24 Oct 2016
Now, an atlas to help save Madhya Pradesh fish Mahseer
INDORE: While radio-collaring of tigers is now common, an atlas for the endangered state fish of Madhya Pradesh — Narmada Mahseer (Tor tor) — is being prepared in a first of its kind experiment in the country. The forest department has begun identifying the occurrence of Narmada Mahseer and is mapping them in protected areas with Global Information System (GIS) technology.
GIS helps in capturing, checking, storing and displaying data on earth's surface and can show different kinds of data on one map. "If you visit a place, you refer to a map. Similarly, for studying a species, we need to know its whereabouts, in what quantity they are found and what places are suitable for breeding," said Shiparna Saxena, a Mahseer expert.
The Nagdwari and Sonbhadra tributaries of Denwa river have been explored. Officials said many juvenile fishes had been found in rivers and they were being mapped. A Rs 5-lakh budget has also been allotted for facilitating the survey.
Additional principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife), Indore, Pankaj Srivastava said a scientific protocol would be made with help of collected data and help of experts and communities to ensure conservation.
"We have started with Satpura and Devas tiger reserves and we will explore other wildlife sanctuaries in the future," said Srivastava.
While conservation plans top the list of forest department, officials said they were facing some problems as many officials on the field do not have enough expertise to recognize the species. "We will be conducting training programmes for forest officials, including forest guards, deputy rangers and rangers to ensure mapping is effective," he said. Forest department had also constructed an artificial flowing water repository in Barwah to conserve Narmada Mahseer.
GIS helps in capturing, checking, storing and displaying data on earth's surface and can show different kinds of data on one map. "If you visit a place, you refer to a map. Similarly, for studying a species, we need to know its whereabouts, in what quantity they are found and what places are suitable for breeding," said Shiparna Saxena, a Mahseer expert.
The Nagdwari and Sonbhadra tributaries of Denwa river have been explored. Officials said many juvenile fishes had been found in rivers and they were being mapped. A Rs 5-lakh budget has also been allotted for facilitating the survey.
Additional principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife), Indore, Pankaj Srivastava said a scientific protocol would be made with help of collected data and help of experts and communities to ensure conservation.
"We have started with Satpura and Devas tiger reserves and we will explore other wildlife sanctuaries in the future," said Srivastava.
While conservation plans top the list of forest department, officials said they were facing some problems as many officials on the field do not have enough expertise to recognize the species. "We will be conducting training programmes for forest officials, including forest guards, deputy rangers and rangers to ensure mapping is effective," he said. Forest department had also constructed an artificial flowing water repository in Barwah to conserve Narmada Mahseer.
Shutterbugs recall tryst with Machhli
(Photo credit: Tushar) BHOPAL: They were among the last visitors to Ranthambore National Park in the peak summer season of June 2014. As they moved ahead there was an enchanting alarm by the animals making noises all around. It was the time for the "Queen of Ranthambore" to arrive. Within few moments, there she was, walking like royals in the national park, the world's most photographed tigress, Machhli.
She headed towards the lake nearby, took bath and watched the world around. Each of her movement was a pose for shutterbugs. It was a thrilling experience for Tushar Bhojwani, a student and wildlife photographer, who captured Machhli on his lens. "She had it all in her genes. She had an attitude of royals and it was a treat for wildlife enthusiasts to watch her walk by. I enjoyed her glimpse for about two hours and my fingers couldn't stop clicking her. I wanted to capture every move of her. Her eyes and looks were engaging," said Bhojwani.
As Machhli bid adieu to her lovers across the world on Thursday morning, many shutterbugs went emotional, remembering the moments they spent clicking her. Some shared their thrilling experience with TOI about the aura of "Lady of the Lakes" that took them back to Ranthambore time and again from the land of tigers (Madhya Pradesh). Among them is Nishant Kapoor who spent 400 days filming Machhli and her cubs in Ranthambore. For him sighting Machhili had been an eternal moment of life. "I remember one particular summer morning when I saw her walking towards my gypsy when no other vehicle was around. Due to the terrain it wasn't possible to reverse the gypsy while there was a gorge to the left and a hill on the right. I thought she would climb the hill and pass by. But, Machhli wasn't one who would shy away.....she kept walking towards me, full of poise and confidence and all the time looking straight into my eyes. She brushed past my gypsy so close that she actually touched the side view mirror, only centimetres away from where I was sitting, awestruck with goose bumps," said Kapoor, a filmmaker while sharing his experience. "I was in Ranthambore a couple of days ago, but she was critically ill and out of sight," said Kapoor.
