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.
The wanted accused in the Asiatic Lion poaching case of 2007
In a major breakthrough, one of the wanted accused in the Asiatic
Lion poaching case of 2007, Sarfaraz Qureshi, was arrested in Fatehpur,
Allahabad of Uttar Pradesh by a Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) team
on Sunday.
A total of 18 people have been arrested for poaching of eight
Asiatic Lions at three different sites in and around the Gir Wildlife
Sanctuary in 2007. The carcasses of lions were found at different
places, including Babariya Range in the Gir Sanctuary and Bhunduriya
village of Bhavnagar district.
However, three main accused including Sarfaraz had been absconding
for past 10 years. The other two are Shabir Qureshi and Mohammad Ayub
Qureshi.
On Friday while investigating the case, Gujarat ATS officials got
specific information that Sarfaraz was seen in Fatehpur of Allahabad
area where he was staying in a rented house.
Acting on it, a team was immediately sent to the location and the
accused nabbed on Sunday. During interrogation, he revealed that Shabir
was his father and he died in 2012. ATS is on a lookout for the third
absconding accused Mohammad Ayub Qureshi. Officials said Sarfaraz's
interrogation will help them track him down. Further investigation
regarding the case is on.
WILDLIFE WOES
A total of 18 people
have been arrested for poaching of eight Asiatic Lions at three
different sites in and around the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in 2007.
A lioness prepares to leave the boma
Image:
Supplied
A pride of lions has been set free on a
community-owned game reserve in northern Zululand‚ boosting its tourism
potential and helping to ensure living space for a species that has
disappeared from large parts of Africa in recent decades.
There are only about 2‚000 free-roaming adult wild lions left in
South Africa‚ with just 32‚000 remaining in the whole of Africa
following a dramatic 43% population decline over the last 22 years.
Earlier this year a small pride of three lions - one male and two
females - arrived at their new home in the Somkhanda Community Game
Reserve‚ south west of the Jozini/Pongolapoort Dam. They were put into a
temporary holding boma after being relocated from the AndBeyond Phinda
Private Game Reserve‚ near Hluhluwe.
Now the lions have been released from the boma to roam freely in
about 12‚000 hectares of the reserve‚ wildlife managers confirmed this
week.
“Having lions reintroduced to Somkhanda Game Reserve is a huge
achievement for the Gumbi community and the Emvokweni Community Trust‚
who are the owners and custodians of Somkhanda‚” said Dave Gilroy of the
Wildlands Conservation Trust. “Somkhanda is now officially a Big Five
reserve after methodically introducing endangered species to the reserve
over the past 10 years.”
The new lions were doing well and had been seen hunting‚ feeding and mating.
The new king of Somkhanda crosses the boma line into his new territory.
Image:
Supplied
The Gumbi community was evicted from their land in
the late 1960s‚ but when their land claim succeeded just over a decade
ago‚ they opted to preserve the natural landscape and establish a Big
Five game reserve. They have gradually acquired the other four flagship
species – elephant‚ rhino‚ buffalo and leopard – along with endangered
African wild dogs and a much wider variety of more common game species
ranging from giraffe to impala.
Nathi Gumbi‚ a member of the Gumbi community and Wildlands’ manager
for community engagement in northern KZN said: “We are very happy about
the lions coming to Somkhanda. The community feels privileged that the
reserve is now a Big Five 5 reserve. Our dream is a reality. The Gumbi
community are pioneers in their own right and this is evidence that
community engagement can yield positive and inspiring results.”
Somkhanda is also one of the few community-owned game reserves
protecting two critically-endangered species — black rhino and wild
dogs.
Somkhanda rangers Sihle Nathi, Zamani Nkosi,
Zama Ncube, Ntokozo Nxumalo and Moses Gumbi, who are helping to monitor
the lions and other priority species.
Image:
Kelvin Trautman
The Wildlands Trust‚ which has been closely involved
in conservation work in the reserve for several years‚ says Somkhanda is
one of the last big areas in KZN that can potentially create migratory
corridors between neighbouring reserves for large mammals‚ such as
critically endangered black rhino‚ as well as African wild dogs that
range over large distances.
According to the IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species‚ lions disappeared from most of Asia within the last
150 years (with a small population surviving in India’s Gir Forest) and
became extinct in Europe about 2‚000 years ago.
