Category: Environment

A study by the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, has requested the Union Environment Ministry to roll back its 2015 policy mandating all of India’s 537 coal-fired. The study was commissioned by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser. Key Recommendations: Current Scenario: Rationale Behind NIAS’s Recommendation: Environmental and Energy Impacts of FGD Installation: Alternative Focus Recommended: (Source: TH)

The report The Carbon Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities in Tropical and Subtropical Lands and Forests, published by the Rights and Resources Initiative, offers the most detailed legal analysis to date on carbon rights in 33 countries. About Carbon Rights

The Cheetah Project Steering Committee, established by the National Tiger Conservation Authority in May 2023, has approved the relocation of cheetahs from Kuno National Park to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, both located in Madhya Pradesh. Key Highlights: Background: Concerns (Source: Indian Express)

A 21-year-long study has led to the discovery of a new species of frog, named in honor of an Assam college that played a pivotal role in reshaping the identity of a once-stigmatized locality. Key Highlights

A recent long-term study titled “Monitoring Sea Turtles in India 2008–2024” has revealed that rising temperatures at the Rushikulya River mouth in Odisha’s Ganjam district are causing a disproportionate number of female Olive Ridley hatchlings, potentially threatening the species’ long-term survival. Key findings and context: Impact of Climate Change:

A harmful algal bloom (HAB) near California (USA) has caused thousands of sea lions to become ill and aggressive, with some attacking nearby humans. The culprit is Domoic acid, a neurotoxin released by the algae diatom Pseudo-nitzschia, which blooms explosively under certain conditions. How Domoic Acid Affects Sea Lions What Are Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)? Causes of HABs? (Sources: DOE & NOAA)

Colossal Biosciences, a U.S.-based company in Dallas, has announced the birth of three genetically engineered Dire wolf pups using ancient DNA from fossilized dire wolves. This is being referred to as the world’s first “de-extincted” animal. How Was It Done? Name of Newborns Names inspired by Roman mythology and Game of Thrones lore. About the Dire Wolf

The Wildlife Wing of the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department (HPFD) has recorded the first-ever photographic evidence of the Woolly Flying Squirrel (Eupetaurus cinereus) in the remote Miyar Valley of the Lahaul and Spiti district. This marks a major milestone in wildlife conservation and significantly updates the state’s mammalian biodiversity records. Key Highlights: Background: About Miyar Valley: (Source: IE)

A team of researchers from India and U.K. have discovered a species of land snail from the Konkan region of Maharashtra and named it, ‘Theobaldius konkanensis.’ (Source: TH)

Once thought to be unique to humans, culture—including community-specific behaviors and dialects—is now recognized in several animal species. A groundbreaking study from the Taï Chimpanzee Project in West Africa has identified four distinct mating-related gestures, or “dialects,” used by male chimpanzees to attract mates. The observed dialects include: Notably, the knuckle-knock was once present in the North community, but has disappeared since 1999 due to population decline, illustrating how social Read More …

The small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) has been a global threat to honeybee populations, and now its has been recorded for the first time in India. Aethina tumida was recorded from a moderately large colony of European honeybees, or Apis mellifera, in an apiary in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district. Key Highlights Threat Overview Spread History Impact on Bees Consequences Response and Precaution (Source: TH)

The Supreme Court has directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to conduct a comprehensive survey of the Agasthyamalai landscape. Survey Scope: Agasthyamalai Landscape Highlights: Protected Areas within the Reserve: (Source: TH & UNESCO)

India has vociferously advocated the need for a Collective Leadership for advancing the 2030 Climate Agenda at the 11th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting, held in Brasilia, Brazil, on April 3, 2025. Key Highlights (Source: PIB)

The Odisha government’s revival of the Pipalapanka Dam proposal in Ganjam district has sparked protests from environmentalists and local communities over potential ecological consequences. Key Issues & Concerns 🔹 Threat to Rushikulya River: 🔹 Impact on Olive Ridley Turtles: 🔹 History of the Project: About Rushikulya River

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has issued a warning that frankincense is at risk of extinction. Main Species Affected: Notable Boswellia Species: Uses of Frankincense: (Source: DTE)