Tuesday, January 28, 2020

‘Punarjani’, conservation project for Olive Ridley Turtles launched

     ‘Punarjani’,  a novel project conceived by the Social Forestry wing of the Department of Forests and Wildlife, Kollam, in association with Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS), a Trivandrum-based N.G.O working in the field of nature conservation, was launched on January 23 at Chillakkal beach, Paravur near Kollam. The project envisages to protect Olive Ridley turtles, a reptile that has been placed in the Red Data Book of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Olive Ridley turtles have been laying eggs on the shores of Chillakkal and Pozhikkara beaches in Kollam coast, notably because these are the only two gaps without a seawall erected as a measure against sea erosion. These turtles freely crawl to the shore in the safety of the nightfall in these places, dig pits in the sand some of which as large as to hold up to 100 of its eggs. In course of three weeks when the eggs hatch, hatchlings are led back to the sea by themselves as if by a rare force of intuition. Parental care is sparsely observed in these variety of turtles.

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Faunal survey of Agasthyamalais throws up surprises!


Malabar Pied Hornbill - Dr. Anop Rajamony
The major wildlife sanctuaries of Trivandrum Wildlife Division namely the Neyyar and Peppara sanctuaries were surveyed for fauna after a gap of 8 years. The exercise was done as a part of the faunal inventory preparation for the Management Plans of these critical wildlife areas. The four-day programme was conducted jointly by the Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department and the Trivandrum based NGO, Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS).100 delegates and 60 forest staff participated in the event. Besides experts from TNHS, KFRI Trichur, TNBS Coimbatore, ROAR Rajapalayam, Belvai Butterfly Garden and KOVAS Waynad took part this scientific assessment. Students of various research institutes and colleges also volunteered in.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Faunal survey brings cheers to Shendurney

A three-day annual faunal survey of Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary jointly conducted by Kerala Forest Department and Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS), concluded here with interesting finds. The 171 sqkm sanctuary was covered by 10 teams of experts using basecamps in all elevations and habitats. The exercise was a part of the annual faunal assessment which targets census of Butterflies, Birds and Odonates of the sanctuary. In addition, the teams also listed mammals, reptiles, amphibians and ants. The programme started with a meeting at Thenmalai where the participants were briefed about the survey. The meeting was chaired Wildlife Warden Mr Sajeev Kumar B, Asst Wildlife Warden and Mr Sasikumaran Nair AK delivered the introductory speech and the Wildlife Assistant Mr Shiju B