More recently‚
lion populations in Africa have also plummeted and the species is now
confined to about 17% of its former historic range on this continent.
In
South Africa‚ it is estimated that there are about 1‚500 free-roaming
mature lions in large conservation areas and about 500 more in smaller
reserves. Lion breeders also keep about 6‚000 lions in captive breeding
facilities‚ mostly for the hunting and lion bone industry.
AHMEDABAD: Ajay Dubey, a wildlife activists from Madhya Pradesh, has filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court
demanding action against the government of India and the Gujarat
government for not implementing the apex court order of April 2013
directing translocation of lions to Kuno Palpur from Sasan Gir.
The petition was taken up for hearing on Wednesday. "We had mentioned
in the court today, and the court after hearing the counsel has decided
to hold a detailed hearing on the petition in November. The apex court
has thus listed the matter in November," said Varun K Chopra, advocate
appearing for the petitioners in the Supreme Court.
The petitioner has highlighted the wilful non-compliance of the apex
court order of April 15, 2013. The said order directed the respondents
to constitute an expert committee to oversee and ensure re-introduction
of Asiatic lions from Gir forest to Kuno Palpur. The respondents have
not taken any action to implement the directions of the court and have
instead raised technical objections challenging the very rationale of
the directions, the petitioner submitted.
The petitioner submitted that the government of Gujarat through
principal chief conservator of forests (Wildlife) & chief wildlife
warden raised several contentions that were already dealt by the apex
court in its April 2013 order. The petitioner submitted that Gujarat has
contended that for translocation of lions to take place it must first
be proved that Kuno is a suitable habitat in accordance with the IUCN
guidelines. The petitioner submitted that a survey conducted by the
Research Advisory Committee of Wildlife institute of India in 1995, Kuno
Wildlife was found to be the most suitable site for reintroduction in
establishing a free ranging population of Asiatic lions.
The petitioner submitted that Gujarat has in the letter raised a
contention that prey density at Kuno is not adequate. The Supreme Court
in its order has stated that several prey density surveys have been
conducted by various experts, WII and the Government of Madhya Pradesh,
including in 2004-2005, 2008 and 2012 surveys and the density was more
than the existing prey base in Gir.
The government of Gujarat in a letter to the expert committee has
contended that the presence of tigers in the occupied area at Kuno is
one of the major obstacles for the translocation project. However
according to Dr Asad Rehmani of Bombay Natural History Society, sporadic
presence of tigers in Kuno is in no case detrimental to reintroduction
of lions, the petitioner has submitted before the apex court.
BRASÍLIA: The craze for tourists taking
selfies alongside wild animals then posting on Instagram is fueling
cruel treatment of iconic species in the Amazon, activists warn.
The charity World Animal Protection said in a report that Instagram
has seen a 292% increase in wildlife selfies since 2014 around the
world. Of these, more than 40% involved humans "hugging or
inappropriately interacting with a wild animal."
World Animal Protection said in the report released Tuesday that the
animals are captured and often battered to make them perform for tourism
businesses.
"Behind the scenes these animals are often beaten into submission,
taken from their mothers as babies and secretly kept in filthy, cramped
conditions or repeatedly baited with food that can have a long term
negative impact on their biology and behaviour," the group said.
"All too often, to the unsuspecting tourist, the cruelty that makes
these animals submissive and available is entirely invisible."
The practice is rife in the Amazon region, with 61% of the species
involved listed as needing international protection by the worldwide
Convention on the Trade of Endangered Species, or CITES, according to
the charity.
In the Brazilian Amazon city of Manaus, for example, 18 tour
companies said they offered opportunities on 94% of trips to "hold and
touch wild animals as photo props." The most common selfie animal there
is the pink river dolphin, then three-toed sloths, caimans, green
anacondas and squirrel monkeys.
"There is good reason to believe that most sloths being used for
tourist selfies don't survive even six months of this treatment," the
report said.
It listed examples of animals being kept in dire conditions for the
selfie trade, including a manatee held in a small tank in front of a
hotel and a giant anteater "manhandled and beaten" by its owner.
Roberto Cabral, coordinator for enforcement at the Brazilian environmental institute Ibama, told AFP that keeping animals for tourist selfies is illegal.
