Latest news with #Humboldt
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Born in Maharashtra, must be named in Marathi': Penguins now part of language row in Mumbai
NEW DELHI: A row has erupted in Mumbai over the naming of three newly hatched penguin chicks at the city's Byculla zoo with BJP leaders demanding they be given Marathi names instead of English ones. The protest, led by BJP functionary Nitin Bankar from the Byculla assembly constituency, took place outside the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo — popularly known as Rani Baug — where the chicks were born earlier this year. 'When penguins were brought from abroad to the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo, we accepted that their names would be in English. However, Penguin chicks born here, on the soil of Maharashtra, should be given Marathi names,' Bankar said. He claimed that repeated appeals to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which runs the zoo, had gone unheard. The zoo had named the chicks Noddy, Tom, and Pingu — continuing a tradition of English names that began when the first batch of Humboldt penguins arrived from South Korea in 2016. Bankar said the protest was not just about naming animals, but also about recognising Marathi's classical language status. 'We stood firm on our demand, but it was ignored. 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 I had even written to the BMC administration, but no one responded,' he said. The penguin chicks were born to two penguin couples in March, zoo officials said. The first, Popeye and Olive, welcomed Noddy on 3 March. Daisy and Donald had two hatchlings — Tom on 7 March and Pingu on 11 March. This was the first successful batch of chicks at the zoo in over a year. 'Tom gets his name to complement Jerry, a chick hatched in June 2023,' an official explained. 'Tom, being the elder sibling, often gets more food regurgitated by the parents. We end up feeding Pingu.' The chicks are being cared for by their parents and monitored by zoo staff. 'The babies are expected to start exploring the pool area once they are about three months old,' said Dr Abhishek Satam, biologist at the zoo. The hatchings have brought the total number of Humboldt penguins at the facility to 21. Zoo officials said they were fast-tracking expansion plans for the enclosure, which currently houses up to 25 birds. The proposed expansion — an additional 400 square feet — will increase capacity to around 40 penguins. With most of the birds now around 6–7 years old and able to breed until the age of 15, the zoo anticipates more additions in the coming years. The facility has drawn praise for its success in breeding the species in Indian conditions, officials said.
The Print
2 days ago
- General
- The Print
Not Noddy, Tom & Pingu, but ‘Adu, Sanju & Teju'—BJP wants Mumbaikar penguins to have Marathi names
'We are not saying anything about the names of penguins that have come from the foreign countries. But, these three penguins are born in Mumbai, on our soil,' Nitin Bankar, who heads the BJP's Byculla unit, said to ThePrint. The idea behind the demand is that the three chicks were born on Mumbai's soil and must not have foreign names. Their names should be rooted in Marathi. Mumbai BJP leaders also held a protest outside the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Vanaspati Udyan and Zoo, popularly known as the Byculla Zoo, Monday to emphasise their demand. Mumbai: Leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Mumbai unit want three baby penguins born in the city in March this year to be renamed from Noddy, Tom and Pingu to 'Adu, Sanju and Teju.' 'In Mumbai, it is compulsory for all shops and establishments, too, to display their names in Marathi. The state government has said all official communication within the government should be in Marathi. The Centre has accorded Marathi classical language statues. So, why can't the three penguins have a Marathi name?' Bankar said. He added, Adu, Sanju and Teju are name suggestions that he has put forth to the BMC. The BJP's demand comes ahead of local elections expected to be held across the state, including in Mumbai for the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), this year. Dr Sanjay Tripathi, director of the Byculla Zoo, did not respond to ThePrint's calls and messages for a comment. Bankar said Tripathi was unavailable to meet the protesters Monday. 'But, his second in command promised us to find a solution to the issue in 10 days. If they don't change the name in 10 days, we will have an even bigger protest and have the zoo shut down,' Bankar said. The BJP leader said he first wrote a letter to the zoo authorities on 30 April, 'within 3 days of the naming ceremony of the baby penguins'. When there was no response to his letter, he wrote another one a month later on 30 May. 