Captain Sustaino's Green Tips for Office Goers

Be the hero that your office deserves...and the one that your office needs! Here are some green tips that'll get you there, by Captain Sustaino- the greenest man on Earth!

And the compilation is available as an A3 poster that you could put up on your office desk and remind yourself and your colleagues how easy it really is to do your bit (anyone can drink from the coffee machine!) and begin a sustainabiity movement at work! Mail me at rohanchakcartoonist@gmail.com to order your prints. (We must print as little as possible, I know, I know, but Captain Sustaino's got to make a living here!)

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

(First published in Sustainuance in 2013)

The Hoopoe's Crest

The magnificent crest of the Hoopoe makes it a favourite among bird-lovers. This bright, colourful bird is widespread in Africa and Eurasia, and can be seen in grasslands, scrubs and lightly wooded country. It uses the long probe-like bill to extract its insect prey out of the ground. Hoopoes nest in tree cavities and are known for their anti-predator defences. The secretion from the uropygial glands of the females and juveniles are extremely foul-smelling, and deter predators. The cartoon appeared in The Hindu BLink. Prints available on my webstore here.

Here's a caricature of the Hoopoe that was a hot favourite at my exhibition held last month. As always, you can order the poster by mailing me. The caricature is available as a coffee mug as well.

The Migration of Amur Falcons

Amur Falcons are small, extremely charming raptors that breed in Siberia and winter in Southern Africa. Each year during this time (October-November) they embark on an epic migratory journey (one of the longest for a raptor) covering 11000 km each way! They fly across Central Asia over to India, and then make a fortnight-long dash across the vast Arabian Sea to reach Africa. During their maritime flight, they are known to survive on termites and dragonflies, whose migration coincides with that of the falcons.

Earlier in 2012, mass killings of Amur Falcons occurred in Nagaland, where the birds were hunted in huge numbers for bushmeat (cartoon here). A successful conservation campaign followed and the raptors now fly safely over the north-eastern state. Three of these falcons have been radio-tagged in order to understand their migration patterns better. Watch this short film on the success story of the Amur Falcon campaign, by Dusty Foot Productions here.

Here's a caricature of the Amur Falcon that was the opening piece at my exhibition of wildlife caricatures held in Bangalore in September. Like most falcons, Amurs too are sexually dimorphic. The females sport lovely diamond-shaped streaks on the belly while the male is uniform grey.You can order prints (of both the cartoon above and the caricature below, by e-mailing me on rohanchakcartoonist@gmail.com. 

Wild Cats of India

Which is the country with the highest wild cat diversity? That’s right- India. Fifteen of the forty cat species that comprise the family Felidae, are found in India, with the greatest diversity within India occurring in the north-eastern states. India is also home to both the largest wild cat (the Tiger) and the smallest (the Rusty Spotted Cat). (The Cheetah used to roam the plains of India until it was extirpated in the twentieth century.) Here’s a caricatured conglomeration of India’s wild cats: 5 charismatic big cats, 10 enigmatic small cats, one big poster!

                         

Bengal Tiger-

Our national animal and one of the most alluring species on the planet, the Bengal Tiger is an animal with which India is associated and identified with the most. Best seen in the jungles of Cenrtal India, tigers have not only boosted tourism in the region but have also driven conservation. Poaching, habitat loss and fragmentation along with several other problems are causing a steady decline in the tigers’ numbers.

Asiatic Lion-

The Asiatic Lion is a lion sub-species that exists only in Gir in Gujarat, where 400 of these majestic beasts live. Their small population is threatened by inbreeding, disease and conflict with humans. The male sports a scanty mane unlike the dense hair of its African cousin. The pride size is also significantly smaller than those of African lions. 

Leopard-

Its extreme adaptability, opportunistic behaviour and stealth make the leopard the most successful of the big cats. The leopard possesses an exceptional climbing prowess and is even able to carry heavy prey up a tree. It is poached heavily for its skin and parts and is facing a grave threat from habitat loss and man-animal conflict.

Snow Leopard-

The glorious Snow Leopard is a holder of many world records. It is the highest living land predator and is the only big cat that cannot roar. It also has one of the longest tails in proportion to the body length, which is used for balance and for wrapping around the body like a blanket to keep warm. The snow leopard is a master of camouflage and stealth. It is threatened by habitat loss, poaching and conflicts with sheep herders.

Clouded Leopard-

This gorgeous cat is the smallest of the big cats and dwells in the Himalayan hill forests of the North-East. Poached heavily in the region, it is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. They are considered among the most talented climbers in the cat family and among the few that can climb down vertical trunks head first. 

Fishing Cat-

The Fishing cat is a resident of wetland habitats and is classified as endangered owing to habitat loss. They are good swimmers and are primarily nocturnal. Fish comprise their main prey but they may also eat rodents, amphibians and carrion.

Jungle Cat-

The Jungle Cat is India’s most common wild cat. It is active both during the day and the night and is an efficient hunter, thriving in a variety of habitats. It preys on a variety of rodents and birds, and has been reported to kill animals larger than itself, such as porcupines.

Desert Cat-

The Desert cat inhabits the arid regions of North-western India. The closest wild relative of the domestic tabby, it often interbreeds with domestic cats in its home range. Among Indian small cats, it is exploited the most for its fur, and poaching is a significant conservation threat that the species faces.