After Machhli left, breaking many hearts across the world, she was cremated following a guard of honour. For the lovers of Machhli, she might not be alive her memories will continue to live on. "Despite being there many times my quest for clicking Machhli could not be accomplished. I must say those who clicked her are the lucky ones," said Samrat Singh, an amateur wildlife photographer.
She headed towards the lake nearby, took bath and watched the world around. Each of her movement was a pose for shutterbugs. It was a thrilling experience for Tushar Bhojwani, a student and wildlife photographer, who captured Machhli on his lens. "She had it all in her genes. She had an attitude of royals and it was a treat for wildlife enthusiasts to watch her walk by. I enjoyed her glimpse for about two hours and my fingers couldn't stop clicking her. I wanted to capture every move of her. Her eyes and looks were engaging," said Bhojwani.
As Machhli bid adieu to her lovers across the world on Thursday morning, many shutterbugs went emotional, remembering the moments they spent clicking her. Some shared their thrilling experience with TOI about the aura of "Lady of the Lakes" that took them back to Ranthambore time and again from the land of tigers (Madhya Pradesh). Among them is Nishant Kapoor who spent 400 days filming Machhli and her cubs in Ranthambore. For him sighting Machhili had been an eternal moment of life. "I remember one particular summer morning when I saw her walking towards my gypsy when no other vehicle was around. Due to the terrain it wasn't possible to reverse the gypsy while there was a gorge to the left and a hill on the right. I thought she would climb the hill and pass by. But, Machhli wasn't one who would shy away.....she kept walking towards me, full of poise and confidence and all the time looking straight into my eyes. She brushed past my gypsy so close that she actually touched the side view mirror, only centimetres away from where I was sitting, awestruck with goose bumps," said Kapoor, a filmmaker while sharing his experience. "I was in Ranthambore a couple of days ago, but she was critically ill and out of sight," said Kapoor.
After Machhli left, breaking many hearts across the world, she was cremated following a guard of honour. For the lovers of Machhli, she might not be alive her memories will continue to live on. "Despite being there many times my quest for clicking Machhli could not be accomplished. I must say those who clicked her are the lucky ones," said Samrat Singh, an amateur wildlife photographer.
Pug marks spark hope of finding missing tigress, cub
MYSURU: The discovery of pug marks of an adult tiger and a cub have fuelled hopes of forest department officials at Nagarahole National Park of finding the missing tigress, who abandoned her three cubs alive.
For the past 20 days, they have been combing the woods for the tigress. Two of the cubs have already died. Authorities are hoping that the other set of marks belong to the third cub.
Officials are now comparing the recently found marks to those they have of the mother and her cubs. Director of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, S Manikandan said, "Since both sets of pug marks were found beside one another, they may have walked together."
"I think the third cub is alive. When we first found the three of them, two were immobile, while the third one was walking around; it had that survival instinct. We hope it survives," he added.
Tiger cubs usually remain with their mother for 12 to 14 months, and during that period they learn to hunt. However, forest authorities believe cubs as young as eight months can survive only if they have a strong survival instinct. They can sustain only by hunting rabbits and other small prey.
Forest authorities are closely examining photos captured by cameras across the forest, of tigers prowling the jungle and comparing them with those of the missing tigress. "It'd be great if we track the tigress or the cub on our cameras. The decision to shift the cub to the zoo will be taken by higher authorities in our department," Manikandan said.
For the past 20 days, they have been combing the woods for the tigress. Two of the cubs have already died. Authorities are hoping that the other set of marks belong to the third cub.
