Guest guest Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 1. Legless amphibian discovered in Karnataka Published News by admin [ http://www.wildlifewatch.in/news/648 ] Zoologists have discovered a new species of legless amphibian in northern Karnataka which vacates its marshy habitat at the slightest hint of pollution. Two independent researchers who teamed up with scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) came across the unique species at the Mahadayi Wildlife Sanctuary which falls in the biodiversity-rich Western Ghats region, says a Press Trust of India (PTI) report. " It is commonly known as a two-headed snake but a closer look brings out the ringed nature of the amphibian creature, " Gopalkrishna Bhatta, an independent researcher, told PTI from Shimoga in Karnataka. Besides Bhatta, K P Dinesh of the Zoological Survey of India, P Prashanth of the Agumbe Rain forest Research Station and another independent researcher Goa-based Nirmal Kulkarni took part in the study. --- 2. Uttarakhand forests valued at $2.4 billion Published News by admin [ http://www.wildlifewatch.in/news/649 ] The forests in Uttarakhand have been valued at $2.4 billion (Rs 10,700 crore) per year in terms of the services they provide. This needs to be recognised and compensated, the Hindu BusinessLine has reported quoting a study released in New Delhi on Saturday. Globally, it is estimated that the current economic value of the services provided by the earth's ecosystems is at least $33 trillion per year. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2003, has defined Ecosystem Services (ESs) as a wide range of conditions and processes through which natural ecosystems, and species that make them up, sustain and fulfil human life. More on this valuation: Thirty-two such services, including carbon sequestration, climate management, hydrological regulation, timber, firewood, soil conservation, pollination and other non-timber forest produces (NTFPs) have been identified so far, the study said. --- 3. Tiger victims get ex gratia payment in Maharashtra Published News by admin [ http://www.wildlifewatch.in/news/650 ] The relatives of the tiger attack victims in six ranges of Brahmapuri Forest Division in Maharashtra were paid over Rs 22.89 lakh as compensation on Saturday, the Times of India has reported. The cheques were distributed to 38 families at Talodi forest range office by Chandrapur district guardian minister Anees Ahmed. During 2007, eight persons were killed in tiger attacks and nine were injured. Most of these are in Brahmapuri division, specially in affected Nagbhid-Talodi range. The MLAs demanded to hike compensation to the next of the kin of those killed by wild animals from existing Rs 2 lakh. " The government should treat human deaths due to wildlife as a natural calamity and such funds should be yearly given to the forest department, " said Fadnavis. More on the compensation: --- 4. Tigers in Sunderbans to get radio collars Published News by admin [ http://www.wildlifewatch.in/news/651 ] Radio collars will be used for the first time for a tiger census in the Sunderbans this winter. Arrangements are being made and a blue-print is being chalked out for the project, the Times of India has reported. The emerging data will be integrated into an existing software that is being used to count tigers at the mangrove forest. The new technology might confirm an increase in tiger population in the Sunderbans, the state forest department has claimed. Details: Initially, the forest department has received permission for collaring two male and two female tigers. These animals will be tranquilized and fitted with the instruments. By tracking the signals from the collars, their movements are going to be monitored over a period of time. " The idea is to gauge the area that the tigers cover within the forest. This is known as their home range and unless we have this data, it is impossible to arrive at a correct figure, " said principal chief conservator of forests Atanu Raha. --- 5. Wild animal fear grips village near Jalandhar Published News by admin [ http://www.wildlifewatch.in/news/652 ] Panic gripped a village near Jalandhar city as a wild animal seriously injured a villager reportedly by attacking him on Sunday morning, the Times of India has reported. The victim, identified as Vijay Kumar a resident of Pholariwal village, has been admitted to the local civil hospital. The victim said early in the morning, when he went to the fields of the village to relieve himself, he saw an animal, which he could not identify, moving towards him amidst the fog. He said thinking that it might be a dog, he tried to stray it away but suddenly that animal, which he claimed was either a lion or a leopard, jumped and injured him badly due to which he got many stitches on his face and head. Claiming that due to the sudden attack he could not identify the animal, a visibly terrified Vijay said the animal further moved towards a vacant plot in the village. --- 6. Sandalwood smuggling unabated in Karnataka Published News by admin [ http://www.wildlifewatch.in/news/653 ] The seizure of sandalwood from a well-known artefacts dealer who had stored it without valid permit has once again highlighted the fact that illegal trade thrives in the city despite shortage of wood reported by the forest department, says a report in the Hindu. Details about this thriving racket: " Some dealers in Bangalore have a network of agents through whom they operate. Logs change hands several times before the agents procure them for a dealer in Bangalore. Small logs are then distributed to expert craftsmen, who are found in big numbers in Bangalore, " an official familiar with sandalwood smuggling told The Hindu. Sources in the department said sandalwood found its way to Bangalore from forests of Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Hassan, Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts where it was found in plenty. " Once the vehicles carrying the precious wood logs hit the highway, it is difficult to catch the culprits, " the official said. --- 7. Hyena found dead near railway tracks in WB Published News by admin [ http://www.wildlifewatch.in/news/654 ] Forest officials recovered the body of a dead hyena from a place near Rupnarayanpur town in West Bengal early Monday morning. This was the fourth hyena casualty recorded in the Bengal-Jharkhand bordering area in the last three years, the Statesman has reported. Only last August a full-grown hyena was beaten to death by Kanyapur locals after trespassing into a domestic area. More about this: In the wee hours today the morning walkers found the dead hyena lying beside the railway track in Jemari village near Rupnarayanpur. The animal, according to the locals like Mr Swarup Pal: " Had no major injury to authenticate that it might have been crushed by a speeding train. " Though, as he said: " It had a mark of injury on its lower leg. " The animal's body was later seized by the forest officials. The hyena is preserved under schedule 3 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and killing the animal is an offence subjected to severe penalty. --- 8. Govt wants to shift lions outside Gujarat to save them from extinction Published News by admin [ http://www.wildlifewatch.in/news/655 ] The Centre wants to shift some lions from Gir to other parts in India. Officials say the single population in Gir faces risk of extinction in the event of any outbreak of virus or any other deadly disease, the Indian Express has reported. This is why the Gir lions, the only remaining Asiatic lion species, should have habitats far and apart, said Meena Gupta, Union Forest and Environment Secretary. But the state government is opposing the proposal tooth and nail despite the death of a number of lions in the region in the recent past due to reasons as diverse as electrocution, or falling into a well. More about the plans: Elsewhere, Gupta, who is now in Ahmedabad to attend an international conference on environmental education, is convinced that the state government will see logic in her arguments and give the matter more thought in the interest of the survival of this rare species. --- 9. Pull out Published Image by admin [ http://www.wildlifewatch.in/images/656 ] Zoo staff move a crocodile from its open enclosure to a hothouse in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang province October 29, 2007. The crocodiles in the zoo were being transferred to a more comfortable habitat for the winter. (Reuters/China Daily) --- 10. Mane in the wind Published Image by admin [ http://www.wildlifewatch.in/images/657 ] A male lion's mane is blown in the wind, Sunday, November 25, 2007 in the Nairobi national park 10 km from downtown Nairobi, Kenya. (AP/Karel Prinsloo) -- <www.pfaharyana.in> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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