In comparison to the scale of illegal trafficking of animals, the problem is "minimal," he said.
However, he also pleaded with visitors not to support the trend.
"The irony is that the tourist who usually takes photos with an
animal is the same tourist who likes animals but is now contributing to
that animal's distress," he said. — AFP
Zohar Amar is an associate professor in the Department of Land
of Israel Studies at Bar-Ilan University, with 25 years’ worth of
expertise in natural science, archaeology, and Judaic studies.
He recently collaborated with Koren Publishers in producing a new edition of Chumash: the Koren Israel Humash.
(Koren uses academic standards for transliterating Hebrew words, which
differs from other popular Jewish publishers today. Thus the H with a
dot underneath in “Humash” indicates a “chet.”)
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The all-Hebrew Chumash has a wealth of fascinating
features that make learning Torah fun, relatable, and easy on the eyes.
For example, the pages display Rashi in a clear, modernized print that
at the same time closely resembles the traditional Rashi font and
clarifies it to make it legible even to those who are not familiar with
Rashi script.
I recently spoke with Professor Amar about his contributions to the Chumash. In an effort to make the Chumash “user-friendly” for students, he explained the flora, fauna, and animal life cited in the pasukim, and worked to identify them in everyday life.
The Koren Israel Humash incorporates his knowledge in an illustrated appendix with both quotes from the pasukim and modern-day photos. These additions enhance the weekly Torah reading in shul and introduce children to a new way to learn Chumash.
(Because this edition is designed for educational purposes, the text
and explanations are all in Hebrew. Koren has plans to eventually
produce a Hebrew-English edition, though it is not yet in production).
Amar’s passion for these subjects began early, when as a child he
became interested in exploring topics of the flowers, vegetation, and
animal life in the Bible.
Once he entered Bar-Ilan University, he found a mentor in the late
Professor Yehuda Felix, one of the founders and heads of the Land of
Israel Studies Department, which focuses on the history, archeology,
geology, and development of Eretz Yisrael. Feliz also authored Flora and Fauna in the Mishna, a groundbreaking book considered a classic in the field. Pages from the Koren Israel Humash
With Felix’s guidance, Amar started to learn more and more about the world of biblical botany. In 2015, Amar wrote Flora and Fauna in Maimonides’s Teachings, an exploration of botany in the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah.
The idea was a novel one: to explain the plants and animals the Rambam
described and transform the information from theoretical to practical.
The book is currently used in yeshivot throughout Israel.
Koren Publishers approached Amar about writing the supplements for the Koren Israel Humash.
Using his unique model of animal and plant identification, Amar worked
on explanations for the new project utilizing the traditional mefarshim (commentaries).
He describes his methodology: “There is a certain process of identification. I isolate the actual pasukim and take all of the names of animals from the Tanach, and then I check all the commentators and translations that could shed more light on the animal.”
He wants to ensure that commentators and modern scholars are in
agreement regarding the identification of any given animal. Sometimes,
he explains, the text itself can give “clues”; in other cases he looks
at sources outside the text to compare the descriptions in the Tanach to animals from ancient cultures in Egypt or Mesopotamia.
It’s important for him to find “phylogenetic connections” meaning to
create theories based on similarities and differences in genetic
characteristics. When necessary, he turns to archaeological evidence to
find more information.
This last step can potentially create what might appear to be
contradictions in the biblical narrative. Amar says that a third of the
animals he seeks to describe are unclear, a third are disputed by
scholars, and a third are obvious, based on the text. Some could argue
this is a risky procedure: if the animals are not found, is the holy
text invalidated?
“The Torah is not a book of zoology, it’s a book of religion,” says
Amar. “Usually there are few to no conflicts, and the study [of
archeology] can be very helpful.”
He uses the example of a lion: We now know, from an archaeological perspective, that the lion in Tanach isn’t
the commonly known African lion; it’s actually an Asiatic lion, from
India. Archeology only enhances the perception and understanding of the
animals we find in the text.
Finally, Amar lists his sources and analysis scientifically and clearly. His goal is to make the information easy to comprehend.
“A picture is better than a thousand words,” he paraphrases the old
expression. “It explains the subject and makes it more interesting.”
