Jackal research and translocation project launched

PUNE: Wildlife SOS in collaboration with U P Forest Department and Archaeological Survey of India are launching a wildlife research project to study and eventually translocate about 30- 35 wild jackals from Akbar's Tomb in Sikandra, Agra to safe natural habitat.

The Jackal Translocation Project is an initiative of the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and Archeological Survey of India in collaboration with Wildlife SOS to protect the resident Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) population in Akbar's tomb while also protecting jackals. Several young fawns of Black bucks are killed frequently by jackals due to unnatural proximity between these two species created by accidental confinement inside Akbar Tomb premises. When the perimeter of the monument was secured, several jackals got accidentally trapped inside the 40 acre premises.

Due to such unnatural confinement the jackals started reproducing and their numbers went up. Since there is no natural predator for the jackals inside the Akbars tomb premises, there was no natural check on the jackal population. As a result the jackals were preying on the young fawn of the black bucks which resulted in stunted reproduction in the black bucks. According to the survey results, this project would help save almost 100 blackbucks.

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BSF seizes 185 rare Asian Black Spotted turtles from India-Bangladesh border

KOLKATA:The Border Security Force (BSF) seized 185 rare Asian Black Spotted turtles close to the Indo-Bangla border late on Thursday. The turtles were being smuggled into Bangladesh near the Kalanchi Border Outpost in the Gaighata police station area of North 24-Parganas. The turtles are valued at nearly Rs 1.11 crore in the international market. The turtles were handed over to forest department officials.

"On Thursday evening, information was received that a consignment of turtles were to be smuggled across the border. Troops of the 152Bn launched a special operation to trap the smugglers. They soon spotted two persons walking towards the unfenced international border with two large cloth bags. When they were challenged, the men fled across the border, taking advantage of the darkness and dense fog. They dropped the bags though. On searching the bags, 185 turtles were found," a senior BSF officer said.

The BSF informed both the customs office at Bongaon and the forest department. After inspection, the turtles were handed over to the forest department by customs officials. The forest officials identified the species as rare Asian Black Spotted Turtles. This is an Indian species that is in great demand in the international market. It is a medium-sized freshwater turtle from South Asia. Though it is known as an 'Asian' turtle, the colour varies from country to country. The rigid upper shell of 'carapace' ranges from reddish to dark brown and black and often has three yellowish ridges running along its length.

The underside or 'plastron' is a uniform brown with a light trim around the edge. The head of the Indian black turtle may have orange or yellow spots. The intensity of these spots varies between the six sub-species. The Asian Black Spotted Turtles are also known as the Bengal Black Turtle, Black Pond Turtle, Burmese Black Turtle, Chochin Black Turtle, Parker's Black Turtle and Sri Lanka Black Turtle.
"In some places, these turtles are hunted for their meat. Elsewhere, they are exploited for the pet trade. These threats are more severe in countries like Bangladesh and Myanmar. In these countries, the animal is highly endangered. The species is also threatened in western Thailand where the major threats are hunting and loss of habitat. In certain South East Asian markets, these turtles fetch a price of US$ 2,000 apiece. This is the biggest seizure or rare Asian Black Spotted turtles in recent times," a forest department official said.

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Ramsar site that even migratory birds shun

KAPURTHALA: Not only has least diversity in bird species been observed at Kanjhli - the smallest Ramsar site of Punjab - but the wetland has been found to be in a bad shape during the recent Asian Water-bird Census (AWC). Only one migratory bird species - Eurasian coot (six birds) - and seven resident species were spotted during the census conducted on January 20 by a team led by AWC Delhi state coordinator T K Roy and supported by divisional forest officer, wildlife division, Kapurthala.

There were no species of IUCN red-listed threatened birds amid total population 164 with the largest count of the resident species Common moorhen at 140. In the previous years, migration of Bar-headed goose, Great crested grebe and Northern shoveler to the wetland was also recorded.

Kanjhli was declared a Ramsar site in 2002 according to the Ramsar Convention - a convention on wetlands of international importance - and is the smallest (183 hectares) in Punjab among three such spots in the state.

Kanjhli having good wetland habitat for water bird species diversity used to attract winter migratory water birds from far central Asia, north Asia and parts of Siberia in large number. "However, now the habitat is declining due to no protection, conservation, management and several other local threats," said Roy, adding the site was also not under the wildlife department for protection and management.

"Due to global climate change and its impact, migration trends of the birds are also changing. There is late migration, arrival of lesser species and lower numbers of migratory water birds in comparison to earlier years all over the country. However, in Kanjhli it's exceptional least bird species diversity and population to meet the Ramsar criterion," he added.

The census survey also recorded the observations that the riverine wetland was chocked by overgrowth of aquatic weed water hyacinth and was resulting into non-functioning aquatic ecosystem adversely impacting flora and fauna. "Open human thoroughfare, fishing and water pollution were the other factors in the degradation of the wetland site," Roy said.

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SMC approves setting solar panels to produce 540 KW of solar power

SURAT: Standing committee of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) approved tenders of setting up solar panals on 12 different locations to produce 540 kilo watt of electricity at the cost of Rs 4.58 crore.

Nirav Shah, chairman standing committee said that SMC has decided to develop unconventional sources of energy for producing electricity to maintain environment. After setting up three wind power stations, SMC has started concentrating on setting up solar panels to produce solar energy.

The contractor Vari Energies Private limited will not only set up solar panels at 12 places will also operate and maintain these panels for a period of ten years.

Once these panels are installed, the total capacity of SMC for generation of solar power would be 1390 kw. SMC gets Rs 11.36 per unit for each unit of electricity that it produces.

SMC has set a target to be self-sufficient produce the energy it requires through non-conventional means by the year 2020 and 35 per cent of it is already achieved by it in form of solar, wind and waste to power plants.

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India's 1st fenced elephant sanctuary comes up near Bengaluru

NEW DELHI: The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) - an international animal rights and conservation group - and the Bannerghatta Biological Park, Karnataka have joined hands to create India's first elephant sanctuary in a fenced, forested space that allows elephants to move around freely within the secure area.

This 49.5 hectare sanctuary within the Biological park -- which is an extension of the Bannerghatta National Park -- near Bengaluru will allow the herd to roam and bathe in ponds freely without being restricted by chains or without any human interference.

"The Bannerghatta Biological Park is being modified which will allow elephants to live naturally. The sanctuary is home to 15-year-old Sunder, who was liberated by the Supreme Court in 2014 from a harsh life at the Jyotiba temple in Maharashtra. It now houses 15 elephants", said Manilal Valliyate of the PETA India.

Designed by the PETA consultant and elephant expert Carol Buckley, a solar electric fence and a state-of-the-art emergency corral made of steel pipes are under construction at the site.

Elephant expert Margaret Whittaker - who designed the elephant and mahout training facilities and safety measures - will train local caregivers in the principles of "protected contact", a method of ensuring safe interaction between human beings and elephants by keeping them separated by a sturdy barrier and using positive reinforcement techniques instead of the age-old routine of physical punishment to manage the elephants.

"With the freedom to engage in natural behaviour within a large, open space to call their own, Sunder and his new family have the opportunity to thrive", said PETA CEO Poorva Joshipura.

Joshipura further said, "While most captive elephants remain in dire straits, PETA was able to make the dream of freedom a reality for 15 elephants, thanks to Bannerghatta Biological Park's help. We hope the sanctuary will act as a model for elephant sanctuaries throughout Asia."

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Most of Hawaii's coral recover from mass bleaching

HONOLULU: Coral rely on algae for food and their survival.

So when the stress of higher-than-average ocean temperatures prompted many of Hawaii's corals to expel algae last year — a phenomenon called bleaching because coral lose their color when they do this — many were worried they might die.

Now the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources says most of the bleached corals have recovered. It plans to announce the result of its coral surveys on Thursday.

Even so, scientists say the experience weakened the coral, making them more likely to get sick. It's also going to be harder for them to withstand warmer waters in the future.

The incident is a blow to the state's fragile reefs, which are already under pressure from runoff from development, overfishing and recreational use of the ocean.

Coral reefs are a critical part of the ecosystem, and their health is vital to the ocean environment. Coral cover just one-tenth of the ocean floor but are home to 25 percent of known marine species. Some fish eat coral, others hide from predators in them. Some species use coral as nursery grounds. Some types of shark will frequent coral reefs.

Mark Eakin, the coordinator the Coral Reef Watch program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said coral bleaching demonstrates that "climate change isn't something of the distant future."

Kaneohe Bay on Oahu's east side suffered the most serious bleaching in the state, which is home to 15 percent of all coral under US jurisdiction. Seventy-five percent of the dominant coral species there lost some color or turned completely white.

Subsequent studies after waters cooled showed 12 percent of the bay's bleached coral died, said Anne Rosinski, a marine resource specialist with the state Division of Aquatic Resources.

The remainder regained some color and have been recovering. The coral were weakened to begin with after being covered by runoff from flooding. Then after the bleaching, a boat propeller destroyed some of the coral, she said.

Most bleached corals off Maui and Kauai have also recovered.

