First ever 'Abu Dhabi Red List of Wildlife Species' launched
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) recently launched the first ever Abu Dhabi Red List of Wildlife Species (AD-RLS), which is an assessment of the threat status of the emirate’s terrestrial and marine species….reports Asian Lite News
A total of 244 species were assessed, including 101 plants, 49 birds, 9 marine species, 32 terrestrial mammals, 25 invertebrates, 26 reptiles and 2 amphibians. Out of the 244 species assessed, 74 are under different threat categories, such as critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable.
First ever ‘Abu Dhabi Red List of Wildlife Species’ launched
“The Abu Dhabi Red List is a welcome addition to our knowledge on the threat status of species found in Abu Dhabi,” said Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, EAD’s Secretary-General. “The List is based on the internationally recognised Red List Criteria, developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the assessments of threat status have gone through extensive external review from a team of experts from the IUCN, the Red List Authority, and independent experts.”
Ahmed Al Hashmi, Acting Executive Director, Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector, said, ‘‘The Abu Dhabi Red List of Wildlife Species has been long overdue, and it is an important addition to our understanding of the threats to the species in line with the global standards of IUCN.
First ever ‘Abu Dhabi Red List of Wildlife Species’ launched
“The Abu Dhabi Red List also complements the National Red List development undertaken by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and is consistent with the development of such lists at local, national and regional levels.”
EAD has undertaken some of the most ambitious and successful projects to reintroduce species that were on the brink of extinction such as the Arabian Oryx and Scimitar-horned Oryx, and Abu Dhabi now houses the largest herd of Arabian Oryx in the world.
First ever ‘Abu Dhabi Red List of Wildlife Species’ launched
The Shaikh Zayed Network of 13 terrestrial and six marine protected areas, managed by the Agency, provides protection to some of the most threatened and important terrestrial and marine species and their habitats.
Furthermore, EAD has a plant nursery with a production capacity of nearly 500,000 plants annually and has more than 70 different native plant species propagated to date. These plant species include many rare and threatened species and are used for habitat restoration efforts across the Emirate.
First ever ‘Abu Dhabi Red List of Wildlife Species’ launched
The Agency has successfully rehabilitated important plant species such as the Al Sarh, Ghaf and Samar trees in their natural habitat to ensure that they continue to remain part of the Emirate’s landscape and its cultural heritage.
The newly discovered crushing teeth in Jaisalmer represent a new species named by the research team as ‘Strophodusjaisalmerensis’…reports Asian Lite News.
In a rare discovery, the teeth of a new species of hybodont shark of the Jurassic era have been reported found for the first time in Jaisalmer by a team comprising of Krishna Kumar, Pragya Pandey, Triparna Ghosh and Debasish Bhattacharya from the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Western Region, Jaipur.
This finding has been published in Historical Biology, a Journal of Palaeontology, in its August, 2021, 4th issue. Prof Sunil Bajpai, heading the department of earth sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, who is a co-author of this publication, played a significant role in the identification and documentation of this discovery.
According to Krishna Kumar, senior geologist, palaeontology division, Western Region, “Hybodont sharks have been reported for the first time from the Jurassic rocks (approximately, between 160 and 168 million years old) in the Jaisalmer region of Rajasthan. They comprise an extinct group of sharks, which was a dominant group of fishes in both marine and fluvial environments during the Triassic and early Jurassic time. However, hybodont sharks started to decline in marine environments from the Middle Jurassic onwards until they formed a relatively minor component of open-marine shark assemblages. Hybodonts finally became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous period 65 million years ago.”
The newly discovered crushing teeth in Jaisalmer represent a new species named by the research team as ‘Strophodusjaisalmerensis’. The genus Strophodus has been identified for the first time in the Indian sub-continent and is only the third such record from Asia, the other two being from Japan and Thailand. This species has recently been included in the Shark references.com, an international platform operating in association with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Species Survival Commission (SSC), and Germany.
This discovery marks an important milestone in the study of Jurassic vertebrate fossils in the Jaisalmer region of Rajasthan, and it opens a new window for further research in the domain of vertebrate fossils.
