The evening air, laden thick with anticipation, was punctured by what sounded like a bark. To our untrained ears, it was just another jungle sound. But to our guide Santosh, perched in the front seat of our open top Gypsy, it was a signal he had been waiting to hear all afternoon. "Shhhhh, it is here! I tell you 100 per cent, the tiger is nearby now," said Santosh, his voice calm and confident. We had been crisscrossing the jungle for the last two hours in the Gypsy, each stop ending in disappointment. No tiger spotted. With the sun going down we made a final stop at a waterhole where a few other Gypsies crammed with hopeful tourists had already parked. We eased into in a clearing facing the pond, expecting the tiger to appear from a raised embankment on the opposite side. And that's when Santosh heard the bark of the spotted deer -- the sound the animal makes to warn other herds when they sense a tiger nearby. The bark rang out again, but from a different direction. "Jaldi, jaldi ghuma (Quick, quick, turn around)!" Santosh motioned to our driver Atul, telling him to reverse and head back to a fork in the road we had passed earlier. The race was on to be the first out before other Gypsies made it there. Atul was adept. So were other drivers. Without any aggression of city roads, the five Gypsies reversed, turned and parked at the dirt track fork surrounded by walls of tall grass, trees and shrubs. And we waited, cameras ready. Not for long. From the foliage emerged a magnificent cub, her gait assured and unperturbed by the humans lying in wait to shoot it -- with long lenses. Behind, followed her sister. Both walked together, their large furry striped heads occasionally muzzling in playful sisterhood. It was the moment all safari-goers that day had waited for all afternoon. To witness the majesty of an animal as regal as a tiger is indescribable. To see it from so close that you could discern every strand of its hair was a goose-bump raising experience. Seconds passed and the cubs, at about two or three years of age a tiger cub is the length of a pony, approached the gathered Gypsys. A hushed silence filled the warm jungle air. The only sound was the staccato of DSLR camera shutters clicking rapidly. Santosh told us that the tigers of Tadoba are so used to seeing safaris that they think of humans and their vehicles as part of the jungle furniture. But he did give us a tip: "If the tiger looks at you, make eye contact, keep your gaze steady and don't crouch. That way it will know you are not a prey." He said the two cubs were born to Chhoti Madhu, one of the many named tigers of Tadoba. The cubs do not get names until adulthood. Chhoti Madhu has a third cub, a male. We didn't see him. But we did catch a glimpse of Chhoti Madhu a few hundred metres away. She remained hidden while her girls played with each other in front of the Gypsies before making their way to the water-hole to sate their thirst. The forest officer of the area, Santosh Thipe (not the same Santosh as the guide), later told us that the other tigers that roam the area are Shambu, Vaiman, Chhota Dadiyal (so named because of his luxurious cheek hair), W (because of a W pattern on the forehead) and Collar Wali (fitted with a tracking collar by the forest authorities). "Of all the animals in the jungle, the tiger is the most regal. Its demeanour is of a king's. It is aloof, dignified and above all," said Thipe. He pointed out that a tiger will never attack anyone unless it is hungry. "Unlike humans, wild animals are not greedy. They kill only when they want to eat," said Thipe, who is a native of the neighbouring Chandrapur, the district headquarters. Tadoba is one of 58 tiger reserves in the country, and arguably the most popular because of its relatively easy tiger spotting. It is a three and a half hour drive from Nagpur, and has several lodging options around national park in the buffer zone. Safari times are limited to four hours in the morning and four in the afternoon, with tourists required to leave the core area by 6 pm in winters, a deadline enforced very strictly. Tadoba gives tourists the option to enter from 23 safari gates. No mobile phones are allowed in Tadoba and many other national parks following a Supreme Court directive last year. The national park is home to about 90 tigers, with neighbouring areas which make up the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve accounting for another 100 tigers. Just a decade ago there were only 30 in the area. The Andhari river forms the lifeline of the abundant wildlife in the reserve, comprising spotted deer, sambar deer, sloth bear, Indian gaur, wild dogs, leopards, crocodiles, storks, egrets, owls, spiders and many more. A safari is a great opportunity to learn about the other life forms that we share our planet with, and to pick up interesting vignettes about the national animal. For example, jungle cats use tree trunks, bushes and boulders to urinate and scent-mark their territories. Every tiger has a unique pattern of stripes, and is best identified by the stripes on its flanks drawn by nature in perfect symmetry. As the English poet William Blake noted: "Tyger Tyger burning bright, In the forests of the night: What immortal hand or eye, Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?" This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
