Latest news with #WildlifeProtectionAct1972
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Time of India
KSEB raises concerns over tourism use of Sholayar and Poringalkuthu hydel project sites
1 2 3 T'puram: Days after engaging an agency to study the tourism potential of the controversial Athirappilly hydel project , Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has raised strong reservations over a proposal to use the Sholayar and the Poringalkuthu hydel project sites for tourism board, however, gave a conditional no objection certificate (NOC) to Kerala Hydel Tourism Centre (KHTC), a venture owned by KSEB, to use the dilapidated quarters at Sholayar for tourism purposes. The board asked KHTC to obtain permission directly from the forest department for using the quarters and Vadakkeppuzha water body before proceeding with the areas coming under the project were forest land leased for the specific purpose of KSEB at Poringal and Sholayar for power stations and allied installations, including the Vadakkeppuzha pumping scheme. The generation of power utilising water at Vadakkeppuzha water body comes to around 10 to 12 MU annually, depending on the inflow from the Vadakkepuzha catchment area. "As a minimum available water level must be maintained for the proposed tourism activities, it will adversely affect the pumping scheme and result in generation loss," said an order issued by KSEB in this per the provisions of the Kerala Forest Act 1961 and Wildlife Protection Act 1972, the activities proposed by KHTC at Vadakkepuzha will be offensive in nature and prior permission from the forest department is mandatory, the order said. "Entry to the Poringalkuthu, Sholayar areas is restricted in the evening hours by forest/state police. Only KSEB employees and vehicles are allowed entry," the order said, adding that such a proposal from KHTC failed to take off in 2015 due to restrictions from the forest move to rebrand the Athirappilly hydel project as a tourism-friendly project has received strong opposition from environmentalists. Power minister K Krishnankutty said the govt would not take unilateral decisions regarding the project.
Hindustan Times
07-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Rescued parakeet gets new lease of life, beak after rare surgery
PUNE Rescued from illegal captivity in Ahmednagar district around the middle of April 2025 by the forest department, an injured and severely malnourished rose-ringed parakeet was admitted to the Transit Treatment Centre (TTC) in Bavdhan, Pune, where the bird got a fresh lease of life following a rare procedure to fit a prosthetic upper beak to it. The parakeet, listed under the schedule 4 category of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, is currently undergoing a recovery programme at the centre and based on its overall recovery, plans are afoot to release it into its natural habitat after discussions with the forest department, a senior representative of the RESQ Charitable Trust informed. Rescued from illegal captivity in Ahmednagar district by forest department in April 2025, injured rose-ringed parakeet underwent medical procedure at Transit Treatment Centre in Pune. (HT) RESQ Charitable Trust, an NGO partner of the state forest department, not only provides emergency aid to animals in distress but also provides necessary healthcare to animals rescued from across Maharashtra and admitted to the centre. Ashok Gudekar, forest officer, Ahmednagar forest department, said, 'Following a tipoff regarding illegal captivity of parakeets in a residential area of the district, forest officials raided the area. By the time we reached the place, there was nobody around except the five abandoned parakeets that were kept in a cage. We rescued the birds and found that this one bird was very weak. We handed it over to the TTC for treatment and rehabilitation. As of now, no case has been registered against any person in this regard.' Regarding the complex procedure that this one parakeet underwent, an official at TTC said, 'At the time of admission, the parakeet was found to be severely malnourished with significant feather loss and its entire upper beak missing. The injury had left the bird unable to feed independently, and it showed signs of chronic trauma, likely due to inappropriate housing conditions and injury during past captive conditions. Following stabilisation and supportive care, RESQ's veterinary team undertook a complex procedure - fitting of a prosthetic upper beak. A custom prosthetic, made of epoxy and tailored to the bird's beak structure, was attached under gaseous anaesthesia.' At RESQ CT, the prosthetic and its parts were constructed by Ketan Vaidya and Tuhin Satarkar, and the surgical team included Dr Sushrut Shirbhate, Dr Kalyani Thakur, Neha Panchamiya, Ketan Vaidya (prosthetic co-creator), and Dr Amit Chaudhary. This particular procedure was challenging for the team which planned