More than half of the tigers that Thai authorities confiscated in 2016 from an infamous Tiger Temple tourist attraction have died from a viral disease because their immune systems were weakened by inbreeding, media reported.

 
The Buddhist temple west of Bangkok was a tourist destination where visitors took selfies with tigers and bottle-fed cubs until authorities removed its nearly 150 tigers in 2016 in response to global pressure over wildlife trafficking.

 
The confiscated animals were taken to two state-run sanctuaries but it soon became apparent they were susceptible to canine distemper virus, said a senior official from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

 
"When we took the tigers in, we noted that they had no immune system due to inbreeding," the department's deputy director-general, Prakit Vongsrivattanakul, told the state-owned broadcaster MCOT on the weekend.

 
"We treated them as symptoms came up," Prakit said.

 
Prakit did not give a figure for the number of tigers that had died but public service broadcaster Thai PBS reported that the toll was 86 of the 147 rescued animals.

 
The temple had promoted itself for years as a wildlife sanctuary, but it was eventually investigated for suspected links to wildlife trafficking and animal abuse.

 
Wildlife activists accused the temple's monks of illegally breeding tigers, while some visitors said the animals appeared drugged. The temple denied the accusations.

 
Government officials could not be reached for comment on Sunday.

More than half of the tigers that Thai authorities confiscated in 2016 from an infamous Tiger Temple tourist attraction have died from a viral disease because their immune systems were weakened by inbreeding, media reported.

More than half of the tigers that Thai authorities confiscated in 2016 from an infamous Tiger Temple tourist attraction have died from a viral disease because their immune systems were weakened by inbreeding, media reported. The Buddhist temple west of Bangkok was a tourist destination where visitors took selfies with tigers and bottle-fed cubs until authorities removed its nearly 150 tigers in 2016 in response to global pressure over wildlife trafficking. The confiscated animals were taken to two state-run sanctuaries but it soon became apparent they were susceptible to canine distemper virus, said a senior official from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. "When we took the tigers in, we noted that they had no immune system due to inbreeding," the department's deputy director-general, Prakit Vongsrivattanakul, told the state-owned broadcaster MCOT on the weekend. "We treated them as symptoms came up," Prakit said. Prakit did not give a figure for the number of tigers that had died but public service broadcaster Thai PBS reported that the toll was 86 of the 147 rescued animals. The temple had promoted itself for years as a wildlife sanctuary, but it was eventually investigated for suspected links to wildlife trafficking and animal abuse. Wildlife activists accused the temple's monks of illegally breeding tigers, while some visitors said the animals appeared drugged. The temple denied the accusations. Government officials could not be reached for comment on Sunday.

Scores of tigers rescued from infamous Thai temple have died: Report

What was recently a verdant area of trees and wildlife has become a desolate, barren landscape where life teeters on the brink after wildfires raged through this area of southeastern Bolivia. Ash has replaced leaves and dead animals scatter the charred earth in this area of the Andean country near its border with Paraguay.

Wildlife facing fire, heat, smoke and drought as Bolivian forests blaze

Nunu Jobe's life is focused on conservation. He grew up in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province and now spends most days tracking southern white rhino on foot while educating communities and schools on the importance of wildlife. In late August, veterinarians successfully harvested eggs from the last two surviving northern white rhinos, taking them one step closer to bringing the species back from the brink of extinction, scientists said.

S Africa's barefoot game ranger fights rhino poaching

Sri Lanka Friday ordered an investigation following the collapse of a skeletal 70-year-old elephant after being forced to parade at a high-profile Buddhist pageant popular with local and foreign tourists.

Sri Lanka Friday ordered an investigation following the collapse of a skeletal 70-year-old elephant after being forced to parade at a high-profile Buddhist pageant popular with local and foreign tourists. Tourism and wildlife minister John Amaratunga said he ordered wildlife authorities to investigate how the elephant, known as Tikiri, was forced to take part in a lengthy parade despite her failing health. Animal-lovers slammed the authorities for deploying the aged animal at the annual Esala pageant wearing elaborate clothing at a night festival watched by tens of thousands in the central city of Kandy earlier in the week. After a howl of protests over social media, festival organisers withdrew the aged animal from the grand finale on Wednesday. "I have been informed that the elephant collapsed yesterday," the minister said in a statement. "Considering what has transpired, I have ordered officials to initiate an inquiry and ascertain how and why an elephant in such poor health was used in the (pageant) and to take necessary action against those responsible." The minister said he had also instructed wildlife authorities to ensure there was no repetition of such cruel treatment to some 200 elephants in captivity and routinely paraded at Buddhist temple festivals. Sacred but abused Elephants are considered sacred in Sri Lanka and protected as an endangered species, but there are reports of cruelty to many animals who have been domesticated. Several rich Sri Lankans keep elephants as pets, but there have been numerous complaints of ill-treatment and cruelty. "Many more elephants in Sri Lanka are suffering similar or worse treatment in service to the exploitative and abusive tourism industry," said People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals senior vice president Jason Baker. PETA offered to transfer the ailing Tikiri to a sanctuary where she could live and be treated by veterinarians. Officials of the Temple of the Tooth which organised the Esala festival in Kandy said Tikiri was not a temple elephant, but they withdrew her from Wednesday's finale which involved dozens of other jumbos. Asian elephant expert Jayantha Jayewardene described the animal's treatment as inhumane. "The animal is severely under-nourished, it is close to death," Jayewardene told AFP. "Owners parade their elephants to gain merit for themselves and not for the animal. This should never have been allowed," he said. Lek Chailert, the founder of the Save Elephant Foundation, said on social media that spectators did not realise how weak Tikiri was because she was covered in an elaborate costume. "No one sees her bony body or her weakened condition, because of her costume," Chailert said. "No one sees the tears in her eyes, injured by the bright lights that decorate her mask, no one sees her difficulty to step as her legs are short shackled while she walks." The Temple of the Tooth, Buddhism's holiest shrine on the island, holds the annual festival with traditional drummers and dancers as well as nearly 100 tame elephants.

Sri Lanka probes elephant cruelty at Buddhist parade

A demonstration of a technique known as electrofishing was performed by members of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife on Tuesday, in order to show their partners working on an experimental project to slow the spread of non-native Asian Carp.

Stunned carp leap from Kentucky lake in electrofishing demonstration

The second Malaysian-born giant panda finally has a name - Yi Yi; meaning friendship. The 19 month-old female panda cub's name was announced at a ceremony on Thursday (August 1) at the Giant Panda Conservation Centre in Kuala Lumpur, with China's Ambassador to Malaysia Bai Tian in attendance.

Malaysia names giant panda "Yi Yi", or "Friendship", in nod to China

The number of tigers in India has increased from 2,226 in 2014 to 2,967 in 2018 and by this India has achieved the target of doubling the wild cat's population four years ahead of the deadline.

Madhya Pradesh saw the highest number of tigers at 526, followed by Karnataka at 524, and Uttarakhand at the third position with 442 tigers. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today released results of the fourth cycle of All India Tiger Estimation in New Delhi. &nbsp;

It is believed some 40,000 tigers lived in India at the time of independence from Britain in 1947. But by 2006 it reached its lowest-recorded figure of 1,411. &nbsp;

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Estimation of Tigers was a mammoth exercise : 
 
1. Survey of 3.8 lakh sqaure Km 
2. Authorities on foot traversed 5.2 lakh square km 
3. 26 K camera traps 
4. 3.5 lakh images were taken out of which 76 K captured Tigers 
 
Union Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/PrakashJavdekar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrakashJavdekar</a> 
 
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InternationalTigerDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InternationalTigerDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/KBZ5g8idlQ">pic.twitter.com/KBZ5g8idlQ</a>
— PIB India (@PIB_India) <a href="https://twitter.com/PIB_India/status/1155753546874142720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2019</a></blockquote>
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In 2010, it was decided in St Petersburg that the target of doubling the tiger population would be 2022. But following conservation efforts, India has completed this target four years early. But the estimation of tigers was a mammoth exercise for forest and wildlife officers of India.

The massive surveys are conducted every four years, with the latest census spanning 15 months and using 26,000 camera traps that took almost 350,000 images (out of which 76,000 captured Tigers) &nbsp;across known tiger habitats, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said at the census release.

Authorities from on foot traversed 5.2 lakh square kilometres to complete the survey.&nbsp;

Images that showed the big cats were analysed using computer programmes to individually identify each creature. Wildlife and forestry officials also scoured 380,000 square kilometres of terrain.

While releasing the report, PM Modi said that with almost 3000 tigers, India has become one of the biggest and most secure habitats. PM Modi further said that it was a moment of pride for the country as it achieved its commitment to the St Petersburg Declaration, of doubling tiger population, much before the 2022 deadline.&nbsp;

(With inputs from ANI)&nbsp;

The number of tigers in India has increased from 2,226 in 2014 to 2,967 in 2018 and by this India has achieved the target of doubling the wild cat's population four years ahead of the deadline.

The number of tigers in India has increased from 2,226 in 2014 to 2,967 in 2018 and by this India has achieved the target of doubling the wild cat's population four years ahead of the deadline. Madhya Pradesh saw the highest number of tigers at 526, followed by Karnataka at 524, and Uttarakhand at the third position with 442 tigers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today released results of the fourth cycle of All India Tiger Estimation in New Delhi. It is believed some 40,000 tigers lived in India at the time of independence from Britain in 1947. But by 2006 it reached its lowest-recorded figure of 1,411. Estimation of Tigers was a mammoth exercise : 1. Survey of 3.8 lakh sqaure Km 2. Authorities on foot traversed 5.2 lakh square km 3. 26 K camera traps 4. 3.5 lakh images were taken out of which 76 K captured Tigers Union Minister @PrakashJavdekar #InternationalTigerDay pic.twitter.com/KBZ5g8idlQ — PIB India (@PIB_India) July 29, 2019 × In 2010, it was decided in St Petersburg that the target of doubling the tiger population would be 2022. But following conservation efforts, India has completed this target four years early. But the estimation of tigers was a mammoth exercise for forest and wildlife officers of India. The massive surveys are conducted every four years, with the latest census spanning 15 months and using 26,000 camera traps that took almost 350,000 images (out of which 76,000 captured Tigers) across known tiger habitats, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said at the census release. Authorities from on foot traversed 5.2 lakh square kilometres to complete the survey. Images that showed the big cats were analysed using computer programmes to individually identify each creature. Wildlife and forestry officials also scoured 380,000 square kilometres of terrain. While releasing the report, PM Modi said that with almost 3000 tigers, India has become one of the biggest and most secure habitats. PM Modi further said that it was a moment of pride for the country as it achieved its commitment to the St Petersburg Declaration, of doubling tiger population, much before the 2022 deadline. (With inputs from ANI)

How the mammoth tiger census exercise was carried out

An animal rescue group is asking for help caring for nearly 100 baby snowy egrets and black-crowned night herons left homeless last week after a tree fell in downtown Oakland.

