Today's Environment News India Update

Carnivorous plants found in Girnar forest, say researchers of BKNMU

Carnivorous plants of utricularia janarthanamii species of bladderwort family that prey on insects have been found in the hilly Girnar forest near Junagadh city, according to a team of researchers of the Department of Life Sciences of the Bhakta Kavi Narsinh Mehta University (BKNMU), Junagadh.

The presence of these plants along with megafauna species such as Asiatic lions has been hailed by experts as a commendation of Girnar forest being a “healthy and functional ecosystem” as these plants do not thrive where pollution levels are high. These plants were recorded only in Maharashtra before this discovery.

A team led by Prof Suhas Vyas, head of the Department of Life Science of BKNMU, spotted plants of four species of utricularia genus a during a field survey in a radius of around one kilometre in Lal Dhori area of Girnar forest near Bhavnath Taleti, the foothills of Mount Girnar on the border of Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary in Junagadh on August 22 last year.

👉https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/carnivorous-plants-found-in-girnar-forest-say-researchers-of-bknmu-7469300/#:~:text=Carnivorous%20plants%20found%20in%20Girnar%20forest%2C%20say%20researchers,do%20not%20thrive%20where%20pollution%20levels%20are%20high.

Assam to destroy rhino horns stored over four decades

State chief wildlife warden MK Yadava said a final decision on destroying the horns will be taken after a public hearing on August 29 and based on recommendations of a state-level committee constituted last month for the purpose.

Assam’s forest and environment department plans to destroy animal parts, including around 2,500 rhino horns, seized from poachers, smugglers or extracted from dead animals over the last four decades. State chief wildlife warden MK Yadava said a final decision on destroying the horns will be taken after a public hearing on August 29 and based on recommendations of a state-level committee constituted last month for the purpose.

Experts welcomed the move to destroy the horns. “Scientifically, rhino horns do not have any value. But they have a price in some markets based on superstitions about its medicinal properties. If we preserve them, it will convey the message that we believe in such superstitions. The horns stored in Assam should be destroyed,” said Rathin Barman, joint director, Wildlife Trust of India.

👉https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/assam-to-destroy-rhino-horns-stored-over-four-decades-101629795451145.html

NHAI seeks diversion of forest land in Bandipur

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has sought clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) for diversion of 24 acres of forests in Bandipur to expand the existing highway cutting through tiger reserve that connects to Ooty in Tamil Nadu.

The move has riled wildlife activists and environmentalists because the sub-committee on framing guidelines for roads in protected areas recommended in 2013 that the status quo of the roads passing through national parks and core critical tiger habitats “shall remain the same” and should be maintained or repaired in their “current form and width”. As per the ESZ notification for Bandipur dated October 4, 2012, widening of roads comes under regulated category and can be done provided there was a proper Environment Impact Assessment besides mitigatory measures.

Guruprasad Timmapur of Wildlife Matters said the project will further fragment Bandipur, which is one of the best protected tiger habitats in the country. “Two highways pass through Bandipur Tiger Reserve (NH-181 and NH-766) and the one proposed to be widened mostly caters to tourists travelling to Ooty and other areas. This highway already has a huge impact on wildlife by obstructing movement of animals, mortality of wildlife due to vehicular accidents, impact on wildlife behaviour, and pollution due to waste and noise,” said Mr. Timmapur.

👉https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/nhai-seeks-diversion-of-forest-land-in-bandipur/article36087367.ece

One Detained For Selling Leopard Skin, Nails In Odisha’s Kalahandi

The Kegaon Forest Range officials on Tuesday seized a leopard skin and nails from a person in Tingiripada village in Kalahandi district who has been detained for questioning.

However, the forest officials are yet to ascertain whether the recovered skin is original or counterfeit.

According to reports, officials from the Koregaon Forest Range were tipped off about a man trying to sell leopard skin in a village under their jurisdiction. Subsequently, they managed to apprehend the alleged trafficker and recovered a leopard skin and nails from his possession.

👉https://odishatv.in/news/crime/one-detained-for-selling-leopard-skin-nails-in-odisha-s-kalahandi-158251

A Comic Book For Children To Spread Awareness About The Endangered Nilgiri Tahr

The first of its kind comic book, authored by Arthy Muthanna Singh and Mamta Nainy, exclusively on the lesser-known species of the Nilgiris, was launched today by World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF India). The Nilgiri Tahr is the only mountain ungulate in southern India amongst the 12 species present in the country. A large part of the population has depleted from its historical range, and the existing population is under severe stress due to habitat loss and hunting.

“Valli’s Nilgiri Adventures” is an engaging comic book with colourful illustrations and a captivating storyline to garner the interests of children. Valli, the main character of a school-going girl, visits the Nilgiri’s on an education trip with her classmates. The book vividly brings to life the experiences she gains in the forests, sighting wildlife, including the elusive Nilgiri Tahr (state animal of Tamil Nadu). The book launch is part of WWF India’s year-long campaign to raise awareness among children, youth and the general public about the Nilgiri Tahr.

The comic which will be available both in English and Tamil was launched today by the Chess Grandmaster and WWF India’s Environment Education Ambassador, Mr. Viswanathan Anand and, Ms. Madhura Visweswaran, Tamil Nadu Philanthropy Ambassador, WWF India.

👉https://indiaeducationdiary.in/a-comic-book-for-children-to-spread-awareness-about-the-endangered-nilgiri-tahr/

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