Latest news with #IUCNRedList
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
State zoo welcomes four Asiatic lion cubs, sparks hope for conservation
1 2 3 4 Guwahati: Assam State Zoo has announced the birth of four healthy Asiatic lion cubs, marking a significant milestone in the fight to save one of the world's most endangered big cats. Born to Kesari on July 24, the cubs' arrival was revealed by state environment minister Chandra Mohan Patowary on World Lion Day. Patowary hailed the births as a "significant step in species conservation," underscoring the importance of this achievement in the broader context of wildlife preservation. The cubs and their mother are reportedly in good health, under the vigilant care of the zoo's veterinary team. This heartwarming event is more than just a delightful addition to the zoo's family; it represents a strategic victory for India's lion conservation initiatives. Kesari, who was brought to Assam from Gujarat's Junagarh Zoo in 2021 as part of an animal exchange program, has now successfully given birth twice, first to two female cubs, Joya and Bijoya, in February 2024, and now to these four cubs. The zoo officials, who are ecstatic, said this isn't just about adding to the zoo's animal count. It's about securing the future of the Asiatic lion, a species listed as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List. Ashwini Kumar, divisional forest officer of the zoo, highlighted the critical role zoos play in conservation efforts, particularly through carefully managed breeding programs that help maintain a healthy and genetically diverse population. "Zoos are active participants in conservation," Kumar stated. "By maintaining a robust gene pool, we create a safety net for the species, ensuring its survival even if wild populations decline," he added. Assam State Zoo's efforts are part of a larger collaborative network across India, where animals are shared between facilities to maintain population balance and genetic diversity. "If a zoo has more individuals than it can sustainably house, they're moved to facilities with fewer or none," Kumar said. "It's a collaborative effort to keep the species thriving," he added. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Lesser Florican faces near extinction in Raj grasslands
Jaipur: Lesser Florican (Sypheotides indicus), once a vibrant emblem of Rajasthan's monsoon grasslands, has now almost vanished from its core breeding grounds in Ajmer, Kekri and Shahpura. This breeding season, wildlife researchers found only a single male, a steep fall from five in 2024 and 39 in 2020, signalling a catastrophic 97% decline in the wild. A recent landscape survey by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) confirmed the grim numbers. The lone male, belonging to the smallest member of the bustard family and locally called Kharmor, was spotted near Bandanwara. "The situation is alarming. These endemic birds return to Rajasthan every monsoon to breed, usually arriving by late June after crops are sown. This year, only one was recorded," said BNHS researcher and wildlife scientist Sujit Narwade. In 2023, the forest department declared a 931-hectare conservation reserve in Arwar village, Ajmer, for the Lesser Florican — one of four bustard species in India, all on the IUCN Red List. However, local birdwatcher Balveer Singh said, "No effort has been made to remove Prosopis juliflora or restore grasslands. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo The area remains unprotected, with free-ranging dogs and heavy grazing continuing." Endemic to the Indian subcontinent, the Lesser Florican is a birdwatcher's delight. During the monsoon breeding season, males sport striking plumage and leap up to two metres in the air, producing a frog-like rattle heard 300–400 metres away to court females. Historically, the bird's breeding and non-breeding habitats were semi-arid grasslands. Today, invasive shrubs have overtaken much of this land, making it unsuitable. Experts warn that Rajasthan still has about 5,000 hectares of pastureland in this region, and timely restoration could benefit conservation. Shrinking grasslands due to agriculture, mining and overgrazing have forced the species to adapt to farmlands, coexisting with local communities. Yet, pesticides have turned these unprotected agropastoral areas into unsafe breeding zones. IUCN member Dau Lal Bohra said , "The proposal to declare certain lands as Biodiversity Sites allowing regulated agriculture while protecting the birds remains stalled," he said. With this, future of forest department's conservation breeding programme at Shokaliya, Ajmer, in partnership with the Wildlife Institute of India, also looks bleak as the wild population teeters on the brink. "In two years, 11 eggs have hatched successfully — but with numbers in the wild at rock bottom, the survival of this grassland dancer remains uncertain," said a forest official. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
News18
6 days ago
- Science
- News18
Rare Clouded Leopard Spotted In Forests Of Northeast India; Video Goes Viral