Nearly 100 baby birds rescued from fallen CA tree

Untold number of exotic animals are being imported or bred across Pakistan, much to the horror of helpless wildlife officials.

Pakistani elite’s love for big cats makes animal trade a roaring business

Vohibola forest in eastern Madagascar is in the grip of widespread deforestation. One hotel owner has been funding local task-forces for several years in a bid to try and protect the forest and the diverse range of wildlife that calls it home.

Poachers threaten precious Madagascar forest and lemurs

An Asian elephant believed to be the oldest ever in captivity has died aged 88 in the southern Indian state of Kerala, officials said Thursday.

Awarded the title of "Gaja Muthassi" (elephant granny), Dakshayani took part in temple rituals and processions for decades, but breathed her last on Tuesday after becoming reluctant to eat, her veterinary surgeon said.

"At 3 pm, a sudden shiver passed through her large frame beginning from the head region. After a few minutes, she bent her forelimbs and lay down. And that was it," T&nbsp;Rajeev told AFP.

The Travancore Devaswom Board, which owned Dakshayani, gave her age as 88.

The oldest elephant in captivity recognised by Guinness World Records was aged 86 — Lin Wang, another Asian elephant which died in 2003 in a Taiwan zoo. Captive elephants have a life expectancy of 40-plus years.

Pineapples and carrots had been introduced to Dakshayani's diet in recent years to improve her metabolism after she began to have difficulty moving around, probably due to reduced eyesight.

"For the past three years she did not take part in any temple programme or public function," Rajeev said.

"And a couple of months back, we had even moved her to a better tethering place at an elephant farm in Thiruvananthapuram."

Wildlife conservationists such as PS Easa have criticised the practice of keeping elephants in captivity, regardless of their conditions.

He said Thursday all such animals should be released to their natural habitat, adding that bestowing titles on elephants did nothing for their well-being.

"All they want, or for that matter, any animal would want, is to be in their natural habitat and have enough space to move around and sufficient food to eat," he said.&nbsp;

Wildlife experts say some 15,000 Asian elephants -- or nearly one in three -- live in captivity globally, often in dire conditions.&nbsp;

India has 2,454 elephants in captivity, a survey released last month said.&nbsp;

Former Travancore Board president Prayar Gopalakrishnan, under whose tenure Dakshayani was awarded the "Gaja Muthassi" honour, defended the decision to keep her in captivity.

"Due to various practical constraints, we could not let her loose, but instead ensured that she had more than enough space to move around," he told AFP.

An Asian elephant believed to be the oldest ever in captivity has died aged 88 in the southern Indian state of Kerala, officials said Thursday. Awarded the title of "Gaja Muthassi" (elephant granny), Dakshayani took part in temple rituals and processions for decades, but breathed her last on Tuesday after becoming reluctant to eat, her veterinary surgeon said.

An Asian elephant believed to be the oldest ever in captivity has died aged 88 in the southern Indian state of Kerala, officials said Thursday. Awarded the title of "Gaja Muthassi" (elephant granny), Dakshayani took part in temple rituals and processions for decades, but breathed her last on Tuesday after becoming reluctant to eat, her veterinary surgeon said. "At 3 pm, a sudden shiver passed through her large frame beginning from the head region. After a few minutes, she bent her forelimbs and lay down. And that was it," T Rajeev told AFP. The Travancore Devaswom Board, which owned Dakshayani, gave her age as 88. The oldest elephant in captivity recognised by Guinness World Records was aged 86 — Lin Wang, another Asian elephant which died in 2003 in a Taiwan zoo. Captive elephants have a life expectancy of 40-plus years. Pineapples and carrots had been introduced to Dakshayani's diet in recent years to improve her metabolism after she began to have difficulty moving around, probably due to reduced eyesight. "For the past three years she did not take part in any temple programme or public function," Rajeev said. "And a couple of months back, we had even moved her to a better tethering place at an elephant farm in Thiruvananthapuram." Wildlife conservationists such as PS Easa have criticised the practice of keeping elephants in captivity, regardless of their conditions. He said Thursday all such animals should be released to their natural habitat, adding that bestowing titles on elephants did nothing for their well-being. "All they want, or for that matter, any animal would want, is to be in their natural habitat and have enough space to move around and sufficient food to eat," he said. Wildlife experts say some 15,000 Asian elephants -- or nearly one in three -- live in captivity globally, often in dire conditions. India has 2,454 elephants in captivity, a survey released last month said. Former Travancore Board president Prayar Gopalakrishnan, under whose tenure Dakshayani was awarded the "Gaja Muthassi" honour, defended the decision to keep her in captivity. "Due to various practical constraints, we could not let her loose, but instead ensured that she had more than enough space to move around," he told AFP.

India's 'granny' elephant dies aged 88

Discovery of spiky-necked dinosaur divulged

Chayan Kumar Chaudhary flicked through photographs captured on a hidden camera in the jungle, hoping his favourite big cat -- dubbed "selfie tiger" for its love of the limelight -- had made another appearance.

Thousands of camera traps have helped conservationists track Nepal's wild tiger population, which has nearly doubled in recent years as the big cats claw their way back from the verge of extinction.

After a nine-year push to protect tigers, an exhaustive census across 2,700 kilometres (1,700 miles) of Nepal's lowlands completed earlier this year revealed the population has grown from 121 in 2009 to an estimated 235 adult cats today.

On the frontline of the painstaking survey were trained locals like Chaudhary in western Nepal's Bardia National Park where tiger numbers have grown nearly fivefold.

The 25-year-old helped track and record wild tiger movements through the park by scanning images taken by cameras hidden in the jungle's undergrowth.&nbsp;

"It was very exciting when we checked the (memory) cards and found photos of tigers," Chaudhary told AFP.

"It felt like we are part of something big."

Nepal's southern lowlands, home to five national parks, were mapped into grids, each fitted with a pair of camera traps to record any tiger activity.&nbsp;

More than 3,200 of these special camera traps were installed, some by field workers on elephants to navigate the dense jungle.

"It was not an easy process and risky as well," said Man Bahadur Khadka, head of Nepal's department of wildlife and national parks.&nbsp;

These cameras were equipped with sensors that triggered a click whenever any movement or a change in temperature was detected.

Soon the photos started to trickle in: lone tigers walking past, mothers with their playful cubs and the occasional tiger feasting on a fresh kill. And Chaudhary's favourite: a big cat that seemed to enjoy preening in front of the lens.

The census began in November 2017 and by the following March, more than 4,000 images of tigers had been collected.

"We then began analysing the photos," Khadka said. "Just like our fingerprints, tigers have unique stripes. No two tigers are alike."

'Our wealth'&nbsp;

Conservationists say that behind Nepal's success was a strategy to turn tiger-fearing villagers -- who could earn thousands of dollars for poaching a big cat -- into the animal's protectors.

A century ago, Nepal's lush jungles were a playground for the country's rulers and visiting British dignitaries who came to hunt the Royal Bengal tiger.

In 1900, more than 100,000 tigers were estimated to roam the planet. But that fell to a record low of 3,200 globally in 2010.&nbsp;

Nepal's tiger numbers hit rock bottom following the decade-long civil war, which ended in 2006, when poachers ran amok across the southern plains.&nbsp;

In 2009, the government changed tack, enlisting community groups to protect the animals. Hundreds of young volunteers were recruited to guard Nepal's national parks, patrolling against poachers, raising awareness and protecting the natural habitat. &nbsp;

"Tigers are our wealth, we have to protect them," said Sanju Pariyar, 22, who was just a teen when she joined an anti-poaching group.

"People understand that if our tiger and rhino numbers grow, tourists will come and bring opportunities. It is good for us."

Armed with a stick, Pariyar regularly goes out on patrol to search for traps laid by poachers.

The locals have also become informants, alerting park officials if they see anything, or anyone, suspicious.

Nepal has tough punishments for poachers -- up to 15 years in jail and a heavy fine -- and it has recently started a genetic database of its tigers to aid investigations.

In March, police arrested a poacher who had been on the run for five years after being caught with five tiger pelts and 114 kilos (251 pounds) of bones.

The contraband was believed to have been destined for China, a top market for wildlife smugglers, where rare animal parts are used in traditional medicine.

In 2010, Nepal and 12 other countries with tiger populations signed an agreement to double their big cat numbers by 2022. The Himalayan nation is set to be the first to achieve this target.

"If a country like Nepal -- small, least developed, with lots of challenges -- can do it, the others can do it," said Nepal's WWF representative, Ghana Gurung.

But conservationists are aware that rising tiger numbers are also good news for poachers and the lucrative black market they supply with endangered animal parts.

Tiger poaching is difficult to track because unlike with rhinos, nothing of the cat is left behind after it is killed.

"It is now more important than ever to stay vigilant," said national park warden Ashok Bhandari.

Chayan Kumar Chaudhary flicked through photographs captured on a hidden camera in the jungle, hoping his favourite big cat -- dubbed "selfie tiger" for its love of the limelight -- had made another appearance.

