Flawed conservation policies lead to decline in gharial population

Rhododendrons losing ground

himalayan rhododendrons are flourishing in western countries where they were popularized by plant explorers who visited India and China in the 19th and 20th century. But the tree genus, marked for its beautiful flowers, is disappearing from its natural habitat due to logging for fuel and development projects like dams.

And the frog survived

THE outbreak of disease in a population can cause a large number of deaths, if unchecked. This decreases the genetic diversity of the species as a whole. The species lacking diversity is unable to adapt to the ever-changing climate and environmental conditions. This opens the door for further disease outbreaks. Gradually the species becomes extinct. Frog populations are declining worldwide. But some frogs have found a way to save themselves from becoming extinct. A team said outbreak of diseases

Back on menu: bird nest soup

THE Union environment ministry has adopted an unusual conservation strategy to save the dwindling population of edible-nest swiftlets (Aerodramus fuciphagus) in the Andamans. It has taken them off the Schedule-I list of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which accords the highest protection to a species. The nests of these swiftlets are made of hardened saliva and are taken away by poachers to be sold in the market. In Singapore and Hong Kong, a kilogramme of nests fetch US $3,000 to

The blind watchdog

The Gangetic dolphin is an indicator of riverine health. Like the river it's in a bad way A Hindu legend has it that the Gangetic dolphin was once a beautiful princess, called Sukanya. The princess was vain and onced earned the wrath of an ascetic. Sukanya had gone to take a bath in a river when the holy man asked her not to disturb him. The princess continued bathing. The enraged ascetic cursed her to a life in the river. The vain princess was turned into a dolphin, susaka.

Science & Technology - Briefs

health The Wnt pathway

According to report

Nearly extinct Rhino poaching is expected to hit a 15-year high in 2009. As many as 12 rhinos are killed every month for their horns by poachers in South Africa and Zimbabwe as against three in 2000-2005, said a joint report released by WWF, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Traffic. Poachers are pushing rhinos towards extinction in Asia and Africa, the report said. Setting an example Brazil has successfully treated its people living with HIV/AIDS, US researchers said. Brazil fought the epidemic by

House sparrows want old homes

But there isn't much for them in urban or rural areas In a 2008 Current Science article ornithologist Ranjit Daniels suggested several reasons for the decline of house sparrow populations in India. Daniels suggested studies similar to those on declining amphibian populations. He also suggested house sparrows were more likely to be conserved in agricultural and hilly landscapes rather than cities. Urban areas do not have space for the house sparrows and they are also home

Win some, lose some

According to report

Birds no more: Eight bird species have vanished from the 25 sq km Salim Ali sanctuary in Ernakulam district, Kerala, said a study by Nirmala College in Ernakulam. Changes in their environment, teak plantations for example, may have caused this. The study also recorded the number of bird species increased from 132 in the 1930s to 238 in the sanctuary. This included wetland species that increased from 10 to 32, possibly because of a new reservoir there.