English language news articles from year 2007 plus find out everything about Asiatic Lion and Gir Forest. Latest News, Useful Articles, Links, Photos, Video Clips and Gujarati News of Gir Wildlife Sanctuary (Geer / Gir Forest - Home of Critically Endangered Species Asiatic Lion; Gir Lion; Panthera Leo Persica ; Indian Lion (Local Name 'SAVAJ' / 'SINH' / 'VANRAJ') located in South-Western Gujarat, State of INDIA), Big Cats, Wildlife, Conservation and Environment.
This
photo provided by Elizabeth Yannone shows a section of a street in
Times Square, cordoned off after being swarmed by bees in New York on
Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018. A swarm of bees caused a brief commotion in
Times Square after they made their home atop a hot dog stand. The New
York Police Department's bee keepers unit responded to the scene and
safely removed the bees. (Elizabeth Yannone via AP)
NEW
YORK (AP) — A swarm of bees caused a brief commotion in Times Square in
New York City after they made their home atop a hot dog stand.
It happened at 43rd Street and Broadway at about 2 p.m. Tuesday.
The New York Police Department's bee keepers unit responded to the scene and safely removed the bees.
WABC-TV shows thousands of bees crowding the top of the vendor's umbrella as a beekeeper sucks them into a hose.
In a tweet, the NYPD said that "no tourist was harmed and no bee was left behind."
This
photo provided by Elizabeth Yannone shows a section of a street in
Times Square, cordoned off after being swarmed by bees in New York on
Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018. The swarm of bees caused a brief commotion in
Times Square after they made their home atop a hot dog stand. The New
York Police Department's bee keepers unit responded to the scene and
safely removed the bees. (Elizabeth Yannone via AP)
If the proposal sent by wildlife wing of
Forest Department sees the day light then Kuno Palpur Wildlife
Sanctuary will be preparing to extend its limits. The proposal sent by
Wildlife Wing envisages extension of sanctuary by another 413 square
kilometres.
This will not only increase the area
of Kuno Palpur Sanctuary but will also make it fit to stake claim for
national park status as well. Moreover, if its area is increased then it
will be also fulfilling the condition of Gujarat government for
translocation of its world famous Asiatic Lions.
After extension of its area, Kuno
Palpur Sanctuary, which has been developed for translocation of Asiatic
Lion, will spread over 1,288 sq km of area. There is proposal to
de-notify the 202 sq km area of Karera Wildlife Sanctuary under district
Shivpuri and 80 sq km of area of Ghatigaon Sonchidiya Sanctuary under
Gwalior. After de notification of both areas, Government would add them into Kuno Palpur Sanctuary. Karera
Wildlife Sanctuary was established in year 1981 to protect the
population of Great Indian Bustard in the area. Now the area is being
notified by Government due to protest by the local people and extinction
of the Great Indian Bustard bird locally.
“We proposed Government to extend
the area of Kuno Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary by another 413 sq km and also
provide it status of National Park. Sanctuary has been developed for
translocation of Asiatic lion project which is pending from over the
years,” said Alok Kumar, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of
Forest (APCCF).
Talking to ‘The Hitavada, he said
the biggest condition set by Gujarat government was to extend the area
of Kuno Palpur sanctuary for translocation of Asiatic Lions and if the
area of sanctuary is increased by another 413 sq km then automatically,
Gujarat demand would get fulfilled. At present, Kuno Palpur Sanctuary is
spread over 345 sq km of area and now proposal has been come up to add
another 413 sq km area into it. If sanctuary gets national park status
then this 413 km of area will be developed as core area and 530 sq km of
additional area will be buffer zone. He said that at present Asiatic
lion is only in Gir National Park of Gujarat. In year 1991, proposal
came up to translocate few Asiatic Lion in Madhya Pradesh to save the
endangered species from extinction.
Madhya Pradesh Government selected Kuno
Palpur area for the project and started preparing the jungles of Kuno
Palpur Sanctuary. In year 2003, State Government staked claim for
translocation of Asiatic lions from Gujarat by saying that Kuno Palpur
sanctuary is ready in this regard. However, Gujarat Government had
certain objections over the issue and still issue pertaining to
translocation of Asiatic lions which is in doldrums. He said after
getting final nod in Cabinet meeting, proposal will be sent to the
Central Forest, Environment and Climate Change Ministry. The proposal
will also be presented before National Wildlife Board for final nod. http://thehitavada.com/Encyc/2018/8/28/Kuno-Palpur-Sanctuary-area-to-be-extended-by-413-sq-km.aspx
According to the Indian Ministry of Environment and
Forests, there is a total of 103 national parks in India. Jim Corbett
National Park was India’s first national park and additionally first to
go under the Project Tiger initiative. So, let us check out some of the
finest and the biggest Wildlife National Parks in India!