Officials are now comparing the recently found marks to those they have of the mother and her cubs. Director of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, S Manikandan said, "Since both sets of pug marks were found beside one another, they may have walked together."
"I think the third cub is alive. When we first found the three of them, two were immobile, while the third one was walking around; it had that survival instinct. We hope it survives," he added.
Tiger cubs usually remain with their mother for 12 to 14 months, and during that period they learn to hunt. However, forest authorities believe cubs as young as eight months can survive only if they have a strong survival instinct. They can sustain only by hunting rabbits and other small prey.
Forest authorities are closely examining photos captured by cameras across the forest, of tigers prowling the jungle and comparing them with those of the missing tigress. "It'd be great if we track the tigress or the cub on our cameras. The decision to shift the cub to the zoo will be taken by higher authorities in our department," Manikandan said.
Giant panda gives birth in China
(Representative photo) BEIJING: A giant panda cub was born on Monday at a breeding centre for the endangered species in southwest China's Sichuan province.
The mother, Dajiao, gave birth to the male cub, weighing about 179 grams, Wu Kongju, a panda expert at the Chengdu Giant Panda centre said.
The mother, born in August 2006, has given birth once before, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
It is said to be the peak season for birth of pandas which are endangered species.
Staff at the centre have gone to great lengths to take care of the mothers and their cubs, the report said.
There are more than 1,300 __wild pandas in Sichuan, 15 per cent more than 10 years ago.
The number of captive pandas in Sichuan is more than 360, accounting for 86.3 per cent of all captive pandas nationwide.
The mother, Dajiao, gave birth to the male cub, weighing about 179 grams, Wu Kongju, a panda expert at the Chengdu Giant Panda centre said.
The mother, born in August 2006, has given birth once before, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
It is said to be the peak season for birth of pandas which are endangered species.
Staff at the centre have gone to great lengths to take care of the mothers and their cubs, the report said.
There are more than 1,300 __wild pandas in Sichuan, 15 per cent more than 10 years ago.
The number of captive pandas in Sichuan is more than 360, accounting for 86.3 per cent of all captive pandas nationwide.
Wildlife enthusiast objects to PCCF order on killing sloth bear
(Representative Image RAIPUR: Reacting over the recent orders by principal chief conservator of forest to kill the sloth bear that that had mauled two persons to death and injured nearly half a dozen people last week, a wildlife activist on Tuesday said that the decision has been taken without 'application of mind'.
Demanding to impose Section 144 of CrPC, wildlife enthusiast Nitin Singhvi has written to PCCF saying that it's not that the bear which had ventured into villages but the locals went into its territory and got killed. Moreover, Singhvi said that the order also violates Section 11 (1) of the Wildlife Conservation Act.
Citing the reason that it was too difficult to tranquilize the animal and cage it, PCCF ordered the divisional forest officer of Koriya to identify and kill it as there was no option left. PCCF has quoted in the copy of order that sloth bear belongs to Schedule 1 category of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1972 and as per Section 11 (1) (A), he exercises his power to order killing the animal as it has turned dangerous to human life.
While the order was given on August 26, the forest team hasn't yet succeeded in locating the bear. Meanwhile, wildlife enthusiast Nitin Singhvi wrote to PCCF stating that his orders stand void as the rule in Section 11 says that PCCF is supposed to give direct orders to kill the Schedule 1 animal and he can't authorize a person to give further orders.
Singhvi said that there was a need to impose Section 144 of CrPC to prevent people venturing in the forest to become prey to the animal, this will also save life of a Schedule-1 animal as well as prevent human-animal conflict in the region. According to forest officials, state lacks a concrete solution to problems of human-animal conflict which is rising by each day.
Demanding to impose Section 144 of CrPC, wildlife enthusiast Nitin Singhvi has written to PCCF saying that it's not that the bear which had ventured into villages but the locals went into its territory and got killed. Moreover, Singhvi said that the order also violates Section 11 (1) of the Wildlife Conservation Act.