E-waste is one of the pressing issues in India as well, with the country being the world’s third largest producer. Further, between 2019 and 2020, Indians generated 38 per cent more e-waste…reports Asian Lite News.
Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) is developing an innovative model to tackle electronic waste (e-waste) by linking stakeholders in the formal and informal economy. Called ‘e-Source,’ it will be an exchange platform that will serve as an online marketplace for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and facilitate a formal supply chain between buyers and sellers, a IIT-M release said. This initiative can become a critical resource by enabling reverse logistics supply chains and help recycle 53.6 million tonnes of e-waste world generates annually, and is potentially a $50 billion market, it said. According to studies, global e-waste is expected to double in the next 16 years. Studies also estimated that 85 per cent of this is being lost globally. IIT Madras researchers focused on the “circular economy”, and are working to address the gaps in the e-waste sector, which can potentially open doors to a $50 billion economy. E-waste is one of the pressing issues in India as well, with the country being the world’s third largest producer. Further, between 2019 and 2020, Indians generated 38 per cent more e-waste. However, what is more worrying is that only 5 per cent of e-waste is recycled responsibly in the country, the release said.
Carbon emission(Pixabay)
The e-Source initiative is being spearheaded by the Indo-German Centre for Sustainability (IGCS), which believes that the problem of e-waste could be resolved by connecting different buyers and sellers of used and waste electronic equipment and components without compromising their interests, the release said. Highlighting the need for ‘e-Source’ initiative, IGCS faculty member Prof Sudhir Chella Rajan said: “E-wastes are typically either completely stripped down for precious metals and other high-value materials or dumped in landfills by waste handlers, without exploring potential re-use and repurposing options. Unscientific recycling methods are harmful for waste handlers and the environment.” Rajan, also a faculty in the IIT-M’s Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, said: “e-Source is a unique open-source platform that will evolve towards using machine learning for better traceability of e-waste in compliance with guidelines and help increase the opportunities for repair and re-use of e-waste. This will potentially improve livelihoods for youth and women in periurban settings by upgrading their skills and improving occupational health and safety, reduce the flow of toxic materials in waste streams and broaden the market for affordable, second-hand e-devices.” This initiative requires forging collaborations and influencing the stakeholders in the informal markets who are primary users/buyers of used electronic goods and sellers of electronic spares, ICT components and electronic equipment. This would ensure enough volumes are generated for repair, re-use, and recycling for larger players (e.g., authorised recyclers) to operate along with aiding stand-alone repair-men to acquire electronic components independent of the centralised grey markets, the release added. A majority of India’s pollution control agencies remain closed entities when it came to sharing information with the public with a mere handful of India’s pollution control boards and authorities are adequately putting out environmental and governance information into the public domain, a new rating study by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has found. For calculating the Transparency Index and rating of pollution control boards on public disclosure – as the study is titled – the CSE assessed the data disclosure performance of 29 state pollution control boards (PCBs) and six pollution control committees from across the country. Of these, only 17 boards and committees scored 50 per cent or above.
These are from Odisha, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Goa, Karnataka, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan. “Governance and functioning-related data remains paper-bound: Information on functioning, actions taken by a board against polluting industries, public hearing data on new projects etc are rarely disclosed or remain difficult to access on the websites,” CSE said in a release here. “State PCBs are entrusted with several functions under the provisions of the Water Act, 1974; Air Act, 1981; Water Cess Act, 1977; and various rules and notifications issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. One of these functions under Section 17(C) of the Air and Water Acts is to collect and disseminate information related to air and water pollution and also about its prevention, control or abatement. The law asks the boards to share the data in public domain. But this is rarely done in practice,” said programme director, Industrial Pollution Unit, CSE, Nivit Kumar Yadav.
Tsanglao and Forest Range Officer Namsibo facilitated the release of the two leopard cubs from Tening village to Nagaland Zoological Park in Dimapur on Monday…reports Asian Lite News
Two ‘vulnerable’ leopard cubs, rescued from a tree by four teenagers in a Nagaland village, were released to the state’s Zoological Park in Dimapur, officials said on Tuesday.