The state is trying to do what it can to eliminate other stresses on the coral so they'll be in better shape to survive warmer temperatures, Rosinski said.

"I just worry how much the corals can take," she said.

There's even bleaker news expected from an isolated atoll about 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) northwest of Honolulu.

Lisianski Island, which is part of a national marine preserve, suffered months of warmer-than-normal waters over the summer. Researchers visiting in the fall observed some bleaching, but the area is so remote scientists haven't been able to return to check on them since even though temperatures were high there for weeks afterward.

"We're expecting when they go back there's going to be a lot of dead coral," Eakin said.

Eakin recalled diving on a reef in Thailand after most of the coral there died after a 2010 mass bleaching event. He said the fish were hanging out in the water not knowing what to do.

"Severe bleaching events are like a blight that goes through and kills all the trees in the forest," he said.

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Germany commits 3 million Euro for Ganga cleaning

NEW DELHI: Germany will provide 3 million Euro to support India's ongoing Ganga rejuvenation plan and explore various options to develop the country's national river.

One of the options is to explore an option of extending co-operation for Ganga rejuvenation on the lines of Indo-German Energy Forum - a dedicated platform to support India's energy needs through various measures including government-private partnership.

The matter of financial support and other options for partnership were discussed during a bilateral meeting of the German minister of environment, nature conservation and nuclear safety Barbara Hendricks with India's water resources and river development minister Uma Bharti here on Wednesday.

It was discussed that the co-operation on Ganga on the lines of the Indo-German Energy forum may include river basin planning, institutional setting and researches.

The overall co-operation under such proposed dedicated forum may also include technical supports like river rejuvenation strategies, hot-spot definition, prioritization, basin-wise monitoring & evaluation and setting of Ganga Knowledge Centre.

"There could also be financial co-operation on selected issues such as innovative financing models for industrial and urban pollution, assistance to manage funds and selected public and or private investment funds", said Bharti after the meeting.

The water resources ministry, in its official statement, said the German delegation was willing to assists in Ganga rejuvenation in view of their success in the rejuvenation of Rhine and Denube rivers which involves multi-country and multi-state collaboration.

"The challenges of managing pollution due to sewage and the industrial effluents had been handled in these efforts which are also critical in the Ganga clean-up programme", said the ministry.

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UNESCO releases global action programme on ‘education in sustainable development’

NAGOYA: As the world struggles to meet ambitious goals to slow down climate change, it has become imperative that planning and execution is not restricted to only policy but is practiced by every individual at community level. To that end, UNESCO recently released its global action programme on 'education in sustainable development' at Nagoya in Japan where world leaders collected to mark the end of the first decade of ESD.

Irinia Bokova, director general of UNESCO said: "This is a relatively new concept and this is for the first time that ESD has been included in global education. Already, some good examples have been set at the global level. Green societies are not only with respect to governments but are also the responsibility of the private sector, academia, universities and civil society."

ESD is a concept through which education looks systematically at dispersing information regarding sustainable living to students and communities, involving change in curricula. The project in India is being handled largely by non-government organisations and there is a growing demand that the government take it up more seriously.

In fact, at the event in Nagoya, which was attended by participants from 148 countries and close to 70 ministerial level officials including those from Nepal and Bangladesh, India chose to send a junior level official. Nobody from the HRD ministry was present, inviting criticism from the Indian contingent. "There are already very few players in civil society and the government has been inactive. To make this a success, a more concerted push is needed from the government," said a participant.

The global action plan on ESD known as the Aichi-Nagoya declaration, launched in November last year and ratified by the 149 countries, including India, says that the countries "commit ourselves to building and maintaining the momentum of the launching of the GAP, in its five priority action areas for ESD, namely policy support, whole institution approaches, educators, youth and local communities, through inclusive quality education and lifelong learning via formal, non-formal and informal settings."

Kartikeya Sarabhai, director of the Centre for Environment Education headquartered in Ahmedabad, says that ESD is essential in the Indian context, especially with a focus on the new government's planning of smart cities. "Will a city that has come up on the back of a compromise on environment be smart? In order to develop environment consciousness, there is need for an organization which will set pace with partners to ensure development without compromising on environment. Challenge of development is not how to get there but how not to. Education is a tool for achieving goals of sustainable development, important as much for decision makers as much as for children," he said.

Mita Goswami, director of the environment education department at WWF, says that her organization has been active in four states where it has been building capacity, training directors and equipping students to become responsible citizens at a sustainable level. "We have been helping government schools to transform into ESD schools by applying a whole school approach. First teachers and principals are trained, then plans are drawn up to make schools ESD compliant. Finally, with community work, schools become centres for influence," she said.

(The correspondent attended the conference on ESD at Nagoya, Japan at the invitation of UNESCO)

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Ocean warming melting one of largest Antarctica glaciers

SYDNEY: One of the largest glaciers on the planet, Totten, is melting due to ocean warming, a phenomenon that demonstrates the vulnerability of East Antarctica and its role in increasing the level of the oceans.

The Totten glacier, 120 km long and 30 km wide, is one of the largest glaciers on the planet and also one of the least understood glacier systems, Steven Rintoul, head of a scientific expedition that is measuring the waters below the ice cap, told Efe news agency.

The Australian scientist clarified that these are the first measurements of temperatures of the waters that surround Totten, located about 3,200 km south of the Australian island of Tasmania, and it therefore would be premature to imagine a link with climate change.

Rintoul said that "East Antarctica is potentially more vulnerable to changes in the ocean driven by climate change than we used to think", and can contribute to the rise in the level of oceans in a manner still unknown.

Satellite images had already proved that Totten was melting, but the study led by Rintoul demonstrated the hypothesis that warm waters are melting it from its foundations.

"We used to think the glaciers in East Antarctica were unlikely to be affected by the ocean because they were a long way away from the warm ocean waters," said Rintoul, referring to the expedition that was able to reach the front of the glacier for the first time to measure submarine waters.

Totten, moreover, sits on a bedrock well below the sea level, exposing it more to the warm waters, in a similar process that occurs in Antarctic areas south of South America and which cannot be reversed.

The temperatures of the water off the Totten at the time of the measurements was about four degrees below zero, but the temperature much closer to the water base was three degrees warmer than the freezing point, which depends on the depth of the ocean, said the scientist.

Rintoul, leader of the Australian Antarctic Division expedition, clarified that the Totten will not melt away completely.

With the samples in the laboratories, new studies and projects to develop new measurement techniques, Rintoul hopes to determine in the future how much glacial water is present in the seas and find the "chemical signature" of Totten.

The expert is also trying to find out how long the Antarctic waters can contribute to "draining" carbon dioxide (CO2) out of the atmosphere.

According to Rintoul, the Antarctic seas as absorbers of CO2 is definitely helpful, but it comes at a cost, which is the acidification of the oceans.

Changes in the chemistry of the oceans have implications on marine life, among other ecosystem components. added the expert.

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Obama wants India to embrace cleaner fuels

NEW DELHI: Offering help in the adaptation of climate change, American President Barack Obama on Tuesday said unless countries like India embrace cleaner fuel world does not stand a chance against climate change.

"I know the argument made by some that it is unfair on part of countries like the United States to ask developing countries and emerging economies like India to reduce your dependence on same fossil fuel that powered our growth for more than a century," he said in his Town Hall address here.

Obama said being global partners means confronting global challenge of climate change even as he cautioned that with rising seas, melting Himalayan glaciers, more unpredictable monsoons, cyclones getting stronger, few countries will be more affected by a warmer planet than India.

The American President said that the US recognizes its part in creating the problem so it is leading the efforts to combat it and said America's carbon pollution is at its lowest levels in last two decades.

"But here is the truth even if countries like the United States curb our emissions, if countries that are growing rapidly like India with soaring energy needs don't also embrace cleaner fuels, then we don't stand a chance against climate change," the President said.

He said he welcomes India's "ambitious targets" for generating more clean energy.

"We will continue to help you deal with impacts of climate change because you shouldn't have to bear that burden alone. As we keep working for a strong global agreement on climate change its young people like you who have to speak up so we can protect this planet for your generations," he said.

In his 30-minute speech to a select audience at the Siri Fort auditorium, Obama said he would be gone when worst affects us and it will be present generation and their children who will be impacted.

"That's why it's urgent that we begin this work right now," he said.

The US President said with the breakthrough achieved during this visit, the two countries can finally move to fully implementing the civil nuclear agreement which would mean more reliable electricity for Indians and cleaner energy that helps fight climate change.

He said as more energy is delivered, countries should tap in more cleaner renewable energy like solar and wind.

"Lets put cleaner vehicles on the road and more filtration system in farms and villages. Because every child should be able to drink clean water and every child should be able to breathe clean air ... and we can do it, we have the technologies to do it," he said.

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Sea sparkle: Why the magnificent blue glow of Hong Kong seas is as dangerous as it is gorgeous

Eerie fluorescent blue patches of water glimmering off Hong Kong's seashore are magnificent, disturbing and potentially toxic, marine biologists say.

The glow is an indicator of a harmful algal bloom created by something called Noctiluca scintillans, nicknamed Sea Sparkle.

