Latest news with #Shillong-based
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
New-to-science ‘urban' frog named after Shillong
GUWAHATI Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya named after a deity of the indigenous Khasi community, has leant its name to a new-to-science 'urban' frog. Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and their local collaborators have recorded a new species of cryptic, cascade-dwelling frog from the heart of Shillong at an average altitude of 4,990 ft. Their find, blurring the line between wilderness and cityscape, has been named Amolops shillong, or the Shillong cascade frog. They study by a team of six researchers, involving three specimens collected from the city between 2022 and 2023, has been detailed in the latest issue of Records of the ZSI. The authors of the study are the ZSI's Shillong-based Bhaskar Saikia and Bikramjit Sinha, and Pune-based A. Shabnam, Eugene Lyngkhoi of the North Eastern Hill University's Department of Zoology, Damepaia S.M. Pdah of Assam University's Department of Earth Science, and K.P. Dinesh of Meghalaya's Directorate of Mineral Resources. 'The discovery of Amolops shillong from within Shillong's urban landscape underscores the urgent need to integrate biodiversity conservation into city planning,' ZSI Director Dhriti Banerjee said. 'It is a striking reminder that cities are not ecological voids but can be living repositories of unique and sensitive species. Protecting microhabitats in urban forests, streams, and green corridors is essential not just for amphibians like Amolops shillong but for the overall health of our ecosystems,' she said. City species go unnoticed The Amolops frogs require molecular analysis for accurate identification, as their cryptic nature makes them visually similar but genetically distinct. The researchers used advanced genetic tools to confirm that the Shillong cascade frog belongs to the Amolops indoburmanensis species complex. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Amolops siju, a species described by the same ZSI team in 2023 from the Siju Cave in Meghalaya's South Garo Hills district, is the Shillong cascade frog's closest relative, with a genetic divergence of 2-3.4%. The Amolops shillong exhibits distinctive morphological features, including differences in size, skin texture, and body proportions. While Mr Pdah collected two specimens from the Umthlong locality of Shillong's Mawlai area, Mr Lyngkhoi collected the third from the Umrynjah locality. 'We were quite surprised to find an unnamed cryptic species thriving in Shillong's urban sprawl. It's a powerful reminder of how much biodiversity remains undocumented—even in our cities,' Mr Saikia, the lead author of the study, said. He added that the urban amphibians have often gone unnoticed since the Amolops species began to be recorded in India in the 1850s. India currently has 20 recognised species of Amolops frogs, 16 of which have been described from within the country. Nine of these have been recorded in the past two decades, emphasising the status of India's northeastern region as a hotspot of amphibian diversity. According to Mr Sinha, the co-author of the study, cascade frogs are indicators of clean, undisturbed freshwater ecosystems. Their presence in Shillong's fragmented urban forest patches suggests the existence of vital microhabitats that merit immediate conservation attention. 'This discovery challenges us to rethink the value of urban ecosystems. The amphibian find from Shillong is not just a scientific achievement, it is an ecological wake-up call,' he said.
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First Post
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
Mary Ann Alexander Releases 'The Lovey Dovey Song' – A Nostalgic Ode to Being Head Over Heels in Love
Mary Ann's journey from Kerala to becoming a global voice has been marked by courage, versatility, and authenticity read more Rising R&B pop artist Mary Ann Alexander is back with a vibrant new single, 'The Lovey Dovey Song,' a playful, heart-on-sleeve tribute to the bliss of falling in love. Produced by Shillong-based producer AdL, released through UnitedMasters, the track blends dreamy nostalgia with a bounce straight out of the golden age of 90s and 2000s R&B. In a time where emotional detachment dominates pop culture, The Lovey Dovey Song is a refreshing shift a warm, sincere celebration of affection and connection. Originally recorded as a casual demo, the song quickly found viral momentum online, striking a chord with listeners around the world and catching the attention of international artists like SZA, Craig David, and D Smoke. SZA hailed the track as 'a hit,' solidifying its global appeal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mary Ann Alexander, known for her emotionally rich voice and genre-fluid artistry, describes the track as 'a warm hug in musical form.' She adds, ''The Lovey Dovey Song' is about giving yourself permission to feel all the butterflies—unapologetically. It's soft, honest, and a little giddy. I wanted to bring back that pure feeling of love we heard in old-school records, but with a modern twist that still feels like me.' Mary Ann's journey from Kerala to becoming a global voice has been marked by courage, versatility, and authenticity. From her viral debut In My Zone to her Bollywood collaborations and festival performances across India, she has continued to evolve with each release—earning praise from peers and press, including Rolling Stone India who hailed her as part of 'the new generation shaping the future of music.' Following the experimental flair of Bling Bling and the cinematic depth of Sthuthi and Ulfat, The Lovey Dovey Song reintroduces Mary Ann's love for stripped-down, emotionally-driven R&B. The track marks yet another milestone in her growing discography, resonating with fans seeking something both timeless and true.