Last Updated: Mostly living high in the treetops of dense forests across Southeast Asia and Northeast India, clouded leopards can be silently spotted at night and avoid human contact. The Clouded Leopard is one of the rarest leopard species in Asia, and its appearance is very mysterious because it is nocturnal. With their beautifully patterned coats and secretive habits, these elusive animals are rarely seen in the wild. Mostly living high in the treetops of dense forests across Southeast Asia and Northeast India, they can be silently spotted at night and avoid human contact. Their quiet existence keeps them away from anyone. Since it is mostly impossible to see them during the day, it is also rare to be caught on camera. If you find it anywhere, it is a rare moment. Susanta Nanda, a former Indian Forest Service officer, recently shared a video on the social media platform X that shows a clouded leopard mother with her cubs moving through the lush forests of Northeast India. He captioned the video as, 'Elusive. Ethereal. Endangered." Elusive. Ethereal. barely ~10,000 left in the wild & scattered sightings in NE India, the Clouded Leopard is our most secretive big cat. Here, a rare glimpse — a mother with her cubs, guardians of an ancient rainforest. A sight so rare that it's mythical. — Susanta Nanda IFS (Retd) (@susantananda3) August 5, 2025 Clouded leopards are disappearing at a rapid pace. Clouded leopards are officially listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with fewer than 10,000 globally. These cats are spread across northeastern India, the Himalayan foothills, southeast Asia and southern China. With their beautiful cloud-like spots on their bodies, these big cats have extraordinary climbing abilities and long canine teeth. They are larger in size than all other cats. These cats face significant threats from habitat loss, poaching and human-wildlife conflict. In Northeast India alone, forest fragmentation and illegal wildlife trade have led to their decline. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Rare clouded leopard spotted in the wild: Viral video inside
Clouded leopards are among the most elusive big cats in Asia, which mostly remain hidden in mystery due to their secretive, nocturnal habits. Clouded leopards are one of nature's most mysterious big cats. With their beautifully patterned coats and secretive habits, these elusive animals are rarely seen in the wild. Mostly living high in the treetops of dense forests across Southeast Asia and Northeast India, they can be silently spotted at night and avoid human contact. Their quiet existence has kept them mostly out of sight, even from researchers and wildlife cameras. So it becomes a precious moment when one such animal is spotted in the wild. Viral video shows a clouded leopard mother and cubs in the jungle Susanta Nanda, a former Indian Forest Service officer, recently shared a video on the social media platform X that shows a clouded leopard mother with her cubs moving through the lush forests of Northeast India. He captioned the video as, 'Elusive. Ethereal. Endangered. With barely ~10,000 left in the wild & scattered sightings in NE India, the Clouded Leopard is our most secretive big cat. Here, a rare glimpse — a mother with her cubs, guardians of an ancient rainforest. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo A sight so rare that it's mythical'. This footage is exceptionally rare, taking into consideration how seldom clouded leopards are seen. Their secretive nature makes such wild encounters significant and fulfilling to conservationists. Clouded Leopards are vulnerable and fast vanishing Clouded leopards are officially listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with fewer than 10,000 mature individuals remaining globally. Smaller populations are scattered across Northeast India, the Himalayan foothills, Southeast Asia, and southern China. They are known for their beautiful cloud-patterned fur, exceptional tree-climbing abilities, and long canine teeth, which are also the largest in proportion to body size among all cats. These cats face significant threats from habitat loss, poaching, and human‑wildlife conflict. In Northeast India alone, forest fragmentation and illegal wildlife trade are contributing to their decline. What are the efforts taken by experts to protect them According to a study named, Forecasting Suitable Habitats of the Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) in Asia: Insights into the Present and Future Climate Projections Within and Beyond Extant Boundaries, experts have advised the need for strategic conservation actions, including establishing protected areas and creating transboundary wildlife corridors to reconnect fragmented habitats and maintain genetic diversity among populations. A new roadmap identifies 18 critical corridors across the clouded leopard's range. This study also tells that clouded leopards often coexist with larger predators by adjusting their activity patterns and using arboreal spaces effectively playing hide-and-seek to avoid direct encounters. In Manas National Park, Assam, researchers found a density of about 1.73 individuals per 100 km², revealing their preference for dense, canopy-rich forests.
