Top 10 New Species Described in 2008

The International Institute for Species Exploration and an international committee of taxonomists have released the list of top 10 new species described in 2008. The international committee of experts was chaired by Janine N. Caira of the University of Connecticut.

The annual top 10 new species announcement and issuance of the SOS report (The State of Observed Species report) commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Carolus Linnaeus, who was responsible for the modern system of plant and animal names and classifications. An estimated 1.8 million species have been described since Linnaeus started his path breaking work. The estimate of species (I would like to call it guestimate) is between 2 million and 100 million species on Earth. Most scientists peg it closer to 10 million.

Here is a List of the Top Ten Species

1) A tiny seahorse (Hippocampus satomiae ) with a standard length of 13.8 millimeters and an approximate height of 11.5 millimeters
2) A genus of palm (Tahina spectablilis ) with fewer than 100 individuals found only in a small area of northwestern Madagascar.
3) A caffeine-free coffee from Cameroon (Coffea charrieriana )
4) An extremophile bacteria that was discovered in hairspray by Japanese scientists (Microbacterium hatanonis )
5) World's longest insect with a body length of 36.6 centimeters and overall length of 56.7 centimeters (Phobaeticus chain)
6) World's smallest snake, the Barbados Threadsnake ( Leptotyphlops carlae ) 104 millimeters in length.
7) The ghost slug (Selenochlamys ysbryda )
8) A snail (Opisthostoma vermiculum ) found in Malaysia
9) A beautiful species of damselfish (Chromis abyssus )
10) A fossilized specimen ( Materpiscis attenboroughi ) , the oldest known vertebrate to be viviparous.

The study reminds us just how incomplete our knowledge of Earth's species is.

Video by Kazakhstan Animal Rescue and Education Centre

Alejandro Medina from the organization Kazakhstan Animal Rescue and Education has sent me this good video on cruelty to pets made by them. Alejandro Medina says it is targeted at "irresponsible" owners of pets.This was originally made in Russian. Have a look at it here

The humble flour beetle is about to play a major role in the management of endangered species.

Huge impacts sometimes come from humble unexpected sources. What scientists have achieved with the flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) recently is a case in point. Scientists have been working with various organisms in their pursuit to get to the roots of genetic erosion and consequent extinction. They have now and zeroed in on the flour beetle as the perfect tool to work with. Flour beetle will be the model in a major new study of University of East Anglia, seeking answers to the consequences of inbreeding.
When the gene pool is reduced it brings about inbreeding between relatives. This entails losses in genetic variability and is a causative factor for the decline of many species around the world. The project will determine how much new variability must be re-introduced to genetically rescue an inbred population. This is bound to give a huge boost to the working resources of managers of conservation and captive breeding projects. They are indeed a delighted lot.

The project will experimentally evaluate which specific reproductive traits are affected by inbreeding. The full-fledged study is slated to run a course of three year. Deleterious effects of inbreeding are a priority in conservation initiatives set by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Conservationists around the world are eagerly looking forward to the data generated from this unique project. Thumbs up for the humble flour beetle.

Good News - World's Largest Leatherback Turtle Population Discovered

Here is some good news about Leatherback Turtles. A team of international Scientists have discovered the world’s largest population of nesting leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), on the beaches of Gabon in West Africa. The research was led by the University of Exeter working in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Others who chipped in include University of Florence, IUCN-France, PROTOMAC (Gabon), CNDIO-Gabon, IBONGA-ACPE (Gabon), Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux (Gabon), Gabon Environnment, Aventures Sans Frontières (Gabon) and WWF-Gabon. The estimated population is between 15,730 and 41,373 female turtles.

Leatherbacks conservation gathered momentum around the world after populations in the Indo-Pacific crashed by more than 90 percent in the 1980s and 1990s. The leatherback turtle has survived for more than a hundred million years, but is now facing extinction. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed leatherback turtles as critically endangered.

The population of leatherback turtles around the globe have been placed around 43,000 nesting females. The new discovery in Gabon may give a boost to that estimation.

The Gabon study indicated that that around 79 percent of the nesting occurs within National Parks and other protected areas which is a good sign. Gabon had created a network of National Parks in 2002 which has gone a long way in giving protection to Leatherbacks.

The details of the research are published in the May issue of Biological Conservation

Fact Sheet Leatherback
As a major jellyfish predator, the leatherback turtle provides natural control of jellyfish populations. Jellyfish can feed on fish larvae and reduce population growth of commercially important fish. Thus leatherback turtles play a very important role in nature’s scheme of things.

Leatherbacks are the most widely distributed marine turtles, and are found in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans.

The leatherbacks are the largest sea turtle, reaching up to nearly two metres and weighing around 540kg

Leatherbacks are sexually mature at about 10 years or age and may live to be 40 years old.

Leatherback is the deepest diving turtle. The deepest recorded dive is 1.2 kilometres
Unlike other sea turtles, the leatherback does not have a hard shell

The incubation period of Leatherback is around 60 days. The sex of leatherbacks is determined by the temperature of eggs during incubation. Temperatures above 29 degrees centigrade will result in female hatchlings.

Instead of teeth the Leatherback turtle has points on the tomium of its upper lip.

Leatherback has backwards spines in its throat to help it swallow food.

Leatherbacks are also the fastest reptiles on record. They have been recorded to cross 35Km per hour.

Penguin Kidnaps Chick of Mortal Enemy

I was fascinated to read in the journal Polar Biology, about this kidnapping of the chick of its mortal enemy by a Penguin.

An adult penguin was observed to kidnap a skua chick on Marion Island, in the sub-Antarctic. Penguins have been observed in the past to raise chicks of other species, but it was the first time that scientists observed Penguins trying to raise the young of its natural predator. Mature skuas go after penguins, preying on their chicks. Occasionally it grabs adults also. Chris Oosthuizen and Nico de Bruyn of the Mammal Research Institute at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, spotted the unusual behavior while en route to Goodhope Bay on Marion Island.

One Skua repeatedly went after the Penguin trying to win back the chick. But the Penguin successfully defended the attempt. This continued till a human observer stepped in and returned the chick to its real parents.

This kind of kidnapping usually occurs when a parent fails to correctly identify their offspring, owing to the loss of nests or because they can't resist the calls of chicks. But, usually, the behaviour and diet of adopting and adopted species are analogous. Scientists think that an increased level of the hormone prolactin, known as the "parenting hormone" is responsible for the behavior. The hormone usually helps maintain the bond between chicks and adults when they're away foraging.

Amazing are the ways of Mother Nature. We have only probed the tip of the iceberg

Book Recommendation- He Knew He Was Right: The Irrepressible Life of James Lovelock and Gaia

He Knew He Was Right: The Irrepressible Life of James Lovelock and Gaia is a definitive, authorized biography of Jim Lovelock, the iconic figure in British science, best known for his Gaia theory. The book throws light on the varied aspects of the life of this multifaceted personality. The throwback to earlier years is wonderful, inspiring and gripping. I was fascinated to read about the trials and tribulations he had to undergo. In the early days for some time he supported his family by selling his own blood. As Lovelock approaches his ninetieth birthday this book is indeed a fitting tribute. I recommend the book unreservedly.

Format : Hardback
ISBN: 9781846140167
Size : 235 x 159mm
Pages : 356 £20.00
Published : 26 Feb 2009
Publisher : Allen Lane


A paperback is also in the offing
Format : Paperback
ISBN: 9780141031613
Size : 129 x 198mm
Pages : 356
Published : 01 Oct 2009 £9.99
Publisher : Penguin

V World Conference on Mountain Ungulates – Photography Contest on Mountain Ungulates

To mark the V World Conference on Mountain Ungulates, to be held from 10-14 November 2009 at the Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos de Granada (Granada Exhibition and Conference Centre), as part of the activities scheduled to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the declaration of Sierra Nevada as a Natural Reserve and 10 years as a National Park a Photographic Contest on Mountain Ungulates has been organised, sponsored by Nikon. Anybody can enter the contest; registration is free and the entry form is available at the conference website
(http://www.vworldconferenceungulates.org).

The photographs entered must reflect some aspect of biology and ecology of the different species of mountain ungulates and must be accompanied by a brief explanatory text.

There are three prizes for the best photographs.
1st prize: Nikon D60 + AF-S DX 18-55mm + AF-S DX 55-200mm + bag for the SLR + tripod. The winning photograph will be shown on the front cover of the journal of acts.
2nd prize: Nikon D40 + AF-S DX 18-55mm + binoculars + bag for the SLR + tripod.
3rd prize: Nikon D40 + AF-S DX 18-55mm + bag for the SLR + tripod.

Deadline for sending photographs is until 8 p.m. on 15 September 2009.

CONTEST RULES

1.OrganiserRegional Ministry of the Environment of the Junta de Andalucía


2.ParticipantsParticipation in this contest is open to any natural person. Registration is free, simply by filling in a form on this web page. Participation in the contest entails full acceptance of the rules.

3.Photographic theme: The photographs must represent some aspect of biology and ecology of the different mountain ungulate species together with a brief explanatory text (around 50 words) for each photograph.

Ethical code: To ensure more efficient preservation of nature, an ethical code must be followed that ensures and enhances photographers' relationship with nature. No irregular action that contravenes the protectionist spirit that governs all human contact with nature is permitted. Further information is available at: www.aefona.org.

