Latest news with #DharminderSharma
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Wild cats spotted in Muktsar village, forest dept sets up cages
Panic gripped Muktsar after a pair of wildcats were spotted roaming near Sangu Dhaun village on Wednesday evening. The state forest department confirmed that no man-wildlife conflict has been reported in the area and rebutted claims of a few Punjabi news portals that identified the animals as leopards. Wildlife officials said wildcats are larger and stouter than domestic cats and native to this part of the state. Punjab's chief wildlife warden Dharminder Sharma said on Thursday that a team is working to rescue the wild cats, and there is nothing to panic about. 'We are identifying the online content that has posted unverified information about the identity of the wildlife. One portal has assured us that it will remove the online content that may unnecessarily cause panic among the residents,' said Sharma. Muktsar district forest officer (DFO) Amritpal Singh said that wildcats are a common phenomenon in the agricultural fields in the region, and villagers have been sensitised about their movement in and around Sangu Dhaun. He said that the traps had been laid for their safe rescue. 'It's mating season for the wild cats and it generally look for a wet area to stay away from the scorching heat. After spotting the wildcats in the fields, a section of villagers panicked. Our teams have engaged the panchayats and the community leaders to reassure them that the movement of wildcats has not harmed any humans or cattle. Villagers are now exercising utmost restraint, and our teams are working to rescue them from the area,' he added.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts sound alarm over concerning trend among the world's migratory birds: 'A noticeable impact'
The changing climate is reducing the number of birds that migrate to India's wetlands and how long they stay there. As the world gets warmer and the weather becomes more extreme, habitats are changing for wildlife across the globe. In India, this is resulting in a major shift in the migratory patterns of dozens of bird species. Birds typically migrate to the warm Indian wetlands from colder locations such as Siberia and Kazakhstan. But as The New Indian Express reported, not only are fewer birds making the trek than in the past, but those that do are staying a shorter amount of time. Take, for example, Harike Wildlife Sanctuary, which is the largest wetland in North India. In 2018, more than 120,000 birds were spotted in the sanctuary. This year, that number dropped to just over 55,000. "The change in climatic conditions across the globe and late winters … might be the reasons migratory birds from those parts of the world are choosing other destinations or shuffling their migration patterns," Dharminder Sharma, Punjab's chief conservator of forests, told the publication. "Thus, the bird count has decreased here." Gitanjali Kanwar of the World Wildlife Fund-India also noted that the migratory season now lasts just two months when it used to be five or six. "The shrinking winter window has had a noticeable impact on their migration patterns," she said. Birds are vital to ecosystems, as they help control pest populations and spread seeds. When changes to the climate threaten their habitats or change their migratory patterns, the effects can ripple to other plants and wildlife. Sadly, these changes have been seen not just in India but all over the world. In Spain, researchers fear that warmer temperatures will impact the moustached warbler's ability to reproduce. In the Caribbean, fewer healthy plants have meant a higher mortality rate on birds' migratory journeys. Conservationists in India are hopeful that this latest data will spur action to help preserve these migratory birds' habitats. And they are encouraged that, even as overall numbers decline, they have spotted some rare bird species in their native wetlands. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Sharma told the Express that funding has been earmarked for cleaning and developing wetlands, which he hopes will benefit the country's bird populations. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
