Nature News Vol. 6, Issue No.3 (March 2017)

BIRDS

The Hindu 1 Mar.2017 
Rare migratory birds stop by the Capital: Around 30 species of winter water birds have been sighted at Okhla Bird Sanctuary.  There is some good news for the Capital.
Delhi saw some rare migratory birds this winter despite global climate change, its impact on migratory birds and disturbed bird habitat. Read more

The Hindu 9 March 2017 
Fewer migratory water birds sighted at Ropar : Due to threat and unavailability of food, the number of some species has dwindled. Fewer winter migratory water birds from central and north Asia were sighted at the Ropar Wetland in Punjab this season, apparently because of increasing human interference. Read more

The Hindustan Times 21 Mar.2017 
Seven years on, Delhi’s state bird sparrow remains a footnote: Seven years ago, on March 20, 2010, Delhi celebrated the first Sparrow Day with much pomp. The government even declared it the state bird in August 2012.  But now it just remains a footnote on the calendar as no proper step has been taken by the government  Read more

CLIMATE CHANGE

The Hindu 30 Mar.2017 
Early shift to renewables needed to save climate: IRENA: New findings released at Berlin energy dialogue show carbon emissions can be reduced by 70% by 2050, many green jobs created. Countries across the world will have to focus on accelerated deployment of renewable energy and energy-efficiency measures to achieve reduction in carbon Read more

FORESTS & BIODIVERSITY 

The Indian Express 21 Mar. 2017  
Delhi government to develop a butterfly park: The Delhi government’s environment department is all set to begin work on its ambitious butterfly park project on March 21 observed as International Day of Forests. Although there are places across the city that host butterflies like in Lodhi Garden and Aravalli biodiversity park Read more

The Hindustan Times 13 Mar.2017 
Yamuna Biodiversity Park to get animal bridge, fence as part of redesign: Scientists are trying to redesign the Yamuna Biodiversity Park so that it could be turned into a permanent wildlife refuge, instead of acting as ‘trap’ from where animals, that have taken refuge in it, could be captured and sent back to the wild, as was done in the case of a Read more

WETLANDS, RIVERS & WATER 

The Hindu 3 Mar.2017 
No camps within 100 m of Ganga: NGT: River rafting should be encouraged but not cause any environmental and biodiversity degradation, says green panel. The National Green Tribunal on Thursday prohibited all camping activity from Shivpuri to Rishikesh on beaches along the Ganga which fall within 100 meters of the river. The roughly 50 km stretch between Read more

The Pioneer 30 Mar.2017 
Are we serious about our rivers? : So far, only in Bolivia, there is a law of the rights of Mother Earth. There is now the case of Whanganui river declared as a living entity in New Zealand. Let’s hope the recent high court order helps clean up the Ganga and the Yamuna
In December 2016 Read more

The Hindu 27 March 2017 
The river as being: In a recent judgment, the Uttarakhand High Court declared the rivers Yamuna and Ganga as legal or juridical persons, enjoying all the rights, duties and liabilities of a living person. Indian courts have granted this status to temple deities, religious books, corporations, etc. Read more

WILDLIFE & ENDANGERED SPECIES 

The Hindu 1 Mar. 2017 
Odisha grapples with a problem of elephantine proportions: Lack of fodder, water and increase in cropping areas near forests being cited as prime reasons behind elephants straying into human habitations. A hurt elephant, with a tyre entangled in its front left foot, has kept the Odisha Forest Department personnel on their toes for over Read more
 
The Hindu 2 Mar.2017 
Programme on rhino conservation balanced and impartial, claims BBC: Broadcaster says it has not received any notification of a ban from the authorities. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has described its programme on conservation of rhinoceros at the Kaziranga National Park as “balanced and impartial. Any such reaction [ban] to a report on an important Read more

The Indian Express 2 Mar.2017 
Shoot-at-sight is not unjustified. But that alone can’t stop poaching at Kaziranga: Even as the controversy over a BBC film on alleged excesses in Kaziranga documenting what it says are the dark secrets of forest guards who “shoot and kill” humans inside the park  continues, the acting director of Corbett, who reportedly issued a shoot-at-sight order while launching an  Read more

The Hindustan Times 21 Mar.2017 
With increase in numbers, tigers fight it out for space in Ranthambhore reserve: Sisters, Lightening and Arrow Head cannot stand the sight of each other. In October, 2016 they fought thrice for supremacy in Ranthambore’s lake area, with Arrow Head having the upper hand. Lightening moved to the peripheral area, Amma Ghati. Read more

The Pioneer 16 Mar.2017 
25 Asiatic lions died of unnatural causes in 1 yr: State Forest Dept:  In the past one year as many as 25 lions died due to unnatural reasons, revealed the State forest department in reply to a query raised through RTI application. The causes of death of these lions were electrocution, road accident and drowning in well in and around Gir sanctuary Read more