Eurasian Lynx-

The northern Himalayas form the southernmost part of the range of the Eurasian Lynx, which occurs throughout Eurasia. It can be distinguished easily from other small cats by the long ear tufts, which are thought to enhance hearing. Their furred paws act as snowshoes, aiding locomotion in the dense snow cover of the higher Himalayas.

Pallas’ Cat-

The Pallas’ Cat or Manul is a rather odd-looking but endearing cat, extremely shaggy in appearance. Its flat face sets it apart from its cousins. The thick, dense fur help it keep warm in the harsh conditions of Ladakh, the only region where it occurs in India. It hunts a variety of rodents and birds, often on mountain slopes.

Asian Golden Cat-

An extremely secretive felid, the Golden Cat to me is the most attractive of all cats in India. It resembles the Mountain Lion of the Americas in appearance, but is much smaller and has short black stripes on its face. Found in the hill forests of North-east India, it is an extremely rare animal to come across, and is often reported from camera trap images. It ranks as ‘Near-threatened’ on the IUCN Red List owing to poaching and habitat loss.

Rusty Spotted Cat-

The Rusty Spotted Cat is the smallest wild felid in the world, and is found through much of peninsular India. It is nocturnal in habit and extremely shy, and is hence not commonly encountered. The unmarked tail is an identification tip for this species. It is also known to be very tolerant of human presence, often inhabiting the fringes of human habitation around forests.

Marbled Cat-

This beautiful, elusive cat is another denizen of the hill forests of North-east India, where poaching and deforestation have led it to be classified as ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN. The Marbled Cat is an extremely agile climber, with its extraordinarily long tail serving as counterbalance. The thick, dark spots give it the appearance of a miniature Clouded Leopard.

Leopard Cat-

This miniature version of the leopard is not only similar to its larger cousin in being spotted, but also shares its adaptability. It is the second most common small cat after the Jungle Cat, and thrives in a variety of habitats. It is usually arboreal and hunts rodents and birds. Although listed as a ‘Least Concern’ species, it faces a significant threat from hunting and habitat loss.

Caracal-

The gorgeous caracal is one of the most sought-after small cats among cat aficionados. The arid equivalent of the lynx, it occurs in a wide range, from Africa through Central Asia to North-western India, where it is an extremely rare animal to encounter. The long ear tufts and the long legs give the caracal its characteristic feline grace. It feeds on a wide range of prey including desert rodents, birds and even small deer.

The poster is available in both mounted and loose forms. You can order posters of both the individual species and the entire compilation-

Also, there’s a whole range of collectibles that made waves at my exhibition held in Bangalore this September. You can order these by mailing me. Here’s the list of products available with the wild cat caricatures on them-

Mounted Posters (A3- Individual species and compilation)- Rs. 2000
A2 Posters (loose)- Rs. 1200 each

A3 Posters (loose- Individual species / compilation) - Rs. 500 for the first copy and Rs. 200 for the second copy onwards

Fridge Magnets (3" x 4", Printed in sets of 4)- Any 4 cats for Rs. 1200

Coasters (3.5" x 3.5", Printed in sets of 6)- Any 6 cats for Rs. 800

Coffee Mug (Big Cats of India)- Rs. 850

Coffee Mug (Small Cats of India)- Rs. 850

Go on, mail me your orders (rohanchakcartoonist@gmail.com) and turn your house into a wild cat sanctuary!

Coffee Mug- Big Cats of India

Coffee Mug- Small Cats of India

Fridge Magnets (Set of any 4)

Coasters (Set of any 6)

For orders outside of India, please click here to buy wild cat prints and goodies on my Redbubble store.

The Bearded Vulture as Hamlet

The Bearded Vulture's diet consists primarily of marrow from the bones of the carcasses it feeds on. Unlike other meat eating vultures that squabble at carcasses for feeding opportunities, the Lammergeier is a gentleman who steps in only when his competitors are done feeding and the bones remain to be worked on. It carries large bones to a height and drops them at rocks to crack the marrow open, and then descends to feed on the fresh marrow. The technique requires years of practice and juveniles may take up to seven years to master it!

The comic is available as A3 size prints in mounted and loose forms, that can be ordered by e-mailing me. Hereon, I am planning to make all prints of my comics available with the little snippets of information at the bottom, so pick your favourites and write to me! 

Dogs through the Eyes of a Birdwatcher

It's World Animal Day today! Every birdwatcher, novice or veteran, develops a weird habit of naming creatures in birding lingo, and if you're a birder who's fond of dogs, I guess you ARE guilty of doing this! The poster is available as A3 size prints (and also coffee mugs!), which can be ordered by e-mailing me (rohanchakcartoonist@gmail.com)

As you might know, I am looking after a street dog who is suffering from Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Here's a picture of the handsome lad (the one on the right, I mean)-

I've named him Laxman after my favourite Indian cartoonist. Now Laxman is being taken care of by the CARE animal shelter in Jakkur, Bangalore and needs to be on cardio-medication all his life. The funds I collect from the sale of this particular poster go towards Laxman's treatment. So order the prints like you're on a mad shopping spree! Happy World Animal Day!