Eating into Ashtamudi, with impunity

Ignatius Pereira, KOLLAM,   The Hindu, December 31, 2015 Even as there is no dearth of warnings from the official side of strong action against encroachers, encroachments of massive scale continue unabated along the Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam district. The encroachers often feel that it is their right to encroach upon the lake,...

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Dilution of wetlands Act to hit Palakkad the most

K.A. Shaji, Plakkad The Hindu, December 31, 2015 Attempts by the State government to incorporate a clause of the Finance Bill 2015 in the Kerala Paddy Land and Wetlands Conservation Act, recommending regularisation of paddy fields reclaimed before 2008 would turn disadvantageous to Palakkad district, which has the largest acreage...

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Ponmala: encroachment on government land identified

Radhakrishnan Kuttoor, PATHANAMTHITTA,   The Hindu, December 31, 2015 Disproving the claims of a private granite quarry at Ponmala in Thottappuzhasserry grama panchayat near Kozhencherry, the Revenue department has found encroachment on 1.46 acres of government land by the quarry operator. In the report submitted to the Thiruvalla...

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Rare butterfly sighted at Arippa forests

The Hindu, December 30, 2015 Nature lovers from the Thiruvananthapuram-based Warblers and Waders chanced upon a ‘very rare’ Banded Royal-Rachana jalindra (Horsfield) butterfly at the Arippa Ammayambalampacha forests on the borders of Kollam-Thiruvananthapuram districts during a two-day nature watching camp organised in connection...

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Two genetically different populations

Ignatius Pereira KOLLAM,   The Hindu, November 28, 2015 The lion-tailed macaques ( Macaca silenus ) which are found only in forests from the central to the southernmost tip of the Western Ghats are not a single entity. A recent scientific study has shown that the 4,000 monkeys that survive now comprise two genetically different...

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Animals caught in the headlights

Shekar Dattatri, Praveen Bhargav The Hindu, October 30, 2015 Thousands of grand old trees flanked most of our highways ten to 15 years ago, but succumbed to the axe when two-lane highways were upgraded to four-lane or six-lane ones. Now, in a bid to bring back lost green cover, the government has announced a ‘Green Highways Policy’,...

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Sasthamkotta lake in peril

T. Nandakumar, Thiruvananthapuram The Hindu, October 28, 2015 Indiscriminate sand mining, unscientific construction and over-extraction of water have led to the depletion and environmental degradation of the Sasthamkotta freshwater lake, impacting on the biodiversity and groundwater availability in the region. A study conducted by...

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Survey spots 51 odonate species in Munnar

Radhakrishnan Kuttoor, PATHANAMTHITTA The Hindu, October 26, 2015 The four-day odonate survey, organised by the Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department in association with the Kottayam Nature Society and Travancore Natural History Society, has identified 51 species of dragon and damsel flies in the high altitude Munnar landscape. G. Prasad, Wildlife Warden at Munnar, told The Hindu that Davenport’s False Spreadwing,...

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Four new crab species found in Kerala

T. Nandakumar, Thiruvananthapuram The Hindu, October 25, 2015 Researchers at the Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, University of Kerala, have reported the discovery of four new species of crab from the Kerala coast, highlighting the crustacean diversity in the State. The discovery of three hermit crabs has been recorded as part of a collaborative research project by A. Biju Kumar, head of the department;...

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Six persons arrested with anteater

The Hindu, October 21, 2015 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,   Forest officers on Tuesday arrested six persons from Sreekaryam on charges of possessing an Indian pangolin (scaly anteater), a highly endangered species included in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act. In an operation based on a tip-off received by the Intelligence...

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HC comes to the rescue of Pampa

K.C. Gopakumar KOCHI,  The Hindu, October 17, 2015 Concerned at the aggravation of the pollution of the Pampa, a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Friday ordered that throwing of clothes and other belongings into the river by the Sabarimala pilgrims be considered an offence under the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. It directed that those acting to the contrary should be proceeded...

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Rare bird comes calling

The Hindu, October 10, 2015 Kochi: A rare winter visitor to the northern stretches of south Asia, Spotted Crake ( Porzana porzana ), has been spotted at Thottappally in Alappuzha district. Birdwatchers believe that this is the first sighting of the bird in Kerala. Avid birdwatcher and member of Kottayam Nature Society V. Prashob Kumar said he spotted the bird being attacked by crows at the compound of his house on October...

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A green concern over Nelliampathy

K.A. Shaji,  Palakkad, October 8, 2015 An environmental catastrophe is lurking in the Nelliampathy hill ranges, home to the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve and numerous streams irrigating farmlands in Palakkad and Thrissur districts of Kerala and Coimbatore and Tirupur districts of Tamil Nadu. Located in a geographically unstable area, the hills, once known for supplying the finest oranges to Buckingham Palace in Great...

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Openbill’s nesting spot brings joy to birders

Jabir Mushthari Kozhikode, October 8, 2015    The spotting of large nesting places of Asian Openbill Stork, a large wading migratory bird, at Thirunavaya in Malappuram district has brought cheers to wildlife enthusiasts and bird watchers here as it was an indication of their peaceful breeding and growing...

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Forest Dept. stretching beyond its limit

Sarath Babu George, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,   The Hindu, October 6, 2015 The Forest and Wildlife Department has been stretching the resources under its disposal for finding vital leads in the elephant poaching case. However, the limitations have now threatened to hinder the progress of investigation. Boost to probe The arrests of Umesh Agarwal from Delhi and Rajan alias Eagle Rajan on Sunday from Thiruvananthapuram...