The Star
02-08-2025
- General
- The Star
Petition submitted to set up conservation area for rare langur species in Ninh Bình
NINH BINH: Environmental and nature conservation organisations have urgently recommended establishing and protecting a Delacour's langur species and habitat conservation area in Kim Bang in order to restore the environment and ensure ecological connectivity following limestone mining activities. The joint petition, initiated by the Centre for People and Nature, the Centre for Nature Conservation and Development, the Centre for Highlands Resource Governance Research, GreenViet Biodiversity Conservation Centre and WildAct Vietnam, was submitted to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Chairman of the People's Committee of Ninh Binh Province on Aug 1. This action follows a series of articles by VietnamPlus titled 'Building Conservation Space: A Vital Mission for the Future', published late July. According to the petition, the Delacour's langur is one of Vietnam's rarest endemic primates, listed as Critically Endangered in the 2023 Vietnam Red Data Book and the IUCN Red List. It is also protected under the Vietnamese Government's Decree 06/2019/ND-CP and Decree 84/2022/ND-CP. The limestone forest of Kim Bang (formerly in Ha Nam Province, now merged into Ninh Bình) is home to the second-largest population of Delacour's langurs worldwide, after the population in Van Long Nature Reserve. The area hosts around 120–150 individuals. Beyond the langurs, Kim Bang's limestone forest holds exceptional biodiversity value, with species representing the Red River Delta limestone forest ecosystem These include rare species such as the pygmy slow loris, serow, Huong Son bent-toed gecko, slipper orchids and golden camellias. The area also forms a continuous ecological corridor linking Van Long, Dong Tam, Huong Son, and Tam Chuc, making it a critical conservation landscape connecting Ninh Binh, Phu Tho, and Hanoi. Since 2016, conservation organisations and Government agencies have proposed establishing a species and habitat conservation area in Kim Bang for the Delacour's langur. The Ha Nam Provincial People's Committee conducted surveys, prepared documentation and reached consensus among departments for a plan to set up this area. By 2023, the plan to preserve a core zone of 3,182ha was completed and incorporated into the National Forestry Planning Scheme. Yet to be officially designated a conservation site, the area is currently under the limited management of the Kim Bang–Thanh Liem Forest Protection Unit, which has only four rangers. Despite the urgency, issues with illegal hunting, trapping and timber extraction persist, threatening both langurs and overall biodiversity. Additionally, habitats are shrinking due to mining activities, noise and dust pollution, affecting both wildlife and local communities. The petition calls for strict environmental screening of new projects like golf courses, eco-tourism zones and road construction that risk encroaching on the conservation area. Environmental impact assessments must be reviewed by both Government agencies and conservation experts before project approval. The economic development of Ninh Binh must be coupled with environmental protection, as disruption of natural ecosystems leads to biodiversity decline. The organisations emphasised their readiness to support Ninh Binh with resources, expertise and international cooperation to strengthen local conservation efforts. Establishing and effectively managing the Kim Bang Delacour's Langur Conservation Area is not only an urgent measure to protect one of Vietnam's most endangered primates, but also a testament to Vietnam's commitment to biodiversity, climate targets and its Net Zero pledge. 'We respectfully urge the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Ninh Bình People's Committee to review, consider and act on these urgent recommendations,' the petition concluded. — Vietnam News/ANN
