Airavat

Airavat Animal Welfare Trust

A non-profit organization working on nature and environment conservation around the Darjeeling Terai landscape and part of Dooars, West Bengal.

A wild tusker was critically injured after stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED) in the Kolbhonga area of Sar...
09/05/2026

A wild tusker was critically injured after stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED) in the Kolbhonga area of Saranda Forest three days ago, West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand. The blast severely damaged its right foreleg, leaving the elephant unable to walk. Forest officials reported maggot infestation in the wound, suggesting the animal remained untreated for nearly a week. Due to the suspected presence of additional IEDs, on-site veterinary treatment has been initiated under strict safety protocols. This is the sixth recorded IED-related elephant incident in the Saranda forests. Earlier, five elephants died from similar blast injuries. Three during treatment, one inside the forest, and another after surviving for over a month in Odisha.

The incident highlights the severe ecological impact of armed conflict, as buried explosives continue to threaten wildlife, habitat connectivity, and elephant movement across one of eastern India’s critical elephant landscapes.


"Extinction Sundays"The Tasmanian tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus) or Thylacine, was a unique carnivorous marsupial nativ...
03/05/2026

"Extinction Sundays"

The Tasmanian tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus) or Thylacine, was a unique carnivorous marsupial native to Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. Despite its canine appearance and the iconic dark stripes across its back, it was more closely related to kangaroos than wolves; females even featured a rear-facing pouch to raise their young. This apex predator was renowned for its stiff, thick-based tail and a remarkable jaw capable of opening nearly 80 degrees, allowing it to hunt a variety of prey across the Tasmanian wilderness.

​Tragically, the species was driven to extinction primarily by human intervention. European settlers wrongly branded them as livestock killers, leading to government-sanctioned bounties that decimated their numbers. Combined with habitat destruction and disease, the population collapsed, ending with the death of the last known individual, Benjamin, in a Hobart zoo in 1936. Though it remains a popular icon of "de-extinction" research today, the Thylacine serves as a somber reminder of the permanent impact of human-wildlife conflict.


Our Eco Club and Haati Paath (হাতি পাঠ) educational sessions are continuing despite the demanding schedule surrounding t...
02/05/2026

Our Eco Club and Haati Paath (হাতি পাঠ) educational sessions are continuing despite the demanding schedule surrounding the 2026 Bidhansabha Election. This remains one of the most challenging periods in the tea garden belt, where conducting community-based educational programs is particularly difficult. However, we remain committed and resilient, consistently striving to sustain these classes and promote environmental awareness and conservation education.

International Labour DayWe are all stewards of the Earth. On this Labour Day, we vow to protect the rights of workers an...
01/05/2026

International Labour Day

We are all stewards of the Earth. On this Labour Day, we vow to protect the rights of workers and the integrity of our ecosystems, securing a resilient environment for the future.


"Extinction Sundays"The Pink-headed Duck (Rhodonessa caryophyllacea) is a breathtaking yet tragic symbol of lost biodive...
26/04/2026

"Extinction Sundays"

The Pink-headed Duck (Rhodonessa caryophyllacea) is a breathtaking yet tragic symbol of lost biodiversity, once found in the secluded wetlands of India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Distinctive for its chocolate-colored body and startling, glowing pink head and neck, this elusive waterfowl was already rare by the time it was first documented. Its decline was driven by the aggressive drainage of its swampy habitats for agriculture and intense hunting pressure for its unique plumage. Although the last confirmed sighting occurred in 1935, it remains classified as Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) rather than fully extinct because of its secretive, nocturnal nature. This "ghost bird" continues to inspire hope among conservationists, as occasional unconfirmed reports from the remote marshes of Myanmar spark expensive expeditions, keeping alive the slim possibility that it may still exist in some unexplored corner of the world.

|| 𝐋𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 ||Let’s get closer to our plants, something we often overlook in our daily lives. On Earth ...
26/04/2026

|| 𝐋𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 ||

Let’s get closer to our plants, something we often overlook in our daily lives. On Earth Day, a special programme was organised at the premises of North Bengal Science Centre, Siliguri, a unit of National Council of Science Museums-NCSM, Ministry of Culture, Government of India.



Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Rao Inderjit Singh Press Information Bureau - PIB, Government of India

[Earth Day, Plant awareness, Environmental education, Sustainability, NBSC Siliguri, Green initiative]

Earth Day was celebrated at the North Bengal Science Centre, Siliguri , Siliguri.The event was organized by the North Be...
24/04/2026

Earth Day was celebrated at the North Bengal Science Centre, Siliguri , Siliguri.
The event was organized by the North Bengal Science Centre.
It was a successful programme featuring a popular science lecture, an environmental studies workshop, and an audio-visual quiz conducted with students.

We shared our knowledge through field-based exercises and practical experiences.


On Earth Day, we are reminded that the health of our planet is deeply connected to the survival of wildlife and the bala...
22/04/2026

On Earth Day, we are reminded that the health of our planet is deeply connected to the survival of wildlife and the balance of ecosystems. From forests to rivers and wetlands, every habitat plays a vital role in sustaining life.

Plastic pollution continues to choke our landscapes and waterways, silently harming animals and disrupting fragile ecological systems. Rivers carry life, wetlands act as natural filters, and habitats provide shelter but all are under increasing pressure.

This Earth Day, let us act with responsibility: reduce plastic use, protect natural spaces, and respect the interconnected web of life. Conservation is not a choice it is a necessity for a sustainable future.

🌎 🌳 💧 🌧 🌱 🐜 🐦 🐅 🐘 🐍 🐸 🍄 🐟 🐠


The discussion was highly insightful. We examined the ecological importance of the Chocolate Mahseer, along with the cur...
21/04/2026

The discussion was highly insightful. We examined the ecological importance of the Chocolate Mahseer, along with the current status of its population and the conservation challenges surrounding its remaining habitats.

“Every Species Counts” is an ongoing initiative.
Join us for the upcoming episodes as we continue exploring critical biodiversity and conservation issues.

18/04/2026

Our Space, Your Story, join us at North Bengal Science Centre.

17th to 22th April, 2026.

"Every Species Counts"Our inaugural webinar on Chocolate Mahseer, featuring an expert lecture by renowned ichthyologist ...
16/04/2026

"Every Species Counts"

Our inaugural webinar on Chocolate Mahseer, featuring an expert lecture by renowned ichthyologist Dr. Bimal Chanda
We cordially request your honourable presence

Tomorrow |
⏳️ 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM

Please click the meeting link and join 5 minutes prior to the session.


Address

Siliguri
734 001-734 015 (CITY LIMITS), 734 401-734 436, 735 133-735 135(SUBURBS)

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5:30am
Tuesday 9:30am - 5:30am
Wednesday 9:30am - 5:30am
Thursday 9:30am - 5:30am
Friday 9:30am - 5:30am
Saturday 9:30am - 5:30am

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