The Sirmour Forest Department's rapid response team raided a house in Ghutanpur village, recovering the remains of wild animals, including a leopard skin, leading to two arrests and highlighting ongoing poaching concerns in the region.
A special audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has revealed that Odisha's forest and environment department sidestepped central guidelines, procuring and customising Mahindra Thar SUVs worth 17 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for forest protection, despite the funds being earmarked for 'preparedness and capacity building'.
Actor Mohanlal has declared possession of 10 elephant tusks and 13 ivory idols to the Kerala Forest Department under an amnesty scheme. This new disclosure comes as he continues to face trial for alleged illegal possession of wildlife articles, a case that originated in 2011 and has seen the Kerala High Court direct the continuation of legal proceedings against him.
A forest department team in Hoshiarpur was allegedly fired upon by suspected khair wood smugglers during an operation. While the accused escaped, officials managed to seize a vehicle loaded with illegally felled khair wood. The incident highlights the dangers faced by forest personnel and the lucrative nature of khair wood smuggling, which is believed to be operated by an inter-state network.
A forest department team in Hoshiarpur was allegedly fired upon by suspected khair wood smugglers during an operation. While the accused escaped, officials managed to seize a vehicle loaded with illegally felled khair wood. The incident highlights the dangers faced by forest personnel and the lucrative nature of khair wood smuggling, which is believed to be operated by an inter-state network.
Five forest department personnel were injured in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district after villagers allegedly attacked an anti-encroachment team. Four individuals have been arrested, and a case has been registered under relevant laws.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence has conducted a nationwide crackdown on wildlife trafficking, seizing over 440 endangered animals and 15 kg of ivory, and arresting 33 individuals involved in organised crime syndicates.
Following a landslide near the Kalladi tunnel project in Wayanad, Kerala, district authorities have begun evacuating families and intensified rescue operations to find seven missing persons. Heavy rains are complicating efforts, while project engineers clarify the landslide did not originate from the active construction zone.
A forest guard in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district has been suspended and arrested for allegedly misbehaving with and assaulting three women Van Mitras while on duty.
Thirteen blackbucks and a stray dog were discovered dead in a farm well in Shajapur district, Madhya Pradesh, leading forest authorities to launch an investigation. The carcasses were found after a foul smell was reported, and it is suspected the animals fell into the well while escaping stray dogs.
A Goa forest department official has filed a police complaint against state minister Subhash Phal Desai, alleging he obstructed officials and facilitated the illegal transportation of soil from a protected forest area. The complaint details the excavation and uprooting of trees, while the minister claims the soil was for a sports ground.
A 44-year-old man was killed in an elephant attack near Kotagiri in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu. The incident occurred as the man was walking to his village, prompting a police investigation and a safety advisory from the forest department.
Rajasthan's forest department is implementing an AI-based surveillance system across its wildlife sanctuaries to enhance anti-poaching efforts and monitor animal movement. The system, utilising thermal cameras, drones, and advanced software, provides 24x7 monitoring, helps prevent human-wildlife conflict through real-time alerts, and strengthens the fight against wildlife crime. Installations are being rolled out in phases across key protected areas, with advanced cameras capable of identifying individual animals and suspicious activities.
The body of Vikram Rana, the last person missing after the July 7 landslide at the Anakkampoyil-Meppadi tunnel project site in Kalladi, Wayanad, Kerala, has been recovered. This brings the death toll to eight. A massive search operation involving multiple agencies led to the discovery of the construction manager's body, concluding the search efforts.
Customs officials at Mumbai international airport intercepted an Indian passenger arriving from Bangkok with 29 exotic wild animals, including a gibbon, melanistic squirrel, ball python, and iguana. A rescue team was called to identify and stabilise the animals, which will be repatriated to their country of origin.
Forest personnel in Maharashtra have captured a cub of tigress T2, which killed four women in Chandrapur district. Efforts are underway to trap her three other cubs.
A forest department employee was allegedly hacked to death with an axe in the Tanda forest in Haldwani following an argument with his associate, police said.
Six forest personnel, including a range officer, were injured in an attack by suspected timber smugglers in North Tripura. Two Forest Department vehicles were also damaged in the incident.