Asked why he thinks the Tanach gives so much attention to the descriptions of animals and plants, he replies:
“Our ancestors lived in Israel and were a part of nature. We were
farmers, working the land, understanding and relating to the animals
with which we lived. We were also shepherds and nomads, interacting and
listening to our environment. In contrast to city life today, our
ancestors were connected to what was around them.”
Though we can’t experience the same level of familiarity and ease
with the natural world, we can, through Amar’s supplements in the Koren Israel Humash, begin to relate to a world otherwise hidden and unknown.
http://www.jewishpress.com/indepth/discovering-the-flora-and-fauna-in-the-torah-an-interview-with-biblical-botanist-zohar-amar/2017/10/03/
The Arignar Anna Zoological Park (AAZP) in Vandalur and the
Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, have exchanged a few
birds and animals under the Animal Exchange Programme. The animals sent
to the Nandankanan zoo include a pair of Nilgiri langurs, two pairs of
white peacocks, a pair of reticulated pythons and five pairs of painted
storks.
In return, AAZP received five pairs of glossy ibis, two
pairs of open billed storks, one pair of Himalayan bears, one pair of
water monitors and a Siamese crocodile.
Earlier, several
herbivores and carnivores were transferred to various zoological parks
in the country in exchange for other animals and exotic birds. A zoo
official said, “The breeding of rare species of wild animals, such as
shangai (Thamin deer), swamp deer, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur,
Indian gaur, wild dog, Indian tiger and the Asiatic lion, was
successful. Avian species that bred successfully include the pea fowl,
red jungle fowl and the Kaleej pheasant.”
Male tiger dies
A
29-year old male tiger ‘Ruktham’, which was rescued from a circus in
2002, died on Sunday due to age-related ailments. The carnivore was
under the observation of zoo veterinarians, a press release said.
Media captionBBC World Service is now available in 40 languages, including English.
The BBC World Service has begun broadcasting in four new Indian languages.
The
launch is part of the World Service's biggest expansion since the
1940s, following a government funding boost announced in 2016.
BBC World Service is now available in 40 languages, including English.
The new Indian languages - Marathi, Gujarati, Telugu and Punjabi - are among 11 new services launched under the 2020 project.
Here are a few interesting facts about the four regions where these languages are predominantly spoken:
Maharashtra - more than just Mumbai
Language: Marathi, spoken by an estimated 73 million people Located in: Western India Known for: Being India's richest state, Mumbai, Bollywood Famous Maharashtrians: Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, singer Lata Mangeshkar, and Tamil superstar Rajinikanth One random fact:
This isn't the first time the BBC has launched a Marathi service. Back
in 1940, George Orwell oversaw Indian languages, including "Hindustani
and Marathi", as part of the Indian section of the BBC's Eastern
Service. And another: We know this is supposed
to be one random fact per state, but we just had to tell you that Queen
lead singer Freddy Mercury had his first piano lesson in Panchghani,
near Mumbai, where he studied at St Peter's School, a British-style
boarding school for boys.
Gujarat: The land of Gandhi
Language: Gujarati, spoken by 50 million people Located in: Western India Known for: Great vegetarian food, unsurpassed entrepreneurial skills, the dandiya dance Famous Gujaratis: Freedom
icon Mahatma Gandhi, Pakistan's founder Muhammed Ali Jinnah, Indian
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, business tycoons the Ambanis One random fact:
Gujarat is the only place in the world where the Asiatic lion can be
found in the wild. Its Gir forest is home to more than 500 of the
animals.
Punjab: Beyond Bhangra
Language: Punjabi, spoken by 100 million people, the 11th most used language in the world Located in: North-western India Known for: Agriculture, Bhangra, the Golden Temple Famous Punjabis: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Bollywood's first family the Kapoors One random fact:
The state also has a proud military history. Six chiefs of the Indian
air force and seven of the army were from the state. Punita Arora, the
first Indian woman to become a lieutenant general in the army is also a
Punjabi.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: Home of the koh-i-noor
Language: Telugu, spoken by 75 million people Located in: Southern India Known for: Tirupati - the world's richest temple, Hyderabadi Biryani, iconic 16th Century mosque and monument the Charminar Famous Telugus: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, Badminton champion PV Sindhu One random fact:
Telugu was once described as the "Italian of the East" by merchant
Niccolò de' Conti because of its poetic lilt, and because like the
Italian language, most Telugu words end with a vowel sound. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-41360801
The
Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and
Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan briefing the
media on the Global Wildlife Programme Conferences (GWP), in New Delhi
on September 29, 2017.
