From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Nilgiri Tahr
Mains level: Not Much
Central Idea
In a continued effort to conserve the Nilgiri Tahr, Tamil Nadu launched Project Nilgiri Tahr last year.
Now, the state is focusing on establishing a standardized protocol with Kerala for counting the population of this endangered species.
About Nilgiri Tahr
IUCN Conservation Status: Endangered
Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972: Schedule I
It is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern portion of the Western Ghats in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in Southern India.
It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu.
The Nilgiri tahr inhabits the open montane grassland habitat of the South Western Ghats montane rain forests eco-region.
At elevations from 1,200 to 2,600 metres (3,900 to 8,500 ft), the forests open into grasslands interspersed with pockets of stunted forests, locally known as sholas.
Eravikulam National Park is home to the largest population of this Tahr.
It is estimated that there are 3,122 Nilgiri Tahrs in the wild. It has become locally extinct in around 14% of its traditional shola forest-grassland habitat.
Nilgiri Tahr Conservation Project
Under The Nilgiri Tahr project, TN government plans to develop a better understanding of the Nilgiri Tahr population through-
Surveys and radio telemetry studies;
Reintroduce the Tahrs to their historical habitat;
Address proximate threats; and
Increase public awareness of the species.
The project is to be implemented from 2022 to 2027.
Furthermore, October 7 will be celebrated as ‘Niligiri Tahr Day’ in honour of E.R.C. Davidar, who was responsible for pioneering one of the first studies of the species in 1975.
Historic significance of Nilgiri Tahr
There are multiple references to the Nilgiri Tahr in Tamil Sangam literature dating back to 2,000 years.
The late Mesolithic (10,000-4,000 BC) paintings highlight the significance of the Tahr in folklore, culture and life.
It was designated as the State animal in recognition of its ecological and cultural significance.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Gurnards or Sea-robins
Mains level: NA
Central Idea
Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have unveiled a captivating discovery— Gurnards, a new species of deep water marine fish, displaying a striking orange hue.
This remarkable find was made off the coast of Digha Mohana in West Bengal.
Gurnards or Sea-robins
The newfound species falls within the Triglidae family, commonly referred to as gurnards or sea-robins.
Named Pterygotrigla intermedica, this species exhibits distinct characteristics that set it apart from its counterparts, such as Pterygotrigla hemisticta.
It marks the fourth species within the Pterygotrigla genus to be reported in India.
This family boasts a global diversity with a total of 178 species, emphasizing the significance of this discovery.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Mithun/Gayal
Mains level: NA
Central Idea
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recently recognized the mithun as a ‘food animal,’ opening doors for its commercial use.
About Mithun
The Mithun, also known as the Gayal (scientifically Bos frontalis), is believed to have evolved from the Indian Gaur or bison.
It was first described in 1804 by Aylmer Bourke Lambert.
It holds significant cultural and socio-economic importance among tribes like the Nyishi, Apatani, Galo, and Adi in Arunachal Pradesh.
Its habitat spans Northeast India, Bangladesh, northern Myanmar, and Yunnan, China.
It is often referred to as the ‘cattle of the mountain.’
The gayal serves as the state animal of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
Conservation status
IUCN: Vulnerable
CITES: Appendix I.
Recognition as a ‘Food Animal’
This move has sparked efforts to help farmers and tribal communities benefit economically from the sale and processing of mithun meat.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has introduced the M-ANITRA app, facilitating the registration of Mithun farmers as both “buyers” and “sellers” to engage in competitive trade.
Mithun farmers from various villages in Northeast India have been participating in training programs conducted by organizations like the ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun.
Farmers are adopting practices to protect mithun, including enclosures, night shelters, and vaccinations.
Mithuns, when sold as meat, can fetch high prices, with an average selling price of Rs 300 per kg.
The opportunity to commercially sell mithun meat is generating excitement among farmers.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Red Sand Boa
Mains level: Not Much
Central Idea
A recent report by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)-India exposes 172 incidents of red sand boa (Eryx johnii) seizures spanning 2016-2021.
It is illicitly traded under the notion of its role in black magic practices.
About Red Sand Boa
The Red Sand Boa is a rare non-poisonous snake with applications in medicine, cosmetics, and even black magic, making it highly valued in the global market.
Among the general public, it is referred to as the “Two-headed Snake” due to its thick tail with a rounded tip, resembling two heads.
