38 stories
Sharmila Vaidyanathan
Sharmila Vaidyanathan is a freelance writer based in Bangalore, India. She explores food, agriculture and environmental conservation through her work, which has appeared in Nature inFocus, Mongabay India, Scroll, Goya, Whetstone South Asia and Hakai Magazine among others. She is also a member of the Oxford Climate Journalism Network and a recipient of the Earth Journalism Network Biodiversity Grant and the Rukhmabai Fellowship. She presented a paper on the culinary and cultural implications of asafoetida at the 2020 Oxford Symposium on Food & Cookery, later published in the proceedings. She posts as @yellowturmeric on Twitter and @theyellowturmeric on Instagram.
InterviewenvironmentA Wildlife Enthusiast's Journey Towards Conservation
Ganesh Chowdhury from Nayachar, West Bengal has always had a passion for wildlife. Find out how the young photographer became a strong voice for the endangered Ganges River Dolphin
BookenvironmentAnimalia Indica: The Finest Animal Stories In Indian Literature
The anthology brings together some of India's greatest storytellers and their animal-based narratives
InterviewenvironmentAshwini Mohan Talks Geckos, Islands And Evolution
Meet the young herpetologist who is paving the way for more representation while bringing science to the masses
Quick ReadenvironmentCan We Grow Urban Forests?
The Bangalore-based NGO, SayTrees, is encouraging cities to make green spaces a priority
BookenvironmentHow Do Humans Live Alongside Wild Animals?
Radhika Govindrajan explores the intricacies of human-animal interactions in her book, Animal Intimacies: Beastly Love in the Himalayas
Quick ReadenvironmentLighting Up Rural Kitchens With The Right Stoves
Greenway Grameen Infra is revolutionising cooking in rural households by providing safer and cleaner alternatives
Quick ReadenvironmentMake Your Photographs Count With These Citizen Science Projects
From a database on reptiles to backyard bird surveys, here is a comprehensive list of active citizen science initiatives in India
LongreadenvironmentMicroplastics In Sea Salts Set Off Alarm Bells
Several research groups have detected microplastics in Indian sea salts highlighting the pervasive nature of plastic contamination in the oceans
InterviewenvironmentNiharika Rajput: Sculpting Conservation, One Bird At A Time
The young artist is raising awareness on birds and their conservation through her paper sculpture exhibitions and workshops
InterviewenvironmentPriya Ranganathan On Connecting Urban Lakes And Ancient Myristica Swamps Through Water Conservation
On World Water Day, the young geologist and ecologist talks about freshwater conservation and building awareness through education
InterviewenvironmentQuick Five: Archana Soreng
The young climate activist speaks about her tribal identity and the role of indigenous knowledge towards better climate action efforts
InterviewenvironmentSanjukta Chakravorti: Placing India On The Global Palaeontology Map
The geologist and palaeobiologist talks about the importance of fossil preservation and the need to encourage young minds to explore this novel field
InterviewenvironmentAggal Sivalingam: Scouting The Blue Mountains
The wildlife guide and photographer talks about what makes his images click
Photo FeatureenvironmentSeven Of India's Primate Species Are In Danger
These endangered primates are quickly running out of secure spaces and need our complete attention if they are to survive
InterviewenvironmentShreya Yadav On Her Journey Into The Curious World Of Corals And Atolls
For World Oceans Day, the young marine biologist takes a deep dive into the most pressing issues that plague the underwater world and shares glimpses of her work
Quick ReadenvironmentTake A Stroll On The Beach And Contribute To Science
Citizen science initiatives like Coastal Biodiversity of Chennai are raising awareness and rekindling public interest in the vast array of species that populate our beaches
InterviewenvironmentTalking Tigers With Dr Raghu Chundawat
'The Rise and Fall of the Emerald Tigers' is both a poignant reflection on tiger research and a manual on how to carry out effective studies
LongreadenvironmentThe Essential Science Of Soil Biodiversity
Soil biodiversity is gaining prominence as a vital tool in improving food security and mitigating climate change impacts. But are we paying attention?
LongreadenvironmentWhen Seasons Speak
SeasonWatch: A citizen science project building awareness about the world around us by observing trees
LongreadenvironmentWhy Is Fieldwork Still A Roadblock For Women In Science?
Women in STEM elucidate the slew of challenges they face while conducting research in the field and how science is still perceived as a man’s world
BookenvironmentWhy Rivers Remember And We Forget
Krupa Ge, the author of ‘Rivers Remember’, talks about surviving the 2015 Chennai floods and making sense of its chaos
LongreadenvironmentWhy Should Your Brew Be Elephant-Friendly?
'Elephant-friendly tea?' Yup, you heard that right. Find out why you should be more concerned with your choice of brew
LongreadenvironmentZooming In On Edible Insects
Meet Thejavikho Chase, a filmmaker documenting the edible insects of northeast India and the people behind this sustainable food source
Photo Featureanimals10 Things You Need To Know About Snow Leopards
A quick primer about the 'Grey Ghosts' and how they survive the harsh terrains of the upper Himalayas
Photo Featureanimals10 Things You Need To Know About Bengal Tigers
We bring you facts about tigers—majestic felids that have captured the imagination of countless wildlife enthusiasts
Photo FeatureanimalsA Complete Guide To The Vultures Of India
Endangered and persecuted for the wrong reasons, India's vultures need every bit of our attention. Here is a primer on the nine vulture species found in the country
Photo FeatureanimalsAll About The Indian Peafowl
The national bird of India is still a bit of a mystery for many of us. Here is everything you need to know about the avian we fondly refer to as the peacock
Photo FeatureanimalsAntelopes Of India
A cheat sheet of all the different antelope species found in the country, along with a quick overview of the many threats they face
Quick ReadanimalsBar-Headed Goose: The High-Flying Migrator
On World Migratory Bird Day, we shine a light on this extraordinary avian that is one of the highest-flying birds in the world
Quick ReadanimalsThe Giant Squirrels Of India
A sneak peek into the world of the bushy-tailed arboreal rodents
Photo FeatureanimalsMutants Of The Animal World
Leucism is a condition not all that uncommon in the wild. Attractive as these aberrations are for us observers, it is not a favourable attribute for animals
Photo FeatureanimalsShining A Light On The Foxes Of India
The underrepresented canids play a crucial role in a variety of ecosystems. Learn about the different fox species found in India and the litany of threats they face
Photo FeatureanimalsThe Barbets Of India
India is home to nine barbet species. A quick rundown of these colourful frugivores that play an important role in seed dispersal
Photo FeatureanimalsThe Bee-Eaters Of India
A quick rundown of all six bee-eater species found in the country, their calls, habitats and more
Quick ReadanimalsThe Fishing Cat Guide
A cat that loves the water and lives on a diet of fish? Meet the elusive and charismatic felid of our marshlands
Photo FeatureanimalsThe Herons Of India
India is home to nine heron species. Everything you need to know about these waterbirds that are found in all continents except Antarctica
Photo FeatureanimalsThe Hornbills Of India
A quick rundown of the nine hornbill species found in the country, their calls, habitats and more
Photo FeatureanimalsThe Lapwings Of India
India is home to seven species of lapwings. What are they? Why is their population in decline? What is the peewit? Find out all this and more