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New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Toxic farmlands, pesticide use pushing grassland birds to the brink: NCBS study
BENGALURU: Increasing and unregulated use of chemicals like insecticides and pesticides – especially neonicotinoids – and change in agricultural patterns have drastically affected grassland bird species across India. This is compromising soil nutrient cycle, pollination, seed dispersal and eco-system engineering in which the threatened bird species play a key role. This is bound to have an adverse impact on public health ultimately, says a study by Bengaluru-based National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS). The NCBS researchers point out that avian species are not just aesthetically important, but are valuable tools in the large food-chain and agricultural pattern. They feed on insects, bees and other pests. They noted that while many western countries have banned the use of pesticides and fertilizers, unregulated usage continues in India, affecting local and migratory bird species. Similar is the case with the continued use of banned drugs like the Diclofenac and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - painkillers given to cattle and consumed by humans. This has forced a drastic decline in populations of all six Indian vulture species. Neonicotinoids are a class of insecticides chemically similar to nicotine, and are being rampantly used in agriculture and veterinary medicine. They are absorbed by plants and transported throughout their tissues, including pollen and nectar. Birds like tawny eagle, Indian bustard at risk from toxic farmlands Neonicotinoids have raised concerns due to their potential harm to beneficial insects like bees and other pollinators, and bird species dependent on them. The NCBS study points to rampant and unregulated use of neonicotinoids, depriving grassland and raptor bird species like the Tawny Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Saras Crane, Great Indian Bustard, Indian Roller, Bengal Florican and Common Pochard, of their prey. This has forced a decline in populations of these bird species.
The Hindu
17 hours ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Citizen science data-backed study reveals widespread decline in India's birds
A recent study has revealed a significant decline in many of India's bird species, underscoring the urgent need for targeted and sustained conservation efforts. The State of India's Birds 2023 report, produced by a consortium of leading research institutions and conservation organisations, assesses the status of 942 bird species using data contributed by thousands of birdwatchers through the eBird citizen science platform. According to the report, 204 species have suffered long-term decline, and 142 are currently declining. 'Our findings reveal a sobering truth — India's diverse bird populations are facing significant decline, underscoring an urgent need for concerted conservation efforts,' said Vivek Ramachandran, Fellow, Wildlife Biology and Conservation Programme at NCBS, and an author of the study. Alarming trends The report represents one of the largest biodiversity monitoring efforts in the global south. It classified 178 species as 'high conservation priority', 323 as 'moderate priority', and 441 as 'low priority.' Birds with specialised diets, such as those feeding on vertebrate prey, carrion, or invertebrates, have declined the most, averaging over 25% long-term population loss. In contrast, species dependent on fruits or nectar have remained stable or even increased. Habitat specialists from grasslands, scrublands, and wetlands have experienced the steepest declines. Winter migrants to India have also declined more sharply than resident species, raising further alarm. Innovations in data handling According to a communique from NCBS, one of the main challenges of using eBird data is the variable effort put in by citizen scientists. Rather than standardising birding duration or distance, the team standardised analyses based on the number of species reported per checklist, which improved the comparability of data. All the software and analytical methods developed for the project are open source, allowing researchers worldwide to build upon them. 'The analysis leveraged citizen science data from the eBird platform and developed a robust methodology to clean, organise, and analyse this semi-structured data to overcome biases. This framework allowed for the assessment of a larger number of bird species than previously possible and is intended to serve as a blueprint for regions with limited resources for traditional surveys,' said Mr. Ramachandran.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Tadoba tigers gorge on flying squirrels, mongoose but sambar remains top pick