Conservation Status
Trading and possessing the red sand boa violate the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
The species is categorized in Schedule IV of the WPA.
Additionally, the red sand boa is listed in Appendix II of CITES.
It holds a ‘Near Threatened’ classification by the IUCN, with a diminishing population trend.
Prime moving factor for trade: Social Media
The study underscores the pivotal role of social media, particularly platforms like YouTube, as conduits for illegal trade.
YouTube videos act as interfaces for buyers and sellers, occasionally facilitating transactions via WhatsApp.
In 2021, approximately 200 videos advertising sand boas for sale on YouTube were identified.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Tachymenoides harrisonfordi
Mains level: Not Much
Central Idea
The snake, known as Tachymenoides harrisonfordi, was named after Harrison Ford for his commitment to environmental advocacy.
Tachymenoides harrisonfordi
It is a snake species that was named in honour of the actor Harrison Ford.
This naming was a recognition of Ford’s dedication to environmental advocacy.
Its characteristics include:
Physical Attributes: Tachymenoides Harrisonfordi measures approximately 16 inches (40.6 centimetres) and features a yellowish-brown colour with scattered black blotches.
Distinctive Features: The snake boasts a black belly, a vertical streak above its copper-coloured eye, and unique markings that contribute to its identity.
Habitat and Elevation: The sole specimen, a male snake, was found sunbathing in a marsh at an altitude of 3,248 meters above sea level.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Tharosaurus Indicus
Mains level: NA
Central Idea
The fossilized remains of an ancient, plant-eating dicraeosaurid dinosaur named ‘Tharosaurus Indicus’ were recently recovered near Jaisalmer.
Tharosaurus Indicus
Tharosaurus indicus is the name given to an ancient species of dinosaur discovered in the Thar Desert region of Jaisalmer, India.
It is a type of dicraeosaurid dinosaur, which was a group of long-necked, plant-eating dinosaurs that lived during the Jurassic period.
The fossils of Tharosaurus indicus were found to be around 167 million years old, making them one of the oldest known dicraeosaurids and diplodocoids globally.
Significance of the discovery
Dicraeosaurids are characterized by their relatively shorter necks compared to other sauropod dinosaurs and were known for their unique body proportions.
This newly discovered species provides valuable insights into the diversity of prehistoric life that existed in the region during ancient times.
The name “Tharosaurus indicus” reflects its origin, with “Thar” referring to the Thar Desert and “indicus” indicating its origin in India.
This discovery showcases India’s historical significance in the field of paleontology and contributes to our understanding of dinosaur evolution on a global scale.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Indian Eagle Owl
Mains level: Not Much
Central Idea
The Indian eagle owl was recently classified species distinct from the Eurasian eagle owl.
Indian Eagle-Owl
The Indian eagle-owl or rock eagle-owl, is a large horned owl species native to hilly and rocky scrub forests in the Indian Subcontinent.
It is splashed with brown and grey, and has a white throat patch with black small stripes.
Conservation Status: Least Concerned (IUCN), Appendix II (CITES)
Key features
Distinct Species: Classified separately from the Eurasian eagle-owl, the Indian eagle-owl stands out with its imposing size, reaching up to two and a half feet in length and six feet in wingspan.
Nocturnal Secrets: Due to its nocturnal nature, limited knowledge is available about the bird, contributing to its aura of mystery.
Menacing Appearance: Prominent ear tufts resembling horns may have evolved to deter predators, giving the bird a threatening appearance.
Threats from Superstitions
In rural India, the bird is considered a bearer of ill omens, and its loud double-hoot calls are linked to superstitions.
Folklore suggests that when trapped and starved, the Indian eagle-owl could speak in a human voice, foretelling the future of its listeners.
Ecological significance
The Indian eagle owl’s diet of rodents, including rats and bandicoots, aligns well with open scrublands and agricultural regions, making it beneficial for farmers.
Owls nesting near agricultural lands have shown higher numbers of healthier owlets due to the abundance of rodents.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Clouded Leopard
Mains level: NA
Central Idea
International Clouded Leopard Day has been celebrated on 4th August since 2018.
Scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have conducted a study on clouded leopards in Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve in western Assam.
About Clouded Leopard
The clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is a wild cat found in dense forests from the foothills of the Himalayas to mainland Southeast Asia and South China.
It has large dusky-grey blotches and irregular spots and stripes on a dark grey or ochreous fur, resembling clouds, hence its name.