Chayan Kumar Chaudhary flicked through photographs captured on a hidden camera in the jungle, hoping his favourite big cat -- dubbed "selfie tiger" for its love of the limelight -- had made another appearance. Thousands of camera traps have helped conservationists track Nepal's wild tiger population, which has nearly doubled in recent years as the big cats claw their way back from the verge of extinction. After a nine-year push to protect tigers, an exhaustive census across 2,700 kilometres (1,700 miles) of Nepal's lowlands completed earlier this year revealed the population has grown from 121 in 2009 to an estimated 235 adult cats today. On the frontline of the painstaking survey were trained locals like Chaudhary in western Nepal's Bardia National Park where tiger numbers have grown nearly fivefold. The 25-year-old helped track and record wild tiger movements through the park by scanning images taken by cameras hidden in the jungle's undergrowth. "It was very exciting when we checked the (memory) cards and found photos of tigers," Chaudhary told AFP. "It felt like we are part of something big." Nepal's southern lowlands, home to five national parks, were mapped into grids, each fitted with a pair of camera traps to record any tiger activity. More than 3,200 of these special camera traps were installed, some by field workers on elephants to navigate the dense jungle. "It was not an easy process and risky as well," said Man Bahadur Khadka, head of Nepal's department of wildlife and national parks. These cameras were equipped with sensors that triggered a click whenever any movement or a change in temperature was detected. Soon the photos started to trickle in: lone tigers walking past, mothers with their playful cubs and the occasional tiger feasting on a fresh kill. And Chaudhary's favourite: a big cat that seemed to enjoy preening in front of the lens. The census began in November 2017 and by the following March, more than 4,000 images of tigers had been collected. "We then began analysing the photos," Khadka said. "Just like our fingerprints, tigers have unique stripes. No two tigers are alike." 'Our wealth' Conservationists say that behind Nepal's success was a strategy to turn tiger-fearing villagers -- who could earn thousands of dollars for poaching a big cat -- into the animal's protectors. A century ago, Nepal's lush jungles were a playground for the country's rulers and visiting British dignitaries who came to hunt the Royal Bengal tiger. In 1900, more than 100,000 tigers were estimated to roam the planet. But that fell to a record low of 3,200 globally in 2010. Nepal's tiger numbers hit rock bottom following the decade-long civil war, which ended in 2006, when poachers ran amok across the southern plains. In 2009, the government changed tack, enlisting community groups to protect the animals. Hundreds of young volunteers were recruited to guard Nepal's national parks, patrolling against poachers, raising awareness and protecting the natural habitat. "Tigers are our wealth, we have to protect them," said Sanju Pariyar, 22, who was just a teen when she joined an anti-poaching group. "People understand that if our tiger and rhino numbers grow, tourists will come and bring opportunities. It is good for us." Armed with a stick, Pariyar regularly goes out on patrol to search for traps laid by poachers. The locals have also become informants, alerting park officials if they see anything, or anyone, suspicious. Nepal has tough punishments for poachers -- up to 15 years in jail and a heavy fine -- and it has recently started a genetic database of its tigers to aid investigations. In March, police arrested a poacher who had been on the run for five years after being caught with five tiger pelts and 114 kilos (251 pounds) of bones. The contraband was believed to have been destined for China, a top market for wildlife smugglers, where rare animal parts are used in traditional medicine. In 2010, Nepal and 12 other countries with tiger populations signed an agreement to double their big cat numbers by 2022. The Himalayan nation is set to be the first to achieve this target. "If a country like Nepal -- small, least developed, with lots of challenges -- can do it, the others can do it," said Nepal's WWF representative, Ghana Gurung. But conservationists are aware that rising tiger numbers are also good news for poachers and the lucrative black market they supply with endangered animal parts. Tiger poaching is difficult to track because unlike with rhinos, nothing of the cat is left behind after it is killed. "It is now more important than ever to stay vigilant," said national park warden Ashok Bhandari.

Crouching tigers, hidden cameras: Nepal counts its big cats

Unbridled consumption has <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/rising-mercury-levels-in-india-posing-threat-to-indias-wildlife--138386">decimated global wildlife</a>, triggered a mass extinction and exhausted Earth's capacity to accommodate humanity's expanding appetites, the conservation group WWF warned Tuesday.

From 1970 to 2014, 60 percent of all animals with a backbone -- fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals -- were <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/at-least-23-asiatic-lions-die-in-gir-forest-five-from-rare-virus-169713">wiped out</a> by human activity, according to WWF's "Living Planet" report, based on an ongoing survey of more than 4,000 species spread over 16,700 populations scattered across the globe.

"The situation is really bad, and it keeps getting worse," WWF International director general Marco Lambertini told AFP.

"The only good news is that we know exactly what is happening."

For freshwater fauna, the decline in population over the 44 years monitored was a staggering 80 percent. Regionally, Latin America was hit hardest, seeing a nearly 90 percent loss of wildlife over the same period.

Another dataset confirmed the depth of an unfolding mass extinction event, only the sixth in the last half-billion years.&nbsp;

Depending on which of Earth's lifeforms are included, the current rate of species loss is 100 to 1,000 times higher than only a few hundred years ago, when people began to alter Earth's chemistry and crowd other creatures out of existence.

Measured by weight, or biomass, wild animals today only account for four percent of mammals on Earth, with humans (36 percent) and livestock (60 percent) making up the rest.

The great acceleration

Ten thousand years ago that ratio was probably reversed. &nbsp;

"The statistics are scary," said Piero Visconti, a researcher at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria and one of 59 co-authors of the 80-page report.

"Unlike population declines, extinctions are irreversible."

For corals, it may already be too late.

Back-to-back marine heatwaves have already wiped out up to half of the globe's shallow-water reefs, which support a quarter of all marine life.

Even if humanity manages to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) -- mission impossible, according to some scientists -- coral mortality will likely be 70 to 90 percent.

A 2C world would be a death sentence, a major UN report concluded last month.&nbsp;

Half-a-century of conservation efforts have scored spectacular successes, with significant recoveries among tigers, manatees, grizzly bears, bluefin tuna and bald eagles.

"If we didn't make those efforts, the situation would have been much worse," Lambertini said.

But the onslaught of hunting, shrinking habitat, pollution, illegal trade and climate change -- all caused by humans -- has been too much to overcome, he acknowledged.&nbsp;

"Scientists call it the 'great acceleration'," he said in a phone interview.&nbsp;

"It is the exponential growth over the last 50 years in the use of energy, water, timber, fish, food, fertiliser, pesticides, minerals, plastics –- everything."

'New deal' for nature 
The pace of population increase -- long taboo in development and conservation circles -- also took off around 1950, the date scientists have chosen as the "gold spike," or starting point, for a new geological period dubbed the Anthropocene, or "age of man".

In looking for answers, conservationists are turning to climate change for inspiration.

"We need a new global deal for nature," said Lambertini, noting two key ingredients in the 195-nation Paris climate treaty.

"One was the realisation that climate change was dangerous for the economy and society, not just polar bears," he said.

Similarly, he argued, threatened ecosystem services long taken for granted -- drinkable water, breathable air, heat-absorbing oceans, forests that soak up CO2, productive soil -- are worth tens of trillions of dollars every year.

"A healthy, sustainable future for all is only possible on a planet where nature thrives and forests, oceans and rivers are teeming with biodiversity and life," said Lambertini.

The Paris Agreement, negotiated under the UN convention on climate change, also set a clear target: global warming must be held to "well below" 2C, and 1.5C if possible.

The parallel UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), by contrast, has lots of targets running out to 2020 which are not only too weak, but -- with one possible exception -- will probably not be met, Lambertini said.

"The CBD is failing," he told AFP. But an upcoming meeting of the 195-nation body could be the beginning of a "revolution" that will see the Convention re-engineered in 2020 into "a new deal for Nature."

Unbridled consumption has decimated global wildlife, triggered a mass extinction and exhausted Earth's capacity to accommodate humanity's expanding appetites, the conservation group WWF warned Tuesday.

Unbridled consumption has decimated global wildlife, triggered a mass extinction and exhausted Earth's capacity to accommodate humanity's expanding appetites, the conservation group WWF warned Tuesday. From 1970 to 2014, 60 percent of all animals with a backbone -- fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals -- were wiped out by human activity, according to WWF's "Living Planet" report, based on an ongoing survey of more than 4,000 species spread over 16,700 populations scattered across the globe. "The situation is really bad, and it keeps getting worse," WWF International director general Marco Lambertini told AFP. "The only good news is that we know exactly what is happening." For freshwater fauna, the decline in population over the 44 years monitored was a staggering 80 percent. Regionally, Latin America was hit hardest, seeing a nearly 90 percent loss of wildlife over the same period. Another dataset confirmed the depth of an unfolding mass extinction event, only the sixth in the last half-billion years. Depending on which of Earth's lifeforms are included, the current rate of species loss is 100 to 1,000 times higher than only a few hundred years ago, when people began to alter Earth's chemistry and crowd other creatures out of existence. Measured by weight, or biomass, wild animals today only account for four percent of mammals on Earth, with humans (36 percent) and livestock (60 percent) making up the rest. The great acceleration Ten thousand years ago that ratio was probably reversed. "The statistics are scary," said Piero Visconti, a researcher at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria and one of 59 co-authors of the 80-page report. "Unlike population declines, extinctions are irreversible." For corals, it may already be too late. Back-to-back marine heatwaves have already wiped out up to half of the globe's shallow-water reefs, which support a quarter of all marine life. Even if humanity manages to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) -- mission impossible, according to some scientists -- coral mortality will likely be 70 to 90 percent. A 2C world would be a death sentence, a major UN report concluded last month. Half-a-century of conservation efforts have scored spectacular successes, with significant recoveries among tigers, manatees, grizzly bears, bluefin tuna and bald eagles. "If we didn't make those efforts, the situation would have been much worse," Lambertini said. But the onslaught of hunting, shrinking habitat, pollution, illegal trade and climate change -- all caused by humans -- has been too much to overcome, he acknowledged. "Scientists call it the 'great acceleration'," he said in a phone interview. "It is the exponential growth over the last 50 years in the use of energy, water, timber, fish, food, fertiliser, pesticides, minerals, plastics –- everything." 'New deal' for nature The pace of population increase -- long taboo in development and conservation circles -- also took off around 1950, the date scientists have chosen as the "gold spike," or starting point, for a new geological period dubbed the Anthropocene, or "age of man". In looking for answers, conservationists are turning to climate change for inspiration. "We need a new global deal for nature," said Lambertini, noting two key ingredients in the 195-nation Paris climate treaty. "One was the realisation that climate change was dangerous for the economy and society, not just polar bears," he said. Similarly, he argued, threatened ecosystem services long taken for granted -- drinkable water, breathable air, heat-absorbing oceans, forests that soak up CO2, productive soil -- are worth tens of trillions of dollars every year. "A healthy, sustainable future for all is only possible on a planet where nature thrives and forests, oceans and rivers are teeming with biodiversity and life," said Lambertini. The Paris Agreement, negotiated under the UN convention on climate change, also set a clear target: global warming must be held to "well below" 2C, and 1.5C if possible. The parallel UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), by contrast, has lots of targets running out to 2020 which are not only too weak, but -- with one possible exception -- will probably not be met, Lambertini said. "The CBD is failing," he told AFP. But an upcoming meeting of the 195-nation body could be the beginning of a "revolution" that will see the Convention re-engineered in 2020 into "a new deal for Nature."

