Latest news with #Panna
Time of India
31-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Panna was different': Ullas Karanth questions Cambodia's readiness for tigers
Representative Image India is preparing to send wild tigers to Cambodia in what would be the world's first international tiger reintroduction, nearly 15 years after the successful Panna reintroduction. While Panna is often cited as a model, senior conservation scientist Dr. Ullas Karanth warns that Cambodia faces far greater challenges. Based in Karnataka, Karanth is a globally respected authority on tiger ecology, known for pioneering camera-trap studies and advising governments across Asia. In an interview with P. Naveen, he explains why Cambodia must first restore its prey base, strengthen protection, and avoid political shortcuts before moving a single tiger. Q: India has signed an MoU with Cambodia to translocate tigers for reintroduction. What is your overall assessment of this plan? Karanth: Tigers in Cambodia went extinct from lack of prey and direct poaching 25 years ago. I was involved in advising the Wildlife Conservation Society's camera trap surveys there. As I expected, tigers soon went extinct. If large protected areas with abundant wild prey are not available—which is my worry—any reintroduced tigers will also meet with the same fate. Q: You have expressed skepticism about Cambodia's ability to support a thriving tiger population. What specific ecological or management factors make the project risky? Karanth: Although extensive suitable deciduous forests are there in the northern plains and Mondulkiri and other provinces of Cambodia, the prey base has been hunted out. Mere presence of prey species is not a useful yardstick. Prey densities of at least 10–15 large ungulates over extensive areas are needed to support even a handful of tigers, let alone a viable tiger population. Second, Cambodia has a deep-rooted hunting culture, like we have in the northeastern hill states. Wild animals are snared, trapped, or shot and then eaten or sold all over the country. Strong anti-poaching efforts exist in at least some areas of India and Thailand, which has led to tiger recovery. These are not typical of Cambodia. These are the risks. Q: The Cambodian government claims to have restored prey populations and secured habitats for the reintroduced tigers. Do you think these efforts are adequate? Karanth: I have not been to the forests of Cambodia in decades. I am skeptical of such claims based on history. My former colleague Colin Poole will have better knowledge of the current status of prey animals and conservation there. Q: What lessons can be drawn from previous tiger reintroduction efforts in India, such as those in Sariska and Panna, and how do they apply to Cambodia? Karanth: Tiger reintroduction efforts have mostly failed and caused serious human–tiger conflicts in India if you look at the overall track record. Undoubtedly, the Panna effort worked because a large protected area with wild prey (and domestic prey left at site by relocated villagers) existed even after all tigers had been selectively hunted and gone extinct by 2009. Protection was improved, and tigers which were already experienced in hunting (and I think a pregnant tigress too) were introduced and reestablished the population in Panna successfully. The Sariska experiment is an ego trip driven by local tourism interests. Crores have been spent in establishing a small unviable population amidst a sea of humanity. That is hardly the model for Cambodia. Hyping a few successes while hushing up far more failed reintroductions is not a scientific approach to the issue. Q: Are there alternative strategies you would recommend to Cambodia to rebuild its tiger population, rather than relying on translocation from India? Karanth: Thailand has a large 20,000 sq km forest in the Western Forest Complex, which had lost most of its tigers by 1990. After 2000 they set up effective patrols as well as rigorous scientific monitoring of prey and tigers under my guidance, and today after two decades tigers have recovered. These include tigers moving in to recolonize the better-protected areas. Cambodia should patiently restore prey in extensive habitats in a scientifically provable manner first. Once that is done, tigers can naturally move in from Thailand or even be brought in carefully controlled experiments. Q: Some conservationists argue that such international projects enhance global collaboration and bring funding for habitat protection. Do you see any positive aspects in India's decision to export tigers? Karanth: No, only grandstanding by officials on both sides. Cambodians have to do the hard work first. Q: What safeguards should be in place—in terms of habitat management, prey base, and protection against poaching—before a single tiger is released in Cambodia? Karanth: I have covered all this above. Q: Finally, what message would you like to give policymakers in India and Cambodia regarding this ambitious reintroduction plan? Karanth: Who cares about my messages? Indian policymakers should focus on the problems that they face at home first before trying to preach to other countries about tigers. They should start by totally revamping the current non-transparent tiger-prey monitoring system that is poorly designed and unscientific. Raw data generated are hidden from public view and tiger numbers appear to be changed according to political needs. It all started with setting the absurdly low number of 1,400 tigers in 2006, down from 3,600 in 2002, to serve political needs after extinctions in Sariska. India can have at least 10,000 tigers spread more evenly over 400,000 sq km of potential habitats we have in the country
Fashion Value Chain
26-06-2025
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
Poltrona Frau Marks 60 Years of Dezza with Rare Reissue
Poltrona Frau pays tribute to one of its most iconic creations with the release of a limited-edition reissue of the Dezza armchair, originally designed by the legendary Gio Ponti in 1965. The commemorative collection, limited to just 60 individually numbered and certified pieces, celebrates six decades of design excellence and marks a pivotal moment in the brand's legacy. The Dezza armchair was the first product to define Poltrona Frau's new identity post its move to Tolentino in 1962. Known for its geometric minimalism blended with subtle curves, the armchair remains a hallmark of timeless modernist design. This exclusive 60th anniversary edition is upholstered in Pelle Frau® ColorSphere Impact Less leather, reflecting the brand's sustainability ethos introduced in 2022. Available in sophisticated Panna and Iris shades, the palette recalls the serene coastal interiors of the Hotel Parco dei Principi in Sorrento—also designed by Ponti. The standout element of this re-edition is a unique pattern based on a previously unpublished illustration by Gio Ponti, featuring 26 stylized hands, each named and imbued with whimsical identity—from 'the gloved hand' to 'the fortune teller's hand'. This motif symbolizes the craftsmanship and 'intelligence of the hands' central to Poltrona Frau's values. Each of the 60 pieces includes a metal tag with its edition number and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, reinforcing its status as a collectible design object. Poltrona Frau CEO Nicola Coropulis said, 'This limited edition not only honors Gio Ponti's creative vision but also enriches its cultural value through material innovation and a deeper design narrative.' Available online in select European markets from February 13 to April 1, the Dezza limited edition will then be made available through selected Poltrona Frau stores worldwide. The reissue not only revives a design masterpiece—it also bridges past and future, celebrating a legacy of craftsmanship with a sustainable, contemporary spirit.
