Environment

Disappearing Nilgiri grasslands impact bird populations

A study of the shola sky islands in the southern Western Ghats finds that land-use changes are reshaping bird movements, with both forest and grassland species avoiding human-dominated areas. Forest specialists were less affected in woodlands invaded by woody plants, while the Nilgiri pipit, the study’s only grassland specialist, faced the greatest movement constraints from woody invasions and human activity. Mongabay India correspondent Simrin Sirur reports

by Trans World Features August 24, 2026