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Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
La Nina likely to aggravate Goa's plastic waste menace
Panaji : A silent drift unfolded off Goa's coast between March 20 and April 10 this year. Pink and red specks began dotting satellite images — not signs of marine life, but clusters of floating plastic. Over a 10km-long stretch along the shoreline, these clusters map a grim and growing reality: Goa's seas and rivers are turning into plastic tides. While alarming, a deeper oceanographic force could intensify this problem. A new study by WWF India suggests that currents influenced by La Nina — a large-scale climate pattern that alters global weather, along with the northeasterly monsoon winds, could push floating plastic debris into Goa's nearshore and estuarine waters. 'La Nina strengthens the northeasterly monsoon winds over the Indian subcontinent. This, in turn, intensifies westward surface currents in the northern Arabian Sea,' said G Areendran, director, tech for conservation, WWF India. 'These stronger currents can carry floating plastic toward Goa's coast.' 'Once near estuaries like the Zuari, Mandovi, and Talpona, the debris can get trapped and even recirculate into the coastal zone, especially during dry winter months when rivers discharge less freshwater.' Areendran and his team are leading an ongoing WWF India study under the wildlife tech incubator programme of the Centre for Wildlife Studies, funded by the Ashraya Hastha trust. The project, titled remote sensing and machine learning-based detection of floating offshore plastic debris in coastal Goa, combines open-source satellite data with machine learning to identify plastic debris in coastal waters. Researchers aim to create a WebGIS dashboard by Aug 2025 for real-time plastic monitoring. So far, the team has tracked floating plastic till April. The data shows troubling concentrations within 10km of Goa's shore, especially near Panaji, Mormugao, and Margao. These clusters often form in convergence zones — areas where winds and currents meet and trap surface debris. Some of the heaviest plastic build-up was found near the Mandovi and Zuari rivers. These rivers drain highly urbanised areas — including Panaji and Mormugao — and carry untreated plastic waste directly into the sea. 'In February, heatmap analysis showed dense clusters of plastic near the Zuari estuary and Panaji. The Mandovi river, being the largest in Goa, contributes significantly to plastic accumulation near Miramar beach,' said Areendran. Further north, moderate to high debris levels were recorded offshore near Calangute, Tivim, and Pernem — areas that experience high seasonal tourist footfall and storm-water runoff. In South Goa, plastic tended to accumulate off Betul, Talpona, and Canacona, where swirling tidal currents create circular flows that trap floating waste. 'River-borne plastic is a key driver in how and where debris gathers along the coast,' Areendran added. 'Even the inland hinterlands are now showing plastic presence in coastal waters, pointing to unregulated waste flowing through smaller rivers and drains.' Goa may be India's smallest state, but it generates the highest per capita plastic waste in the country. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Goa produced nearly 12kg of plastic waste per person annually in 2019-20. Tourism, one of the state's key economic engines, also contributes significantly to the problem. A study by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) found that Goa's most popular beaches — Calangute, Anjuna, and Baga — recorded the highest levels of plastic litter in the country. At peak levels, plastic waste reached up to 25g per metre of beach, with a total litter density of over 200g per sqm. WWF's current project is not just focused on mapping the pollution. The initiative aims to support the protection of Goa's critical coastal habitats. These include nesting grounds for the Olive Ridley turtle and marine biodiversity zones already under pressure from microplastics and tourism-driven waste. Researchers hope the study will help policy makers act since without timely intervention, Goa's scenic coastline — once a magnet for biodiversity and clean tourism — risks becoming a permanent dumping ground for floating plastic.