In 44 years, humans have wiped out 60% of the world's animal population: WWF

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/earths-wild-animal-population-plummets-60-per-cent-in-44-years-wwf-174289">In 40 years, humans have wiped out 60% of the world's animal population: WWF</a>

Unbridled consumption has decimated global wildlife, triggered a mass extinction and exhausted Earth's capacity to accommodate humanity's expanding appetites, the conservation group WWF warned Tuesday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/khashoggi-fiancee-hits-at-trump-response-warns-of-money-influence-174297">Khashoggi fiancee slams Trump response to </a><a class="gr-progress" href="http://www.wionews.com/world/khashoggi-fiancee-hits-at-trump-response-warns-of-money-influence-174297">killing</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/khashoggi-fiancee-hits-at-trump-response-warns-of-money-influence-174297">, tells him to set aside trade interests</a>

The fiancée of Jamal Khashoggi on Monday criticized President Donald Trump’s response to his killing, urging him to set aside US trade interests in the push for truth, and demanded Riyadh disclose more details to bring those who ordered it to justice.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/over-1-lakh-children-under-five-died-due-to-toxic-air-in-2016-who-study-174295">Over 100,000 Indian children under 5 died from air pollution in 2016: WHO</a>

Over one lakh children under five years of age died in India in 2016 due to exposure to toxic air, according to a new WHO study which noted that about 98 per cent of children in the same age group in low- and middle-income countries were exposed to air pollution.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/fuel-prices-drop-for-13th-straight-day-petrol-at-rs-7955-per-litre-in-delhi-174298">Fuel prices continue to drop, petrol at Rs 79.55 per </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/fuel-prices-drop-for-13th-straight-day-petrol-at-rs-7955-per-litre-in-delhi-174298">litre</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/fuel-prices-drop-for-13th-straight-day-petrol-at-rs-7955-per-litre-in-delhi-174298"> in Delhi</a>

Fuel prices in the national capital dropped for the thirteenth consecutive day on Tuesday as petrol prices stood at Rs 79.55 per litre, down by Rs 0.20 paise, and diesel prices at Rs. 73.73, down by Rs 0.07 paise.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-interviews-indian-american-woman-to-replace-kavanaugh-in-dc-circuit-court-174293">Trump interviews Indian-American woman to replace Kavanaugh in DC circuit court</a>

US President Donald Trump has interviewed an Indian-American woman to replace Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in the powerful federal appeals court in Washington, DC, according to a report.

In 40 years, humans have wiped out 60% of the world's animal population: WWF Unbridled consumption has decimated global wildlife, triggered a mass extinction and exhausted Earth's capacity to accommodate humanity's expanding appetites, the conservation group WWF warned Tuesday.

In 40 years, humans have wiped out 60% of the world's animal population: WWF Unbridled consumption has decimated global wildlife, triggered a mass extinction and exhausted Earth's capacity to accommodate humanity's expanding appetites, the conservation group WWF warned Tuesday. Khashoggi fiancee slams Trump response to killing, tells him to set aside trade interests The fiancée of Jamal Khashoggi on Monday criticized President Donald Trump’s response to his killing, urging him to set aside US trade interests in the push for truth, and demanded Riyadh disclose more details to bring those who ordered it to justice. Over 100,000 Indian children under 5 died from air pollution in 2016: WHO Over one lakh children under five years of age died in India in 2016 due to exposure to toxic air, according to a new WHO study which noted that about 98 per cent of children in the same age group in low- and middle-income countries were exposed to air pollution. Fuel prices continue to drop, petrol at Rs 79.55 per litre in Delhi Fuel prices in the national capital dropped for the thirteenth consecutive day on Tuesday as petrol prices stood at Rs 79.55 per litre, down by Rs 0.20 paise, and diesel prices at Rs. 73.73, down by Rs 0.07 paise. Trump interviews Indian-American woman to replace Kavanaugh in DC circuit court US President Donald Trump has interviewed an Indian-American woman to replace Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in the powerful federal appeals court in Washington, DC, according to a report.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Five rangers and a driver were killed on Monday in an ambush in the Virunga National Park, the Democratic Republic of Congo's famed haven for gorillas and other endangered species, the park said.

"We have sadly lost six rangers," park spokesman Joel Malembe told AFP, adding that the team was ambushed while driving between the sectors of Lulimba and Ishasha, near the border with Uganda.

A seventh ranger, the team's leader, was wounded, he said.

Later the authorities said the dead comprised five rangers and a driver, who were ambushed in the centre of the sprawling park.

<img alt="gorillas.png" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="684" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/gorillas.png" width="1014" />

Established in 1925, Virunga is thought to be Africa's oldest national park.

One of the most important conservation sites in the world, it covers 7,800 square kilometres (3,011 miles), or three times the size of Luxembourg, along a swathe of eastern DR Congo abutting the border with Uganda and Rwanda.

Virunga is home to about a quarter of the world's population of critically-endangered mountain gorillas, as well as to eastern lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, okapis, lions, elephants and hippos.

But it is located in DR Congo's North Kivu province, where armed groups are fighting for control of territorial and natural resources, and poaching is a major threat.

The park's director, Emmanuel de Merode, a Belgian national, was himself wounded in a road ambush between the park and Goma, the capital of North Kivu, in May 2014.

On April 2, a park ranger died in an attack by armed men. He was guarding the site of a hydroelectric plant that is under construction.&nbsp

Established in 1925, Virunga is thought to be Africa's oldest national park.

Five rangers and a driver were killed on Monday in an ambush in the Virunga National Park, the Democratic Republic of Congo's famed haven for gorillas and other endangered species, the park said. "We have sadly lost six rangers," park spokesman Joel Malembe told AFP, adding that the team was ambushed while driving between the sectors of Lulimba and Ishasha, near the border with Uganda. A seventh ranger, the team's leader, was wounded, he said. Later the authorities said the dead comprised five rangers and a driver, who were ambushed in the centre of the sprawling park. Established in 1925, Virunga is thought to be Africa's oldest national park. One of the most important conservation sites in the world, it covers 7,800 square kilometres (3,011 miles), or three times the size of Luxembourg, along a swathe of eastern DR Congo abutting the border with Uganda and Rwanda. Virunga is home to about a quarter of the world's population of critically-endangered mountain gorillas, as well as to eastern lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, okapis, lions, elephants and hippos. But it is located in DR Congo's North Kivu province, where armed groups are fighting for control of territorial and natural resources, and poaching is a major threat. The park's director, Emmanuel de Merode, a Belgian national, was himself wounded in a road ambush between the park and Goma, the capital of North Kivu, in May 2014. On April 2, a park ranger died in an attack by armed men. He was guarding the site of a hydroelectric plant that is under construction.

Five park rangers, driver killed in Democratic Republic of Congo's Virunga wildlife sanctuary

October 1, 1998: Almost 20 years ago,&nbsp;Salman Khan&nbsp;along with&nbsp;Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam&nbsp;were charged with the poaching of blackbucks, an endangered species protected under Wildlife Protection Act near Kankani village, Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

Salman Khan was in Rajasthan along with his co-stars for the shooting of the film&nbsp;Hum Saath Saath Hain.

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October 2, 1998:&nbsp;Bishnoi community filed a complaint against the actor.

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October 12, 1998:&nbsp;Salman Khan arrested for the poaching of endangered species. Later, granted bail.

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April 10, 2006:&nbsp;Salman Khan convicted by a trial court under Wildlife Protection Act. Khan was sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment along with a fine.

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August 31, 2007:&nbsp;Rajasthan High Court sentenced Salman Khan 5 years in prison. Khan was kept in Jodhpur Central Jail for a week.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

After Salman Khan's appeal, Rajasthan High Court suspended the sentence. The court also dropped charges under the Arms Act against the Bollywood star.July 24, 2012:&nbsp;A bench of Rajasthan High Court finalised charges against the accused in the poaching case.

<a href="Also see: Meet the Bishnois: The community which kept the case going for the ">Also see: Meet the Bishnois: The community which kept the case going for 20 years</a>

 
July 9, 2014:&nbsp;Supreme Court challenged Rajasthan High Court's decision of Salman's Conviction and issued a notice.

&nbsp;

July 25, 2016:&nbsp;Rajasthan High Court acquitted Salman in Jodhpur case. The High Court acquitted the actor saying there was no proof that the animals who were&nbsp;found dead were killed by Salman's gun.

&nbsp;

October 19, 2016:&nbsp;The Rajasthan government filed a plea in Supreme Court against Rajasthan High Court's rule, which acquitted Salman in two cases of chinkara and blackbuck poaching.

&nbsp;

November 11, 2016:&nbsp;After Rajasthan government's plea, Supreme Court fast-tracked hearing in two cases of blackbuck and chinkara poaching.

&nbsp;

January 18, 2017:&nbsp;Salman Khan acquitted in Arms Act case by Jodhpur High Court.

&nbsp;

April 5, 2018:&nbsp;Salman Khan found guilty in the blackbuck poaching case. Other actors accused in the case including Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre have been acquitted.

&nbsp;

Salman Khan was in Rajasthan along with his co-stars for the shooting of the film Hum Saath Saath Hain

October 1, 1998: Almost 20 years ago, Salman Khan along with Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam were charged with the poaching of blackbucks, an endangered species protected under Wildlife Protection Act near Kankani village, Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Salman Khan was in Rajasthan along with his co-stars for the shooting of the film Hum Saath Saath Hain. × October 2, 1998: Bishnoi community filed a complaint against the actor. October 12, 1998: Salman Khan arrested for the poaching of endangered species. Later, granted bail. April 10, 2006: Salman Khan convicted by a trial court under Wildlife Protection Act. Khan was sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment along with a fine. August 31, 2007: Rajasthan High Court sentenced Salman Khan 5 years in prison. Khan was kept in Jodhpur Central Jail for a week. After Salman Khan's appeal, Rajasthan High Court suspended the sentence. The court also dropped charges under the Arms Act against the Bollywood star.July 24, 2012: A bench of Rajasthan High Court finalised charges against the accused in the poaching case. Also see: Meet the Bishnois: The community which kept the case going for 20 years July 9, 2014: Supreme Court challenged Rajasthan High Court's decision of Salman's Conviction and issued a notice. July 25, 2016: Rajasthan High Court acquitted Salman in Jodhpur case. The High Court acquitted the actor saying there was no proof that the animals who were found dead were killed by Salman's gun. October 19, 2016: The Rajasthan government filed a plea in Supreme Court against Rajasthan High Court's rule, which acquitted Salman in two cases of chinkara and blackbuck poaching. November 11, 2016: After Rajasthan government's plea, Supreme Court fast-tracked hearing in two cases of blackbuck and chinkara poaching. January 18, 2017: Salman Khan acquitted in Arms Act case by Jodhpur High Court. April 5, 2018: Salman Khan found guilty in the blackbuck poaching case. Other actors accused in the case including Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre have been acquitted.

