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Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary adds five new records to its avian fauna

Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Ceyx erithaca, Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary
An Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx erithaca) spotted at Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary during the annual population survey
(Image Credit: Malabar Natural History Society)
  
      The annual population survey of butterflies and birds at Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala has added five more species of birds and eight new species of butterflies to the documented biodiversity of the sanctuary. The survey which was jointly carried out by Kerala Forests & Wildlife Department and Malabar Natural History Society during the second week of February was able to record 123 different species of birds at this small sanctuary situated in the Kozhikode district of Kerala.

Chizmi: A Village of Butterflies in Nagaland

yellow coster, nagaland butterflies, chizmi village, butterfly diverity
Yellow Coster is one of the 212 species of butterflies documented at the village of Chizmi


Chizmi may give the impression of any other typical village in North-East India- scenic with lush greenery and its forests. But today this village stands out as an illustrative example of Nagaland’s butterfly diversity. As per the results of a butterfly survey conducted at Chizmi for a period of three years from 2011 to 2014, the village is home to some 212 different species of butterflies. The study is the first of its kind to carry out in Nagaland, after a period of more than 90 years.

Birds of India – Streaked Laughingthrush (Trochalopteron lineatum)





Streaked Laughingthrush (Trochalopteron lineatum) is a passerine seen in North India, especially in the Himalayas. It is a common bird you will find in the hilly areas of Himachal Pradesh. It has a wider geographic range including countries Afghanistan; China; Nepal; Pakistan; Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Recorded from Galu Devi temple in Dharamkot, near Dharamshala in HP.

This is a part of our Birds of India Series of Videos.

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Human babies as crocodile bait: hunting practices of the British in Colonial India

mugger crocodile, Crocodylus palustris, crocodile hunting
A mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) under captivity in an Indian Zoo.
    
  The idea of using live human babies as crocodile bait may sound horrific, but the 19th century British hunters in colonial Sri Lanka and India found the idea so charming for big game hunting. A recent review of the 19th century records reveal that at least some British crocodile hunters during the colonial rule used live babies rented from the natives as bait to lure crocodiles.

Tawny Emperor and Comic Oakblue butterflies spotted in India after 100 years


Comic Blue, Arhopala comica, Tawny Emporer, Chitoria ulupi ulupi, rare butterfly
Comic Oakblue (Arhopala comica)  and Tawny Emporer (Chitoria ulupi ulupi)
Image Credit: 
Tshetsholo Naro/North East Network/JOTT












Butterfly enthusiasts in India have enough reasons to cheer up. Recently published results of a butterfly survey in the far north east state of Nagaland reveal that two rare butterflies have been recorded from here after a long gap of 100 years. As per the results of the survey, Tawny Emperor (Chitoria ulupi ulupi) and Comic Oakblue (Arhopala comica) butterflies were spotted at the village of Chizmi in the Phek District of South Eastern Nagaland. The last known record of these two species from India dates back to 1914.