Tribal trio revives baby monkey, wins hearts in act of compassion

 

THE HINDU BUREAU, 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, october 22, 2025

In a heart-warming act of compassion that has since gone viral, three tribal women from a Vanasamrakshana Samiti (forest protection committee) in Thiruvananthapuram revived a baby macaque after it was electrocuted near the Kallar Golden Valley forest check-post on Tuesday.

The incident unfolded along the Vithura–Ponmudi road when two young monkeys came into contact with a high-tension power line. One of them fell onto a tree branch, while the other crashed onto the tarred road, unconscious and suffering a wound to its forehead.

Without hesitation, Ponmudi Vanasamrakshana Samiti members Udaya, Sachithra, and Saugandhika, who are all members of the Kani tribal settlement in Mottamoodu, Vithura, rushed to the scene. The trio immediately administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by performing chest compressions in an attempt to revive it. Miraculously, their efforts succeeded.

After administering basic treatment to the wound, they released the revived monkey back into the wild, a moment that has captured widespread attention and praise.

“Even though we have suffered greatly due to wild animals and lost crops to wild boar, elephant, and bear incursions, we never thought of turning our backs on these baby monkeys. Animals do pose a menace to us, yet we have always lived alongside the forest and its creatures,” says Udaya.

‘To instil empathy’

Section forest officer Shaji points out that similar incidents have occurred before, including one two months ago when a beat forest officer administered CPR to a fallen animal. “The members of the Vanasamrakshana Samiti are being encouraged to act as true guardians of the forest by upholding compassion for both humans and wildlife. Such acts serve to instil empathy in others as well,” he says.

The incident has also sparked discussions about the need to provide formal training in first aid and wildlife rescue techniques for members of the Vanasamrakshana Samitis and eco-development committees across the State.

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Survey reveals presence of 12 more faunal species at PTR

 

THE HINDU BUREAU, 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, September 22,2025

Bourdillon’s Blackbird, Sahyadri Grass Yellow, and Sahyadri Torrent-Hawk spotted during a biodiversity survey held at the Periyar Tiger Reserve from September 11 to 14.

A biodiversity survey at the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) has added 12 new species records to its faunal checklist, reaffirming its status as one of the most biodiverse landscapes in the Western Ghats.

The additions include eight butterflies, two odonates and two subspecies of birds.

The survey, held from September 11 to 14, was jointly organised by the Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala Forest department and the Periyar Tiger Conservation Foundation in collaboration with the Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS).

Teams were deployed across 26 strategic basecamps spread through the reserve’s 925-sq. km expanse, which straddles the Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts.

Different habitats

PTR is one of India’s premier tiger reserves, renowned for its mosaic of tropical evergreen, deciduous, grassland and montane shola habitats.

The biodiverse-rich region supports more than 300 bird species, 200 butterflies, 100 odonates and megafauna such as tigers, elephants and gaurs.

A key focus of the survey was the assessment of butterfly diversity. The survey recorded 207 species, including eight new records.

These included the Sahyadri Grass Yellow (Eurema nilgiriensis), the Plain Orange-tip (Colotis aurora), Sahyadri Yellowjack Sailer (Lasippa viraja kanara), Lankan Plum Judy (Abisara echerius prunosa), Plain Banded Awl (Hasora vitta indica), Montane Hedge Hopper (Baracus subditus), Sahyadri Small Palm Bob (Suastus minuta bipunctus) and Indian Dart (Potanthus pseudomaesa).

The other notable observations included the Malabar Banded Peacock (Papilio buddha), Kerala’s State butterfly, and Western Ghats endemics such as Malabar Tree-Nymph, Nilgiri Tiger and Travancore Evening Brown.

New records

The odonate survey documented 71 species over the four-day period, with two new additions, increasing PTR’s checklist to 108 species.

The new records were the Sahyadri Torrent-Hawk (Macromia bellicosa) and Coorg Torrent-Hawk (Macromia ellisoni).

Several endemic odonates were also observed, including Laidlaw’s Horntail and the Travancore Bambootail.

Subspecies

Bird specialists confirmed the presence of two subspecies of resident birds, Bourdillon’s Blackbird (Turdus simillimus bourdilloni) and the White-throated Ground Thrush (Geokichla citrina cyanota). The iconic Great Indian Hornbill, Kerala’s state bird, was recorded from nearly all camps.

Other notable sightings included the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Grey-headed Bulbul, Wayanad Laughing Thrush, Black-and-Orange Flycatcher, and Nilgiri Pipit.