It looks like algae and can act like algae. But it's not quite.

It is a single-celled organism that technically can function as both animal and plant.

These type blooms are triggered by farm pollution that can be devastating to marine life and local fisheries, according to University of Georgia oceanographer Samantha Joye, who was shown Associated Press photos of the glowing water.

"Those pictures are magnificent. It's just extremely unfortunate that the mysterious and majestic blue hue is created by a Noctiluca,'' Joye wrote in an email Thursday.

This is part of a problem that is growing worldwide, said Joye and other scientists.

Noctiluca is a type of single-cell life that eats plankton and is eaten by other species. The plankton and Noctiluca become more abundant when nitrogen and phosphorous from farm run-off increase.

Unlike similar organisms, Noctiluca doesn't directly produce chemicals that can attack the nervous system or parts of the body.

But recent studies show it is much more complicated and links them to blooms that have been harmful to marine life. Noctiluca's role as both prey and predator can eventually magnify the accumulation of algae toxins in the food chain, according to oceanographer R Eugene Turner at Louisiana State University.

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NGT asks West Bengal government to demolish illegal structures in Sunderbans

KOLKATA: The National Green Tribunal has directed the West Bengal government to demolish illegal constructions coming up in the Sunderbans, habitat of the Royal Bengal tigers and the world's largest mangrove forest.

The tribunal's East Zone bench directed the state to demolish such structures, even if any of these were allowed by statutory bodies, and submit a report to it after six weeks.

It took up suo motu proceedings based on reports of degradation of the tiger and several other flora and fauna habitat, which was also very important for maintaining ecological balance in the region.

Though tiger population in the Sunderbans has been found to be stable in the latest census report released on Wednesday, the tribunal incidentally on the same day came down heavily on the degradation of the forest due to human encroachment in different forms.

The tribunal's East Zone bench directed the state Chief Secretary to demolish all unauthorised structures, encroachments on rivers and river banks and illegally constructed embankments and dykes.

The East Zone bench, comprising Justice (retd) Pratap Roy and Professor P C Mishra, also directed that tiger prawn farming and illegal pisciculture in the mangrove, crisscrossed by a large number of rivers and canals, has to be stopped.

The bench, which had appointed environment activist Subhas Datta as amicus curae, noted from his report that several illegal brick kilns have come up within the reserve and directed that these have to go immediately.

It also directed the Chief Secretary to constitute a committee to monitor such activities in the Sunderbans and to ensure stoppage of all illegal activities there, which could cause environmental degradation.

The committee would submit a progress report after six weeks and thereafter once every month.

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Endangered chimpanzee can disappear in our lifetime

NEW YORK: Climate change has threatened the population of the planet's most endangered chimpanzee sub-species, researchers report.

The Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee is the most endangered of all chimpanzee sub-species in the world, with only about 6,000 individuals estimated in the wild.

The Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee is perhaps the least studied of all chimpanzee sub-species.

"We were surprised to see that the Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees living in the savannah-woodland habitat of central Cameroon are under the most immediate threat of climate change, and may completely lose their habitat within our lifetime," said first author Paul Sesink Clee, graduate research fellow at Drexel University in the US.

The team predicted the mountainous rainforest habitat could disappear almost entirely under the worst case scenario by 2080.

With roughly half of the 6,000 Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees existing in the ecotone habitat of central Cameroon, the results suggest that this sub-species of chimpanzee is particularly vulnerable to climate change.

The research was published in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology.

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6 tiger reserves worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore, says valuation study

NEW DELHI: In a first of its kind exercise, India has conducted economic valuation of six of its tiger reserves and placed their value at Rs 1,49,900 crore. The study has also noted that these six reserves have been generating annual monetary benefits worth Rs 7,970 crore.

The six tiger reserves which were surveyed for this study are Corbett, Kanha, Kaziranga, Periyar, Ranthambore and Sundarbans.

India has 47 tiger reserves covering over 2% of the area and approximately 10% of the recorded forest area. Latest tiger census, released on Tuesday, shows that India - which is home to 70% of world's tiger population - has a total of 2,226 tigers.

READ ALSO: 2,226 now — Tiger numbers grow by 30% in 4 years

Can forests sustain India's Big Cat boom?

The valuation study, executed by Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal, at the behest of the environment ministry's National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), provides quantitative and qualitative estimates of benefits accruing from tiger reserves which include economic, social and cultural services.

"The study findings indicate that the monetary value of flow benefits emanating from selected tiger reserves range from Rs 830 crore to Rs 1,760 crore annually. In terms of unit area, this translates into Rs 50,000 to Rs 190,000 per hectare per year," said the summary of the report released simultaneously with the tiger census by the Union environment and forests minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday.

The report shows that Periyar tiger reserve has the highest annual flow benefits (Rs 1,760 crore), followed by Kanha (Rs 1,650 crore) and Corbett (Rs 1,470 crore).

The study is expected to assist policy makers in appreciating the economics of tiger conservation and may be considered by them while taking a call on any project in future.

"The study, which is a first of its kind not only in the country but across the world, is a commendable attempt to provide an assessment of economic benefits from tiger reserves across a range of tiger landscape in India," said Javadekar.

The experts while calculating the economic value of these six tiger reserves took into account the monetary estimates of a range of "ecosystem services" including water provisioning, gene-pool protection, carbon storage and sequestration among others tangible and intangible benefits. Potential of employment generation and tourism had also been factored in while conducting the valuation exercise.

The findings may provide justification for enhanced investment in such areas which are critical to ensure flow of vital life-supporting ecological, economic, social and cultural services from these genetic repositories.

"The findings will assist the policy makers appreciating the economics of tiger conservation in India and help in developing and further strengthening policy frameworks for conservation of natural eco-systems", said the 284-page report titled 'Economic Valuation of Tiger Reserves in India: A Value plus Approach'.

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Leopard cub found dead in Amreli

RAJKOT: A six-month-old male leopard cub was found dead on a road near Umariya village in Amreli district on Monday morning.

The animal's body was sent to Jasadhar animal care center for postmortem by the forest department officials from Tulsishyam forest range.

Sources said that the cub could have been run over by a vehicle on Sunday night. At least five wild animals including lions have died in road accidents in Saurashtra region in the last one year.

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Widest ever lion census in May 2015

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat's lion census will cover all of Saurashtra, barring Surendranagar, will be carried out over five days beginning on May 2. The last census was conducted in April 2010 and revealed that the lion population had increased by from 359 (in 2005) to 411 in 2010.

The census is conducted every five years. Officials said all eyes are on the census as this year the department will be covering an area covering Bhavnagar-Jamnagar-Porbandar, Rajkot to a wide coastal region. This is the first census that will cover over 25,000 sq km, all across Saurashtra. Officials said that the 2010 census was conducted across 10,000 sq km and had put the population at 359. In 2000, only 5,000 sq km was covered and that put the population at 300.

Officials said that a stray lion was recently captured in Jamnagar and as a result of this, the forest department will carry out the census in pockets of Jamnagar that are adjacent to Junagadh and Porbandar districts. The department will also conduct a count in Barda, where they feel lions could have strayed.

Officials said that with the carving out of new districts, administration of not just Amreli, Porbandar, Junagadh, Bhavnagar and Rajkot will be involved, but new districts of Gir-Somnath, Botad will also be involved. Officials said that apart from the 1,800 sq km sanctuary area, which includes Gir Sanctuary, Gir National Park, Paniya, Mityalaya and Girnar sanctuaries, some 23,200 sq km outside the sanctuary will be covered.

Officials said the census will be conducted using the direct sighting method and pug marks. The officials said the live bait census method has been banned. Officials said also said that the census will be taken up over two rounds, with an initial count and then a final count over three days. Officials said that the department will also use Global Positioning system and photography. The department has also decided that the focus, while taking photographs, has to be on specific marks, said the official.

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Winged visitors throng Bhitarkanika national park of Odisha

KENDRAPARA: With 66 per cent rise in the number of winter migratory birds, Bhitarkanika national park has re-established its status as one of the prominent avian habitats in Odisha.

As per the latest census report released by the forest department, 1,13,226 feathered species from trans-Himalayan region flew to Bhitarkanika wetland sites in Kendrapara district for their winter sojourn this year.

The census findings have found a substantial 66 per cent rise in the number of winged guests than the preceding year. While 68,514 winter migrant birds had made their way to the national park in 2013, the latest census put the number of winged guests at 1,13,226, official data said.

The enumerators spotted two rare groups of birds of central Asian origin from wetland spots of the park. The rare group of avian species sighted are greater scaup and ferragon pochard. These species were sighted for the first time in Bhitarkanika, said divisional forest officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) forest division, Kedar Kumar Swain.

These winged species come under rare and threatened category. Unable to cope with extreme cold in their original habitat, the feathered species preferred these congenial wetland spots, he said.

The annual winter sojourn of birds in large numbers has re-established the marshy wetlands of Bhitarkanika as one of Odisha's prominent bird habitats, he said.