09 March,2026 10:28 AM IST | Tadoba National Park | PTIFlocks of the rare Little Stint, a migratory bird species that travels vast distances from Siberia, have arrived in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, on Sunday, March 8. Smaller than a tennis ball, these remarkable birds undertake long-distance migrations, traversing continents to find suitable seasonal habitats in coastal stretches, salt pans, and marshlands. According to M. Mathivanan, Senior Research Associate and Coordinator at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), these rare Little Stints migrate in large numbers from Europe to India to escape harsh northern winters. "Every winter, lots of migratory birds travel from Europe to India to overcome the climatic conditions and for the food resources. So here we are seeing the little stint. They are coming from Europe to India every winter in large numbers. They prefer seashore areas, especially the sulfans, mangroves and other seashore areas, where we can find them in large numbers," Mathivanan told ANI. The increasing presence of these birds in the wetlands and salt pans around Thoothukudi underscores the region's importance as a critical refuge for migratory species. However, Mathivanan cautioned that habitat loss, driven by pollution and changing land-use patterns, is increasingly threatening the Little Stints' presence in the Thoothukudi region. "In recent years, many of their habitats have been decreasing. So, due to pollution in some other places, due to land use changes, their habitat are changing. We have to protect their habitat," said Mathivanan. But the Senior Research Associate noted that the Tamil Nadu government is actively working to preserve these habitats, notably by designating areas in the Gulf of Mannar near Dhanushkodi as a flamingo sanctuary. "The Tamil Nadu government is taking lots of steps to protect its habitats, as recently, the Gulf of Mannar was declared a flamingo sanctuary in Dhanushkodi," added Mathivanan. Drawing inspiration from the successful designation of the flamingo sanctuary in the Gulf of Mannar, Mathivanan advocates for the government to systematically map similar critical bird habitats. He emphasises that identifying and securing these sites is essential to safeguarding migratory populations for the future. Furthermore, he stresses that effective conservation requires a collaborative approach; beyond government intervention, the active support and awareness of the general public are vital to protecting these small but ecologically significant creatures. "Many other sites are in the Gulf of the Mannar region. So we have to map these kinds of bird habitats. So in future we have to provide protection to many of these sites so that we can secure the bird life in our area. So not only the government, but also the general public has to provide their full support to conserve these kinds of little creatures. India is located in the central Asian flyway that migratory route. India provides major stopover and feeding habitats for many of the migratory species. So this is our responsibility to provide the feeding habitat as well as the stopover habitat to these migratory bird species," added Mathivanan. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 March,2026 10:21 AM IST | Thoothukudi | ANIMore than one lakh mature full-grown trees have been felled across Assam since May 2016, when the BJP formed its first government in the state, for various public and private projects, according to official records. The Assam government, on the other hand, said that all these trees were cut in "dire necessity" to develop the projects, while more than 3.5 crore saplings have been planted in the last two years alone to compensate the loss in green cover. However, experts from different state-run institutions opined that cutting so many trees have resulted in "significant ecological loss" and comparing felling of mature trees with planting saplings is "problematic", while terming it "scientifically concerning" for no study to assess the impact. Replying to a set of queries sent to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) through an application under the Right to Information Act, 15 out of 44 wildlife and territorial divisions across Assam have said that 1,06,896 trees have been felled so far since May 2016. A set of 11 queries were submitted to the Office of the PCCF & Head of Forest Force under the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department of the Assam government. It was forwarded to 43 divisions across the state. Apart from the 15 divisions that provided data, 12 more responded to the RTI application but did not give any information related to tree felling. No reply has come from the remaining 16 divisions at all so far. None of the 27 divisions that responded to the queries have conducted any study on the impact on ecology for cutting these huge numbers of trees over the years. When contacted, Assam Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary