January 16,  Introduction: Marine scientists have discovered an exceptionally large and ancient black coral in the deep waters off New Zealand, offering rare insights into long-lived deep-sea ecosystems. The finding highlights both the richness of marine biodiversity and the urgent need for conservation of fragile ocean habitats. Discovery in Fiordland’s Deep Waters The coral was discovered […]

 January 12, 2026  Introduction; The Kerala government has officially renamed the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary as the Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary, making it the first butterfly sanctuary in the State. The decision reflects Kerala’s growing emphasis on species-specific conservation and recognises Aralam’s unique ecological significance as a major butterfly habitat. Legal Notification and Administrative Change The renaming was notified through SRO […]

12 Jan 2026 Introduction: Indian herpetology has recorded a significant addition with the discovery of two new frog species from the eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot. The findings highlight the ecological richness of Arunachal Pradesh and underscore the importance of sustained scientific exploration in remote mountain ecosystems. Scientific Discovery and Leadership The discovery was made by a research […]

 January 10, 2026  Introduction: Forest staff involved in wildlife enumeration will use the advanced Monitoring System for Tigers: Intensive Protection and Ecological Status (MSTrIPES) app during the upcoming tiger and wildlife census in Anamalai Tiger Reserve. The digital upgrade is expected to improve accuracy, speed, and data integration under the All India Tiger Estimation Survey […]

 January 10, 2026  Introduction: In a significant move towards ecological restoration and community-led conservation, the Senapati Forest Division has launched Participatory Rural Appraisal exercises as a pilot initiative to rejuvenate the Barak River watershed. The programme aims to combine scientific planning with grassroots participation to restore degraded ecosystems while strengthening local livelihoods. Pilot PRA Exercise […]

 January 9, 2026 Introduction: The first phase of the All-India Tiger Estimation 2026 (AITE-26) commenced on January 6 in the Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary under the Erode Forest Division. The large-scale wildlife census marks a key step in India’s periodic national effort to assess tiger populations and associated biodiversity using standardised scientific methods. Training and Field Deployment Ahead of […]

 January 8, 2026  Introduction: Researchers have discovered three previously unknown species of meadow katydids in Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting the region’s rich but understudied insect biodiversity. The findings emerged from extensive field surveys conducted across diverse habitats of the Kashmir Valley and adjoining mountain ranges, challenging earlier assumptions that only one species of this genus existed […]

 January 7, 2026  Introduction: The Union government has amended forest conservation rules to exempt private and government plantations in forest areas from key environmental levies, reviving a long-standing debate over the role of private industry in India’s forests. The move, aimed at boosting plantation forestry, has triggered concern among environmentalists and tribal rights groups about […]

 January 7, 2026.  Introduction: In a significant boost to India’s wildlife conservation efforts, 15 critically endangered Indian vultures have been released into the wild at the Somthana Range of Melghat Tiger Reserve. The release forms part of a long-term species recovery programme led by conservation scientists to restore vulture populations that have sharply declined across […]

7 Jan 2026 Introduction: Researchers have discovered a new species of reed snake in Mizoram, underscoring the state’s rich but still underexplored biodiversity. The non-venomous species has been named “Calamaria mizoramensis”, after the state where it was found. The discovery adds to India’s growing list of endemic reptiles and highlights the ecological significance of forested hill […]