Infra work at Bangalore University fully compliant with regulations, eco-harm claims misleading, says VC
Clarifying allegations regarding tree felling, Vice-Chancellor Dr Jayakara SM, at a press conference, stated that the proposed construction site is not part of its bio-park or any ecologically sensitive zone.
'The area comprises mainly Eucalyptus (Nilgiri) and Acacia trees — species that are not rare or endangered. Of the 419 trees at the site, only 282 may be removed, including 169 Nilgiri trees.
The remaining 137 trees, located in the buffer zone, will be preserved, and smaller trees will be relocated to nearby areas,' the VC said. Dr Jayakara added that the claims raised by a few individuals about ecological harm are misleading and ignore the broader context of sustainable development and infrastructure needs.
'In accordance with the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976, the university will plant ten saplings for every tree removed,' Dr Jayakara said.
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Hindustan Times
7 days ago
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Time of India
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- Time of India
Report finds 1,365 Nilgiri tahrs in Kerala
Kochi: The synchronized population estimation of Nilgiri tahr, conducted in the forest areas of Kerala and Tamil Nadu during April 2025, found that the population of the species is 2,668. Of them, 1,365 belong to Kerala and the rest to Tamil Nadu. Eravikulam National Park is home to 841 Nilgiri tahrs, becoming the single largest contiguous population of the species in Kerala. The latest population estimation is part of the 50th year of the establishment of the park. The report was released by forest minister A K Saseendran on Tuesday. As per the 2024 estimation, the number of tahrs in Eravikulam was 827, highlighting that approximately 90% of the tahr population in Kerala survives in the Munnar landscape alone. The major congregation of tahrs in Tamil Nadu is reported from Mukurthi National Park and Grass Hills National Park along the state border, highlighting the importance of interstate collaboration and unified protected area management. Standardized techniques such as the bounded count and double observer methods contributed to improved data reliability in the population estimation. The primary objective of the synchronized population estimation was not only to assess the Nilgiri tahr population in Kerala and Tamil Nadu but also to map their current distribution, identify the species' ecological threats, integrate camera trap data for improved accuracy and recommend habitat-specific management strategies. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Guanhaes: Unsold Sofas Prices May Surprise You (Prices May Surprise You) Sofas | Search Ads Search Now Undo The population estimation sought to explore such historically known places, collecting information on fragmented tahr populations and the possible reestablishment of habitat connectivity to restore such populations. Tigers, leopards and dholes are predators of the Nilgiri tahr. The Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius), an endangered mountain ungulate endemic to Western Ghats, is a flagship species of the high-elevation montane grassland–shola ecosystem. Legally protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the species faces a range of threats, including habitat loss, fragmentation, poaching, livestock competition, expanding infrastructure and climate change.
The Hindu
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- The Hindu
Survey finds 1,365 Nilgiri tahrs in Kerala
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