Bird flu alert in Bhitarkanika Nov 27, 2008
Two years back, two scientists from Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) examined a few migratory and local birds to detect the presence of flu virus. But they could not find any trace of it, said the officer. (Express Buzz)
Defence gives the nod for citys contour Sep 20, 2008
SLIDESHOW The Bombay Natural History Society gives After Hrs a peek into its prized collection of butterflies collected over 125 years; some of the species even help in conservation. SPECIAL. (Daily News & Analysis)
Rare amphibian found in state Sep 13, 2008
Th 00004000 e curator of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Varad B Giri, told TOI: "I am quite excited and pleased with the latest discovery of this caecilian Gegeneophis seshachari from the Western Ghats recently. A caecilian is a legless type of amphibian that closely resembles a worm, but is actually an amphibian with reduced eyes, teeth and other features. The new findings have been published in the international scientific journal -Journal of Evolutionary Biology by Giri (BNHS), David... (Times of India)
The hills are alive with the sound of popping flowers Aug 26, 2008
Dr V Shubhalaxmi from the Bombay Natural History Society says different varieties have different blooming periods - some even ranging up to 14 years. Local businessman Julius Rego travelled for nearly two hours to see the Karvy. (BBC News -- South Asia)
Green.view: Staying the courser Jul 29, 2008
At the urging of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), an NGO, the state irrigation ministry has agreed to reroute the canal. (Though haggling continues over its exact course. (The Economist)
Mark J. Behan (607) Jun 23, 2008
For 12 years he was a consultant for the Bombay Natural History Society Grasslands Project, traveling throughout India as an advisor for scientific projects and academic development. During his last position in Nepal he met his soul mate, Jackie Cohen, whom he later married. (Missoulian, MT)
Flight to extinction Jun 8, 2008
In Uttar Pradesh, the Bombay Natural History Society has identified nearly 20 wetlands and marshes as potential Ramsar Sites (wetlands of international importance, particularly for waterfowl) ... The BirdLife International, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), a UK-based organisation and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) have identified 466 sites in India which are extremely important for the long-term protection of Indian birds both threatened and common ... The writer is,... (Chandigarh Tribune)
Indian vultures face extinction May 4, 2008
BirdLife International, a global partnership of conservation organisations, quotes the study published in the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society to drive home the point that the drug continues to kill vultures, after entering its food chain, despite a ban put in place in 2006 on its manufacture. The study shows that the white-rumped vulture, Gyps bengalensis, is in dire straits with only one thousandth of the 1992 population of the birds remaining. (Hindu)
Asian vultures may face extinction in India, study warns May 4, 2008
9 percent and the numbers of two other highly-endangered species by 97 percent since 1992 in India, a story in the Hindu newspaper said citing a study in the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. The study had not yet been released on the society's website and the authors were not immediately available for comment. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Scientists in India worried over fall in vulture numbers May 3, 2008
"Survival of vultures is important for the ecosystem as by eating animal carcass they prevent spread of diseases. They also prevent proliferation of dogs which become ferocious after feeding on dead animals and spread rabies," Director of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) Asad Rehmani told reporters here on Friday. "Ninety-nine percent of the 40 million vultures counted in 1992 have died by 2007 due to the use of diclofenc given to cattle to relieve pain and inflammation by veterinarians,"... (Hindu)
Indian vultures may be gone in 10 years May 2, 2008
9% of its population since 1992, according to a study by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). This makes it the fastest declining wild bird in history, a demise more rapid than that of the dodo. (Times of India)
'Decade to save Asian vultures' May 2, 2008
The findings appear in the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society ... " First chicks In order to ensure there is viable population of the threatened species, conservationists have set up a number of captive breeding centres. The Indian network, underpinned by the UK government's Darwin Initiative, is being led by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), with support from overseas organisations, including the RSPB and ZSL. Captive breeding may be the only hope for a number of species One of... (BBC News -- Science)
Asian vulture numbers dwindle May 2, 2008
A new paper in the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society reports that the oriental white-backed vulture is now in dire straits with only one thousandth of the 1992 population remaining ( note this has the wrong date on it, ) ... They could be functionally extinct in less than a decade, according to Vibhu Prakash, of the Bombay Natural History Society, and his colleagues. (Nature News Service)
Many Asian Vultures Close to Extinction, Survey Finds May 2, 2008
