Green Humour

Eco(?)tourism

2012-01-22T12:40:00.001-08:00

Somewhere in Central India...you know where.

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Rhino Dates

2012-01-17T21:49:00.000-08:00

A good way to tell your girlfriend that she is fat!

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Good News from Bhutan!

2012-01-09T03:46:00.000-08:00

Bhutan's 'lost' tiger population was filmed using camera traps recently. (The news and the video here- http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8998000/8998042.stm )

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

The 11 Types of Birdwatchers

2011-12-31T11:13:00.001-08:00

A tribute to the Birding community, which comprises of truly wonderful people, and of which I am a proud member.

So, which type are you? :)

The compilation is available as a poster. Send me an email to order your print.

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

A Present for the Pangolin

2011-12-25T01:38:00.000-08:00

So, what gifts did you give/get? :)

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

The Green Humour Christmas Greeting!

2011-12-22T08:42:00.000-08:00

Merry Xmas, planeteers!

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

The Electro-question

2011-12-18T09:32:00.000-08:00

A cartoon I drew following the news of 400 flamingos being electrocuted in Gujarat in November 2011. Concrete measures need to taken asap if the migrants are to be given a chance to have a safe stay. Electrocution also claims the lives of thousands of raptors, bats and other creatures every year.

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Flying clubs in 2020

2011-12-11T09:06:00.001-08:00

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Shoulda been more specific, Cowboy!

2011-12-08T22:50:00.000-08:00

Wolves in the USA are still considered pests, and in some states like Texas, are permitted to be shot unchecked. Save America's wolves- Sign the petition here- http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/campaign.faces?siteId=3&campaign=IdahoWolves

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Pelico-passengers

2011-12-04T22:35:00.000-08:00

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

How Ornithologists Get Engaged.

2011-11-27T22:44:00.000-08:00

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

More Wildlife Caricatures

2011-11-22T07:37:00.000-08:00

Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)

Did two more for my 'Wildlife the Toonie Way' series this week. The sandpiper is inspired by a green sandpiper individual whom I have been meeting at the same site at the same time of the year for four consecutive years. Here's a picture of the bird of this beautiful bird I took last month-

B2, one of India's most famous tigers and the son of the largest Bengal tiger ever (Charger), who was referred to as the undisputed king of Bandhavgarh, sustained injuries in a territorial fight and subsequently died of starvation as he couldn't hunt anymore owing tgo his injuries and old age. B2 was loved by naturalists, photographers and forest personnel not only in India but the world over and will be remembered and missed for a long time. I did this one as a tribute to this legendary tiger.

Farewell, B2!

E-mail me to order your prints.

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

The Principles of Migration

2011-11-11T10:37:00.000-08:00

Happy Birdwatchers' Day!

12th November, Dr. Salim Ali's birth anniversary, is celebrated as Birdwatchers' Day. Happy birding, folks!

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Daddy dilemma!

2011-10-29T01:54:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is the male seahorse that gets pregnant! the male seahorse has a brood pouch in on its ventral surface into which the female lays hundreds of eggs. the male then fertilizes them and carries them inside the pouch till the eggs develop into baby seahorses.

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

The Green Humour Diwali Greeting

2011-10-24T23:37:00.000-07:00

What was meant to be a festival of lights, is celebrated as a festival of deafening noise, boundless pollution and uncontrolled emission of climate change-inducing, mutation-causing agents. Humans, being the irresponsible race they are, forget the fact that most animals have much more sensitive ears than theirs, and thus become the worst victims of such festivals. Another heinous practice associated with Diwali is the 'sacrificing' of owls by Hindu fanatics to the goddess Laxmi. An illegal and severely punishable offence, this is still practised in most parts of the country, being more prevalent in Gujarat and Rajasthan. If this is how Hindu festivals are meant to be celebrated, I'd rather denounce Hinduism.

Happy Diwali guys! Feel free to share this as a greeting for people who think that the earth is for them to exploit in any way they want.

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

'Rhinibitions'

2011-10-24T02:33:00.000-07:00

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

And Again!

2011-10-17T07:56:00.001-07:00

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

A couple of awards :)

2011-10-15T11:58:00.000-07:00

Somebody suggested that I put these up here, so. Two awards i happened to win this year. UMO's 6th International Cartoon Contest (stood 2nd). The topic was addiction to social networking. Read more about the contest on http://www.usabilitymatters.org/?w=international-cartoon-contest-10 and to see my winning entries, visit http://thetoonguy.blogspot.com/2011/08/2nd-prize-in-umo-international-cartoon.html

I stood 2nd again in Times of India's 'A Day in the Life of India'. Read more about the contest on http://adayinlife.timesofindia.com/winners.php?sectionId=1&photoType=Cartoon

and see my winning entries on http://thetoonguy.blogspot.com/2011/08/2nd-prize-in-day-in-life-of-india.html
I am indebted to everyone who voted for and promoted me , and to everyone who has read, criticized and appreciated my work. Thanks a bunch :)

'Cormoranspiracy!'