4.Sending photographs: Participants must fill in the form and attached the photographs and send these to the following e-mail address (one form for each photograph): concursofoto@vworldconferenceungulates.org
Photographs that are received without including all of the details requested will not be allowed to take part in the contest.
Only digital photographs will be accepted. They must be sent in JPG format and be of a minimum pixel size of 1500 x 2000, horizontally or vertically, of a maximum size of between 500 KBytes and 6 MBytes and with a recommended resolution of 300dpi.
The photographs must be sent in colour and only basic adjustments to the photographs, such as levels, contrast, will be accepted. The photographs cannot have a border or a frame. The photographs sent must be unpublished and cannot have won prizes in other contests or have been used commercially for journalistic, advertising or any other purpose.

5.Deadline The deadline for sending photographs is until 8 p.m. on 15 September 2009.

The Sunning Chameleons- What are they really up to?

The myriad ways in which nature works never ceases to amaze me. I was reading the other day, a paper by Dr Kristopher Karsten and associates from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, about the behaviour of lizards basking in the sun. The paper fascinated me with its depth of observations.

Till now it was assumed that the lizards bask in the sun to thermoregulate their body temperature. But latest research by Karsten and associates has added a new dimension to what seemingly is a lazy action by the lizards. Dr Karsten discovered that the main function of sun basking by lizards is to acquire vitamin D from sunlight.

To test the assumption that chameleons alter their sunning behavior based on dietary vitamin D intake, Dr Karsten observed the behavioral pattern of two different groups of chameleons. One was fed crickets dusted with a vitamin D powder. The other group was fed on regular crickets and thus had low vitamin D content. The chameleons were then placed in individual outdoor enclosures that offered open area for direct sun, and a tree to offer filtered sun. The animals were free to move between sunny, UV-rich areas and shaded low-UV areas. Chameleons fed on low vitamin D diet readily compensated lack of Vitamin D by increasing their exposure to the sun’s UV rays. According to Dr Kristen “The chameleons were as effective as mathematically possible by our methods at regulating toward optimal UV exposure for their vitamin D profile,”

Scientists have not been able to find out the exact mechanism that enables the lizards to sense their internal vitamin D levels. Dr Karsten thinks there may be a brain receptor sensitive to the vitamin d levels which triggers the behavior of sun basking. Getting to know the intricacies of why lizards do what they do will certainly help people who manages animals in captivity.

Details of the research appears in the May/June issue of journal Physiological and Biochemical Zoology

Arabian Tahr gets Increased Protection

The United Arab Emirates has established the Wadi Wurayah Fujairah, the habitat of endangered Arabian Tahr as the country’s first protected mountain reserve. The 129 km-square protected area occupies the northern reaches of Fujairah between the towns of Masafi, Khor Fakkan and Bidiyah. His Highness Shaikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah, issued a decree this week that officially established the mountain reserve. The Arabian Tahr (Arabitragus jayakari) is highly endangered, with fewer than 2,500 adults in the wild.

Under the proposed protection plan reviewed by the royal court protection will be intensified and steps will be taken to educate the visitors. Visitors will be fined for leaving litter behind, polluting the water and painting graffiti.

The move comes at a time when there is international concern about the welfare of Arabian Tahr. Tahrcountry salutes the architects of the new initiatives.

Grey Whale conservation -Sakhalin Energy consortium heeds to the call of the environmentalists

Heeding to the call of environmentalists Russia’s Sakhalin Energy consortium has agreed to suspend oil operations during the breeding season of Grey Whales (Eschrichtius robustus). The main feeding area of the whales is in the Piltun Bay at the northeastern part of Sakhalin shelf. Conservationists the world over are delighted. Once declared extinct, the Western Pacific Gray whale was rediscovered in the late 1970s.

The Western Grey Whale is one of the world’s most endangered whales, with only 25 breeding females remaining. The whale feeds only in the summer. The whale is listed as "critically endangered" by Russia and is on the redlist of International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Recent research had shown how oil exploration could alter the behaviour of grey whales. Noise from oil and gas exploration has driven the whales into deeper waters making it hard for their calves to feed and thrive.

Things are not very rosy however. BP, Exxon and Rosneft operating in the area have ignored the appeal from conservationists so far. Conservationists the world over are making repeated appeals to the erring firms to heed to their call. Let us hope that wiser counsel would prevail.

Good News from Afghanistan on the Environment Front

What we hear regularly from Afghanistan is depressing news about bombings, ambushes, excesses of Taliban and suffering of the common man. Here is something that will give you cheer. On the occasion of the Earth Day, Afghanistan has declared its first National Park. This is an event for the entire world to rejoice.

The newly declared Band-e-Amir National Park near Bamyan Valley is a spectacular region of deep blue lakes separated by natural dams of travertine, a mineral deposit. If Bamayan Valley rings a familiar tone for you, you are smack on target. Yes, it was here that Taliban destroyed 1,500-year-old giant Buddha statues.

Next on the agenda of the Afghan administration is efforts directed towards acquiring the World Heritage Status for the park. This will give a tremendous boost to the park. It will also bring in foreign tourists. Even though foreign tourists have given the place a wide birth after the eruption of violence in 1979 thousands of afghans visit the place every year

Much of the Park’s wildlife has been lost in the continuing violence. But Ibex and Urial still survive there precariously. The region also boasts of Afghan Snow Finch which is a bird found only in Afghanistan. The conservation community the world over is watching with great interest the happenings in Afghanistan

Imminent Danger- Forests as Sources of Greenhouse Gases

Forests are considered to be a great source of carbon sinks. But this rosy picture is likely to change with the global warming. The warning has come from International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO).

The latest report of International Union of Forest Research Organizations titled "Adaptation of Forests and People to Climate Change – A Global Assessment" and authored by 35 forestry scientists, made a detailed analysis of the likely impacts of climate change across the world's major forest types and their capacity adapt to climate shifts. The report will be formally presented at the next session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) taking place from 20th April to1 of May 2009 at the UN Headquarters.

Dr Risto Seppälä, a professor at the Finnish Forest Research Institute (Metla) and Past President of IUFRO, who chaired the expert panel that produced the report says, “We normally think of forests as putting the brakes on global warming, but in fact over the next few decades, damage induced by climate change could cause forests to release huge quantities of carbon and create a situation in which they do more to accelerate warming than to slow it down”. A 2.5-degree-C rise in temperatures would eliminate the net carbon sequestering function of global forests. Presently forests worldwide capture about a quarter of carbon emissions.

The study observes that as climate change progresses over the next decades:

1) Droughts are projected to become more intense and frequent in subtropical and southern temperate forests, especially in the western United States, northern
China, southern Europe and the Mediterranean, subtropical Africa, Central
America and Australia. These droughts will also increase the prevalence of fire and predispose large areas of forest to pests and pathogens. .

2) In some arid and semi-arid environments, such as the interior of the American
West, forestry experts’ worry that climate change could be so dramatic that timber productivity could “decline to the extent that forests are no longer viable.”

3)  Decreased rainfall and more severe droughts are expected to be particularly stressful for forest-dependent people in Africa who look to forests for food, clean water and other basic needs. For them, the scientists predict climate change could mean “deepening poverty, deteriorating public health, and social conflict.”

4) In certain areas, climate change could lead to substantial gains in the supply of timber. The combination of warming temperatures and the fertilizing effect of increased carbon in the atmosphere could fuel a northward expansion of what is known as the boreal forest, the coniferous timber lands that run across the earth’s northern latitudes and include forests in Canada, Finland, Russia and Sweden. Research from the report indicates that climate change could cause more than a 40 percent increase in timber growth in Finland. However, over the long-term, if climate change continues at the current pace the boreal expansion eventually will be offset by an increase in insect invasions, fires, and storms.

Ameliorative strategies

The report says that sustainable forest management practices could help ameliorate some of the impacts of climate change, but such efforts may only be a temporary reprieve in the face of rising carbon emissions.

Professor Andreas Fischlin of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, who is one of the lead authors of the study says "Even if adaptation measures are fully implemented, unmitigated climate change would, during the course of the current century, exceed the adaptive capacity of many forests," "The fact remains that the only way to ensure that forests do not suffer unprecedented harm is to achieve large reductions in greenhouse gas emissions."

The report concludes by saying more research is needed to better understand precisely how climate change will impact forests and how effective different adaptation responses will be. The challenge to policy makers is that they must act even in the face of imperfect data because “climate change is progressing too quickly to postpone action.

Sidamo Lark on the Way to Oblivion?

The Ethiopiaian Sidamo Lark (Heteromirafra sidamoensis), one of the most ancient types of larks, is in parlous state. Unless efforts are made on a war footing to conserve the species it will have the dubious distinction of being the first recorded bird extinction on the continent. The forebodings are the outcome of a survey of the bird's habitat done by zoologist Claire Spottiswoode of the University of Cambridge. The associates for the study were the Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society, Birdlife International and the University of East Anglia. The study found that Sidamo lark is now restricted to a single patch of grassland of 35 square kilometres. The survey also revealed that a maximum of 358 Sidamo Larks remain. The lower estimate is just 90.

Scientists discovered Sidamo Lark only in 1968. The bird was only seen once during the course of last 25 years.

