What I found in my search for the elusive seahorse.
A group of bewildered fishers in Odisha gathered around my field assistant, as he described a seahorse. Before he or I could get a word in, a passerby joined the group and excitedly said, “It looks exactly like a horse on land, and runs on the bottom of the ocean.” It took me a couple of minutes to understand what he was saying in Odiya, but by then the damage was done. Before I could explain to the fishers that seahorses do not run on the ocean floor, the conversation had overstayed its welcome. This incident, while funny, highlights why my work of determining the status of seahorses in India is important.
Over the last year, I travelled across nine coastal states and two union territories along mainland India to obtain a better picture of the prevalent seahorse trade. As I learnt very quickly, trying to understand the status of seahorses was not an easy task. Whether it was dealing with field assistants who have never seen a seahorse, or fishermen reluctant to talk to women, there were many hurdles to cross. Despite this, I managed a fairly successful field season.
MARINE MONOGAMY AND MORE
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Esta historia es de la edición February 2017 de Sanctuary Asia.
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Why Children Are Needed To Help Save The World
On my very first day in India, I encountered many marvelous new customs not practiced in the United States, my home country. But the most curious by far involved trees. Here and there, alongside the roaring streets of Mumbai were rings of marigold wreathed around twisting banyan trunks like dried rays of afternoon sunlight…
Who's Who?
Fact: all toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads! Let’s unpack this...
The Sea Raptor
The White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster is one of the most common raptors along the Indian coastline. Nevertheless, the sight of this soaring, broad-winged, white and black bird of prey is nothing less than majestic
Bringing Up Bob Hoots.
While we were visiting a friend’s farm in the village of Yelachetty, near Bandipur Tiger Reserve, we found Spotted Owlets nesting on the tiled roof… and one of the chicks on the kitchen floor!
Yala, Land Of The Leopard
Yala is not only Sri Lanka’s second-largest, but also the most-visited national park in the island nation.
The Wizards Of Oz!
Australia is not only a country, but also a continent. The land down under, cut-off from the rest of the world has an abundance of unique species of native animals, birds, reptiles, insects and plants.
Scales & Tails
I was really excited and looking forward to the workshop on reptiles and amphibians at Nature’s Nest in Mollem, Goa, between June 24 and 26, 2017. It was my opportunity to meet renowned herpetologist Varad Giri.
Big, Brilliant And Endangered
When one thinks of elephants, the first word that probably comes to mind is BIG! But elephants, while they may be the largest creatures on land, are not just big and powerful, they’re wise and sensitive as well. Recent scientific studies have established that they are among the most intelligent animals in the world.
Earth Manners
Everyday habits matter! Let’s be kind to the planet, animals and ourselves!
World Scan
CHINA’S IVORY TOWNAn explosive investigation by the Environmental Investigation Agency has revealed how criminal gangs originating from an obscure town in southern China have come to dominate the smuggling of ivory tusks poached from African elephants.
