Latest news with #Himalayan
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Reliance Consumer launches Campa in Nepal; partners with Chaudhary Group
Reliance Industries ' FMCG arm Reliance Consumer Products Ltd has launched its soft drinks brand Campa Cola in Nepal, according to a statement on Monday. RCPL has partnered with Nepal's conglomerate Chaudhary Group (CG) for the roll out of Campa in the Himalayan country, a joint statement said. "The launch marks RCPL's entry in Nepal and further reaffirms the company's long-term commitment to the country," it said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Average Cost To Rent A Private Jet May Surprise You (View Prices) Private Jet I Search Ads Learn More Undo It will get help from Chaudhary Group in manufacturing and distribution in the food & beverages sector to ensure local supply and a smooth roll out of Campa products across Nepal, it added. Chaudhary Group is Nepal's largest and leading business conglomerate, operating more than 200 companies and 260 brands in the global market. It owns Wai Wai, the popular brand of instant noodles, sold in India and other countries. Live Events The Campa portfolio in Nepal will initially include Campa Cola, Campa Lemon, Campa Orange, Campa Energy Gold Boost and Campa Energy Berry Kick. Campa, a brand acquired by Reliance in 2022 and reintroduced in 2023, is emerging as a strong player in the Indian soft drink industry today. Besides India, RCPL has already launched Campa in some markets of the Middle East countries such as UAE, Oman and Bahrain. "We are investing for the long term and see great potential for accelerated growth in the region. We are delighted to come together with our esteemed partner today to transform the beverage experience for consumers across Nepal," RCPL Executive Director Ketan Mody said. Nirvana Chaudhary, Managing Director of Chaudhary Group, said: "We are confident that Campa will resonate strongly with local consumers who appreciate distinctive beverage options. This strategic alliance not only expands our beverage portfolio but also reinforces our position as a key player in the region's competitive beverage market." Chaudhary Group has a presence in sectors such as food and beverages, financial services, education, infrastructure, automobile, information and technology, real estate, and hospitality.
Scroll.in
3 hours ago
- Science
- Scroll.in
Snow leopards thriving in Ladakh Himalayan ranges, but challenges loom
High up in the remote, rugged mountains of the Himalayas, a phantom predator prowls – rarely seen, silently surviving. The snow leopard, one of the world's most elusive big cats, is famously hard to track. Until now, most knowledge about these 'ghosts of the mountains' has come from fragmented surveys, anecdotal sightings, and sparse camera trap footage. Estimating their population has remained a major challenge. But a recent study is changing that. Spanning two years and 59,000 sq km. across trans-Himalayan Ladakh, the assessment estimated that around 477 snow leopards, making up about 68% of India's total snow leopard population, live in the region. The assessment is said to be the most extensive and in-depth snow leopard survey ever conducted in India. 'We built on lessons learned from 25 years of large-scale tiger population assessments to make this study robust and replicable. It wasn't limited to known hotspots or prime habitats. This makes it the largest, most systematic, and most intensive effort ever undertaken across the snow leopard range,' says Pankaj Raina from the department of wildlife protection, Leh, union territory of Ladakh, and one of the study's co-authors. Ground work Ladakh is home to the country's largest contiguous snow leopard habitat. To understand where these elusive big cats live and estimate their numbers, researchers used a 'double-sampling' method. First, they walked over 6,000 km across the region, documenting signs like scat, paw prints, and scrape marks. Then, in the second phase, they set up 956 camera traps across high, medium, and low-density areas, capturing over 26,000 images of snow leopards. 'Difficult terrain and poor transport infrastructure made the survey a logistical challenge. We relied on ponies to carry rations and equipment, set up temporary camps in sub-zero conditions, and had to wait for winter to access some remote areas, when frozen streams allowed passage. Cameras were placed one winter and collected the next, ensuring strong coverage,' says Raina. An artificial intelligence tool called CaTRAT, designed to recognise Himalayan wildlife, was used to identify the species in the images. Biologists then verified these identifications. From this data, snow leopard photos were selected and analysed using a software called Extract-Compare, which focused on the unique forehead patterns of each animal – like a fingerprint – to tell individual snow leopards apart. It turned out to be more reliable than the commonly used side-pattern method. 