told PTI that the trees were cut for oil exploration projects as well as infrastructure development. "These trees have been cut across the state for various development projects. It was a dire necessity to fell the trees for different projects," he added. Giving examples, Patowary said a huge number of trees were cut for the four-laning of National Highway-17 from Guwahati to Goalpara and construction of the Darrang Medical College and Hospital (DMCH). "In most places where trees were cut, roads have been developed -- mainly the national highways. Besides, ONGC and Oil India are also exploring crude and developing wells at new locations. For that too, some trees were felled," he added. The DMCH is being built at a location where there was a silk plantation. So, the entire area was cleared for construction work, the minister said. "We have planted a huge number of saplings against these felled trees. In 'Amrit Briksha Andolan', we planted one crore saplings in a single day. There are other schemes also. We have planted a total of 3.5 crore saplings in the last two years," he added. According to the RTI data, most of the responding authorities said that more than 70 per cent saplings have survived after proper care. Over 26,000 trees have been felled in notified forest areas since May 2016, while the remaining have been cut in non-forest locations. Nearly 84,000 trees were chopped for various government projects like construction of roads, bridges, flyovers, factories and buildings such as medical colleges, police battalions and all other structures. More than 10,000 trees have been felled for private works. The available information shows that almost 65,000 trees have been logged from 2021 to 2025 during Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's tenure. Over 18,000 trees were removed during his predecessor Sarbananda Sonowal's period. When contacted, Cotton University Environmental Biology & Wildlife Sciences Assistant Professor Narayan Sharma told PTI that equating the felling of mature trees with planting saplings is "problematic". "A full-grown mature tree represents decades of ecological value that cannot be quickly or easily replaced. In most cases, sapling plantations hardly compensate for the loss of mature trees immediately, as it takes decades for them to provide comparable ecosystem services, if they survive at all to the adult stage," he added. On the absence of a study to assess the impact of felling such a huge number of trees, Sharma, an expert of biodiversity conservation, said that when large numbers of trees are felled at a particular location, a proper ecological impact assessment "must be conducted". He stressed that such a study or research is necessary to ascertain the damage to local microclimate and biodiversity ecosystem, including its hidden impact on human physical and mental health. Expressing similar sentiments, Gauhati University Assistant Professor (Environmental Science) Minakshi Bora said that as an environmental science teacher, she would interpret this RTI data with caution and concern. "I would say the numbers appear impressive, but they are not directly comparable. Felling over one lakh mature trees and planting saplings are ecologically unequal actions." A mature tree represents decades of biomass, carbon storage, habitat value and ecosystem services that a sapling cannot immediately replace, she added. Bora, a GIS and Ecohydrology expert, also commented that not conducting the impact assessments in respective divisions is "scientifically concerning". "Without systematic study, cumulative ecological degradation may go unnoticed until impacts become severe and irreversible," she added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 March,2026 09:41 AM IST | Guwahati | PTIA strong El Nino-led summer in 2026 could trigger a cyclical upturn for India's consumer durables sector, particularly cooling products such as air conditioners, air coolers and fans, according to a report by Anand Rathi Research. The report said an early, intense and prolonged heatwave could sharply accelerate demand for cooling appliances after a weak base in 2025, potentially driving earnings upgrades and margin expansion for sector players. The report noted, "With the IMD forecasts suggesting a high probability of El Nino re-emergence in 2026, the coming summer could mark a decisive cyclical upturn for cooling category." According to the report, a milder summer and erratic weather conditions in April-May 2025 disrupted peak demand last year, leading to slower inventory sell-through and moderation in growth across the sector. However, a stronger summer in 2026 could reverse this trend by boosting secondary sales and improving channel inventory cycles. The report noted that air conditioner demand could exceed expectations if the heatwave sustains, supported by low penetration levels of around 8-10 per cent, impulse buying, replacement demand and deeper penetration in tier-II and tier-III cities. A heat-driven demand cycle may also improve pricing discipline in the industry, allowing companies to pass on higher input costs, such as copper and currency-related pressures, with