The main reason attributed for the sorry state of affairs is the depredation of highland savannah. The savannah used to be maintained by fire and by the grazing of large herbivores. Borana pastoralists also played a part in the past. They used to walk their cattle across the plain in the course of their migration between different wet and dry season grasslands. The situation is completely changed now. The numbers of Wild animals have dipped and the present numbers is too low to stop shrubs from invading the grasslands. The pastoralists have abandoned their old time tested ways. The new fad is intensively reared livestock and agriculture, which impacts the birds quite badly.

Factors outside Ethiopia also contribute to the woes of the bird. The conflict in neighbouring Somalia is driving armed nomads to cross the border and move into the region to graze their cattle. Increasing droughts and climate change also are threats that loom over the survival of the bird.

The researchers have advocated control of grazing by domestic cattle. They have also advocated that the shrubs that have sprouted in the grassland should be removed. A careful watch over expansion of agriculture in to the habitat of the critically endangered bird has also been advocated.


Based on the researchers recommendations Lark is being uplisted to Critically Endangered – the highest level of threat – in the 2009 Red List of birds. The new list will be released on May 14th.

Newly Discovered Lichen Named after President Obama

A California researcher, Kerry Knudsen from the University of California-Riverside (UCR), has named a new species of Lichen discovered by him after President Barak Obama. The name given is Caloplaca obamae. The researcher says this is intended to show his appreciation for the president's support of science and science education.

The new species is Endemic to Santa Rosa Island, the second largest island off California’s coast. The new discovery is a shot in the arm for public support for preserving public lands as ecological sanctuaries. Cattle ranching had nearly wiped out the species. Fortunately a lawsuit by the National Parks Conservation Association in 1996 put an end to rampant uncontrolled grazing. But for this action the species would not have been discovered. Knudsen says this is a stark reminder that many species are disappearing without ever being known to science.

The Tale of the elephant from the Tail

I was fascinated to read about this new technique developed by Professor Thure Cerling and associates to decode eating habits of the elephants from its tail. It is amazing. Professor Thure Cerling used Global Positioning System and analyzed carbon and other isotopes in the tail hair of elephants to monitor their movements and varied diet in the Buffalo Springs national reserves in northern Kenya.

Clear cut evidences of elephants gorging on grasses during rainy season and switching over to trees and shrubs emerged from the isotope based study of elephants ‘ tail.
There are enough reasons for the elephants to gorge on grass. This is a ploy intended to bulk up for pregnancy. 22 months after conceiving, the elephants gave birth to healthy babies.

Use of water also came under the scanner. According to Professor Cerling in the dry season, rivers tend to be quite evaporated and have different isotope ratios than in rainy season, when they are flowing. The elephants drink the water, and it actually changes the isotope composition of their blood, which is reflected in the isotope composition of the hair.

The research brought to the fore the impact of overgrazing by cattle on the typical wet season diet of elephants. Competition with cattle results in poor access to high-quality grass forage as the cattle keep the grass very short by its distinctive feeding habits, thus our competing elephants in the rush for prime forage.The study warns that as Kenya's population continues to explode, and as global warming brings in more droughts, the competition for grass with domestic cattle might threaten the elephants' ability to bulk up for pregnancy.

The advantage of the new method according to Professor Cerling is that we get a continuous record of elephants’ diet even though we don't have anyone on the ground watching them. This will be of great help to the mangers of wildlife in devising their strategies.

Details of the study appears in the on line edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Kenyan Inventor Develops Cheap Efficient Solar Cooker and Wins an Award

I was delighted to hear about this news about a new solar cooker with enormous potential. A Kenyan inventor has won the $75,000 prize for his solar cooker made from cardboard. The cooker is made from two cardboard boxes, which use reflective foil and black paint to maximise absorption of solar energy. The temperatures inside the pot can reach at least 80C. The device can be used for cooking and for sterilising water.

The competition was organized by the organization Forum for the Future in association with Financial Times newspaper and technology company HP. The aim of the competition was to support concepts that have "moved off the drawing board and demonstrated their feasibility" for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but have not gained corporate backing.

The inventor says the device will help to reduce dependence on firewood thereby putting a brake on deforestation. According to him it will also give a boost to health as it has the potential to reduce the ill effects of smoke. Nearly two billion people in the world use firewood as their primary fuel. So the potential is enormous.

I did not give you the name of the inventor. Here it is. He is Jon Bohmer, who founded the company Kyoto Energy in Kenya. Hats off to him for developing a simple device that has the potential to reduce deforestation in developing and under developed countries.

Virus Powered Batteries are On Its Way

Virus powered batteries? Sounds a wee bit far fetched but it is true; they are in its way. A team of scientists from MIT in the US led by Professor Angela Belcher has come up with this seemingly impossible feat. Professor Belcher used viruses to build both the positively and negatively charged ends of a battery and it is working. A lithium-ion battery has been constructed, where generically engineered viruses were used to create the negatively charged anode and positively charged cathode. The beauty is that virus is harmless to humans.

The batteries have the capacity and performance of rechargeable batteries that is used to power plug-in hybrid cars. The prototype battery is the size of a coin but Professor Belcher believes that the technology developed can be used to create flexible batteries that can take the shape of their container. This meets the requirements of mobile and other small devices to a dot. Right now the virus battery can only be charged and discharged about 100 times, but Professor Belcher says improved versions with linger life are on its way.

Conservationists would be delighted to learn that the process to build the batteries uses no harmful or toxic materials. What we need is things like this, development of technologies that does not harm the environment. Tahrcountry salutes Professor Angela Belcher. Full details of the research appear in the journal Science

Leaf-Cutting Ants Help Develop New Drugs

In a spectacular case of symbiosis leaf-cutting ants have been cultivating fungus gardens that provide a safe home for the fungi and a food source for the ants for the last 50 million-years. It was only 10 years back that Cameron Currie, a microbial ecologist then at the University of Toronto in Ontario, Canada, discovered that leaf-cutting ants carry colonies of actinomycete bacteria on their bodies. This bacteria produce an antibiotic that protects the ants' fungal crops from associated parasitic fungi.

Currie was fascinated by his discovery and wanted to know the nitty gritty of the entire symbiosis.On 29 March, Currie, Jon Clardy at the Harvard Medical School in Boston and their colleagues reported that they had isolated and purified one of these antifungals. They named the new antifungal dentigerumycin. The story does not stop here. This newly discovered antifungal was found to slow down the growth of a drug-resistant strain of the fungus Candida albicans, which causes yeast infections in people. An excited Currie has described the ants as walking pharmaceutical factories. Different ant species cultivate different fungal crops, which in turn is affected by different parasites. So researchers are hoping to find and develop new drugs.

Another spin off of the research is the discovery that fungi associated with ants are very efficient at breaking down cellulose. Unravelling the process might allow us to make more efficient biofuels. than those made from sugary foods, such as maize.

Details of the study appears in Nature Chem. Bio (D.-C. Oh et al. Nature Chem. Bio. doi: 10.1038/nchembio.159; 2009).

Have a look at what Currie has to say about his research by clicking here


The new discovery points to the urgent need to protect our biodiversity. Everything is interlinked and mans’ folly is destroying the cornucopia before we get a chance to study them properly.

Now a Contraceptive Pill for Desert Rats

For some time now exploding Gerbil population in their Xinjiang region has exasperated the Chinese officials. Gerbils have threatened the fragile desert ecosystem of Xinjiang. Only few plants can survive in this harsh and arid region. Ceaseless burrowing by Gerbils is destroying even this sparse vegetation.

Chinese authorities tried various options like traps and biological control. Predatory birds were introduced in the region. But the problem persisted. Forestry officials are now trying a new way to control Gerbils. They are using contraceptive pills. The pill is mixed with feeds and placed in strategic locations.

The pills prevent females from getting pregnant and cause abortion in those already pregnant. The Chinese authorities consider this to be much more humane option than poisoning Gerbils. The new experiment seems to be working. If it becomes a real success the authorities are planning to introduce the system in other areas also.

Two New Greenhouse Gases Accumulating in the Atmosphere

According to the latest research spearheaded by Climate scientist Dr Paul Fraser two new greenhouse gases, one emitted by the electronic industry and the other used in pest control, are rapidly accumulating in the atmosphere. The gases are Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) and Sulfuryl fluoride (SO2F2). NF3 is used by the electronics industry in the manufacture of circuit boards in liquid-crystal flat-panel screens. SO2F2 is used as a fumigant.

The scientists have made a fervent plea to include these two gases for control in the revision of the Kyoto Protocol. Kyoto Protocol has set emission targets for six gases, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, PFCs, hydrofluorcarbons and sulfur hexafluoride. Even though the quantity SO2F2 and NF3 gases are low right now, the danger signals are already there and the time is ripe for control. NF3 is 17,000 times more potent than CO2, while SO2F2 is 5000 times more potent. NF3 persists for hundreds of years in the atmosphere. The gas accumulation is growing at around 5% a year. This is faster than any other greenhouse gasses included in the Kyoto Protocol.

Details of research appears in the 12 March edition of the Journal of Geophysical Research

Chemical Warfare by Plants

Professor Byron Lamont from Curtin University of Technology Australia, and his colleagues, has come up with some surprising findings regarding the defence mechanism of plants. The Australian native plant Hakea is using chemical warfare to prevent its bright red flowers being eaten by animals. This goes against established beliefs. The belief till now was that flowers evolved as a way for plants to attract birds and animals for cross-pollination.