Harsh cold and snow fall in trans-Himalayan region has resulted in exodus of large number of migrant species to Bhitarkanika. This apart, lack of human interference, congenial environs and rich food reserve here proved ideal for the avian visitors. The enumerators also found that these species were fatigued after their long flight, said the official.

There is ample food security for the birds as the place criss-crossed by innumerable water inlets and nullahs. Lack of human interference, ideal climatic condition, cool breeze and the river system here all have emerged to the liking of these delicate chirpy winged species. This in itself is a positive sign and thus further research on the behavioural pattern of these threatened species is being taken up, Swain said.

Enumerators have also spotted hordes of Back-headed Godwit, Greater Crested Tern, common Shell duck and blue tailed Godwits, which come under rare and threatened category. The prominent species who have also made Bhitarkanika their winter home are Brahmin Duck, Bar-headed Geesse, Godwin, Pintail, painted stork, seagauls, commonteal and tawny eagle.

Other prominent winged visitors to Bhitarkanika this time are Indian Skimmers, Grey Pelicans and White-backed Vultures, Lesser Adjutant, Greater spotted Eagles. All of these species are conferred endangered status under International Union for Conservation for Nature (IUCN)'s Red Book Data containing the list of highly threatened animals worldwide, Swain added.

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Thamirabarani water bird census to begin on January 2

TIRUNELVELI: The fifth edition of the Thamirabarani water bird census will be held between January 24 and 26. The census will count the number of migratory birds in the Thamirabarani river basin, falling in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts of Tamil Nadu.

The Tamiraparani wetlands support over 90 species of birds. There are several bird habitats like Koonthankulam, Thirupudaimaruthur and Vagaikulam in Tirunelveli district. Tanks in Srivaikundam region of Tuticorin district also attract a large number of birds.

Over 67,000 birds were counted in last year's census in 53 irrigation tanks.

These birds play a very important role in maintaining the ecosystem, and humans receive enormous benefits from them, says M Mathivanan of the Manimutharu-based Agasthyamalai Community-based Conservation Centre (ACCC).

The ACCC, which is part of the Bengaluru-based Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), is joining hands with Tamil Nadu forest department, Pearl City Nature Society, and Nellai Nature Club (NNC) to conduct the census this year.

People who are interested in joining the programme can contact the centre at 9488063750 or send an email to awc_accc@atree.org before January 21.

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1,200 trees around Taj to be translocated

LUCKNOW: The expansion of roads the around Taj will not cost green trees their life. The trees along the stretch will not be felled but 'safely' translocated to another site to grow.

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has paid state government Rs 1.2 crore to 'translocate' some 1,200 trees, still young and green, from NH-2 in Agra to an alternative site a few kilometers away from the place of construction.

The UP government has outsourced the `translocation' work to a private agency which will dig out trees, transport them to the new site and re-plant. NH-2 has to undergo expansion at Agra and Mathura.

Supreme Court had suggested UP government to translocate trees along the highway than getting them chopped. Forest department officers identified at least 1,200 trees fit for translocation but what delayed the work was lack of technology.

After floating the tender thrice, UP Forest Corporation has now outsourced the work to a private agency which will also take care of re-planted trees till they regenerate. "We have got the money to do work in Agra and will soon start the work," said managing director, UP Forest Corporation, Iqbal Singh. Separate agencies will carry out the work in Agra and Mathura.

Translocation is a fairly new technique and it is for the first time that trees will be `translocated' in UP. It is done using a specially designed machine (at present only Gujarat has it) which costs not less than Rs 2 to Rs 3 crore. Sources in the government said that to invest such a huge amount to translocate 1,000-odd trees is not viable. Work, therefore, has been outsourced.

Instead of cutting down age-old trees for development activities, translocating young trees to an alternative site, made ready for plantation in advance, can save lot of trees which still have years of life left. By translocating a full-grown tree to another site, environmental value is preserved because oxygen generated by a little sapling is no way comparable to the quantity generated by a quintal of foliage of a full grown tree.

Besides, in a state like UP where pressure of population on roads and traffic flow is increasing, road widening is a frequent activity. Since permission to cut down trees for development activities cannot be denied, translocation is a way out.

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White tigress mates with Royal Bengal tiger, delivers cubs

INDORE: A white tigress has given birth to cubs at Kamla Nehru Zoo here after successful breeding with a Royal Bengal tiger shifted here from Bhopal's Van Vihar National Park last year.

The exact number of cubs born is, however, not yet known as the big cat is not letting anybody come near its enclosure.

"After the union of the five-year-old yellow tiger B-1 with the four-year-old white tigress, Deepa, few cubs were born on January 15 night," Zoo Incharge, Dr Uttam Yadav said.

He said the colour of cubs and other details will be known later.

"This is the second experiment of its kind in the state wherein cubs are born after the union of Royal Bengal tiger with white tigress. We are happy with the success of the breeding programme," he said.

In a similar experiment, four yellow cubs were born on September 5 last year after mating of the B-1 tiger with another four-year-old white tigress, Shivani.

"However, three among them died due to the lack of care while the one who survived is now four-and-a-half months old now," Yadav said.

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Tongan volcano creates new island: Officials

TONGA: A Tongan volcano has created a substantial new island since it began erupting last month, spewing out huge volumes of rock and dense ash that has killed nearby vegetation, officials said Friday.

The volcano, about 65 kilometres (40 miles) southwest of the South Pacific nation's capital Nuku'alofa, rumbled to life on December 20 for the first time in five years, the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry said.

It said the volcano was erupting from two vents, one on the uninhabited island of Hunga Ha'apai and the other underwater about 100 metres offshore.

The ministry said experts took a boat trip to view the eruption on Thursday and confirmed it had transformed the local landscape.

"The new island is more than one kilometre wide, two kilometres long and about 100 metres high," it said in a statement.

"During our observations the volcano was erupting about every five minutes to a height of about 400 metres, accompanied by some large rocks... as the ash is very wet, most is being deposited close to the vent, building up the new island."

It said ash and acidic rain was deluging an area 10 kilometres around the volcano, adding: "Leaves on trees on Hunga Tonga and Hunga Ha'apai have died, probably caused by volcanic ash and gases."

A number of international flights were cancelled earlier this week amid concerns about the volcano's ash plume but they resumed on Wednesday, with authorities saying debris from the eruption was not being thrown high into the atmosphere.

Tonga, which is almost 2,000 kilometres northeast of New Zealand, lies on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire", where continental plates collide causing frequent volcanic and seismic activity.

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1,509 birds rescued and 105 dead during uttarayan festival

AHMEDABAD: At least 1,509 birds were rescued and of these 105 died during the two days of Uttarayan festival across the state. In Ahmedabad alone, till 8pm on Thursday, the forest department received 927 rescue calls and 38 of inured birds rescued died later.

Most of the injured birds were pigeons, kites, owls and vultures. A couple of pelicans and peacocks were also injured.

However, there was a substantial drop in the number of birds injured this year, mainly because of the foggy atmosphere on Wednesday early morning. "Since early morning, there was dense fog which kept kite flyers away from the terrace. The flying began only after 10am which resulted in bringing down the number of casualties. Also, the awareness among kite flyers is growing,'' says R K Patel, assistant conservator of forest.

In Ahmedabad, 927 birds were injured this year, while in 2014 there were 1,007 birds injured and in 2013 about 2,700 birds were injured.

According Patel, around 2,000 volunteers were involved in rescue operation. Officials said that on Wednesday, 229 birds were rescued and on Thursday till 8pm, 698 birds were rescued.

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Sea level rise getting faster, finds new study

NEW DELHI: Global sea levels are rising significantly faster than earlier thought, according to a new Harvard study.

The study, co-authored by Carling Hay and Eric Morrow, of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS), shows that previous estimates of global sea-level rise from 1900-1990 had been over-estimated by as much as 30 percent. The report, however, confirms previous estimates of sea-level change since 1990. The net result is that the rate of sea-level change is now found to be increasing more quickly than previously believed. The new work is described in a January 14 paper published in Nature.

"Scientists now believe that most of the world's ice sheets and mountain glaciers are melting in response to rising temperatures." Hay said. "Melting ice sheets cause global mean sea level to rise. Understanding this contribution is critical in a warming world."

Previous estimates had placed sea-level rise at between 1.5 and 1.8 millimeters annually over the 20th century. Hay and Morrow, however, suggest that from 1901 until 1990, the figure was closer to 1.2 millimeters per year. But everyone agrees that global sea level has risen by about 3 millimeters annually since that time, and so the new study points to a larger acceleration in global sea level.

To obtain their improved estimate of 20th century global sea level, Hay and Morrow approached the challenge of estimating sea-level rise from a completely new perspective.

Typically, Hay said, estimates of sea-level rise are created by dividing the world's oceans into sub-regions, and gathering records from tide gauges - essentially yard-sticks used to measure ocean tides - from each area. Using records that contain the most complete data, researchers average them together to create estimates of sea level for each region, then average those rates together to create a global estimate.

"But these simple averages aren't representative of a true global mean value" Hay explained. "Tide gauges are located along coasts, therefore large areas of the ocean aren't being included in these estimates. And the records that do exist commonly have large gaps."