limited impact on demand. Higher sales of premium and inverter-based models, along with stronger plant utilisation during peak season, could further drive operating leverage and expand margins. The report maintained a constructive outlook for cooling categories, citing the potential for sustained earnings growth and valuation re-rating if heat intensity remains high through the summer months. A prolonged heatwave could accelerate inventory liquidation, strengthen pricing power and improve operating leverage across the sector. It added that stronger peak-season demand, combined with higher night temperatures, could enable companies to pass on recent price hikes linked to higher copper prices, foreign exchange movements and new energy-efficiency regulations. The report concludes that the upcoming summer could become an inflection point for the sector as stronger demand improves return ratios and drives earnings momentum across the cooling ecosystem. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
05 March,2026 01:21 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIThe carcass of a male tiger was recovered from a sugarcane field near a village in South Kheri forest division in Lakhimpur Kheri on Monday, officials said. Divisional Forest Officer, South Kheri, Tapas Mihir told PTI that no injury marks were detected on the body and all vital organs were found to be intact. Ruling out foul play, Mihir said during examination by experts, the tiger was found to be a male, between the age of nine and ten. He said natural causes is prima facie reason behind the tiger's death, adding that the carcass was found near Imaliya village in the west beat of Gola range in the division. Mihir said the post-mortem examination was carried out as per NTCA (National Tiger Conservation Authority) norms and the viscera was preserved for further analysis by experts from Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, to ascertain the exact cause of death. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
04 March,2026 01:39 PM IST | Lakhimpur Kheri (Uttar Pradesh) | PTIIndians and many people across the world are set to witness the first Lunar Eclipse of 2026 on Tuesday, March 3, coinciding with Holi celebrations in the country. The last time the country experienced a lunar eclipse was in September 2025. With temples being closed for the celestial event, many devotees across India even visited and prayed at the holy places earlier this morning. As the Lunar Eclipse takes place today, here are five things you need to know: What is a Lunar Eclipse? The phenomenon occurs when the entire Moon passes through the Earth's umbral shadow. A partial lunar eclipse, in contrast, takes place when only a part of the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow. Where will the Lunar Eclipse occur in India? Set to take place today, March 3, the visibility of the eclipse will vary by region. Most places in India will observe the ending phase of the lunar eclipse at the time of moonrise. However, in parts of north east India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the end of the totality phase will also be visible. The eclipse will be visible in parts of Eastern Asia, Australia and the Americas. When will the Lunar Eclipse occur? According to Indian Standard Time (IST), the celestial event will follow a specific schedule throughout the afternoon and evening. The eclipse is slated to begin at 15:20 (3:20 pm), with the totality phase starting at 16:34 (4:34 pm). The Moon will remain completely within the Earth's shadow until totality ends at 17:33 (5:33 pm), and the entire eclipse cycle will officially conclude at 18:48 (6:48 pm). The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that the total lunar eclipse on March 3 will have a magnitude of 1.155. Will it be a Partial Lunar Eclipse? The former director (Research and Academic) at MP Birla Planetarium, Dr Debinrosad Duari, has also said that people will only be able to witness a partial phase as the Moon will be below the horizon during the full eclipse. Timings for temple reopening Priests have said that at 7 pm, all the temple doors will be opened, baths will be given, and adornments will be performed. After Bhog Aarti, the doors will remain open until 11 pm. (With inputs from ANI)
03 March,2026 12:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFormer Director (Research and Academic) at MP Birla Planetarium, Dr Debinrosad Duari, said that although a total lunar eclipse will occur on Tuesday, March 3, skywatchers in India will only be able to witness a partial phase as the Moon will be below the horizon during the full eclipse. Speaking to ANI, former director Dr Duari said, "On 3rd March, there will be a total lunar eclipse. However, from India, we will not be able to see the full eclipse as the moon will be below our horizon. From India, only a partial lunar eclipse will be visible... The full eclipse will mainly be visible from North America, Australia, and the Pacific." He further elaborated on the timings of the celestial event, stating, "The partial eclipse will begin at around 3:20 pm Indian Standard Time, and the moon will slowly be covered