For the first time in over a century, sei whales have been observed in the marine areas near Argentina's Patagonian coast. This is an important event in marine conservation, symbolising a rebound after years of alarming decline due to historical whaling activities.
During the 1920s and 1930s, sei whales faced intense hunting pressure, primarily from whaling operations in and around Argentine waters. These activities severely reduced their numbers, leading to their near disappearance from the region. The species was hunted almost to the brink of extinction, making sightings increasingly rare.
In response to the critical decline of many whale species, including the sei whale, international measures were introduced to protect these giants of the ocean. A global ban on commercial whaling was one of the pivotal actions that contributed to their gradual recovery. Decades of protected status allowed sei whale populations to slowly increase, setting the stage for their return to former habitats.
No Mining within 1-km Radius around Tiger Habitats: SC to Rajasthan
The Supreme Court told authorities in Rajasthan that there cannot be any mining activity within 1-km radius of critical tiger habitats.
A bench of Justices B. R. Gavai, S. V. N. Bhatti and Sandeep Mehta pointed out that on April 26, 2023, the court, in a judgment, had said that mining within 1-km from the boundary of a national park or a wildlife sanctuary shall not be permissible. It added, "as such the prohibition is automatically applicable even to the critical tiger reserves".
May 15, 2024
SAIL-Bhilai to Set Up Chhattisgarh's First 15-Mw Floating Solar Plant
In a stride towards sustainable energy practices, the Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP), a key unit of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) situated in Chhattisgarh, is set to inaugurate the state's premier floating solar project. This venture marks a pivotal moment in Chhattisgarh's journey towards renewable energy and underscores BSP's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint while promoting eco-friendly initiatives.
The ambitious project, spearheaded by BSP, will see the installation of a 15 MW capacity floating solar plant within the expansive Maroda-1 reservoir located in Durg district. This reservoir, sprawling across 2.1 square kilometers with a water storage capacity of 19 cubic millimeters (MM3), not only caters to the water needs of the plant but also supports the adjoining township.
May 14, 2024
India Highlights Forest Conservation, Sustainable Management Initiatives at 19th Session of UNFF
India participated in the 19th Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), held at the UN Headquarters in New York in May 2024.
During the session, India highlighted the country's significant advancements in forest conservation and sustainable forest management, which led to a consistent increase in forest cover over the past fifteen years. Globally, India ranks third in the net gain, in average annual forest area, between 2010 and 2020.
India also highlighted the creation of the International Big Cat Alliance, another important step aimed at protecting and conserving the seven big cat species around the world through collaborative international efforts.
The UNFF 19 culminated in a declaration to take urgent and accelerated actions to halt deforestation and forest degradation and to prevent land degradation, including the implementation of the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests and the achievement of the Global Forest Goals.
May 13, 2024
India-Oman Collaboration on Shark and Ray Research in Arabian Sea
In a significant move to bolster research and conservation efforts concerning sharks and rays in the Arabian Sea, India and Oman are set to embark on a joint initiative. This collaboration aims to enhance understanding, promote conservation, and facilitate capacity building in elasmobranch research, with a particular focus on the Arabian Sea region.
An upcoming workshop, to be hosted at the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), will mark the commencement of this collaborative endeavor. This workshop, jointly organized by CMFRI and Oman's Marine Science and Fisheries Centre, will serve as the platform for initiating collaborative research activities and enhancing expertise in elasmobranch research.
May 10, 2024
CUSAT Researchers Discover New Marine Tardigrade Species; Name it after Chandrayaan Mission
Researchers from the Department of Marine Biology, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) have discovered a new species of marine tardigrade, colloquially known as water bears -- a phylum of eight-legged segmented micro-animals.
This microscopic creature has been named as Batillipes chandrayaani, a homage to the Chandrayaan-3, the first-ever successful lunar south pole landing mission hosted by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 2023.
This newly described species was found in the intertidal beach sediments of Mandapam coast, Tamil Nadu.
The present species is similar in size to other tardigrades, measuring around 0.15 millimeters (mm) in length and 0.04 mm in width characterised by four pairs of legs.
This novel species was discovered by Vishnudattan N.K, research scholar and senior Prof Dr S Bijoy Nandan, Department of Marine Biology as a part of an extensive marine biodiversity survey conducted along the Tamil Nadu coast.
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