New Indian Express
26-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Avian life caught on canvas at painting expo at Chennai Dakshinachitra Museum
CHENNAI: Blending science with artistic creativity, botanical illustrator Suresh Ragavan organised a solo painting exhibition titled 'Brushstrokes of Endemic Echoes' at Kadambari Art Gallery in Dakshinachitra Museum, near ECR, Chennai. The event, inaugurated on Sunday, will run until June 2, showcasing detailed paintings of India's avian life, particularly species from the Western Ghats. C Elango, assistant conservator of forests, Chennai, was the chief guest, and Subhiksha Lakshmi Maxima, education officer from WWF India, was the guest of honour during the inauguration. Through this exhibition, Suresh aims to raise awareness about the urgent need to preserve India's biodiversity. Forests thrive when plants, birds, and wildlife coexist harmoniously, but climate change, deforestation, and human encroachment are threatening this delicate balance, he said in a release. With over three decades of experience at the Botanical Survey of India, Suresh said he spent a large part of his life watching, studying, and painting bird species. The exhibition features 157 endemic, endangered, IUCN, and Red List birds of India, with each artwork portraying scientifically accurate details like colour patterns, posture, and gender differences. Captions will be placed on each painting with the species names, food habits, lifespan, and conservation status. 'Birds are early indicators of ecological health, and saving them is a step toward saving our ecosystems,' Ragavan said. The exhibition is open from Wednesday to Monday from 10 am to 6 pm with extended hours until 7 pm on weekends. The gallery remains closed on Tuesdays.
NDTV
15-05-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Rare Long-Snouted Vine Snake Spotted In UP's Dudhwa Tiger Reserve
Lakhimpur Kheri: A brown morph, long-snouted vine snake, Ahaetulla longirostris, was discovered in the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, in a landmark herpetological breakthrough, officials said Thursday. This rare and cryptic species was sighted and photographed alive in the grassland of Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary on Monday, officials said. "The discovery marked the second live record of this species from Uttar Pradesh, following its initial sighting during the 2024 rhino translocation initiative in the South Sonaripur range, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve Division, Palia Kheri," said Dudhwa biologist Vipin Kapoor Sainy. He added the discovery marked the second live record of this species from Uttar Pradesh, following its initial sighting during the 2024 rhino translocation initiative in the South Sonaripur range, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve Division, Palia- Kheri. The snake was observed during a coordinated tiger-tracking patrol by a team comprising wildlife biologists Vipin Kapoor Sainy, Apoorv Gupta, and Rohit Ravi (Senior Biologist, WWF India), along with veterinary expert Dr Talha, pharmacist Sandeep, and frontline staff Bhagiram and Nabisher Khan. During routine monitoring, biologist Sainy spotted the slender, elongated snake moving slowly across the grassland edge toward a forest road. Recognising its significance, the team conducted non-invasive photographic documentation and a brief health assessment, confirming the specimen's vitality and intact physical condition. The snake was safely released at the same location under the supervision of forest range officer Mohammad Ayub. Field Director, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) Dr H Raja Mohan lauded the biologists' team for the discovery and said: "Dudhwa is not just about tigers, elephants, or rhinos, it is an evolving repository of lesser-known and ecologically vital species." He added, "The discovery of Ahactulla longirostris, particularly the brown morph, which was never seen before in India, exemplifies the depth of biodiversity Dudhwa is blessed with." He further said, "Such observations were possible only because of the dedicated teams that combined scientific expertise with frontline conservation commitment." Elaborating upon the new discovery, Deputy Director, DTR Dr Rengaraju T said, " The re-appearance of Ahaetulla longirostris in the Terai plains, and that too in two distinct colour morphs, green and brown, pointed towards a broader ecological amplitude." He added, "The Kishanpur sighting opened new avenues to study polymorphism, microhabitat preferences, and species distribution in the Indo-Gangetic region." Dr Rengaraju T informed that the long-snouted Vine Snake was a mildly venomous snake distinguished by its laterally compressed body, sharply pointed snout, and horizontal pupils, features often leading to misidentification with closely related Ahaetulla species." These records placed Dudhwa at the forefront of herpetofaunal research in northern India. Dr Rengaraju said, "The Forest Department, along with scientific partners, is now planning to strengthen its biodiversity monitoring frameworks, encourage herpetological surveys, and build local capacity for the identification and conservation of cryptic species, ensuring that the full ecological spectrum of Dudhwa continues to be revealed." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Hindustan Times
13-05-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary: Another rare snake species sighted in Dudhwa