1 2 Nagpur: From flying squirrels to wild mongoose, and from sloth bear to hare, tigers in Tadoba have gorged on a variety of prey, with sambar being their top pick. A study conducted by researchers from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru, and officials of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) revealed that the diet of tigers in the buffer zone consists of almost 23% domestic animals. The study examined scat samples in TATR during three different seasons. Samples were collected during the monsoon (September-October 2022), winter (January-February 2023), and summer (May-June 2023) to study the diet patterns of tigers, leopards, and dhole (wild dogs). For tigers, sambar was the most preferred prey, followed by wild boar and chital. For leopards, wild boar was the top choice, followed by sambar. For wild dogs, sambar and chital were equally preferred, followed by wild hare. The study, led by principal investigators from NCBS Uma Ramakrishnan and Abhinav Tyagi, found 16 species in the tiger diet in TATR from 143 samples. The study revealed that overall, 90% of the tiger's diet comprised a wild prey. When breaking it down by areas, wild prey constituted 99% of the tiger's diet is in the core and around 77% in the buffer. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo There were some minor shifts in diet patterns according to seasons found in the study. In the monsoon season, grey langur and jungle fowl were uniquely identified, whereas Indian peafowl and buffalo were observed in the winter diet of tigers. During the summer months, grey jungle fowl and grey mongoose appeared as distinct dietary components. However, gaur and Indian hare were notably absent from the summer scat samples. For leopards, researchers recorded the highest dietary diversity in winter, identifying 21 different prey species in leopard scat samples. This was followed by the monsoon season, with 14 species, while the lowest diversity was observed in summer, with just 12 species detected. In winter, the leopard's diet included species such as civets, porcupine, grey junglefowl, chicken, and buffalo—species that were not found in samples from other seasons. The monsoon diet featured unique bird species, including Indian peafowl, buttonquail, and pond heron, in addition to other prey commonly consumed throughout the year. A marked increase in the consumption of cattle, langur, and nilgai was observed during the summer, indicating a possible seasonal shift in prey availability or preference.
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Biocon Foundation partners with NCBS and BeST Cluster to support 25 women in STEM
Biocon Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of Biocon Group, in collaboration with The Bengaluru Science and Technology (BeST) Cluster, and National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), announced the launch of BioWISE, an initiative aimed to help disadvantaged female science students from tier 2 and 3 universities across Karnataka, to build a career in life sciences. The programme aims to support 25 women students from diverse communities through scholarships, extended internships, and mentorship, thereby enhancing access, participation, and retention of women from underserved communities in STEM, particularly the life sciences. In the first State-level cohort, 15 postgraduates and 10 undergraduates from life sciences background will be supported. The students will be selected from colleges and universities across the State. Mentorship and exposure During the cohort duration, which is six months for PG students and three months for UG students, the students will be provided with exposure, training, and mentorship. Biocon Foundation will enable the initiative through funding, and experts from Biocon Biologics will support with mentorship. NCBS will serve as the host institute and academic mentoring partner. BeST Cluster will contribute to the programme's design, management, and implementation. In a statement from Biocon Foundation, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson, Biocon Group, said, 'Empowering women in STEM through our program BioWISE, is not just a moral imperative; it is a strategic investment in our nation's future. Our commitment to supporting women in science stems from our broader vision of enabling equitable access to health, education, research, and opportunity.' Identifying pockets During the cohort, participants will engage in mentorship sessions with experts from Biocon Biologics, NCBS, and other institutions to gain insights into research and career opportunities. They will also get the opportunity to visit the research labs of NCBS, Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Jyoti Nivas College, and bio-incubators and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Focused workshops, wet-lab experiences, research-oriented seminars and soft skills and communication training are the other features of the programme. 'It is important to work with the government to identify pockets from where we can pick up students,' saidAnupama Shetty, Mission Director, Biocon Foundation, speaking to The Hindu during the launch event at NCBS. 'Where do we focus in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, which are the colleges where there is a larger women representation and good pass rates - these are some insights we need, and that is how we would be planning the community outreach,' she added. R Anantharaman, CEO, BeST Cluster, noted that the initiative is a commitment to ensure that career breaks do not translate into career ends.