2011-10-13T05:10:00.000-07:00

Yet another major oil spill, New Zealand's worst maritime disaster. Another bad day for marine ecology. more about the news on http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/10/13/new-zealand-oil-spill-environmental-disaster-threatens-precious-coastline-115875-23484837/

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

A Cartoon about Plankton

2011-10-12T01:59:00.000-07:00

I wonder how any amount of plankton is ever enough to make a whale not feel hungry!

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Hoot!

2011-10-10T23:03:00.000-07:00

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Idol-talk

2011-10-05T11:24:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, almost every Indian festival ends in the same way- causing almost irreversible destruction to aquatic habitats, apart from alarming amounts of air and noise pollution. I have never understood the concept of idol immersion and am dead against it, and i feel it must be boycotted and done away with, without any delay.

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Wildlife Caricatured- The wildlife week special

2011-09-30T21:02:00.003-07:00

Happy Wildlife Week, folks! Resuming my wildlife caricature series with seven new ones to celebrate each day of the wildlife week. Here's the critically endangered and a conservationist's beloved, Ardeotis nigriceps, the Great Indian Bustard. Theses are available as posters. Send me an email to order your prints.

The Lynx (Lynx rufus) for day # 2 of the wildlife week

Irrawady Dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) for day # 3

Nigiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus lotrius) for day # 4. (4th October is also celebrated as the world animals' day).

Honey Badger (Mellivora capensis) for day # 5

Laggar Falcon (Falco jugger) for day # 6

and probably the world's most colorful creature- The Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx erythracus) to conclude the week.

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Backyard Wildlife

2011-09-28T23:47:00.000-07:00

Written by my friend Bikramadittya Guha Roy, 'Backyard Wildlife' is a wonderful compilation of accounts of little secrets of the natural world, presented from a unique and a very interesting perspective. I had the pleasure of drawing a few cartoons for this book and am honored to be a part of this publication. Contributions from a lot of wildlife photographer-friends makes this even more special. Catch this book at your nearest Crossword in a few weeks from now!

Anjolie Ela Menon autographs my cartoon

2011-09-27T12:15:00.000-07:00

Anjolie Ela Menon autographs my cartoon :) it was a privilege being a part of the same event as her. being as humble and friendly to the core as her, is somethnig very unique for an artist of her stature.

find the cartoon on http://greenhumour.blogspot.com/2011/09/antarctic-salon.html

Green Humour featuring on sustainablescotland.com

2011-09-25T12:52:00.000-07:00

Sustainablescotland.com has been very kind to call Green Humour a website worth dipping into, and they call me a 'very busy young man', i dont know why :D I never knew about this until today. Many thanks to them for writing a whole paragraph about my cartoons :) do visit the link-

http://www.sustainablescotland.com/index.php/General/global-warming-population-pollution-environment-sustainably.html

No Man's Land

2011-09-24T11:11:00.000-07:00

Happy World Tiger Day!

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Life's good for a Male Chaffinch!

2011-09-17T22:44:00.000-07:00

Winter is about to commence, and so is migration time! Did you know that in Scandinavia, only the female Chaffinch migrates, while the male stays home? what a life!

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

O-gone!

2011-09-15T23:45:00.000-07:00

A tribute to the ozone layer on ozone day.

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

De-afforestation

2011-09-14T06:21:00.000-07:00

one from the archives re-drawn.

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Chirp-chat!

2011-09-11T12:14:00.000-07:00

At my live cartooning demo at the Visual Arts Gallery, Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi for Threshold Art's event, "The Lost Sparrow". Had a great time here. Interacted with some really talented people and some very enthusiastic students. An exhibition of my cartoons was also held as a part of the event.The colored image is a digital render done later, of the same cartoon i drew at the demo. i hope you enjoy it.

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

The Swindled One!

2011-09-06T04:30:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd leave you guys with a cartoon on Sparrow conservation before I leave for 'The Lost Sparrow'. Enjoy the toon, and catch me at my exhibition at the Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi on Thursday, September 8th. I will also be doing another sparrow cartoon as a demonstration for kids during the event. For more info about the event visit- http://www.gallerythreshold.com/the_lost_sparrow.html

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Happy Teachers' Day! :)

2011-09-04T10:45:00.000-07:00

This one is for all my teachers, particularly the ones from Centre Point School, who instilled in all of us this belief :)

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

The Antarctic Salon

2011-09-02T23:45:00.000-07:00

Re-drawing an old cartoon on global warming. Wanted more black and white stuff on my blog.

