World’s tiniest pig, once thought extinct, returning to the wild
In the thick, tall grasslands of the Himalaya foothills lives the endangered pygmy hog, a species so small its piglets can fit in your pocket. Standing about 10 inches tall, the shy animal once roamed the border regions of India, Nepal, and Bhutan, snuffling about for insects and tubers.
But a century of habitat degradation and destruction—especially conversion of grasslands for agriculture use—devastated the pygmy hog, and until its “rediscovery” in 1971, many people thought the animal was likely extinct.
In the mid-1990s, conservationists captured some wild pigs and began breeding them in captivity, releasing them back into Assam, a state in northeastern India where a tiny wild population had survived.
Twenty-five years later, these conservation efforts are paying off, experts say: Altogether, between 300 and 400 animals remain in the wild, and 76 in captivity, and the species appears to be thriving.
The success of the initial program has led to subsequent efforts. Between 2008 and 2020, scientists released 130 pygmy hogs into two national parks, Manas and Orang, and two wildlife sanctuaries, Barnadi and Sonai Rupai—all in Assam.
There are plans to release at least 60 more pigs into Manas within the next five years, says Parag Deka, project director of the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme, based in Guwahati, Assam’s capital.
Mangrove forest in Odisha acted as protective barrier against Nature’s fury yet again
The Cyclone Yaas that barrelled through coastal Odisha triggering damage of varying degrees spared Bhitarkanika National Park and adjoining hamlets in Kendrapara district with its luxuriant mangrove cover acting as a protective barrier against Nature’s fury. An official said that the mangrove forest has withstood the wind velocity of the cyclone yet again. The region has witnessed seven major cyclones in the past two decades including Yaas.
Each time, the cyclonic storm has not impacted the national park and the nearby human habitations, said Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) Forest Division, Bikash Ranjan Dash. The villages on the periphery of the national park were saved as the mangrove cover acted as a buffer zone in protecting the human settlements, Dash said.
Because of the thick density of mangrove forest in Bhitarkanika, the flora and fauna of the park were unharmed due to the cyclone, he added. People in these parts have also realised the immense utility value of mangrove forest and are lending a helping hand to the forest department in conservation of this tidal woodland, the official said.
Scientists discover new species of African Violet plant from Mizoram
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal Researchers have discovered a new species of plant belonging to the African Violets family in Mizoram and adjacent areas in Myanmar.
The newly-described species Didymocarpus vickifunkiae (Gesneriaceae) is currently known from only three locations in Mizoram and considered as an endangered species. It is an epiphyte (plants that grow on trees) and produces light pink flowers during the monsoons. The species is named in honour of late Dr. Vicki Ann Funk, a renowned Botanist who worked at Smithsonian Institute, USA.
Along with other discoveries by the IISER Bhopal Research Team in the past few years, this recent discovery shows that the rich biodiversity of the north-eastern parts of India remains unexplored and there are many species of plants that remain undiscovered.
“This discovery is an outcome of extensive fieldwork across northeast India coupled with rigorous study of past collections kept in herbariums across the world,” said an IISER spokesperson.
👉TOI
Rare sighting of rescued Himalayan Griffon Vulture thrills Maha bird-lovers
An unexpected sighting of a majestic Himalayan Griffon Vulture(King Vulture) in the lush green Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra has thrilled bird-lovers in the state and the country.
More so, after it emerged that the bird sighted soaring in the skies was actually the once rescued on December 28, 2020, and spending over a month at the Malabar Awareness & Rescue Centre for Wildlife (MARC) in Kerala’s Kannur. The bird had been tagged in Kannur and released in the Wayanad wildlife sanctuary in Kerala,’ said Clement Ben, chief conservator of forest at the tiger reserve.
Forest guard Santosh Chalake first spotted the bird in Patan tehsil of Satara district of western Maharashtra on May 9 and clicked some pictures. Rohan Bhate, honorary wildlife warden in Satara district, shared the photos on some vulture study groups on social media which led to the discovery that it had been tagged in Kerala.
Mangaluru: Online ‘Coastal and Marine Tourism in India’ competition held for Srinivas University
COVID-19 pandemic has changed education dramatically. The distinctive rise in online learning has kept students away from traditional classrooms but has enabled in reaching out to students from more effectively and efficiently. Keeping in mind the complete benefits of education during this pandemic BBA Port, Shipping Management and Logistics, College of Management and Commerce, Srinivas University on May 25 organised an online competition for Port, Shipping Management and Logistics students as part of its experiential learning pedagogy.
Students had to prepare a mini project on the topic ‘Coastal and Marine Tourism in India’ highlighting coastal events and attractions, marine wildlife tourism, education, marine protected areas, fisheries, water sports and recreation and cruise industry. This competition facilitated in identifying and developing creativity and innovation among the students. Students prepared the mini-projects through digital mode. They actively participated in the competition bringing back the joy of participation during the pandemic.
Let the Van Gujjars remain nomadic
The Van Gujjars, the nomadic pastoral community of the Uttarakhand Himalayas, secured a crucial victory May 25, 2021. The Uttarakhand High Court in Nainital passed an interim order upholding the right of a qafila (caravan) of Van Gujjars to migrate to their summer homesteads in the bugyals (Himalayan alpine meadows) located within the Govind Pashu Vihar National Park in Uttarkashi district.
The court relied on Article 21 of the Constitution. It ordered the collector of Uttarkashi district and the deputy director of the park to ensure the Van Gujjar families are accommodated in pucca houses and provided with adequate food, water, medicines as well as fodder for their cattle.
The court ordered the district administration to conduct novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests at the earliest. If found negative, valid permit holders must be allowed entry into the park.
The court ordered both, the district magistrate of Uttarkashi, as well as the deputy director of Govind Pashu Vihar National Park to submit a report with regard to substantial steps taken towards implementation of the order before June 15, 2021.
The Van Gujjars pursue seasonal migration from the Terai-Bhabar and Siwalik region of Uttarakhand to the higher bugyals in the Western Himalayas in summer and vice versa in winter. The phenomena of transhumance pursued by the community is among the few climate-adaptive and resilience strategies that ensures their pastoral livelihood remains viable and sustainable.
Several Van Gujjars were frequently made to pay penalties and fines for violating such pre-conditions set forth by the forest department. However, the advent of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 or Forest Rights Act (FRA) has changed things.
It has ensured that even pastoralists possess rights to access grazing pastures in lieu of the Community Forest Resource right they are eligible for. Section 2 (a) prescribes for the rights of pastoral communities on customary common forest land within the traditional or customary boundaries of a village.
It also prescribes the seasonal use of a landscape in case of pastoral communities, including in unclassed forests, reserve forests, un-demarcated forests, deemed forests, protected forests, sanctuaries and national parks.
The Van Gujjars have always cherished their nomadic lifestyle for the well-being of their buffaloes. The onset of summer makes conditions unbearable for their livestock in the warmer climate of the Siwalik and Terai. Furthermore, the depletion of grass cover coupled with the dry weather makes these regions vulnerable to forest fire.
Similarly, snowfall in winter pushes the community back to the plains, where they can finally access the pastures which have been refurbished. While there have been several attempts to resettle and sedentarise the Van Gujjars, several members continue to pursue a nomadic lifestyle to ensure the sustenance of their pastoral livelihood.
👉DTE
Environment India 