News for 'Department of Forests and Wildlife'

Canadian man held for carrying crocodile skull at Delhi airport

Canadian man held for carrying crocodile skull at Delhi airport

Rediff.com9 Jan 2025

A Canadian man has been arrested for allegedly carrying a crocodile skull in his bag at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in New Delhi, the customs department said on Thursday.

Wolves wreak havoc in 35 UP villages, claiming 7 lives in attacks

Wolves wreak havoc in 35 UP villages, claiming 7 lives in attacks

Rediff.com29 Aug 2024

The wolf had terrorised residents in over 35 villages and with its capture, the local population has breathed a sigh of relief, a statement issued in Bahraich said.

Didn't initiate or request Mahadevi's relocation: Vantara

Didn't initiate or request Mahadevi's relocation: Vantara

Rediff.com4 Aug 2025

Vantara did not initiate or request the relocation of the elephant named Mahadevi from a monastery in Kolhapur to its facility in Jamnagar but served only as the 'court-appointed recipient facility', the NGO said in a statement.

Ageing safari vehicles spark safety concerns in Ranthambore reserve

Ageing safari vehicles spark safety concerns in Ranthambore reserve

Rediff.com19 Aug 2025

Tourism stakeholders are raising concerns about the safety and environmental impact of ageing diesel-powered safari vehicles operating in Ranthambore Tiger Reserve after a recent breakdown left tourists stranded.

PM approves separate dept for wildlife & forests

PM approves separate dept for wildlife & forests

Rediff.com22 Mar 2010

To ensure sharper focus on wildlife-related issues and the Forest Conservation Act, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has approved the setting up of a separate department for wildlife and forests.

Kolhapur: Thousands march to bring back Mahadevi from Vantara

Kolhapur: Thousands march to bring back Mahadevi from Vantara

Rediff.com3 Aug 2025

Thousands of people participated in a 'silent march' in Kolhapur on Sunday, demanding that 36-year-old female elephant Mahadevi (also called Madhuri), be brought back from Vantara wildlife rescue, treatment, and rehabilitation centre in Gujarat's Jamnagar district.

Why This Elephant Triggers Outrage In Maharashtra

Why This Elephant Triggers Outrage In Maharashtra

Rediff.com6 Aug 2025

A Supreme Court order relocating an elephant to a care facility in Vantara has sparked public outrage in Maharashtra by putting the state government in a difficult position over issues of animal welfare and public sentiment.

Mumbai SGNP's toy train gets Vistadome makeover, to chug again after 4 yrs

Mumbai SGNP's toy train gets Vistadome makeover, to chug again after 4 yrs

Rediff.com27 Jul 2025

One of the key attractions of the park, which houses a wide array of plant, animal and bird species besides ancient caves, the revamped toy train is set to provide an elating and exciting experience to visitors, especially children.

Why Centre sought help of Reliance wildlife facility in Gujarat

Why Centre sought help of Reliance wildlife facility in Gujarat

Rediff.com7 Sep 2024

After three cheetahs died in just over a month last year in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park, the National Tiger Conservation Authority in May 2023 called in experts from Reliance's wildlife facility in Gujarat to review health monitoring protocols, official records show.

The Man Who Captures Vultures On Camera

The Man Who Captures Vultures On Camera

Rediff.com1 Oct 2025

Like the dinosaurs, vultures face extinction. From 40 million 33 years ago, only 35,000 to 45,000 vultures remain in India.

Ex-IFS officers urge PM to drop Aravalli safari project

Ex-IFS officers urge PM to drop Aravalli safari project

Rediff.com10 Feb 2025

A group of retired forest officers has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding the immediate scrapping of the 10,000-acre safari project in Haryana's Aravallis, arguing that it will harm the environment and wildlife. They highlight the "alarming destruction" of the Aravallis due to mining, quarrying, real estate development, and deforestation, and warn that the project could disturb aquifers crucial for water-starved districts. The retired officers also emphasize the importance of protecting the Aravallis, which is the only significant forest cover in Haryana, for its role in restoring humidity and rainfall in the region.

Biparjoy: 200 teams in Gir, Kutch to protect wildlife; 2 lion cubs rescued

Biparjoy: 200 teams in Gir, Kutch to protect wildlife; 2 lion cubs rescued

Rediff.com16 Jun 2023

One of the teams rescued two lion cubs that had fallen into an open well in Jasadhar Range of Gir East division during the cyclone's landfall on Thursday evening, the official said.