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Wildlife Caricatured- Sloth Bear

2011-08-28T10:54:00.000-07:00

Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus) caricature available as a print.

The Lost Sparrow

2011-08-25T22:55:00.001-07:00

A poster I illustrated for Threshold Art Gallery, New Delhi. An exhibition of my cartoons will be conducted as a part of this event.

more info about the event- http://www.gallerythreshold.com/the_lost_sparrow.html

The Lost Sparrow

Waking up to the chirping of sparrows is a part of everyone’s childhood memory. Once abundant in human habitat, these birds are hardly seen today and need our help to popularize their cause. The reasons for the dwindling population of sparrows range from chemical pollution and radiation from mobile towers to overuse of pesticides and changes in architecture. Using art as an active tool for social change we aim at initiating a public art project for ecological awareness. By following an out of the gallery format to get the word out on the street via children by conducting art and awareness workshops with schools and NGOs, our objective is to create a ripple effect to sensitize the public to the cause of the "Lost Sparrow". Corporate backing and tying up with Media partners will then help spread the message through hoardings and newspaper articles. Our goal is to help create awareness and start a conservation movement to save our birds which are a vital part of our ecosystem. This movement is only a stepping stone to bridge the growing disconnect between humans and nature but it’s a start. Let’s all pitch in to bring back our chirpy little friends from the brink of extinction!
There is a whole generation of Urban Children Growing up without seeing a Sparrow; I wonder how many of us have realised the implications of this?

Against a backdrop of a landscapes show, and using the sparrow as a metaphor, Gallery Threshold is conducting workshops for school children titled The Lost Sparrow, focussing on ecological issues.
The dates are 7th to the 11th Sept '11at The Visual Arts Gallery .The workshops and discussion would give the students opportunity to interact with some leading Indian Contemporary Artists and exhibit their works alongside. Bombay Natural History Society will provide content for the talk and slide show .Mr Dilawar Mohammed of Nature Forever Society, an NGO Specializing in Sparrows, will give a talk on the 8th at Habitat. The Vasant Valley School , Pathways ( Gurgaon) , The Mother’s International School , The Sriram School , Modern School , DPS are some of the participating schools .
Using art as an active tool for social change, the idea is to create a ripple effect where these children will take on the role of spreading the word by adopting another less privileged school/ community and within their own societies. A Carpentry and pottery project to create and distribute bird houses is also planned.
The project will then move out of the confines of the gallery space and as it gains its own momentum, move into the larger realm of society and on the street through hoardings and awareness campaigns.

Participating Artists
Anjolie Ela Menon
Aruna Vasudev
Chris Elliot
Harshavardhan
Krishna Murari
Nirmaljeet Kaur
Piyali Ghosh
Pooja Iranna
Sudhanshu Sutar
Surya Prakash
Ram Kumar
Paramjit Singh
Rajendra Dhawan
Manu Parekh
Seema Kohli
Sebastian Varghese
Gurdip Singh
Bhagat Singh
Nabonita Duttaguha
Chameli Ramachandran
Rajan M Krishnan
Arun Kumar HG
Manjunath Kamat
Ranbir Kaleka
Jayashree Chakraborty

Project Coordinator
Sahiba Chauhan sahiba.chauhan@gmail.com
Rige Shiba Info@gallerythreshold.com

Dwindling feathered neighbours

Once most commonly seen species among birds, often flock flirting uninvited in our courtyard, but today they are becoming increasingly rare all over the world. Sparrows can be found on every continent except Antarctica.
It is thought that the house sparrow originated in the Mediterranean and expanded into Europe with the growth of Civilization.

House sparrows are intelligent birds and congregate in large flocks to feed and roost, and bird colonies may be made up of several family flocks. They generally forage on the ground, hopping and scratching with their feet, or in trees and bushes while looking for insects.
House sparrows will easily come to either platform or hopper feeders offering mixed seed, sunflower seeds or cracked corn, and they frequently nest along the eaves of houses.