Top 30 National Parks For Best Wildlife Safari in India
1. Gir Forest National Park, Gujarat
Gir Forest National Park is the only place on the planet where
Asiatic lions are found. The park offers the safe house to the biggest
population of lions in Gujarat and the total population of Asiatic Lions
in India is 523.
2. Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan
Ranthambore National Park is well known for its Bengal tigers,
particularly the ruler tigress of Ranthambhore – Machli. The park has
vast tiger population and best place in India to spot wild Bengal tigers
in their natural wilderness living space.
3. Kaziranga National Park, Assam
Kaziranga National Park of Assam is home to the most noteworthy
thickness of Indian rhinoceros and healthy populations of tigers, wild
water bison, and elephants. The enormous five of Kaziranga National Park
is known as Indian rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, Indian elephant, wild
water bison, and Barasingha.
4. Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal
Sundarbans National Park is part of the Ganges Delta and secured by
mangrove backwoods. The bog tigers of Sundarbans are known to be
man-eater and the backwoods is home to in excess of 400 tigers.
5. Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand
Jim Corbett National Park was made to ensure endangered Bengal tiger
and now the best place for tourists and wildlife darlings. The park and
its zones like Dhikala are a notable destinations in the park.
6. Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Bandhavgarh National Park of Madhya Pradesh has the most astounding
known thickness of Bengal tiger in India along with a vast population of
panthers. The park offers best Jeep, elephant and wildlife safari in
India.
7. Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Kanha National Park is the biggest national park of Madhya Pradesh
and one of the top 10 renowned places for tourist visiting India. The
park has a great population of Bengal tiger, barasingha, and Indian wild
pooch.
8. Tadoba National Park, Maharashtra
Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in Chandrapur locale of Maharashtra is
one of the best places to Bengal tigers in India. The keystone species
of Tadoba save include the Bengal tiger, Indian panthers, and
exceptionally uncommon honey badger.
9. Nagarhole National Park, Karnataka
Nagarhole National Park along with Kabini supply which separates the
park with Bandipur is home to endangered and powerless species of wild
animals. The lead species of Nagarhole are Indian bison, dhole pooch,
Bengal tiger and Black panther otherwise called apparition of kabani.
10. Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh
Namdapha National Park is the third biggest national park in India
and offers the most extravagant biodiversity in the country. The area is
home to an extraordinary decent variety of well-evolved creature
species including 3 major feline species and blurred panther.
11. Mudumalai National Park, Tamil Nadu
Mudumalai National Park around the side of the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil
Nadu is home to a rundown of endangered and powerless wild animal
species. The Indian panther, Bengal tiger, and panther felines are main
carnivores warm-blooded creatures of the park.
12. Periyar National Park, Kerala
Periyar National Park close Thekkady is a remarkable elephant save of
India and backings many undermined species. The park is one of the best
places to see important Indian elephants and few of white tigers in
India.
13. Hemis National Park, Jammu Kashmir
Hemis National Park around the Ladakh region of India is a high
height national park and acclaimed for a most astounding thickness of
snow panthers in India. The pre-spring is the best season for spotting
snow panthers in Hemis national park.
14. Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh
Great Himalayan National Park bolsters an awesome decent variety of
high elevation Himalayan wildlife. The GHNP is home to faunal species,
for example, snow panther, Himalayan tahr, blue sheep and musk deer.
15. Bhitarkanika National Park, Odisha
Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara region of Odisha is
generally celebrated for extensive size Saltwater crocodile, King cobra,
and Indian python. The national park and wildlife sanctuary bolster
mangrove timberland and marsh region.
16. Dudhwa National Park, Uttar Pradesh
Dudhwa National Park is one of the best and lesser-known terai
ecosystem in India. The tall wet grasslands of Terai bolsters a vast
number of endangered barasingha, jungle feline, and panther feline.
17. Manas National Park, Assam
Manas National Park is known for a healthy population of uncommon and
endangered endemic wildlife. The dwarf hoard, hispid bunny, and wild
water bison are key endangered and endemic animals of Manas wildlife
sanctuary.
