Christophe Premat, The Conversation
The Congolese philosopher who liberated 'Africa' from the chains of Western thought
Valentin-Yves Mudimbe was one of the most influential African thinkers of the 20th century.
Christophe Premat, The Conversation
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Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Indian jackal spotted for 1st time at Pallikaranai marsh
Chennai: Bird watchers at Pallikaranai marshland were surprised last week when they spotted an Indian jackal, marking the first-ever recorded sighting of the species in core areas of the wetland. Chennai district forest officer V A Saravanan confirmed the sighting and said jackals are known to adapt well and coexist alongside human settlements. Wildlife experts previously recorded jackals in several parts of Chennai, including the islands behind Theosophical Society, Blue Cross Road, Besant Nagar, Guindy National Park, and Nanmangalam Reserve Forest. With this sighting, Pallikaranai marshland now joins the list as a habitat for the elusive species. Conservationist K V R K Thirunaranan, who has been monitoring the marsh's fauna for years, said, "This is a positive sign of improving biodiversity." Another key factor contributing to the presence of jackals here is the abundance of food. The marsh provides ample prey, including fish and crabs. Notably, jackals have been observed feeding on African catfish, an invasive species. Their predation helps control the population of this invasive fish, contributing to ecological balance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The arrival of the jackal signals the marshland's growing role as a sanctuary for urban wildlife and adds urgency to the call for its protection. As urban sprawl threatens green spaces, sightings such as this highlight the ecological significance of wetlands and the complex interdependence of species that inhabit them, say experts. While jackals are primarily nocturnal hunters, they may become active during the day when females feed their newborns. G Kamaraj, a biologist from Vandalur Zoo, said jackals were once found in large numbers, especially in rural areas where paddy fields were abundant. They play an important role in the ecological food chain by controlling the rodent population, which forms a significant part of their diet. This, in turn, helps farmers reduce crop loss. Even today, their wailing howls can be heard in the countryside — a reminder of their quiet presence near human habitations.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- New Indian Express
Ice Cream: A Global History
Few pleasures in life are as universally adored as ice cream. Whether it's rich with sugar or guilt-free, decadently creamy or light and airy, served as a soft swirl or in the dense form of kulfi, ice cream remains an irresistible delight across generations and geographies. In Ice Cream: A Global History, journalist Laura B Weiss takes readers on a deliciously engaging journey through the centuries, exploring how this frozen treat evolved from a rare indulgence to a global cultural icon. With a cast that includes kings, emperors, inventors, and culinary entrepreneurs, the book is a rich tapestry of history, innovation, and sweet tooth satisfaction. Unlike in many parts of the world, India boasts a longstanding and distinct ice cream heritage. During the Mughal era, rulers delighted in flavored ice brought down from the mountains, an early luxury precursor to frozen desserts. This tradition eventually gave rise to kulfi—a dense, slow-frozen dessert made by cooking down milk and freezing it in conical metal molds, rather than churning it like Western-style ice creams. Weiss's compact volume manages to serve up an impressively complete history. From ancient origins to industrial revolutions, she explores how ice cream became democratised in the 19th century through technological innovations and the rise of street vendors. No longer the privilege of the aristocracy, a scoop could now be had by anyone with a few spare coins.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
In Gujarat, lions are royalty. But what happens when there's no room for the Crown?