It is the first cat that genetically diverged from the common ancestor of the pantherine cats around 9.32 to 4.47 million years ago.
Currently, the clouded leopard is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
It is listed in CITES Appendix I, and protected in most of its range.
Habitat in India
It inhabits dense forests in states such as Sikkim, northern West Bengal, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh.
It is the State animal of Meghalaya (Note: Clouded Leopard National Park is located in Tripura).
Features of Clouded Leopards
The mainland clouded leopard is agile and strong, often compared to the Ice Age sabretooth due to its large canines.
It has rotating rear ankles that enable it to climb down headfirst from trees, distinguishing it from other felines.
The cat has cloud-like spots on its hide, making it easily identifiable.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Perucetus Colossus Whale
Mains level: NA
Central Idea
Scientists have unearthed fossils of an ancient giant whale species named Perucetus colossus in Peru.
With each vertebra weighing over 100 kgs and ribs measuring nearly 5 feet long, this colossal whale poses a potential contender for the title of the heaviest animal to have ever lived.
About Perucetus Colossus Whale
Discovery: Fossils of Perucetus colossus (lived approximately 39 million years ago) were found more than a decade ago in Peru’s Ica desert, a region known for its rich marine fossils.
Enormous Size: The whale’s estimated length was around 66 feet (20 meters), shorter than some blue whales that grow over 100 feet.
Unique Weight: The ancient giant’s dense and heavy bones contributed to its impressive estimated weight, making it a slow swimmer, most likely dwelling in shallow, coastal waters.
Feeding Habits: Without the discovery of the skull, scientists are uncertain about the whale’s diet, speculating it may have scavenged on the seafloor or consumed vast amounts of krill and other marine organisms.
Significance
Heaviest Known Animal: If confirmed, Perucetus colossus could surpass the blue whale’s title as the heaviest known animal, living or extinct.
Evolutionary Significance: The species highlights the capacity of evolution to generate organisms with characteristics beyond human imagination.
Paleontological Mystery: The absence of skull and tooth remains leaves the feeding behavior and ecological role of this ancient giant open to further investigation.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Atlantic Menhaden
Mains level: Not Much
Central Idea
Researchers have discovered that the population of ospreys, a fish-eating bird, is facing a decline due to the decreasing numbers of Atlantic menhaden, their primary food source.
The depletion of menhaden, a small silvery fish, is attributed to commercial fishing practices.
The decline in osprey reproduction reflects the broader ecological impact of reduced menhaden numbers.
About Atlantic Menhaden
Atlantic menhaden, scientifically known as Brevoortia tyrannus, is a species of fish belonging to the Clupeidae family.
They are commonly found along the Atlantic coast of North America, ranging from Florida to Nova Scotia.
Atlantic menhaden play a vital ecological role and have significant commercial and ecological importance.
Importance of Atlantic Menhaden
Role in Coastal Ecosystem: Menhaden play a crucial role in the ecology of coastal waters along the Eastern Seaboard, providing sustenance for larger fish, marine mammals, and birds.
Nutrient-Rich and Filtering Capacity: Menhaden are nutrient-rich, containing omega-3 fatty acids, and they filter substantial quantities of ocean water while consuming smaller organisms like plankton.
Commercial Fishing Impact
Increased Catch Allowance: The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission raised the allowable catch of menhaden to 233,550 metric tons for the next two years, a 20% increase from previous years.
Fishery Quota: The commission maintained a quota of 51,000 metric tons for the Chesapeake Bay’s reduction fishery, where menhaden are used for bait and fish products.
Ecological Concerns: Critics argue that the removal of significant menhaden quantities is degrading the ecosystem, negatively affecting species like ospreys and striped bass that rely on menhaden.
Low Reproductive Numbers and Menhaden Depletion
In mid-June, researchers found only three young ospreys out of 84 nests checked in Mobjack Bay, part of the Chesapeake Bay.
Scientists at the College of William & Mary, monitoring the local osprey population for over 50 years, recorded the lowest reproductive number.
The decline in breeding success is attributed to the depletion of Atlantic menhaden, the osprey’s primary food source.
Lawsuit and Ecosystem Protection
Recreational Fishermen Lawsuit: A group of recreational fishermen from Maryland sued the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, claiming it contributed to the menhaden decline by endorsing quotas that harm fish populations and the recreational fishing industry.