"We know the sea level is changing for a variety of reasons," Hay said. "There are ongoing effects due to the last ice age, heating and expansion of the ocean due to global warming, changes in ocean circulation, and present-day melting of land-ice, all of which result in unique patterns of sea-level change. These processes combine to produce the observed global mean sea-level rise."

"We are looking at all the available sea-level records and trying to say that Greenland has been melting at this rate, the Arctic at this rate, the Antarctic at this rate, etc." she continued. "We then sum these contributions and add in the rate that the oceans are changing due to thermal expansion to estimate a rate of global mean sea-level change."

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Pollution soars in Beijing amid winter smog

BEIJING: Pollution levels soared in Beijing on Thursday to readings more than 20 times WHO recommended limits, as an annual bout of intense smog returned to haunt the Chinese capital despite government vows to address the plague.

Levels of PM2.5 particulates, the smallest and most dangerous, with a diameter small enough to deeply penetrate the lungs, were recorded at 568 micrograms per cubic metre by the US embassy during the afternoon.

An even worse reading of 631 was recorded at a municipal monitoring station in the east of the city.

The World Health Organization's recommended maximum is 25 micrograms per cubic metre.

China has for years been hit by heavy air pollution, caused by enormous use of coal to generate electricity to power a booming economy, the world's second largest, and more vehicles on the roads.

Beijing is periodically hit by choking, acrid haze, with particulate levels jumping far beyond recommended limits.

The phenomenon tends to be at its worst in winter, when demand for electricity rises for heating.

Authorities warned earlier this week of smoggy weather blanketing northern China, blaming calm weather as windy conditions tend to disperse pollution.

Thursday's spike, levels were beginning to reduce in the late afternoon, came almost exactly two years after an extreme bout of bad air in January 2013, dubbed the "airpocalypse", when state media reported readings at nearly 1,000 micrograms per cubic metre, almost 40 times the WHO's limit.

Public discontent about the environment has grown, with pollution a popular discussion topic on social media.

The official news agency Xinhua reported Thursday that Rao Bing, a local environmental official in Dazhou, in the southwestern province of Sichuan, had been excoriated online after blaming smog in the area on residents smoking bacon.

"The people who discovered this should win a Nobel," sneered one poster on Sina Weibo, a Chinese equivalent of Twitter.

Preserved pork and sausages are traditional Sichuanese foods, with many households smoking their own ahead of the lunar new year.

The central government has declared a "war on pollution" and vowed to cut coal use in some areas, although it has only pledged a goal of greenhouse gas emissions peaking "around 2030", suggesting they will rise for more than a decade.

China last year passed the first amendment to its environment protection law in 25 years, imposing tougher penalties on polluters.

Air pollution in the capital dropped slightly last year, the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau announced earlier this month, although they still averaged 85.9 micrograms per cubic metre, more than three times the internationally recommended limit.

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‘India key to Paris climate talks’

NEW DELHI: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on Tuesday asked India to take a leadership role in reaching a "meaningful" climate change pact in Paris later this year.

"I count on the leadership of India in our ongoing efforts to address the climate change issues ... I expect as one of the most critically important member-states of the UN and as one of the fastest growing economies, India should be responsible to address climate change so that they will soon have universal and meaningful climate change agreement in Paris in December," Ban Ki-Moon said.

His remarks came while he visited India's first 'Net Zero Energy' consuming building - Indira Paryavaran Bhawan - which is constructed in such a way that it can meet most of its annual energy requirements through solar power.

Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar showcased the secretary general the salient features of the green building which has India's largest roof-top solar panel.

Javadekar is learnt to have also used this opportunity to reiterate India's commitment to move on clean energy path using more and more solar and wind power in the next five years and assured Ban Ki-Moon about the country's willingness to work with other nations to have an equitable global climate deal in Paris.

In fact, Ban Ki-Moon had expressed desire to see the green building when Javadekar had last met him during the UN climate conference in Lima (Peru) in December and explained to him the features of the 'Paryavaran Bhawan' from where his ministry works. The building is located at Jor Bagh in South Delhi.

The building, which was dedicated to the nation by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh early last year, is focused on increasing the efficiency of resources like energy, water and materials while minimizing the impact of the building on human habitat and environment.

The 'Net Zero Energy' building - also called Net Zero Building - is a structure with zero net energy consumption where the total amount of energy used in the premises on an annual basis is more or less equal to the amount of renewable energy created on the site.

The building is a state-of-the-art landmark that is based on conservation of natural areas and trees to reduce adverse environmental impact, provide adequate natural light, shaded landscaped areas to reduce ambient temperature, maximize energy saving system and minimize operation cost by adopting green building concepts.

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EU vote gives governments the choice to grow or ban GM crops

BRUSSELS: Individual EU nations will be able to ban cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops under a compromise deal agreed on Tuesday that ends years of deadlock over the barbed issue and could actually boost GM farming.

A list of GM products is awaiting EU approval and Tuesday's vote in the European parliament opens the way for the authorities to review it.

EU member states will be able to opt out of any eventual GM approvals, but environment campaigners said the new law was not robust enough.

Some figures in the GM industry were also unhappy, complaining that the compromise meant countries would be able to reject GM crops for unscientific reasons.

Widely-grown in the Americas and Asia, GM crops in Europe have divided opinion. Many countries, including France and Germany, oppose them, while others, like Britain, favors them.

An earlier attempt to agree a compromise on GM cultivation failed in 2012.

Tuesday's vote in the parliament in Strasbourg is almost the final stage in the legislative process. The plan will become law once it has been signed off by member states and published officially, which is expected in the coming weeks.

Vytenis Andriukaitis, European commissioner for health and food safety, welcomed the outcome.

"The agreement meets member states' consistent calls since 2009 to have the final say on whether or not GMOs can be cultivated on their territory," he said.

EU authorities have approved only two GM crops for commercial cultivation so far. Of those, one was later blocked by one of the EU's top courts, which found EU authorities had failed to follow the rules when they approved it.

Industry body EuropaBio, which represents companies such as Syngenta and Monsanto, argued that the compromise deal sent a negative signal to industries considering investing in Europe.

"This is a stop sign for innovation in Europe," said Jeff Rowe, chairman of EuropaBio's Agri-Food Council.

However, Bart Staes, who represents Green politicians in the European Parliament, said the Greens had voted against the accord because it would ease the way for GM crops in Europe.

"Countries opposed to GMOs are given the carrot of being able to opt-out of these authorizations, but the scheme approved today fails to give them a legally-watertight basis for doing so. This is a false solution," he said.

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Rs 5,000 fine for throwing waste in Yamuna

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal has announced a fine of Rs 5,000 on individuals spotted throwing waste and 'religious items' in river Yamuna.

Yamuna, flowing through Mathura, Vrindavan and Agra, has been reduced to a sewer canal these days, choked with piles of accumulated garbage and industrial effluents.

In December 2013, the Supreme Court had sought expert help from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) after being told by CPCB that despite Rs 5,000 crore spent for reducing pollution, the river was staring at a catastrophe as over 2,400 million litres of untreated sewage flows into it every day.

Since 1994, when the apex court took up monitoring of steps to reduce pollution in Yamuna, Uttar Pradesh has spent Rs 2,052 crore, Delhi government and its civic bodies Rs 2,387 crore and Haryana Rs 549 crore to clean the river, taking the total to Rs 4,988 crore.

READ ALSO: After 21 years of SC monitoring, Yamuna still stinks like a sewer

Funds flow, Yamuna stays filthy

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World lends helping hands to Australia's bushfire injured wildlife

SYDNEY: A call by an Australian wildlife welfare body for help in the recovery of animals injured in wildfires which ravaged parts of Australia last week has seen an unprecedented international response Tuesday, thanks to social media.

The affected native koala bears which normally live in trees were first given drinks from water bottles by caring humans to keep them alive, but those rescued had badly burnt paws after clinging to burning branches, Xinhua reported.

The solution was simple. Treat the burns with medications, then place glove-like mittens over the burnt paws.

But such mittens are not commercially manufactured for mass bushfire burnings. Instead, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) relies on humans to knit the mittens and send them to a centralised depot.

Australians have long done so in such emergencies, including donating blankets to create pouches for baby kangaroos rescued from their dead mothers' pouches.

A social media call-out for mittens was made last Thursday, but the response has astounded the IFAW.

Mittens have been sent from the US, Russia, China, Britain, Kazakhstan and other parts of the world.

Josey Sharrad from the IFAW told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the organisation was astonished.

"What started off as a local campaign, just asking the Australian public has just absolutely gone global and viral," Sharrad said.

"It's truly phenomenal."

The IFAW has been unable to count all of the donated mittens, but said they had thousands and did not need any more.

"It was absolutely overwhelming, we could not have planned for this and we are so touched by the kind heartedness of people all around the world," Sharrad said.

"Luckily, we have a big stock room and we will keep them here and send them out to people all around the country as and when they're needed."

A bushfire, that started Jan 2 in Adelaide, has burnt through more then 12,500 hectares of land, destroying 27 homes and killing countless stock and wildlife.

