Bengaluru, Jan 24 (IANS) The Forest Department has captured the leopard that attacked and mauled a devotee to death at Male Mahadeshwara Hills in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district, officials confirmed on Saturday. The operation was carried out using drones and cages following the tragic death of a devotee, identified as Praveen.The leopard was trapped late on Thursday night in the foothill region of the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. The capture operation was launched after Prav…
Latest Forest Department News & Updates
Gandhinagar, Jan 23 (IANS) Gujarat’s Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia said on Friday that the state government has stepped up preparations for tiger conservation after the presence of a tiger was reported in the Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining areas during the latest wildlife population census. Describing the development as a “matter of pride” for the state, the Minister said a comprehensive plan had been drawn up to ensure the animal’s long-term protection, habitat se…
Gandhinagar, Jan 21 (IANS) The 26th meeting of the State Wildlife Board was held in Gandhinagar under the chairmanship of Bhupendra Patel, with key discussions centred on wildlife conservation, habitat protection and eco-tourism management in Gujarat’s protected forest areas. The meeting was attended by Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia and Minister of State for Forests Pravin Mali.Officials informed the board that the Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary has been included in the Nationa…
Chennai, Jan 21 (IANS) The annual trekking season to the sacred Velliangiri Hills in the Western Ghats will begin on February 1, with devotees and the general public permitted to trek the seven hills until May 31.Authorities expect a significant surge in footfall this year, particularly during the Maha Shivaratri festival, and have put in place additional measures to manage crowds and ensure safety.Velliangiri Hills, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Boluvampatti forest range, is one of …
Chamarajanagara (Karnataka), Jan 21 (IANS) A pilgrimage to Male Mahadeshwara Hill ended in tragedy after a leopard attacked and killed a youth in the Talubetta forest area of Karnataka. The incident came to light on Wednesday and has raised concern, as lakhs of devotees use the same route for the annual padyatra.The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Praveen, who was travelling with four friends. The group began their journey on foot from Cheeranahalli village in Mandya district. The atta…
Chennai, Jan 21 (IANS) Forest and Environment officials in Tamil Nadu have described the recent surge in bird activity near Thoothukudi Harbour as a rare and ecologically significant development triggered by this year’s heavy rainfall.According to officials from the Forest Department, the unusually heavy rain has led to large-scale water accumulation in suburban salt pans around Thoothukudi. These salt pans, normally used exclusively for salt production, have temporarily transformed into shallow…
Chennai, Jan 18 (IANS) Olive Ridley turtles’ nesting activity is gradually gaining momentum along the coastal delta of Tamil Nadu, with Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam districts, after a slow start to the season.Forest Department data show that 48 nestings have been recorded so far in Mayiladuthurai and 24 in Nagapattinam, taking the total number of eggs collected this season to more than 9,000.The nesting season began later than usual, particularly in Mayiladuthurai. While Nagapattinam reported…
Ahmedabad, Jan 14 (IANS) Talod taluka of Gujarat’s Sabarkantha district is drawing attention statewide as Navalpur Gram Panchayat has set a remarkable example of women’s empowerment in local governance. The panchayat is entirely women-led — from the sarpanch to the deputy sarpanch and all members — and notably, every representative was elected unanimously. Under this collective leadership, the village has showcased how consensus-driven governance can accelerate development across sectors…
Gandhinagar, Jan 14 (IANS) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Tuesday visited the Wildlife Care Centre in Ahmedabad’s Bodakdev area to review ongoing operations under the statewide Karuna Abhiyan, an initiative aimed at rescuing and treating birds injured by kite strings during the Uttarayan festival. Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia accompanied him. During the visit, the Chief Minister inspected various facilities at the centre, including the specialised Water Birds Unit…
Patna, Jan 8 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Patna Zonal Office, is conducting extensive searches in connection with a fake government job scam involving an organised gang that cheated aspirants by offering fraudulent appointments in government departments.Initially detected in the name of the Indian Railways, the investigation has revealed that the scam extended to more than 40 government organisations and departments.These include the Forest Department, Railway Recruitment Board (RRB)…