18. Rajaji National Park, Uttarakhand
Rajaji National Park close to the lower regions of the Himalayas in
Uttarakhand is a thick wilderness and home to vivacious wildlife. The
thick green wildernesses of Rajaji offers most appropriate natural
surroundings for various wild animals.
19. Simlipal National Park, Odisha
Simlipal National Park in the Mayurbhanj locale is a fortune house
for all the more than 42 species of well-evolved creatures. The park has
a great population of snakes, birds, animals and gives grasslands and
the savannas to grazing.
20. Desert National Park, Rajasthan
Desert National Park close to the town of Jaisalmer underpins the
most special ecosystem and amazing winged animal life. The sand ridges
of Thar desert is an asylum for migratory birds, for example, laggar
falcons, brownish hawks and swamp harrier.
21. Indravati National Park, Chhattisgarh
Indravati National Park is the most acclaimed wildlife parks of
Chhattisgarh and home to last populations of wild water bison in the
state. The endangered wild Asian bison, Indian spotted chevrotain and
sloth bears are few keystone species of the park.
22. Balphakram National Park, Meghalaya
Balphakram National Park is one of the lesser known parks that
backings most special winged creature and wildlife. The pristine
excellence of Balphakram along with Nokrek hold offers beautiful
landscape and best Canyon see in India.
23. Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Pench National Park over the two conditions of Madhya Pradesh and
Maharashtra offers to a great degree rich and differing wildlife. Pench
Tiger Reserve is topmost wildlife destinations for tourism in Madhya
Pradesh.
24. Eravikulam National Park, Kerala
Eravikulam National Park in Idukki region is the principal national
park in Kerala and consists of a high rolling slope level. The high
height sholas grasslands of the park are home to a biggest surviving
population of Nilgiri tahr in India.
25. Bandipur National Park, Karnataka
Bandipur National Park of Karnataka is home to a rundown of India’s
endangered wildlife and part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The park
along with adjoining Nagarhole National Park underpins great population
of endangered Indian elephants, Indian bison, and Indian panther.
26. Sariska National Park, Rajasthan
Sariska National Park is home to many species of wildlife, including
Indian panther and Bengal tigers. The national park and tiger save was
first on the planet to successfully migrated tigers.
27. Velavadar National Park, Gujarat
Velavadar Blackbuck National Park is home to a substantial population
of blackbuck and Indian wolf. The park and grassland ecosystem was
acclaimed for hunting cheetahs in India.
28. Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan
Keoladeo National Park is a noteworthy tourist focus in India and
most extravagant winged creature areas on the planet. The park was known
as the Bharatpur winged creature sanctuary one of the wintering area in
India for Siberian crane, Saurus crane, and waterfowl.
29. Dibru Saikhowa National Park, Assam
Dibru Saikhowa National Park is the biggest salix overwhelm woods in
India and shelter for a rundown of endangered wild animals and fowl
species. The bog timberland of park bolsters different species of
primates, enormous felines, and nondomesticated steed.
30. Rann of Kutch National Park, Gujarat
LRK national park and wildlife sanctuary of Gujarat is the biggest
wildlife sanctuary in India and only remaining natural surroundings of
endangered Indian Wild Ass. The salt bog of Little Rann of Kutch offers
most extravagant biodiversity in India and paradise for a rundown of the
neighborhood and migratory birds. http://www.dailyhawker.com/articles/willing-to-go-on-for-wildlife-check-these-top-30-national-parks-for-best-wildlife-safari-in-india/
Shiladitya Chaudhury follows the pug marks of the Asiatic lion in the Gir National Park
Aug 26, 2018 00:00 IST
A pair of lions blocking the safari route
The
last safari of the season for me , a wildlife enthusiast, ended with a
four-night trip to Gir, Gujarat, in June (most national wildlife parks
are closed from July 1 to September 30).
Gir National Park &
Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Sasan Gir, was established in 1965,
with a total area of 1,400sq km. Gir is the only natural habitat of the
Asiatic lion in India and it has witnessed a four-fold increase in the
lion population in the last five decades, from only 50 in the early 20th
century to over 475 lions at present.
In the 19th century, the
rulers of the Indian princely states used to invite their friends on
hunting expeditions. So, by the end of the 19th century, only about a
dozen Asiatic lions were left, all of them in the Gir forest, which was a
part of the nawab of Junagarh’s private hunting grounds. Today, it is
the only area in Asia where Asiatic lions are found, and is considered
one of the most important “protected areas” in Asia.