Commercial Fishing Practices: Critics highlight the negative impact of industrial techniques used by companies like Omega Protein, which catch menhaden in unsustainable quantities, contributing to the decline of other species and damaging ecosystems.
Restoring Menhaden Stocks: Non-profit organizations advocate for rebuilding menhaden populations along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts to maintain a balanced ecosystem.
Positive Signs beyond Chesapeake Bay
Menhaden Recovery: Outside the Chesapeake Bay, menhaden populations have increased since the Atlantic commission took measures to address overfishing in 2012, leading to a recovery of the fish population within two years.
Ecological Impact: The recovery of menhaden populations has brought back various predators such as humpback whales, tuna, sharks, and bald eagles off the coasts of New York and New Jersey.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: New Species and New Records 2023
Mains level: Not Much
Central Idea
India’s faunal database expands with the addition of 664 animal species in 2022.
The database also includes 339 new plant taxa, comprising new species and distributional records.
Report- New Species and New Records 2023
The faunal discoveries have been compiled in a publication by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) titled “Animal Discoveries – New Species and New Records 2023.”
[A] Faunal Discoveries
Major discoveries include new species and records of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.
Mammals: Three new species and one new record, including two species of bats from Meghalaya.
Birds: Two new records, such as the yellow-rumped flycatcher in the Andaman archipelago.
Reptiles: Thirty new species and two new records.
Amphibians: Six new species and one new record.
Fish: Twenty-eight new species and eight new records.
Invertebrates constitute the majority of new faunal discoveries, with insects comprising 384 species.
Vertebrates account for 81 species, with fish being the most dominant group.
Notable species
Sela macaque (Macaca selai): A new macaque species discovered in Arunachal Pradesh.
Macaca leucogenys: A white-cheeked macaque sighted in India for the first time.
Glischropus meghalayanus: A bamboo-dwelling bat species from Meghalaya.
Ficedula zanthopygia: The yellow-rumped flycatcher recorded in the Andaman archipelago.
Distribution of New Faunal Discoveries
The fauna diversity of the country increased to 1,03,922 species.
Kerala: Recorded the maximum number of new species, accounting for 14.6% of all new discoveries.
Karnataka: Followed with 13.2% of new species and records.
Tamil Nadu: Contributed 12.6% of all new discoveries and records.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Accounted for about 8.4% of the discoveries.
West Bengal: Represented 7.6% of the new discoveries.
Arunachal Pradesh: Contributes 5.7% of the new discoveries.
[B] Floral Discoveries
The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) published “Plant Discoveries 2022,” which includes 339 new plant taxa.
These discoveries consist of new species and distributional records.
The discoveries encompass seed plants, fungi, lichen, algae, bryophytes, microbes, and pteridophytes.
Seed plants comprise the majority, with dicotyledons contributing 73% and monocotyledons 27%.
Western Himalayas and Western Ghats are prominent regions for plant discoveries.
Kerala recorded the highest number of plant discoveries (57), accounting for 16.8% of all discoveries.
The plant discoveries include wild relatives of potential horticultural, agricultural, medicinal, and ornamental plants.
Notable Floral Discoveries
Nandadevia Pusalkar: A genus common in the Uttarakhand Himalayas.
Nilgiriella Pusalkar: An endemic genus found in the southern Western Ghats.
Calanthe lamellosa: An orchid species recorded for the first time in India, found in Nagaland.
Conclusion
By compiling these new discoveries and records, India continues to expand its knowledge of its faunal and floral diversity, emphasizing the importance of conservation efforts.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: IUCN
Mains level: Not Much
Three medicinal plant species found in the Himalayas have made it to IUCN Red List of Threatened Species following a recent assessment.
Species assessed-
Meizotropis pellita : ‘Critically Endangered’
Fritilloria cirrhosa : ‘Vulnerable’
Dactylorhiza hatagirea : ‘Endangered’
(1) Meizotropis pellita
Commonly known as Patwa, is a perennial shrub with restricted distribution that is endemic to Uttarakhand.
The species is listed as ‘critically endangered’ based on its limited area of occupancy (less than 10 sq. km)
The species is threatened by deforestation, habitat fragmentation and forest fires.
The essential oil extracted from the leaves of the species possesses strong antioxidants and can be a promising natural substitute for synthetic antioxidants in pharmaceutical industries.
(2) Fritillaria cirrhosa
Also called, Himalayan fritillary, it is a perennial bulbous herb.