Citing the reason that it was too difficult to tranquilize the animal and cage it, PCCF ordered the divisional forest officer of Koriya to identify and kill it as there was no option left. PCCF has quoted in the copy of order that sloth bear belongs to Schedule 1 category of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1972 and as per Section 11 (1) (A), he exercises his power to order killing the animal as it has turned dangerous to human life.
While the order was given on August 26, the forest team hasn't yet succeeded in locating the bear. Meanwhile, wildlife enthusiast Nitin Singhvi wrote to PCCF stating that his orders stand void as the rule in Section 11 says that PCCF is supposed to give direct orders to kill the Schedule 1 animal and he can't authorize a person to give further orders.
Singhvi said that there was a need to impose Section 144 of CrPC to prevent people venturing in the forest to become prey to the animal, this will also save life of a Schedule-1 animal as well as prevent human-animal conflict in the region. According to forest officials, state lacks a concrete solution to problems of human-animal conflict which is rising by each day.
Will look for alternatives to carcinogenic asbestos: Environment Minister
NEW DELHI: Waking up to the hazards of asbestos use that puts millions of workers at risk of contracting cancer, the government has said its use must end and the Centre will ask scientists to look for alternatives.
"Since the use of asbestos is affecting human health, its use should gradually be minimised and eventually end.As far as I know, its use is declining. But it must end," environment minister Anil Madhav Dave told TOI.
He said his ministry would ask scientists and other stakeholders to find out whether technology or any nonhazardous substitute could provide an alternative.
Besides being used as an ingredient in a number of products like roofing, water supply lines and fire blankets, asbestos is also widely used in the auto component market, specially for brakes, clutches and brake linings. As a result, millions of workers are exposed to it in these sectors.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and other inter-governmental organisations have for long been working with countries towards elimination of asbestos-related diseases by providing information about solutions for replacing asbestos with safer substitutes. It has, in its report on the subject, noted that there are many non-fibre low hazard materials that can be a substitute for asbestos.
As many as 55 countries, including European Union (EU) nations, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea, have banned the use of asbestos. But many big countries, including China and India, continue to use this hazardous mineral. The US is implementing a new chemical safety act to tackle everyday carcinogens, including asbestos.
Though there have been general guidelines in India for carrying out environmental impact assessment (EIA) of asbestos-based industries, it mainly deals with emission limits and ways of disposal of asbestos waste.
Lat month, TOI had reported the use of asbestos in auto components such as brake, clutches and heat seals. In response to a question as to why this practice should continue in India when many countries had banned use of asbestos in auto parts, the environment ministry had said the question of banning asbestos in auto products in the country did not arise in the absence of any scientific study on the matter.
"Since the use of asbestos is affecting human health, its use should gradually be minimised and eventually end.As far as I know, its use is declining. But it must end," environment minister Anil Madhav Dave told TOI.
He said his ministry would ask scientists and other stakeholders to find out whether technology or any nonhazardous substitute could provide an alternative.
Besides being used as an ingredient in a number of products like roofing, water supply lines and fire blankets, asbestos is also widely used in the auto component market, specially for brakes, clutches and brake linings. As a result, millions of workers are exposed to it in these sectors.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and other inter-governmental organisations have for long been working with countries towards elimination of asbestos-related diseases by providing information about solutions for replacing asbestos with safer substitutes. It has, in its report on the subject, noted that there are many non-fibre low hazard materials that can be a substitute for asbestos.
As many as 55 countries, including European Union (EU) nations, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea, have banned the use of asbestos. But many big countries, including China and India, continue to use this hazardous mineral. The US is implementing a new chemical safety act to tackle everyday carcinogens, including asbestos.
Though there have been general guidelines in India for carrying out environmental impact assessment (EIA) of asbestos-based industries, it mainly deals with emission limits and ways of disposal of asbestos waste.
Lat month, TOI had reported the use of asbestos in auto components such as brake, clutches and heat seals. In response to a question as to why this practice should continue in India when many countries had banned use of asbestos in auto parts, the environment ministry had said the question of banning asbestos in auto products in the country did not arise in the absence of any scientific study on the matter.
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