The team studied 51 species of Hakea, and found that they could be easily divided into two groups, insect-pollinated species and bird-pollinated species. Insect-pollinated species have predominantly tiny, white flowers surrounded by spiky, dense foliage. This stops animals such as emus and cockatoos from eating the flower. Bird-pollinated species have soft open leaves and bright, easily accessible, usually red, flowers where birds can easily land. This makes the plant vulnerable to being eaten by emus and cockatoos.

Professor Byron Lamont and his colleagues macerated the flowers on-site and then used an enzyme and a strip of paper that was sensitive to cyanide to test for its presence. They found that plants with red flowers contain 10 milligrams of cyanide per gram. This was enough to make an animal sick. It is presumed that animals that eat the red Hakea flowers may learn to associate the colour with the bitter taste produced by the cyanide. The colour red acts as a warning to herbivores like emus, parrots and kangaroos sending the message that the flower contains distasteful cyanogenic compounds.

Details of the study appear in the latest edition of journal New Phytologist.

Plastic Trash in the Oceans and the Plight of the Turtles

Plastics ingestion by leatherback turtles is taking a heavy toll of the critically endangered species. This is the result arrived at by Dr. Mike James and colleagues from Dalhousie University after detailed analysis of post-mortems report of leatherbacks for the past four decades. Over one third of the turtles had ingested plastic. Ingestion of plastic leads to partial or complete obstruction of gastrointestinal tract, which in turn leads to starvation and death.

Leatherbacks often confuse plastic trash with one of their favorite prey, jellyfish. Unfortunately both jellyfish and plastic trash are often found in areas where oceanic water masses meet.

The only way out of this tragic situation is use of biodegradable materials and recycling. Leatherbacks have inhabited the earth for over a hundred million years and it would be a shame if they disappear due to the folly and profligacy of man. As the old saying goes little drops of water makes the mighty ocean. Each one of us has a bounden duty to do whatever is possible to save this critically endangered turtle. Concerted action will certainly pay rich dividends in the long run.

Details of the study appear in Marine Pollution Bullentin.

Mrosovsky et al. Leatherback turtles: The menace of plastic. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2009; 58 (2): 287 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.10.018

5th World Congress on Mountain Ungulates- Online Registration

Online registration is now open for the 5th World Congress on Mountain Ungulates. Log on to the conference website www.vworldconferenceungulates.org for details. You can click here and go to the website

Tropical Forests’ Carbon Sink Function Affected by Drought.

Tropical rainforests act as important carbon sinks.These forests have been continuously giving us a subsidy. Latest research indicates that with global warming this important function cannot be taken for granted any more.Drought is affecting the capacity of tropical forests to act as carbon sinks. This has far reaching effects for the global community. It is even feared that they could turn to be carbon ‘source’. The report appears in science today magazine

The assumption is based on a study of, 2005 drought, of Amazon basin. The drought has turned some of the affected areas of the Amazon from a carbon sink to carbon source. Research plots that were monitored regularly before and after the drought revealed that forest patches subjected to a 100-millimeter decrease in rainfall released on average 5.3 tonnes of carbon per hectare as trees in the area died.
Scientists have estimated that mature tropical forests, which cover about 10% of Earth's land, absorb around 1.3 billion tonnes of carbon per year. This is the equivalent of around 20% of carbon emissions from fossil-fuel burning. This works out to around 40% of the total global terrestrial carbon sink

The need to protect tropical rainforest has acquired great significance. A global initiative is what is needed. Countries acting alone and out of sync with others will not deliver the goods.

Want to marry? Plant trees

Indonesia has long been troubled by deforestation. It has the unenviable reputation of having the highest rate of deforestation in Asia. Palm oil lobbies have played havoc with the environment. Environmentalists have been going hammer and tongs at the Government for its lackadaisical ways in enforcing forest laws.

Against the background of the above mentioned facts I was delighted to hear this piece of news from my Indonesian contacts. In an innovative move Garut district administration in Indonesia has come out with the rider that if the marriage is to be legally Okayed, the couple panning to get married must give ten trees to district administration for reforestation drive. In an adjunct move the administration has also decreed that divorces will be granted only after the supply of one tree. The latest move from the Garut administration comes in the wake of financial difficulties. Central administration had recently launched a scheme to plant million tress across Indonesia. Garut does not have the wherewithal to pursue the programme. The dovetailing of marriage registration to tree planting was a clever move to overcome the difficulties experienced.

The man who came up with the idea for the administration deserves fulsome praise. Hats off to him.

Bottled water Guzzles Energy-Think Twice Before You Buy One

Do you really need that bottle of packaged drinking water? The latest research on bottled water has confirmed what the environmentalists have charged all these years. Weighed against tap water bottled water consumes between 1100 and 2000 times more energy on an average.

Environmental scientist Peter Gleick and Heather Cooley of the Pacific Institute did the study. Details like how much energy goes into making a plastic bottle; processing the water; labeling, filling, and sealing a bottle; transporting it for sale; and cooling the water prior to consumption went in to the research. Manufacturing the bottle and transportation were found the most energy hogging activities.

Startling details have emerged from the study. The global demand for bottle production alone uses 50 million barrels of oil a year. Drinking an imported bottle of water is about two-and-a-half to four times more energy intensive than getting it locally. This often surpasses the energy needed to make the bottle. Bottled water has now surpassed milk and beer in sales.

So think twice before you grab that next bottle. If you are in a position to bring a bottle of water from home do plumb for it.

Details of the research appears in the latest issue of journal Environmental Research Letters.

Excellent Example of Public and Private Sector Participation in Conservation

Goldman Sachs has announced the gift of a sprawling wilderness area in Chile to the Wildlife Conservation Society. The 272,000 hectares has old growth forests ,unique grasslands, rivers and wetlands teeming with wildlife. The guanaco, a member of the camel family, is the region’s signature animal. Other wildlife includes Magellanic woodpeckers, Firecrown Hummingbirds, and the Culpeo Fox. The reserve is home to around 700 plant species, including several types of moss, which are unique to these islands.

Goldman Sachs, the Goldman Sachs Charitable Fund, and WCS are establishing a formal Alliance to make conservation meaningful for the area. Ecotourism, will be promoted to support conservation objectives and to provide benefit to local communities.

It was in February 2002, that Goldman Sachs acquired the area as part of distressed assets of the Trillium Corporation, a US company that owned the Chilean lands. Trillium had planned to use the land for logging. This was opposed tooth and nail by Chilean environmentalists. Goldman Sachs initially wanted to sell the area for a profit. The bank considered selling the land but realized it would face the same opposition as Trillium had. So it chose the prudent option to salvage the situation. It gave the land away as gift to WCS. Lot of deliberation was done before the Goldman Sachs Charitable Fund determined that WCS is ideally suited to manage the reserve and protect the key ecological features of this land. Goldman Sachs has pledged around $12m of its own money to ensure the land's protection for years to come. In this process Goldman Sachs has enhanced its green credentials. A case of killing two birds with one shot. The end beneficiary is conservation.

Reptile Smuggling Attempt Foiled in Australia - A Guest Post

According to an Australian news site, a man was arrested for attempting to smuggle 44 native reptiles out of Australia. The 24-year old Sydney man was apprehended by Customs and Border Protection as he made his way through Sydney International Airport. One of the more valuable specimens in the seizure was an Albino Carpet Python, worth more than $20,000.
It is estimated that only 100 of these very rare snakes still exist in the world.
Authorities found the snakes in the man's checked bags when they went through x-ray screening before his scheduled flight to Bangkok, Thailand. The reptiles were hidden in socks, small cloth bags and other articles of clothing. All of them were alive when they were seized.
The reptile menagerie included: 24 Shingleback Lizards, 16 Bluetongue Lizards and four snakes. In addition to the Albino Python, there were also three Black-headed pythons, which are extremely endangered as well. Before it left the tarmac, the man was removed from the plane and charged by Customs and Border Protection with attempting to export native species without a permit.
The reptiles are all very valuable on the black market, with a combined estimated worth of $160,000 and $200,000. None of the reptiles were harmed during their short trip and have been taken to the Sydney Wildlife World where they were examined by veterinarians and are receiving care and proper nutrition.
Wildlife smuggling is a serious offense and authorities will push maximum penalties to help curtail the practice. The man, from Bonnet Bay in Sydney, is out on bail but must appear in Downing Centre Local Court on March 24, 2009. He faces a maximum penalty of $110,000 and/or 10 years in jail is mandated under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Though this is a heartening example of increased awareness by border and customs agents regarding this issue, demand for rare species continues unabated in much of the world and authorities are left playing catch up. And because it is easy for almost anyone to smuggle many different types of (valuable) wildlife undetected, supply remains high and black market profits skyrocket.

By-line:
This post was contributed by Holly McCarthy, who writes on the subject of the online courses. She invites your feedback at hollymccarthy12@gmail.com

Alarm Bell Rings for Asian Box Turtles

According to a new report by the wildlife trade-monitoring network TRAFFIC Unregulated trade, at 10 to 100 times legal level, has caused Southeast Asian Box Turtles almost to vanish from parts of Indonesia. The turtles are used for meat and in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Major consumers are Hong Kong, China, Singapore and Malaysia. Box turtles are also in demand as pets in the US, Europe and Japan.