'The snow leopard's long fur can ruffle in the wind and distort side patterns, but the forehead has shorter, more consistent fur, which makes identification clearer,' says Yadvendradev Jhala, an Indian National Science Academy senior scientist, also associated with the National Centre for Biological Sciences and Wildlife Institute of India, and a co-author of the study. Looking at forehead patterns not only reduced the number of cameras needed but also delivered cleaner, more consistent data. The outcome: India's first national photo library of snow leopards, wherein the unique pelage pattern of every individual is digitised using a machine learning program. Other range countries and Indian states can contribute to this library. As this database grows, it will support long-term tracking of individuals, help detect poaching, and reveal behavioural trends across years and regions. The researchers also used satellite images and climate data to study the landscape and understand what kind of terrain snow leopards prefer, and utilised a method called spatial capture-recapture (which estimates populations based on repeated sightings of known individuals across space) to estimate how many leopards were in the region. The numbers speak Researchers recorded 9,525 signs of snow leopards across the landscape. From 97,000 camera-trap nights, they identified 126 individual snow leopards. Based on the data, the study estimates that around 477 snow leopards inhabit 47,572 square kilometres of trans-Himalayan Ladakh, making up about 68% of India's total snow leopard population. Densities varied widely, from as low as 0.003 to as high as 3.18 individuals per 100 sq km. Hemis National Park and Nubra Shyok Wildlife Sanctuary showed notably high concentrations. 'The average density across the entire Ladakh landscape is about one snow leopard per 100 sq km. But at Hemis National Park, it goes up to as much as three per 100 square kilometres. That's very high,' says Jhala. The researchers found that snow leopards preferred lower-elevation grasslands with abundant prey, both wild and domestic. More than half of the sightings (61%) occurred outside protected areas, in landscapes shared with people, livestock, and seasonal tourists. 'We also GPS-collared 10 individuals. Data (yet to be published) show home ranges from 100 to 500 sq km, depending on habitat and prey availability. This confirms they are wide-ranging animals, often moving far beyond protected areas,' says Raina. Coexistence in a changing land The survey findings highlight the importance of shared landscapes and coexistence. Local communities in Ladakh have lived alongside wildlife for generations, guided by cultural values and sustainable pastoral practices. 'Snow leopards are not poached here. The combination of the Buddhist culture and economic incentives to preserve the species has allowed their population to increase in density,' says Jhala. Yet coexistence is not without its challenges. Snow leopards feed on both wild prey, such as blue sheep, ibex, and Ladakh urial, and on domestic livestock. In winter, when food is scarce, they follow herds into lower valleys shared by people and animals alike. These multi-use valleys, especially along the Indus river, are crucial to winter grazing. This overlap can lead to conflict, especially when snow leopards hunt livestock. To mitigate this potential for conflict, the researchers stress the need for compensation schemes and policies that support both wildlife and local communities. Moreover, Ladakh's unique land-use pattern has helped the snow leopard thrive. 'Human activities, including agriculture, are performed only on 0.5% of the total geographical area, leaving the rest beyond human influence. It makes almost all landscapes in Ladakh viable for conservation,' says Raina. What comes next Snow leopards are more than charismatic icons. They are apex predators, crucial to maintaining the ecological balance of fragile mountain ecosystems. Yet their survival is increasingly under pressure. The study flags several looming threats: growing tourism, road and dam construction, habitat loss, and climate-driven changes in vegetation. Among the most urgent concerns is the rise of free-ranging dogs, a direct consequence of garbage accumulating near army camps and expanding towns. 'There's a natural community of carnivores here, such as wolves, lynx, brown bears, foxes, but feral dogs are a man-made crisis. They pose a serious threat to both snow leopards and wolves, and the situation will only worsen if left unchecked,' says Jhala. Additionally, conserving only protected areas is not enough. Development must be based on cumulative impact assessments and shared mitigation strategies. 'Ladakh has its own ecological and cultural context. Copy-pasting development models from elsewhere will not work,' says Raina. To address this gap, the study calls for long-term monitoring, expansion into under-studied regions, and stronger protections for shared-use landscapes. 'Our findings show Ladakh's snow leopard population is contiguous; it connects with populations in China, Tibet, Nepal, Pakistan and the Karakoram (mountain range). So, any new infrastructure must be planned with care, to ensure it doesn't fragment this vital corridor. This is also a good dataset to showcase why green infrastructure – animal passages, corridors – needs to be the norm,' says Jhala. What also makes this survey significant is its alignment with global conservation frameworks such as PAWS (Population Assessment of the World's Snow Leopards). By applying standardised methods across a vast and varied landscape, the researchers have created a replicable model that could be scaled across the Indian Himalayas. This unified approach will only improve snow leopard conservation in the future. 'Moreover, its comprehensive, replicable methodology will also be able to help monitor other carnivores, such as wolves, lynx and brown bear, using the same camera trap data,' says Jhala.
