Fisheries institute identifies 2 new species of needlefish off Indian coast

Researchers at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute in Cochin, Kerala, have identified two new species of needlefish from Indian waters. The discovery was made through genetic and molecular analysis, revealing that what was previously considered a single species, the flat needlefish (Ablennes hians), is actually a complex of at least three distinct species. The new species have been named Ablennes joseberchmansis and Ablennes gracalii​, The New Indian Express newspaper reported. The research was led...

On camera: Elephant runs amok at temple festival in Thrissur

A video of an elephant running amok at the concluding ceremony of the Tharakkal temple festival at Thrissur in Kerala on Friday night has emerged on social media. According to the website of Malayalam newspaper Mathrubhumi, the incident took place at around 10:30 pm when the elephant, Guruvayur Ravikrishnan, parading for the ‘Ammathiruvady’ deity of Urakam, went berserk, causing panic among those attending the festival. Ravikrishnan’s mahout had a narrow escape as the enraged tusker...

2 southern states join hands to tackle human-animal conflict

It seems that at least some of our politicians have the ability to set aside differences and work together for the betterment of humans and animals. Yes, you read that right. To counter the rising trend of human beings being attacked by wild animals in the forests straddling Karnataka and Kerala, the forest departments of the two southern states have agreed to work together to mitigate the challenges posed by wild animals entering human settlements,...