–– ADVERTISEMENT ––
Members of a pride in a playful mood
Though
lions are the obvious stars of the sanctuary, many other animals
prosper in the forests of Gir — 38 species of mammals coexist with the
lions, most interesting of which are the leopard, sloth bear, striped
hyenas, jungle cats, golden jackals, langurs, Indian porcupine, spotted
deer, barking deer, nilgai, chinkara, gazelles and sambar. Apart from
mammals, 37 species of reptiles inhabit the area, including the king
cobra, Indian rock python and marsh crocodiles.
One
of the lesser-known facts about Gir is that the region is a favourite
destination for ornithologists. More than 300 avian species are spotted
here (most of which are residents), including crested serpent eagles,
vultures, paradise flycatchers, honey buzzards, Bonelli’s eagles and
pelicans.
The rugged topography and moderate climate support a
wide variety of flora and fauna in Sasan Gir. The vegetation here
chiefly comprises dry deciduous forests, dominated by short and gnarled
teak trees, thorn bushes and grasslands.
A pair of thirsty lions rest near a water tank
In
the six safaris we took in the scorching heat of Gir, we were extremely
lucky to sight lions in all the safaris. Having visited Masai Mara
several times, I had always felt guilty about not visiting Gir — a
forest in my own country and it can be rightly said that I earned my
redemption on this trip. The highlight of the last safari, however, was a
leopard stalking a prey for more than 20 minutes, though we were not
lucky enough to witness the predator at prey, as we had to adhere to our
time limit for the evening safari.
The forest is divided into
eight entry zones for wildlife enthusiasts in the core area; the most
sought-after is the No. 2 zone, which is presently home to three prides
of lions.
A very interesting fact about the park is that the
animals share their territory with the Maldhari tribe, a pastoral
community of nomadic herdsmen. They breed and herd their livestock in
the park, with the cow and buffalo forming an important part of the
lions’ diet.
Tourists unaware of a lion waiting near their car
The
Siddis, another tribe that resides on the fringes of the Gir National
Park, are a community with African origins. Interacting with the Siddis
gave me a feeling that I have only felt at Masai Mara. I also visited
the veterinary hospital, Sasan Rescue Centre, which is close to the
entry gate of the national park and it has perhaps one of the best
veterinary infrastructure in our country.
For those not so lucky
to sight the King of the Jungle at Gir, a lion safari in the Gir
Interpretation Zone or the Devalia Safari Park has been created, which
is a fenced-off area from the buffer zone of the forest. It guarantees a
lion and a leopard sighting. PARK POINTERS Resident of Gir National Park: The Asiatic lion (panthera leo persica) Average life span: 14 to18 years Weight: 300 to 500 pounds Hunting: Female lions are the pride’s primary hunters Connectivity: Sasan
Gir or Gir National Park is well-connected by road from the
Ahmedabad airport (a six-hour drive) and the Diu airport (a
one-and-a-half-hour drive). Junagadh, 70km away, is the nearest railway
station
The writer is a
communication consultant and restaurateur. His passion for wildlife
photography takes him to the remotest of jungles https://www.telegraphindia.com/travel/pride-of-india-254571
Pride is one of the most widely-recognised animal collectives
in the world. We often picture lions among their family unit, whether
they be standing proudly together or hunting down a doomed antelope.
These famous social groups are usually formed of between three and ten
adult females, two or three males, and the pride’s latest litters of
cubs, and they live together (most of the time) across Africa and in the
Gir Forest Sanctuary.
We say most of the time because lions do in fact spend a fair amount of
their time apart from the rest of the pride, as pride members have a
variety of different roles.
Hover over the lions in our interactive pride to learn about the
different roles of pride-members, from raising cubs to hunting for food.
Featured image credit: ‘Masai Mara Lion Pride’ by Justin Jensen. CC BY 2.0 via Flickr. https://blog.oup.com/2018/08/animalotm-lion-pride-interactive-guide/
The minutes of the Standing
Committee of the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) meeting, conducted on
June 13, mentions that the species faces risks from shipping and
fishing activities. Written by Benita Chacko
|
Published: August 22, 2018 12:29:20 am The Arabian Sea Humpback Whale is found along the Maharashtra coast.
THE STATE Mangrove Cell will soon submit a proposal for the
protection of the Arabian Sea Humpback Whale as part of the Centre’s
Recovery Programme for Critically Endangered Species. The cell hopes
this will be a timely step to protect the marine creature from
extinction.