Time Out
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
This ice cream shop has been named the best in New York
We know that we are preaching to the choir here, but it bears repeating: it is hot AF outside. Sure, only a few months ago we collectively threw our hands up to the gray skies, wishing for warmer days. But this? Two showers a day, hot? A transportation system that doubles as a sauna, hot? Tying a 140-year-old heat record, hot? It's a no for me dawg. But seeing as how complaining alone can't lower the temp in the air (or else, there would be a winter freeze by now), New York City is offering ways to keep cool, activating citywide cooling centers and reopening 60 plus outdoor public pools come this Friday. But the best way we know how to cool off? Ice cream. Yes, the combo of dairy, cream and sugar by the scoop, sundae and the pint is just the cure even the hottest of heads. Just in time for this heatwave, we recently updated our list of best ice cream shops in NYC. And this year, an Italian-inspired spot was crowned the number one spot. Caffè Panna made our number one top spot for all things swirled and scooped in 2025. Hallie Meyer is the owner behind the shop, powered by a lifelong love for all things ice cream. And we aren't just saying that—Meyer's love for cream and sugar goes deep, like a five-month residency working in gelaterias across Rome, deep. Cleary inspired by the silky scoops she found abroad, she returned stateside, scooping ice cream in the South Bronx before opening a brick-and-mortar in Gramercy in 2019. Last year, she took her custardy creations over to Greenpoint, opening a second location with roomy enough digs for a production facility and enough space to finally enjoy your scoops inside. While the shop's standard scoops are enough to make us brave the line (which there always is one), it's Meyer's rotating cast of specials (think pie crust and Sungold tomatoes and olive oil) that keep us coming back. Plus, the introduction of shaved Italian granitas topped with the signature Panna imported straight from the motherland, helps too. Right behind it, a Portland import made its debut nabbing the number two spot: Salt & Straw. Chain it may be, Salt & Straw's buttermilk-heavy scoops know how to keep things interesting, and we aren't just saying that because there are unlimited samples. Incorporating itself into the fold of the city, both Upper West Side and Chelsea locations (they opened both within a few months of each other) have exclusive scoops only found in NYC, including a babka version and a semi-savory smoked pastrami option sourced from famed Carnegie Deli. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dominek Tubbs (@domnthecity) Dubbed 'Harlem's Finest Ice Cream Shop,' Sugar Hill Creamery is also one of our favorite local parlors, coming in at number three. While Nicholas and Petrushka Bazin Larsen's seasonal scoops of handmade carrot cake in the winter and strawberry basil lemon in the summer are enough to top the list, this ice cream shop receives close-to-top honors because of its ties to the community. (Inside, the walls feature rotating portraits of those who live in the neighborhood.) The flavors follow suit, as the Asap Rocky Road nods to the famous rapper who grew up in Harlem and their current flavor, Sonia's Pound Cake made with rosemary, apricot and chunks of pound cake, was made in collaboration with local Harlem-based influencer Dominek Tubbs of @domnthecity. The list rounds out with black sesame and pandan scoops in Chinatown and egg creams and sundaes from an ice cream OG in Carroll Gardens. Looking to cool off? Check out the full list of our best ice cream shops in the city.
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Diamond artisan's family donates organs, saving 7 lives
Surat: Bharat Shingala, a diamond artisan from Kotha Pipariya village in Dhari taluka of Amreli district and his family showed incredible humanity by donating the organs of his wife, Panna (51), after her death, giving seven people a new lease on life. Bharat earns a reduced monthly salary of Rs 15,000 due to the ongoing slowdown in the diamond industry. Despite financial constraints and emotional turmoil, he and his family made the life-affirming decision to donate Panna's organs after she was declared brain dead. Panna, a housewife, had been admitted to Kiran Hospital on April 12 after complaining of a severe headache. Doctors diagnosed a brain haemorrhage, and though she underwent two surgeries, she was later declared brain dead. A 34-year-old man from Surat received a lung, while a 42-year-old patient in Mumbai underwent a liver transplant. Two Surat residents — a 38-year-old woman and a 57-year-old man — were given kidneys. A 43-year-old woman from Surat received a hand transplant, and two corneas restored the vision of a 40-year-old woman from Hyderabad and a 62-year-old man. In a remarkable feat, all of Panna's organs were harvested and successfully transplanted into recipients on the same day at Kiran Hospital. "The eligible recipients were promptly admitted once the organs became available, and the transplants were carried out in a short span by multiple teams of doctors," the hospital is authorised to perform transplants of various organs, said Mathur Savani, chairman of Kiran Hospital. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo "The transplant was completed quickly, saving both time and costs," said Dr. Mehul Panchal, Director at Kiran Hospital. "We spent around Rs 3.15 lakh on Panna's treatment, surgeries, and medicines during her final days," said Hiren, Bharat's brother. "It's been painful emotionally and financially, but knowing we helped others live a better life gives us peace." Bharat's daughter, Devanshi, has completed her bachelor of education, while his son, Nihar, recently appeared for his Class XII exams.