out the overall treatment for the bird. The primary challenge was the complete loss of the upper beak, a critical structure for feeding and natural behaviours. Designing a lightweight, functional, and durable prosthetic small enough for a parakeet was technically demanding. Additionally, ensuring that the bird could tolerate anaesthesia and the prosthetic itself posed significant risks. The team also had to find a secure yet minimally invasive method to attach the artificial beak, considering the high usage involved in feeding behaviours. The parakeet is currently under close veterinary observation at the RESQ Wildlife Transit and Treatment Centre. With encouraging signs of recovery, such as self-preening within 24 hours and complete self-feeding within 48 hours post-surgery, the bird has demonstrated early functionality of the prosthetic beak, which it was completely unable to do prior to intervention. It will continue to receive nutritional support, behavioural monitoring, and routine follow-ups to assess the fit and durability of the prosthetic. 'This was a highly delicate procedure—not just because of the bird's size, but because the upper beak is essential for almost every natural behaviour, from feeding to preening. Seeing the parakeet regain these abilities within days of the prosthetic attachment is incredibly rewarding, and it reminds us how even the most unconventional interventions can give wildlife a second chance,' said Dr Sushrut Shirbhate, senior wildlife veterinarian, RESQ CT. Based on the bird's long-term ability to perform essential natural behaviours, a decision regarding its reintegration into a suitable habitat will be taken in consultation with the forest department, said the veterinarian.
Hindustan Times
06-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Flight lands with nine simians, eight dead, from Malaysia; 2 held
MUMBAI: A flight from Malaysia landed at the Mumbai international airport on Sunday, with an unusual consignment in its hold – packed into suitcases were nine exotic simians, eight of them dead. The wildlife wing of the state forest department on Monday arrested two individuals, who had smuggled the animals into India, begging the question: how did they manage to check in suitcases that held these animals, making it past security scanners in both countries? The department has arrested Sriram Subramania from Tamil Nadu and Mathavi Sallakunhu, a Malaysian national, from Hotel Janata in Colaba. The simians they had smuggled in were four Simon Gibbons, three Golden Gibbons, and two pigtail macaques. Of this, only one pigtail macaque has survived and is in the care of the forest department. Officials said the animal is dehydrated and in critical condition. The accused have been arrested under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and have also violated the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. They were produced in court on Monday and remanded to seven days' police custody. Wildlife rescuer Pawan Sharma said, 'One pigtail macaque has survived but is in critical condition. The others died due to starvation, suffocation, dehydration and captivity stress.' The action was carried out by chief conservator of forests, P Pradeepa, deputy conservator of forests, Sachin Repal, assistant conservator of forests, Sonal Valvii, and range forest officer, Rakesh Bhoir.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Hesaraghatta grasslands will remain untouched
The large 5,678-acre grasslands in Hesaraghatta are finally under protection from encroachment and development. The Government of Karnataka issued the final notification of the Greater Hesaraghatta Grassland Conservation Reserve recently while conservationists and those who have been crying hoarse to save the city's remaining green areas heaved a sigh of relief. The grassland region in Hesaraghatta forms a unique ecosystem close to Bengaluru and supports numerous species of flora and fauna, many of which are endangered. This area is a large carbon sink for Bengaluru and can be a powerful tool to mitigate climate change and counter the rapid concretisation of the city. Conserving the grasslands helps to mitigate the impacts of global warming. The landscape surrounding the lakebed is the last remaining grassland habitat in the Bengaluru region and supports unique biodiversity. Hence, protecting the habitat by creating a conservation reserve for endangered wildlife species in surrounding areas was the need of the hour. 'A living lab' Dr. K.S. Seshadri, Fellow in Residence at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) in the city, has been associated with the conservation efforts since 2012, when he wrote a report with his colleagues on the need to conserve the grasslands and its rich biodiversity. 'Though it took twenty years, the process has seen the willingness of government officials and citizens to work for the environment in a positive effort,' Dr. Seshadri said. 