A Nagaland Wildlife official said that four boys, aged around 11 to 12 years — Njancham, Kaisithui, Khouralung and Wiramsiaged while bathing at the Tening village on Sunday found that the leopard cubs were sitting at a branch of a hollowed tree near paddy fields.
The official said that the children brought the cubs to the village after which a resident of Tening village, Chamdinbo, a High School teacher, informed the Extra Assistant Commissioner Tumben P. Tsanglao for necessary assistance in handing over the cubs to forest and wildlife authorities.
Tsanglao and Forest Range Officer Namsibo facilitated the release of the two leopard cubs from Tening village to Nagaland Zoological Park in Dimapur on Monday.
The officials of Nagaland Zoological Park and Peren forest officials have taken necessary steps for specialised care and protection of the cubs.
The official said that the whereabouts of the mother of the cubs is still unknown.
“What remains to be seen is how the cubs were found not in the wild, but at a tree very close to the paddy fields of Tening village making a stark reminder of growing man-animal conflict, amidst the loss of habitats for the big cats,” the official pointed out.
He said that according to the current IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) red list status of Indian Leopard is “Vulnerable”
Teaming with marine life, the aquarium will provide guests with a remarkable opportunity to delve into a submarine world…reports Asian Lite News
The National Aquarium (TNA) in Abu Dhabi will showcase the astonishing biodiversity of species when it opens its doors later this year.
Located in the vibrant lifestyle hub of Al Qana in Abu Dhabi, the largest aquarium in the region will showcase over 200 sharks and rays, representing 25 different species, said a TNA press release on Monday.
Teaming with marine life, the aquarium will provide guests with a remarkable opportunity to delve into a submarine world and discover the awe-inspiring variety of species found within our oceans.
The magnificent ecosystem is also the only place in the UAE to house a school of iconic Scalloped Hammer Head Sharks. Additionally, the Bull Sharks will also make their debut in the region and guests will be able to see first-hand, what is “widely considered one of the most dangerous shark species” in the ocean and rivers.
Other species of sharks and rays will include Sand Tiger Sharks, Lemon Sharks, Zebra Sharks, Black Tip Reef Sharks, Eagle Rays, Shovelnose Rays, Cownose Rays, Freshwater Rays, amongst others.
Sharks are one of the most misunderstood animals in the ocean with the misperception that they are dangerous, a narrative that has been reinforced by the film industry. With their numbers dwindling due to over-fishing, the team at The National Aquarium is seeking to turn fear into fascination and educate visitors around how well these apex predators can adapt to living peacefully. Guests will be able to observe how these animals interact with other species, including TNA’s team of world-class divers.
An unmissable highlight will be the feeding demonstrations with both sharks and rays, as well as a one of a kind public ‘Shark Encounter’. Guests will be able to hand-feed sharks as large as two metres long, which promises to be an unforgettable experience, especially for people who have a living fear of sharks.
Paul Hamilton, General Manager at The National Aquarium, commented, “We cannot wait for our opening this year, to reveal our array of animals and animal-related activities. In general, people have a fear of sharks and we want to celebrate these fascinating creatures that are so crucial to the health of our oceans. We are hoping that through personal interaction, the aquarium will help people overcome any fears and perceptions that they might have. Most importantly, we look forward to providing our visitors with an unrivalled and memorable edutainment experience on every visit.”
The National Aquarium signed a five-year partnership with The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) in July 2020 to help create the largest and most innovative rehabilitation schemes of its kind to protect and rehabilitate wildlife in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The partnership has resulted in a large number of animals saved, including 200 sea turtles being successfully rescued and released until today.
EAD calls on the community to report injured wildlife or environmental emergencies, through the Abu Dhabi Government Contact Centre at 800555.
“Save the Tiger” campaign is to build awareness among the masses about saving our National Animal…Varun Khullar speaks with N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe.
