It’s not venomous, not rare, and not flashy. But it might just be one of Kerala’s most important wild neighbours. Could naming it the state reptile help us finally see it with respect?
The gaur, a towering figure in India’s forests, is far more than just a majestic animal. Its role in maintaining ecological balance is vital to preserving the health of the entire forest ecosystem.
Meet eight inspiring Indians who are transforming cities with more trees, helping to reduce urban heat and create greener environments. Here’s how their efforts are making a difference.
Raphi Ramanath, a biology teacher from Kerala, has set up a herbal garden with 150 plants and a Miyawaki forest with over 450 trees on his school campus.
Kerala-based Gopalakrishnan KR, a retired bank employee, used his retirement benefits to convert a 1-acre rubber plantation into a mini forest with hundreds of fruit trees, medicinal plants, and more.
R Gurusamy, a farmer from Tamil Nadu, gave up most of his ancestral land to care for a few wandering deer in the vicinity. Today, even amid water and food shortage in the nearby forest, his land is a safe haven for over 1,800 deer
Himmataram Bhambhu from Rajasthan received the Padma Shri for his efforts in environment conservation and safeguarding the lives and interests of wildlife and birds in his home district.