The study noted 18 traders operating in Java, Sulawesi, Sumatra and Kalimantan dealing illegally in Southeast Asian Box Turtles. Each trader was handling on an average 2,230 turtles. Indonesia’s official annual export quota for this species is 18,000 turtles per year. The trade is ten times the official export quota. TRAFFIC says this is a conservative estimate. It could be as high as 100 times. At this rate the turtle would be wiped out across Indonesia in no time at all.

Weak enforcement of existing laws is a key problem. Non-inspection of shipments, falsification of CITES export permits, and lack of training amongst enforcement officers compound the problem. The report recommends better training and more cooperation between Indonesian enforcement authorities and those in importing countries to tackle illegal wildlife trade

Reducing the world's mercury- Hope in the horizon

Reducing the world's mercury has been a contentious issue so far. Mercury pollution is a problem of global magnitude. On an average, three times more mercury now falls out of the sky than before the Industrial Revolution 200 years ago. Increasing mercury concentrations are now being found in a number of fish-eating wildlife in remote areas. Mercury exposure may lead to population declines in birds and possibly in fish and mammals.

After protracted negotiations United Nations environment ministers meeting in Nairobi has overcome seven years obstacles and have committed to reducing the world's mercury. Formal negotiations will get under way later this year. The treaty will have under its ambit procedures to reduce the supply of mercury and its use in products, such as the thermometers, and processes, like plastics production and paper making. Mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants, which are responsible for about half of the world's mercury pollution will also be curtailed.

Mercury can travel thousands of kilometers from its original source,. It damages the central nervous system. It is especially dangerous to pregnant women and babies

United states is coming to the forefront of the initiatives. A welcome change under Obama administration.Bush administration had blocked international efforts to limit mercury.

Tropical rainforests: New study reveals tropical rainforests absorb 20% of carbon emissions annually

The latest issue of journal Nature has a nice paper on tropical rainforests and its utility in acting as carbon sink. S.L. Lewis et al reports that undisturbed tropical forests are absorbing nearly a fifth of carbon dioxide released annually by the burning of fossil fuels. According to Lewis this is akin to receiving a free subsidy from nature. The paper is the outcome of analysis of 40 years of data from rainforests in the Central African country of Gabon, data from African rainforests and previously published data from the Americas and Asia.

It has been estimated that tropical forests of Africa alone sequestered more than a billion metric tons of atmospheric carbon dioxide each year during the past four decades.

The calculation is that humans emit 32 billion tons of carbon each year in to the atmosphere. Tropical forests of the world sequester 8.5 billion tons of this carbon every year. 8.5 billion tons is dissolved in oceans. Soils and other types of vegetation absorb the balance. This leaves 15 billion of the 32 billion tons emitted by humans each year in the atmosphere.


The paper highlights the importance of rainforest conservation. This initiative should be a combined venture of the nations around the world. It has been suggested by many scientists that rich polluting countries should transfer a major chunk of resources to countries with tropical forests to reduce their deforestation rates. The deforestation is mainly in pursuance of the avowed policy of development. It is big logging companies that hog the major benefits

The end beneficiary of rainforest conservation is not the country with tropical forests alone. The benefits percolate to entire humanity. Global warming has given an added impetus to the urgent need.

Lewis the principal investigator is an ecologist at the University of Leeds in England.
The paper: S.L. Lewis et al. Increasing carbon storage in intact African tropical forests. NATURE| Vol 457| 19 February 2009

Asian Elephants – Threat from Vietnam

Illegal wildlife trade has always been a threat to wildlife. Here comes some alarming news for Asian elephants. Booming illegal ivory prices in Vietnam is posing a serous threat to elephants across South East Asia, according to a new market analysis report by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade-monitoring network. Vietnam is emerging as a conduit and transit point for illegal ivory. Establishments dealing in carved ivory are dime a dozen there. Worked ivory is increasingly being sold directly to buyers through middlemen or on the Internet. TRAFFIC also found evidence of widespread smuggling of live Asian Elephants and their ivory from Myanmar. Most of the products find their way to China and Hong Kong. Not more than 1,000 elephants are believed to survive in Lao PDR, while in Viet Nam, fewer than 150 exists.

Ivory prices are the highest in the world in Vietnam, with tusks selling for up to USD1500/kg. Small, cut pieces are selling for up to USD1863/kg. Trade in ivory was outlawed in Viet Nam in 1992, but a major loophole exists in the legislation, which permits shops to sell ivory in stock dating from the prohibition. This gives an avenue to some shop owners to restock illegally with recently made carved ivory. Smugglers from other Asian countries also might be misusing this proviso with local abetment. Around 4,000 tonnes of illegal wildlife products are estimated to pass through Vietnam every year.

The report recommends that Viet Nam should comply with its obligations under CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), This includes reporting of ivory seizures, tightening of national regulations and their enforcement, prosecution of offenders, and seizure of ivory for sale in retail outlets. The report also recommends better training for wildlife law enforcement officers and continued participation in the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN).

The matter requires urgent intervention from other SE Asian countries. It is not a matter to be looked in to by Vietnam alone. ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) needs to be strengthened and given more teeth. Time to act is now. Prevarication would bring in the death knell of elephants across SE Asia.

Australian Bushfires- Threat to wildlife

International media has written volumes about the human suffering following the devastating bushfires of Australia. But the plight of wildlife seems to have been overlooked by many of them. The loss of wildlife and their suffering is staggering and indescribably horrid.

According to my contacts in Australia over a million wild animals have lost their life. To compound the loss many of them happen to highly endangered, found nowhere else in the world. According to wildlife experts of Australia some of the endangered animals are highly specialized, living in a small geographical area. They apprehend that bushfires may have completely destroyed some of these habitats, with the result that some species could have been completely wiped out. Helmeted Honeyeater has been given as an example. Less than 50 individuals were though to be alive. Endangered plant species also have been at the receiving end of the fury of fires.

Sure, human suffering should get first hand treatment, but the suffering of the denizens of the wild also needs to be addressed. Australia alone may not be able to do the needful, given the magnitude of the problem. Organizations like WWF should come forward and mobilize international support for the ailing denizens of the wild.

Fishermen come to the rescue of Dolphins

This happened in Philippines and is sure to warm the cockles of the heart of wildlife enthusiasts. Fishermen have rescued about 200 dolphins, which became stranded in shallow waters near Manila.

Surprisingly this species of dolphins are called melon-headed whales. They travel in large pods of several hundred. Fishermen used their boats to guide the mammals out to deeper waters. The townspeople lend a hand clapping, hooting and splashing to frighten the dolphins away. Three dolphins were found dead. Two of the three dead dolphins had damaged eardrums One of the reasons for the mass beaching could be major underwater earthquake. In such a contingency eardrums are damaged and they become disorientated and float to the surface.

The Melon-headed Whale (Peponocephala electra) also called many-toothed blackfish and electra dolphin), is closely related to the Pygmy Killer Whale and Pilot Whale. It has a body shaped like a torpedo. The Melon-head weighs about 10-15 kilograms. An adult grows up to 3 meters long and weighs in excess of 200 kilograms. Lifespan is 20 to 30 years.

Here is yet another reason to protect the rainforests

Scientists have isolated Isolongifolenone, a natural compound found in the Tauroniro tree (Humiria balsamifera) of South America, which has been found to be an amazingly effective deterrent of mosquitoes and ticks. The product has been found to be as effective or even more than DEET, a potent and widely used synthetic insect repellent that works by blocking the aroma of human sweat. Isolongifolenone can be easily synthesized from inexpensive turpentine oil feedstock. Aijun Zhang of the USDA’s Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory led the research

Tauroniro is found in rainforests in the Guianas, Colombia, Venezuela, and the Brazilian Amazon. This brings in sharp focus the need to protect the rainforests, which is getting a shabby treatment worldwide.

Although rainforests make up only about six percent of the Earth's surface, they account for at least 50 percent of all the species of organisms on our planet. Rainforests are referred to as the Earth's lungs. Our lungs take in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide while the plants take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. Rainforests once covered 14% of the earth's land surface but now they cover a mere 6% and are fast disappearing at an alarming rate. More than 200,000 acres of rainforest are burned every day. One hectare may contain over 750 types of trees and 1500 species of higher plants. We are losing 137 plants, animal and insect species every single day due to rainforest deforestation. This works out to 50,000 species a year. Estimates of species in the rainforests are only a guestimate. It varies from 2 million to 100 million species. Others put it at somewhere near 10 million. Against this backdrop only 1.4 million of these species have actually been named.
121 prescription drugs sold worldwide are derived from plant sources. You must be familiar with Vincristine, extracted from the rainforest plant, periwinkle. This is one of the world's most powerful anticancer drugs. Scientists have tested less than 1% of the tropical trees and plants for medicinal properties. A goldmine is waiting to be tapped.

The rich bounty includes the wild relatives of, oranges, lemons, grapefruit, bananas, sugar cane, tumeric, coffee, potatoes, rice, guavas, pineapples, mangoes, tomatoes, corn, avocados, and coconuts. This is only a short list.

