The Nicobar Pigeon and the Dodo

Did you know that the Dodo's closest living relative lives in India? And that its genome may soon be used in the efforts to bring the Dodo back from extinction? And that its own existence, like all of Nicobar's other wildlife, is imperiled by the upcoming Nicobar Transshipment Terminal?

Comic from my column with The Hindu Sunday Magazine. 

Andaman Day Gecko

Here's some #MondayMotivation from the Andaman Day Gecko, a rare example of an endemic species that has benefitted from anthropological disturbances. Cartoon from my column with Roundglass Sustain. 

Birds Recently Uplisted on IUCN

Meet 5 Indian birds recenty uplisted on the IUCN red list. Comic from my column with Roundglass Sustain. 

Palm Oil Expansion in India

On the expansion of palm oil in India from my column with The Hindu.

Nicobar Development and the Leatherback Turtle

Niti Aayog's plan to 'develop' Great Nicobar island is moving ahead, with the Environment Ministry's Expert Appraisal Committee recommending the site for grant of terms of reference, despite outlining serious environmental concerns with the project. Read more on Pankaj Sekhsaria's article about the developments with the project, which poses serious threats to one of the only nesting populations of leatherback turtles in India, among other fauna and flora. 

A petition started by Dhruvam Desai is on Change.org. You may also write to the MoEFCC and Niti Aayog directly opposing the project if you are convinced about its demerits. Comic from my column with Sunday Mid-Day. 

Narcondam Shrew

Meet the newest mammal discovered from India, an insectivore endemic to the remote Narcondam Island: the Narcondam Shrew! Normally the discovery of a mammal is followed by a lot of fanfare, but curiosity around the news of this shrew's discovery died down both in the media and among the public because of the ongoing COVID crisis, and probably also because Narcondam is not easily accessible to civilians. I hope that wildlife lovers will find a tiny reason to celebrate the addition of this tiny creature to the world's list of mammals, in this moment of doom. Congratulations to scientists from the Zoological Survey of India for a monumental discovery! Comic from my column with The Hindu, my 100th with the paper!  

COVID Resurgence and the Government of India

COVID resurgence and the Indian government's environmental response to a zoonotic disease. Comic from my column with Sunday Mid-Day. Completing 5 years of publishing Green Humour on Sunday Mid-day today.

Andaman Nicobar and Compensatory Afforestation

Salute to Niti Aayog's grand vision of bringing Hong Kong to India, in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands! Comic from my column with Sunday Mid-Day. 

Galathea Bay Shipment Project

On the National Wildlife Board's plan to denotify Galathea Bay National Park in the Great Nicobar Island for a shipment project, from my column with Sunday Mid-Day, featuring a Giant Robber Crab.

Merchandise for Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

Some merchandise designed for Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park in the Andaman Islands. I had the great fortune of visiting the place last year, while in the Andamans for the Andaman Literature Festival. My sincere thanks to the forest department for hosting me at MGMNP and for commissioning this project, and to my dear friend, researcher and writer Krishna Anujan for making this happen!

Great Nicobar Port

What will be the ecological cost of the 10,000 crore transshipment port being planned at the Great Nicobar Island? Cartoon from my column with The Hindu.

An Indian Wildlife Video Conference

Some Indian wild animals get on a Zoom meeting in my column with Sunday Mid-Day.

Endemism in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a jewel in India's biodiversity crown. But unplanned development and pressures from tourism are threatening the endemic biodiversity of the islands. Here's the endemic Andaman Day Gecko's monologue from my column with Sunday Mid-Day.

The Edible Nest Swiftlet

Cave swiftlets are bat-birds among birds, in a sense that they're among the very few birds capabe of echolocation! One such bird is a native of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (and South-East Asia), the Edible-Nest Swiftlet. Harvesting of the birds' nest for the Oriental delicacy 'Bird nest soup' has led to a decline in numbers. But conservation efforts initiated by the legendary ornithologist, late Dr. Ravi Shankaran have ensured the species' survival.

Comic from my column with The Hindu Sunday Magazine.