“We have prepared a proposal for the programme and will soon submit
it. The Centre has taken a positive step towards conservation and we
will do our bit to protect the species,” said N Vasudevan, Additional
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Maharashtra Mangrove Cell.
Among other places, the Arabian Sea Humpback Whale is found along the
Maharashtra coast, as it migrates from the Oman coast to the Sri Lanka
coast. The state proposes to first study the pattern of migration, its
population and distribution to plan their conservation. “We will use
noise monitoring machines underwater that will record sounds. This will
include sounds they make during mating along with sounds of other marine
creatures. The study of these sounds will help us understand their
mating time, their migratory patterns and other details,” said
Vasudevan.
The minutes of the Standing Committee of the National Board of
Wildlife (NBWL) meeting, conducted on June 13, mentions that the species
faces risks from shipping and fishing activities. “Studies also
indicate that only very few individuals are available in the Arabian
Sea. Accidental entanglements in fishing gear, ship strikes and seismic
exploration are the principal threats to the species,” reads the
minutes.
“The species face the largest risk from shipping activity as they are
often injured by the ship propeller. They are also affected by gillnet
fishing and longline fishing as they get entangled in it and drown. They
need to come out of the water to breathe. They are large mammals and
there aren’t too many of them as they give birth only once in two years.
They have a long gestation period and the calf remains with the mother
for long,” said Dr Deepak Apte, Marine Ecologist and Director, Bombay
Natural History Society (BNHS).
Apte added that the inclusion of the species in the programme is
well-timed and much-needed. “Their inclusion will help conduct some
studies on them, which will provide valuable inputs. We do not know much
about them at present. If we do systematic mapping of the species and
study their population and distribution, it will help us reduce their
ship-based mortality. We can also study their genetic make-up, which
will help us know which clan they belong to,” he said.
The mangrove cell plans to work on conservation efforts for the
species through these studies. “Once we know their migration pattern and
their mating time, we can direct ship companies from avoiding their
path during these periods. We can also prevent fishing in those areas.
This will help in reducing the mortality rates,” said Vasudevan.
However, the whales being an offshore species makes the study
challenging. “They do not come very close to the shore. So, we will need
to have a set-up for the study team to go into deep sea. The study will
take at least 10 years to complete,” said Apte.
India’s commitment to the protection of whales and their habitats in
its waters also stems from the fact that it is a party to the
International Whaling Commission. During the NBWL meeting, it was also
decided to include Northern River Terrapin, Clouded Leopard and Red
Panda in the recovery programme. Species such as Snow Leopard, Bustard
(including Floricans), Dolphin, Nilgiri Tahr, Marine Turtles, Asian Wild
Buffalo, Manipur Brow-antlered Deer, Vultures, Malabar Civet, Indian
Rhinoceros, Asiatic Lion and Swamp Deer are already a part of the
programme. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/mangrove-cell-to-submit-proposal-for-conservation-of-arabian-sea-humpback-whale-5318276/
Dear Editor,
The 2018 World Wildlife poster released by WWF provides alarmingly
dismal fact regarding big wild cat populations around the globe. The
global lion population has receded to around 20,000 in the wild. The
Asiatic lions are being restricted only to India; while African lions
have now been reported to be extinct in 26 nations across the continent.
The tiger populations are now restricted to only about 3900 in the wild
with 96% habitat loss across their historic range of distribution. Only
7100 wild cheetahs are being estimated to be currently surviving making
the species vulnerable in the African continent; while Asiatic cheetahs
are believed to be decimated to around 100 and barely surviving in
eastern Iran only with critically endangered status. Leopards are
vulnerable in both Asia and Africa; severely impacted by poaching,
habitat loss and repeated human-animal conflicts. The situation of snow
leopards across Russia, Mongolia, Central Asia, China, Afghanistan,
Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan are not promising!
