Where tigers, tribes coexist

K.A. Shaji The Hindu, July 29, 2015 Though a school dropout from Sunkam tribal settlement deep inside the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, S. Babu holds the answer to the raging debate on tiger versus tribal, where tiger conservation and livelihood of forest-dwelling tribespeople fail to find a common ground. A Malashar tribal man,...

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A double whammy for environment

K.A. Martin   KOCHI,   The Hindu, July 29, 2015 The State government’s move to amend the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008, to regularise paddy reclamations till 2008 has drawn sharp reactions from water conservation experts, farm scientists, and environmental activists. While the world is struggling...

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New fish species discovered in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram,   The Hindu, July 19, 2015 A new cyprinid fish, Puntius Dolichopterus has been discovered in Kerala’s Kayamkulam city, a media report said. The new fish species has been discovered, named and described by Mathews Plamoottil, head of the department of zoology, Baby John Memorial Government College, near Kollam city, according to the latest issue of ‘International Journal of Pure and Applied Zoology.’ The...

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2 new plant species discovered in Western Ghats

T. Nandakumar Thiruvananthapuram,  The Hindu, July 17, 2015 A team of researchers from the State have reported the discovery of two new plant species from the Pooyamkutty-Adamalayar and Neriamangalam forest regions, highlighting the rich biodiversity of the Western Ghats and the need for a conservation strategy for the fragile ecosystem. The team led by C.N. Sunil, Associate Professor, SNM College, Maliankara,...

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Extra vigil proposed in Edamalayar forest

K.S. Sudhi The Hindu, July 7, 2015  KOCHI With a three-day-long combing operation exposing the loopholes in the wildlife protection network, the Forest Department will soon step up wildlife protection activities in Malayattoor Forest Division, where five elephants were gunned down by poachers. It has been suggested to establish 14 camps inside the inaccessible forest terrains of Malayattoor Forest Division. This would...

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Poachers have a free run in unguarded terrains

K.S. Sudhi  The Hindu,July 6, 2015 KOCHI The poaching of five elephants in the Edamalayar forest has exposed the chinks in wildlife protection measures. Details of unprotected forest terrains in the State have started emerging. Senior forest officials said around 150 sq km of thick forest areas bordering the Malayattoor-Vazhachal...

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Twin Kallar scheme, State’s shield against PAVLP

Radhakrishnan Kuttoor   The Hindu, July 5, 2015   PATHANAMTHITTA Faced with the threat posed by the Pampa-Achencoil-Vaipar Link Project (PAVLP) aimed at diverting a sizeable amount of water from the Pampa and Achencoil to the Vaipar in Tamil Nadu, the State government has taken up a Twin Kallar multipurpose scheme that would ensure conservation of the two river systems as well as the Vembanad wetlands. Experts...

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A count to cheer about for ornithologists

K.S. Sudhi The Hindu, July 3, 2015 KOCHI, A comprehensive survey on heronries has identified 10,380 nests of waterbirds from 157 sites across the State. Birders recorded 44 heronries and 2,586 nests from Palakkad, the highest in the State. Malappuram had 25 heronries and 1,826 nests followed by Kannur (24 heronries and 1,302...

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