It is reasonable to conclude a decline of at least 30% of its population over the assessment period (22 to 26 years).
Considering the rate of decline, long generation length, poor germination potential, high trade value, extensive harvesting pressure and illegal trade, the species is listed as ‘vulnerable’.
In China, the species is used for the treatment of bronchial disorders and pneumonia.
The plant is also a strong cough suppressant and source of expectorant drugs in traditional Chinese medicine.
(3) Dactylorhiza hatagirea
Known as Salampanja, it is threatened by habitat loss, livestock grazing, deforestation, and climate change.
It is extensively used in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and other alternative systems of medicine to cure dysentery, gastritis, chronic fever, cough and stomach aches.
It is a perennial tuberous species endemic to the Hindu Kush and Himalayan ranges of Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.
Back2Basics:IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species founded in 1964, has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species.
It uses a set of criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of thousands of all species and subspecies.
A series of Regional Red Lists are produced by countries or organizations, which assess the risk of extinction to species within a political management unit.
The IUCN aims to have the category of every species re-evaluated every five years if possible, or at least every ten years.
For plants, the 1997 Red List is the most important source.
The formally stated goals of the Red List are-
to provide scientifically based information on the status of species and subspecies at a global level,
to draw attention to the magnitude and importance of threatened biodiversity,
to influence national and international policy and decision-making, and
to provide information to guide actions to conserve biological diversity.
Red List Categories of IUCN
Species are classified by the IUCN Red List into nine groups specified through criteria such as rate of decline, population size, area of geographic distribution, and degree of population and distribution fragmentation. They are:
Extinct (EX) – beyond reasonable doubt that the species is no longer extant.
Extinct in the wild (EW) – survives only in captivity, cultivation and/or outside native range, as presumed after exhaustive surveys.
Critically endangered (CR) – in a particularly and extremely critical state.
Endangered (EN) – very high risk of extinction in the wild, meets any of criteria A to E for Endangered.
Vulnerable (VU) – meets one of the 5 red list criteria and thus considered to be at high risk of unnatural (human-caused) extinction without further human intervention.
Near threatened (NT) – close to being at high risk of extinction in the near future.
Least concern (LC) – unlikely to become extinct in the near future.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Great Indian Bustard
Mains level: Not Much
The Supreme Court sought the government’s response about evolving a ‘Project Great Indian Bustard’ conservation program like the ‘Project Tiger’ to bring attention to the peril faced by the critically endangered bird species.
Great Indian Bustards
GIBs are the largest among the four bustard species found in India, the other three being MacQueen’s bustard, lesser florican, and the Bengal florican.
GIBs’ historic range included much of the Indian sub-continent but it has now shrunken to just 10 percent of it. Among the heaviest birds with flight, GIBs prefer grasslands as their habitats.
GIBs are considered the flagship bird species of grassland.
On the brink of extinction
The GIB population in India had fallen to just 150.
Pakistan is also believed to host a few GIBs and yet openly supports their hunting.
Protection accorded
Birdlife International: uplisted from Endangered to Critically Endangered (2011)
Protection under CITES: Appendix I
IUCN status: Critically Endangered
Protection under Wildlife (Protection) Act: Schedule I
Threats
Overhead power transmission
Poor vision: Due to their poor frontal vision, can’t detect powerlines in time and their weight makes in-flight quick maneuvers difficult.
Windmills: Coincidentally, Kutch and Thar desert are the places that have witnessed the creation of huge renewable energy infrastructure.
Noise pollution: Noise affects the mating and courtship practices of the GIB.
Changes in the landscape: by way of farmers cultivating their land, which otherwise used to remain fallow due to frequent droughts in Kutch.
Cultivation changes: Cultivation of cotton and wheat instead of pulses and fodder are also cited as reasons for falling GIB numbers.
Supreme Court’s intervention
The Supreme Court has ordered that all overhead power transmission lines in core and potential GIB habitats in Rajasthan and Gujarat should be undergrounded.
The SC also formed a three-member committee to help power companies comply with the order.
Conservation measures
In 2015, the Central government launched the GIB species recovery program.
Under the program, the WII and Rajasthan Forest departments have jointly set up conservation breeding centers where GIB eggs are harvested from the wild.
They have been incubated artificially and hatchlings raised in a controlled environment.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Himalayan Langur
Mains level: Not Much
Differences in altitude make a primate species in the same Himalayan habitat choose between flowers and fruits as food options beyond their staple menu of leaves, a new study has revealed.