Tiger is always the perfect synonym for valour and power. The latest Tiger Census confirmed that the current tiger population in India has increased to 2967 in 2021 from 2226 in 2014. The Indian tiger survey released last year revealed that India now accounts for about 70 per cent of the world’s tiger population.
As we celebrate “International Tiger Day”, on July 29 its important to raise awareness for tiger conservation, a corporate professional and wildlife photographer by passion, Varun Khullar asserts. He believes that this mammoth task can only be achieved by collective efforts and the “Save the Tiger” campaign must inspire and spread awareness. What motivated you to be a part of the “Save the Tiger” campaign?
The combination of grace, strength, agility and enormous power has earned the tiger its pride of place as the National Animal of India. The “Save the Tiger” campaign started in 2010 and its conservation automatically ensures the conservation of a large number of flora and fauna and entire ecosystems. Royal Bengal Tiger is the pride of our nation and its decreasing population in the past years due to human-animal conflicts and poaching motivated me to be a part of the “Save the Tiger” campaign. We must do whatever we can within our power to ensure their survival and make sure our future generations can also enjoy their beauty and presence.
How do you plan to contribute to the campaign?
“Save the Tiger” campaign is to build awareness among the masses about saving our National Animal. As apex predators, Tigers keep prey species under control. This protects the vegetation which in turn maintains the integrity of streams, forests and croplands that provide people around the world with clean air, water, food and financial benefits. When we protect tigers, we protect ourselves. For the last four years, I have been printing my Wildlife Tiger calendars and distributing them to my friends and family circle to create awareness of the beautiful nature and Tigers we have around us. Through this medium, I try to increase wildlife tourism among masses which generates funds for Forest departments and the funds are then used appropriately for saving the Tiger and saving the forests from poachers. This money is used for setting Camera traps, securing boundaries, generating water supply and electricity in forest core areas, setting up security check posts deep in forests to help the “Save the Tiger” campaign.
Since when have you been into wildlife photography and what about tigers attracts you the most?
I had started this journey by being a normal visitor to a wildlife sanctuary and experienced a safari ride into the jungle, just like anyone else would do, all this happened a good 12 years back. The love for wildlife has ever since beckoned me back into its arms. After every safari, there are always new stories to share and wonderful experiences to take back. It is an incredible experience watching tigers in their natural habitat roaming freely without any inhibitions. The thrill and excitement during the search, the chase, the patience and then the reward of seeing some beautiful tigers is what truly makes a safari unforgettable.
Tigers have more than 100 stripes on their body but no two tigers have the same pattern of stripes. Everything about the tiger attracts me, their behaviour, the roar, their walk, the look into their eyes, the thrill of the tiger chasing the prey and the cuddle of the tigress with its cubs. In photographing the tiger — patience is the key.
Can you share a life-changing experience that you’ve had while capturing the wild cats?
The Tiger sighting of the majestic T24 named Ustad in 2010 will always remain in my heart. One of the most beautiful male tigers of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, T24 was eye-candy and a delight for wildlife enthusiasts and wildlife photographers who visited Ranthambore just to have a glimpse of him. He was shifted to Sajjangarh Zoo in Udaipur in May 2015 after being accused of killing four people. The tag of ‘MANEATER’ for Ustad was indigestible and the killings attributed to Ustad, were mere accidents as I feel he never ventured out of his territory but people went to his home. This animal and human conflict are heartbreaking and for us as humans, it’s high time now to realize the importance of maintaining a perfect balance in the ecosystem.
How do you balance being a corporate professional and a wildlife photographer?
With interest in wildlife and especially Big Cats my passion persuaded me to buy a good DSLR camera with a telephoto lens and I started capturing the wildlife in my cameras. Initially, before Covid-19 I somehow managed to take out time from corporate life once in 2-3 months for wildlife getaways like Ranthambore national park, Jim Corbett national park and Jaipur and captured the beautiful big cats — tigers and leopards.
Capturing tigers often was difficult as with a busy corporate life one cannot travel often to wildlife parks but passion keeps one going. I started capturing birds and started building an interest in bird photography. With capturing birds in and around Gurugram — Delhi NCR I have built a strong interest in Birds of the Indian subcontinent. People have started calling me a ‘Nature & Tiger Lover’. At weekends I try to visit nature parks around my place and try to capture nature with my camera. My seniors understand my passion and have supported me in the same.
