CONTENTS
June 2019On the coverMumbai’s picturesque shoreline has
always been popular with citizens and
tourists. It provides a dose of serenity
and beauty that people inherently
crave and miss in this nature-starved city.
However, few still realise the incredible
biodiversity we have been gifted with.
Marine Life of Mumbai has recorded
more than 300 species in Mumbai’s
intertidal zone including this Silqua
radiata, a bivalve mollusc, which this
exquisite purple shell once sheltered.
Ecologically blessed, with diverse wildlife
and breathtaking geomorphological
features, Mumbai’s coast needs to be
protected for all eternity. This image was
one of the many stunning entries received
by Sanctuary for the ‘Living Beaches’
Photography Contest organised in
association with the Earth Day Network.
Photographer: Priyal Shah
NEWS
8 World Scan ‘Global Biodiversity Crisis.
No Penguin breeding colony in Halley Bay.
Mercury in Peregrine Falcons. Rarest turtle
on the brink.
9 India Scan Delhi airport raises
awareness. Dhole on the verge of
extinction. Odisha’s most severe cyclone in
20 years. New snake species discovered.10 Climate Watch Greenland ice melt.
Dolphins in trouble. Canada heats up.
Millions impacted by extreme weather.Photofeature
12 Mumbai’s Living Beaches You only
protect what you love, and you only love
what you know. A photographic tribute to
the intertidal marine life of Mumbai.
74 Kiangs on the Comeback Trail The life
of the mysterious and handsome Tibetan
wild ass or the kiang is celebrated in
images taken by Abhishek Ghoshal..PEOPLE
32 Wildlife Hero Anand Parthasarathy
remembers veteran scribe Darryl
D’Monte, one of India’s fi nest
environmental journalists.
34 Meet Vinod RishiBittu Sahgal
interviews Vinod Rishi, who served 37
years in the Indian Forest Service and
worked in numerous critical landscapes.
86 NGO Profi le For the last 25 years, The
Corbett Foundation has been dedicatedlyworking to protect and save India’s
wildlife using a pragmatic approach and
eff ecting changes on the ground, through
communities and policy makers..IN THE FIELD
38 Mugger-Man in Disguise In the village
of Kotmi Sonar in Chhattisgarh, one man
has been devotedly protecting ‘his’ beloved
mugger crocodiles. Anupam Singh Sisodia
introduces readers to Sitaram Das, aka
Baba, and his earthy brand of conservation.
42 Jewels of the Godavari Delta Unlike
the Western Ghats, the rich biodiversity
and beauty of the Eastern Ghats and
coastal belt have not received their due
attention. Anant Shankar, IFS, describes
the natural jewels of the Godavari Delta
where the country’s second largest
mangrove swathe exists, fi shing cats thrive
and olive Ridley turtles nest.
68 Temperate Forests in a Tropical
Country Tarun Menon shares how
extractive activities aff ect the structure of
oak forests and the diversity of resident12
22 Mumbai’s Forgotten Shores Mumbai has one of the fi nest seascapes in the
world, also one that is amazingly biodiverse. But somehow this fact escapes civic
authorities who are planning to build a Coastal Road that will not only end up
destroying the sea scape, but will not serve the purpose for which it is ostensibly
being constructed. The fi shing community whose livelihood depends on a
healthy coastal ecosystem are understandably distressed. Sejal Mehta, member
of Marine Life of Mumbai, a citizen’s collective, highlights the city’s incredible
marine biodiversity, while Shweta Wagh expresses her concern on the impact
of reclamation on coastal fi shing. Sarita Fernandes brings readers up to date on
the many legalities involved.