Himalayan Gray Langur
The Himalayan (Kashmir) Gray Langur or the Chamba Sacred Langur (Semnopithecus ajax) is a colobine, meaning leaf-eating monkey.
It is considered an endangered species in IUCN red list.
According to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the langur is a protected species under Schedule II.
Globally, its population is estimated to be less than 1,500 mature individuals in 15-20 groups.
Protection measures
The Gray Langur was once considered a sub-species of the Semnopithecus entellus, commonly known as the Bengal Sacred Langur or Hanuman Langur, but it was separated as a species in 2005.
Two protected habitats of the species namely Machiara National Park and Dachigam National Park are located in politically disturbed areas.
Machiara National park is in Pak-Occupied Kashmir where there is very little scope for scientific inputs.
Try this PYQ:
Q.Which one of the following groups of animals belongs to the category of endangered species?
(a) Great Indian Bustard, Musk Deer, Red Panda, Asiatic Wild Ass
(b) Kashmir Stag, Cheetah, Blue Bull, Great Indian Bustard.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Indian Rhino
Mains level: Not Much
The horns of rhinoceroses may have become smaller over time from the impact of hunting, according to a recent study spanning more than five centuries.
About Indian Rhino
The Indian rhinoceros also called the greater one-horned rhinoceros and great Indian rhinoceros is a rhinoceros native to the Indian subcontinent.
It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and Schedule I animal in the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
It once ranged across the entire northern part of the Indian Subcontinent, along the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra River basins, from Pakistan to the Indian-Myanmar border.
Poaching for rhinoceros horn became the single most important reason for the decline of the Indian rhino.
Why are Rhinos poached for horns?
Ground rhino horn is used in traditional Chinese medicine to cure a range of ailments, from cancer to hangovers, and also as an aphrodisiac.
In Vietnam, possessing a rhino horn is considered a status symbol.
Due to demand in these countries, poaching pressure on rhinos is ever persistent against which one cannot let the guard down.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Amur Falcon
Mains level: NA
The Amur falcons have begun to arrive in Manipur after travelling over 20,000 km.
Amur Falcon
The Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) is a small raptor of the falcon family.
It breeds in south-eastern Siberia and Northern China before migrating in large flocks across India and over the Arabian Sea to winter in Southern and East Africa.
How it migrates?
Locally known as Akhuipuina, the bird arrives mainly in Manipur and Nagaland on its southbound migration from breeding grounds in North China, Eastern Mongolia and far-east Russia.
They travel to Manipur en-route to its wintering grounds in South Africa.
The one-way journey via India is about 20,000 km long and the birds do this twice a year.
They spend three-four weeks in many parts of Manipur to build fat reserves by preying on termites that emerge around this time.
Conservation status
It is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and included under its Schedule IV.
It is listed in the IUCN Red list as Least Concern.
Hunting of the birds or possessing its meat is punishable with imprisonment up to three years or a fine up to Rs 5,000.
In 2018, the forest department started a conservation programme by radio-tagging the birds to study their migratory route.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Gangetic Dolphin
Mains level: Not Much
Dolphins have started coming back to the Ganga with improvement in the quality of the river water made possible by the Namami Gange Programme.
About Gangetic Dolphin
The Gangetic river system is home to a vast variety of aquatic life, including the Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica).
It is one of five species of river dolphin found around the world.
It is found mainly in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems.
An adult dolphin could weigh between 70 kg and 90 kg. The breeding season of the Gangetic dolphin extends from January to June.
They feed on several species of fishes, invertebrates etc.
Threats to Gangetic dolphins
The construction of dams and barrages and increasing pollution has led to a decline in the population of aquatic animals in the rivers in general and of dolphins in particular.
Aquatic life is an indicator of the health of river ecosystems.
As the Gangetic dolphin is at the top of the food chain, protecting the species and its habitat will ensure
How are they conserved?
Although efforts to save them were started in the mid-1980s, the estimates suggest the numbers have not risen as a result.
The Gangetic dolphin remains listed as Endangered by the IUCN.
After the launch of Ganga Action Plan in 1985, the government on November 24, 1986, included Gangetic dolphins in the First Scheduleof the Indian Wildlife (Protection), Act 1972.
This was aimed at checking hunting and providing conservation facilities such as wildlife sanctuaries.
