Whatsapp 93125-11015 For Details
1. In a recent incident, approximately 39 flamingos were tragically killed in a collision with an aircraft landing at Mumbai airport. As protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act (1972), their carcasses were turned over to the forest department for necropsy. Flamingos, including the Greater Flamingo, are vital indicators of coastal ecosystem health. Greater Flamingos, the largest and most widespread species, are monogamous and derive their characteristic pink coloration from their diet of brine shrimps and algae. In India, they migrate to Mumbai's Thane Creek area annually, with an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 birds arriving each November. Meanwhile, wildlife authorities in Himachal Pradesh are surveying the populations of blue sheep and Himalayan ibex, main prey species for snow leopards, classified as 'vulnerable' by the IUCN Red List.
2. The traditional Chinese sky lantern festival recently drew criticism from environmentalists and wildlife conservationists due to its proximity to a nesting site of the endangered Olive Ridley turtles. Sky lanterns, made of bamboo or metal wire frames, pose hazards to wildlife as they take months to decompose and can entrap animals like fish, dolphins, birds, and turtles. Olive Ridley turtles, known for their olive-colored carapace, are vulnerable species that gather for unique mass nestings called Arribada. Initiatives like Operation Olivia and mandatory use of Turtle Excluder Devices aim to protect them in areas like Odisha's Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary. Threats to Olive Ridley turtles include coastal development, fishing gear entanglement, predation on nests, temperature-induced sex ratio imbalances, plastic ingestion, and disorientation from artificial lights.
3. NASA recently unveiled Gliese 12 b, an Earth-sized exoplanet located just 40 light-years away, marking one of the closest potentially habitable planets to our solar system. With an average surface temperature of 42°C, it orbits an M-type star, Gliese 12, every 12.8 days. Gliese 12 b is slightly smaller than Earth and falls within the habitable zone, where liquid water could exist. The star's metal-poor nature suggests it may have weaker magnetic fields and more volcanism, potentially aiding Gliese 12 b in maintaining an atmosphere. NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) played a key role in its discovery, setting the stage for further exploration with the James Webb Space Telescope.
4. Spain has joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as its 99th member by submitting the Instrument of Ratification. With 119 countries signing the ISA Framework Agreement, including the recent addition of Malta, 98 nations have completed the ratification process to become full members. The ISA, launched by India and France during COP 21 in Paris, aims to promote solar energy and support the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. It focuses on enhancing energy access, security, and transition through the deployment of solar energy technology in member nations.
5. Recent research challenging the conventional notion of the Stone Age proposes it as the 'Wood Age', based on discoveries of sophisticated wooden artifacts in Schöningen, Germany, dating back 300,000 to 400,000 years. These findings unveil advanced woodworking skills, challenging perceptions of prehistoric humans as mere scavengers and showcasing their strategic hunting abilities and technological adaptability. The preservation bias in archaeology towards stone over organic materials may distort our understanding of wood's significance in ancient times despite its crucial role. In India, the Stone Age saw varied cultural developments, from the Soanian pebble-tool tradition to the Neolithic period marked by agriculture and animal domestication, with evidence found in regions like the Indus Valley and the Ganges Valley.