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Meghalaya group opposes ecotourism project in wildlife sanctuary
GUWAHATI A youth organisation has opposed an ecotourism development project in Meghalaya's Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary, citing a potential threat to its delicate ecosystem. In a letter submitted to the State's Additional Director General of Forests (Wildlife) and the Director of Wildlife Preservation on May 6, the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) called for scrapping the planned ecotourism project in and around the 29 sq. km sanctuary in Meghalaya's Ri-Bhoi district. The HYC was the second organisation to oppose the project worth ₹23.7 crore. Green-Tech Foundation (GTF), a Shillong-based environmental group, had petitioned the State's Tourism Minister, Paul Lyngdoh, against the proposed infrastructure project. The project, awarded to the Eco-Development Society of Meghalaya a few weeks ago, entails the construction of tourist dwellings, glass skywalks, a water sports arena and other tourist-friendly amenities. 'The sanctuary is a crucial habitat for various species of animals, birds, reptiles, insects, and plants. Any tourism activities will disrupt the fragile ecology of this protected area,' the HYC's president, Roykupar Synrem, said. He also said tourism-related projects should not be allowed in and around protected areas. The GTF's chairman, H.B.N. Nonglang, told journalists in April that Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary is too small for infrastructure projects and has been well-managed with minimal human interaction. 'Instead of the infrastructure project, the government should direct the funds toward developing communities around the sanctuary to ensure improved livelihood and employment opportunities,' he said. Established in 1981, the sanctuary is home to more than 400 species of birds, including the endangered rufous-necked hornbill. In 2021, the Management Effectiveness Evaluation report of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries said Nongkhyllem was the best-protected area in the northeast. Villagers and NGOS have been protesting infrastructure projects in and around protected areas and wetlands elsewhere in the northeast too. These include an oil exploration project near the Hoolock Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in eastern Assam and a logistics park adjoining the Dorabeel wetland near Guwahati.
New Indian Express
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Pradip Kurbah: We're losing our sense of community
For a filmmaker with a wacky sense of humour, reflected in his social media posts, Shillong-based Pradip Kurbah's The Elysian Field (Khasi title Ha Lyngkha Bneng) is a singularly sublime rumination on life through the medium of death and on relationships, most so, a sense of community, by dwelling on individual seclusion. The philosophical core is also richly suffused with a gentle humour. About the last six residents—Ms Helen, Complete, Maia, Friday, Promise and Livingstone—of a remote village in Meghalaya, the film captures their lives through meditative visuals, shot in each of the four seasons. The vast expanse of landscape is evocative of their isolation. Little profundities are strewn all over the dialogue—about how all good things seem to end too soon, how every exit is an entrance to something new, about looking for happiness not in what you have lost but what you still have. The Elysian Field is a film to be experienced and felt than explained. Kurbah's debut feature Ri: Homeland of Uncertainty (2013), dealt with militancy in Meghalaya; Onataah: Of the Earth (2016) was about a young woman coming to terms with rape and starting life afresh and Market (2019) focused on everyday life of people in Shillong's bustling Iewduh market. His fourth feature, The Elysian Field, is quite simply the most original and outstanding Indian film I have seen so far in 2025. It had its world premiere at the 47th Moscow International Film Festival where it won three major awards last week—Best Film, Best Director and the NETPAC award for Best Film. Excerpts from a conversation with Kurbah soon after his return from the festival.