Blackbuck case timeline: Salman Khan gets convicted, others acquitted

There are different theories about why cows line the streets of Bhavnagar. Some say the cows wander because of old age and a waning ability to produce milk. Another explanation is that the cows are allowed into the streets to find food on their own if the herder cannot afford to feed them. It is a wonder how they are able to find their way back to their respective owners. Still, one way or another, in the early morning, I find fewer cows in the street than mid-day.&nbsp;

People are pretty conscientious about not throwing plastic in street in my neighborhood. Organic kitchen wastes like carrot tops and vegetable peels are scattered on the side of the street near a cow, which immediately trots over to feast. At least once, I have walked home with a bag of vegetables to find a long eyelash-ed visitor slyly trailing behind in hopes of a treat. It is always a pleasure to watch a little calf gobble up a spinach bunch or two. Though the scene is endearing, not everyone is watching what these cows are consuming. Elsewhere in the city, I have seen cows chew through plastics to reach the food wastes within the bag.&nbsp;

Plastics affect the cows&rsquo; ability to produce milk, and they end up on the streets again, this time abandoned by the herder. It is a grim cycle with an economic complication wherein herders lacking funds to feed their animals allow them to be fed by the public. Without their owner&rsquo;s knowledge, the livestock consumes non-biodegradable materials and begin producing less milk. By the time the problem is noticed, it is often too late to resolve it. If the herders can&rsquo;t afford to take them to a veterinarian and the burden to keep feeding them becomes too much, the cow is released into the public.&nbsp;

So what happens when a cow consumes plastic? Since the animal cannot digest it, it accumulates in the stomach, allowing less and less space for real food, leading to starvation. Milk production is affected by toxic chemicals entering the bloodstream from the little plastic that manages to be broken down. NGOs working to fight this environmental disaster have reported finding nearly 100 kgs of plastics in the digestive systems of some cows.&nbsp;

The government of India&rsquo;s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has been imposing stricter guidelines for plastic use for the past few years. There is no national law against the use of plastic bags, but regulations have made it so there are more incentives not to use them. The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 which regulates the manufacture, sale, distribution and use of plastic carry bags prohibited the use of bags made from conventional plastic with a thickness of less than 50 micron.&nbsp;Shopkeepers are not allowed to provide plastic carry bags and are also forbidden from selling plastic trash bags in their shops unless they have registered with their local waste management authority. Upon registration, they are also required to pay a monthly fee of at least 4000 rs and upwards of 8000 rs if they are a larger store. Bigger chain stores have started charging for reusable carry bags in hopes that customers will start bringing their own bags. Like most environmental legislation, the city of Bhavnagar may be experiencing difficulties in enforcing the rules. Nearly every small store I go to offers a thin plastic bag with my purchase and it seems unlikely that the majority of these stores are registered and paying the monthly fee.

On the upside, companies have actively started to look for eco-friendly packaging. Jute, a natural fiber which is endemic to South Asia, is making a comeback. It has been listed as one of the 4 future fibres for sustainable living by the UN&rsquo;s Food and Agriculture Organization. As cash crop for farmers because of its wide variety of uses, jute also enriches the soil for future crops, is biodegradable, and burns clean. A hectare of jute produces 11 tonnes of oxygen for every 15 tonnes of carbon dioxide it consumes. Traditionally, it has been used to package grains, but stores have also used it to create carry bags for their customers. Textile engineers and environmental engineers are currently in the process of increasing its applicability.

In addition to preventing future pollution, India is looking for solutions to manage existing plastic waste. Entrepreneurs and scientists are being encouraged to tackle this problem and being recognized for their innovative solutions. This year, the Padma Shree award, India&rsquo;s highest civilian honor was awarded to Dr. Rajagopalan Vasudevan, a Tamil chemical engineer who patented a method for creating durable, cost-effective rural roads using waste plastics.&nbsp;

Education about the importance of recycling is also gaining momentum. In fact, the city of Coimbatore, in Tamil Nadu, is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for holding the world&rsquo;s largest lesson on recycling. In 2015, 12,994 people attended the 55-minute session on how wastes need to be segregated to facilitate processing, composting, and recycling. The training had an&nbsp;impact as evidenced in Madukkarai, a town within the vicinity of Coimbatore. A 60% reduction in landfill waste was seen in 3 years. About 85% of organic waste is converted successfully into vermin compost, which is compost assisted in the breakdown by worms.&nbsp;

Within my own organization,&nbsp;<a href="http://shaishavchildrights.org/">Shaishav</a>, children often discuss environmental preservation. For instance, my first day here, the children were having a debate on what they believed was essential. Several children valued clean water and an unpolluted environment more than money because they recognized that these things were a relatively nonrenewable resource compared to money. Even more, they said that money&rsquo;s utility held no importance but for obtaining things such as a clean environment. I believe this discussion set the standard for what I could expect to see from the children involved in Shaishav!&nbsp;

India is known for its beautiful wildlife and environment. Let&rsquo;s hope its equally famous ingenuity can solve some of the threats that its environment is facing.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

NGOs working to fight this environmental disaster have reported finding nearly 100 kgs of plastics in the digestive systems of some cows.

There are different theories about why cows line the streets of Bhavnagar. Some say the cows wander because of old age and a waning ability to produce milk. Another explanation is that the cows are allowed into the streets to find food on their own if the herder cannot afford to feed them. It is a wonder how they are able to find their way back to their respective owners. Still, one way or another, in the early morning, I find fewer cows in the street than mid-day. People are pretty conscientious about not throwing plastic in street in my neighborhood. Organic kitchen wastes like carrot tops and vegetable peels are scattered on the side of the street near a cow, which immediately trots over to feast. At least once, I have walked home with a bag of vegetables to find a long eyelash-ed visitor slyly trailing behind in hopes of a treat. It is always a pleasure to watch a little calf gobble up a spinach bunch or two. Though the scene is endearing, not everyone is watching what these cows are consuming. Elsewhere in the city, I have seen cows chew through plastics to reach the food wastes within the bag. Plastics affect the cows’ ability to produce milk, and they end up on the streets again, this time abandoned by the herder. It is a grim cycle with an economic complication wherein herders lacking funds to feed their animals allow them to be fed by the public. Without their owner’s knowledge, the livestock consumes non-biodegradable materials and begin producing less milk. By the time the problem is noticed, it is often too late to resolve it. If the herders can’t afford to take them to a veterinarian and the burden to keep feeding them becomes too much, the cow is released into the public. So what happens when a cow consumes plastic? Since the animal cannot digest it, it accumulates in the stomach, allowing less and less space for real food, leading to starvation. Milk production is affected by toxic chemicals entering the bloodstream from the little plastic that manages to be broken down. NGOs working to fight this environmental disaster have reported finding nearly 100 kgs of plastics in the digestive systems of some cows. The government of India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has been imposing stricter guidelines for plastic use for the past few years. There is no national law against the use of plastic bags, but regulations have made it so there are more incentives not to use them. The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 which regulates the manufacture, sale, distribution and use of plastic carry bags prohibited the use of bags made from conventional plastic with a thickness of less than 50 micron. Shopkeepers are not allowed to provide plastic carry bags and are also forbidden from selling plastic trash bags in their shops unless they have registered with their local waste management authority. Upon registration, they are also required to pay a monthly fee of at least 4000 rs and upwards of 8000 rs if they are a larger store. Bigger chain stores have started charging for reusable carry bags in hopes that customers will start bringing their own bags. Like most environmental legislation, the city of Bhavnagar may be experiencing difficulties in enforcing the rules. Nearly every small store I go to offers a thin plastic bag with my purchase and it seems unlikely that the majority of these stores are registered and paying the monthly fee. On the upside, companies have actively started to look for eco-friendly packaging. Jute, a natural fiber which is endemic to South Asia, is making a comeback. It has been listed as one of the 4 future fibres for sustainable living by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization. As cash crop for farmers because of its wide variety of uses, jute also enriches the soil for future crops, is biodegradable, and burns clean. A hectare of jute produces 11 tonnes of oxygen for every 15 tonnes of carbon dioxide it consumes. Traditionally, it has been used to package grains, but stores have also used it to create carry bags for their customers. Textile engineers and environmental engineers are currently in the process of increasing its applicability. In addition to preventing future pollution, India is looking for solutions to manage existing plastic waste. Entrepreneurs and scientists are being encouraged to tackle this problem and being recognized for their innovative solutions. This year, the Padma Shree award, India’s highest civilian honor was awarded to Dr. Rajagopalan Vasudevan, a Tamil chemical engineer who patented a method for creating durable, cost-effective rural roads using waste plastics. Education about the importance of recycling is also gaining momentum. In fact, the city of Coimbatore, in Tamil Nadu, is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for holding the world’s largest lesson on recycling. In 2015, 12,994 people attended the 55-minute session on how wastes need to be segregated to facilitate processing, composting, and recycling. The training had an impact as evidenced in Madukkarai, a town within the vicinity of Coimbatore. A 60% reduction in landfill waste was seen in 3 years. About 85% of organic waste is converted successfully into vermin compost, which is compost assisted in the breakdown by worms. Within my own organization, Shaishav, children often discuss environmental preservation. For instance, my first day here, the children were having a debate on what they believed was essential. Several children valued clean water and an unpolluted environment more than money because they recognized that these things were a relatively nonrenewable resource compared to money. Even more, they said that money’s utility held no importance but for obtaining things such as a clean environment. I believe this discussion set the standard for what I could expect to see from the children involved in Shaishav! India is known for its beautiful wildlife and environment. Let’s hope its equally famous ingenuity can solve some of the threats that its environment is facing. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: What happens when a cow consumes plastic?