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‘Eagle’ Rajan’s arrest exposes huge money trail

G. Anand, Thiruvananthapuram,  The Hindu, October 6, 2015 “Eagle” Rajan earned his nickname from his long past of procuring wild-bird figurines, among other ivory artefacts, for rich collectors in the country and abroad. Wildlife enforcers, who arrested the suspected 50-year-old ivory dealer here on Sunday, said the moniker was also a tribute to his predatory business acumen that helped him secretly dominate...

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Nilgiri Tit among butterflies spotted in Chinnar

Radhakrishnan Kuttoor, PATHANAMTHITTA The Hindu, October 6, 2015 Three rare species of butterflies have been spotted during a bi-monthly follow-up survey of butterflies held in the Chinnar wildlife sanctuary in Munnar on Sunday. The three new sightings are Sullied Sailor, Indian Ace, and Painted Courtesan. With this, the total...

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New fish species discovered

Thiruvananthapuram,   The Hindu, October 5, 2015 A new fish species belonging to a rare genus has been discovered from the Manimala river at Paduthode near Mallappally in Pathanamthitta district. Named Batasio flavus , the species belonging to the Bagridae family was discovered, named and described by Mathews Plamoottil,...

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KSBB forms the Pampa conservation panel

PATHANAMTHITTA,   The Hindu, October 5, 2015 The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) has constituted a Joint Pampa River Biodiversity Conservation Committee aimed at effective implementation of various river conservation schemes. The committee comprises the biodiversity management committees in 26 grama panchayats situated on the banks of the Pampa and the Chengannur municipality. The Pathanamthitta district...

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Nesting on Kochi’s green spaces

K.A. Martin, Kochi The Hindu, October 4, 2015 Kochi’s bird population has managed to cling to some islands of greenery amid increasing urban activities, say birders, who also pointed to deteriorating quality of what have been traditional bird spots. Bird watchers and photographers were able to spot 31 species in an hour in the property...

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Greens air their worries over Vizhinjam

The Hindu, October 1, 2015 Thiruvananthapuram,   Representatives of various environmental groups participating in a Green Assembly organised by the Kerala Sasthra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP) here on Wednesday resolved to close ranks to highlight the economic and environmental impact of the Vizhinjam seaport project and protect on the livelihoods of fishermen. Narmada Bachao Andolan leader and social activist Medha...

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New lizard species discovered

K R Rajeev |, KOZHIKODE      Times of India, Oct 1, 2015Researchers have discovered a new species of rock-dwelling lizard at Kanker district of Chhattisgarh. The finding by a team of scientists led by B H Channakeshava Murthy of the Western Ghats Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kozhikode, was published in international scientific journal Zootaxa last week. The new gecko...

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Butterfly survey spots 206 species in Munnar

Radhakrishnan Kuttoor,  PATHANAMTHITTA The Hindu,  September 30, 2015 The first ever comprehensive butterfly survey held in the Munnar wildlife division has spotted as many as 206 new species. The three-day survey, conducted by the Kerala Forest Department in association with the Travancore Natural History Society (TNHS)...

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Counting Munnar’s winged beauties

Radhakrishnan Kuttoor Pathanamthitta,  The Hindu, September 23, 2015 The Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department is to launch the first-ever comprehensive and scientific survey of butterflies in the Munnar landscape soon. The three-day survey will commence on Thursday, according to G. Prasad, wildlife warden at Munnar. Mr. Prasad...

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Greens see red as State relaxes norms for quarries

The Hindu, September 17, 2015 In a decision that is bound to have far-reaching consequences, the State Cabinet has exempted quarries up to one hectare from the need to secure environmental clearance. Talking to the media after a meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the decision was taken in the light...

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Rare gull sighted at Puthuvype

KOTTAYAM,   The Hindu, September 10, 2015 A rare breed of gulls has been sighted at Puthuvype in Ernakulam district by a birdwatcher from Kottayam. According P.J. George, birdwatcher and English teacher at St. Dominic’s College, Kanjirappally, a pair of the rare Arctic-breeding Taimyr gulls were sighted on January 22. “This is...

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Ghats plant found to have anti-diabetic traits

T. Nandakumar, Thiruvananthapuram The Hindu, September 8, 2015 Scientists from the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) have completed pre-clinical studies establishing the anti-diabetic properties of a plant found in the Western Ghats. The five-year-long study was based on the knowledge shared by T.M. Shahul Hamid, a traditional healer hailing from Karunagapally. “The trials have...

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Alien plants strangle local ones

E.M. Manoj, KALPETTA,   The Hindu, September 7, 2015 The rampant growth of invasive alien plants is a concern for the wildlife managers in the district. “The spread of invasive plants, especially Senna spectabilis , is posing a major threat to the forest areas of the district, due to its quick growth and coppicing character,”...

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Evict encroachers from forestland: HC

The Hindu, September 5, 2015  KOCHI, A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Friday directed the State government to initiate proceedings under the Kerala Land Conservancy Act and Kerala Forest Act to evict those who had encroached upon forestland after June 1, 1977 and complete the eviction in six months after the completion of the proceedings. The Bench comprising Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice A.M....

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ESA in Kerala may be 9,839 sq km

T. Nandakumar,  Thiruvananthapuram,   The Hindu, September 5, 2015 A four-member delegation led by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy met Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar in New Delhi on Friday to clarify the demarcation of ESAs (Ecologically Sensitive Areas) in Kerala. The delegation, which included Environment Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Principal Secretary, Environment,...

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