Kerala's maneater tiger dead, remains of woman found in its stomach

Kerala's maneater tiger dead, remains of woman found in its stomach

Rediff.com28 Jan 2025

A 'man-eater' tiger that killed a woman two days ago was found dead in Kerala's high-range district of Wayanad on Monday and an autopsy on the dead cat revealed the presence of the victim's hair, dress, and a pair of earrings in its stomach, forest officials said.

Forest staffer suspended for anti-EVM WhatsApp status

Forest staffer suspended for anti-EVM WhatsApp status

Rediff.com4 Apr 2024

A forest department staffer in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra has been suspended for allegedly violating the model code of conduct by keeping a WhatsApp status message that raised question marks over the efficacy of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), an official said on Thursday.

MP hides behind national security clause on Project Cheetah

MP hides behind national security clause on Project Cheetah

Rediff.com24 Jul 2024

The Madhya Pradesh forest department has refused to provide information under the Right to Information Act on management of cheetahs brought from Africa and their cubs born in India.

Why are tigers in Maharashtra dying?

Why are tigers in Maharashtra dying?

Rediff.com18 Mar 2025

'The true measure of Project Tiger's success is not just rising tiger numbers, but our ability to ensure harmonious human-wildlife coexistence'

Don't take selfie with lions: Guj forest dept tells tourists

Don't take selfie with lions: Guj forest dept tells tourists

Rediff.com11 Jun 2016

The Gujarat forest department has advised tourists and locals against taking "selfie with lions" to discourage them from getting dangerously close to the wild animal and putting their lives at risk, an official said.

8 cheetahs to be brought to India from Africa's Botswana

8 cheetahs to be brought to India from Africa's Botswana

Rediff.com18 Apr 2025

India is set to bring eight cheetahs from Botswana in two phases, with four arriving by May 2025. This follows the successful reintroduction of cheetahs to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, with the population now at 26, including 14 cubs born in India. The initiative aims to boost cheetah conservation efforts and create inter-state collaboration for their protection. The project has already seen significant investment, with over Rs 112 crore spent on cheetah rehabilitation.

'We View Wildlife As A Threat'

'We View Wildlife As A Threat'

Rediff.com16 Feb 2024

'We need to understand and respect wildlife behaviour.'

Draft promises changes in forest and wildlife laws but nothing official about it, yet

Draft promises changes in forest and wildlife laws but nothing official about it, yet

Rediff.com19 Aug 2016

The proposed changes, as per the draft, could continue some of the existing conflict between wildlife protection regulations with the implementation of Forest Rights Act, 2006, which gives rights to tribals in all kinds of traditional forest lands -- including the wildlife zones, such as national parks. The new proposed law, just as the original one from 1972, does not explicitly recognise these rights in all wildlife areas.

Assam probes fund misuse during Kovind's visit to Kaziranga

Assam probes fund misuse during Kovind's visit to Kaziranga

Rediff.com2 Apr 2023

Speaking to PTI, Environment and Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said the additional chief secretary of the forest and environment department Ravi Shankar Prasad has been directed to look after the allegation following a reply to a social activist under the Right to Information Act.

5-year-old injured in yet another wolf attack in UP

5-year-old injured in yet another wolf attack in UP

Rediff.com3 Sep 2024

According to the locals, Afsana was sleeping in her house in Pandohia village when a wolf attacked her and the marks of the animal's teeth were visible on her neck.

Maha: 'Conflict tiger' that killed 13 people captured

Maha: 'Conflict tiger' that killed 13 people captured

Rediff.com13 Oct 2022

Generally, tigers that attack humans apart from circumstances like defending cubs or trying to save one's own life are referred to as conflict tigers.

Leopard that terrorised Bengaluru for 5 days shot dead

Leopard that terrorised Bengaluru for 5 days shot dead

Rediff.com1 Nov 2023

After three days of intense search operations, forest department officials tracked the wild cat in the city's outskirts at Kudlu Gate near Electronic City in Bengaluru South.

Govt sets up high-level 11-member panel to oversee cheetah project

Govt sets up high-level 11-member panel to oversee cheetah project

Rediff.com26 May 2023

The Centre has set up an 11-member high-level steering committee to review and monitor the progress of the cheetah reintroduction programme and provide suggestions on the opening of the cheetah habitat for eco-tourism.

Wolf attacks: 'The animals have turned aggressive because...'