'I have not received anything from the zoo authorities on my letter,' Bankar said. Local BJP leaders, under Bankar's leadership, have also been protesting the branding of the zoo on all social media platforms as 'Mumbai Zoo' when its officially named after Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji's mother. Also read: On Maharashtra tour, why Amit Shah inaugurated former Congress CM Vasantrao Naik's statue Mumbai's penguin colony When the BMC first brought penguins to Mumbai's Byculla zoo, the civic body faced much flak with several politicians as well as members of the civil society, saying it was wasteful expenditure and raising questions on whether the penguins will be able to survive in the city. The penguins are kept in an 1,800 sq ft fortress enclosure with CCTVs, rocky caves, ice, and artificial ponds. The Byculla zoo in Mumbai has had penguins as one of its star attractions since 2016, when the BMC got eight Humboldt penguins to the zoo from South Korea. The penguins were all named after popular cartoon characters—Donald, Daisy, Popeye, Olive, Flipper, Bubble, Mr Molt and Dory. Dory died a few months after coming to Mumbai due to a bacterial infection. Penguins in captivity are monogamous and choose a lifetime partner. Mr Molt, the youngest male among the eight Humboldts, and Flipper, the oldest female, are the most popular pair in the zoo. They had the first penguin baby in Mumbai in 2018. The chick, born on 15 August, however, could not survive and died within a week. But, since then, the colony has only expanded. In 2021, a new chick was born who was named Oreo. Then gradually the penguins reproduced some more to add new members to their family—Nemo, Dora, Siri, Flash, Bingo, Alexa, Coco, Stella, Jerry and so on. Other animals born in the Byculla zoo are mostly given Indian names. For instance, two tiger cubs born around the same time as Nero, Siri and Dora were named Jai and Rudra. (Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri) Also read: Post legal battle with L&T, MMRDA says it will retender 2 infra projects in 'public interest'
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Triploid Cannabis: The Sterile Weed That Could Change Everything
Triploid Cannabis at Mavericks Genetics In cannabis, innovation often comes with a bold name and even bolder promises. But the latest wave of excitement isn't about exotic terpenes, 40% THC flower or moon rocks with a new twist. It's about chromosomes. Specifically, cannabis plants with three sets of them, known as triploids, which could quietly reshape how weed is grown, sold and, maybe one day, smoked. Despite the sci-fi name, triploid cannabis isn't genetically modified or 'Frankenweed.' It's the product of a well-established agricultural technique used for decades in seedless bananas, watermelons and grapes. And while these 'mutant' plants are still rare, companies like Humboldt Seed Company and Mavericks Genetics believe they could define the next chapter of large-scale cannabis cultivation. Most cannabis plants are diploid, meaning they have two sets of chromosomes — one from each parent. Triploids, by contrast, have three sets. That extra set renders the plant functionally sterile, making it nearly impossible for it to produce seeds, even if exposed to pollen. For growers, that changes everything. 'No more worrying about rogue males ruining your harvest,' says Pablo Miguel Gomez, CEO of Mavericks Genetics, which recently launched its first line of triploid seeds. 'It translates into denser, seedless flowers and better quality.' In addition to sterility, triploids are associated with increased vigor, faster flowering and potentially heavier yields, though results can vary by strain and environment. A peer-reviewed study published in Plants (Philbrook et al., 2023) confirms that triploid cannabis can occur naturally and may offer production benefits. Similarly, researchers at Utah State University found that triploid hemp shows enhanced biomass and cannabinoid concentration in field trials, though they caution that outcomes depend heavily on genotype and growing conditions (Crawford et al., 2021). 'Triploids flower in six to eight weeks,' says Benjamin Lind, co-founder and chief science officer at Humboldt Seed Company. 'We've had California Octane flower in as little as 37 days.' Faster cycles mean potential savings in water, fertilizer and pest management. 'Triploids are faster to market and more resistant to pests,' Lind adds. 'That translates to fewer inputs and a smaller carbon footprint.' Mavericks Genetics There's also the allure of potency and novelty. 'Those focused on higher THC will get what they're looking for,' Lind continues, noting that some triploid strains express rare cannabinoids and terpenes not typically seen in diploids. 'The extra chromosome unlocks flavors we hadn't seen before.' Still, not everyone's sold. Sergio Martínez, CEO of Blimburn Seeds, sees the biggest impact on industrial farms. 'The game changer is in large-scale outdoor cultivation, not home grows,' he says. 