There are five different species of sparrows found in India:

House sparrow (Passer domesticus): they are most common among all.
Spanish Sparrow (Passer Hispaniolensis): These are the migratory sparrows which are found in winter seasons. They usually come from Pakistan, Nepal and North India.
Sind Sparrow (Passer pyrrhonotus): Sind sparrow is commonly found in Pakistan and Northwest India. They are usually found in tall grasses and scrubs.
Russet Sparrow (Passer rutilans):Russet Sparrow is usually found in the Himalayas and North Eastern Indian hills.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus): They are usually found in the Northeast India, Eastern Ghats, and Bangladesh. They are small, seed-eating birds and usually make their nests on the high branches of trees.
The reasons for its decline are:

Loss of food, primarily small grains (rice and millet). Worms and insects – the once familiar horse and draught animal dung on roads was the breeder of many a beetle that the house sparrow pecked upon.
A study suggests that with introduction of methyl tertiary esters as anti knock agent in gasoline has caused great reduction of insect populations in cities that has adversely affected the sparrow's food chain.
Change in lifestyle, particularly architecture of modern houses is also pushing house sparrows to the brink of extinction Loss of nesting sites as the current Ferro- concrete machines for living designed, leave no space for the sparrow to make its nests, there are no gaps as in tile housed with overhanging verandas etc.
Indiscriminate use of agricultural chemicals by farmers that poison the birds leading to death of many breeding pairs.
Off late mobile phone towers are thought to affect the health of sparrows as well!! The radiation from the towers hampers the reproduction process, due to which eggs hatch prematurely and as a result of which population is restricted.
Recent research suggests that the hatchlings require pure insect and worms as food for first two weeks – this is not available due to many factors such as growing too many exotics plants as avenue and ornamental trees in houses, towns and cities. The exotic plants are not affected by insects and worms, thus any food for the sparrow.
Poor hygiene in human settlements has led to increase in predators of sparrows.
Plastic packaging has ensured that there are no spilled grains in the street for the sparrow to feed on!!
It is estimated that the decline of 17 million draught animals littered the roads with their dung was a breeding ground for worms and insects that were food for the sparrow, with the decline of the animal drawn carriages the sparrows are now gone as well.
Excessive area under corn is another indirect reason as the small birds cannot feed on corn!!
How to conserve and multiply the friendly house sparrow:

Make nest boxes out of wood, bamboo or clay pots, filled them with straw and hang them over window or sunshade etc.
Feed grains and clean water to sparrows wherever found.
Campaign or advocate less chemicals in farming. Use organic repellents.
If a pair is found nesting anywhere, patiently record their behaviour like feeding, egg laying and new hatchlings.
Keeping a few horse carriages around the villages might help to make leisure trips to temples and pilgrimage centre plus help feed the sparrow.
Initiating measures like:

Providing nest boxes and feeders
Height in selected households to increase number of nesting birds.
Increasing native plants as hedges in the vicinity of these populations.
Reducing pesticide use in the surroundings by awareness campaigns Research activities planned for future.
Monitor the nest boxes for colonizing by sparrows and document activity using student volunteers from schools and colleges.
Locate individual houses where few pairs exist and convince householders to take up conservation measures.
Identify local predator threats like cats; squirrels and sparrow hawks.
Start dialogue with builders; masons and carpenters to provide space for sparrow nests in new constructions.
Easy ways to attract Sparrows:

Food
Shop-bought seed mixes are fine or you can mix your own - a basic mix should contain flaked maize, peanut granules and sunflower seeds. House sparrows like small seeds. Never feed milk or desiccated coconut. And mouldy bread can also prove hazardous and attract rats.
Water
During summer droughts and in the coldest months when water in ponds or puddles might be frozen, most small birds need to drink at least twice a day to replace moisture lost through transpiration. The easiest way to provide water is in the form of a birdbath. Make sure that this is cleaned regularly and does not get filled up with dead leaves or other garden detritus which might rot.
Insects
Sparrows feed insects to their young. The decline in invertebrate numbers is one possible reason for the decline of this particular species. Insects can be encouraged by a number of simple methods, according to the invertebrate charity Buglife. The key thing to remember is not to be too tidy. Building a log pile - you can use old off cuts or pruned branches or whatever happens to be lying around - can offer a home to beetles, while centipedes and ground beetles, loved by gardeners because they eat plant predators, will find a well-placed stone useful cover.
Nesting sites
Put up a nest box in your garden or terrace. Place the box away from human activity and out of the reach of cats and other predators. Position the box so that it is north or east-facing, which helps to avoid the strongest sunshine and the wettest winds, and tilt the box so that it faces downwards to allow rain to run off. The box should be cleaned during the winter to prevent a build-up of debris and remove parasites such as fleas. A handful of clean hay or wood shavings may encourage winter use. If desired, one could also use bird box cameras so you can keep an eye on the nestlings without disturbing them.
Trees
Plant more trees since they provide cover for nesting birds, refuge for insects in the breeding season and a steady supply of seeds in the winter for sparrows.
Flowers
Plant flowers as they are nectar-rich and attract more insects which in turn attract more birds. Try to ensure that something is in flower throughout the year, which will encourage birds for longer periods. At the end of the season, leave seed heads in place - they'll provide food during the winter.
Lawns
Many gardeners obsess about the patch of grass between the flowerbeds and paths. But in order to attract wildlife, such as worms and the sort of insects preferred by sparrows, the rules should be relaxed a little. In summer, precious water resources should not be wasted on the lawn. No matter how brown it gets, it will survive and will green up astonishingly fast after the first heavy shower. Neither should grass be cut too short. Longer grass maintains moisture. Avoid the use of fertiliser and weed killer and, if you can bear it, allow the weeds to grow - clover, for example, puts nitrogen naturally back into the soil. You might even want to let a patch run wild. Not only are grass flowers pleasing to look at, they also attract insects and birds.
Chemicals
The use of pesticides on farmland grew massively from the 1960s and is cited as a major factor in the decline of farm bird species. In recent years, pesticides have become more effective. As a result, the tonnage used has dropped. In the garden, their use can be limited very easily. Try to choose plant varieties that harbour friendly insects that eat garden pests, such as asters (Michaelmas daisies), poached egg flowers and marigolds. Thrushes, blackbirds and hedgehogs can also be harmed by the use of slug pellets. These species in turn keep slug and snail numbers under control.

