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Hans India
6 days ago
- General
- Hans India
Assam's 'Gaja Mitra' to help curb human-elephant conflict
Guwahati: In a move to curb the escalating human-elephant conflict in Assam, authorities have launched 'Gaja Mitra', a dedicated initiative aimed at protecting both local communities and the state's majestic elephants. The programme is being rolled out across five of the most affected districts -- Goalpara, Baksa, Udalguri, Sonitpur, and Nagaon -- where frequent elephant incursions have led to crop damage, property loss, and sometimes, tragic human and animal fatalities. The Gaja Mitra initiative takes a multi-pronged approach. One of its core strategies is ecological, focusing on the creation of greener, more hospitable forests to ensure elephants have ample food and migratory corridors within the wild. By restoring natural habitats, officials hope to reduce the need for elephants to venture into human settlements in search of food. Technology, too, plays a key role. AI-powered camera traps have been deployed as silent sentinels throughout the forests, capable of detecting elephant movement and sending real-time alerts to nearby villages. This smart surveillance system aims to provide communities with enough time to prepare, react, or evacuate if necessary, reducing the risk of surprise encounters. To protect livelihoods, Gaja Mitra also emphasises 'Protecting Paddy' by enhancing the procurement of crops in high-risk areas. This ensures that farmers do not bear the financial brunt when elephants forage through their fields. Additionally, trained Gaja Mitra teams -- comprising local volunteers -- will act as community liaisons. These teams will raise awareness, respond to alerts, and serve as vital links between forest departments and villagers, embodying the spirit of Jan Bhagidari, or people's participation. With a blend of ecology, technology, and community engagement, Gaja Mitra signals a compassionate shift in conservation, where coexistence, not conflict, takes centre stage. Assam Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary recently said that more than 70 people and 80 jumbos on average die every year in human-elephant conflict in the state. According to an official, when more people occupy the elephants' natural habitats, the animals are forced to leave their homes in search of food, which results in confrontation with people. He said there are currently more than 5,700 elephants living in the state.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Kaziranga's orchid wealth: New botanical survey records 70 species across 36 genera
1 2 Guwahati: A recent orchid survey in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve revealed significant findings, marking a shift from animal-centric to botanical research. The assessment documented 70 distinct orchid species across 36 genera, positioning it as a leading orchid conservation location in northeast India. This botanical finding augments Kaziranga's established status, previously known primarily for its wildlife diversity. The research results demonstrate the effectiveness of preservation efforts while highlighting the park's function in safeguarding both flora and fauna diversity. State environment, forest & climate change minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said in a social media post, "Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve just got even more amazing! A recent survey revealed 70 species of orchids across 36 genera — making it one of the richest orchid collections in Northeast India. This vibrant floral discovery adds a new layer to Kaziranga's already iconic wildlife. A true testament to the park's thriving biodiversity and unwavering conservation efforts!" The systematic documentation of Kaziranga's floristic and faunal assemblages produced noteworthy results. The survey team, headed by orchid conservationist Khyanjeet Gogoi and range officers Bibit Dihingia (Bagori) and Bibhuti Ranjan Gogoi (Kohora), conducted a visual survey and reported new records, especially for grassland and woodland areas. The survey recorded 70 orchid species across 36 genera, comprising 46 species that are epiphytes and 24 that are terrestrial species. Notable discoveries include Acanthophippium sylhetense, Aerides odorata, Biermannia bimaculata, Bulbophyllum ornatissimum, Cleisostoma appendiculatum, Dendrobium jenkinsii, Eulophia kamarupa, Peristylus constrictus, Phalaenopsis mannii, and Zeuxine membranacea.
Miami Herald
10-03-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Elusive predator — covered in ‘clouds' — seen on trail camera in India. See the animal
In the eastern Himalayas, snowcapped mountains stick out from rugged forests, and the towering peaks touch the clouds. But for one species of rarely-seen predator in the region, 'clouds' come down to them and adorn their fluffy coat. A clouded leopard was recently spotted on trail cameras set up by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in Assam, India, according to a March 6 Facebook post from the agency's minister, Chandra Mohan Patowary. 'Thrilling conservation update! Our camera trap inside Dehing Patkai National Park has just captured a rare and remarkable sighting of a clouded leopard,' Patowary wrote in the post. 'Listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is a shy and elusive big cat found across the forests of the eastern Himalayas, northeast India and southeast Asia.' There are estimated to be fewer than 5,580 adult clouded leopards left in the wild, according to the IUCN Red List, and their numbers are decreasing across their geographic range. Clouded leopards are 'one of the most ancient cat species' and earn their name from the 'distinctive 'clouds'' pattern on their pelt, according to Nature. They are larger than house cats, but small compared to big cat species like panthers and tigers, Nature says. Females can weigh as little as 22 pounds while males can reach weights upward of 50 pounds. Clouded leopards are perfectly adapted for a life in the forest and have specialized anklebones and footpads that allow them to be one of the few cat species that can go down trees headfirst, according to the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Despite their name, clouded leopards are not a leopard at all, and belong to their own species, the Smithsonian said. They also have a different bone structure in their neck that prevents them from roaring or purring like other cats, and they are restricted to growling, hissing and chuffing to communicate. Clouded leopards are threatened by deforestation and poaching, as land is cleared for palm oil agriculture and they are hunted for their teeth, pelt and bones used in some traditional medicine, according to the Smithsonian. Dehing Patkai National Park is in Assam, one of the northeastern-most districts of India.
Miami Herald
03-03-2025
- Miami Herald
‘Elusive' feline with ‘unusually large' teeth appears on trail camera in India. See it
In a national park near India's easternmost border, an 'elusive' feline with 'unusually large' teeth stalked through the dark forest, its large, fluffy tail swishing behind it. Its movement triggered a nearby trail camera. The resulting photo turned out to be a 'rare sighting.' 'Exciting conservation news!!,' Chandra Mohan Patowary, the state of Assam's minister for environment and forests, said in a Feb. 27 Facebook post. 'Our camera trap inside Dehing Patkai National Park just captured a rare sighting of (an) elusive marbled cat.' Marbled cats, scientifically known as Pardofelis marmorata, are a small species of wild cat found across southeast Asia, according to the Thai National Parks department. They are roughly the size of domestic cats but have 'long' tails and 'unusually large canine teeth' that resemble the teeth of big cats. A trail camera photo taken in late 2024 shows the marbled cat walking through a clearing. Its fur appears yellowy brown and has a spotted pattern similar to other better-known big cats. 'We are thrilled to share that our camera traps, set up across various areas of Dehing Patkai National Park and reserve forest, have recorded 2-3 marbled cats,' said local wildlife ranger T.C. Ranjit Ram, according to the Times of India. Very little is known about marbled cats because of their nocturnal, tree-dwelling lifestyles. The species is considered vulnerable and at-risk with 'fewer than 10,000 mature' cats in the wild, wildlife officials said. In late 2023, Dehing Patkai National Park began an 'extensive' project to study five species of small wild cat, including the marbled cat, the Indian news outlet Mongabay reported at the time. The project was expected to last about a year and involve 95 trail cameras at various locations in the park. Ram told the Times of India in a Feb. 28 article that the park's trail camera project 'yielded significant results, and we are optimistic about further discoveries.' Dehing Patkai National Park is in the state of Assam in northeastern India, near the border with Myanmar and a disputed border with China.
