Wildlife

A Kolkata lawyer invested his life savings to build a pioneering dragonfly pond in the Sundarbans — now it supports biodiversity, controls mosquitoes naturally, and inspires young conservationists.

In the marshes and floodplains of Assam’s Kaziranga, a secret predator lives. Recent surveys reveal that the endangered fishing cat is finding refuge in the park’s wetlands, showing how even lesser-known species are reclaiming their place in the wild.

When 14-year-old Rithved Girish photographed stingless bees in Kerala’s Mezhathur, he did not expect it to travel the world. His image has now scooped the top prize at Close-Up Photographer of the Year 7.

In Valparai’s Anamalai Tiger Reserve, a mother elephant stayed by a concrete tank as the Tamil Nadu Forest Department worked carefully to help her calf climb out.

When mountaineer Joydeep Chakraborty began walking Purulia’s forests, striped hyenas were being killed in retaliation. Years later, his community effort is changing how villages see them.

Before tourists arrive and sightings dominate conversations, naturalists are already at work — reading the forest, managing expectations, and holding together the delicate balance between tourism and conservation.

A love for the wild is generational in the Mehta boys, who focus on creating eco-tourism projects that blend sustainable architecture and wilderness experiences into a model that impacts local communities.

The Wildlife Trust of India is transforming the Greater Manas landscape by reviving habitats, reintroducing wildlife, and empowering local communities. Their long-term conservation efforts have restored ecological balance and renewed hope for one of India’s most iconic landscapes.

Viral snow leopard clips may grab headlines, but across Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, grassroots champions like Khenrab Phuntsog, Smanla Tsering, SLC-IT and Spiti’s women teams are doing the everyday work that keeps the ‘ghost of the mountains’ safe.

Once pushed to the brink by habitat loss and fishing pressures, India’s dugongs are making a comeback. A recent survey has recorded around 270 individuals along Tamil Nadu’s coast, marking a major milestone in marine conservation driven by science, policy support and community participation.