My Interview!

2011-08-23T23:04:00.001-07:00

do go through it :)

Some excerpts from my interview at 'Hichki'

http://hichki.com/Hichki-Article.asp?ContentID=84

Echidna vs Platypus!

2011-08-16T08:47:00.000-07:00

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Wildlife Caricatured- Black-headed Munia

2011-08-10T02:03:00.000-07:00

Lonchura atricalippa. Caricature available as a print.

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This work is licensed under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/in/">Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

Wildlife Caricatured- Clouded Leopard

2011-08-09T00:21:00.000-07:00

Neofelis nebulosa. Caricature available as a print.

Narcondam Hornbill

2011-08-08T06:38:00.000-07:00

Rhyticeros narcondami. Caricature available as a print.

Oh Fish!

2011-08-08T04:05:00.001-07:00

Yet another oil spill :(

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Shark 'Weak'!

2011-08-05T05:40:00.001-07:00

Sharks are illegally hunted for food and tortured brutally, with their fins chopped off and their bodies thrown back into the ocean. Without its fins, the shark is unable to swim, let alone hunt, and drowns and starves to death. This brutal practice is prevalent in oriental countries.

It is the Shark Week but the food network is celebrating it with shark recipes! Raise your voice against these shameful proceedings; please sign the petition here at http://www.change.org/petitions/food-network-stop-featuring-shark-as-food?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&alert_id=wJVKGJawHJ_BTyaWairNU

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Wildlife Caricatured- One-horned Rhinoceros

2011-08-05T05:06:00.000-07:00

Rhinoceros unicornis available as a print

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Chukar Partridge

2011-08-05T03:25:00.000-07:00

Alectoris chukar caricature available as print.

This work by Rohan Chakravarty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Gaur

2011-08-04T03:27:00.000-07:00

The Gaur (Bos gaurus) or the Indian Bison, the largest ox in the world. Caricature available as a print.

Blackbuck

2011-08-03T23:35:00.000-07:00

Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra)

Game Over?

2011-08-03T06:13:00.000-07:00

Wildlife Caricatured- Serval Cat

2011-08-03T02:13:00.000-07:00

Serval (Leptailurus serval) caricature available as a print.
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This work is licensed under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/in/">Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

Wildlife Caricatured- Black Baza

2011-08-03T02:02:00.000-07:00

Black Baza (Aviceda leuphotes) caricature available as a print

Wildlife Caricatured- Cheetah

2011-08-03T01:59:00.000-07:00

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) caricature available as a print.

Wildlife Caricatured- Indian Fox

2011-08-03T01:58:00.000-07:00

Indian Fox (Vulpes bengalensis) caricature available as a print.

Wildlife caricatured- Lesser Florican

2011-08-03T01:56:00.000-07:00

The Lesser Florican (Syphiotides indicus) caricature available as a print. the 'jump' is its characteristic courtship display.

Wildlife Caricatured- Snow Leopard

2011-08-03T01:54:00.000-07:00

Snow leopard (Uncia uncia) caricature available as a print.

Wildlife Caricatured- Crested Serpent Eagle

2011-08-03T01:53:00.000-07:00

Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela) caricature available as a print

Wildlife caricatured- Lion-tailed Macaque

2011-08-03T01:46:00.000-07:00

Lion-tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus) caricature available as a print

Wildlife Caricatured- Great Horned Owl

2011-08-03T01:44:00.000-07:00

The Great Horned Owl or Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bengalensis) available as a print.