Meghalaya's Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar has announced that the state government will review objections raised by pressure groups and villagers regarding the proposed limestone mining project in Jaintia Hills district.
Eight workers, mostly from Bihar, were killed after a massive granite rock collapsed at a stone quarry in Bengaluru South Taluk. The incident, which occurred at Madapattana, has led to allegations of illegal quarrying and negligence, with an MLA claiming police, forest, and mining department officials are involved. Chief Minister D K Shivakumar expressed grief and vowed action against violators, while rescue operations continue amidst fears of a rising death toll.
A 60-year-old man was killed by a leopard in Kamand village, Pauri Garhwal, while collecting fodder. Villagers protested the delayed response from authorities.
An FIR has been registered against five individuals, including the Director of the National Sugar Institute (NSI) in Kanpur, for the alleged illegal felling and uprooting of over 600 trees on the institute's campus. The case was filed after a complaint by a Regional Forest Officer, and an inspection revealed extensive unauthorised tree cutting over several months. Police have confirmed an ongoing investigation into the matter.
A rural-level cricket competition in Shimla's Jubbal subdivision is using sports to raise awareness about drug abuse and environmental protection. The 'Shaan-e-Bushahr' Mandhol Premiere League-4, featuring over 80 teams, encourages participants to plant saplings and monitor their growth, building on previous successful tree-planting initiatives.
The Forest Department in Palakkad, Kerala, has launched a search operation following the suspected killing of a cow by a leopard in Kanjikode. The incident occurred near forest land, prompting officials to investigate and consider further measures like camera traps and cage traps.
India's first satellite-tagged Ganges soft-shell turtle released in Kaziranga.
Three people were injured in two suspected wild elephant attacks in Palakkad, Kerala. These incidents follow two recent fatalities in Wayanad and Idukki. In response, the Kerala government has decided to establish a 500-member Special Reserve Force to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
An elderly man was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Bihar's Nawada district. The elephant also damaged several houses, causing panic among local residents. Forest officials are working to drive the tusker back into the forest.
Severed legs of a man were discovered inside the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district. Locals suspect a tiger attack, but forest officials are investigating the cause of death.
Police in Chamba district have launched an investigation after a Forest Department team was attacked with stones while transporting seized timber. The incident occurred on the Kaljel-Bajli link road, resulting in damage to a vehicle but no injuries.
Four individuals have been apprehended in Arunachal Pradesh's Papum Pare district for trafficking a rhinoceros horn valued at approximately Rs 1.2 crore. The operation, conducted in collaboration with the forest department, underscores the government's commitment to wildlife protection and combating organised crime.
The West Bengal government has transferred approximately 32 acres of land to the Border Security Force (BSF) for fencing along the India-Bangladesh border, a process that had been pending for several years. The state cabinet also approved proposals for additional land transfers for permanent border outposts and further fencing work in various districts.
The Uttarakhand Special Task Force and the Forest Department have arrested two suspected wildlife smugglers with ivory worth Rs 1.5 crore in Udham Singh Nagar district.
A group of suspected poachers allegedly opened fire at a forest department patrolling team in the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) before fleeing. The forest department recovered a motorcycle and a wild boar carcass from the scene.
An FIR has been registered against five individuals, including the Director of the National Sugar Institute (NSI) in Kanpur, for the alleged illegal felling and uprooting of over 600 trees on the institute's campus without proper permission. The investigation is ongoing, with officials finding evidence of extensive tree cutting over several months.
An elephant undergoing treatment for injuries sustained in an IED blast, allegedly triggered by Maoists in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, has died.
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force arrested an alleged interstate wildlife trafficker in Gorakhpur and rescued 100 protected rose-ringed parrots from his possession.
A court in Odisha's Nabarangpur district sentenced nineteen people to life imprisonment for their involvement in a 2016 clash over land cultivation that resulted in three deaths.
Two men in Pithoragarh have been booked after a video surfaced on social media showing them chasing a porcupine to death. The forest department took action following a complaint from PETA.
A tigress was found dead in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, shortly after critically injuring a forest guard during an operation to move her and her cubs away from a village.
A 28-year-old man was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Chhattisgarh's Surajpur district. The incident has sparked outrage among local villagers, who are demanding compensation and government jobs for the victim's family.