Sudan&#39;s Janjaweed, Uganda&#39;s Lord&#39;s Resistance Army and other notorious militias are wreaking havoc on wildlife in central&nbsp;Africa, poaching and trafficking elephants, hippopotamuses, buffaloes and other animals, a monitor said Friday.

The threat comes from &quot;highly organised armed groups who are linked to human rights violations and ongoing political instability&quot; as well as state actors, armed pastoralists and&nbsp;poachers, Traffic said in a report.

Joseph Kony, a self-styled mystic and prophet who launched a bloody rebellion three decades ago, &quot;tasked a group of LRA fighters with obtaining 100 tusks... over the course of nine months&quot; from the Garamba natural reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Traffic said.

The report also tracked poaching in Bili in DRC and the Chinko reserve in the Central African Republic. The research covered nearly 90 villages in the region.

&quot;This region is perhaps the most remote and underdeveloped on the continent,&quot; said Liz Williamson, one of the authors of the report.

&quot;The lack of governance and enforcement has rendered local communities and wildlife an easy target for exploitation by armed groups, while illegal wildlife trade fuels continued instability across the landscape.&quot;

Exacerbating the problem was endemic corruption in a region mired in poverty, but things were improving in DR Congo where poaching by government soldiers has been declining in the past few years due to &quot;stronger collaboration with park enforcement authorities,&quot; it said.

The pastoralist threat

But animals are also under threat from pastoralists like the Fulani, who are spread over a swathe of western and central&nbsp;Africa, and the Mbororo, a Fulani sub-group which kill Giant Eland -- a Savannah antelope -- and buffaloes &quot;to sell as bushmeat and to poison predators.

&quot;Fulani have also been reported as trafficking wildlife products such as ivory and leopard skins across borders, primarily to South Sudan and Uganda,&quot; Traffic said.

And there were armed &quot;poachers&nbsp;targeting large mammals, including bongo, buffalo, elephant and hippopotamus in the protected areas&quot; selling their meat to individuals and restaurants and transporting high-value products such as ivory, skins and other trophies further afield.

&quot;Hunting serves as an income-generator for people living around protected areas and about 20 percent of men in northeast DRC reported that they engage in small-scale poaching,&quot; it said.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has previously found that&nbsp;Africa&#39;s elephant numbers fell by 111,000 between 2006 and 2015.&nbsp;

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species said the elephant population in southern&nbsp;Africa&nbsp;and much of East&nbsp;Africa&nbsp;is now either stable or increasing but illegal killings remain high across the continent.&nbsp;

Sudan's Janjaweed, Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army and other notorious militias are wreaking havoc on wildlife in central?Africa, poaching and trafficking elephants, hippopotamuses, buffaloes and other animals, a monitor said Friday

Sudan's Janjaweed, Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army and other notorious militias are wreaking havoc on wildlife in central Africa, poaching and trafficking elephants, hippopotamuses, buffaloes and other animals, a monitor said Friday. The threat comes from "highly organised armed groups who are linked to human rights violations and ongoing political instability" as well as state actors, armed pastoralists and poachers, Traffic said in a report. Joseph Kony, a self-styled mystic and prophet who launched a bloody rebellion three decades ago, "tasked a group of LRA fighters with obtaining 100 tusks... over the course of nine months" from the Garamba natural reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Traffic said. The report also tracked poaching in Bili in DRC and the Chinko reserve in the Central African Republic. The research covered nearly 90 villages in the region. "This region is perhaps the most remote and underdeveloped on the continent," said Liz Williamson, one of the authors of the report. "The lack of governance and enforcement has rendered local communities and wildlife an easy target for exploitation by armed groups, while illegal wildlife trade fuels continued instability across the landscape." Exacerbating the problem was endemic corruption in a region mired in poverty, but things were improving in DR Congo where poaching by government soldiers has been declining in the past few years due to "stronger collaboration with park enforcement authorities," it said. The pastoralist threat But animals are also under threat from pastoralists like the Fulani, who are spread over a swathe of western and central Africa, and the Mbororo, a Fulani sub-group which kill Giant Eland -- a Savannah antelope -- and buffaloes "to sell as bushmeat and to poison predators. "Fulani have also been reported as trafficking wildlife products such as ivory and leopard skins across borders, primarily to South Sudan and Uganda," Traffic said. And there were armed "poachers targeting large mammals, including bongo, buffalo, elephant and hippopotamus in the protected areas" selling their meat to individuals and restaurants and transporting high-value products such as ivory, skins and other trophies further afield. "Hunting serves as an income-generator for people living around protected areas and about 20 percent of men in northeast DRC reported that they engage in small-scale poaching," it said. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has previously found that Africa's elephant numbers fell by 111,000 between 2006 and 2015. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species said the elephant population in southern Africa and much of East Africa is now either stable or increasing but illegal killings remain high across the continent.

Militias, poachers have wreaked havoc on central Africa's wildlife: Monitor

Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, has issued notices to the Centre and wildlife bodies like Wildlife Institute of India, National Board for Wildlife, National Tiger Conservation Authority.

The notices were issued on a PIL seeking a direction to relocate human settlements from reserve forests to save the tiger population in the country.

Filing a PIL, advocate Anupam Tripathi submitted that 41 tigers were killed in 7 months from January to August 9 in the year 2015, as per the data provided by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

There were 74 tiger deaths reported in the year 2016, the petitioner said while submitting that these wild cats were killed by the locals residing near the reserve forests either due to man-animal conflict or poaching.

It was alleged that the tigers are being indiscriminately, barbarically and monstrously killed either by poisoning by the locals or by the authorities, shooting by the Forest Guards, poaching etc. Thus, tigers are being killed each day in the cruelest fashion.

It was alleged that the tigers are being indiscriminately, barbarically and monstrously killed either by poisoning by the locals or by the authorities, shooting by the Forest Guards, poaching etc

Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, has issued notices to the Centre and wildlife bodies like Wildlife Institute of India, National Board for Wildlife, National Tiger Conservation Authority. The notices were issued on a PIL seeking a direction to relocate human settlements from reserve forests to save the tiger population in the country. Filing a PIL, advocate Anupam Tripathi submitted that 41 tigers were killed in 7 months from January to August 9 in the year 2015, as per the data provided by the National Tiger Conservation Authority. There were 74 tiger deaths reported in the year 2016, the petitioner said while submitting that these wild cats were killed by the locals residing near the reserve forests either due to man-animal conflict or poaching. It was alleged that the tigers are being indiscriminately, barbarically and monstrously killed either by poisoning by the locals or by the authorities, shooting by the Forest Guards, poaching etc. Thus, tigers are being killed each day in the cruelest fashion.

SC issues notices to Centre, wildlife bodies on PIL seeking human relocation from reserve forests

Imagine an alien massacre destroys our homes, and&nbsp;what remains&nbsp;is&nbsp;a&nbsp;world unfit for human&nbsp;survival. We are&nbsp;physically and emotionally hurt. Mankind is directionless, and there&#39;s no sign&nbsp;of help or hope.

This is what happens to wild animals when their homes, the forest, are cut down. We place them in an environment&nbsp;their natural instincts don&#39;t recognise.

One&nbsp;species to face this&nbsp;is&nbsp;the sloth&nbsp;of South America. With&nbsp;trees being rapidly cut down&nbsp;they were left homeless, injured and tormented.&nbsp;Until one day they&nbsp;saw a ray of hope.

A human&nbsp;came like a hero to save them, by&nbsp;sheltering&nbsp;them in her own house.&nbsp;A&nbsp;place that was unfamiliar but felt safe. She fed them, soothed them and when they were ready put them back into their natural homes. Over a 12-year period super-saviour Monique Pool, also known as the &quot;Sloth Lady&quot;, has rescued 700 sloths.

Pool fell in love with sloths after&nbsp;she took in Lucia, a baby from a rescue centre. Today&nbsp;14 sloths safely reside in her house, while she continues to rescue&nbsp;more and advocate&nbsp;for their conservation rights.

 
Sloths: What are they?

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HgRymMe6520" width="970"></iframe>

 
The Sloth Lady

It all began in 2005 when Pool&nbsp;lost her dog and phoned the local Animal Protection Society to see if they&#39;d found her. They hadn&#39;t, but she was told about a baby sloth they didn&#39;t know how to look after. Even though she was clueless about sloths, she offered to take it in and was instantly smitten.

To learn how to take care of&nbsp;her newly-found love, she consulted another sloth rescuer in Costa Rica. It turns out sloths&nbsp;consume goat&#39;s milk, as cow&#39;s milk is&nbsp;fatal.

&ldquo;My first baby will always remain in my heart. &nbsp;He died within two years and I didn&#39;t know why at first. The experience taught me how little expertise there was in their rehabilitation and care. He is the reason I continue to do this work.&rdquo;

Her motivation to establish an organisation came from her desire to help one animal. That alone&nbsp;showed her&nbsp;the need to ensure the survival of this species.

The rescue process begins with a call from a concerned community member. &nbsp;Pool travels to the animal&#39;s location&nbsp;to pick it up. &ldquo;Sloths are difficult to rescue considering their strong climbing skills and ability to hang on to anything with their strong grip.&rdquo;

Once the sloth has been safely rescued, she brings them back to her rehabilitation centre&nbsp;and performs an examination.

&ldquo;Some of them have come to us with severe wounds and sometimes completely debilitated, always caused by humans. These types of animals do not make it, sloths do everything slow, even dying. Sometimes I sit with them, chanting to them mantras to help them make the transition.&rdquo;

If the animal is healthy, it is released back in the forests. Otherwise, it is treated until it&#39;s ready to be on its own.

&ldquo;They are not pets, they are wild animals. They&#39;re capable of taking care of themselves as long as they are in their natural surroundings and that is where I decided to put them. It&#39;s a special experience to watch a sloth climb on a tree, deep in the safety of a forest.&rdquo;

&nbsp;

It&#39;s raining sloths

In 2012, Pool faced a crisis that she calls &quot;Sloth Armageddon&quot;. A forest near her city was being cleared and she was to rescue 14 sloths. As 50-foot-high trees were cut down, sloths fell to the ground, to be picked up by Pool and her team.&nbsp;

&quot;There were so many of them, it was hard to open the cage and keep them all in,&quot; she says. &quot;As soon as they saw the doors open, they would try and get out.&quot; At night, males would fight and had to be separated.

