Eating shark meat could have an adverse impact
Many videos have emerged on social media over the last few years highlighting Goa as a shark eating destination. Besides Goa, shark meat is consumed in other coastal states of India as well but there is a lack of awareness of the type of shark that is consumed.
A recent study published in Nature shows that the global shark and ray population has crashed by 70 percent in the last fifty years. The study blames anthropogenic pressures such as overfishing as the primary reason for the decline.
There are about 160 species of sharks found in India and, of them, ten have legal protection. In India, sharks are caught as incidental catch, mostly by trawl nets and gill nets.
In 2016, India was declared the second largest shark fishing nation in the world.
While some conservationists feel that awareness about the type of shark meat will help in conserving them, others feel that an overhaul of fisheries management like regulation and reducing industrial fishing, is the only way for a sustainable future for sharks.
India’s endangered lion prides conquer disease to roam free
Three years after a deadly virus struck India’s endangered Asiatic lions in their last remaining natural habitat, conservationists are hunting for new homes to help booming prides roam free.
The majestic big cats, slightly smaller than their African cousins and with a fold of skin along their bellies, were once found widely across southwest Asia.
Hunting and human encroachment saw the population plunge to just 20 by 1913, and the lions are now found only in a wildlife sanctuary in India’s western Gujarat state.
Following years of concerted government efforts, the lion population in Gir National Park has swelled to nearly 700, according to an official census last year.
But just three years ago, the conservation success looked to be in danger when several lions started to die in one part of the 1,400 square kilometre (545 square mile) forest.
The canine distemper virus — a highly infectious disease — was detected among dozens of the royal beasts, killing at least 11 of them.
Wildlife biologist Ravi Chellam said that outbreak underscored the need to move a few prides to other sites nearby.
Chellam said the sanctuary was also now too small for its steadily growing lion population.
“There are far more lions than what Gir can hold… these animals are not static, they are constantly moving outside and interacting with domestic animals and people,” he added.
Efforts to move some lions to other states have been mired in legal wrangles with the state government, which wants to keep the animals in Gujarat.
Grassland burning, clearing imperils birds of Brahmaputra’s river islands
Unprotected grasslands on the Brahmaputra river’s river islands need safeguards against clearing and encroachment to conserve the habitats of threatened birds.
Concerned with the burning of grasslands and felling of trees, 34-year-old Bhabesh Mahanta is helping build a food forest for birds on a chapori (riverine island) near Guwahati in Assam.
Ramsing chapori is one among at least 2000 numbers of sandbars and shifting river islands (locally known as char and chapori) in the heavily-braided Brahmaputra river in Assam. The sandbars and river islands serve as wildlife corridors for certain species and as a barrier to the migration of others; many are important bird areas, such as Majuli, a prominent river island, surrounded by small islets.
Experts have said that several river island grassland habitats could do with legal protection.
Unprotected river islands can serve as refugia if human disturbance is at its minimum.
Ludhiana’s ‘Green Man’ Starts Tree Ambulance, Clinic
In an innovative and a much needed step, an IRS officer from Punjab has started a tree ambulance and clinic service to cater to the needs of trees and plants that are either rotten or unhealthy.
While we take care of the trees and potted plants at home on a regular basis, the vegetation outside our houses don’t always get favourable conditions and at times there are other detrimental factors harming their growth such as termites and insects and this is where Ludhiana-based IRS officer Rohit Mehra comes in.
Famous as the Green man of India, Mehra is already known for his exemplary work where he successfully created 75 human-made forests. Panning across India, the ‘mini-forests’ range from 2,000 square feet to 66,000 square feet in area in about three years. He used 70 tonnes of discarded plastic bottles to act as planting pots for vertical gardens in Ludhiana.
By CNN-News18
Mahananda Bird Festival Begins In Bengal’s Sukna; People Throng To Watch 250 Avian Species
Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary kick-started its four-day-long bird festival in West Bengal’s Sukna on Saturday evening, with an aim to create awareness about the different species of birds in the region and their documentation. The four-day-long festival witnessed the participation of nearly 18 birdwatchers, seven ornithologists, representatives of organisations that work for wildlife conservation, and forest department officials.
A total of seven stalls have been set up at the festival, from the animal resources development department, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Bombay Natural History Society, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau World Wildlife Fund, and the Sukna Squad.
Rajendra Jakhar, the chief conservator of forests, wildlife, North-Bengal, said the first list of birds in the sanctuary had been prepared in 1995 but the current exercise with larger participation would update the findings.
Carbon Watch, India’s first app to assess one’s carbon footprint
Chandigarh became the first state or Union Territory in India to launch Carbon Watch, a mobile application to assess the carbon footprint of an individual. Although the app can be accessed by everyone, it has specific options for the residents of Chandigarh to compile a detail study.
The application can be downloaded through a QR code in Android supported smart cell phones. Carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gases-especially carbon dioxide-released into the atmosphere by a particular human activity.
As a person downloads the application, they will need to fill details in four parts — Water, Energy, Waste Generation and Transport (Vehicular movement). In the category of Water, the person will be required to inform about the consumption of water.
With the mentioned information, the mobile application will automatically calculate the carbon footprint of the individual. The application will also provide information such as the national and world average of the emission, and the individual’s level of emission generation.
The mobile application will suggest methods to reduce the carbon footprints. The application will suggest ways as per the information furnished by the individuals.
Forest Division Ramban Conducts Plantation Drive At Khari
Forest Department Ramban today intensified plantation drive under JK Green Drive” to improve green cover in the district.
A drive was launched at Panchyat Khari in collaboration with 23 RR involving the PRIs, students and general public.
The BDC Chairman Khari, DDC member Khari, DFO Ramban, Range Officer Banihal, BO Sarbagni and Army personnel participated in the plantation drive.
Speaking on the occasion, the Divisional Forest Officer, Dr Rajan Singh said that the trees are the lifeline of all the living beings and plantation is the only way to stop climate change.
He said that it is the time to take necessary measures to protect our environment from degradation but not possible without the contribution of every single person. He also sought help from PRIs, NGOs and the general public to protect forests for their next generations as like their own wealth.
Environment India 