First, the good news. India's conservation efforts are working. The population of lions, tigers, leopards — even newly introduced African cheetahs — are on the rise. The bad news. There is just not enough room for all of them together, and humans. With the country's forest cover clocking in at just 21.7 % of total land, species are crossing paths. Lions are pacing Gujarat's village roads, leopards skirting the edges of urbania across the country, and cheetahs are struggling to adapt in Kuno , Madhya Pradesh . That results in a deeper question: Can these apex predators coexist, both with each other and the people living around them? This conundrum is best exemplified by the issues triggered by India's Asiatic lion population, which, according to data released two weeks ago, surged by a third in just the past five years. PRIDE OF THE PACK India's lion population was just 674 in 2020, which, as per the latest Lion Census , 2025, is now at 891. That's nearly triple their numbers in 2000. Similar growth has been seen for other cats too. These are predators, they need their space. Gujarat's lions, once clinging to survival, now face a different kind of risk — running out of room. 'As numbers rise rapidly, conflict with people can spike — especially when older or young males are pushed out. We must invest in conflict mitigation and healthy prey bases so lions and communities can coexist,' says Laura Bertola, Leo Foundation , who works towards the protection of lions in Africa and India. LIONS ON THE MOVE The growing lion population is already pushing into agricultural fields, plantations and village edges. They are being sighted in areas like Jetpur, Babra-Jasdan and Mityala, which now hosts 32 lions, double from 2020. 'Lions are not restricted to forests,' says conservationist Abi Vanak. 'They are using farmlands, plantations — wherever there is prey and shelter. These lions aren't afraid of humans. They will walk right through towns.' You'd think that they shouldn't have to care for state borders, yet, lions still remain boxed into Gujarat. 'Lions have steadily expanded across the Saurashtra peninsula, but are not yet close to the neighbouring states. At the current rate of expansion, however, this could only be a matter of time,' says Vanak. The worry now: How long will things stay that way? Gujarat is clearly getting crowded. THE KUNO CONUNDRUM Back in 1998, over 1,280 sq km was demarcated as the Kuno Wildlife Division , in Madhya Pradesh. The area was cleared of villages, livelihoods uprooted, and was stocked with wild prey — specifically for lions. In 2018, the Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary (with roughly 350 sq km of area) was upgraded to national park status, with a total area of 748.76 sq km. The translocation of lions was part of a major conservation initiative with one clear goal: To establish a second, wild population of Asiatic lions outside of Gujarat. Wildlife biologists, along with the Wildlife Institute of India , recommended this step to reduce the species' extinction risk — a standard conservation practice to avoid single-population vulnerabilities. After an extensive site selection process, Kuno emerged as an additional area like Gir, thanks to its large contiguous forest cover, similar habitat and a strong prey base. But the lions were never moved into Kuno. The reasons are varied, with political resistance, inter-state dynamics, and bureaucratic delays, all playing a part. Years passed. In 2013, the Supreme Court ordered their translocation within six months. Even so, Gujarat, which looks at lions as a symbol of state pride, hasn't translocated them. It's now 2025, and Kuno still has no lions. 'This is no longer about science. It's about upholding the law. Everything else is just delay and distraction,' says Ravi Chellam, a long-time advocate for lion translocation. Meanwhile in Gujarat, a few lions have moved into Barda Wildlife Sanctuary and both the state and Union governments are claiming that it is the lions' second home. 'Barda is only 100 km from Gir, not far enough to isolate extinction risks. It's a positive step, but not a substitute for Kuno', says Chellam. 'In Gujarat, people are used to living with lions,' counters Vanak. 'If lions move to Madhya Pradesh or Maharashtra , the reaction could be very different.' It remains to be seen how many lions Barda can absorb. JUNGLE POLITICS The increasing numbers and the need for translocation creates another issue. Even if they are moved, lions entering new landscapes — especially where tigers, leopards, or cheetahs already exist — might bring forth co-existence challenges, at the landscape level. Instead of lions, Kuno now hosts African cheetahs, introduced to India in 2022. So, can lions even be translocated into Kuno anymore? Each of these big cats have unique habitat needs. Each reacts differently to humans. But all need one thing: Space. The counter to that is that they can coexist. 'Lions do kill cheetahs,' says YV Jhala, former dean, Wildlife Institute of India. 'But so do leopards and tigers. In fact, leopards are a far more formidable foe to cheetahs. Introducing lions into Kuno may help reduce leopard dominance.' PROBLEMATIC GENETICS Another problem lurking is that all Gir lions descend from a small number. 'Genetic diversity underpins adaptability — especially as climate change and new pathogens emerge. Creating satellite populations helps reduce catastrophic risk, but it won't fix inbreeding unless we introduce fresh genetic diversity from elsewhere,' says Bertola. Chellam acknowledges the issue. 'We know the genetic diversity is low. But so far, there's no strong evidence of compromised fertility or cub survival. Still, it's a red flag we must not ignore,' he says. CO-EXISTENCE OR COLLISION? Wait and watch is not an option. India's protected parks are divided by highways, farms and cities. In such a fragmented land, natural dispersal is slow and risky. That means translocation has to be enforced by humans. 'In historical times, lions entered India from Persia and could disperse across the Gangetic plains, Deccan and western India without any barriers. Today, this is not possible due to human land uses and barriers. Therefore, in the best interest of the Asiatic lions as a species, human-aided reintroductions based on the principles of Conservation Biology should be implemented,' says Jhala. As apex predators increase, so do human-wildlife conflicts. Conservation Biology reports a 10% rise in villages reporting livestock attacks, and a 15% annual increase in livestock kills. COEXISTENCE ISN'T IMPOSSIBLE 'Communities that have coexisted with lions adapt better. Others need time, education, and incentives to tolerate large carnivores, reckons Jhala. Eco-tourism, local conservation programmes and cross-state corridors could become critical, and policy has to keep pace with the population. That is the only way to preserve and protect all ways of life, wild and human.
