A Zoonotic Disease in the Himalayas That Needs a Closer Look [commentary]

Scrub typhus, a zoonotic disease, transmitted by mite bites, is re-emerging as a significant but under-recognised public health threat in the rural landscapes of the Indian Himalayas. The disease thrives in rodent-rich environments, shaped by ecology and land-use changes, persists amid weak surveillance and declining healthcare access in the plantation areas. There is an urgent […]

Gods’ Gardens

In Tamil Nadu, the relationship between humans and plants extends beyond utility into culture, tradition, and religion. Tree worship is among the earliest known forms of human devotion. In Sangam literature, the heroine of Natrrinai addresses the punnai tree (Alexandrian laurel) as her sister. Trees like neem, banyan, peepul, fig, and palmyra are still worshipped […]

Traditional Fishers Turn Rescuers in a Win for Declining Marine Wildlife [Commentary]

Coastal fishers in Tamil Nadu are forgoing hunting practices and instead increasingly rescuing dolphins, turtles, and dugongs during nearshore fishing operations. Long-term ecological knowledge, combined with fishing methods such as shore seine and hook-and-line fishing, enables rapid release of bycatch and adaptive responses to changing marine conditions. Incentive schemes, social recognition, and youth participation have […]