Four days into the rescue, they realised they were dealing with a lot more than 14 sloths. &quot;After a month we were close to 200 sloths,&quot; says Pool. &quot;At one point, we had 17 babies being fed with droppers.&quot;

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Super-savior Monique Pool, also known as the Sloth Lady has rescued 700 sloths and rehabilitated them in her house over a period of 12 years. (Others)
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&nbsp;

Being slothified

&ldquo;They are peaceful and smiling creatures but far from easy to keep. Unlike most animals, sloths that are moving are sloths that are unhappy. When they sit, eat and sleep, is when they are happy.&rdquo;

Taking care of sloths is a challenge in itself. Since there is limited knowledge about their biology, Pool struggled to keep these furry animals healthy and help them recover from traumatic events. The adult sloths need to be fed three times a day and babies every few hours.

&ldquo;Sloths have very sensitive diets. Our team has to go to the forest every day to fetch fresh leaves.&rdquo;

She finds them sharp - a group of sloths learned how to open the bathroom door and one even used the toilet.

&quot;The first time we thought it was a mistake. It was only after the fourth time we realised we had taught her how to go to the toilet,&quot; she said.&nbsp;&ldquo;When I had my first baby, a friend observed that it was clutching my glasses and looking at it like it was investigating.&rdquo;

&nbsp;

Not just sloths

Pool now also takes care of dolphins, anteaters, armadillos and porcupines. She is a real hero in the world of wildlife rehabilitation.&nbsp;

When animals are in trouble, she is the one you call!

More power to you Monique!

(WION)

Monique Pool has 14 sloths she rescued living in her house. When forests are cut down, she's out saving even more

Imagine an alien massacre destroys our homes, and what remains is a world unfit for human survival. We are physically and emotionally hurt. Mankind is directionless, and there's no sign of help or hope. This is what happens to wild animals when their homes, the forest, are cut down. We place them in an environment their natural instincts don't recognise. One species to face this is the sloth of South America. With trees being rapidly cut down they were left homeless, injured and tormented. Until one day they saw a ray of hope. A human came like a hero to save them, by sheltering them in her own house. A place that was unfamiliar but felt safe. She fed them, soothed them and when they were ready put them back into their natural homes. Over a 12-year period super-saviour Monique Pool, also known as the "Sloth Lady", has rescued 700 sloths. Pool fell in love with sloths after she took in Lucia, a baby from a rescue centre. Today 14 sloths safely reside in her house, while she continues to rescue more and advocate for their conservation rights. Sloths: What are they? The Sloth Lady It all began in 2005 when Pool lost her dog and phoned the local Animal Protection Society to see if they'd found her. They hadn't, but she was told about a baby sloth they didn't know how to look after. Even though she was clueless about sloths, she offered to take it in and was instantly smitten. To learn how to take care of her newly-found love, she consulted another sloth rescuer in Costa Rica. It turns out sloths consume goat's milk, as cow's milk is fatal. “My first baby will always remain in my heart. He died within two years and I didn't know why at first. The experience taught me how little expertise there was in their rehabilitation and care. He is the reason I continue to do this work.” Her motivation to establish an organisation came from her desire to help one animal. That alone showed her the need to ensure the survival of this species. The rescue process begins with a call from a concerned community member. Pool travels to the animal's location to pick it up. “Sloths are difficult to rescue considering their strong climbing skills and ability to hang on to anything with their strong grip.” Once the sloth has been safely rescued, she brings them back to her rehabilitation centre and performs an examination. “Some of them have come to us with severe wounds and sometimes completely debilitated, always caused by humans. These types of animals do not make it, sloths do everything slow, even dying. Sometimes I sit with them, chanting to them mantras to help them make the transition.” If the animal is healthy, it is released back in the forests. Otherwise, it is treated until it's ready to be on its own. “They are not pets, they are wild animals. They're capable of taking care of themselves as long as they are in their natural surroundings and that is where I decided to put them. It's a special experience to watch a sloth climb on a tree, deep in the safety of a forest.” It's raining sloths In 2012, Pool faced a crisis that she calls "Sloth Armageddon". A forest near her city was being cleared and she was to rescue 14 sloths. As 50-foot-high trees were cut down, sloths fell to the ground, to be picked up by Pool and her team. "There were so many of them, it was hard to open the cage and keep them all in," she says. "As soon as they saw the doors open, they would try and get out." At night, males would fight and had to be separated. Four days into the rescue, they realised they were dealing with a lot more than 14 sloths. "After a month we were close to 200 sloths," says Pool. "At one point, we had 17 babies being fed with droppers." Super-savior Monique Pool, also known as the Sloth Lady has rescued 700 sloths and rehabilitated them in her house over a period of 12 years. (Others) × Being slothified “They are peaceful and smiling creatures but far from easy to keep. Unlike most animals, sloths that are moving are sloths that are unhappy. When they sit, eat and sleep, is when they are happy.” Taking care of sloths is a challenge in itself. Since there is limited knowledge about their biology, Pool struggled to keep these furry animals healthy and help them recover from traumatic events. The adult sloths need to be fed three times a day and babies every few hours. “Sloths have very sensitive diets. Our team has to go to the forest every day to fetch fresh leaves.” She finds them sharp - a group of sloths learned how to open the bathroom door and one even used the toilet. "The first time we thought it was a mistake. It was only after the fourth time we realised we had taught her how to go to the toilet," she said. “When I had my first baby, a friend observed that it was clutching my glasses and looking at it like it was investigating.” Not just sloths Pool now also takes care of dolphins, anteaters, armadillos and porcupines. She is a real hero in the world of wildlife rehabilitation. When animals are in trouble, she is the one you call! More power to you Monique! (WION)

International Women's Day: Super-woman saves the sloths

Photo Attribution

 
Where have the sparrows gone?

When was the last time you saw a sparrow chirping near your window? 
The house sparrow has been one of the oldest companions of humans. Poets of all languages have praised of their trust and love for each other. Sparrows have been associated by the ancient Greeks with Aphrodite- the goddess of love, due to their perceived lustfulness. The association was inscribed by writers such as Shakespeare and Chaucer.

The familiar bird prefers to live around agricultural areas, and for several, human settlements are a primary habitat. House sparrows for a long period of time have been known to reside around buildings.

However, over the last 5 decades, sparrows have deserted human company in urban areas, preferring the countryside to make short visits to close by human habitats.&nbsp;

World Sparrow Day 
The sudden and puzzling alienation led to the species being included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in UK.&nbsp; 
World Sparrow Day is observed on March 20 across the world as an international initiative taken in 2010 by Nature Forever Society of India in collaboration with Eco-Sys Action Foundation (France) and numerous other national and international organisations across the world. It aims to provide a platform for advocacy and spreading awareness on the need to conserve biodiversity of lower conservation status. Delhi adopted House sparrow as the state bird.

 
Reasons for decline 
Contrary to their small size, sparrows are strongly immune birds. Their abrupt disappearance must be seen as an ecological indication or warning to humans about forthcoming environmental menace. Several environmentalists&nbsp;have put theories on the table to account for sparrows to abandon human habitat and they all conclude to the fact that the changes in the human lifestyle and mindless urbanisation is increasingly incompatible with the conservative lifestyles of sparrows and is depriving the species of their natural habitat.

These changes include the unavailability of food in form of tiny insects due to the&nbsp;reduction of vegetation in modern adaptations, overuse of insecticides outdoors and insect repellents indoors and concrete buildings with no nesting spaces.

Further, noise and air pollution from vehicles in urban settlement could be deterrents. Moreover, the rise in electromagnetic radiations from mobile phone towers and the excessive use of wireless devices in houses have caused the birds to move away. It could be the combined effect of these environmental pollutants that has forced sparrows to go away from their long-trusted companions.

Things you did not know about the little bird

<ul>
	<li>The population of the bird has fallen by 99% in some areas</li>
	<li>When their population was abundant about century ago, there were clubs whose members competed to kill the most birds</li>
	<li>Though a commonly observed resident of Britain and India, it&rsquo;s thought to be a native north from North Africa.</li>
	<li>They are often seen as social birds, nesting together in colonies.</li>
	<li>They are non-migratory, but urban flocks traditionally moved to the countryside in the late summer to feed on the ripening grain fields.</li>
	<li>Most pairs raise two to three broods in a year.</li>
	<li>Incubation period is of about 11 days, and within two weeks, the young ones leave the nest.</li>
	<li>Cats are major predators of the species. They target the inexperienced infants when mothers leave the nest</li>
	<li>Sparrows fly at 24 miles/hour. When in danger, they can go up to 31 miles/hour.</li>
	<li>Sparrows can survive for 4-5 years in the wild</li>
</ul>

What can we do for them?