India Today
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- India Today
KTM introduces ‘Service on Wheels' for Leh circuit
KTM has announced the expansion of its rider support infrastructure with the introduction of its 'Service on Wheels' (SOW) initiative along the Manali–Keylong–Jispa–Sarchu route. This move significantly strengthens KTM's service network across the demanding Leh circuit, providing peace of mind and enhanced safety for adventure riders tackling some of India's most rugged new Service on Wheels unit will operate between Jispa and Sarchu, critical stretches that often pose challenges due to their remote locations and unpredictable conditions. advertisementWith the addition of service touchpoints in Bhuntar, Manali, Keylong, and a comprehensive 3S dealerships in Leh, KTM has ensured robust coverage and immediate support for its riders throughout the Himalayan corridor. "The KTM spirit is all about pushing boundaries, and we are proud to support our riders with unmatched service coverage through the Leh sector. With KTM Service on Wheels, we're ensuring that adventure never has to stop due to service constraints. It's our way of delivering true peace of mind, right in the heart of India's most rugged motorcycling landscape," said Manik Nangia, President, Probiking, Bajaj Auto Leh sector service expansion includes quick-repair capabilities, spares backup, and preventive inspections at altitudes reaching 12,500 feet, reaffirming the brand's commitment to delivering performance and reliability in every to Auto Today Magazine- Ends
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
KTM brings mobile service to Leh circuit: Key touchpoints, routes and details
KTM has introduced a dedicated 'Service on Wheels' (SOW) initiative for riders tackling one of India's most thrilling and remote adventure routes: the Manali–Jispa–Sarchu stretch. The newly launched mobile service setup is aimed at ensuring uninterrupted riding experiences, even on some of the country's most challenging terrains. Targeting the legendary Leh circuit, the KTM SOW initiative is designed to offer riders a sense of security and mechanical backup as they navigate the high-altitude passes and winding roads of the Himalayas. The service will operate between Jispa and Sarchu, two remote yet frequently visited stopovers for motorcyclists en route to Leh. This is where riders often face unpredictable conditions, and the presence of a mobile service unit could make all the difference. Maruti Suzuki Swift AMT Long-term Review: Buy or Not? | TOI Auto KTM's support along this route doesn't stop at SOW. The brand has built a service and support network that spans from Mandi and Bhuntar to Manali, Keylong, and all the way to Leh. Riders can now access touchpoints for preventive checks, emergency repairs, or spare part needs without worrying about being stranded mid-journey. Leh itself houses a full-fledged 3S (Sales, Service, Spares) dealership to cater to all rider requirements. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dementia Has Been Linked To a Common Habit. Do You Do It? Memory Health Learn More Undo For KTM owners planning their Himalayan adventure this season, the new SOW service brings not just mechanical convenience, but also a welcome dose to plan this trip. KTM's motorcycle lineup in India includes the Duke, RC, and Adventure series, available in multiple engine options such as 125cc, 200cc, 250cc, and 390cc. Stay tuned to TOI Auto for latest updates on the automotive sector and do follow us on our social media handles on Facebook, Instagram and X. Discover everything about the automotive world at Times of India .
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Smart ways to stay hydrated this summer
When the Indian sun starts acting like it has beef with you personally, plain water won't save you. You need a hydration game plan — salty, juicy, slightly dramatic, and deeply refreshing. Because let's be honest: real hydration isn't about blindly chugging liters of water — it's an art. The 8-glasses-a-day crew is cute, but we're on a whole different level. From chaas that revives your soul to coconut water your dadi would flex about, this guide gives you everything your sun-fried body needs. So, if you're melting faster than your ice cubes — read this and sip like you know what you're doing. Is water enough for hydration in summer Yes, drink water. But if that's all you're doing, you're giving your body the vibe of a dry toast. Every drop of sweat takes away sodium, potassium, magnesium — and you're out here replacing it with plain water? That's like ordering chicken biryani without the raita AND the Coke. Tragic. Water alone cannot be a replacement for all these nutrients; you have to add other alternatives in order to hydrate better. 'Desi' hydration tips that actually do something Add a pinch of salt, literally Don't be shy — give your nimbu paani a glow-up with kala namak or Himalayan pink salt . by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dunkle Altersflecken: Nur wenige kennen diesen genialen Oma-Tipp. Femme Divine Undo It doesn't just taste bougie, it restores electrolytes. That tiny pinch is doing big things for your body, especially when you're sweating like the auto has no roof again. Go coconuts This isn't just beach-core aesthetic — coconut water is loaded with potassium and gentle sugars that hydrate without the sugar crash. Think of it as your dadi-approved Gatorade. It tastes clean, it's good for your skin, and it looks pretty in your hand. Basically: hydration, but make it coastal luxe. Chaas > Cold drinks (every time) Buttermilk is the OG body cooler. Add jeera, mint, kala namak — and boom, your gut and body say thank you. Unlike sodas, it doesn't leave you bloated and guilty. It's a probiotic queen, electrolyte hero, and low-key a full mood when served cold in a steel glass. Eat your water (frui ts) Why drink when you can chew your hydration? Watermelon, cucumber, oranges - they hydrate, nourish, and keep you from getting hangry. Plus, the juice dribbling down your chin? That's summer energy. Snack pretty, stay cool, and let your food pull double-duty. Sip like you've got main character energy Hydration is not a race — it's a rhythm. Ditch the desperate gulps and sip through the day like you're the star of your monsoon rom-com. Bonus points if your bottle is glass, aesthetic, and has lemon slices floating in it like you own Pinterest. Post-sweat reset like a pro Roasted under the sun? Just worked out? Don't punish your body with basic water. What you need is ORS, nimbu paani, or coconut water. Something with minerals, salt, and purpose. Give your body what it's begging for — no, not cold coffee. Electrolytes . And love. Dehydration 'red flags' you shouldn't ignore Dry lips Headaches Dizziness That dramatic 3 PM slump Pee that looks like mango juice (not in a good way) These are not just 'meh' moments — they're your body's internal sirens. Don't wait till you faint in the metro. Hydrate immediately. Hydration doesn't have to be boring. This summer, do it like you're starring in a commercial. Salt your drinks, eat your water, sip with style, and don't you dare settle for basic gulps. Whether you're melting in traffic or pretending your office AC is enough, hydrate like a legend.
