Latest news with #MalabarCivet
India.com
13 hours ago
- India.com
From Forests To Floating Islands: 8 Incredible Animals Youll Only Find In India
photoDetails english 2922392 India is a home to a stunning variety of wildlife found nowhere else. From dense forests to serene floating islands, discover these 8 incredible animals which are unique to this diverse land. These 8 rare and unique species, including the majestic Kashmir stag and elusive Sangai deer, highlight India's rich biodiversity and the need to protect their extraordinary habitats for future generations. Updated:Jun 26, 2025, 12:16 PM IST Kashmir Stag 1 / 8 Kashmir Stag (Hangul) (Cervus hanglu hanglu) Its habitat is in Dachigam National Park, Jammu & Kashmir. It is critically endangered with fewer than 300 individuals. It's the only surviving subspecies of red deer in India. Lion-Tailed Macaque 2 / 8 Lion-Tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus) Usually found in Western Ghats of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu. They are endangered due to habitat loss and are known for its silver mane and tufted tail. It avoids human settlements and spends most of its time in the upper forest canopy. Indian Purple Frog 3 / 8 Indian Purple Frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis) Their habitat is in Western Ghats. It is rare because it is found only in a few parts of Kerala and that too lives underground for most of the year. Fun fact about them is that they emerges just for a few days during monsoon to breed. Rusty-Spotted Cat 4 / 8 Rusty-Spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) Their habitat is in forests and grasslands in central and southern India. It is rare because it is one of the smallest wild cats in the world. And weighs less than 2 kg and is extremely elusive. Malabar Civet 5 / 8 Malabar Civet (Viverra civettina) Their natural habitat: Western Ghats (Kerala). It is rare and critically endangered and possibly one of the rarest mammals in India. Once it was thought to be extinct until rare sightings suggested otherwise. Sangai Deer 6 / 8 Sangai Deer (Rucervus eldii eldii) Its natural habitat is in Loktak Lake, Manipur, it is rare and endangered subspecies of brow-antlered deer that lives on floating vegetation (phumdis). Fun fact is that they are known as the 'dancing deer' due to its delicate walk on the floating islands. Andaman Horseshoe Bat 7 / 8 Andaman Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus cognatus) Their habitat is in Caves in the Andaman Islands. They are rare and endemic to the Andaman Islands and critically endangered. Not much is known about it but it was rediscovered after being unrecorded for over a century. Gooty Sapphire Tarantula 8 / 8 c(Poecilotheria metallica) Their natural habitat is in Forests around Gooty, Andhra Pradesh, it is rare and stunning bright blue spider with limited range. They sought after by collectors, which has contributed to its rarity.
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu's endangered species fund hits a snag; AIWC to now manage ₹50 crore corpus
After the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's plan to safeguard endangered wildlife hit a roadblock, it has been decided to reroute the funds through a different institution. Announced in 2024 with an initial corpus of ₹50 crore, the Tamil Nadu Endangered Species Conservation Fund was initially set to be managed by the State Forest Development Agency (SFDA). However, concerns have emerged after it was found that the SFDA, a body responsible for promoting forestry development, has been largely defunct and inactive for some time. In a government order issued in November 2024, the SFDA was designated as the managing agency for the fund, which was to be initially overseen by the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Foundation. The corpus of ₹50 crore was to be held by the Tamil Nadu Power Finance Corporation or the Tamil Nadu Transport Development Finance Corporation until further arrangements were made, according to the G.O. However, after scrutiny, Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to the Departments of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, acknowledged that the agency's inability to operate effectively would hinder the fund's intended goals. Ms. Sahu said that upon realising the SFDA's dysfunctional status, there were initial plans to create a new society or trust to manage the fund. However, this process was expected to take at least six months, which would delay the fund's deployment. To address this, the Forest Department has now decided to transfer the responsibility of managing the fund to the Advanced Institute of Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) in Vandalur, an institution known for its research and initiatives in wildlife conservation, which has been recently registered as a society. The AIWC has been deemed an ideal candidate to handle the funds efficiently and effectively, according to Ms. Sahu. Key objectives of the fund include surveying, assessing, and mapping threatened species across the State, enhancing conservation efforts both inside and outside protected areas, and building partnerships for the long-term protection of vulnerable species. Soon, the AIWC is expected to invite grant proposals for research on endangered species in the State, including Salim Ali's fruit bat, Malabar Civet, White-rumped vulture, Nilgiris wart frog, White-spotted bush frog, and Anamalai flying frog.