True and accurate snow leopard population dynamics is not quite
available; however, current estimate fluctuates between 4,500 to 10,000
in the wild mountainous habitats of Eurasia stretching between Russia to
India. Puma or cougar or mountain lions have lost over 50% of their
natural habitats in the Americas; while the majestic jaguar of Central
and South America is reported to be struggling for survival. Most of the
wild cat populations are suffering due to multiple anthropogenic and
natural factors like habitat loss and habitat fragmentation, unmonitored
forest fires, unmonitored or under monitored poaching and recreational
hunting, trafficking of wildlife body parts (like skulls, bones, nails,
skin, fur, pelts, teeth, organs) to illegal wildlife markets operating
in China and parts of SE Asia, destruction of forests, illegal human
encroachments into forested areas, unplanned infrastructural
developments in virgin forest areas and lack of well managed
conservation programs. Yours, Saikat Kumar Basu https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2018/08/22/dismal-fact/
Mumbai: After welcoming
its newest inhabitant, a baby Humboldt penguin, on August 15, the
Veermata Jijabai Udyan (Byculla Zoo) has now decided to preserve the egg
shell and CCTV footage for documentation and research. Sanjay Tripathi,
veterinary doctor and zoo in-charge, said, “The egg shell fragments
have been kept in the zoo centre and will be preserved. We also plan to
put the shell on public display. The matter is pending discussion.”
Besides this, footage from the Closed
Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in the aquarium, which have recorded
every movement of the penguins will be documented and used for research.
Tripathi said, “Right now, the doctors, including me, are busy with the
baby penguin, checking its health regularly. The CCTV video will
definitely be used for study purposes as it is the first-ever penguin to
be born in India and in Mumbai’s zoo.”
A 75-gram penguin was born at night on
Independence Day. The new-born is greyish in colour and it will be two
years before the characteristic white stretch manifests. Mr Molt, the
youngest, and Flipper,
the oldest, are the proud parents of the newborn penguin. The Flipper
laid an egg on July 5 and on August 15, exactly 40 days after the
incubation period was complete, it egg hatched. Furthermore, to
determine the gender of the newborn, a DNA analysis will be carried out
at a Bengaluru (Bangalore) laboratory. Madhumita Kale, another
veterinary doctor said, “The health of the baby penguin is right now
important for us. The DNA analysis can be delayed for some time until
everything comes to normal.”
It will be three months before the
public can get a glimpse of the new arrival. Currently, it is being
tended to by its parents. In three months, it will be capable of fending
for itself and can be viewed by the public, zoo officials said.
Meanwhile, the Brihamumbai Municipal
Corporation(BMC)-appointed contractor has started work on the enclosure
construction work in the zoo, in keeping with the project to modernise
the 19 century spot. Zoo authorities plans to get Madras pond turtles,
common otters, sloth bears, hyenas, wolves, jackals, leopards, reptiles,
lesser cats, and birds in the first phase. In the second phase, the
authorities plan to get swamp deer, sambar, black buck, nilgai, Asiatic
lion, Bengal tigers, emu, jaguar and a zebra. “The Central Zoo Authority
(CZA) has already approved the procurement of these animals. These will
be exchanged across various zoological parks in the country,” said Dr
Tripathi.
After the enclosure work is completed,
said Tripathi, the animals will be brought in. Another reason for the
zoo to smile has been the victory in Bombay High Court against Mafatlal
Mills, which had occupied seven acres of land which was leased to it by
the civic corporation. Since the tenure of the lease expired, BMC asked
for the land back but Mafatlal submitted a plea in court, claiming its
right to the land. The plea was rejected by the court on August 16,
clearing the way for the zoo’s expansion plan, delayed until now.
Nimesh Khakhariya | TNN | Aug 18, 2018, 04:00 ISTRajkot: The state government’s decision to nearly double the permits for
jungle trail in Gir Wildlife Sanctuary from October this year has not
gone down well with the forest officials and environment activists. They
not only questioned the rationale behind the government’s decision, but
also feared that it would disturb the fragile ecosystem of Gir forests,
which is the last abode of Asiatic lions in the world. On Thursday,
the state government announced that the number of permits issued for
the jungle trail in Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, spread over 1,412 sq km
area, would be increased to 150 per day from the current 90 per day.
Similarly, on festival days and Sundays, the number of permissions have
been increased from 150 to 180 per day.
The 25-30km jungle trail
includes a three-hour trip into the protected forest in a jeep with
maximum six persons. One permit is issued for one jeep. Everyday three
such trips are undertaken carrying 540 tourists on eight different
routes. With the new government decision, 900 tourists will be taken
into the sanctuary along 13 different routes.
According to
government officials, the rationale behind increasing the number of
permits is to curb illegal lion shows in forest area. However, the
forest officials and activists feel that increased human and vehicle
traffic in the sanctuary area not only disturb the fragile ecosystem,
but also the lions, who are dependent on the same ecosystem.