by the Earth's shadow. By 4:34 pm, the total eclipse will begin and will last until 5:32 pm, meaning the moon will be fully in the Earth's shadow for 58 minutes. It will be a total lunar eclipse... This eclipse will not have any effect on Holi." According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a total lunar eclipse will take place on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, across several time zones. The phenomenon occurs when the entire Moon passes through the Earth's umbral shadow. A partial lunar eclipse, in contrast, takes place when only a part of the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow. In a post on X, the IMD stated that the total lunar eclipse on March 3 will have a magnitude of 1.155. The eclipse will be visible across India, as well as in parts of Eastern Asia, Australia and the Americas. Total Lunar Eclipse: March 3, 2026A total lunar eclipse will occur when the whole Moon comes under the umbral shadow of the Earth and the partial lunar eclipse occurs only when a part of the Moon comes under shadow of the Earth.•When: Tuesday, March 3, 2026•Magnitude:… pic.twitter.com/BKXyEKhoAj — India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) March 2, 2026 In the Indian context, the visibility of the eclipse will vary by region. Most places in the country will observe the ending phase of the lunar eclipse at the time of moonrise. However, in parts of North-East India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the end of the totality phase will also be visible. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
03 March,2026 10:56 AM IST | Kolkata | ANINine cheetahs airlifted from Botswana were in good health in their quarantine enclosures in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park, where they served food for the first time on Monday, officials said. This is the third batch of big cats from Africa that was brought on Saturday on an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft as part of a four-year cheetah population revival plan in India. The cheetah, the world's fastest land animal, became extinct in India nearly seven decades ago. All nine cheetahs brought from Botswana were fit and fine. They were served their first meal on Monday morning in their quarantine enclosures, Project Cheetah Director Uttam Sharma told PTI. Cheetahs generally eat once every three to five days and consume about 15 kg of meat on average. Adult cheetahs typically weigh between 40 kg and 65 kg, Sharma said. With the latest arrival, the total number of cheetahs in the country has increased to 48. Three cheetahs have been relocated to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, while the remaining animals are housed at Kuno, Sharma said. Officials said endangered animals are usually not kept in a single habitat to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks. Last year, 12 cheetah cubs were born at Kuno. Six big cats, including three cubs, did not survive. This year, nine cubs were born in two litters between February 7 and February 18. In all, 39 cubs have been born at Kuno since 2023, of which 27 have survived. Namibia-born Jwala and Aasha, South Africa-born Gamini, Veera and Nirva, and India-born Mukhi have all produced litters at the park. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
02 March,2026 01:21 PM IST | Sheopur (Madhya Pradhesh) | PTIIn a massive tree planting drive held in the Sujabad Domri area on Sunday, Varanasi created a new world record by planting over 2.51 lakh trees in a single hour. The feat surpasses an eight-year-old record held by China, officials said. Guinness World Records judge Rishi Nath presented the official certificate to Mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari and Municipal Commissioner Himanshu Nagpal following the event. Civic body officials said a Guinness World Records team arrived in Domri on Sunday morning to document the process. This new "urban forest" covers 350 acres of land and was developed through the coordination of the Varanasi Municipal Corporation along with various social and government organisations. According to the officials, the previous record was made on March 10, 2018, by the Henan Provincial Committee of China and the Henan Shifanghe Greening Engineering Company, with 1.53 lakh trees planted in an hour. The plantation drive in Varanasi was monitored by Rishi Nath and world record strategist Nischal Barot. The final count confirmed using drone cameras and digital counting systems before the official announcement was made. The layout of the forest is divided into 60 sectors, each named after the famous Ganga Ghats of Kashi, including Dashashwamedh, Lalita Ghat, Naya Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Kedar Ghat, Chausatti Ghat, Man Mandir Ghat, and Sheetla Ghat. Each sectors has over 4,000 saplings. The project prioritises 27 native species such as Sheesham, Arjun, Teak and Bamboo. It also includes fruit trees like Mango, Guava and Papaya, and medicinal plants like Ashwagandha, Shatavari and Giloy. The drive saw large-scale participation from the Indian Army's 39 GTC, 34 GTC, 39 GR, and 137 CFTF (TA). Personnel from the