Wildlife Caricatured- Arctic Fox

2011-08-03T01:43:00.000-07:00

The Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus) available as a print.

Charger!

2011-08-03T01:13:00.000-07:00

Introducing a new section on this blog- Wildlife Caricatures. Some of my favourite species caricatured, and for sale as prints. This Royal Bengal Tiger caricature is a tribute to Charger,the most powerful bengal tiger that ever lived.

'Honey' You're Mine!

2011-08-02T10:19:00.000-07:00

Friendship day special on Kingdom Animalia :)

The Honey badger and the Honeyguide are another example of symbiosis in nature. The Honeyguide leads the badger to a bee hive. The badger opens the hive and takes the honey, while the honeyguide feeds on the remaining wax and larvae.

One for the Macaque

2011-07-24T13:14:00.000-07:00

The Lion-tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus) is an endangered species of macaque endemic to the souther part of the Western Ghats. Deforestation is pushing the animal and the entire ecology of the ghats to the brink of extinction.

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Before Porcupines Make Love

2011-07-17T10:40:00.000-07:00

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Cat Compromise 2

2011-07-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

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Insect issues

2011-07-10T00:45:00.000-07:00

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Vermin Lessons

2011-07-06T10:50:00.000-07:00

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Golf and the Foxes

2011-06-25T03:35:00.000-07:00

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Frigate Dates

2011-06-22T10:51:00.000-07:00

Male Frigatebirds inflate their red gular pouches to attract females during the breeding season :)

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Chauvinism and more

2011-06-20T09:51:00.000-07:00

Peacocks like most birds have brilliantly colored plumage while the hens have dull colors. this is because the male has to have a very attractive plumage to ensure he gets good female attention when it is mating time. the female on the other hand, has no such worries. she however, has to protect her nest and eggs from predators, and her dull color enables her to do just that- merge with the surroundings and be difficult to spot.

Cat-astrophe!

2011-06-18T12:27:00.000-07:00

Just something that sums up the current scenario; the games they're playing with conservation.

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Icarus and Daedalus

2011-05-22T06:39:00.001-07:00

Corri'doom'

2011-05-21T20:47:00.000-07:00

on Jairam Ramesh's recent comment that there can be no protection policies for tiger corridors, in spite of admitting the fact that more than 1/3rd of the tiger population lives outside protected areas.

No to Global Warming!

2011-04-25T08:07:00.001-07:00

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Black Panther

2011-03-28T12:00:00.000-07:00

in the most horrifying act ever to threaten wildlife conservation, a leopard was burnt alive on 23rd march. i request all active NGO's to initiate campaigns advocating the enforcement of 'shoot at sight' for every wildlife criminal, no matter how poor or how rich, minister, poacher or villager. wildlife is running out of time and we cannot afford to adopt a casual approach to such heinous acts. only measures as extreme as 'shooting at sight' will ensure a safer future for our wildlife. it has worked in kaziranga, it will work everywhere else if applied.
the following text and image about this incident are as reported by the WPSI-
India's shame - leopard burnt to death

On Wednesday, 23 March 2011, a leopard mauled three people from Dhamdhar village in Adnala Range of Kalagarh Forest Division, Corbett Tiger Reserve in the state of Uttarakhand. The leopard took shelter and was trapped inside a cattle shed in the village. The Forest Department team arrived and managed to tranquilise the leopard, and put it inside a cage. But the moment they started to transport the cage to the nearest range office at Rathuwadhab, they were surrounded by a mob of about 400 angry villagers who seized the cage and started attacking the caged leopard using iron rods, sickles and stones. The mob then doused the caged leopard with kerosene and burnt it alive in the presence of helpless forest and police officials. A postmortem revealed that the leopard was not a man-eater. Ten people, including two women, have been booked for the crime under the the IPC and WPA, of which two people from Dhamdhar village were arrested on 25 March.

Snake's take

2011-03-13T08:15:00.000-07:00

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Naag panchami is one of the most bizarre and ruth;ess festivals celebrated in india. snakes are captured illegally by snake charmers, their fangs are hammered out of their jaws, to render them harmless (and practically disabled). this is not the end of the torture to these innocent reptiles- they are forced to perform in front of crowds and consume milk, which by no means is their natural diet. all fools who still celebrate this festival, please imagine the situation on yourselves next time you think of indulging in such a heinous act.

Mink Matters

2011-02-21T09:53:00.000-08:00

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welcome to china again! a place worse than hell for minks and so may beautiful but threatened creatures. minks and foxes are either beaten to death, boiled alive or even skinned alive for their fur. and there still are thousands who encourage fur-trade. when will doom strike this damned country?

Fund Cut!