'Most homegrown growers grow indoors and there are no male flowers anywhere. Additionally, most home gardens don't face pollen contamination. This is really about commercial farms that need predictability and uniformity.' One of the oldest headaches in cannabis cultivation is accidental pollination. A single rogue male can release enough pollen to seed an entire crop, turning what would have been marketable, high-THC flower into a diminished, seed-laden product. For large-scale outdoor growers, this risk isn't theoretical; it's seasonal. In states like Oregon and California, where multiple farms may operate side-by-side with varying genetics and practices, unwanted pollination is a real threat to yield and consistency. Triploids could offer a workaround. By producing flowers that are sterile, not just feminized, growers may finally have a buffer against stray pollen. Even hermaphroditic plants, which occasionally develop pollen sacs under stress, would have a harder time compromising triploid crops. That's part of the appeal for companies focused on scalability. In a 2019 study conducted by Canopy Growth and Carleton University, researchers successfully induced tetraploidy in a drug-type cannabis strain and observed a ~40% increase in trichome density on sugar leaves, along with a statistically significant 9% increase in CBD concentration in buds. However, they found no significant difference in total dried flower yield or THC levels (Parsons et al., 2019). While that study focused on tetraploids, plants with four sets of chromosomes, many of the same principles apply. When a diploid is crossed with a tetraploid, triploids often result. And in agriculture, it's those triploids that often end up as the desired product, precisely because of their sterility and performance potential. The sterility of triploid cannabis has become one of its biggest selling points. But the science isn't entirely settled. In theory, triploid plants are sterile because their odd number of chromosomes disrupts meiosis, making it difficult to form viable gametes. Yet in practice, sterility isn't absolute. A peer-reviewed study published in Agronomy Journal (Reyes et al., 2023) confirmed that triploid cannabis plants can substantially reduce seed production, but are not fully immune to pollination. Similarly, field trials by Cornell University and Oregon CBD found that while triploids produced far fewer seeds than diploids under heavy pollen pressure, they still generated some viable seed. Mavericks Genetics 'The triploid era has just begun. It's an ongoing revolution, but only a few growers have had the chance to try them so far,' says Gomez. 'We're confident that as they expand and improve, these genetics will pave the way toward even more advanced seeds.' Lind emphasizes the value of sterility in real-world environments. 'Triploids could very well become the best choice for farmers in... places like Morocco, which experience a huge amount of pollen drift,' he says. That margin of protection may matter less to indoor or greenhouse cultivators. But for sun-grown farms, where pollen drift is harder to control, even partial sterility —say, 80–90% — could be a game changer. The promise of triploid cannabis is clear: faster cycles, fewer inputs, less risk of pollination and potentially novel expressions of flavor and potency. But as with any innovation in cannabis, it comes with caveats — and questions. For some breeders, the rapid enthusiasm around triploids is justified. 'Adding a pair of chromosomes to the classic OG caused it to morph from a knockout OG to candy gas,' Lind explains. 'That translated to new flavors we hadn't tasted before — and a new favorite among both growers and consumers.' Gomez adds that triploids aren't just a productivity tool: they represent a shift in how growers think about genetics. 'These plants grow with more force, generate more biomass and yield significantly denser flowers, which improves total production,' he says. 'It's a more robust, stress-resistant structure overall.' But not everyone is ready to rewrite the playbook. 'We already have concerns with feminized seeds,' says Martínez. 'Triploids will add a new layer to that. We're saving time and money, but we could face future issues with biodiversity. Male plants are already hard to find — it could get worse.' That tension between efficiency and diversity, control and chaos, isn't new in cannabis. But it's not just a North American issue. 'In South America, we're not just catching up—we're adapting cannabis genetics to meet the realities of the Global South,' says Nicolás José Rodriguez, M.A. in Cannabis Public Policy from The New School and journalist at Aura Salta. 'At La Huerta del Diablo in Argentina, breeders are developing triploid and polyploid strains that are resilient, high-yielding, and discreet—ideal for small-scale and outdoor growers facing legal gray zones and extreme climates. These innovations aren't just about potency or profit; they're about sovereignty, accessibility, and building a cannabis future that works for our conditions, not just North America's.' With triploid genetics now spreading beyond the U.S. into the EU, Morocco, and Latin America, the urgency is growing. The technology is real. The upsides are measurable. But the long-term effects on cultivation, breeding and access are still playing out. For now, triploids may not replace diploids. But they've earned a seat at the genetic table.