Sinha had also wanted to know the total forest area and waste land area in the country (state-wise details) and the area of land under Section 4 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, (state-wise details)…reports Asian Lite News.
The word “forest” is not defined in any Central forest acts, namely, the Indian Forest Act 1927, or the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and the Central government has also not laid down any criterion to define a forest, the Parliament was informed on Monday.
This was revealed in the statement tabled in the Rajya Sabha by Environment, Forests & Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav in reply to a question by member Rakesh Sinha, who sought to know “how the forest is defined/formed and, whether, there is any specific criteria?”
Bhupender Yadav
Sinha had also wanted to know the total forest area and waste land area in the country (state-wise details) and the area of land under Section 4 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, (state-wise details).
He also sought to know the area of forest land which is under dispute and being claimed by individuals or villages, and the steps taken to resolve such disputes by the government.
While the statement did provide data about forest land and waste land, the government skirted the issue of dispute, saying it has no records for the same.
“The disputes regarding forest lands are variable in nature and keep changing depending upon the pace of settlement process, recording of new disputes, demarcation/survey on case-to-case basis etc. by the respective state/UT authorities as per due process of law applicable to the area. As such forest area under dispute for the country has not been quantified by the Ministry,” Yadav said.
The recorded forest area of the country is 7,67,419 sq kms. As per the Wasteland Atlas, 2019 published by the Ministry of Rural Development, the total wasteland in the country is 5,57,665.51 sq kms, the Rajya Sabha was told.
No pay for 6 months, workers in indefinite stir : Arunachal tiger reserve unguarded
With the agitation of the 202 contingency workers at the office of the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), the Pakke Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Pakke-Kessang district has been left unguarded….reports Asian Lite News
Over 200 part-time workers of the Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh launched an indefinite strike on Wednesday for non-payment of their wages for the past more than six months.
With the agitation of the 202 contingency workers at the office of the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), the Pakke Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Pakke-Kessang district has been left unguarded.
Accompanied by eight elephants, the workers, some of them in their uniform, threatened to continue their agitation until their wages, which have been pending since December last year, are paid by the authorities.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority, headed by Union Environment, Forest & Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar, provides funding for the wages of the contingency staff of PTR through the state government.
PTR workers’ union General Secretary Nikum Nabam said that the strike was to begin from May 2, but it was suspended after the state Environment and Forest Minister Mama Natung assured them that their wages would be released soon.
No pay for 6 months, workers in indefinite stir : Arunachal tiger reserve unguarded
“We have families to take care of with a meagre wage of Rs 11,000 per month. Since December, we are in great distress, and the government must take suitable steps to release our wages,” he said.
Besides the payment of wages, the agitating workers also demanded regularisation of the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF).
Nabam said that they have learnt that the government had released the funds for their wages but the money has been lying in the treasury instead of being transferred to the DFO of the PTR.
“Forest officials are trying hard to transfer the fund from the treasury to the forest department. The finance department failed to release the due salaries in time. Their demands are genuine,” a senior forest official told IANS on condition of anonymity
Environment and Forest Minister Natung said that due to the Covid situation and non-availability of officials, disbursement of wages has been delayed, but the workers should have waited for two-three days before launching the agitation.
The 862 sq km Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary and Pakke Tiger Reserve falls in the Pakke-Kessang district in southern Arunachal Pradesh. It has rich flora and fauna besides a diverse species of wild animals.
Braving all odds, the tiger moved across three islands in the span of four months, Yadav said, adding that he did not venture near human habitats…reports Asian Lite News.
A tiger which had been radio-collared in India was found to have travelled around 100km to reach Sundarbans in Bangladesh over a period of four months, West Bengal’s chief wildlife warden VK Yadav was quoted as saying.