2011-02-15T01:44:00.000-08:00

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The Tiger and the planning commission- this cartoon appeared in The Sunday Guardian in conjunction with an article by eminent wildlife journalist and author Ms. Prerna Singh Bindra. The article is as follows-

It was at a private function celebrating the tiger, and its deep association in India’s religion and culture that Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia spoke about his wondrous encounter with the tiger in Ranthambhore. The Minister of Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh was present as well, and he seized the moment, pointing out the amazing picture of five tigers that graced the wall, “those tigers are sitting on a minefield, “ said he, or words to that effect, with no less than 40 or so mines fringing their reserve (Tadoba). Point made, obliquely, on the raging ‘go-no go’ debate on coal, he went onto to other matters. There is an imperative stressed, to relocate villages, purely on a voluntary basis from core critical tiger habitats. This was one of the major recommendations of the PM appointed Tiger Task Force. Tigers need inviolate areas to breed. People want to shift out, it was a difficult life inside the forests, away from the mainstream, and they must be given the best incentive to do so. The central government offers an enhanced package now for rehabilitation. But, appealed Jairam, they need the funds to take this forward, and a bigger budget from the Planning Commission. To make it happen. To save tigers.Evidently, the deputy chairman wasn’t listening. When the budget for the current financial year came in, it was a shock. For the year 2011-2012, the National Tiger Conservation Authority got a mere Rs 150 crores as against the expected 700 crore. If it weren’t so tragic you would hear me laughing. Think about it: The opening ceremony of the Common Wealth Games (our national shame) was just about the same amount. The budget has been on a steady decline: 194 crores in 2010-11 as against Rs 204 crore that they received in the financial year 2009-2010. Since its inception in 1973, Project Tiger has got about 800 crore. Even within the environment ministry, the Mission Clean Ganga got Rs 500 for 2010-11—a noble mission, but till now, its clearly been money down the drain. The Prime Minister of India has reiterated India’s commitment to save the tiger, time and again. Why isn’t that reflected in policies, actions? Why is it that the government repeatedly lets down the tiger, be it the matter of the expansion of highways that cuts into crucial tiger habitat-a mere one or two per cent of India—or King Coal ripping apart forests. The tiger-and its defenders--must battle for every inch of space. Now, it appears the tiger must beg for money, too. From India, the world’s next economic superpower. There is a pressing need for Rs 5,000 crores for the current (running) and next planning period ie from 2010-11 to 2017. For 2011-2012, the NTCA presented its case: Rs 1,100 crore was a must if they were to make a headway to shift villages out of core critical tiger habitat. The Planning Commission seemed to have agreed on about Rs 700 crores. In a previous interview to this columnist, Dr Rajesh Gopal, member secretary, NTCA said, “There are 762 villages with about 48,000 families inside core areas. The minister has taken this up with the Planning Commission and we hope to have sufficient funds to give relocation a fresh impetus.”High hopes. With the current budget it will be a miracle if we can just about manage to cover basic vitals like protection, habitat and crisis management. The relocation process, and conservation, has just suffered a major blow. The centre provides the bulk of the budget for reserves-the funding is largely the ‘carrot’ the centre uses to push the states on tiger conservation—which rests somewhere at the bottom of the barrel as far as priorities are concerned. With all its weaknesses and failures, Project Tiger has rendered an umbrella of protection to the tiger, and we need to make it a force to reckon with, not weaken it further. India has the maximum number of tigers, it is here that the effort to save the tiger took birth and became centrestage in a global arena. The world looks onto India as the leader in tiger conservation..but unless we show a steely resolve and put our money where our mouth is, that may soon be history.

you can follow Prerna's exemplary work at
http://indianaturally.blogspot.com/

How i met my valentine

2011-02-13T05:19:00.000-08:00

A V-day special on kingdom animalia!
Happy valentines' day to all!

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Stuntcat!

2011-02-08T13:00:00.000-08:00

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To Steel or not to Steel

2011-02-03T12:14:00.000-08:00

posco wins, nature loses.

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That Tough Guy!

2011-02-01T09:30:00.000-08:00

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the armadillo has an outer covering of overlapping 'scales' called 'scutes'. this armor protects them from predators and parasites.

The Frogmouth and the Kingfisher

2011-01-31T09:31:00.000-08:00

The frogmouth is a bird with such extraordinary camouflage that it is almost impossible for the even the sharpest pairs of eyes to spot it. it perfectly resembles dried leaves and escapes predation this way.

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Sick Sentry!

