Green Humour: January 2016

Wednesday 27 January 2016

Pamela Rasmussen and Species Splits

To birdwatchers, both seasoned and novice, Pamela Rasmussen needs no introduction. A prolific ornithologist and one of the foremost experts on Asian birds, Rasmussen has to her credit the authorship of the bird-bible 'Birds of South Asia; the Ripley Guide' as well as countless new species descriptions and splits. The rediscovery of the Forest Owlet, a critically endangered bird that had been presumed extinct for over a century, is also attributed to Ms. Rasmussen.

The cartoon appears on my Gocomics page today. (Read more about Pamela Rasmussen here.)

Sunday 24 January 2016

The Hornbill Map of the Indian Subcontinent

You've met India's hornbills in the caricatured compilation, Hornbills of India. Here's an illustrated map that shows you where to find these spectacular birds in the sub-continent. Of the 10 species, the Indian Grey Hornbill is the most widespread, followed by the Great Hornbill which is found both in the Western Ghats as well as the North-East. The Narcondam and the Sri Lanka Grey Hornbills are confined to the islands of Narcondam and Sri Lanka respectively. The Malabar Grey Hornbill is endemic to the Western Ghats.

The map is available as A2 and A1 size posters priced as follows-

A2 poster(419 x 594mm)- Rs. 1200 each

A1 poster (594 x 841mm)- Rs. 1800 each

E-mail me on rohanchakcartoonist@gmail.com to place your orders (mentioning the number of prints, postal address and contact number for delivery). Readers outside of India can purchase the prints directly from my webstore here. Happy hornbill-gazing!

Friday 8 January 2016

Mascot for the All India Forest Sports Meet

Meet Billoo the Hornbill, a mascot I designed for the All India Forest Sports Meet, 2015. The mascot also features on a series of 'My Stamp' postage stamps issued by the government, released at the meet by the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr. Siddaramaiah, and the Union Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Mr. Javadekar, among others. Billoo also features on a special cover of the Indian Philately Digest to commemorate the event.

The 'My Stamp' series featuring Billoo the Hornbill released at the event.

Oh, and here's 'Jumbo' Anil Kumble speaking at a podium with Billoo on it!

Little-known facts about grizzly hibernation

Did you know how insomniac grizzlies hibernate? Here's one from my Gocomics page today.

Thursday 7 January 2016

Belize bans oil drilling along reefs

In a rare piece of environmentally favourable news, Belize banned offshore drilling along the great Belize Barrier Reef. The reef is not only a sanctuary for a multitude of marine animals, but is also the core of Belize's fishing and tourism industries.

The comic appears on my Gocomics page today.

Monday 4 January 2016

Canids of India and Striped Hyena

Although the famous wild cats of India enchant most wildlife enthusiasts the world over, the dog family beats every other in my list of favourite mammals. India boasts of six species split into several races across the wide array of habitats and terrains that this magically diverse country offers. Ready to begin an Indian canid safari? Get set woof!

The Indian Fox

The Indian or the Bengal Fox is endemic to the sub-continent, and is the most widespread fox of the region. The black eye markings and the short muzzle give the fox an adorable appearance. The black-tipped tail is a useful field identification feature. An effective pest controller, the Indian fox feeds mostly on rodents. It inhabits scrubs and grasslands, and hence faces a threat from habitat loss and poaching, as most such areas lack legal protection.

The Dhole

The Dhole or the Asiatic Wild Dog is a highly social animal, living in clans that may consist of as many as 40 animals. Their group hunting strategies also make them one of the most successful carnivores. Habitat loss and disease are the main conservation threats to the Dhole.

The Desert Fox

As the name indicates, the Desert Fox dwells in the arid regions of North-West India. The white-tipped tail separates it from the Indian Fox. The desert Fox is a sub-species of the Red Fox, another race of which, the Himalayan Red Fox occurs in the higher Himalayas.

The Indian Jackal

The Jackal is the most successful member of the dog family in India, thriving in a wide range of habitats including forests, hills, marshes, grasslands and scrubs. Ever active and industrious, the jackal is a true opportunist. It scavenges on most occasions but actively hunts whatever it can catch, and has even been documented fishing! The jackal's opportunistic behaviour has earned it the reputation of a trickster in Indian folklore.

The Indian Wolf

Unlike the furry Gray Wolf of which this is a sub-species, the Indian Wolf is a thin, lanky-looking canine, nearly resembling a mongrel but larger in size. The Himalayan race of the Grey Wolf, called the Himalayan/ Tibetan Wolf differs from the Indian Wolf in having a luxuriant white coat. The wolf inhabits scrubs and open country in India where it preys on antelope. Increasing habitat loss and conflicts with cattle herders are the major threats that the wolf faces in India.

The Tibetan Fox

Endemic to the Tibetan Plateau, the Tibetan Fox is a rare occurrence in India, found only in Ladakh and Sikkim where India shares her borders with Tibet. The most carnivorous of foxes, it is equipped with several adaptations suited to the harsh Tibetan terrain, that give it its unique appearance, such as a narrow muzzle, short legs and ears. The Tibetan Fox hunts pikas, marmots and hare.

The Striped Hyena

Although the hyena morphologically resembles dogs, it is phylogenetically closer to cats and weasels. The Striped Hyena is the only hyena species occurring in India and is found across most of the subcontinent except coastal regions. Being strictly nocturnal, it is rarely encountered. Hyenas are primarily scavengers but larger animals are capable of taking prey down. As with most scavengers, it finds an unfavourable reputation in myths and folklore as a coward. Habitat loss threatens Striped Hyenas, and it is listed as Near-threatened on the IUCN.