Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of In Re: News Item titled "Nayar river is vanishing - a yatra reveals conservation goes beyond science and policy" appearing in ‘The Down To Earth’ dated 03.06.2025. The original application was registered suo-motu based on the news item titled "Nayar …
"sauns sabhi ko pyari hai, Ganga maiya ki sawari hai .' This is the constant chanting that follows every splash of water as fisherfolk in Patna nudge their boats along the banks of the Ganges. And the hymn simply denotes a truth: Gangetic dolphin is dear to all and it …
Early morning twitter is music to ears. But soon this melody may turn into a requiem with the bird community slowly being driven out of its natural surroundings. Constant human encroachment on the forest cover is forcing these avian creatures to abandon their homes and explore alternate sites for shelter …
Vietnam had 2,000 wild elephants three decades ago. But now, only 100 of them survive. Although a plan to save one of these last remaining wild herds of elephants was initiated recently, it began on a tragic note with the death of two elephants. A team of experts on a …
the familiar sound of conch shells (shankh) resonating during auspicious occasions may soon be a thing of the past, courtesy a recent Union government decision. The July 11, 2001, gazette notification by the Ministry of environment and forests has de facto banned the harvest, processing, stocking and sale of Xancus …
Why has a ban been imposed on shark hunting in particular? Sharks have a vital role in the marine ecosystem since they are the apex predator at the top of the marine food chain. But today they are almost extinct, being a major target of the fish hunters. Their slow …
with an aim to save vultures from extinction, a novel programme to breed these birds has been jointly launched by the State Wildlife Preservation Department, Haryana and Bombay Natural History Society (bnhs) at Bir hunting ground near Pinjore. Haryana Chief Wildlife Warden R D Jakati said quite a number of …
the Tiger Census of 2001 has revealed that the majestic tigers found in Gujarat from Valsad to Banaskantha are now extinct. After the pug marks of the tiger recorded in 1997 census, the forest department authorities have not sighted any tiger for the last four years. Habitat crunch in Gujarat …
Development and conservation can go hand in hand. This has been proved in Hong Kong with rail officials deciding to build a tunnel under a wetland after conservationists thwarted a move to run the tracks through the wetland. The government-owned Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation wanted to build a new train line …
Frequent oilslicks and consequent water pollution off the Chittagong coast in Bangladesh have so far killed 160 species of rare fish and aquatic plants, claim marine biologists from the Chittagong University. Research conducted by them indicates that oilspills are not only responsible for the death of the marine animals, but …
Six eggs containing the fossils of baby dinosaurs were recently found in Argentina. The fossils, which are remarkably well preserved, were found at Auca Mahuevo
One of the world's rarest species of birds have been found near a volcano. At least 50 Montserrat Orioles were cited beneath the rim of a volcano in the Soufriere Hills of West Indies. The discovery was made by experts trying to map the effects of the volcano on the …
conflicts with human beings have recently taken toll on 18 elephants in Nameri National Park, Assam, the state which houses half of India's elephant population. What was first believed to be a disease killing, later turned out to be a case of poisoning. The crisis, which is also said to …
A collision between a cargo ship and an oil tanker has caused a major diesel oilspill in the Vung Tau Sea, about 120 kilometres southeast of Ho Chi Minh city. According to the Vung Tau port authorities, the Liberian-registered ship hit the Vietnamese tanker while trying to approach its anchorage …
China will soon set up a reserve for the endangered Siberian tigers. According to the us -based Wildlife Conservation Society (wcs), the protected area called Hunchun Reserve will be set up along China's border with Russia. The wcs , which is helping China to establish the reserve, recently marked the …
The number of coral reefs in the world is far less than what scientists had believed. They are also shrinking fast due to pollution, climate change and fishing. This was revealed during the most comprehensive mapping of the corals done by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The mapping showed …
Rare plants and herbs of the Lingshi dungkhag region of Bhutan are indiscriminately being used for preparing traditional medicines by the Thimphu-based Institute of Traditional Medicines Service (ITMS). The rugged alpine terrain of Lingshi dungkhag is blessed with more than 100 different species of rare medicinal plants and herbs. But …
the Central Zoo Authority (cza) has asked 64 mini zoos and deer parks in the country to close down with immediate effect. The zoos are located in Kota, Bikaner, Haryana, Punjab and Northeast. "The conditions of these zoos is appaling, therefore, we ordered for their immediate closure,' said cza member …
At least 20 endangered sarus cranes were recently killed and eaten by villagers of the Banteay Meanchey province of Cambodia. "The birds ate many rice plants and, therefore, the villagers hunted them,' said Thach Khorn, the provincial governor. Sun Hean, a wildlife department official, opines that such incidences are the …
neither agricultural plantations nor selectively logged areas can provide for forest butterfly species, prove results of two recent research undertaken in the Western Ghat region of India. These new findings show that many of the butterfly species in the region, particularly those adapted to living inside rainforest habitats, are prone …
A US federal judge rejected a request to extend protection to beluga whales in Alaska's Cook Inlet. This ruling was given in response to a lawsuit filed by six environmental groups and an Alaska Native from the Cook Inlet region. They wanted the whale population listed as endangered because pollution …