2011-01-28T11:12:00.000-08:00

one of the best examples of symbiosis in nature is from indian jungles- that between the chital (axis deer) and the langur. while the chital graze, the langur act as sentry, warning them of approaching predators with alarm calls. the chital also feast on partially eaten fruits that the langurs, being very fussy eaters' drop to the ground. on the other hand, the chital keep a watch on ground predators such as pythons

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Glassfish Dilemma!

2011-01-27T12:06:00.000-08:00

yes, the glassfish has a transparent body!

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Hammerhead Honeymoon!

2011-01-27T12:01:00.000-08:00

Hammerheads are so called because of the unusual structure of their heads, which extend laterally into hammer-like projections called 'Cephalofoils'. the positioning of the eyes hence, gives the hammerhead a binocular, 360 degrees vision.

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The Tripod fish's part time job

2011-01-27T11:51:00.000-08:00

The tripod fish gets its name from the manner in which its fins are arranged. this fish has poor eyesight. using its tripod like fins, it perches on the sea bed waiting for its prey. it uses its antennae-like fins to lure its prey, which it gulp down when at a strikeable distance.

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Sonoran Symbiosis

2011-01-27T11:46:00.000-08:00

The Sonoran Toad and the Tarantul share an extraordinary symbiotic relationship- the tarantula shares its burrow with the toad, which eats the ants that could be a threat to the spider's eggs. while the tarantula ensures that its eggs are protected this way, the toad gets a meal and a free stay!

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Lung Care

2011-01-27T11:32:00.000-08:00

yes, the lungfish IS a fish with lungs!

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Follow up

2011-01-14T09:06:00.000-08:00

Another one on the harmful effects of kites on avifauna

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At the Vet's

2011-01-13T08:33:00.000-08:00

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It's Makar Sankrant, the kite flying festival and there's news of bird casualties everywhere. it is very sad that inspite of knowing the harmful effects, people still use glass-coated 'manjas' in large numbers. please contact your nearest vet/ animal welfare organization in case you come across any injured bird or animal. people in nagpur may call Dr. Kanetkar (9422102824) or Dr. Mahale (9923562829) in such a case. they are vets working for the Indian Society for Animal Welfare (ISAW)

Puzzled!

2011-01-08T06:03:00.001-08:00

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Traffic Trouble!

2011-01-05T08:36:00.000-08:00

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Nuts!

2010-12-31T09:16:00.000-08:00

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The Kiwi Counselor

2010-12-26T11:06:00.000-08:00

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Sinister Ministers

2010-12-01T10:01:00.000-08:00

Why do you think the number of cases of dead munias being confiscated from poachers suddenly increases in december? it is because the demand for munia meat increases at this time. and why does the demand for munia meat increase in december? well, the reason is right in front of our eyes. everyone knows about it but chooses to keep mum.

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Sorry Sariska

2010-11-20T08:31:00.000-08:00

May be this is how India's tigers discipline their young, after all that has happened and has been happening in Sariska National Park.

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Desperate Measures-3

2010-11-11T08:47:00.000-08:00

Inspite of being banned the world over, poaching of elephants for ivory still continues to haunt these beautiful animals. would like to mention a quote from Animal Planet here- "When the buying stops, the killing will too."

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Oxpecker Pastime!

2010-11-09T10:31:00.000-08:00

Oxpeckers are birds found in the African savanna. they share a symbiotic association with animals such as rhinos and wild buffaloes. the oxpeckers are usually seen perched on the bodies of their hosts on which they feed on lice, ticks and insects. in this way, the oxpeckers get a free meal and the buffalo gets a free parasite extermination service :)

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Pseudotoad

2010-11-07T09:35:00.001-08:00

experts believe that amphibians such as frogs are the best indicators of climate change. any change in the number of frogs in an ecosystem might signal unfavorable changes in the climate.

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The Hopeless and The Helpless

2010-11-03T09:33:00.000-07:00

Come Diwali and we go on a cracker-bustring spree. But in our joy and festivity, what we fail to realise are the ill-effects of bursting crakers. Apart from causing noise pollution, fire crackers are also a major contributor to rising CO2 levels. Fumes emanating from fireworks not only affect local environment, but, on a larger scale, the effects of global warming can be seen as far away as the 'ends of the world' causing irreversible damage to animals like this innocent Polar Bear.
So, this Diwali- the festival of lights (and not sound!) let us all vow to spread the light of prosperity in the lives of these innocent animals, who bear the brunt of mankind's actions.

(write-up by Rohit Chakravarty)

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Du'gone'!

2010-10-30T09:35:00.000-07:00

Dugongs and Manatees, also known as 'sea cows' are seal-like herbivorous aquatic mammals and are probably the most gentle and harmless animals. sadly, dugongs are hunted for their meat, and are now on the brink of extinction, with only a few hundred remaining in the wild.

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