For instance, Vikramshila Ganges Dolphin Sanctuary was established in Bihar under this Act.
It has been recognized as National Aquatic Animal of India.
Policy moves for conservation
The government had prepared The Conservation Action Plan for the Ganges River Dolphin 2010-2020.
The National Mission for Clean Ganga celebrates October 5 as National Ganga River Dolphin Day.
There is also Project Dolphin on the lines of Project Tiger, which has helped increase the tiger population.
Try this PYQ:
Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Fishing Cats
Mains level: Not Much
The Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, has 176 fishing cats, according to a census done by the Chilika Development Authority (CDA) in collaboration with the Fishing Cat Project (TFCP).
About Fishing Cats
About twice the size of a typical house cat, the fishing cat is a feline with a powerful build and stocky legs.
It is an adept swimmer and enters water frequently to prey on fish as its name suggests.
It is known to even dive to catch fish.
It is nocturnal and apart from fish also preys on frogs, crustaceans, snakes, birds, and scavenges on carcasses of larger animals.
It is capable of breeding all year round but in India its peak breeding season is known to be between March and May.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Endangered
CITES: Appendix II
Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
Various threats
One of the major threats facing the fishing cat is the destruction of wetlands, which is its preferred habitat.
As a result of human settlement, drainage for agriculture, pollution, and wood-cutting most of the wetlands in India are under threat of destruction.
Another threat to the fishing cat is the depletion of its main prey-fish due to unsustainable fishing practices.
It is also occasionally poached for its skin.
Back2Basics: Chilika Lake
Chilika Lake is a brackish water lagoon, spread over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha.
It is located at the mouth of the Daya River, flowing into the Bay of Bengal, covering an area of over 1,100 km2.
It is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the largest brackish water lagoon in the world after The New Caledonian barrier reef.
It has been listed Ramsar Site as well as a tentative UNESCO World Heritage site.
Its formation
The process of the formation of the Chilika might have begun in the latter part of the Pleistocene epoch, around 20,000 years ago.
India’s peninsular river Mahanadi carried a heavy load of silt and dumped part of it at its delta.
As the sediment-laden river met the Bay of Bengal, sand bars were formed near its mouth.
These created a backflow of the seawater into the sluggish fresh water at the estuary, resulting in the huge brackish water lake.
Marine archaeological studies on the Odisha coast clearly show that the Chilika once acted as a safe harbor for cargo ships bound for Southeast Asia and other parts of the world.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Posidonia Australis
Mains level: Not Much
The world’s largest plant has recently been discovered off the West Coast of Australia: a seagrass 180 km in length.
Posidonia australis
The ribbon weed, or Posidonia australis, has been discovered in Shark Bay by a group of researchers from Flinders University and The University of Western Australia.
These researchers have also found that the plant is 4,500 years old, is sterile, has double the number of chromosomes than other similar plants.
It has managed to survive the volatile atmosphere of the shallow Shark Bay.
So how remarkable is this plant’s size?
The ribbon weed covers an area of 20,000 hectares.
The next on the podium, the second largest plant, is the clonal colony of a quaking Aspen tree in Utah, which covers 43.6 hectares.
The largest tree in India, the Great Banyan in Howrah’s Botanical Garden, covers 1.41 hectares.
If it is so large, how come it has just been discovered?
The existence of the seagrass was known, that it is one single plant was not.
Researchers were interested in what they then thought was a meadow because they wanted to study its genetic diversity, and collect some parts for seagrass restoration.
How did it grow, and survive for, so long?
Sometime in the Harappan era, a plant took root in the Shark Bay.
Then it kept spreading through its rhizomes, overcoming everything in its way, and here we are today.
Ribbon weed rhizomes can usually grow to around 35cm per year, which is how the scientists arrived at its lifespan of 4,5000 years.
The researchers found that the ribbon weed cannot spread its seeds, something that helps plants overcome environmental threats.
Also, Shark Bay sees fluctuations in temperature and salinity and gets a lot of light, conditions challenging for any plant.
Ecological significance
Because seagrass performs a vital role in the environment, and if some of it is hardy, it is good news for everyone in a world threatened by climate change.
In India, seagrass is found in many coastal areas, most notably in Gulf of Mannar and Palk Strait.
Apart from being home to a variety of small organisms, seagrass trap sediments and prevent water from getting muddy, absorb carbon from the atmosphere, and prevent coastal erosion.