The study appeared this week in the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society ... Researchers from the Bombay Natural History Society and the Zoological Society of London counted live vultures along roadways in northern and central India between March 2007 and June 2007, covering more than 11,700 miles (18,900 kilometers). (National Geographic)
Not a snake! Limbless lizard discovered May 30, 2007
Another species of the same genus, "Sepsohis punctatus," was found in 1870 from the Golconda hills in Andhra Pradesh, said Varadi Giri, a scientist at the Bombay Natural History Society, who was not part of the team that found the lizard. Giri said Dutta is a reputed zoologist and his claim appears legitimate. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Rare bird spotted after 140 yrs Apr 13, 2007
Except for a single bird found in the Sutlej valley in Himachal Pradesh in 1867, it has not been sighted in India since, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) said here on Thursday. The warbler was discovered by a team of bird watchers in Kolkata, who say they saw it feeding amid the bamboo vegetation in Narendrapur on the outskirts of the city. (India Times, India -- Community News)
What they didnt teach at bee school? Mar 31, 2007
A Mumbai apartment block seemed an incongruous place to be producing so much honey so I called the Bombay Natural History Society for more information on urban bees. They said they often got calls about bees, and put me on to their entomologist, Ms V Shubhalaxmi who rather disarmingly warned me when we spoke that, I sometimes care more about insects than peop 00004000 le. (India Times)
Parsis strive to save vulturesAddMyLinkImage("/news/181_1955687,0008.htm", "Parsis strive to save vultures"); Mar 22, 2007
The winged scavengers could be back at the Towers of Silence in less than 18 months, if a project proposed by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) succeeds. The Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) has in principle approved a proposal submitted by BNHS principal scientist and vulture expert Vibhu Prakash to bring the birds back to Doongerwadi in Kemps Corner. (Hindustan Times, India)
Scientist Diary:In search of the unknownAddMyLinkImage("/news/7752_1948906,0094.htm", "In search of the unknown"); Mar 14, 2007
In search of the unknown : HindustanTimes. Down to earth, in search of the unknown. (Hindustan Times, India)
Indian Warbler 'Lost' For 139 Years Makes Spectacular Return Mar 8, 2007
Ornithologists across the world are celebrating with the news that a wetland bird that has eluded scientists ever since its discovery in India in 1867 has been refound. Large-billed Reed-warbler: the world's least known bird. (Science Daily)
Indian bird found after 139 yrsAddMyLinkImage("/news/181_1946225,0008.htm", "Indian bird found after 139 yrs"); Mar 7, 2007
Until this rediscovery, the bird was considered endemic or exclusive to India, Shripad Kulkarni, spokesperson, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) told the Hindustan Times. The rediscovery indicates we must look for it in India, once again. (Hindustan Times, India)
* India's endangered vultures flocking in Hoshiarpur district Feb 4, 2007
Vibhu Prakash, principal scientist at the non-profit Bombay Natural History Society that is breeding vultures in captivity, welcomed the report of mass sightings from Hoshiarpur. But he added that caution was required over the success of conservation efforts. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
India's first vulture chick born in captivity Jan 9, 2007
Bombay Natural History Society chief Asad Rahmani told TOI, "The setting of the breeding site, housing 126 vultures, is totally natural and therefore nobody has been allowed near the cage. We expect four more chicks in the next few weeks.". India has two breeding sites, one in Pinjore and other at Buxar. (India Times, India -- Community News)
Protesters decry Louvre museum's plans for global expansion Jan 9, 2007
"Conservationists plan to release the vultures to the wild. "Now every year we hope to have more and more young ones," said Asad Rahmani, director of the Bombay Natural History Society. "Once there are 25 young ones we will release them together. "Pakistani immigrant sentenced to 30 years for plotting to blow up Manhattan subway stationNEW YORK (AP) -- A Pakistani immigrant was sentenced to 30 years in prison Monday for hatching an unsuccessful plot to blow up a busy Manhattan subway station as... (North County Times)
Chick success for Asian vultures Jan 9, 2007
The breeding centre, based in Pinjore, northern India, is run by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), and is supported by Indian government departments and organisations, including the UK's Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). Nick Lindsay, ZSL's head of international zoo programmes, said the society had been heavily involved in the centre since the late 1990s. (BBC News -- Science)
First scavenger vulture bred in captivity Jan 9, 2007
"The first of these vultures has been successfully bred at the Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and the Forest Department of Haryana at Pinjore," said Dr Vibhu Prakash, Principal Scientist and Head of the Vulture Conservation Breeding Programme (VCBP) in India. "This is a precious New Year gift from nature to the vulture conservation efforts," he said and further informed that in the wild, the incubation period was about 55 days. (Gulf News)
