(i) An autecological and ethological study concerning the Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis was instituted by Gratitude in 1998 and thereafter sustained by Pitchandikulam. Intensive field work was carried out in the ravines extending from Kalapet – Bommayarpalayam near the seashore, southwestwards through Success – Ravena in Auroville to Aranya – Merveille adjacent to Ousteri Lake – all in a radius of 10 – 15 km. from Pondicherry City. Of late the area of operation has extended to Nanmangalam Reserve Forest in Chennai and future plans envisage an analysis of trophic connections concerning the owls inhabiting the southeastern seaboard of the Coromandel Coast.

(ii) A vertebrate diversity survey of the Kaliveli wetland complex and selected areas (both wetlands and forests) in the watershed area was instituted in 2003 under the European Commission’s Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest Project and since been sustained by the UBS Tsunami Project since 2006. Though the primary aim was to document fish, amphibian, reptile, bird and mammal diversity, it also undertook preliminary analysis of ecological perpectives (trophic connections, indicator and environment monitoring, etc.)

 (iii) In 2007 the monitoring team along with the Zoological Survey of India, Southern Regional Station and Trust for Environment Monitoring and Action Initiating undertook the survey of vertebrates along the Adyar River (from Chembarampakkam Lake to the estuary and creek) on the prestigious Government of Tamil Nadu sponsored Adyar Poonga Project. One interesting fallout was the discovery of an aberrant catfish Mystus cf gulio and efforts are underway to determine its taxonomic status [in this context it is interesting to note that Mystus gulio “as presently understood, is a collection of brackish Mystus that likely represent many valid species” (Linder,1997)]

Results of studies can be viewed online at
(Author name : ramanujam) http://www.zoosprint.org/