Gurgaon Aravalli Biopark

Gurgaon's Aravalli Biopark- its last remaining 'green lung' is under threat from a highway being planned by the National Highway Authority of India. The city, already grappling with some of the gravest ground water and air related concerns in the country, is set to lose this indispensable stretch of an imperiled hill range. Thankfully, massive protests from citizens have ensued, and a campaign to save the park is being undertaken.  Do lend your voice to the campaign using the hashtags #saveABDP, #NahiToNHAI and #SaveAravalliBiodiversityPark .

Brazil Elections and the Amazon

Brazil just voted for a far-right fascist, racist and homophobic climate science denier as its President. Socio-political ramifications aside, scientists and environmentalists are now fearing the worst for the Amazon Basin, as the new President has had a history of being a logging lobbyist. Let's hope that the Tropical Trump does not trump the original Trump in stupidity. 

Top Ten Recommendations for Migratory Birds Visiting India

Are you a migratory bird visiting India and looking for recommendations? Well, look no further than Green Humour! (The birds in the comic are: European Bee-eater, Montagu's Harrier, Crab Plover, Rosy Starling, Indian Blue Robin, Grey Wagtail (with his guide Plum-headed Parakeet), Siberian Stonechat (with a performing Indian Peafowl), Cinereous Vulture, Steppe Eagle, Eurasian Griffon, Pied Cuckoo, Greater Flamingo, Marsh Sandpiper, Western Reef Egret and Pied Avocet. 

Comic from my column with Sunday Mid-day. Prints available on my webstore here. (For orders within India, e-mail me on rohanchakcartoonist@gmail.com)

Some World Records Held by the Globe Skimmer

Meet the Globe Skimmer, a handsome dragonfly that happens to be the world's longest migrating insect! The comic appears in my column with Sunday Mid-day.

Crested Ibis Mascot for Beidaihe Wetland Park

The Crested Ibis is an endangered member of the ibis family, found in Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan and Russia. Like all ibises, it inhabits wetlands and marshes, and is threatened by the loss of these habitats. Successful captive breeding and reintroduction efforts in China have brought some respite for the species, and Beidaihe Wetland Park  in China is one such haven for these birds.

Here's a set of illustrations that I created for a Crested Ibis conservation campaign at Beidaihe. My thanks to the park management for not just commissioning me for the project, but also giving me a chance to learn about this species!

Cartoons on Bioluminescence for Arastirmaci Cocuk

This month in my page with the Turkish kids' magazine Arastirmaci Cocuk, we speak about bioluminescence! Different bioluminescent creatures such as dinoflagellates, squids, fungi, anglerfish and cookiecutter sharks feature throughout the magazine, making this issue truly #lit! 

Some Tips to Deal with Men in Science

With the #MeToo movement finally gaining momentum in India, I hope that the issues concerning the safety of women working in ecology, wildlife science and conservation will be discussed and addressed, and that there will be a focus on creation of safe working environments for women in these fields. Being male, and not having been on the receiving end of sexual harassment, I realize that I may not fully comprehend the gravity of the situation. Hence, the comic has been created with inputs from various female friends, seniors and mentors working in ecology and conservation. I thank them for trusting me with the information, and for sharing their experiences with me.

The comic appears in my column with Sunday Mid-day. 

Bird Ringing

A cartoon on bird ringing from my Gocomics page, inspired by my bird ringing experience with ornithologist Katherine Leung of WWF Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Bird Ringing Group led by bird ringing veterans from the UK. Some of the birds we ringed were Red-billed Starling, Brown Shrike, Japanese White-eye, Oriental Reed Warblers,  Barn Swallow, and the rare Pleske's Grasshopper Warbler (shown in the cartoon). 

A big thanks to Katherine for the experience, which gave me a chance to observe these beautiful birds at such close quarters (and also find out how soft they are when stroked!)

Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park

(click on the image for a larger view)

Hoi Ha Wan is one of Hong Kong's finest marine parks, home to more than 60 species of coral and 120 species of fish. The marine conservation and education team at WWF Hong Kong that manages the park, commissioned me to create this illustrated representation of the landscape, habitat and fauna found in the park, along with illustrations of recreational and educational activities that the park offers: coral-watching on glass-bottomed boats, snorkelling and kayaking. The artwork is being used in the park for an at-a-glance introduction to the place, as well as on WWF Hong Kong's website here. 

Thanks to Ms. Samantha Lee and the marine team at WWF HK for hosting me at Hoi Ha Wan, and for commissioning the project!

Eye Fashion by Indian Frogs

Frogs: trendsetters in eye fashion since 375 million years! From my column with Sunday Mid-day.