WAR - International Asia & Australia

India - 4 held with 2 elephant tusks in Balasore village

Forest officials busted an ivory trafficking racket in Balasore district on Thursday, seizing two elephant tusks and arresting four persons from Talanagar village.

The operation was led by Balasore divisional forest officer (DFO) Prafulla Kumar Mallick and involved two teams carrying out coordinated raids at multiple locations.

Mallick said the accused were caught during a covert operation. Forest personnel posed as prospective buyers and negotiated a deal to purchase ivory from the accused. Acting as decoy traders, the officials reached a house in Talanagar village, where the illegal transaction was underway, and apprehended the accused.

Two elephant tusks were recovered from their possession during the raid. Two bikes and four mobile phones were also seized. "We believe the accused are part of a larger ivory smuggling network and suspect the involvement of more individuals in illegal wildlife trade," the DFO said.

The identities of the accused have been withheld as investigation is in progress. Forest officials said efforts are underway to trace the ivory source and identify other members linked to the racket.

4 held with 2 elephant tusks in Balasore village | Bhubaneswar News - The Times of India Balasore: Forest officials busted an ivory trafficking racket in Balasore district on Thursday, seizing two elephant tusks and arresting four persons .

India - H5N1 outbreak in Chennai, hundreds of crows found dead; government issues advisory

An outbreak of the H5N1 virus has been confirmed in Chennai after several hundred crows were found dead across the city recently, signalling the spread of avian influenza in the region. An advisory has been issued to the public as health authorities move swiftly to contain the outbreak.

Authorities have directed that all carcasses of crows and poultry be either incinerated or deeply buried in accordance with biosecurity protocols to curb further transmission.

The public has been strictly advised against touching or handling dead birds and urged to promptly alert local authorities about any fresh sightings.

In the wake of confirmation of bird flue in samples collected from the city's Adyar, the Union Ministry of Animal Husbandry has written to the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary, calling for immediate and comprehensive field surveillance to contain the outbreak.

H5N1 outbreak in Chennai, hundreds of crows found dead; government issues advisory Hundreds of crows have been found dead across Chennai, with subsequent laboratory tests confirming the presence of the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

India - 270 endangered dugongs estimated to be thriving along Tamil Nadu coast

The population of dugongs along the Tamil Nadu coast has been estimated at 270 by WII, and this signals a stable and thriving environment for the endangered marine mammals, a top state official said on Thursday.

Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary of Environment, Climate Change and Forests said the recent assessment by the Wildlife Institute of India is "big news in wildlife conservation."

"The findings indicate that the dugong population in Tamil Nadu is stable and doing well," Sahu stated.

The estimation, she said was conducted in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department and it identified 158 dugongs in Palk Bay and 112 in the Gulf of Mannar.

https://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/nature-and-wildlife/article/number-of-endangered-dugongs-estimated-to-be-at-270-experts-say-big-news-in-wildlife-conservation-23615333

Indonesia - Sumatran Elephant Found Dead in Riau, Tuskless with Head Severed

The Directorate of Special Crimes (Ditreskrimsus) of the Riau Regional Police is investigating the death of a Sumatran elephant within the PT Riau Andalan Pulp Paper (RAPP) concession in the Ukui Sector, Lubuk Kembang Bunga Village, Ukui District, Pelalawan Regency, Riau. The male elephant died in a sitting position, without tusks, with its head and trunk severed.

"We are still investigating the cause of the elephant's death," said the head of the criminal investigation unit at Pelawawan Resort Police, Pol. Comm. Adjt. I Gede Yoga Eka Pranata, in a written statement to Tempo on Thursday, February 5, 2026. "Forensic examination of the crime scene, and taking witness statements."

The protected animal was found dead by a worker, Winarno, on late Monday, February 2, 2026. He first caught a whiff of a foul smell from inside the protected forest area within RAPP's permit. "I didn't know what had happened, but I immediately reported it to authorities," he said.

Authorities then came to the location to perform a necropsy on the elephant carcass at the site.

"The investigation is still ongoing and the police hope to find the perpetrators responsible for the death of this elephant," emphasized Pol. Comm. Adjt. I Gede Yoga Eka Pranata. "We are committed to protecting the wildlife in our area."

Tempo reached out to the Head of Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), Supartono, for additional information. However, he has not responded to the message sent to his WhatsApp number.

Meanwhile, PT RAPP expressed deep concern over the incident, assuring that it continues to coordinate with relevant institutions to support the case handling.

Sumatran Elephant Found Dead in Riau, Tuskless with Head Severed The male elephant died in a sitting position, without tusks, with its head and trunk severed.

Myanmar’s rare red pandas face extinction threat in ASEAN

The red panda, a rare species with an estimated global population of only around 10,000 individuals, is found in Myanmar alone among ASEAN countries and inhabits the glacial moun­tain regions of northern Myanmar.

