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The Hindu
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
How Arefa Tehsin brings India's wildlife to children in The Great Indian Safari
Arefa Tehsin believes every creature tells a story. And in her latest book, The Great Indian Safari (published by India Puffin), the Sri Lanka-based author takes one on a virtual safari across India. 'I wanted to take readers on a pan-Indian safari from Himalayan snowfields to coral reefs, termite hills to arid salt pans,' says Arefa, who adds that the book's idea came about when she realised there were 'few books that introduce younger children to India's incredible wildlife in an engaging, accessible way'. And so she does with her trusted friend 'Charred the bard' leading readers through the book's many chapters dedicated to the elephant, tiger, peacock, and more. Charred, a jungle crow, shares fun, engaging anecdotes about each of these creatures. Each chapter is peppered with vibrant illustrations, poems, tiny lessons on pronunciation, scientific names, how to act on a safari, and ends with a guide on where to spot the animal. 'I didn't just want the 'celebrities' of the wild like tigers and elephants (though they strutted in, of course), but also the quiet stars and the unsung heroes, be it the termite queens or the awesome asses,' says Arefa, 45, known for books like Amra and the Witch, and Iora & the Quest of Five. Addressing the importance of introducing biodiversity and conservation themes to children, Arefa says that when children realise they are not separate from Nature, but part of its unruly orchestra, they begin to care. 'Wonder leads to empathy, and empathy might just save our species. A tree isn't just a tree. It's a squirrel's skyscraper, a caterpillar's café, a crow's conference room. I believe that we are not saving Nature, Nature is saving us. So far, at least.' Given the extensive years of research that culminated into the book, were there any facts or lesser-known animals that surprised Arefa even today? 'Absolutely,' she says. 'Like how, 'Lakshadweep' means a hundred thousand islands (though it's only 36). Or how a termite queen can live up to 50 years while her soldier sons last barely 1–2. Or that Himalayan brown bear cubs are born while their mum is still asleep in hibernation. Nature is the original trickster. She doesn't play even by her own rules.' Arefa's most fascinating chapter, however, is the one on wild asses. 'These sleek, stubborn creatures graze on plants other animals turn their noses up at, and they're among the fastest animals in India. Who knew the desert had such horsepower?' she says. After The Great Indian Safari, Arefa is now working on her upcoming titles that include a sequel to Wild in the Backyard, The Big Little Birthday Party, Divine DNA, a highly illustrated book for teens about the animals in Indian mythology, and her second novel for adults, The Tale of a Magpie Robin. Priced at ₹327, Indian Safari is available online
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cinnamon Hotels improves digital user experience with Cendyn
Sri Lanka-based hotel chain Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts has enhanced its digital user experience and upgraded its tech stack with Cendyn's solutions. The company, which operates 17 properties across Sri Lanka and the Maldives, has already seen a 71% increase in active website users and a 5% rise in conversion rates post-implementation. Cinnamon Hotels said it aims to align its digital experience with guest expectations and back its multi-property operations while achieving growth. The selection of Cendyn's solution followed a six-month request for proposal tendering process. Cendyn was chosen for its customer-centric approach, which aims to cater to travellers and boost direct revenue. The importance of design was matched by the need for 24/7 security and technical support, ensuring the successful deployment of a modern infrastructure. Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts chief commercial officer Radhey Tawar said: 'We wanted our guests to navigate the website in a simple, seamless way centred around storytelling that brings our experiences to life. 'Technology plays a key role in how we deliver that vision. Cendyn helps us realise that vision by combining the best of tech and personalisation to deliver a best-in-class guest experience and drive engagement and bookings.' By integrating Cendyn's platform, Cinnamon Hotels has ensured that all solutions work in harmony, providing the flexibility to expand its number of partners from five to over 13. Cendyn chief product officer Chris Egan said: 'Cinnamon Hotels now has a tech stack that fully integrates with the website, improving operational efficiency internally while optimising the digital guest experience – aligning their entire portfolio as the brand evolves into the future. 'The team can now make deeper and better connections with their guests through an immersive storytelling approach and benefit from full security, technical, and customer support to serve customers better and increase direct revenue.' In May 2024, Cendyn collaborated with hospitality management software platform Cloudbeds to help hoteliers increase revenue. "Cinnamon Hotels improves digital user experience with Cendyn" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
New Indian Express
03-08-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Iron ore then, coal now: Elephants in Odisha await another wave of displacement