'Protecting this savanna grassland and wetland ecosystem will give us a lung space that plays a critical role in water security, sustain the rich biodiversity that it supports in the form of wildlife — animals, birds, insects, butterflies, birds and amphibians — and it can become a living lab for researchers to study larger issues of climate change.' The region that has been included under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 includes the Hesaraghatta Lake while the grasslands in the surrounding catchment area are an important reservoir of biodiversity. A survey by Subramanya S. of the Karnataka Biodiversity Board found in it a refuge for endangered wildlife species such as leopards, slender lorises, jackals, Indian foxes, smooth coated otters, wild pigs, common mongooses, black naped hares, Indian mole rats, and Indian field mice. In addition, seven different species of snakes have also been observed in the grasslands. The grasslands are also home to more than 285 species of birds, including the critically endangered lesser florican (Sypheotides indicus), 13 species of amphibians, and 111 species of butterflies, including the lilac silverline (Apharitis lilacinus) butterfly, which was sighted after a century in Bengaluru and that too only in the Hesaraghatta grasslands. Some 395 species of other insect species have been recorded as well. The Hesaraghatta landscape is a site for several wintering migrants from Europe, Central Asia, and the Himalayas, including several species of raptors. One of these migratory birds is the greater spotted eagle (Aquila clanga) and the globally threatened red-necked falcon (Falco chicquera), which the IUCN Red List has classified as being 'vulnerable to extinction'. Surmounting snags The grasslands are a catchment area for reviving groundwater levels, which benefit groundwater recharge and will improve the groundwater table, which would in turn benefit thousands of farmers in the surrounding villages. It also acts as a sponge to soak up monsoon runoff. This is a large catchment of the Arkavathy River and Thippagondanahalli reservoir and also for the nearby Hesaraghatta lake and reservoir. The area's ecosystem services in this regard will improve the water security of Bengaluru and help fulfill many sustainable development goals. The grasslands also provide freshwater in the region for migratory birds. The process of declaring the land as conserved had hit many snags, including opposition by local politicians and people vested in the area's development for real estate. N. Ravindra Kumar, the deputy conservator of forests, Bangalore Urban Division, said, 'The forest department always agreed to the proposal of declaring the grasslands as conserved. Thanks to the efforts of our Forest Minister Eshvar Khandre, many public citizens, and our chief minister, we have succeeded. The notification sets a precedent for such conservation efforts of almost 6,000 acres of government land so near the city, [and] the grasslands are the lungs and a much-needed open space amidst the concrete jungle.' Jagadish Krishnaswamy, Dean of the School of Environment and Sustainability at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements, Bengaluru, said, 'The conservation and restoration of the Hesaraghatta grasslands is very important for the city of Bengaluru. It is the first mega-city in India with a protected grassland with many species of birds, mammals, and insects that need grassland. Grasslands are threatened and being converted to other land use all over India.' Papiya Bhattacharya is a freelance journalist.
New Indian Express
29-04-2025
- New Indian Express
Poacher held with hunting gear in Kuldiha sanctuary
BALASORE: Forest staff of Kuldiha wildlife sanctuary arrested a man with a country-made gun and hunting equipment during patrolling on Sunday. The accused was identified as Madha Singh (44), a resident of Jamapada village under Soro police limits in Balasore district. Assistant conservator of forest (ACF) Diganta Sovan Chand said that Singh was caught at Baulagadia under Panchalingeswar section while he had entered the forest area to allegedly hunt animals. 'During the search a country-made gun loaded with bullet, black and red explosive powder, bill hook and match box was seized from his possession,' he said. The accused will be prosecuted under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. The officials are investigating the accused's details over involvement of any animal poaching activity. Meanwhile, environmentalists have urged the Forest department to install artificial intelligence cameras in Kuldiha wildlife sanctuary as part of protection measures. The department is reportedly planning to initially install 25 AI cameras in the sanctuary. Similipal National Park has 100 AI cameras as protection management with an additional 150 cameras currently being installed to prevent the entry of poachers.