Dudhwa biologists came across yet another rare species of a snake in Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary on Monday. It was later identified as Ahaetulla longirostris or long-snouted vine snake. The chance encounter came close on the heels of another major discovery in the reserve last week with the first confirmed report of the Condanarus Sand Snake (Psammophis condanarus) in Uttar Pradesh. Dudhwa biologist Vipin Kapoor Sainy described the discovery as a landmark herpetological breakthrough. He said that the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve had documented the first-ever live record of brown morph (brown-coloured skin) of Ahaetulla longirostris (long-snouted Vine Snake) in India. The rare and cryptic species was sighted and photographed alive in the grassland-forest mosaic of Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary on 12 May 2025, said Dr Rengaraju T, deputy director of Dudhwa National Park. The discovery marked the second live record of this species from Uttar Pradesh, following its initial sighting during the 2024 rhino translocation initiative in the South Sonaripur range, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve Division, Palia-kheri. The snake was observed during a coordinated tiger-tracking patrol by a team comprising wildlife biologists Vipin Kapoor Sainy, Apoorv Gupta, and Rohit Ravi (senior biologist, WWF India), along with veterinary expert Dr Talha, pharmacist Sandeep, and frontline staff Bhagiram and Nabisher Khan. During routine monitoring, biologist Vipin Kapoor Sainy spotted the slender, elongated snake moving slowly across the grassland edge toward a forest road. Recognising its significance, the team conducted a non-invasive photographic documentation and a brief health assessment, confirming the specimen's vitality and physical condition. The snake was safely released at the same location under the supervision of forest range officer Mohammad Ayub. Field director, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) Dr H Raja Mohan lauded the biologists' team and said, 'Dudhwa is not just about tigers, elephants, or rhinos, it is an evolving repository of lesser-known and ecologically vital species.' He added, 'Discovery of Ahactulla longirostris, particularly the brown morph, which was never seen before in India, exemplifies the depth of biodiversity Dudhwa is blessed with.' He further said, 'Such observations were possible only because of the dedicated teams that combined scientific expertise with frontline conservation commitment.' Elaborating upon the new discovery, deputy director, DTR, Dr Rengaraju T said, 'the re-appearance of Ahaetulla longirostris in the Terai plains, and that too in two distinct colour morphs, green and brown, points towards a broader ecological amplitude. The Kishanpur sighting opens new avenues to study polymorphism, microhabitat preferences, and species distribution in the Indo-Gangetic region.' He described the long-snouted Vine Snake as a mildly venomous snake distinguished by its laterally compressed body, sharply pointed snout, and horizontal pupils, features often leading to misidentification with closely related Ahaetulla species.
Hindustan Times
06-05-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
DTR records first photographic evidence sand snake in UP
Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, a biodiversity hotspot in Uttar Pradesh, has scored a first of sorts in wildlife documentation with the first-ever photographic record of the Condanarus Sand Snake (Psammophis condanarus) in the state. The discovery, made during a routine patrol in the reserve's free-ranging rhino area, officials said on Monday. The discovery was made when a joint team from the forest department and WWF India, comprising biologist Apoorv Gupta, junior assistant Sushant Singh, and WWF India representative Rohit Ravi, were conducting regular monitoring along a jungle road. The team spotted a deceased snake near a grassland area. Noting its distinct colouration and body structure, Gupta captured high-quality photographs from multiple angles, with Singh and Ravi contributing additional images for documentation. The photographs were sent to herpetology expert Vipin Kapoor Sainy, who confirmed the snake's identity as Psammophis condanarus, a mildly venomous, diurnal, and fast-moving colubrid species. 'Commonly found in dry regions of northern and peninsular India, Nepal, and Pakistan, this snake preys on small reptiles and rodents. Until this discovery, the species had never been photographically documented in Uttar Pradesh, marking a significant addition to the state's wildlife records,' Sainy said. 'The snake was likely killed by a raptor, though no direct evidence confirmed the cause of death. This finding represents the fourth reptile species recorded for the first time in Uttar Pradesh in the past two years, highlighting Dudhwa's critical role in herpetofauna research,' he added. Rengaraju T, deputy director of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve remarked, 'This finding reflects Dudhwa's exceptional biodiversity. The discovery of a species like Psammophis condanarus, relatively unknown in this region, reinforces the importance of our conservation efforts.' Field director of the reserve, H Rajamohan added, 'This is the fourth reptile species documented for the first time in Uttar Pradesh in two years. Such discoveries enrich our understanding of species distribution and guide future conservation strategies. We remain committed to protecting all life forms that contribute to Dudhwa's ecological fabric.'