Sharrad said koalas were especially at risk during a bushfire due to their slow movements.

She also called for pouches for other wildlife affected by the fires, saying, "There will be orphaned kangaroos and wallabies coming in and they need to be kept by wildlife rescuers in a very warm, pouch like environment."

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More birds visit Chilika Lake

BERHAMPUR (Odisha): The number of feathered guests to the famous Chilika lake in Odisha, the biggest waterfowl habitat in the country, increased this winter.

"Around 7.62 lakh birds of 172 species visited the blue lagoon this year. It was found during the annual bird count, conducted at 1,100 sq km vast lake yesterday," Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Chilika Wildlife Division Bikash Ranjan Das, said.

Last winter around 7.19 lakh birds of 158 species had visited the lake, he said.

Similarly, in 2013 and 2012, around 8.77 lakh of 180 species and 8.83 lakh birds of 167 species respectively had visited the lake.

There is no new species of bird sighted in the vast lake during the census, he said.

Around 80 persons, including the ornithologists from BNHS, Mumbai, officials of wildlife organisations, several ornithologists and wildlife activists took part in the bird count in the lake held from 6 AM to 11 AM.

While 7,61,940 winged guests of 172 different species were counted in the entire lake, highest number of 3,90,697 were sighted in Nalabana bird sanctuary area. Last winter, Nalabana Island had hosted around 4.15 lakh birds.

Increase in number of migratory birds in the lake is attributed to the safety measures taken by wildlife authorities and improvement of the habitat in the lake, said an ornithologist.

The 15.59-sq km area Nalabana Island was declared a as bird sanctuary as more number of birds congregated in the area.

Winged guests from far off places including Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, remote parts of Russia, central and South East Asia, Ladakh and Himalayas were descended in the lake in every winter for feeding and roosting. They start their homeward journey with the onset of summer.

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Orangutan returns to Indonesian wild, but abandons son

JAKARTA: A once-blind female orangutan who regained her sight with surgery has returned to the rain forests of Indonesia's Sumatra island, but with only one of her young twins, an environment group said.

Gober and her infants — Ginting, a female, and Ganteng, a male, who will turn four this month — were released on January 5 to a conservation forest as part of a reintroduction project by Swiss-based PanEco's Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme.

"Sadly, the plan to release Gober and both of her twin infants together did not work out as hoped," a statement from the group said.

"Gober struggled in the trees with two infants to watch out for. It was not long before she seemed to give up trying, and poor little Ganteng was left behind," it said.

"Whilst Gober and Ginting subsequently coped perfectly well, travelling through the canopy, finding food and building a huge nest for the night, little Ganteng spent his first night in the forest alone and afraid, cold and wet."

Ganteng had since been taken back by the conservation programme's staff.

PanEco conservation director Ian Singleton said the carers were shocked that Gober would abandon her son.

"No one believed she would leave one of her twins behind, at least not so soon after release. We're all a bit stunned at just how quickly it happened," he said.

"Despite obvious disappointment that it didn't go as planned, I still think we can consider Gober and Ginting's release as a huge success, and we must now ensure Ganteng gets out there with them eventually as well."

The blind Gober first made headlines in 2008, following her rescue by the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme after she was found raiding farmers' crops for food.

She was then placed at its quarantine centre near Medan, North Sumatra, where she mated with a male orangutan Leuser.

He was also blind after being shot at least 62 times with an air rifle before being brought into the programme's care.

The pair gave birth to the twins, which was considered rare. Gober again made news after regaining her eyesight following a "groundbreaking" cataract surgery in 2012, paving way for her release into the wild.

More than 50 orangutans have so far been freed in Jantho under the orangutan reintroduction project.

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More birds visit Chilika Lake

BERHAMPUR (Odisha): The number of feathered guests to the famous Chilika lake in Odisha, the biggest waterfowl habitat in the country, increased this winter.

"Around 7.62 lakh birds of 172 species visited the blue lagoon this year. It was found during the annual bird count, conducted at 1,100 sq km vast lake yesterday," Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Chilika Wildlife Division Bikash Ranjan Das, said.

Last winter around 7.19 lakh birds of 158 species had visited the lake, he said.

Similarly, in 2013 and 2012, around 8.77 lakh of 180 species and 8.83 lakh birds of 167 species respectively had visited the lake.

There is no new species of bird sighted in the vast lake during the census, he said.

Around 80 persons, including the ornithologists from BNHS, Mumbai, officials of wildlife organisations, several ornithologists and wildlife activists took part in the bird count in the lake held from 6 AM to 11 AM.

While 7,61,940 winged guests of 172 different species were counted in the entire lake, highest number of 3,90,697 were sighted in Nalabana bird sanctuary area. Last winter, Nalabana Island had hosted around 4.15 lakh birds.

Increase in number of migratory birds in the lake is attributed to the safety measures taken by wildlife authorities and improvement of the habitat in the lake, said an ornithologist.

The 15.59-sq km area Nalabana Island was declared a as bird sanctuary as more number of birds congregated in the area.

Winged guests from far off places including Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, remote parts of Russia, central and South East Asia, Ladakh and Himalayas were descended in the lake in every winter for feeding and roosting. They start their homeward journey with the onset of summer.

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Orangutan returns to Indonesian wild, but abandons son

JAKARTA: A once-blind female orangutan who regained her sight with surgery has returned to the rain forests of Indonesia's Sumatra island, but with only one of her young twins, an environment group said.

Gober and her infants — Ginting, a female, and Ganteng, a male, who will turn four this month — were released on January 5 to a conservation forest as part of a reintroduction project by Swiss-based PanEco's Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme.

"Sadly, the plan to release Gober and both of her twin infants together did not work out as hoped," a statement from the group said.

"Gober struggled in the trees with two infants to watch out for. It was not long before she seemed to give up trying, and poor little Ganteng was left behind," it said.

"Whilst Gober and Ginting subsequently coped perfectly well, travelling through the canopy, finding food and building a huge nest for the night, little Ganteng spent his first night in the forest alone and afraid, cold and wet."

Ganteng had since been taken back by the conservation programme's staff.

PanEco conservation director Ian Singleton said the carers were shocked that Gober would abandon her son.

"No one believed she would leave one of her twins behind, at least not so soon after release. We're all a bit stunned at just how quickly it happened," he said.

"Despite obvious disappointment that it didn't go as planned, I still think we can consider Gober and Ginting's release as a huge success, and we must now ensure Ganteng gets out there with them eventually as well."

The blind Gober first made headlines in 2008, following her rescue by the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme after she was found raiding farmers' crops for food.

She was then placed at its quarantine centre near Medan, North Sumatra, where she mated with a male orangutan Leuser.

He was also blind after being shot at least 62 times with an air rifle before being brought into the programme's care.

The pair gave birth to the twins, which was considered rare. Gober again made news after regaining her eyesight following a "groundbreaking" cataract surgery in 2012, paving way for her release into the wild.

More than 50 orangutans have so far been freed in Jantho under the orangutan reintroduction project.

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More birds visit Chilika Lake

BERHAMPUR (Odisha): The number of feathered guests to the famous Chilika lake in Odisha, the biggest waterfowl habitat in the country, increased this winter.

"Around 7.62 lakh birds of 172 species visited the blue lagoon this year. It was found during the annual bird count, conducted at 1,100 sq km vast lake yesterday," Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Chilika Wildlife Division Bikash Ranjan Das, said.

Last winter around 7.19 lakh birds of 158 species had visited the lake, he said.

Similarly, in 2013 and 2012, around 8.77 lakh of 180 species and 8.83 lakh birds of 167 species respectively had visited the lake.

There is no new species of bird sighted in the vast lake during the census, he said.

Around 80 persons, including the ornithologists from BNHS, Mumbai, officials of wildlife organisations, several ornithologists and wildlife activists took part in the bird count in the lake held from 6 AM to 11 AM.

While 7,61,940 winged guests of 172 different species were counted in the entire lake, highest number of 3,90,697 were sighted in Nalabana bird sanctuary area. Last winter, Nalabana Island had hosted around 4.15 lakh birds.

Increase in number of migratory birds in the lake is attributed to the safety measures taken by wildlife authorities and improvement of the habitat in the lake, said an ornithologist.

The 15.59-sq km area Nalabana Island was declared a as bird sanctuary as more number of birds congregated in the area.

Winged guests from far off places including Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, remote parts of Russia, central and South East Asia, Ladakh and Himalayas were descended in the lake in every winter for feeding and roosting. They start their homeward journey with the onset of summer.

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Orangutan returns to Indonesian wild, but abandons son

JAKARTA: A once-blind female orangutan who regained her sight with surgery has returned to the rain forests of Indonesia's Sumatra island, but with only one of her young twins, an environment group said.

Gober and her infants — Ginting, a female, and Ganteng, a male, who will turn four this month — were released on January 5 to a conservation forest as part of a reintroduction project by Swiss-based PanEco's Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme.

"Sadly, the plan to release Gober and both of her twin infants together did not work out as hoped," a statement from the group said.

"Gober struggled in the trees with two infants to watch out for. It was not long before she seemed to give up trying, and poor little Ganteng was left behind," it said.

