out of ink!

Octopuses have several defense mechanisms such as fleeing off at a high speed and excellent camouflage. When it is cornered by a predator in spite of this, it expels an ink-like substance which blinds the predator temporarily, enabling the octopus to escape. (This ink is also used by the octopus to stun prey such as crabs and lobsters, making them easy to secure)


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Swapping Professions?

On how many occasions have we witnessed relocation programmes back-firing and forest departments failing to tackle man-animal conflicts in spite of all the funds that are sanctioned for the purpose? A lot of these cases have been 'solved' by labelling the animal in question as a man-eater and bringing it down. Are our department officials swapping professions with the great Corbett?

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Big Cats, Big Jokes!

While India's big cats continue to suffer from habitat loss and poaching, there have been plans by the government to re-introduce cheetahs in the grasslands of Western and central India. Does India have the room, resources and the skill to host another beautiful big cat when all its other species are already fighting a losing battle? Also, the continuous decline in the numbers of the Great Indian Bustard, a critically endangered grassland bird proves that grassland conservation has always taken a back seat in India's conservation strategies.

Here's my take on the cheetah introduction issue.

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