New Delhi: In an attempt to address illegal wildlife trade
across 19 countries of Asia and Africa, India is hosting the Global
Wildlife Programme (GWP) jointly with World Bank and United Nations
Development Programme. Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan will inaugurate the Global Wildlife Programme
on October 2. Briefing mediapersons on the Global Wildlife Programme
here today, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that India is playing a leadership
role in management of wildlife through involvement of local communities.
Pointing out that no programme can succeed solely because of Government
policies, the Minister said that peoples’ participation at societal
level can ensure its success. “Five crore people living around national
parks and sanctuaries are working as partners in environment
conservation”, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said. The Minister pointed out that a
15-year National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-31), with a special focus on
peoples’ participation will also be launched on October 2. He
emphasised that the Conference will act as a platform for knowledge
exchange and coordination on the action taken on the ground to combat
illegal poaching of wildlife and improve governance on wildlife
conservation. Dr. Harsh Vardhan underlined the fact that the number of
rhinos, tigers and elephants is in fact, increasing.
The Minister said that till now programmes and plans related to
wildlife were focused on and around national parks and sanctuaries.
However, the strategy and programmes will now be based on the landscape
of the region. He added that the impact of such issues as global
warming, climate change and disaster management on the people living
around wildlife areas and on the wildlife will also be discussed.
Coinciding with the ‘Wildlife Week’, the theme of the Conference is –
“Peoples’ participation in wildlife conservation”. The meeting will
bring about strengthened cooperation between India and the 18 GWP
countries in better management of wildlife habitats and minimizing
human-wildlife conflict situations. It will also enable India to
strengthen its enforcement mechanism to control illicit trade.
The GWP will hold discussions on management of wildlife habitat,
securing sustainable community livelihood, enhancing enforcement,
monitoring, cooperation to reduce wildlife crimes such as poaching and
related threats. The Conference will provide an opportunity for India to
showcase its conservation efforts through joint forest management, vana
sanrakshan samitis, eco-development committees in and around Protected
Areas.
The proposed outcomes of New Delhi Conference include: Reiterating
Mahatma Gandhi principles to the world, as the Conference coincides with
Gandhi Jayanti and UN International Day of Non- Violence on October 2,
2017; Take leadership in Wildlife Conservation by showcasing India’s
conservation models for Asiatic lion, single horn rhino, tiger and
Asiatic elephants; Consolidating “people’s participation for wildlife
conservation”; Need to strongly address unaccounted black money
generated through illegal wildlife trade at global market; Sensitise
stakeholders like Governments, corporate, banks, public sectors, media,
youth etc for investments in wildlife conservation and develop
sustainable models for wildlife conservation thorough peoples’
participation in 19 GWP countries.
The meeting will host wildlife experts, leading practitioners across
19 GWP countries, government representatives from India’s forestry and
conservation sectors, leading corporate associated with environmental
and biodiversity conservation, civil society organisations and school
children. The participating nations include – Afghanistan, Botswana,
Cameroon, Ethiopia, Gabon, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Mali,
Mozambique, Philippines, Republic of Congo, South Africa, Tanzania,
Thailand, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In addition, representatives of
World Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) and International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN) will also be present. Earlier, four similar Programmes
had been convened at Gland (Switzerland), Hanoi (Vietnam), Nairobi
(Kenya) and Liberville (Gabon). Led by the World Bank, the Global
Wildlife Programme was initiated in 2015. https://orissadiary.com/union-minister-science-technology-earth-sciences-environment-forest-climate-change-dr-harsh-vardhan-briefing-global-wildlife-programme-conferences-gwp/
This
file photo taken on Dec 10, 2007, shows an Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo
persica) yawning in the shade of a tree near the village of Sasan on the
edge of Gir National Park, some 480km south-west of Ahmedabad. Indian
cricketer Ravindra Jadeja has been fined USD300 for clicking 'selfies'
with endangered Asiatic lions in the country's west, a top forest
official said on Aug 10, 2016. — AFP
