MAMMALS OF INDIA (MaOI)

Mammals of India (MaOI):

• The website Mammals of India (MaOI), www.mammalsofindia.org, is an online, peer-reviewed, freely-accessible portal.
  
  
• Objective: To develop individual species pages for all Indian mammals with information on identification, variation, distribution, breeding and non-breeding ecology and species conservation.
  
  
• Working:
  • Under it, any person can upload geotagged photographic observations about mammals with information on habitat age of the observed individual.
    
    
  • Over time, these observations will be reviewed by subject experts and uploaded on the website.
    
    
  
  
  
• Timeline: It was launched late September 2018. By October 25, as many as 768 images, of 161 rare species of mammals, were uploaded.
  
  
• Benefits: These photographic records will help NCBS in –
  • Gathering information about lesser known mammals of the country.
    
    
  • Having distribution map of mammals in the country.
    
    
  • Knowing about interactions between different species of mammals, like predation and mutualism.
    
    
  
  
  

Biodiversity Atlas (India project):

• MaOI is a part of the Biodiversity Atlas (India project), which is an initiative of Krushnamegh Kunte, associate professor at NCBS.
  
  
• Under the project websites dedicated to butterflies of India, Moths of India, Cicacds of India, Odonatas of India (dragonflies and damselflies) , Reptiles of India, Amphibians of India and Birds of India are operational.