Rainforest destruction spells doom for the indigenous people also. An estimated ten million Indians lived in the Amazonian Rainforest five centuries ago. Today there are less than 200,000. It is estimated that in Brazil alone, European colonists have destroyed more than 90 indigenous tribes since the 1900's. Rich tradition nurtured over thousand of years has gone down the drain.

The other day Barry my ecologist friend from UK was pointing out to me that a single pond in Brazil can sustain a greater variety of fish than is found in all of Europe's rivers. He also spoke about the recent discovery of 10 new frogs from the Western Ghats of India, one of the 35-biodiversity hotspots of the world. Yes, we are losing forests before we get a chance to study them properly. They hold enormous promise for our future well-being. The possible benefits are mind-boggling. Before signing off I would like to put here a small example. Harvard's Pulitzer Prize-winning biologist Edward O. Wilson over a decade ago put it like this. “Rainforest land converted to cattle operations yields the landowner $60 per acre; if timber is harvested, the land is worth $400 per acre. However, if medicinal plants, fruits, nuts, rubber, chocolate, and other renewable and sustainable resources are harvested, the land will yield the landowner $2,400 per acre”. Let us hope that wiser counsel would prevail over short-term gains advocated by our politicians in their scramble for “development”

Earth Hour 2009

Earth Hour is a global WWF climate change initiative intended to drive home the implications of climate change. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities around the globe have been invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 28, 2009 at 8:30 PM to show their support for action on climate change. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. In 2008, more than 50 million people around the globe participated. In 2009, Earth Hour aims to reach out to 1 billion people in 1,000 cities. The message is this - The only way to truly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to take the pressure off climate change, is through an international treaty on climate pollution and the only way that will happen is if politicians around the world become convinced that climate change is an issue that concerns people, one that will make them change the way they live, spend and vote.

For Earth Hour 2009 the lights will be turned off for one hour at 8.30pm on 28 March. 377 cities around the globe have already committed. This is double the number of countries that participated in 2008. More countries will follow suit in the days to come. Earth Hour 2009 will also see the lights go out on some of the most recognized landmarks on the planet, including Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Table Mountain in Cape Town, Merlion in Singapore, Sydney Opera House, CN Tower in Toronto, Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and the world’s tallest constructed building Taipei 101. 2009 is a critical year for action on climate change, with the world’s leaders due to meet at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December to sign a new deal to supersede the Kyoto Protocol.

The organizers are planning to make the event the greatest voluntary action the world has ever witnessed.
India will join in Earth Hour 2009 in the global fight against climate change. As one of the most pressing challenges facing mankind today, climate change is in no way less alarming than the evident threat of terrorism that the nation is currently reeling under. Lights will be dimmed on buildings and pivotal landmarks and monuments throughout the city centres on 28th March 2009 and thousands of people in several cities of India will be coming together to celebrate, in candlelight, the Earth Hour campaign
For more information please contact:

Andrew Sedger
Earth Hour Global
T: +61 2 8202 1224 / M: +61 (0) 438 387 792
E: asedger@wwf.org.au

Billy Gentle
Earth Hour Global
T: +61 2 8202 1243/ M: +61 (0) 410 161 789
E: bgentle@wwf.org.au
Go ahead and join the global initiative.

Posted with inputs from WWF

Address your cows by name and get more milk

Scientists have discovered that if you call your cow by name lovingly she will give you more milk. Dairy farmers who address their cows by name reported 258 litre higher milk yields over those who didn't over a10-month lactation period. This is no fiction material. The details appear in the latest issue of British journal Anthrozzos a journal dedicated to interactions between animals and people.

Study coordinator Catherine Douglas of Newcastle University is all excited about the results. Catherine says that it is pure science and no hocus-pocus. if cows are slightly fearful of humans, they could produce the hormone Cortisol that suppresses milk production. Calling names have a soothing effect on the animals, which in turn could have an effect on milk yield.
So guys go ahead and call your cow by name if you own one. She is bound to give you more milk.

Amazing – Bees can count

Nature throws up amazing things in the process of man’s pursuit of ecological mysteries. It never ceases to surprise me. I am overawed and humbled. Here is another one to tickle you. Scientists have discovered that the honeybee can count up to three. Using dots and other abstract symbols, scientists from the Vision Centre in Australia went about finding whether the honeybees had the ability to count items in their environment. Results were amazing.

Here is how they went about it. Scientists used a Y-shaped bee maze to test their subjects. At the front entrance the bees can see a number of symbols, such as dots. A wee bit further they were presented with two different pathways. One has the same number of symbols as the first while the other shows a different number. If the bees choose the one that matches the entrance they would be rewarded with sugary water. The bees invariably plumbed for the sugary path. Even when the pattern, shape or the color of the dots was changed the bees were bang on target. At the outset the bees spent a lot of time reading the dots, but once they understood the pattern they quickly scanned the number and then zoomed in on the target. According to the scientists this is a process known as 'subitizing' i.e. means responding rapidly to a small number of items. The scientists also believe that this ability to count helps the bees in their travel of several kilometers from a hive in search of food. They are presumed to count landmarks and guide themselves back home.

Dr. Shaowu Zhang, Chief Investigator of The Vision Centre and Australian National University, led the study. The details appear in the latest issue of online journal PLoS ONE

Emperor Penguins facing uncertain future

Mathematical modeling of Antarctic by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) has brought to light the grave danger posed to Emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) by climate change. Emperor penguins are to Antarctica what the polar bear is to the Arctic and made famous by Hollywood. The species was immortalized in the 2005 film March of the Penguins.

The modeling was based on projections of sea ice coverage from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) last report. A population dynamics model describing the mating patterns and breeding success of emperor penguins was used in conjunction. The study also used data collected by French scientists working in Terre Adelie, from 1960s onwards. The results suggest that by the year 2100, emperor penguins in the region are likely to experience a reduction in their numbers by 95% or more. Emperor penguins are the only penguins that breed during the harsh Antarctic winters. Warming of sea has other implications. Sea ice plays a critical role in the Antarctic ecosystem. They act as a platform for penguins to breed and feed. It is also a grazing ground for krill, tiny crustaceans that thrive on algae on the underside of the ice. Krill is a food source for fish, seals, whales, and penguins. Net results could be catastrophic.

The study's lead author is Stephanie Jenouvrier. Hal Caswell is the co-author. The study appears in the latest issue of journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

5th world congress on mountain ungulates - 2nd circular

Many people have requested me to put the second circular of the 5th world congress on mountain ungulates here. In deference to their views I am giving below the full text of the second circular.