The survey also documented about 40 species of ants, 15 species of herpetofauna, six species of cicadas and several mammals such as Bengal tigers, leopards, dholes, gaurs and elephants. The participants also observed smaller but ecologically significant mammals like the brown mongoose, striped-necked mongoose, small Indian civet, smooth-coated otter, Indian porcupine and black-naped hare.

PTR assistant field director Lakshmi R., who inaugurated the survey, emphasised the importance of community-scientist partnerships in biodiversity monitoring. Such surveys help bridge the gap between conservation managers and research groups, she pointed out.

'Living laboratory'

Pramod P.P., field director of the reserve, described PTR as a “living laboratory” of biodiversity.

“Each survey adds to our understanding of this fragile ecosystem and strengthens the case for its conservation. The new additions highlight how much remains to be discovered and protected in the Western Ghats,” he said.

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If capture bid fails, tiger may be shot

 

THE HINDU BUREAU

, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, January 25, 2023

Amid mounting pressure following the tragic death of a tribal woman at Pancharakolly, the Forest department has launched frantic steps to capture the tiger that mauled her while she was collecting coffee beans on a plantation.

Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran has said the tiger will be shot and killed if all attempts to capture it fail.

Chief Wildlife Warden Pramod G. Krishnan issued a formal order late on Friday to capture the tiger in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued under the Wildlife (Protection) Act.

The first course of action will be to attempt to capture the animal using a tranquilliser or trap. “If the problematic tiger cannot be captured or tranquillised and remains dangerous to human life by turning into a man-eater, then the said tiger shall be hunted in strict adherence of the SOPs of the National Tiger Conservation Authority,” the order states.

Mobilised resources

To address the escalating situation, the department has mobilised significant resources to the region.

Personnel from the Thalappuzha and Varayal forest stations, equipped with 12 bore pump action guns, have been deployed to patrol the Pancharakolly area and its surroundings. Additional staff from the Irulum and Pulpally forest stations have also been sent to strengthen the ongoing efforts.

Cages have been set up in the area, and camera traps from the North Wayanad Division have been installed. More camera traps are being rushed from the South Wayanad Division. Thermal drones and standard drones have been brought in for aerial surveillance, while the Sulthan Bathery Rapid Response Team (RRT) is stationed at a base camp at Pancharakolly to maintain vigil in the area.

A team of expert shooters and veterinarians led by Chief Veterinary Officer Arun Zachariah has been deployed to the conflict zone. The department is also deploying kumki elephants from the Muthanga elephant camp, which have proven useful in capturing tigers in the past.

To coordinate the response to the unfolding situation, an incident command has been established, with K.J. Martin Lowel, Divisional Forest Officer, North Wayanad, appointed as the operation commander. The operation is being supervised by Chief Conservator of Forests (Northern Circle) K.S. Deepa.

Patrolling

Mr. Saseendran highlighted that patrolling in the region will be intensified, considering the potential risk posed by tigers and other wildlife, including elephants, which may be migrating into Wayanad from the neighbouring Bandipur region in Karnataka.

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Survey adds 24 species to Munnar fauna

 

THE HINDU BUREAU, 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, January 19, 2025

A faunal survey in the Munnar Wildlife Division has led to the addition of 24 new species of birds, butterflies, and odonates to its checklist.

The exercise, undertaken by the Forest department in association with the Travancore Nature History Society, simultaneously surveyed the Mathikettan Shola National Park (MSNP), Pambadum Shola National Park (PSNP), Anamudi Shola National Park (ANP), Kurinjimala Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS), Eravikulam National Park (ENP), and Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary (CWLS) from January 8 to 12. The area, lying between 500 and 2,800 metres in elevation, was surveyed by 21 teams comprising 78 delegates.

A total of 217 species of birds were documented, including 11 new species, thereby increasing the bird population in the Munnar Wildlife Division to 258. The additions include the Brown Hawk Owl, Barred Buttonquail, Spotted Owlet, Mottled Wood Owl, Baya Weaver, Red Munia (Red Avadavat), Richard’s Pipit, Jerdon’s Bushlark, Golden-Headed Cisticola, Large Grey Babbler, and Chestnut-Bellied Nuthatch.

Other notable species spotted included the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Great Eared Nightjar, Steppe Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, Montagu’s Harrier, Eurasian Sparrow Hawk, Lesser Fish Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Indian Eagle Owl, Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, Indian Grey Hornbill, and Blue-eared Kingfisher.