Like Keonjhar's iron ore reserves, Angul's coal blocks are tightly grouped, leaving very little space for transit and movement of the big animals. An elephant movement toposheet generated by the Forest department for Angul showed large groups of elephants using compact areas located to the south of coal blocks, much closer to urban, semi-urban and rural settlements. It is in this region that human-elephant conflict has grown alarmingly. Growing number of industries, linear infrastructure such as irrigation, national highways as well as power lines have already left elephant movement and migration restricted. The fragmented migration corridors have added to their problem. With more coal mines in the offing, the future looks ominous. The human-elephant conflict (HEC) data is telling. Between 2019-20 and 2024-25, Angul district reported 68 elephant deaths. During the period, 124 human lives were lost to elephant attacks. In terms of depredation, crop damage area jumped from 2,678 acre in 2019-20 to 3,453 acre in 2024-25. The government paid about Rs 20 crore towards crop damage compensation whereas total compassionate payment was Rs 26 crore. In the 10 years between 2014 and 2024, Angul and Dhenkanal districts, one of the worst HEC zones of the country, reported 216 elephant deaths, close to 28 per cent of the fatalities (776) recorded in the state. Dr Sreedhar Vijayakrishnan, research affiliate with Sri Lanka-based Centre for Conservation and Research, says elephants being extremely adaptive animals can modify their behaviour to avoid regions overlapping humans while also exploiting the resources through crop raiding. Studies in Sri Lanka and Malaysia shows elephants prefer these disturbed areas because of the high-level of nutrition available there, he points out. 'Though not directly comparable to coal mining, oil palm plantation establishment in Malaysia is a relevant example. To meet the global demand for oil palm, large-scale rainforests were removed in south-east Asian countries like Malaysia and Cambodia. As more and more oil palm plantations were established, elephants tend to be using the modified or disturbed or secondary areas more than the rainforests which means conflict could be intense,' he adds. Against the conventional notion that elephants use undisturbed, contiguous primary forests, evidence is to the contrary. 'Of course, we need primary, contiguous forests for long-term conservation, but elephants are going to use these disturbed areas also. In oil palm regions of Malaysia, measures such as translocations have been carried out, which have often been futile. Elephants continue to use these areas due to the high resource availability in the plantations. In coalfields, however, resources are limited and disturbances are high, which could lead to displacement of elephants and in turn increased conflicts in neighbouring areas. It's a possibility, I foresee,' he says. If coal mining triggers more displacement of elephants, crop raids and property damage may spike. There will be increased use of electrified fences, traps and retaliatory killings. In the last one month-and-a-half, five elephants died in charged solar fences under Angul forest circle alone.
Malaysian Reserve
12-06-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Green Packet to reallocate private placement funds after Sri Lanka JV termination
GREEN Packet Bhd is revising its use of private placement proceeds after calling off a planned joint venture in Sri Lanka, citing prolonged regulatory delays and lack of engagement from the local government. The RM10 million project, intended to build a nationwide tourism digital platform with Sri Lanka-based TTISB, was officially scrapped on May 23, 2025. With RM7.15 million unutilised, the company will redirect funds towards expanding its money-lending business, enhancing digital infrastructure, upgrading its smart residential and parking platform, and supporting working capital. Green Packet also plans to invest RM1.2 million into a new loan management system via its lending arm Packet Interactive Sdn Bhd, expected to go live by Q2 2026. So far, Green Packet has raised RM9.46 million from the placement, with a further RM5.32 million to come. It is also seeking shareholder approval to extend the usage timeframe for working capital from 12 to 24 months. –TMR
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Business Standard
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
PM Modi pays tributes to former PM Rajiv Gandhi on 34th death anniversary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tributes to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 34th death anniversary. In a post on X, Modi said, "On his death anniversary today, I pay my tributes to our former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi Ji." On his death anniversary today, I pay my tributes to our former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi Ji. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 21, 2025 Rajiv Gandhi was the last Congress prime minister to have headed a majority government, from 1984 to 1989. He was assassinated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a Sri Lanka-based terrorist organisation, on this day in 1991 while campaigning at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. His son Rahul Gandhi is currently the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also paid tribute to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 34th death anniversary, describing him as a visionary and a martyr for the country's cause. Fondly remembering Late Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India, on his death anniversary today. Rajivji was a visionary and a martyr for the cause of India, Banerjee said in a post on X. The former prime minister was assassinated on this day in 1991 by a suicide bomber during an election rally at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
