rajya Sabha recently accepted a breach of privilege motion against union environment and forest secretary Meena Gupta. The motion was moved in November 2007 by Rajya Sabha member and cpi (m)

In fresh incidents of elephant depredation, as many as 15 houses were destroyed and two cows killed by a marauding herd in Katonibari Tea Estate and Gangapar areas near Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary last night. According to sources, the jumbos entered the labour lines in the tea estate by crossing over the road. There are, however, no reports of any human casualty. The elephants, which number 22, are permanent residents of the wildlife sanctuary which is spread over an area of 19 square kilometres.

A one-and-a-half-year-old female panther, which had mauled a five-year-old girl 10 days ago, was trapped by Forest Department officials on Wednesday on the Anali Estate, around 15 km from here. This was the third one to be trapped in the Valparai plateau in less than four months. The animal was trapped just 10 metres away from labourers' colony on the estate. Veterinarian N.S. Manoharan tranquilised the panther. On instruction from R. Kannan, Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore, it was taken to Vandalur Zoo in Chennai. First time

At Indian Preserves, Tigers Remain King as People Are Coaxed Out By SOMINI SENGUPTA Published: April 16, 2008 NAGARHOLE NATIONAL PARK, India

"Help save rhinos,' a poster appealed. A photograph of a severely-bloodied rhino loomed out of it. We were at Jakhalbanda, a regular halt for buses taking visitors to the Kaziranga National Park. It

Villagers of Motu Sangam in Gandhari mandal killed a leopard which strayed into their village on Thursday afternoon by raining blows with strong clubs. The died instantaneously.

A herd of wild elephant destroyed a number of huts and granaries of villagers in Bordoibam village under Barbaruah Police station last night.

During a short visit to Australia last month, I witnessed a heated debate between the Defence Department officials and animal activists.