Indian Cobra Genome Sequenced In Search For New Antivenom
A large international team of researchers affiliated with corporate and academic institutions has sequenced the genome of the Indian cobra. In their paper published in the journal Nature Genetics, the group describes their goal of using the sequenced genome to develop an antivenom.
Every year, approximately 5 million people around the world are bitten by venomous snakes—approximately 400,000 lose limbs and 100,000 lose their lives. Scientists have identified what they call "the big four" of snakes—the four species of venomous snakes that inflict the most harm.
Jan 07, 2020
First-of-its kind turtle rehab centre comes up in Bihar
A first-of-its-kind rehabilitation centre for freshwater turtles will be inaugurated in Bihar's Bhagalpur forest division in January 2020. The rehab centre, spread over half a hectare, will be able to shelter 500 turtles at a time.
The need to build such a centre was felt after several turtles were found severely wounded and sick when rescued from smuggles by rescue teams.
Many turtles were severely injured, sick or dead, while being rescued from smugglers. This centre will play a significant role in treating these animals and their proper upkeep before being returned to their natural habitat.
Their tied feet were found and many of them tightly shut in a small pressure cooker used for cooking food on one occasion.
Jan 05, 2020
Australian PM Morrison Calls 3,000 Military Reserve Troops To Combat Raging Bush Fire
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called up 3,000 military reserve troops today to combat the raging bush fire crisis. The fire has claimed the lives of 23 people so far. High temperatures and strong winds are threatening to worsen conditions across the country.
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said this is the first time that reservists have been called up in such a large number in the living memory.
Australia's military has been assisting with aerial reconnaissance, mapping, search and rescue, logistics and aerial support for months.
Jan 04, 2020
Thailand Retailers Ban Single-use Plastic Bags
Thailand began the year with a ban on single-use plastic bags at major stores, continuing a campaign launched by the government and retailers toward a complete ban in 2021 to reduce waste and debris in the sea.
Public awareness of the risk to animals and the environment from such waste was raised last year in a series of incidents where animals including a deer and a baby dugong were found dead with plastics in their digestive systems.
Thailand was ranked sixth among the world's top countries that dumps waste into the sea.
A Nod to E-vehicles
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) will set up 100 "fast public e-charging stations with capacities of 150 kilowatt", in a bid to push energy efficient vehicles, its chairman, Dharmendra said, while presenting the council's budget for the 2020-21 financial year.
Jan 03, 2020
Shipping Fuel Regulation to Cut Sulphur Levels Comes into Force
Sulphur will be cut drastically from global shipping transport fuels in 2020, in a move that should reduce some forms of air pollution, and may help towards tackling the climate emergency – but which could also lead to a rise in the price of flights.
From January 2020, ships will only be allowed to use fuel oil with very low sulphur content, under rules brought in by the International Maritime Organisation. This cut in sulphur content has been more than a decade in the planning, and almost all shipping around the world is expected to comply, or face penalties.
The new regulations are aimed at cleaning up sulphur emissions, which can cause acid rain and other forms of air pollution, rather than tackling the climate emergency.
Compensatory Afforestation Process May be Overhauled
Any project involving the destruction of forests may soon be able to meet the compensatory afforestation target it has to meet by simply buying ready-made plantations, if a controversial plan being considered by the environment ministry is finalised.
The ministry plans to overhaul the compensatory afforestation process by accrediting private or public-private partnership companies to raise plantations near reserved forests that can be bought by developers of projects involving diversion of forest land.
The proposal was accepted in principle by the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the environment ministry according to minutes of a FAC meeting held in December.
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