Placing feeders and bird houses outside the house or in the courtyard/balcony 
Placing water bowls during summer months to keep birds hydrated 
Create a welcoming environment for birds by growing plants and hedges around the house

Abrupt disappearance of sparrows must be seen as an ecological indication to humans about forthcoming environmental menace

Photo Attribution Where have the sparrows gone? When was the last time you saw a sparrow chirping near your window? The house sparrow has been one of the oldest companions of humans. Poets of all languages have praised of their trust and love for each other. Sparrows have been associated by the ancient Greeks with Aphrodite- the goddess of love, due to their perceived lustfulness. The association was inscribed by writers such as Shakespeare and Chaucer. The familiar bird prefers to live around agricultural areas, and for several, human settlements are a primary habitat. House sparrows for a long period of time have been known to reside around buildings. However, over the last 5 decades, sparrows have deserted human company in urban areas, preferring the countryside to make short visits to close by human habitats. World Sparrow Day The sudden and puzzling alienation led to the species being included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in UK. World Sparrow Day is observed on March 20 across the world as an international initiative taken in 2010 by Nature Forever Society of India in collaboration with Eco-Sys Action Foundation (France) and numerous other national and international organisations across the world. It aims to provide a platform for advocacy and spreading awareness on the need to conserve biodiversity of lower conservation status. Delhi adopted House sparrow as the state bird. Reasons for decline Contrary to their small size, sparrows are strongly immune birds. Their abrupt disappearance must be seen as an ecological indication or warning to humans about forthcoming environmental menace. Several environmentalists have put theories on the table to account for sparrows to abandon human habitat and they all conclude to the fact that the changes in the human lifestyle and mindless urbanisation is increasingly incompatible with the conservative lifestyles of sparrows and is depriving the species of their natural habitat. These changes include the unavailability of food in form of tiny insects due to the reduction of vegetation in modern adaptations, overuse of insecticides outdoors and insect repellents indoors and concrete buildings with no nesting spaces. Further, noise and air pollution from vehicles in urban settlement could be deterrents. Moreover, the rise in electromagnetic radiations from mobile phone towers and the excessive use of wireless devices in houses have caused the birds to move away. It could be the combined effect of these environmental pollutants that has forced sparrows to go away from their long-trusted companions. Things you did not know about the little bird The population of the bird has fallen by 99% in some areas When their population was abundant about century ago, there were clubs whose members competed to kill the most birds Though a commonly observed resident of Britain and India, it’s thought to be a native north from North Africa. They are often seen as social birds, nesting together in colonies. They are non-migratory, but urban flocks traditionally moved to the countryside in the late summer to feed on the ripening grain fields. Most pairs raise two to three broods in a year. Incubation period is of about 11 days, and within two weeks, the young ones leave the nest. Cats are major predators of the species. They target the inexperienced infants when mothers leave the nest Sparrows fly at 24 miles/hour. When in danger, they can go up to 31 miles/hour. Sparrows can survive for 4-5 years in the wild What can we do for them? Placing feeders and bird houses outside the house or in the courtyard/balcony Placing water bowls during summer months to keep birds hydrated Create a welcoming environment for birds by growing plants and hedges around the house

World Sparrow Day: Where have the birds gone?

Within two weeks of Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonwal laying the foundation of a Patanjali herbal and mega food park in the Sonitpur district of India&#39;s northeastern state, one elephant has died in the animal corridor while two others are injured.

The Rs 1000-crore project by Baba Ramdev, located in the Ghoaramari area of Assam, is supposed to generate employment opportunities in the region, the yoga guru had claimed.

The three elephants fell into a deep pit at the construction site&nbsp;on November 23, killing one, leaving behind its three-month-old calf grieving near her body.

According to environment activists, using this corridor, which is surrounded by the Kaziranga National Park,&nbsp;for industrial purposes is likely to be detrimental for the wild animals.

The Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS), a sister organisation of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS), has recently been leading massive protests across the state against the allotment of land to Patanjali and construction of the multi-crore project.

Herds of elephants are known to frequent the site regularly, especially during the&nbsp;winter, when they move from Arunachal side to the Brahmaputra river.

Patanjali was reportedly asked to put an electric fencing along their construction site so as to keep the animals away, forest department officials said.

Assam forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma&nbsp;of the Bodoland People&rsquo;s Front &ndash; an ally of the ruling BJP government in Assam - has promised of stringent actions against people responsible for this negligence.

Authorities will file a report against Patanjali, she said.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonwal, while speaking to mediapersons,&nbsp;said that his government was in complete agreement with every initiative of the Assam forest minister.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in August this year had ordered the Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NFL), a public sector company to demolish a 2.2 kilometre wall that blocked an elephant corridor near the Kaziranga National Park.

Also, the militant outfit ULFA (Independent) has opposed the state government move of granting 150 acres of land to Patanjali Ayurveda while the victims of flood and erosion are yet to be rehabilitated.

(WION)

The project site, surrounded by Kaziranga National Park, in India's northeastern state, is an animal corridor

Within two weeks of Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonwal laying the foundation of a Patanjali herbal and mega food park in the Sonitpur district of India's northeastern state, one elephant has died in the animal corridor while two others are injured. The Rs 1000-crore project by Baba Ramdev, located in the Ghoaramari area of Assam, is supposed to generate employment opportunities in the region, the yoga guru had claimed. The three elephants fell into a deep pit at the construction site on November 23, killing one, leaving behind its three-month-old calf grieving near her body. According to environment activists, using this corridor, which is surrounded by the Kaziranga National Park, for industrial purposes is likely to be detrimental for the wild animals. The Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS), a sister organisation of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS), has recently been leading massive protests across the state against the allotment of land to Patanjali and construction of the multi-crore project. Herds of elephants are known to frequent the site regularly, especially during the winter, when they move from Arunachal side to the Brahmaputra river. Patanjali was reportedly asked to put an electric fencing along their construction site so as to keep the animals away, forest department officials said. Assam forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma of the Bodoland People’s Front – an ally of the ruling BJP government in Assam - has promised of stringent actions against people responsible for this negligence. Authorities will file a report against Patanjali, she said. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonwal, while speaking to mediapersons, said that his government was in complete agreement with every initiative of the Assam forest minister. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in August this year had ordered the Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NFL), a public sector company to demolish a 2.2 kilometre wall that blocked an elephant corridor near the Kaziranga National Park. Also, the militant outfit ULFA (Independent) has opposed the state government move of granting 150 acres of land to Patanjali Ayurveda while the victims of flood and erosion are yet to be rehabilitated. (WION)

Assam food park: 1 elephant dead, 2 injured within two weeks of Patanjali project launch

A passenger train hit and killed an elephant and three calves in northern Sri Lanka today, the latest deadly accident involving the venerated animals. 
 
The herd was walking across a newly upgraded railway line that runs through a jungle area when the accident occurred at Cheddikulam, about 260 kilometres (162 miles) north of Colombo. 
 
&quot;One of the baby elephants was dragged about 300 metres along the track after being hit,&quot; a local police official told AFP, adding that it was thought to be Sri Lanka&#39;s worst accident involving the animals. 
 
No passengers were injured in the collision. 
 
Although elephants are considered sacred in Sri Lanka and are legally protected, nearly 200 are killed every year, many by farmers after the animals stray onto their land. 
 
Marauding elephants also claim the lives of about 50 people annually, mostly by trampling through villages built near their habitats. 
 
In 2011, three baby elephants were killed by a passenger train along the same track in a forest area about 150 kilometres north of Colombo. 
 
In May this year, four elephants including two calves were killed by lightning in the country&#39;s north. 
 
Sri Lanka&#39;s elephant population has dwindled to just over 7,000, according to the latest census, down from an estimated 12,000 in 1900. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp;

Although elephants are considered sacred in Sri Lanka and are legally protected, nearly 200 are killed every year

A passenger train hit and killed an elephant and three calves in northern Sri Lanka today, the latest deadly accident involving the venerated animals. The herd was walking across a newly upgraded railway line that runs through a jungle area when the accident occurred at Cheddikulam, about 260 kilometres (162 miles) north of Colombo. "One of the baby elephants was dragged about 300 metres along the track after being hit," a local police official told AFP, adding that it was thought to be Sri Lanka's worst accident involving the animals. No passengers were injured in the collision. Although elephants are considered sacred in Sri Lanka and are legally protected, nearly 200 are killed every year, many by farmers after the animals stray onto their land. Marauding elephants also claim the lives of about 50 people annually, mostly by trampling through villages built near their habitats. In 2011, three baby elephants were killed by a passenger train along the same track in a forest area about 150 kilometres north of Colombo. In May this year, four elephants including two calves were killed by lightning in the country's north. Sri Lanka's elephant population has dwindled to just over 7,000, according to the latest census, down from an estimated 12,000 in 1900. (AFP)

Train in Sri Lanka runs over four elephants

Thai wildlife authorities found 40 tiger cub carcasses in a freezer in Thailand&#39;s infamous Tiger Temple on Wednesday as they removed live animals in response to international pressure over suspected trafficking and abuse.

The Buddhist temple in Kanchanaburi province west of Bangkok had become a tourist destination where visitors snapped selfies with bottle-fed cubs.

But the temple has been investigated for suspected links to wildlife trafficking and abuse. A raid that began on Monday is the latest move in a tug-of-war since 2001 to bring the tigers under state control.

Tiger parts are used in traditional Chinese medicine.

The 40 dead tiger cubs were found in a freezer in a kitchen area, said Adisorn Nuchdamrong, deputy director-general of the Department of National Parks.

&quot;They must be of some value for the temple to keep them,&quot; he said. &quot;But for what is beyond me.&quot;

Officials wearing protective masks displayed the bodies of the cubs to media at the temple. Also on display was the body of a Binturong, a protected species commonly known as a bearcat, which the authorities found with the cub carcasses.

Monks at the temple were not immediately available for comment.

Officials have moved 52 live tigers from the temple since Monday, Adisorn said, leaving 85 still there.

Thailand has long been a hub for the illicit trafficking of wildlife and forest products, including ivory. Exotic birds, mammals and reptiles, some of them endangered species, can often be found on sale in markets.

On Tuesday, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals group said the temple was &quot;hell for animals&quot; and called on tourists to stop visiting animal attractions at home and abroad.

Wildlife authorities found 40 tiger cub carcasses in a freezer in Thailand's infamous Tiger Temple on Wednesday as they removed live animals in response to international pressure over suspected trafficking and abuse

Thai wildlife authorities found 40 tiger cub carcasses in a freezer in Thailand's infamous Tiger Temple on Wednesday as they removed live animals in response to international pressure over suspected trafficking and abuse. The Buddhist temple in Kanchanaburi province west of Bangkok had become a tourist destination where visitors snapped selfies with bottle-fed cubs. But the temple has been investigated for suspected links to wildlife trafficking and abuse. A raid that began on Monday is the latest move in a tug-of-war since 2001 to bring the tigers under state control. Tiger parts are used in traditional Chinese medicine. The 40 dead tiger cubs were found in a freezer in a kitchen area, said Adisorn Nuchdamrong, deputy director-general of the Department of National Parks. "They must be of some value for the temple to keep them," he said. "But for what is beyond me." Officials wearing protective masks displayed the bodies of the cubs to media at the temple. Also on display was the body of a Binturong, a protected species commonly known as a bearcat, which the authorities found with the cub carcasses. Monks at the temple were not immediately available for comment. Officials have moved 52 live tigers from the temple since Monday, Adisorn said, leaving 85 still there. Thailand has long been a hub for the illicit trafficking of wildlife and forest products, including ivory. Exotic birds, mammals and reptiles, some of them endangered species, can often be found on sale in markets. On Tuesday, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals group said the temple was "hell for animals" and called on tourists to stop visiting animal attractions at home and abroad.

Dead tiger cubs found in Thai temple amid trafficking fears

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