Red pandas, which are mammals, are found in Myanmar as well as in China, India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. Conser­vation efforts to prevent their extinction are mainly undertaken in China and India. Around 50 years ago, approximately 40 per cent of the red panda population in the western Himalayan regions died as a result of illegal hunting, largely caused by humans and snow leopards.

“Many red pandas are living in the PutaO mountain ranges. Sometimes they are seen being brought for sale in Myitkyi­na. Local people in that area do not rear red pandas; they eat meat. However, red panda meat is not widely sold in markets – only consumed locally. In China, red panda conservation programmes are carried out, but demand still exists for medici­nal use, for hanging the skins, or for use as floor coverings. As a result, they are purchased along the border, and hunters sell them. Therefore, it is necessary to protect and conserve the rare red panda s among ASEAN countries, to prevent its extinction,” said U Han Saw Htun, an animal welfare advocate from Myitkyina.

Myanmar’s rare red pandas face extinction threat in ASEAN Feb 5,2026 |10:25 | An estimated 10,000 red pandas remain worldwide, with the species inhabiting the icy mountain ranges of northern Myanmar. The red panda, a rare species with an estimated global population of only around 10,000 individuals, is found in Myanmar alone among ASEAN countries and inhab...

Thailand - Wild elephant’s cause of death revealed, public demands justice

Public anger is mounting after a wild elephant named Phlai Sidor Hoo Phap died during a relocation attempt in northeastern Thailand on February 3. The animal collapsed en route from Khon Kaen to Loei, and the public is calling for accountability from officials.

Around 10 kilometres into the journey, Phlai Sidor Hoo Phap collapsed, shortly after being sedated by a team from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP).

Multiple sources confirmed that the initial diagnosis pointed to respiratory failure caused by choking on food, with the condition made worse by acute capture myopathy, a life-threatening condition linked to extreme stress during capture or transport.

Capture myopathy is a fatal condition that occurs in wild or domestic animals subjected to extreme stress during events like capture or transportation. When an animal panics or struggles intensely, its muscles can overexert, leading to rapid breakdown.

Former deputy education minister Kanchana Silpa-archa criticised the department’s explanation as lacking transparency, noting that researchers had estimated the elephant’s age at around 10, not 15 to 20 as the department claimed.

She also accused officials of trying to portray the elephant as inherently dangerous, referencing the claims that it had been involved in fatal encounters with humans. Kanchana argued that such framing was unfair and lacking important context.

She added that sedating an animal while it was still chewing sugarcane showed a lack of proper preparation and may have directly contributed to its death.

Chaiwat Limlikitaksorn, former director of the National Parks of Thailand, also condemned the relocation process, saying the death reflected systemic flaws. He stressed that an elephant’s life should not be treated like moving a vehicle or confiscated goods, urging authorities to re-evaluate their protocols for future transfers.

Public reaction has been swift. Conservation supporters and the public launched a campaign via Google Forms, calling for a thorough investigation and a comprehensive review of wildlife relocation practices.

Organisers of the campaign insisted that Phlai Sidor Hoo Phap was not inherently violent, but a young wild elephant still learning to navigate life in its natural habitat.

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/wild-elephant-death-cause-revealed

Thailand - Indian man’s langur smuggling attempt busted at Suvarnabhumi

An Indian passenger was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport late on February 3 after allegedly attempting to smuggle live wildlife out of Thailand. Two endangered langurs were reportedly discovered hidden inside a suitcase bound for Mumbai.

Officers conducting a routine screening found a suspicious blue rectangular suitcase checked as hold luggage. Inside, they discovered a plastic basket, sealed tightly, containing two live Indochinese silvered langurs, a protected species under Thai law.

DNP News reported that the animals had been concealed in a manner that posed a serious risk to their health.

The two langurs have since been transferred to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation for care and species verification as part of the case file.

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/indian-man-langur-smuggling-suvarnabhumi-airport

India - Climate change forced one-horned rhinos to forever stay in Kaziranga

Researchers have uncovered the fascinating history of the Kaziranga National Park in Assam, showing how it became the last major home for the one-horned rhinoceros.

A new study, released by India's Ministry of Science & Technology, used mud from the park's wetlands to reveal changes over thousands of years.

Researchers behind the study took a sediment core, a long sample of mud over one metre deep, from the Sohola swamp inside Kaziranga National Park.

This mud acts like a time capsule. Layer by layer, it holds tiny clues such as pollen grains from ancient plants and fungal spores from animal dung. These traces tell the story of past vegetation, climate shifts, invasion by new plant species, and how herbivores like rhinos lived there.

The study showed that Kaziranga's landscape today is very different from the past.