Second Circular of V World Conference on Mountain Ungulates
The subfamily, Caprinae, consisting of wild sheeps and goats, is a group of mammals of great biological and economical value. From a zoological point of view, the group represents maximum adaptability to mountainous environments and forms part of the mammalian fauna of various ecosystems. In addition, and from an economic point of view, they are an excellent prize for game hunters, subsistence hunters, on photo safaris or for use in medicinal products.
Principally associated with mountainous areas, although they are also found in other habitats, including tropical forests and deserts, alpine tundra or arctic steppes, they are naturally distributed across the Northern hemisphere over 3 continents (America, Asia and Europe) and more than 70 countries from the Arctic to the Equator.
In this extensive area, more than 71% of the goat species are endangered in some way (loss of habitat, overexploitation, competition and transmission of disease [domestic livestock], hybridisation, tourism and genetic isolation). 8% of the population are listed as critically endangered, 23% as endangered, 40% are vulnerable, 28% are threatened, while no information is available about the remaining 1% (IUCN 1997).
There is a determining factor, applicable to all the broadly distributed species, which in part, lies in the lack of information available about the species. In order to pool available knowledge about this species, a number of different international conferences have been held. At the first of these held in 1989 in Camerino (Italy), the groundwork was established for the preparation of the World Action Plan for goats by the IUCN. In 1997, the second conference took place in Italy (Saint Vincent, Aosta), and all the available information regarding this group of mammals was collected together. The third (2002) and fourth conferences (2006), in Zaragoza (Spain) and Munar (India) respectively, focussed on relevant aspects of the biology and ecology of these species, together with proposals for their handling and conservation.
Now, as mentioned in the previous circular, from 10 to 14 November 2009, the 5th World Congress on Mountain Ungulates is to take place at the Conference Centre (Palacio de Congresos) of Granada and will discuss the research, conservation and management of the ungulate populations in the world.
The more specific objectives of the conference will include:
·- Knowledge, condition and conservation of the wild mountain ungulate populations.
·- Threatening factors.
·- Genetic isolation.
·- Hybridisation, tourism.
·- Infectious contagious disease.
·- Working methodologies.
·- Management models.
For further information, please visit the Web site www.vworldconferenceungulates.org, or contact the Technical Secretary for the Congress at:
secretary@vworldconferenceungulates.org
The official Congress languages are Spanish and English.
REGISTRATIONS
Registrations may be made from 28 November 2008 to 30 June 2009 (price: €300), and subsequently, from 1 July 2009 to 1 November 2009 (price: €400). Students are charged €150.
Registrations must be made in either of the two formats available on the Congress Web site: on-line or by printing off the registration form in pdf format. The registration should, in all cases, be sent and the fee must be paid.
PAPERS
Work can be presented in the format of Posters or as an Oral Presentation.
Abstracts and Papers for the different scientific participations at the congress should be prepared in line with the following:
Abstracts:
Abstracts should be sent to the following electronic mail address: communications@vworldconferenceungulates.org between 28 November 2008 and 15 June 2009.
The following subject areas and workshops are proposed:
·- Condition and conservation of mountain ungulate populations.
·- Taxonomy and genetics of mountain ungulate populations.
·- Biology and Ecology: reproduction, physiology, etc.
·- Population management: Methods, capture and marking, management experience.
·- Healthcare status: Parasitic and infectious contagious diseases, epidemiology, treatments, epidemiological monitoring, etc.
·- Hunting and Conservation: hunting management and promotion (workshop).
·- Techniques for estimating populations (workshop).
·- Ungulates and Climate Change (workshop).
The title, (in Spanish and English), authors and address should be included.
The text shall have a maximum of 400 words, 5 key words, in one of the two official Congress languages, and the subject area to which it corresponds should be specified.
The text shall be written in Times New Roman 12, with interlineal 1.5 spacing, A4 paging, and with margins not less than 2.5cm, and shall cover no more than one A4 page.
Documents shall be submitted in Word format.
Scientific genus and species names shall be in Italics. Common species names shall be in lower-case and the first time they are used in the text, accompanied by the scientific name. Decimal figures are expressed using a comma, not a full-stop. All units used shall be as listed in the International System.
Papers:
Papers may be of any length, although we recommend a maximum of 25 pages, including tables, pictures and attachments.
The following layout is recommended:
Title, authors (initials followed by surname(s), in small capitals; for example: J.M. PÉREZ and P. FANDOS), authors� address, key words (to a maximum of 5 and in alphabetical order), abstract (between 200 and 300 words), introduction, area of study, material and methods, results, discussion, acknowledgements, bibliography, table and picture footnotes, tables, pictures and attachments.
Should the authors consider it appropriate, some of these sections may be united or subdivided. Section headings should be in small capitals, bold print and centrally aligned. The text should be justified on both sides. Tables should be given on separate pages together with the relevant footnotes. All picture footnotes should be included on the same page; each figure is given on a separate page. Attachments shall use the same format as tables.Tables, pictures and attachments are ordered with Arabic numerals.
The font type is Times New Roman 12, interlineal 1.5 spacing, A4 page size, margins not less than 2.5cm, and pages numbered consecutively (centre bottom of page).
Scientific genus and species names shall be in Italics. Common species names shall be in lower-case and the first time they are used in the text, accompanied by the scientific name. Decimal figures are expressed using a comma, not a full-stop. All units used shall be as listed in the International System.
Pictures shall be submitted in jpg or tiff. format Pictures are only accepted in black and white. Bibliographic references in the text are quoted as follows, for example: Navarro (1991), Pérez y Belmonte (2000), Granados et al. (2001), (Fandos, 1991; Pérez y Cadenas, 2000; Granados et al., 2001). In the bibliography, quotations are given in alphabetic order according to the surname of the first author and date (using a, b, c... where necessary) as shown below:
· - For articles:
FANDOS, P. and VIGAL, C.R. 1988. Body weight and horn length in relation to age of the Spanish wild goat. Acta Theriologica, 33: 239-242.
· - For books:
SCHALLER, G. 1977. Mountain monarchs. Wild sheep and goats of the Himalaya. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 425 pp.
· - For chapters of a book:
FANDOS, P. 1994. Los ungulados de montaña. In: Argali, Cacerías de Alta montaña. Ed. Agualarga, Madrid, 261-314 pp.
· - For doctoral theses:
GRANADOS, J.E. 2001. Distribución y estatus de la cabra montés (Capra pyrenaica, Schinz 1838) en Andalucía. Doctoral Thesis, University of Jaen, 567 pp.

For articles, the name of the journal should be given in full. If the quoted information is not published, use 'pers. obs.', 'pers. com.', 'in prep.' or 'in press', as appropriate.
SELECTION OF PAPERS
For papers to be accepted, authors must be registered at the Congress and have completed payment of the corresponding fee.
The Scientific Committee will select papers in a minimum of approximately 30 days, from the closing date for submission of work. Authors will be notified of the acceptance or not of the paper and the subject area in which it has been included.
PRELIMINARY SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME
November 10th, 2009
18.00 h. - 22.00 h. Receipt of Documentation and Information. Placement of panels. Granada Conference Centre.

November 11th, 2009
9.30 h. Official Opening.
10.30 h. - 11.30 h. Opening Conference.
11.30 h. - 12.00 h. Coffee Break
12.00 h. - 14.00 h. Workshops. Sala Andalucía and Salón Plenario simultaneously.
14.00 h. - 16.00 h. Lunch
16.00 h. - 18.00 h. Workshops. Sala Andalucía and Salón Plenario simultaneously.
18.00 h. - 18.30 h. Coffee Break
18.30 h. - 20.00 h. Workshops. Sala Andalucía and Salón Plenario simultaneously.

November 12th, 2009
9.00 h. - 11.30 h. Workshops. Sala Andalucía and Salón Plenario simultaneously.
11.30 h. - 12.00 h. Coffee Break
12.00 h. - 14.00 h. Workshops. Sala Andalucía and Salón Plenario simultaneously.
14.00 h. - 16.00 h. Lunch
16.00 h. - 18.00 h. Workshops. Sala Andalucía and Salón Plenario simultaneously.
18.00 h. - 18.30 h. Coffee Break
18.30 h. - 20.00 h. Workshops. Sala Andalucía and Salón Plenario simultaneously.

November 13th, 2009
9.00 h. - 11.30 h. Workshops. Sala Andalucía and Salón Plenario simultaneously.
11.30 h. - 12.00 h. Coffee Break
12.00 h. - 14.00 h. Workshops. Sala Andalucía and Salón Plenario simultaneously.
14.00 h. - 16.00 h. Lunch
16.00 h. - 18.00 h. Workshops. Sala Andalucía and Salón Plenario simultaneously.
18.00 h. - 18.30 h. Coffee Break
18.30 h. Conclusions
19.30 h. Closing Ceremony

PRELIMINARY SOCIAL PROGRAMME
November 11th, 2009
20.00 h. Night-time visit to the Alhambra. Cocktail dinner at the Campo de Los Mártires
November 12th, 2009
20.00 h. Flamenco Show at the Sacromonte
November 13th, 2009
20.00 h. Gala dinner
November 14th, 2009
9.30 h. Visit to the Sierra Nevada Natural Space. Lunch in the country and visit to the Installations at the Mountain Goat Reference Station

Mans’ avarice jeopardizing the behavioral patterns of wildlife

Alarm bells are ringing about the unscientific ways of harvesting wildlife including fish and plants. According to a new study by evolutionary biologist Chris Darimont of the University of Victoria in Canada, and colleagues, the rate at which hunted and harvested species are changing their size and breeding schedules is cause for concern. Rapid changes have been noted in heavily exploited fish and other species since the 1970s. For example Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) have decreased 20% in size over the past 30 years, and females now reproduce a year earlier than they used to. The studies included 29 species, mostly fish but also a few invertebrates, mammals, and plants. The team compared these studies with two databases: one for species such as Galápagos finches that had changed through natural selection and one for nonhunted species exposed to other human influences such as pollution. Exploited species transformed on average three times faster than those in natural systems and 50% faster than species subject to other human interference and were shrinking, breeding earlier, or both.


The practice of taking a large percentage of the prey population and targeting the largest individuals favors small individuals, which in turn breed before reaching exploitable size. Smaller sizes and altered breeding schedules could decrease species' abundance, and severely affect their ability to recover from exploitation. Interactions with predators and competitors also get upset.

Man’s avarice is tipping the apple cart of nature’s food web. Animals and plants are getting affected. Time to put a brake to this senseless carnage and act is now. It is not too late to start the ameliorative process.

Full report can be accessed online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Use of Vicks VapoRub – Be wary

This blog usually confines itself to wildlife and environmental affairs. But I thought this piece of information about Vicks VapoRub passed on to me by Roger my friend from US is worth a mention here.

According to a study appearing in this month’s issue of Chest, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians Vicks VapoRub has some deleterious effects on infants and young children. Vicks VapoRub may stimulate mucus production and airway inflammation, which can have serious negative effects. The ingredients in Vicks can be irritants, causing the body to produce more mucus to protect the airway. Some of the ingredients in Vicks, particulary menthol, trick the brain into thinking that it is easier to breathe by triggering a cold sensation, Dr. Bruce Rubin from the department of pediatrics at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, in Winston Salem, N.C., led the study.

Dr Rubin recommends never putting Vicks in or under the nose of anyone, regardless of age. The best treatments for congestion are saline nasal spray, warm drinks,herbal teas, soups and plenty of rest

Local residents reclaim forest

My Australian contacts have sent me this inspiring story from Tasmania. Tasmania's Upper Florentine Valley saw some dramatic events yesterday. About 400 protesters invaded the Forestry Tasmania working area during their protest against the construction of a logging road. The protesters forced the eight forest contractors currently working on the construction of the new road to cease operations. This was done caring two hoots for prohibitory police orders. The police and forestry officials repeatedly warned the men that they would be prosecuted. This fell on deaf ears. People have realized that there is more value in these forests left standing than bulldozed down.

I was delighted with this piece of information. When the politicians work hand in glove with the greedy contractors this is the only avenue open to local populace. Tahrcountry salutes the brave men.

