Bats in Monuments

Bats in Indian monuments- a boon or bane? Comic from my column with The Hindu Sunday Magazine.

Threats to the Aravalli Range

As the plunder of the Aravallis continues unabated, particularly in Haryana and Delhi, here's a reminder that it is the world's oldest fold mountain range, and a treasure trove of biodiversity. Cartoon from my column with Sunday Mid-Day. Recommended reading: Newslaundry's thoroughly investigated series on encroachment in the Aravallis.

Great Indian Bustard Chicks Hatched in Captivity

If you've been following Green Humour, you may know that the Great Indian Bustard is on its way to becoming the first bird to go extinct in independent India. But the Rajasthan Forest Department has made a major breakthrough by successfully hatching 9 bustard chicks in captivity. As the FD prepares them for rehabilitation, let's give them the cheer they deserve. Preparation and conservation of suitable habitat, and mitigation of threats to the bustards' lives (moving transmission lines underground) will determine the success of these 9 birds in the wild. 

At the recently concluded COP CMS, the Great Indian Bustard was among the three endangered Indian animals to be included in Appendix 1 (the other two being the Asian Elephant and the Bengal Florican). The move is expected to bolster conservation efforts of the species across borders.

Comic from my column with The Hindu.

Bird Deaths in Sambhar Lake

Rajasthan's Sambhar Lake that hosts thousands of migratory waterfowl every year, witnessed mass deaths from botulism and elevated concentrations of salt from illegal salt mining in the lake. Applause for all veterinarians and conservation organizations who teamed up to save the remaining birds from the crisis.

Cartoon from my column with Roundglass Sustain.

The Great Indian Busted

The last Sunday, Green Humour appeared in three Indian newspapers: other than my two weekly columns with Sunday Mid-Day and The Hindu, in a wildlife special edition of Indian Express, where this very grumpy Great Indian Bustard greeted his readers. While Indian Express published the above version of the comic, I prefer the angrier version:

Threats to the Great Indian Bustard

The Great Indian Bustard is known in India by vernacular names like 'Godawan' in Rajasthan, and 'Hoom' in Maharashtra, after its booming breeding call. Here's a comic about the conservation threats that this critically endangered bird faces, from my column with Sunday Mid-Day.

Bustards and High Tension Wires

Yet another Great Indian Bustard succumbed to a high tension wire collision in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan yesterday. The critically endangered species has extinction staring at its face, as numbers plummet to below 100, and apathy and inaction on the part of authorities continue.

Read the news here.