‘Tiger numbers low due to decline in forest cover’
Anish Andheria, president of the Wildlife Conservation Trust, speaking at a Hindustan Times Environment Conclave session about finding balance between wildlife protection and development, said India still has habitat for tigers that goes beyond the areas supporting tigers today.
PUBLISHED ON JAN 22, 2021 06:41 AM IST
India has habitat to support about 10,000 tigers in the country, but tiger numbers are low due to the degradation of forests, and rapid and overlapping of development with tiger lands, wildlife experts said on Thursday at Hindustan Times Environment Conclave.
Anish Andheria, president of the Wildlife Conservation Trust, speaking at a session about finding balance between wildlife protection and development, said India still has habitat for tigers that goes beyond the areas supporting tigers today.
“India has done substantially well in the last All India Tiger Estimation but we have to see how every state performed. Only seven to eight states are responsible for the increase in the numbers, but most states have let down the tiger. This has happened largely because of habitat degradation, huge pressure of rapid development, and dependence of people on forests,” he said, adding that country has habitat to support about 10,000 tigers. He said the approximate figures from around 100 years ago show India had 40,000 tigers then, compared to which, the current numbers are very low.
Suggesting solutions to rising human-wildlife conflict, Kanchi Kohli, senior researcher with the Delhi-based the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) said that public participation while making policy decisions was crucial.
“...public interest in environmental policies has increased but along with that there have been aspects like shortening of time for public comments or not having enough public participation for projects near the border areas. But there is no shortcut to good decisions for the long term...,” said Kohli.
Animals fake death for long periods to escape predators: Study
ANI, Bristol [england]
PUBLISHED ON MAR 03, 2021 01:02 PM IST
A recent study by researchers from the University of Bristol has found that many animals fake death to try to escape their predators. With some individuals in prey species remaining motionless, if in danger, for extended lengths of time.
Climate crisis transformed Indian summer; the worst, say experts, is yet to come
By Jayashree Nandi, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON MAR 03, 2021 04:19 PM IST
The outlook for 2021 is worrying. According to IMD’s Monsoon Mission Coupled Forecasting System , the forecast suggests above-normal seasonal maximum and minimum temperatures are likely over most of India
Global energy-related emissions rise in December despite pandemic shutdowns
AP
PUBLISHED ON MAR 02, 2021 03:08 PM IST
Figures released Tuesday by the International Energy Agency show emissions from the production and use of oil, gas and coal were 2% higher in December 2020 than a year earlier.
Mumbai: Raw sewage dumping in Bhandup salt lakes, environmentalist seeks action
By Prayag Arora-Desai | Edited by Abhinav Sahay, Mumbai
UPDATED ON MAR 02, 2021 11:31 AM IST
- The road, HT learned, has been constructed by a contractor to facilitate the installation of new sewer lines, for which wastewater from existing sewers is being pumped out in the salt lakes.
Study: Sharp rise in extreme weather events in last 50 yrs
By Jayashree Nandi, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON MAR 02, 2021 04:14 AM IST
The paper, published in ScienceDirect journal on February 26, compared extreme weather events across two 20-year periods—1980-1999 and 2000-2019. The comparison highlighted an increase of 138% in heatwaves, 193% in lightning strikes, 25% in cold waves, 28% in floods, and a decrease of 19% in tropical cyclones.
Ridge body to discuss Metro and RRTS projects on March 5
By Soumya Pillai, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON MAR 02, 2021 03:59 AM IST
Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai approved the appointment of independent members to the board, Sohail Madan, the Delhi centre manager of the Bombay Natural History Society and Vivek Menon, chief executive officer of Wildlife Trust of India, last week.
Australian state bans plastic drinking straws and stirrers
AP, Adelaide, Australia
PUBLISHED ON MAR 01, 2021 06:28 PM IST
An Australian state on Monday became the first in the country to ban some single-used plastic items including drinking straws, stir sticks and cutlery.
In 2019, 50,000 environment-related cases remained pending in courts
By Jayashree Nandi
PUBLISHED ON MAR 01, 2021 06:46 AM IST
The analysis is part of Centre for Science and Environment's (CSE’s) annual review titled “State of India’s Environment 2021” released last week. Interestingly, the highest backlog was found in the cases related to The Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act, followed by The Indian Forest Act, Forest Conservation Act and the Noise Pollution Rules.
Don’t ignore climate change in North India
By Bharati Chaturvedi, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON MAR 01, 2021 05:19 AM IST
In both North India and Texas, climate change is causing sudden temperature changes that people cannot cope with.
Rain, thunderstorm likely over J&K, Uttarakhand, Himachal in next 24 hours
By Jayashree Nandi, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 09:08 AM IST
- No significant change in temperatures is likely over most parts of northwest, west and central India during the next 24 hours.
Weather experts weigh in on why spring gave Delhi a miss
By Jayashree Nandi, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 04:53 AM IST
Since Monday (till Saturday), maximum temperatures in Delhi have read: 28.9; 31.5; 32.5; 33.2; 33; and 31.7 degrees C. The situation is similar in most cities in the northern plains. Mumbai’s maximum temperature over the same period has ranged between 33.9 and 36.1 degrees C.
Study finds maternal instincts lead to social life of bees
ANI, Toronto [canada]
PUBLISHED ON FEB 27, 2021 06:39 PM IST
The maternal care of offspring is one of the behavioural drivers that has led some bee species to have an ever-expanding social life over the history of evolution.
Study suggests improving water quality could help conserve insectivorous birds
ANI, Cleveland (ohio) [us]
PUBLISHED ON FEB 27, 2021 01:14 PM IST
A new study is one of the first to find evidence for a causal link between the decline of insectivorous birds, the decline of emergent aquatic insects, and poor water quality.
Disaster in the Himalayas: how a rare February landslide left more than 200 dead
Reuters, New Delhi
UPDATED ON FEB 26, 2021 07:06 PM IST
A landslide 20 kilometres west of Nanda Devi, India's second-highest peak, resulted in a flash flood on Feb. 7 that left more than 200 dead, and swept away two state hydro-electric projects.
Dinosaur 'teenage terrors' crowded out the competition
Reuters, Washington Dc
UPDATED ON FEB 26, 2021 01:26 PM IST
Carnivorous dinosaurs came from a group called theropods. The largest were the megatheropods, bipedal brutes with large skulls, strong jaws and menacing teeth.