NDRF, CRPF, Civil Defence, and the Uttar Pradesh Police's PAC battalions also participated in the drive. Technical management was handled by Namami Gange, the state forest and agriculture departments while thousands of students and NCC cadets and NSS volunteers turned the event into a mass movement. To ensure the survival of the saplings, a 10,827-meter pipeline has been laid in the forest area. Irrigation is supported by 10 borewells and 360 rain gun systems to minimise water wastage. Officials said the Miyawaki technique, developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, was used to ensure the forest grows ten times faster than normal, aiming to create a dense cover within three years. The project is also expected to generate revenue for the municipal corporation. Under an agreement with the MBK organisation of Madhya Pradesh, the corporation would start earning Rs 2 crore from the third year, which could go up to Rs 7 crore annually by the seventh year. Mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari said the achievement, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and guided by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, proves that Kashi is ready to lead on global environmental issues while preserving its traditions. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
02 March,2026 10:02 AM IST | Varanasi | PTIA rare and endangered forest owlet has been sighted in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh just ahead of the arrival of the third batch of cheetahs from Africa, which an official on Friday claimed was "a significant development in the field of ornithology". Eight cheetahs, part of an ambitious reintroduction programme after the big cats went extinct in the country nearly seven decades ago, will arrive at KNP from Botswana in the southern part of Africa on Saturday. The discovery of the forest owlet is important as the bird is considered one of the world's rarest raptors and has potential ecological implications for habitat management associated with Project Cheetah, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (wildlife) Subharanjan Sen told PTI. "This is a significant development in the field of ornithology. The endangered forest owlet (Athene blewitti) has been recorded for the first time in KNP," Sen pointed out. The recent sighting indicates that the park has become an attractive habitat for endangered raptor species following the launch of the cheetah conservation programme. "This also suggests that conservation efforts aimed at cheetahs are contributing to broader ecosystem recovery," the official asserted. The rare owl was first spotted by Labh Yadav, a local tourism operator, during a routine field visit in the Parond beat of the KNP, he said. "Foresters took note of the sighting due to the species' extremely limited distribution and conservation status. Based on key identification features, Vivek Patel of Pune-based Wildlife Research and Conservation Society confirmed the species on the spot, making it the first authenticated record of the forest owlet in Kuno," Sen informed. Unlike most owls, the forest owlet is primarily diurnal and is most active between 6 am and 10 am. It is often seen perched on branches of tall trees even in harsh sunlight, Sen said. The bird was endemic to Central India and was first described in 1872, but was believed to have gone extinct after 1884. It was rediscovered in 1997 in Maharashtra's Nandurbar district, a development that attracted global attention from ornithologists, officials said. The species is currently found in fragmented forest habitats in parts of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat, they added. In Madhya Pradesh, it was earlier recorded only in eastern Khandwa, Burhanpur and Betul districts, the officials said. "The forest owlet is listed as 'Endangered' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with its global adult population estimated between 250 and 999. More surveys are needed to understand its distribution in the state," an official said.
27 February,2026 06:37 PM IST | Sheopur (Madhya Pradhesh) | PTIThree Amur falcons tagged with satellite transmitters in Manipur in November last year are currently spending their winter migration period in three African countries, officials said. The falcons named Ahu, Alang and Apapang were tagged by the Manipur Forest department in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India and were released from the Chiuluan roosting site in Tamenglong district last year. The tagged Amur falcons reached Africa in a record time of about nine to ten days, and since then have been spending their wintering migration period in different African countries. Dr R Suresh Kumar of the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India said, "The three falcons are active and doing well. Earlier concerns were raised about Ahu's movement, but the latest tracking data indicate that the bird is making local movement." Officials said that Ahu remains in Somalia, Apapang is in Zimbabwe, and Alang is in Botswana. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
27 February,2026 04:25 PM IST | Imphal | PTIADVERTISEMENT
