Water Crisis in Himachal Pradesh:
Himachal Pradesh`s State Water Minister has repeatedly warned the legislature that the state may face serious water shortages.
Highlights:
Insufficient rain and snow:
♦ In Himachal Pradesh, there is less snow and rain this year. After the winter, melted snow and glacier water will supply groundwater and other downhill water sources on a regular basis (such as springs, wells, rivers, etc.). Water sources have started to dry up this year due to a lack of snowfall. 69 percent less precipitation than normal: The Indian Meteorological Department reports that the state received only 59 mm of precipitation this winter (January 1 to February 28), 69% less than normal.
Increasing demand:
♦ The demand for water has been rising in recent decades as the state`s population has grown. Traditional water sources such as spring water and bawries water are no longer as popular as they once were.
Climate change:
♦ Rainfall patterns have also become unpredictably unpredictable. Water sources in some areas are rapidly depleted during dry periods, particularly in Shiwalik hilly areas where soil water holding capacity is low.
Poching Of Greater One-Horned Rhino Claim Of Assam Political Parties:
During the Assam parliamentary elections, various political parties claimed to have significantly reduced Greater One-Horned Rhino poaching. Poaching has decreased by 86 percent in the last three years, according to the Assam Forest Department.
Highlights:
♦ One of five rhino species, the Greater One-Horned Rhino is the largest. The black rhino, white rhino, Javan rhino, and Sumatran rhino are the other four rhinos.
♦ Greater one-horned rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis), Javan rhinos, and Sumatran rhinos are the three varieties of rhinos found in Asia.
♦ India is home to only the Great One-Horned Rhino.
♦ It is the largest rhinoceros species and is also known as the Indian rhinoceros.
♦ A black horn and gray-brown hide with skin folds distinguish this creature.
♦ Rhinoceros consume only grass, leaves, shrub and tree branches, fruits, and aquatic plants, and their diet consists entirely of grass, leaves, shrub and tree branches, fruits, and aquatic plants.
♦ Indo-Nepal Terai, northern West Bengal, and Assam are the habitats.
♦ Rhinos are mostly found in Assam, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh in India.
♦ Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, Kaziranga National Park, and Manas National Park in Assam are home to an estimated 2,640 rhinos.
Biosphere Reserve at Mahendragiri:
The Odisha government has proposed the development of a second biosphere reserve in Mahendragri, a hilly ecosystem with abundant biodiversity in the state`s southern region.
Highlights:
♦ The Similipal Biosphere Reserve, which occupies 5,569 square kilometres and was notified on May 20, 1996, was Odisha`s first such reserve.
♦ The planned Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve spans 470,955 hectares in the Eastern Ghats` Gajapati and Ganjam regions.
♦ The hilly ecosystem serves as a transition zone between southern India`s flora and fauna and the Himalayan flora and fauna, making it an ecological estuary for genetic diversity.
♦ This is focused on the Biosphere Reserve Committee`s feasibility study for the proposed project.
♦ The Soura, an especially weak tribal group, and the Kandha tribe live on Mahendragiri.
♦ The flora of these hills is diverse, according to the proposed Ahendragiri biosphere reserve`s study. With approximately 1,358 species of plants, Mahendragiri`s rich flora accounts for 40% of Odisha`s registered flora.
♦ According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the biosphere reserve is home to 29 of Odisha`s 41 endangered medicinal plants.
IUCN Status For African Elephants:
African Forest elephants and Savanna (or jungle) elephants have been designated as "critically endangered" and "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). African elephants were previously categorised as a single species and classified as "Vulnerable." This is the first time that the IUCN Red List has evaluated these two species separately.
Highlights:
♦ African elephants are significantly bigger than Asian elephants and are the world`s largest terrestrial animals.
♦ At the ends of their trunks, they have two finger-like traits, whereas Asian elephants only have one.
♦ Elephants are matriarchal, meaning they live in communities dominated by females.
♦ Elephants in Africa are a crucial species, meaning they play a critical role in their habitats. Elephants are known as "ecosystem engineers" because they have the ability to influence their environment in a variety of ways.
♦ The elephant`s pregnancy lasts almost 22 months, which is nearly twice as long as any other mammal`s. Since there aren`t enough calves to compensate for poaching losses, the issue of defence has grown.
♦ African elephants are divided into two subspecies: Savanna elephants (also known as jungle elephants) and Forest elephants.
African Savanna Elephant:
Scientific Name: Loxodonta africana
Decline:
♦ A decline of 60% in the past 50 years.
♦ IUCN Status: Endangered
♦ Habitat: Sub-Saharan Africa Plains African Forest Elephant
♦ Scientific Name: Loxodonta cyclotis
♦ Decline: A drop of 86% in the past 31 years.
♦ IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
♦ Habitat: Central and West African forests.
Migratory Birds Found Dead in Himachal Pradesh:
A total of 27 migratory birds have been confirmed to have died as a result of poultry. Lower the alarm bell and force the authorities to close the shelter after influenza has been identified in the Pong Dam Wildlife Sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh since March 25.
Pong Dam Wildlife Sanctuary:
♦ On the opposite side of the Bis River, the Pong Dam was built in 1975. Other names for the dam include Pong Reservoir and Maharana Pratap Sagar.
♦ The government designated the entire reservoir a wildlife sanctuary in 1983.
♦ It was named as a "national wetland significance" by the Indian government in 1994. Pong Dam Lake was designated as a Ramsar Wetland in November 2002.
♦ Migratory birds migrate to Siberia from the Hindu Kush Himalayas. Come in the winter. Tropical and subtropical forests dominate the protected area. The Bis River and its several perennial tributaries (such as the Guy River, Neogal, Binwa, Uhl, Bangana, and Baner) make up the lake.
♦ In the calm lake, there are about 22 species of fish, including uncommon fish like Sal and Gad. The lake`s sufficient water level makes it an excellent venue for water sports.
Flora:
♦ Eucalyptus, gum arabic, jamun, shisham, mango, mulberry, ficus, Kachanar, Amra and Lee.
Fauna:
♦ Barking deer, sambar, wild boar, bo, leopard and oriental small-clawed otter. Fish: Labeo, rohita, mahasheer, singhara, sal, gad.
Avian-fauna:
♦ Black-headed gull, red-necked gull, tern, duck, waterfowl, egret, etc.