The Anglerfish's Weekly Schedule

Bioluminescent bacteria in the lure on the Anglerfish's head light up the structure like a bulb, drawing towards it small fish and other delicious deep sea tidbits that the predator then gulps down with its massive jaws. This cartoon appears in the August 2014 issue of Tinkle Digest.

Elephants and Peanuts!

Did you know that the whole 'elephants-loving-peanuts' story is actually a myth? Peanuts may be used as treats for captive elephants but in the wild, the elephant's diet consists of leaves, twigs, bark, fruits, grass and roots, and seldom peanuts!

The cartoon is also a little tribute to Charles M Schulz, the creator of the classic comic strip 'Peanuts', whose work I simply adore. This is one kind of peanut an elephant would totally dig!

Wildlife the Toonie Way!

I'm glad to announce my first solo exhibition in Bangalore next month (13th to 27th September at the Indian Cartoon Gallery, Trinity Circle)! Several of my wildlife caricatures will be on display and I will also be taking orders for prints and merchandise at the exhibition. No matter which kind of wildlifer you are, there's something for everyone, so don't miss! Here's a preview of some of the animals you'll get to meet-

A special thanks to VG Narendra of the Indian Cartoon Gallery and to my friend Sangeetha Kadur for helping me out with organizing the event. For enquiries, mail me at rohanchakcartoonist@gmail.com.

Block your dates, Bangalore! Here I come.

Conservation Threats to Frogs

Frog populations are facing steep declines worldwide. Being amphibious and having porous skins, frogs are susceptible to the most drastic impacts of climate change, which along with the Chytrid Fungus have been reported to be the major threats being faced by them today. Several other factors have also contributed to their extirpation, such as pollution, pesticides and rampant destruction of their rainforest habitats. 

This cartoon appeared last weekend in my fortnightly column in The Hindu's 'Blink.'

(Thanks to Keerthi Krutha for correcting the spelling of Chytridiomycosis on the comic. Keerthi studies frogs and that disease in Western Ghats in India).

Shark Countershading

Ever wondered why sharks are coloured dark above and light below? No, it's not a faulty tan! Countershading prevents sharks from being detected easily by ensuring that a minimal silhouette is cast. The dark blue-grey coloration on the dorsal surface blends with the water below and makes it difficult to view from above, while the white on the ventral surface blends with the sunlight, making it difficult to view from below. Full marks to evolution for predator-design!

The cartoon first appeared on my Gocomics page this month. You can subscribe to Green Humour on Gocomics by visiting http://www.gocomics.com/green-humour and clicking on that nice-looking green plus button below the comic.

How the Fig Wasp runs the Fig Empire

A brief summary of one of nature's most intricate, fragile and delicate business partnerships that is the crux of the food chain for countless organisms! 

For print orders within India, the posters are available as A3 size prints. Send me an e-mail with the number of copies and your postal address to rohanchakcartoonist@gmail.com.

For print orders outside of India, please click here to buy the poster from my Redbubble store.

These cartoons first appeared in Saevus magazine's story on the fig wasp in June 2013.

The Double-crossed Cormorant

The US Army Corps of Engineers is planning to 'save endangered salmon' by shooting 16000 Double-Crested Cormorants on East Sand Island. This species of cormorant has already had a troubled history, having suffered at the hands of DDT once. While the actual causes of the endangerment of salmon are dams, over-fishing, introduction of invasive species and pollution, it is the cormorants that are being blamed in a misdirected conservation plan. The Double-crested Cormorant has by all means been double-crossed!

Participate in the Audubon Society's signature campaign to stop the slaughter.