STV News
3 days ago
- General
- STV News
Baby Humboldt penguin becomes second ever to be hatched at zoo
A baby penguin has hatched and become the second ever of its kind to be born at a zoo in Edinburgh. Five Sisters Zoo confirmed that the chick hatched on April 28, becoming the second Humboldt penguin chick to be born there. The zoo said the newest addition to its colony is 'thriving' and has bonded closely with its parents. 'As with all hatchlings, the early weeks are critical, and our staff are monitoring the young penguin's health and progress closely,' a spokesperson for the zoo said. Five Sisters Zoo The chick hatched at Five Sisters Zoo on April 28. Five Sisters Zoo 'We are now awaiting blood test results to determine the sex of the chick.' Humboldt penguins are classified as 'vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Wild populations of the species have declined due to various threats such as climate change, overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. Five Sisters Zoo Humboldt penguins are classified as 'vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Five Sisters Zoo To celebrate the chick's arrival, the zoo is inviting the public to participate in a competition to help name the newest addition to the colony. 'We welcome all creative name suggestions. The winning name will be announced once we confirm the chick's gender,' a spokesperson said. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Irish Examiner
25-05-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
First-time father penguin 'not coming back to the nest' to help with endangered chicks
Three endangered Humboldt penguin chicks have hatched at Dingle Oceanworld, but one new dad is struggling with his parental duties. While the arrival of the chicks is being celebrated in Kerry, aquarists have had to step in to assist with the care of one chick after its father, Gary, repeatedly failed to return to the nest from swims in the pool. 'They've arrived in the past three weeks,' the director of Dingle Oceanworld, Kevin Flannery, said. 'They're little balls of grey fluff. They only weighed a few grams when they were born.' The chicks are a welcome addition to the colony of Humboldt penguins, largely named after different types of cheese, which was established at the aquarium in 2019. Humboldts are among the world's most at-risk penguin species and are listed as "vulnerable to extinction" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). New responsibilities While two of the new penguin couples have proved to be devoted parents, Gary has been reluctant to take on his new responsibilities. 'Gary has a tendency to wander off', said the marine biologist. He was not coming back to the nest to help the mother, Wensdale. He wasn't making a good daddy. He's only five and is a first-time dad 'He enjoyed having a swim too often in the pool, and the mother was left virtually on her own.' Head aquarist Marie Kelly stepped in to assist with feeding after noticing the male penguin was ignoring Wensdale's calls for help. 'She would go in every four hours with a fish paste in a baby's bottle, which was open at the top. The mother would stay there sometimes, and other times she would go to the pool while Marie was feeding the chick. Maria Foley, of Dingle Oceanworld, looks after one of the baby chicks. Picture: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD 'She spent around two weeks doing this every four hours, but the chick is flying it now — although I suppose that's the wrong word for a penguin — it's thriving now. 'He's a young father, he didn't know ... or maybe he did, and just liked being in the pool all the time. Once the eggs were there and the nest was made, he virtually abandoned ship Mr Flannery said it has been fascinating to observe the different parenting styles among the penguin pairs. 'It's a whole learning process of parenthood in the penguins that we've seen through observation. It's interesting to see some human traits coming through," he said. 'It should be every second turn. One goes off fishing, another comes back, and then the other will probably go off fishing again. They have to maintain the nest and they have to maintain the safety of the chick in it because, in the wild you, would have plenty of predators." Shared duties Chicks are also at risk of being taken by females who have no chicks of their own. 'We've noticed other females will come along and pick at the chick, or maybe try and take the chick for themselves," Mr Flannery added. Other penguins in the outdoor enclosure, who were more experienced parents, happily shared the chick-minding duties. 'The other parents were brilliant. The dad would wander off, and when the mother needed him, she'd give a squeal and he'd come back. But they were being very good, they would just run over and it was not an issue." There are currently six couples among the 16 Humboldt penguins in the colony, with three of them breeding this year. Read More Prague Zoo joins bid to ensure survival of rare insect once considered extinct