Hindustan Times
09-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Rajasthan: 70-year-old temple guard killed by tiger in Ranthambhore
Jaipur: A 70-year-old temple guard was mauled to death by an unidentified tiger from Rajasthan's Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (RTR) early Monday morning, officials said. This marks the third fatal tiger attack in the area in less than two months. The victim, Radheshyam Mali, a long-serving chowkidar at the Jain temple near the Trinetra Ganesh Mandir inside the historic Ranthambhore Fort, was attacked around 4.30 am when he stepped out to relieve himself. According to RTR field director Anoop KR, two other guards sleeping nearby heard his screams but were unable to intervene. He said the body was recovered about 30 to 40 meters from the site, following a trail of blood. 'The body bore deep neck wounds consistent with a tiger attack and was partially eaten around the buttocks and thighs.' Mali, a resident of Sherpur village, had served at the temple for over three decades and lived within the fort premises. A forest official familiar with the development said the RTR administration has installed camera traps in the area to identify the tiger. The hair sample from the body and nearby area has been collected and sent to National Sample for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru, for DNA assessment to identify the tiger. The NCBS already has DNA records of many big cats including that of Arrowhead and her cubs. Just hours after the latest attack, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) issued a long-anticipated order approving the relocation of the cubs of tigress Arrowhead to other tiger reserves in the state. This decision follows the recommendations of a five-member committee constituted by the forest department on May 13 to investigate a string of fatal incidents believed to involve one of Arrowhead's female cubs. The committee was formed after a forest ranger was killed on May 11 near the same temple area. The same cub is also suspected in connection with the death of a 7-year-old boy in a nearby village on April 16. The panel was tasked with assessing whether the attacks were isolated or part of a behavioral pattern indicating that the animal had become habituated to killing humans. The committee has recommended shifting Arrowhead's daughter Kankati to Mukundra Hills, another daughter to enclosure in Karauli-Dholpur Reserve and the male cub to Ramgarh Vishdhari. Following Monday's incident, angry villagers blocked the Sawai Madhopur–Kundera road in protest. Police were deployed to the site and eventually managed to pacify the demonstrators and restore order. On Sunday, after tiger movement was reported today inside the Ranthambore Fort, the authorities had closed the Trinetra Ganesh route and stopped devotees at the entrance gate near Ganesh Dham. 'Tigress Ridhi appears to have expanded her territory to include the fort as well. She finds easy prey like sambar and chital there, and her two male cubs are also frequently accompanying her,' said the official. The RTR administration has made several correspondences with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), requesting repairs to the boundary wall of the fort, which is damaged in many places. The administration had informed the ASI that tigresses with cubs and other wild animals are entering the fort premises, increasing the risk of human-animal conflict. Even after the recent incidents, the ASI was reminded again in April. The area surrounding Jogi Mahal has long been a cradle for tigresses raising their young. Tigers such as Machli, Sundri, and Krishna all chose this landscape for its water, cover, and prey. Today, three tigresses with three cubs each, along with two adult males, inhabit this 85 sq km zone. A senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) official familiar with the situation shed light on the challenges facing Ranthambore. 'Big cats are currently concentrated in Zones 2, 3, and 4 due to the abundance of water bodies and grasslands there,' he explained. 'Improving the habitat and developing more grasslands will encourage a more uniform distribution of tigers across the reserve.' He also noted that tigers are naturally dispersing toward the Dholpur and Ramgarh-Vishdhari reserves. Emphasising on congestion, he said a female tiger needs around 12-15 sq km area and male needs double the size of a female area. At present, near the temple area around 14 tigers are making movements, which include three tigresses (Arrowhead, Ridhi and Sultana) with their cubs. The official raised concerns about the large number of devotees visiting the numerous temples within the reserve. Apart from the famous Ganesh Temple, there are nearly 150 smaller temples spread across RTR. 'Strict regulations are necessary — no permission for cooking inside the reserve, and movement should be restricted to forest vehicles only,' he said. He further highlighted the importance of relocating big cats to ease pressure on Ranthambore, promote natural dispersal, and provide new territories.