The male tiger was radio-collared in December 2020 to enable foresters to track his movement patterns near human beings. He was captured from Harinbhanga forest just opposite the Harikhali camp under Bashirhat range in Bengal and later released with the satellite collar on December 27, reports said.
His long and arduous journey to Bangladesh involved several hurdles including some rivers wider than a kilometre. Braving all odds, the tiger moved across three islands in the span of four months, Yadav said, adding that he did not venture near human habitats.
“After initial movements for a few days on the Indian side, it started venturing into the Talpatti island in Bangladesh Sunderbans and crossed rivers such as Choto, Harikhali, Boro Harikhali and even the Raimangal,” Yadav said. The tiger could originally have come from Bangladesh before foresters captured him for radio-collaring, Yadav added.
The last recorded location of the tiger was at Talpatti island in Bangladesh on May 11, according to reports. Throwing light on the possible reasons why there was no update on the tiger after May 11, Yadav said the collar may have slipped off its neck.
“The gadget also had a mortality sensor, which gives signals in case of the tiger’s death. But that didn’t happen…. In all probability, the collar has slipped off its neck. In the Sundarbans, salinity in the water can also damage radio collars,” he said.
This was not the first time that a tiger from India has strolled to Bangladesh. In January 2017, a female tiger who was also radio-collared, travelled a 100km distance to reach the Bay of Bengal’s tip. Five other tigers were also radio-collared, out of which one travelled into Bangladesh’s Talpatti island, Dhaka Tribune reported.
Gardening is an awesome diversion from our increasingly technologically driven lives. Spending time gardening and enjoying nature can help us mentally de-stress by keeping us involved…writes Puja Gupta.
Lockdown has changed our daily routines and most of us are very much irritated and stressed throughout these days. While it may sound weird to tell people with depression to go outside and garden, there is a considerable amount of clinical evidence which suggests that spending time with plants improves our mental health, particularly depression. Even spending time with indoor plants works wonders to alleviate both mental and physical stress in people of all ages.
Vinayak Garg, Founder, Lazy Gardener says: “Many researchers have found that gardening or green care’ stimulates our bodies’ natural development of happy chemicals, which may help keep depression and anxiety at bay, with unexpectedly amazing results. Even during this pandemic, each nation is battling a war where the enemy is not visible nor are the weapons. In these times, along with other safety measures, why not turn to the potential benefits of gardening as a way to help in the mental and physical war against coronavirus.”
Here are some interesting and the creative way to fight depression and anxiety, suggested by Garg.
Getting your hands dirty!
Getting your hands dirty in the garden boosts your serotonin levels, according to studies. Serotonin is a happy chemical that also serves as a natural antidepressant and immune system booster, lack of which is responsible for depression. When you come in contact with soil, a particular soil bacterium, Mycobacterium vaccae, causes serotonin to be released in our brain, making us feel better and happier from within. At the very least, now we understand why people prefer to garden without gloves and always enjoy the sensation of getting their hands into the dirt and compost heap. De-stress therapy at your doorstep
Gardening is an awesome diversion from our increasingly technologically driven lives. Spending time gardening and enjoying nature can help us mentally de-stress by keeping us involved. When you directly contribute to the nurturing of the buds and witness the plants grow gradually, believe me, your happiness and contentment will know no boundaries and you’ll keep coming back to it. This is a small yet a very powerful exercise to even boost your self-esteem, leaving no space for stress at all.
Building your Creativity
How about simply finding out how to keep those garden pests away and improving soil quality to keep the garden healthy? How about deciding what kind and colour of a pot will suit your favourite plant the best? Get yourself into it once and this green care will take care of your positivity, creativity, mood upliftment, skill building, and ultimately help you fight depression naturally and gradually.
Building your strength
Working in the garden improves dexterity and strength. Digging, raking, and mowing are especially calorie-dense activities and the aerobic exercise involved will easily burn the same amount of calories as a gym workout. During gardening, physical exercise is combined with social contact. You get exposed to nature and sunlight. Sunlight works two way on your body: reduces blood pressure while also increasing vitamin D levels, and the fruits and vegetables grown have a positive effect on the diet. Sounds healthier right?