"Whilst Gober and Ginting subsequently coped perfectly well, travelling through the canopy, finding food and building a huge nest for the night, little Ganteng spent his first night in the forest alone and afraid, cold and wet."

Ganteng had since been taken back by the conservation programme's staff.

PanEco conservation director Ian Singleton said the carers were shocked that Gober would abandon her son.

"No one believed she would leave one of her twins behind, at least not so soon after release. We're all a bit stunned at just how quickly it happened," he said.

"Despite obvious disappointment that it didn't go as planned, I still think we can consider Gober and Ginting's release as a huge success, and we must now ensure Ganteng gets out there with them eventually as well."

The blind Gober first made headlines in 2008, following her rescue by the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme after she was found raiding farmers' crops for food.

She was then placed at its quarantine centre near Medan, North Sumatra, where she mated with a male orangutan Leuser.

He was also blind after being shot at least 62 times with an air rifle before being brought into the programme's care.

The pair gave birth to the twins, which was considered rare. Gober again made news after regaining her eyesight following a "groundbreaking" cataract surgery in 2012, paving way for her release into the wild.

More than 50 orangutans have so far been freed in Jantho under the orangutan reintroduction project.

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After 21 years of SC monitoring, Yamuna still stinks like a sewer

NEW DELHI: Central Pollution Control Board on Thursday told the Supreme Court why the Yamuna in its 22-km course through Delhi mostly stinks like a sewer drain - as against the norm of 5,000 MPN coliform per 100 ml of water, Yamuna water in Delhi had between 4 lakh to 16 crore coliform per 100 ml.

The norm of 5,000 MPN/100 ml of water is the quality prescribed for 'C' category of water, which is fit for drinking after treatment. But, on January 7, 2014, the total coliform in Yamuna water at Nizamuddin was 54000000 (5.4 crore) and at Kalindi Kunj it was 160000000 (16 crore). But, at Palla the river water is relatively clean. On January 7 last year the total coliform detected at Palla was 43,000.

After 21 years of intense monitoring of government efforts by the Supreme Court to clean the Yamuna, the CPCB, through advocate Vijay Panjwani, submitted to the court a detailed report on the state of pollution of river water at Palla, Nizamuddin, Kalindi Kunj, Okhla and Madanpur Khadar in the 22-km stretch it flows through Delhi.

Despite the SC monitoring, Delhi appeared to be the biggest culprit in polluting the river. The water quality of Yamuna at Palla when it enters Delhi met the standard of "A" grade water, which is fit for drinking without conventional treatment but after disinfection, in respect of pH level, dissolved oxygen, bio-chemical oxygen demand as well as coliform on most days except on five of the 12 testing days between November 19, 2013 and October 8, 2014.

But at the rest of the places through the city, the water did not even qualify to the standard of "C" grade water and was declared unfit for even bathing. The CPCB also submitted the quality of water in 22 drains that joins Yamuna during its course through Delhi.

A year ago in December 2013, the Supreme Court had sought expert help from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) after being told by CPCB that despite Rs 5,000 crore spent for reducing pollution, the river was staring at a catastrophe as over 2,400 million litres of untreated sewage flows into it every day.

Since 1994, when the apex court took up monitoring of steps to reduce pollution in Yamuna, Uttar Pradesh has spent Rs 2,052 crore, Delhi government and its civic bodies Rs 2,387 crore and Haryana Rs 549 crore to clean the river, taking the total to Rs 4,988 crore.

A joint report by CPCB and DJB had informed the court a year ago that the situation would get worse as "waste water generation due to growth of urban population will be substantial and may be in the range of about 5,000 to 6,000 MLD respectively for the corresponding years 2021 and 2031".

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Karnataka sets up panel to declare eco-zones near national parks

BENGALURU: The cabinet set up a committee to identify and declare by January 31 eco-sensitive zones around eco-sensitive zones and wildlife sanctuaries.

Eco-sensitive zones are designated to be protected from industrial pollution and unregulated development under the Environment Protection Act of 1986. In 2002, the environment and forest ministry decided to declare a 10km area from the boundaries of protected areas as eco-sensitive zones to create a buffer. But many states opposed it, fearing it would hamper development. The decision was challenged in the Supreme Court which directed the Centre to formulate guidelines to declare area-specific eco-sensitive zones and allow states to identify them.

"The ministry has issued fresh directions to states, setting January 31 as the deadline to send proposals for site-specific eco-sensitive zones around protected areas, else it will by default be imposed in a 10-km area around that protected zone," Jayachandra explained.

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‘Fears of man-made global warming exaggerated’

MUMBAI: Two of three scientists at a session on climate change and society at the Indian Science Congress on Tuesday felt fears of man-made global warming were greatly exaggerated. Their presence at the conference was particularly significant in light of the current 'development-versus-envir- onment' debates.

"While I agree that glaciers are melting because of global warming, if this is because of man, then what was the reason for the melting of the glaciers in the Gondwana period long before man arrived on the planet?" asked Dhruv Sen Singh, Centre of Advanced Study in Geology, University of Lucknow.

"Climate change is a natural phenomenon while pollution is caused by man. We are definitely accelerating the process of climate change, but we cannot predict the rate or extent of climate change that can be attributed to man," Singh said.

According to him, fears of climate change amount to propaganda and "unnecessarily cause panic".

"The Cretaceous period 65 million years ago was the hottest in the history of the earth. Man was not around at the time," he added.

Singh said that if climate change was the cause of glaciers retreating, they should all be retreating at the same rate. "But in reality they are retreating at different rates, and some were advancing," said Singh. "Despite the melting of glaciers, only at some places the sea level is rising, whereas at others it is constant, possibly due to the sinking of land," he added.

As for extreme climatic events such as the Uttarakhand cloudburst, he said such cloudbursts were not new to the Himalayas. "These are cyclical events but not catastrophes. The devastation in Uttarakhand was caused by people living in hazard-prone areas, a function of India's high population density," he added.

Rajesh Agnihotri senior scientist at the Radio and Atmospheric Science Division, National Physics Laboratory, who mapped changing trends in India's monsoons, said there was nothing to suggest that this was because of man-made climate change.

Hypothetically, even if man stopped industrial activity, stopped using cars and stopped using air-conditioners, monsoon patterns would still change," said Agnihotri.

"Natural forces like solar intensity appear to be dominating monsoons to a greater extent than man-made climate change," he added.

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Gadkari promises digitalized, eco-friendly roadways

NEW DELHI: Union minister for road transport and highways and shipping Nitin Gadkari has promised the digitalization of the roadways and to make it more eco-friendly for the citizens.

Gadkari made the comments at the launch of a web portal for online approval of movement of over dimensional and overweight cargo by modular hydraulics in the national capital.

"We are happy we have started a good step. And today there is e-toll in Mumbai and New Delhi roadway but we have also started 108 e-toll stations in entire country as aid to people and by March 350 more e-tolls will be operated and no one has to halt at toll stations," said Gadkari.

The proposed move is likely to end long jams at tolls across several highways in the country.

Experts believe it will also help save fuel costs.

The move is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's key focus areas of 'Make in India' and 'Digital India'.

"It will be our effort to install every toll station, electronic weighing bridge will be installed for the heavy vehicles," said Gadkari.

'Make in India' initiative that PM Modi vowed to make skills training a major plank of the initiative, passing through parliament a programme that will make it easier for employers to hire apprentices for two years.

Gadkari also said that e-governance and digital India was possible only when government sector and systems were made transparent, modernized, time-bound and result oriented by using eco-friendly products such as green fuel.

"We would like to convert the transportation system into electric, bio-fuel so as to reduce pollution and the dream of 'Make in India' will be accomplished," he added.

Prime Minister Modi has vowed to turn around a country where one of the world's most extensive road-building programmes over the past decade ended with at least 600 billion rupees worth of projects stalled and highways half-built.

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High-level panel suggests single window system for green nods

NEW DELHI: Observing that corporates seek "short cuts" to get clearance for their environment projects, a high level committee has suggested setting up of a 'single window' clearance system for green projects to significantly reduce the processing time.

After studying six environment laws, the four-member panel - headed by former Cabinet Secretary T S R Subramanian - has recommended setting up of a full-time expert body, National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), at the Centre, and State Environmental Management Authority (SEMA) to evaluate project clearance in a time bound manner.

A 'fast track' procedure for 'linear' projects which provide benefit to community at large, as well as power and mining projects, as also projects of national importance has also been recommended by the committee.

"It should also be added that our businessmen and entrepreneurs are not all imbued in principles of rectitude - most are not reluctant, indeed actively seek short-cuts, and are happy to collaboratively pay a 'price' to get their projects going; in many instances, arbitrariness means that those who don't fall in line have to stay out," the panel said in its latest report.

Recommending a "single window clearance mechanism", the panel said: "This is not a new suggestion. Admittedly, an operational mechanism for this would require some effort in the beginning but it would certainly pay dividends."

It has proposed setting up of NEMA and SEMA as the pivotal authorities to process applications for green clearance. It has also suggested subsuming of the existing Central Pollution Control Board and corresponding State agencies under these agencies.

