Protecting India's rich biodiversity has usually taken the form of designating protected areas like national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Several of these are contiguous with larger landscapes that lack such protection status and that form continuous habitat ranges for many animals. In a recent study, a team of Indian researchers have highlighted the need for more focused conservation strategies in the Bhagirathi basin in Uttarakhand.

In an on-going effort to convert certain inland waterways into national waterways, many rivers are undergoing commercialization, including the Ganges. This has critically affected the habitat and survival of one of its flagship species, the endangered Ganges river dolphin. A recent study provides empirical scientific data to understand how anthropogenic interventions are impacting the already dwindling population of aquatic animals.

Researchers from the Centre for Climate Studies, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, have discovered that the accumulation of chromium (a heavy metal) and low salinity might have caused mass death of fish in the Adyar estuary in Tamil Nadu in 2017.

While wildlife tourism serves as a revenue source for conservation efforts, it may have unintended consequences on the well-being of endangered mammal species. A new study reveals that tiger populations in protected areas experience elevated stress levels during the tourism season, which can negatively affect their health and reproduction.

The coffee plantations of Chikmagalur in Karnataka have a healthy mix of crops and trees, a practice known as agroforestry. These plantations are inhabited by several species of insectivorous bats, which act as a natural pest-control system. A new study investigates the present diversity of such bat species under changing habitat conditions.

The caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis), commonly known as Keera jari (in Hindi) and Yartsagunbu (in Tibetan) is famous for its use in traditional Asian medicine, sometimes selling at prices higher than its weight in gold. A recent study in the Indian Himalayas investigates how this fungus influences the livelihoods and economics of local communities and the possible ecological consequences of overharvesting and exploitation of this natural resource.

Rising global sea temperatures have had a devastating effect on coral reefs throughout the world. A new study by researchers from the National Center for Biological Sciences, Wildlife Conservation Society - India Program, and the Nature Conservation Foundation explores how marine species, in particular Melon butterflyfish, have adapted to the phenomenon of coral 'bleaching' in the Lakshwadeep islands