Latest news with #Courser
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Science
- New Indian Express
20 years on, Kadapa's pursuit of the elusive Jerdon's Courser continues
VISHAKHAPATNAM: One small bird, long unseen, led to the declaration of a wildlife sanctuary, years of research, and a sustained conservation effort. The Jerdon's Courser, once thought to be extinct, was rediscovered in the YSR Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh in 1986 after nearly a century, and that rediscovery continues to inspire fresh hope and dedicated fieldwork even today. The Jerdon's Courser is a restricted-range endemic bird found only in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. Designated Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, it inhabits sparse scrub forests with open patches of ground and is currently known only from the Sri Lankamalleswara and Sri Penusila Narasimha wildlife sanctuaries. Nearly two decades have passed since the last confirmed sighting in 2004 in the Sri Lankamalleswara wildlife sanctuary. Yet, the Andhra Pradesh Forest department believes the critically endangered bird may still be hiding in the scrub forests of Kadapa, and efforts to trace it have intensified in recent months. Kadapa district forest officer Vineet Kumar explained that the department has deployed nearly 40 camera traps in the sanctuary, especially across the foothill regions of Siddavatam, Badvel, and Proddatur forest ranges. 'These traps are equipped with both motion and infrared sensors to capture images of the nocturnal species. Along with that, we use sand strips to track bird footprints and place dung to attract insects, which may, in turn, attract the bird,' he said. Jerdon's Courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus), first recorded by British surgeon Dr Thomas C Jerdon in 1848, was presumed extinct through much of the 20th century. Its dramatic rediscovery in 1986 near Reddipalli village prompted the creation of the Sri Lankamalleswara wildlife sanctuary in 1998. Despite its elusive nature, the rediscovery proved the species still existed and sparked long-term conservation efforts. 'Recently, we started using two audio moth devices to record bird calls during the night. These sound recorders are helping us monitor vocal activity in the area,' Vineet Kumar said. However, that audio confirmations remain challenging as some local birds are known to mimic the Courser's call, he admits.
CTV News
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Arousing discussion at city hall: Barrie council weighing on burlesque as ‘adult entertainment'
Barrie city councillors are reconsidering how 'burlesque dancing' is treated under the city's Adult Entertainment Bylaw. A move that could separate it from other forms of adult entertainment. At Wednesday's committee meeting, Barrie councillors discussed the motion related to the bylaw established in 2005. The proposal involved dissecting how other municipalities have distinguished burlesque from other forms of adult entertainment, like stripping. The idea to push this forward was sparked from a local burlesque group that was recently prevented from holding a performance due to how the current bylaw is written. While the bylaw does not specifically mention burlesque, it defines Adult Entertainment Establishment – Class B as: 'Any venue offering entertainment that is designed to arouse or result in an erotic or sexual response' - language which has tied burlesque into the same stigma associated with more explicit forms of adult entertainment. During the meeting, Bryn Hamilton, Ward 10 councillor, expressed concern about the focus of the discussion. 'I read this, and I will say that I was a little taken aback as to why this was something we were discussing,' said Hamilton. 'I revisited the committee's terms of reference and objective just to understand the driving reason behind this.' Ward 4 councillor Amy Courser emphasized the importance of updating the 20-year-old bylaw to distinguish burlesque from other forms of adult entertainment. 'There is a distinct difference between burlesque and stripping. The style is completely different. Burlesque is vintage, playful, artistic. It's absolutely a celebration of the woman's body,' Courser said. 'Many municipalities have already modernized the language of their bylaws.' This raised the question if adult-themed performances should remain under the same regulations. Clare Riepma, Ward 1 councillor, addressed the bylaw's language, noting how burlesque is accepted as a legitimate art form in many municipalities. 'Apparently burlesque is a form of art and there is quite an arts community that is very supportive of this,' said Riepma. 'They would like to operate here in Barrie.' Jason Forgave, supervisor of enforcement services, noted that the local studio which regularly performs burlesque in public with ticketed events encountered issues due to the bylaw's language. 'The bylaw doesn't mention burlesque, but it does talk to the nature of the act and the reaction from the crowd,' Forgave said. 'That's where our interpretation and enforcement has come from.' Courser proposed modernizing the bylaw and reflecting on the evolving understanding of what 'adult entertainment' means to the City of Barrie. Council was in favor of this decision and the motion will be passed to the Finance and Responsible Governance Committee.
