions around the consequences of resurrecting extinct species remain

1st photo of Woolly Flying Squirrel recorded in Himachal's Miyar Valley

The wildlife wing of Himachal Pradesh Forest Department (HPFD) has captured the first-ever photographic evidence of the elusive Woolly Flying Squirrel at Miyar Valley in Lahaul and Spiti district. This rare documentation was made during a camera trapping survey conducted between October 10 and December 4, 2024, a forest department spokesperson said in a statement issued on Saturday. The spokesperson said the Woolly Flying Squirrel (Eupetaurus cinereus), endemic to the north-western Himalayas, was long believed to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1994 after a gap of nearly 70 years. The confirmation of its presence marks a noteworthy addition to the state's list of mammals and a significant milestone in wildlife conservation efforts. He said that the camera trapping survey was part of the Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) initiative. The survey followed SPAI protocols and involved the installation of 62 camera traps across strategic locations in Miyar Valley.

Man behind PM Modi's Project Cheetah, Vincent Van Der Merwe, found dead

Vincent Van Der Merwe (42) was a 'cheetah expert' from South Africa. He was found dead in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Vincent was the expert who advised the Indian government on 'Project Cheetah'

Cheetah, 4 cubs to be released into wild in MP's Kuno National Park

In a boost to India's cheetah conservation project, a female big cat and its four cubs will be released into the wild at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on Monday, a development expected to draw tourists to the facility. Sharing the information on X on Sunday night, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the increased number of cheetahs will offer tourists an opportunity to watch them in their natural habitat, which will attract more visitors to the KNP, located in Sheopur district. "Female cheetah Gamini from South Africa will be released in the free-range tomorrow (Monday) along with her two male and two female cubs in Khajuri tourism zone of the Kuno National Park," Yadav said in the post. The Madhya Pradesh government is determined to take wildlife conservation and tourism to new heights, he added. After the release of Gamini and her four cubs, the number of cheetahs in the wild in KNP will rise to 17, while nine will stay in the enclosures. According to officials, Gamini g

First-ever survey finds over 6,300 river dolphins in country; highest in UP

The first population estimation of riverine dolphins in India has revealed the presence of 6,327 dolphins in the Ganga, Brahmaputra and Indus river systems, according to a government report published on Monday. As part of 'Project Dolphin', a comprehensive survey was conducted for the first time to estimate the population of river dolphins across eight states -- Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam and Punjab. Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of dolphins at 2,397, followed by Bihar 2,220, West Bengal 815, Assam 635, Jharkhand 162, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh 95, and Punjab 3, the report said. The Ganges river dolphin, known for its unique features, is found in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system and its tributaries across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. A small population of the Indus river dolphin, a close relative of the Ganges river dolphin, is found in the Indus river system in India. According to the report titled ...

Cheetah reintroduction plan to be expanded to Gujarat, MP's Gandhisagar: PM

After Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park, cheetah introduction will be expanded to Banni Grasslands in Gujarat and Gandhisagar Sanctuary of MP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced at the seventh National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) meeting here on Monday. African cheetahs were reintroduced at Kuno National Park in two batches in September 2022 and February 2023. "The Prime Minister announced that cheetah introduction will be expanded to other areas, including the Gandhisagar sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh and Banni Grasslands in Gujarat," a government release stated. The release, however, did not specify details about the number of wild cats to be brought in at both forest areas and the timeline. Banni Grasslands is a 2,500 sq km protected forest in the Kutch district of Gujarat that supports numerous animal genetic resources like Banni buffalo, Kankrej cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and horses. The grassland is a breeding and nesting ground for more than 250 bird species, including

PM Modi chairs Wildlife Board meet in Gujarat, announces lion census

Soon after completing his lion safari at Gir National Park in the morning, Modi headed for the NBWL meeting, at Sasan in Gujarat's Junagadh district

World Wildlife Day 2025: History, theme, Modi's statement and more

World Wildlife Day, celebrated on March 3, aims to raise awareness about the planet's diverse flora and fauna. Marking the occasion, PM Modi also emphasised the importance of wildlife conservation

Priyanka Gandhi urges Kerala CM to release funds for human-wildlife victims

She further said that on recent visits, she met with the families of the victims and, also discussed the matter with local authorities

Cheetah 'Veera' gives birth to two cubs in MP's Kuno National Park

Cheetah Veera gave birth to two cubs at Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district on Tuesday, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said. With these births, KNP is now home to 26 cheetahs, including 14 cubs. In a post on X, Yadav said, "Two cheetah cubs enter Madhya Pradesh's Jungle Book. I am happy to share that the number of cheetahs is continuously increasing in the state. Today, female cheetah Veera has given birth to two cubs." He congratulated the officers, doctors and field staff engaged in the cheetah project and said as a result of their tireless work, Madhya Pradesh is also known as the "land of cheetahs". The chief minister said with the increase in the cheetah population in the state, tourism in the state is getting a boost and opening new doors of employment. "We are always ready for conservation, promotion and restoration of all wildlife along with cheetahs," he said. On September 17, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released eight Namibian cheetahs five

20 cheetahs from Kenya to be quarantined at MP's sanctuary before release

Under the supervision of scientists from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) here, 20 cheetahs from Kenya will undergo a 15-day quarantine at Madhya Pradesh's Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary before their release into the wild, officials said on Wednesday. The cheetahs are scheduled to arrive in India between February 25 and September 25 as a part of efforts to bloster the population of the species, declared extinct in the country in 1952. A team of wildlife scientists, including IVRI senior scientist and in-charge of its Wildlife Department, Dr. Abhijeet, will inspect the quarantine facility. The cheetahs will be housed in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur district before being released into the wild. "Cheetahs are being brought to India again and before being released at the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, they will be quarantined. A team of veterinary scientists has been formed to inspect the quarantine center, evaluate the facilities, and

Centre approves oil and gas exploration in Assam Wildlife Sanctuary area

The Centre's wildlife panel has approved a proposal to carry out oil and gas exploration in the eco-sensitive zone of the Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam's Jorhat district. The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), chaired by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, approved the proposal by Vedanta Group's Cairn Oil & Gas during its meeting on December 21, according to the minutes of the meeting. Assam's principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) and chief wildlife warden had recommended clearance for the project in August last year, citing "national interest". The Forest Advisory Committee of the Union Environment Ministry had also granted in-principle approval during its meeting on August 27 last year. According to the minutes of the NBWL meeting, a team comprising officials from the Union Environment Ministry, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and the Assam Forest Department inspected the project site, located about 13 km ..

Five cubs born under Vantara's cheetah conservation program in Jamnagar

As per Vantara's objectives, these cubs will soon be rewilded to help restore India's biodiversity