Assistant
conservator of forest (ACF), Sasan, Rajdeep Zala said, “There are touts
who cheat people under the pretext of lion sighting. The logic behind
the increase in permit is that we can accommodate more tourists so they
don’t fall prey to such touts. This will also reduce the harassment to
lions.”
A
senior forest officer, posted in Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, on condition
of anonymity said the forest department was under pressure since long to
increase the permits in sanctuary area by the tourism department. “Gir
is not only about lions. Lions in this forest area can sustain because
of its ecology. Increase in movement of vehicles and human interference
disturbs the ecosystem and ultimately the lions. Increase in number of
permits should not have been allowed,” the forest official said.
Lion
expert Priyavrat Gadhvi said, “Gir is facing tremendous pressure in
terms of tourism, so we have to understand the viewpoint of forest
department. As you increase human interference, the problems also
increase. This has to be regulated so that excess human interference
doesn’t result into nuisance.”
Environment
activist Revtubha Raizada said, “We are facing problem of plastic waste
inside the sanctuary and human interference will only increase this. We
need to develop the sense of wildlife tourism.” https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/more-is-not-merrier-in-lions-abode/articleshow/65445638.cms
Four
rare African white lion cubs sit in their enclosure at the zoo in
Magdeburg, Germany, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. Keepers weighed the three
males and one female and carried out health checks on the cats, which
are rare in the wild. The young lions were born on July 5, 2018. (AP
Photo/Jens Meyer)
BERLIN (AP) — They're still tiny, but the white lion cubs at the Magdeburg zoo in eastern Germany are putting on weight fast.
One
of the four rare white lion cubs, the female baby, walks besides the
zookeepers shoe, at the zoo in Magdeburg, Germany, Friday, Aug. 17. (AP
Photo/Jens Meyer)
The cubs —
three males and one female — took turns on the scales Friday. The news
agency dpa reported that the male cubs weighed in at an average of 6.5
kilograms (14.3 pounds) each, while their sister was a kilogram lighter.
The cubs weighed only 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) each when they were born on July 5.
Four
rare African white lion cubs sit in their enclosure at the zoo in
Magdeburg, Germany, Friday, Aug. 17. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
Zoo visitors were able to watch through a window as the feisty felines were weighed one by one, showing their teeth and claws.
Zoo curator Konstantin Ruske says "we are very satisfied with the animals' development."
Zookeeper
Susann Paelecke holds one of the four rare white lion cubs, the female
baby, at the zoo in Magdeburg, Germany, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. Keepers
weighed the three males and one female and carried out health checks on
the cats, which are rare in the wild. The young lions were born on July
5, 2018. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
Neha Sinha is a wildlife conservationist, and lover of the weird, wonderful, wordy and wild.
We need to understand nature is the basis for life, we need planning with conservation, not destruction, at its heart. It's hard to fully describe what India
stands for. This is the land where paths are made by elephants, and
where roads are shared by both trucks and tigers. The land where every
colony is redolent with start-ups and non-governmental groups, and where
art and craft push their way somehow through plastic-littered roads.
Where rivers inspire awe despite the sewage they are made to carry, with
the most globally significant tiger, Asiatic lion and Asian elephant
populations.
Yet, it is also true that in today's description India will count as a
country with high environmental degradation — our holiest rivers are
our dirtiest, we have some of the world's most polluted cities, and
cancer is spreading — linked to high pesticide use and arsenic poisoning. Cities are under siege as old trees are cut, as construction dust rises, and our rich wildlife is under new threats.
This Independence Day, here are the five things we urgently need independence from. Lines that kill
The government released a special postal stamp to
commemorate our National Heritage Animal, the elephant, on August 12,
World Elephant Day. Fittingly, the stamp was printed on paper made from
elephant dung. Elephants in India are living under a constant threat (Source: Reuters)
Yet, elephants are under constant threat — from existing and proposed railway lines, apart from habitat loss.
Speeding trains passing through forests and other elephant habitat
are mowing down elephants — usually many at one go. Just this month,
three elephants were killed by a railway line on the Jharkhand-West Bengal border. In Odisha, four elephants were killed in April on a railway line, and five
other elephants died in the same tragic, grisly way in Assam in
February. Yet, evidence proves that a combination of vigilance as well
as mitigation can change the face of this tragedy. Trains need to stop
speeding through elephant areas, especially at night. Also, watchers
need to be employed — a move that has already found some success in
Rajaji in Uttarakhand. Areas with hairpin bends need to be cleared to
create staging areas for wildlife to have better visibility. No new
railway lines should go through elephant corridors. Railway lines are
meant to link, not kill. Business as usual is not acceptable. Projects that destroy mature trees
India's most cosmopolitan cities, Delhi and Mumbai, are in the midst
of a turf battle. The battle is being fought by citizens to protect
iconic old trees — Mumbai citizens for Aarey forest; and Delhi's citizens for trees affected by road widening and the development of government colonies in South Delhi.