Wolf attacks: 'The animals have turned aggressive because...'

Rediff.com8 Sep 2024

An invasion of wolves is keeping the forest authorities on their toes in Bahraich, where the animal is suspected to have killed at least six people and wounded several, all within a very short span.

The Best Wildlife Photographs, 2022!

The Best Wildlife Photographs, 2022!

Rediff.com25 Oct 2022

The winners of the Natural History Museum's prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition were announced at an awards ceremony in London. American photographer Karine Aigner was announced as this year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

Operation Bhediya: 5th man-eater wolf captured in Bahraich after deadly attacks, 1 left

Operation Bhediya: 5th man-eater wolf captured in Bahraich after deadly attacks, 1 left

Rediff.com10 Sep 2024

The wolves had been behind several attacks on villagers in Bahraich. The Uttar Pradesh Forest Department is taking the wolf to a rescue shelter.

Assam's eviction drive in forest land hits over 12,000 people

Assam's eviction drive in forest land hits over 12,000 people

Rediff.com14 Feb 2023

The Assam government on Tuesday began clearing nearly 1,900 hectares of forest and government land in Sonitpur district, affecting 12,000-odd people who were allegedly staying there illegally for decades, a senior official said.

Wolves seeking revenge by attacking humans: Expert

Wolves seeking revenge by attacking humans: Expert

Rediff.com4 Sep 2024

As Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich grapples with wolf terror, an expert has said the series of attacks on the residents of Mehsi tehsil might be due to wolves "seeking revenge" for possible habitat loss or killing of their cubs.

At least 17 monkeys found shot dead in Chhattisgarh village

At least 17 monkeys found shot dead in Chhattisgarh village

Rediff.com2 Sep 2024

The forest department has launched an investigation into the reported death of 18 to 19 monkeys in a village in Chhattisgarh's Bemetara district and recovered four rotten carcasses, a senior official said.

U'khand forest officials shifted over tree-felling in Corbett

U'khand forest officials shifted over tree-felling in Corbett

Rediff.com26 Nov 2021

More than two dozen officials of the Uttarakhand forest department have been transferred following allegations of large scale felling of trees and illegal constructions in Corbett Tiger Reserve's buffer zone.

'India among top countries in illegal wildlife trade'

'India among top countries in illegal wildlife trade'

Rediff.com14 Jun 2022

'With just 2.4 per cent of global landmass, India houses six to eight per cent of planetary biodiversity and hence is a prime target of wildlife criminals.'

Panic as leopard enters Delhi home, injures 8

Panic as leopard enters Delhi home, injures 8

Rediff.com2 Apr 2024

A leopard strayed into a village in north Delhi's Wazirabad early on Monday, creating panic in the area and injuring eight residents before being tranquillised by forest department officials after an over five-hour-long rescue operation.

UP: 'Man-eater' wolves continue to attack, 8-yr-old injured

UP: 'Man-eater' wolves continue to attack, 8-yr-old injured

Rediff.com6 Sep 2024

An eight-year-old boy was injured in a wolf attack while playing outside his home in the Mahsi tehsil in Bahraich, his family alleged on Friday.

Over 30 flamingos killed as Emirates flight hits them in Mumbai

Over 30 flamingos killed as Emirates flight hits them in Mumbai

Rediff.com21 May 2024

So far, carcasses of 32 flamingos have been recovered from Ghatkopar area, the police said.

U'khand okays forest land transfer for 3 roads near China border

U'khand okays forest land transfer for 3 roads near China border

Rediff.com30 Jun 2020

The roads will reduce the distance to the border considerably and make easier the movement of Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel, who at present have walk up to 25 kms to reach there, officials said.

'Will bury Cong dogs': Shinde's MLA courts another row

'Will bury Cong dogs': Shinde's MLA courts another row

Rediff.com18 Sep 2024

Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad's announcement of a 'reward' for anyone chopping off Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's tongue had set off a huge political row.

13 lions enmeshed near Gir Wildlife Sanctuary

13 lions enmeshed near Gir Wildlife Sanctuary

Rediff.com22 May 2016

Three more lions were enmeshed by the Forest department on Sunday from nearby Ambardi village in Gujarat's Amreli district located near Gir Wildlife Sanctuary

'No One Has Seen Cheetahs In A Year'

'No One Has Seen Cheetahs In A Year'

Rediff.com20 Aug 2024

'Not disclosing information to the public indicates that there is something wrong with Project Cheetah.'