The MSNP recorded 84 species, PSNP recorded 72, ANP 53, KWLS 68, ENP 115, and CWLS 173 species.

Munnar continues to be home to several species of butterflies with 166 species recorded, including eight new records, bringing the checklist to 246 species. The highest number of butterflies was recorded at Chinnar with 148 species, followed by Eravikulam (79 species), and Mathikettan Shola (57 species).

Endemic butterflies such as the Red-disc Bushbrown, Palni Bush-Brown, Palni Fritillary, Palni four-ring, Nilgiri four-ring, Nilgiri Clouded Yellow, and Nilgiri Tiger were observed. Grass Jewel, the smallest butterfly in the State, was abundant at Chinnar. The largest Indian butterfly, the Southern Birdwing, was also recorded in most of the camps.

As many as 33 species were observed, despite the cold weather prevailing in the region. With an addition of five new records, the total number of odonates in Munnar has increased to 58 species.

Five relatively common odonates of lower elevations, which were previously unrecorded in Munnar, were also reported in this survey. These include Cratilla lineata calverti (Forster, 1903), Macrodiplax cora (Kaup in Brauer, 1867), Palpopleura sexmaculata (Fabricius, 1787), Tholymis tillarga (Fabricius, 1798), and Lestes elatus Hagen in Selys, 1862.

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Move to ban display of wildlife trophies in social media

K.S. Sudhi,

KOCHI, 
TheHindu, January 7, 2015

Flaunting of images of hunted wildlife and wildlife trophies in social media sites may land one in trouble.

Taking note of instances of some social media users flaunting pictures of wildlife articles and trophies, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has decided to discourage the trend as it fears it would encourage hunting and promote illegal wildlife trade.

The WCCB has written to the Chief Wildlife Wardens of the State to draft legal provisions to check the display of such articles by those who legally own these materials.

According to S.B. Negi, Additional Director, WCCB, there have been “instances of hunted wild animal/ wild animal trophies/articles being displayed on social media by certain individuals. Prima facie, the objective is to show wild animal hunting as an act of bravery and possession of wild animal trophy/article as symbol of wealth/ status,” he pointed out in a recent advisory.

Wrong message

The display of such “hunted wild animal or animal articles/ trophies, may encourage hunting or/and stimulate illegal wildlife trade; therefore it needs to be stopped,” he directed the State forest officials.

Even though only a few individuals may be posting such pictures in social media, its impact would be big considering the reach of social media sites. Primarily, people would be displaying such materials as part of flaunting their wealth or valour of those who might have hunted down animals, Mr. Negi told The Hindu .

At present, there are no legal provisions for banning such display. However, provisions must be incorporated while issuing certificate of ownership of wild animal article and trophy. The State wildlife wardens have been asked to incorporate the provisions as they issue permissions for holding such materials.

The Bureau can act against such instances once the provisions banning the display are incorporated in the permissions, he said.

Legislation

The Bureau has also asked the State wardens to make legislations invoking Section 64 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which permits the State governments to make rules regarding the regulation of possession, transfer and sale of captive animals, meat, animal articles, and uncured trophies.

When contacted, a senior official of the Kerala Forest Department said no such instances had been reported from the State. As of now, the display of such materials has not been banned by law, he said.

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Rock paintings at risk of fading away

Giji K. Raman
MARAYUR,  
The Hindu, January 7, 2015 

The rock paintings in the Marayur-Chinnar forest belt of Kerala, the second largest concentration of cave paintings in south India, are at high risk of degeneration.

As per isolated studies conducted so far, there are 21 cave paintings of red ochre in this Kerala-Tamil Nadu region, a senior official of the Kerala Forest Department told The Hindu. Over 50 caves, situated in the forest belt, are believed to be of the prehistoric period. The cave paintings in Ezhuthala and Attala in Marayur sandal division, the most noted ones, were in more danger.

The official said the rock paintings were in the eastern slope of the Western Ghats, at around 3,000 metres above sea level. The sandy rocks were highly prone to degeneration, he said, adding that they needed new methods of protection. Without assured protection, visitors could not be allowed entry there, he added. Rocks were in bad shape in the Madathala cave at Alampertty in the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, which was accessible to visitors.

The first cave painting in Marayur was identified in Ezhuthala Madi on the Tamil Nadu border by Padmanabhan Thampi as part of his research paper in 1974. In 2009-10, archaeological researchers Benny Kurien and Dhanushkody documented the paintings in Ezhuthala, where the largest number of paintings was identified.

 

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