Both cities are large, sweating under population pressure, and coming
apart because of it. Residents of both cities have had enough of
callous, large projects that don't care for public health — they have
gone to court,
marched in protests, and have joined hands in solidarity. The message
is clear — redevelopment, modernisation, upgradations are fine — but not
at the cost of old trees. The protests are to keep trees where they
stand, and keep them alive. People are demanding both the right to
breathe, as well as the right to shape their cities. While trees have
still been cut in some places, residents are showing that the age of city projects that unthinkingly involve felling trees is over. Green energy that's not green
In the push for Make in India and missions for green energy, large
tracts of land — notably in Gujarat's Kutch and Rajasthan's Thar desert —
have been opened up for solar and wind energy farms. Yet, a lot of this
has been done in an unplanned way, leading to a rash of electric lines
through what is the last habitat for the Great Indian Bustard.
The world's last, viable breeding population of Great Indian Bustards
is this arid, hot belt. As per new estimates, only one male Great
Indian Bustard is left in Kutch. The reason is not hard to understand. The Great Indian Bustard is facing an existential threat (Source: India Today)
Since the last year, five GIB have been electrocuted after colliding
with high tension wires in Gujarat and Rajasthan. As these are the last
birds in this functional habitat, each death counts. It counts as a gene
bank and as a breeding individual. With each loss, we crawl closer to
witnessing India's first major contemporary extinction. At the heart of
the matter is creating zonation — breeding areas of GIB need to stop
expansion of overhead lines. For existing lines, diverters that warn
birds of the wires need to be put up. EIAs that lie
The environmental discourse is not complete without pointing out that
environment impact assessments or EIAs - papers and plans submitted by
project developers for clearing projects on environmental grounds -have
routinely been lying. Some EIAs claim there are no trees where several
hundred exist, others claim there is no wildlife, and yet others make up
fictional (and ridiculous) species list.
For instance, reports say that the EIA for Nauroji Nagar redevelopment has a rather interesting species list.
"Bird species" in the EIA include cat, donkey, toad, frogs. And cows.
Papers submitted by project developer NBCC for Sarojini Nagar
redevelopment claim there are only "thorny shrubs" and
some trees on the "periphery" that will need removal. The actual number
of trees to be cut is over 11,000. It has been pointed out again and
again that EIAs routinely peddle lies. This is obviously meant to obfuscate environmental conservation — but is also not a sustainable business strategy. Not keeping groundwater in the ground
Cities and agricultural irrigation are over-exploiting groundwater.
Several water crises have unfolded recently. Popular tourist destination
Shimla ran out of water this year. A recent Niti Ayog report says that Delhi and Bangalore could run out of groundwater
by 2020. Not only does this mean that this is a time to evaluate
mismanagement and waste of groundwater, this is also the time to take
stock of new projects or sectors that will guzzle water. For instance,
India is expanding palm oil production — though palm oil trees are a
great groundwater guzzler.
Instead of a blind expansion of projects in the hope that our resources
will last forever, we need a sustainability driven approach. Instead of
palm oil, choose groundnut and sunflower oil. Shimla faced an acute water shortage this summer (Source: India Today)
And India, instead of pretending environmental problems don't exist,
let us plan for an economy that prioritises ecology — we need zonations
without industrial level constructions, we need to understand nature is
the basis for life, we need planning with conservation, not destruction,
at its heart.
It is still hard to describe India in a few words — but plunderer of environment should certainly not be the descriptor. https://www.dailyo.in/variety/independence-day-2018-india-at-71-world-elephant-day-tree-fellings-wildlife-in-india/story/1/26058.html
A Crocodile about to hunt a fish at Asiatic Lion Gir Sanctuary near Veraval, Gujarat.
| Photo Credit: Vijay Soneji
The Arabian Sea Humpback Whale is found along the Maharashtra coast.
Elephants in India are living under a constant threat (Source: Reuters)
The Great Indian Bustard is facing an existential threat (Source: India Today)
Shimla faced an acute water shortage this summer (Source: India Today)