World’s tropical forests – A look in to what future holds

The recent Smithsonian’s Symposium: “Will the rainforests survive? New Threats and Realities in the Tropical Extinction Crisis” had some interesting observations. It brought together the world's foremost authorities on different aspects of rainforest science.
One of the main arguments put forward was that the extinction crisis might not be as bad as predicted due to the significance of secondary forests and other degraded landscapes, which may allow the preservation of certain species. Robin Chazdon, a professor at the University of Conneticut who has studied secondary forests for twenty-five years, stated that secondary forests and other non-primary growth landscapes has great relevance for biodiversity conservation. According to him these are the areas that needs focused attention in order to conserve most of our biodiversity. A study in Veracruzm Mexico came up with the finding that bird biodiversity was actually greater in shade grown coffee farms than in the forest. In the Western Ghats of India, where cultivation has been practiced for 2,000 years, arecanut agriculture retains 90 percent of the bird biodiversity of the forest. In the largely degraded and devastated Atlantic Forest of Brazil chocolate grown under the canopy provides homes for 70 percent of many species, including birds, bats, butterflies, mammals, ferns, lizards and frogs. In Costa Rica, scientists discovered that a forest less than twenty years old had 90 percent of forest tree species either already growing or as seedlings. On the other hand soybean fields have been found to be devoid of biodiversity. Biodiversity is abysmally poor in palm oil plantations. Palm oil plantations have been shown to retain only 15 percent of species from the lost forest.
Entomologist Nigel Stork from the University of Melbourne argued that the scientists who predicted extinction rates of 50-75 percent did not take into account that certain groups of species, such as birds and mammals, are more prone to extinction than other groups like insects. Large body size, small restricted range, low number of young, top of the food chain, high specificity to another organism, and low physiological adaptation make a species more vulnerable to extinction.
One place where the scientists at the Symposium largely agreed was the threat posed by climate change to the tropics and the inability to know how it would affect biodiversity in the region. All the participants believe that this is a much greater threat to biodiversity in the tropics than habitat destruction. Tropical species are much more sensitive to small increases in temperature than temperate species. Tropical species would have to travel much greater distances than temperate species to find habitat within their normal range of temperatures.
According to Gregory Asner of the Carnegie Institution, deforestation is still the dominant pattern in tropical forests worldwide. To be precise it is on the rise. With the globalization of trade, deforestation mainly occurs for industrialized agriculture, such as soy and palm oil, and for logging to produce wood products meant for export to the West. Consumption by wealthy nations, and not local needs, is largely driving contemporary deforestation.
At the end of the symposium all the speakers foresaw mass extinction in the future of the tropics, unless drastic ameliorative actions are taken on a war footing. While the extinction may not reach 50-75 percent, since insects dominate the world, it would certainly have a devastating effect on the world’s vertebrates. Robin Chazdon argued that in order to ensure enough habitats, secondary forests and agroforestry should be supported. A conservation action plan for such areas is the need of the hour.

Human-made light sources acting as 'Ecological Traps'

Human-made light sources are altering the natural light cycles impacting wildlife. Polarized light has been found to trigger animal behaviors leading to injury and often death. Gabor Horvath, Robertson and colleagues, in the latest issue of the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, have unveiled this disturbing information.
Light pollution can cause increased predation, migrating in the wrong direction, choosing bad nest sites or mates, collisions with artificial structures and reduced time available to spend looking for food. To cite an example baby sea turtles use the direction of star and moonlight reflected off the water surface to help them find the ocean when they emerge from their beach nests. Under the influence of light pollution particularly from urban sources, many turtles turn the wrong way and migrate toward the brighter lights of buildings or streetlamps.

Polarized light reflected from asphalt roads, windows and plastic sheets and oil spills often mimics the surface of the water. Dragonflies laying its eggs on a shiny black highway may become paralyzed by attraction to the pavement after laying its eggs. This could cause populations to decline and even extinction. One of the remedies suggested for asphalt is white hatch mark. White hatch marks on roads can prevent insects from mistaking them for bodies of water. The addition of white curtains to shiny black buildings deters insects, bats and birds.

I found this study very interesting and alarming. Robertson signs off saying. "Aquatic insects are the foundation of the food web, and what's harmful to them is harmful to entire ecosystems and the services they provide."

Ecological indicators to forecast environmental disasters- A new study

All of us are familiar with leading indicators used by economists to asses economy. Geologists use seismic indicators to try to predict earthquakes. Taking a cue from this scientists have taken a page from the social science handbook and are trying to use it as leading indicators of the environment to forecast potential collapse of ecosystems.

The interesting study has been published on January 5th in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. In the new study, Carpenter, Reinette Biggs of Stockholm University and William A. Brock, an economist at UW-Madison, used northern Wisconsin's sport fishery as a laboratory to see if leading indicators of ecological collapse can be detected in advance to avert disaster. The results were positive.

The authors says, “Ecosystems worldwide, lakes, ocean fisheries, coral reefs, forests, wetlands and rangelands, are under constant and escalating pressure from humans and many are on the brink of collapse and it is possible to sense impending ecosystem regime shifts by carefully monitoring the changing variables”.

The authors warn” "We really need to be monitoring and analyzing the data from these ecosystems as a way to keep them healthy. Otherwise, by the time the problem surfaces it is too late."

This is a very good study worth a read. With refinements the study can come in handy as a very useful tool for environmentalists.

A clearinghouse for conservation banking launched

Species banking is a comparatively new initiative meant for species credit trading as an effective tool for the conservation of threatened and endangered species and their habitat. A conservation bank is like a financial bank. Here instead of money the bank protects natural resources. I would like to call it a biological bank account. When a project comes up that impacts wildlife, the pronotors can buy credits in a conservation bank.

Ecosystem Marketplace has launched a clearinghouse for conservation banking aimed at the species credit trading industry. Speciesbanking.com will provide a marketplace for the emerging conservation banking scenario. Initially intended for US markets, the agency plans to develop it in to a resource centere for nations across the world. At species.com you can publicize your credit availability and buyers can look out for solutions to their mitigation needs.

Effectiveness of underpass- A recent US success story

The proof of the pudding lies in eating it. The effectiveness of underpass to help migrating wildlife was proved recently in Wyoming US. The state had erected six deer underpasses this summer along U.S. Highway 30 in Nugget Canyon. This was to facilitate migrating mule deer cross the busy highway and protect motorists from collisions with big game animals.

To monitor animal movement the authorities also installed deer underpass webcams. It was found that about 800 deer, a few antelope and a lone bull elk had used the underpass in the first week itself. The authorities are elated at this result. The highway is in the middle of one of the state's largest big game winter ranges used by about 30,000 mule deer herd.

The proper way to place the underpass is to put them in areas that animals use regularly and where they actually do cross. This means that they don't have to learn a new migration route. Here is another tip. If the deer cannot see open space on the other end, they're not going to use the underpass.

Alarming news from Canada- Canadian forests are now pumping out more climate changing carbon dioxide than they are sequestering.

I was reading this disturbing news in Chicago Tribune about Canadian forests now pumping out more climate-changing carbon dioxide than they are sequestering and thought it would be a good idea to share it with you.

Canadian forests impacted by damage caused by global warming, insect infestations and persistent fires have crossed the Rubicon at least for the present. Scientists do not see any redemption at least till 2020. The shift from being a carbon sink to a carbon source has saddened the environmentalists.

The spread of deadly pest known as the mountain pine beetle, directly attributed to climate change, has devastated pine forests across Canda. Pervasive fires are another source of worry.
Environmentalists feel that logging ought to be sharply curtailed to preserve the remaining trees and make them sequester more carbon. The counter argument is that essential wood products for construction, furniture and other uses would have to be replaced with other man-made materials, such as plastic, steel or concrete, which entails burning of more fossil fuels. Well it is vicious circle.

Moral of the story: Take good care of your forests with a long-term perspective. Otherwise the whole thing will turn topsy-turvy.

Climate change plays havoc with wildlife in UK

The National Trust of UK has come up with a study, which shows the impact of climate change on UK’s wildlife. According to the trust UK wildlife is struggling to cope with erratic and unseasonal weather, which has taken its toll for a second consecutive year. Species under threat include puffins, marsh fritillary butterflies and lesser horseshoe bats.

The unusual seasonal patterns include the following.
•Snowdrops and red admiral butterflies were first spotted in January, earlier than normal.
• Bees were hit hard in April by frost and snow
• Rain in late May caused many birds' nests to fail, including those of the blue and great tits, because of the lack of insect food
• It was a poor summer for migrant insects - butterflies, moths, hoverflies, ladybirds and dragonflies - because of the wet and cold June
• In July, puffin numbers on the Farne Islands were down 35% on what they had been five years earlier
• The common autumn cranefly, usually in best proportions in September, was all but absent.

The trust concludes that climate change is not some future prediction of what might happen, it's happening now.

I feel that this piece of information from UK calls for an immediate study of the impact of climate change on India’s wildlife also. A pointer is the erratic birth of Nilgiri Tahr in Eravikulam National Park, Munnar, Kerala. It used to occur with clockwork precision in the first week of January. This is now getting delayed by more than one month. The distribution pattern of the animal inside park is also showing drastic changes. It is time to act.

Season's greetings

Tahrcountry wishes all its readers a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year

Anamigo Pet Photo contest

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