Over the last 3,300 years, the area has seen changes in forests, swamp depths, and wildlife activity.

Earlier times had denser forests and deeper swamps with less animal presence. Later, forests became less dense, swamps shallower, and herbivore activity increased. These shifts were driven by climate change, new exotic plants arriving, and more animals grazing.

But during the late Holocene period, especially the Little Ice Age, climate changes, habitat loss, overhunting, and human activities caused rhinos to disappear from northwestern India.

Northeastern India, including Assam, stayed more stable with less human pressure.

This allowed rhinos to migrate eastward and concentrate in Kaziranga, making it their last great refuge.

Climate change forced one-horned rhinos to forever stay in Kaziranga The Indian one-horned rhinos roamed across India in the past. Now, they are found exclusively in the country's eastern regions. What drove the species to the East?

Australia - Fears SA's endangered glossy black-cockatoo eggs will 'cook' in nesting boxes during heatwave

A census of Kangaroo Island's unique subspecies of glossy black-cockatoos has shown their numbers are remaining steady after coming close to extinction.

The population is now heavily reliant on human-built nest boxes, but increasing numbers of hot days could put the eggs and nestlings inside at risk.

Researchers will fit nest boxes with insulation before the next breeding season.

Fears glossy black-cockatoo eggs will 'cook' in nest boxes during heatwaves South Australia's population of a unique subspecies of glossy black-cockatoos is heavily dependent on artificial nesting boxes. That could pose a problem during extreme heat conditions.

Thailand - Tragic End to Elephant Relocation: ‘Sido Hoo-pub’ Dies En Route to Sanctuary.

A wild elephant named "Sido Hoo-pub" died during a relocation mission from Khon Kaen to a sanctuary in Loei province.

The relocation was mandated by a court order for public safety after the elephant was involved in a fatal encounter with a person.

Despite veterinary supervision, the elephant suffered a medical crisis; an initial assessment suggests it died from choking on food, pending a full necropsy.

Thai wildlife officials have issued an apology and launched a formal investigation to review the operational procedures that led to the death.

Tragic End to Elephant Relocation: ‘Sido Hoo-pub’ Dies En Route to Sanctuary Thai wildlife officials launch a formal investigation into the death of a wild elephant during transport, with initial findings suggesting it choked

Indonesia - Rare Javan Rhino calf recorded in Ujung Kulon National Park.

The Indonesian authorities have confirmed the sighting of a female Javan rhinoceros with her newborn calf, estimated to be less than five months old, in Ujung Kulon National Park, the species’ last remaining habitat.

The discovery was made through camera trap footage on January 29 at 10:17 p.m. local time, marking the first recorded birth of a Javan rhino in 2026, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry confirmed on Wednesday.

Officials say the finding is a crucial indicator of successful conservation management and habitat protection for one of the world’s rarest large mammals.

“This recording shows that the habitat in Ujung Kulon remains well-preserved. Strong and consistent protection, combined with collaboration among multiple stakeholders, has enabled the Javan rhino to reproduce naturally,” said Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation Satyawan Pudyatmoko here on Wednesday.

Preliminary analysis suggests the mother rhino is “Arum,” an individual previously identified in monitoring records.

The calf, however, is a new addition to the population, offering hope for the species’ survival.

Fewer than 80 Javan rhinos (Rhinoceros sondaicus) are believed to exist in the wild, all confined to Ujung Kulon on the western tip of Java.

Rare Javan Rhino calf recorded in Ujung Kulon National Park The Indonesian authorities have confirmed the sighting of a female Javan rhinoceros with her newborn calf, estimated to be less than five months old, in Ujung ...

Thailand - Live monitor lizard, ricefield rat found in baggage arriving from Philippines

A Thai passenger arriving from the Philippines was intercepted at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakan with two live protected wild animals – a monitor lizard and a large rice field rat – in his baggage, the Customs Department reported on Wednesday.

The interception was made when officers of the airport customs and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation conducted a thorough search of baggage belonging to a Thai man, who returned from the Philippines on Monday, said Santhanee Pairattanakorn, director of Suvarnbhumi Passenger Control Customs Office.

Inside a suitcase, officers discovered a monitor lizard, wrapped in a blanket, and a large rat in a cage. Both animals were alive.

The animals are protected wild species and the estimated value of the two is about 50,000 baht. The smuggler will be prosecuted under several laws involving wildlife protection, Ms Santhanee said.

“This case could be linked to transnational smuggling networks and is harmful to natural resources, the ecosystem and image of Thailand,” she added.

Live monitor lizard, ricefield rat found in baggage arriving from Philippines A Thai passenger arriving from the Philippines was intercepted at Suvarnabhumi International Airport with two live protected wild animals – a monitor lizard and a large ricefield rat – in his baggage, the Customs Department reported on Wednesday.