Hornbills thriving in Malayattur forests

K.S. Sudhi KOCHI,   The Hindu, March 19, 2011 Hornbills are thriving in the Malayattur forests. A recent bird survey held in the Malayattur forest division has revealed the presence of an “excellent population of Great Pied Hornbills.” While the Malabar Grey Hornbill was spotted in good numbers, the Malabar Pied Hornbill was spotted from two base camps set up for the survey, said P.O. Nameer, State coordinator,...

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A grove survives, thanks to a myth

Ignatius Pereira Th Hindu, Mar 17, 2011 KOLLAM: A clump of weird looking hardwood trees deep inside the Kanayar forest of Kollam district and adjoining forest areas of Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu owe its survival to an Adivasi myth. In an area where poaching was rampant, these trees were spared in spite of being valuable timber if axed down. ‘Demon slayer' The...

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Vultures get on endangered list

K. S. Sudhi KOCHI,   The Hindu, March 11, 2011   Vultures soar high in the sky. But their population chart shows a steep fall over the last one decade. It is estimated that the vulture population has declined by 90 per cent over the last 10 years. The plight of vultures was highlighted by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest in its list on critically endangered species. The most regularly found vultures...

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Eco-sensitive areas of Western Ghats to be prioritised

K. S. Sudhi KOCHI,   The Hindu, March 7, 2011  The ecologically sensitive areas of Western Ghats, the hill range of which starts near the Maharashtra-Gujarat border running to nearly 1600 km along the States of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala and ending at Kanyakumari, will be prioritised into five categories based on richness of biodiversity and other ecological factors. The Western Ghats...

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Athirappilly project threatens hornbills

Mini Muringatheri   ATHIRAPPILLY (THRISSUR),   The Hindu, February 19, 2011 If you trek deep into the Athirappilly-Vazhachal forests in the Southern Western Ghats, chances are that you may hear, from up in the canopy of trees, a heavy whooshing sound – somewhat similar to that of a jet airplane. If you are lucky,...

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Bird survey spots a ‘newcomer'

K.S. Sudhi KOCHI,   The Hindu,February 15, 2011  Grey-necked bunting, a dry area bird, has been spotted from the shola forests of south Kerala. The bird, usually found in normal plains, was spotted at an altitude of 1,200 metres at Athirumala in Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary recently. Researchers said the bird was very rare...

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Ponnambalamedu to be part of Periyar Tiger Reserve

Radhakrishnan Kuttoor The Hindu,Feb 15, 2011 PATHANAMTHITTA: Ponnambalamedu and surrounding forest areas under the Goodrickal range of the Ranni Forest Division will be annexed to the Periyar Tiger Reserve soon. Ranni Divisional Forest Officer L. Krishnaprasad told The Hindu...

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There is more to PTR than tigers

Giji K. Raman KATTAPPANA,   The Hindu, February 6, 2011  A Malabar pied hornbill in the reserve. The Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) harbours a wide variety of migratory and endemic birds too, with various ornithological surveys in the sanctuary recording 323 species so far. In a recent survey, nine new species, Spot-billed pelican, Pheasant-tailed jacana, Purple heron, Purple swamp hen, Western reef egret,...

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Now, Kurinji blossoms on your table

K.S. Sudhi The Hindu, Feb 03, 2011 KOCHI: Kurinji flowers of various hues are to blossom on your tabletops round the year. The managers of the Eravikulam National Park have come up with a Kurinji tabletop calendar this year showcasing 12 rare species of the plant variety. The name Kurinji evokes images of gregarious blossoming of the Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) in Rajamala and adjoining areas. Though much has...

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Survey finds 200 bird species in Wayanad part of Western Ghats

E.M. Manoj The Hindu, Jan 28, 2011 KALPETTA: The Malabar Ornithological Survey 2010-11, the first ever comprehensive study on avifauna in north Kerala, has proved that the Wayanad part of the Western Ghats is a critical habitat for endemic as well as endangered birds. ...

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