Elephants Died in Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary:
At the Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary in the Kalahandi district of Odisha, six elephants died of Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS).
Haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS):
It is a disease that infects animals through infectious bacteria in contact with contaminated water or soil (Pasteurella multocida). In this infection, the animal`s respiratory tract and lungs are compromised, leading to serious pneumonia. It primarily affects water buffalo, cattle and bison, and among infected animals, it has a high mortality rate. In Kendrapara, Odisha, about 40 buffaloes died because of this infection. The disease usually spreads around the monsoons.
Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary:
Location: It is situated in Odisha`s Kalahandi district, which covers an area of over 175 square kilometers.
Vegetation: Dry Deciduous Forest.
Mammals: Elephants, Leopards, Gaur, Sambar, Barking deer, Indian wolf, Malbar giant squirrel, Pangolin, etc.
Birds: Peacock, Hornbill, Red jungle fowl, etc.
Reptilians: Mugger, crocodile, monitor lizard etc.
Flora: Sal, Bija, Bamboo, medicinal plants, etc.
Water Body: Phurlijharan waterfall is located in the sanctuary.
Fossils of Coelacanth Were Found:
The fossils of coelacanth, a giant fish considered an iconic example of "living fossil" were discovered by a group of paleontologists. In the Cretaceous period, the discovered fossil of the Coelacanth is thought to be 66 million years old.
Highlights:
♦ Coelacanths are enigmatic deep-sea creatures which live below the surface of the water at a depth of 2,300 feet.
♦ It is known that 65 million years ago, dinosaurs were extinct. But its discovery in 1938 ignited a discussion about how this lobe-finned fish adapted to terrestrial animal evolution.
♦ Only two species of coelacanth are known: one lives on the east coast of Africa near the Comoros Islands, and the other lives in the waters off Sulawesi, Indonesia.
♦ Living Fossil: A Living Fossil is a creature which, since the early geological period, has remained unchanged and its close relatives are generally extinct. Examples of living fossils are Horsehoe Crab and Ginkgo plants, in addition to Coelacanths.
♦ In their latest study, however, paleontologists discovered that 10 million years ago, the Coelacanth gained 62 new genes from interactions with other animals. This demonstrates that, although slowly, they are still evolving.
♦ IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
♦ CITES Status: Appendix I
###Black Storks Were Seen in Sigur Plateau:
The black stork was living in Nilgris on the Sigur Plateau. Researchers say black storks in the area are extremely rare.
Black Storks:
♦ They are present on several continents, but they mostly migrate to India and South Africa in the winter in the northern hemisphere.
♦ The nest is built on a large tree, generally close to open spaces (slope, clear forest), which makes it easy to reach. They settle in an ancient quiet forest. Their hunting grounds include streams and creeks, low-vegetation swamp ponds and grasslands.
♦ Most of their threats are related to the degradation and hunting of habitats.
♦ As the species of least concern, the IUCN Red List lists the black stork. But, primarily because of deforestation and habitat loss, their population is declining. They even hunted the black stork. Many storks died during the migration when they collided with electric wires.
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