Conservation and environmental news & publications: India
21 May 2008
Rhinos poaching is getting worse in India
Poachers are hitting hard on rhinos in Indian national parks as three of them were killed in Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, and two in Kaziranga on the last week of April. No later than April 28, a calf and his mother were poached again in Kaziranga National Park. In 2007, 16 rhinos were killed and four more till February this year. » Read more
17 Apr 2008
Hot, dirty and rewarding – moving rhinos in Assam
"The tranquilizing team changed tactics. They now started stalking the rhino on foot, using the elephants as cover. In the next half hour that ensued, the first rhino, a male, was tranquilized. After fifteen minutes of tracking, the rhino grew sluggish and his hind legs started sinking. A vet then approached this animal and gave him a second shot of tranquilizer. But as soon as the dart hit him, the animal was up on his feet and running again!" » Read more
16 Apr 2008
Indian rhinos on the move to a better future
After centuries of having their range contracted to the point of extinction, India’s rhinos are on the move outwards again. In a difficult operation, two male rhinos were taken back to a national park in Assam’s Himalayan foothills last weekend.
The return was an emotional moment for local residents, who lost their last rhinos a decade ago during a 20 year period of civil disturbance that wrecked infrastructure in the famed Manas National Park and allowed poachers free reign. » Read more
10 Apr 2008
Too much dependence on Coal could mar India’s growth story: WWF
New Delhi: India faces a potential energy crisis and the blame rests largely with its overdependence on coal. India’s coal reserves — which have shaped its energy policies — have been grossly overestimated. This compromises India’s argument for depending on indigenous coal for energy security reasons. But worse than the imminent shortage of domestic coal, are the severe social and environmental impacts inherent to India’s coal sector — not least of which is the mounting problem of climate change. » Read more
Too much dependence on Coal could mar India’s growth story: WWF
New Delhi: India faces a potential energy crisis and the blame rests largely with its overdependence on coal. India’s coal reserves — which have shaped its energy policies — have been grossly overestimated. This compromises India’s argument for depending on indigenous coal for energy security reasons. But worse than the imminent shortage of domestic coal, are the severe social and environmental impacts inherent to India’s coal sector — not least of which is the mounting problem of climate change. » Read more
14 Mar 2008
More of Africa urged to boost rhino numbers
After bringing Africa’s black rhinos spectacularly back from the brink of extinction one of the world’s most successful conservation programmes is to celebrate its first decade by seeking to extend its operations to more of Africa.
“What we know from looking back at the last ten years is that sustained conservation can and does work,” says George Kampamba, WWF International’s African Rhino Programme Coordinator.
» Read more
05 Mar 2008
Gharial Crisis - An Update
Since December 8, 2007, when the first mortality was reported, 110 gharials have succumbed to gout possibly caused due to toxins in Yamuna. It is believed that Tilapia – an introduced fish species – could have been carrying the toxins and excessive consumption of the same by gharials caused these mortalities. However, the exact composition and nature of the toxin and how it entered the river system is still being studied. » Read more
Gharial Crisis - An Update
Since December 8, 2007, when the first mortality was reported, 110 gharials have succumbed to gout possibly caused due to toxins in Yamuna. It is believed that Tilapia – an introduced fish species – could have been carrying the toxins and excessive consumption of the same by gharials caused these mortalities. However, the exact composition and nature of the toxin and how it entered the river system is still being studied. » Read more
04 Mar 2008
A new platform to start changing the world
Forget Facebook, MySpace or You Tube: here comes connect2earth, a new online community where young people can upload videos, pictures and comments about the environment.
On www.connect2earth.org, users and visitors will be able to write, speak, illustrate and video present their concerns on subjects important to them, and share environmental ideas and solutions.
» Read more
26 Feb 2008
Pulp and palm oil the villains in Sumatra's global climate impact and local elephant losses
Pekanbaru, Sumatra: Turning just one Sumatran province's forests and peat swamps into pulpwood and palm oil plantations is generating more annual greenhouse gas emissions than the Netherlands and rapidly driving the province's elephants into extinction, a new study by WWF and partners has found. » Read more
25 Feb 2008
Indonesian government moves to regulate turtle trade
The Indonesian government has moved against rampant illegal trade in threatened species of turtles and tortoises, tightening regulations and contacting countries where turtles and tortoises are being obtained or sold. » Read more
13 Feb 2008
Body part by body part, Sumatran Tigers are being sold into extinction
Laws protecting the critically endangered Sumatran Tiger have failed to prevent tiger body parts being offered on open sale in Indonesia, according to a new TRAFFIC report . » Read more