Observing that the provisions of the environment acts do not pose any great difficulty, the panel said, "It is the operative instructions which need to be reviewed because of the inordinate time taken in clearing project proposals especially when composite approvals are required."

To fasten the clearance of green projects, the panel further recommended use of national GIS enabled environmental information data base which would assist both the project proponent and the scrutinising agency in obtaining authentic data vital for decision making on an application.

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Snakes may not have evolved as previously thought: Study

NEW YORK: Researchers have found that snakes may not have evolved the way it was thought previously as they found that their vertebral bones are similar to those found in the backbone of four-legged lizards.

"Our findings turn the sequence of evolutionary events on its head," said P David Polly from Indiana University in the US.

The study provides a new perspective on Hox genes, which govern the boundaries of the neck, trunk, lumbar, sacral and tail regions of limbed animals.

The functions of Hox genes were previously thought to have been disrupted in snakes, resulting in seemingly simplified body forms.

Snakes differ from mammals, birds and most other reptiles because they lack forelimbs, shoulder girdles and breast bones.

It was thought that when they lost their limbs, they also lost the regional distinctions that separated their backbones into neck, trunk, lumbar and other regions.

Yet when the researchers examined the shapes of individual vertebral bones in snakes, lizards, alligators and mice, they found snakes had regional differentiation like that of lizards.

When combined with information from fossils, these findings indicate that the direction of snake evolution is the opposite of what had been concluded from developmental genetics alone, the researchers said.

The findings appeared in the journal Nature.

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Now, take a virtual tour of Vadodara's Kamatibaug

VADODARA: Did you know that 12,000 litres of water is used daily at Kamatibaug to give a cool environ to animals and birds? Or there are two swan ponds in the sprawling garden? Citizens can now catch up with interesting facts about Kamatibaug with just a click.

A city-based entrepreneur, Vijay Wadhwani, has launched a website exclusively for the 136-year-old Kamatibaug.

Wadhwani said that he thought of making a website for the garden as it is very popular among citizens and even tourists. "The website provides visitors crucial information about the garden that is home to a zoo, museum and variety of trees. The website features photographs and videos shot in the garden," said Wadhwani.

He added that the website is visual catalogue which can be used by both frequent and first time visitors. "It was created as a medium for visitors to interact with the officials who manage the garden," Wadhwani told TOI.

The website provides information on the main attractions of the garden like Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery, zoo and bird house, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Gallery, toy train and planetarium. Timings of these centres, ticket fares and days when these attractions remain closed are also mentioned in the website. "First-time visitors can use the 'Plan Sayajibaugh Visit' section where they can find a document on all the attractions at the park," said Wadhwani.

"Visitors can also post their complaints and suggestions on the website. The posts will be directed to the management and Sayajibaugh care group. Under the 'Sayajibaugh se kuch baaten' latest updates on the garden including various events that take place are also posted," Wadhwani said.

"Considering the historical importance of the garden, a dedicated website was a necessity," said Hardik Patel, a morning walker at the garden, who also manages the website's social media. Parul Talegaonkar, a morning walker said that people will also be able to upload their photographs and videos on the site.

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Pregnant elephant found dead in TN wildlife sanctuary

MADURAI: A 26-year-old pregnant elephant was found dead in the Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary in Srivilliputhur on Monday.

The female elephant was apparently attacked by a male elephant, according to wildlife officials at the sanctuary. There were 16 tusk wounds on the body female elephant.

"A male elephant might have attacked the female elephant as it refused to mate," wildlife warden T K Ashok Kumar said.

A three-member veterinary team carried out an autopsy on the carcass. "We found a one-year-old male foetus inside the carcass during autopsy," a wildlife official said.

There are around 60 to 70 wild elephants in the sanctuary, and the death of the pregnant elephant saddened the wildlife authorities. "It is a sad incident. We have lost two elephants," Ashok Kumar added.

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Gujarat forest dept ropes in BSF, FSL experts to curb poaching

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat government has reconstituted its Wildlife Crime Cell by roping in experts from BSF and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for effective implementation of anti-poaching operations in the state.

The cell was constituted in 2007 in the wake of lion poaching in Junagadh area. Later, its jurisdiction was extended to the entire state to control crimes related to forests and wildlife.

Recently, the Gujarat Forests and Environment Department felt the need to take the help of other entities and experts to curb such crimes. According to chief conservator of forest - wildlife crime N S Yadav, the commandant of BSF as well as the director of FSL in Gandhinagar have been made members of the newly-constituted cell recently.

"BSF mainly operates in bordering districts of Kutch and Banaskantha in the state. We have significant number of protected wildlife in those barren lands, such as Wild Ass, which are now seen in far fetched areas of Rann-of-Kutch" said Yadav, who is the member secretary of the cell.

"We felt the need to take their services in getting information about any wildlife related crime in those areas. Now, BSF men will remain in constant touch with forest officials and pass on valuable information to us," he said.

According to Yadav, "Forensic science will prove crucial in speeding up our investigation and help us in putting our case in a better way during court proceedings, making it difficult for poachers to escape due to lack of evidences."

Director of FSL J M Vyas said his organisation will help the forest department in various avenues of crimes.

"We can find out the types of firearms used for poaching with the help of our ballistic science facility. We can help them to match fingerprints of poachers on weapons used by them. Based on our reports, forest department can strengthen their legal case," he said.

Many a times, forest officials find body parts of wild animals from poachers, such as skin, teeth, horns and bones. However, it is a difficult task for a non-expert to find out which part belong to which animal.

"We can help them in finding out the exact species by analysing that body part. With that information, officials can trace the origin of the wild animal and find out where it was killed. We can also provide information about the kind of weapon used, which can lead officials to a specific gang of poachers, who are known to be using that weapon," said Vyas.

The principle chief conservator of forests (wildlife) is the chairman of this cell, having 14 other members, including Yadav. The cell also takes help of Coast Guard, Customs, police department and two wildlife experts.

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Nagpur birder sights rare king vulture in Bor Reserve

NAGPUR: In a rare sighting, a king vulture, also known as red headed vulture, was sighted in Bor Tiger Reserve, 60km from here in Wardha district on Saturday.

At a time when vulture numbers have dwindled to almost a point of no return in the last 15 years, the sighting of a king vulture by wildlife enthusiast and photographer Narayan Malu has thrilled city bird lovers.

Malu was on a morning safari with his friend Viraj Kadbe and guide Kailash when he sighted the bird perched on a tree around 10am.

Avid bird watcher Vinit Arora, who identified the pictures clicked by Malu, confirmed that it is a king vulture. "I've been visiting Bor regularly. But there is no record of vultures in Bor, not at least in the last 15 years. The presence of a king vulture is a big surprise," Arora told TOI.

Bor field director & chief conservator of forests (CCF) MS Reddy said, "I've not sighted the bird, but if it is true than it is the first record. I will have to verify the pictures. King vultures can be found in Pench, but never in Bor."

"I was delighted to spot the vulture," Malu, 27, told TOI. "I was generally trying to spot birds when a flapping of wings on a tree attracted my attention. It remained at the spot for around 90 seconds, enough time for me to capture a few pictures."

King vulture or Asian king vulture is a medium-sized bird of 76-86cm in length, weighing 3.5-6.3kg. It has a prominent naked head: Deep-red to orange in the adult, paler red in the juvenile. It has a black body with pale grey band at the base of the flight feathers. The males have a pale whitish iris while in females it is dark brown.

Over the past decade wildlife enthusiasts are crying themselves hoarse that the stately vulture is vanishing from the Indian skies and flying towards extinction. "The sighting of a king vulture in Bor has raised some hopes," says Arora, who said that the vulture may have been flapping its wings to keep itself warm in the cold weather.

Contrary to popular belief, vultures play a vital role in the environment. They are called nature's own disposal squads by feeding on rotting carcasses. Their scavenging habits are an important link in checking and containing spread of infectious diseases among animals and even human beings.

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Eight species of birds on the verge of extinction, says study

INDORE: Eight species of birds like francolins and quails are on the verge of extinction in the Malwa region, a recent study has revealed.

The study carried out by the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, has found shrinking habitat of these birds due to human intervention, as the major reason for the massive decline in their numbers.

The number of francolins and quails have fallen drastically after thickets in which they reside were destroyed in the Malwa region.

The human population has expanded into the birds' environs according to the study, Ujjain District Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) P C Dubey told.

He said that his department's priority now, is to keep the birds' habitat intact for which their environs are being identified.

Dubey said that forest ground duty officials would be deputed to these habitats to shoo away cats and other animals which damage eggs and chicks of these birds.

He said that village folk would be roped in to help conserve these birds.

Ornithologist Ajay Gadikar, who was associated with the study, said that the numbers of grey francolins, painted francolins, rain quails, jungle bush quails, rock bush quails, barred button quails and small quails have dipped in the Malwa region, adding that poaching too is a factors for their decline.

Thickets of Ujjain's Agar and Tarana regions are home to francolins and quails he said, adding that forest department officials are taking steps to preserve these birds.

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