Environment and Conservation News from India: APRIL 16 - 30, 2015


APRIL 16, 2015 (Thursday)
Meenambakkam records 10 cm rain on Wednesday - Record rain for April in 70 yrs: April 16
Severe hailstorm, sharp  showers lashed Shimla and its surrounding areas today: April 15
Chinkara caught on camera in the Bukkapatna State Forest in Tumakuru district: April 16

APRIL 17
Three tigers spotted at Namdapha TR: Apr 16
Three tigers have been spotted at Namdapha Tiger Reserve during a recent tiger estimation and monitoring expedition using camera trapping exercise between March 2 and April 14.  20 cameras were fixed at different locations covering an area of about 44 Sq. Km in which three adult tigers have been captured in cameras along with hundreds of leopards, clouded leopards, wild dogs, Asiatic golden cat, according to CF & Field Director, Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Miao. Scats were also collected which have been sent to WII for analysis, giving more hope about presence of tigers.
There was no concrete evidence of tiger presence in the reserve since most of the tigers were reportedly eliminated during 90’s. Camera trapping carried out during 2012-13 by the Namdapha TR Management Authority in collaboration with Aaranyak managed to capture one adult tiger from core area and subsequent result DNA analysis of scats established presence of tiger. During 2013-14, tiger estimation carried out by officials of Namdapha TR management and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) captured one tiger in their camera along with many co-predators and preys. Subsequently, 29 numbers of Scats were sent to WII for DNA analysis and found presence of two more tigers. Dusu Shra, IFS, CF & Field Director said the Namdapha Tiger Reserve is being strengthened with intensive and extensive patrolling and monitoring activities. The tiger estimation and monitoring team was  led by Parimal Chandra Ray, Field Biologist.
Tigers spotted at Namdapha
Chennai India’s No. 1 greenhouse gas emitter in a study done among seven major cities: Apr 17
Two moderate quakes hit Assam: April 17
Over 1,100 sacred groves in Kozhikode: April 17  
Unseasonal rain in Punjab: April 17
No respite from rain, thunderstorm, hailstorm in Himachal - farmers fear damage to crops: April16
Widespread heavy rain across Uttarakhand: April 16

APRIL 18
World Heritage Day: April 17
Heritage is about what we have inherited—individually as well as collectively. It includes not only "property that is or may be inherited," but also valued things such as historic buildings that have been passed down from previous generations  “of special value and worthy of preservation.”The extended meaning of heritage in the collective sense would include what a nation or a race has valued and cherished over generations—not just the land and historic edifices, but our festivals, cultural events and customs that have endured over the centuries.
Illegal wild orchid trade thriving in Lakhimpur district, Assam: April 17 
<http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=apr1815/state050>
Slow Loris rescued from the Rangamati Tea Estate in Nagaon: April 18
A team led by Green Guard Nature Organization rescued the animal and released it back to the wild at Champawati on the edge of the Swang Reserve Forest. 
Wetlands in Suchindrum and Theroor and Manakudi estuary in Kanyakumari district declared as conservation reserve: April 18

April 19 (Sunday)
A tropical storm swept away thousands of houses, granaries and trees at Garudharia, Kolakhowa, Kheroni and several other villages under Laruah Mouza in Dibrugarh district on Friday evening: Apr 18
Strict vigil to ensure safety of animals during Sendra , an annual tribal hunting festival in Dalma: Apr18
Elephant Deaths Rises in Kerala as Government directive to truck elephants backfires: April 19
Hailstorm flattens paddy crop in parts of Warangal district on Wednesday: April 19
New species of gecko spotted in the ruins of Hampi: April 18
Karnataka initiates satellite based  new forest database using GAGAN: April 19
Green tribunal: Case of impractical overreach: TNN | Apr 19
Kharai camels of Kutch to get protection as endangered species: TNN | Apr 19
 
 APRIL 20
Pre-monsoon rains accompanied by strong wind and hailstorm in Manipur last night damaged around 100 houses mostly in Imphal district. heavy downpour accompanied by strong wind hit hilly Tamenglong district this afternoon. The hill areas of the State experienced seasonal downpours since the last two days: April 19
Rajaji Park in Uttarkhand notified as tiger reserve: April 20
On a mission to popularise Mahogany tree: April 20
‘Natural restoration’ of Kudremukh environment: April 18
Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd (KIOCL) claims the environs of its former mines have witnessed “natural restoration” sans human intervention. Company Chairman and MD, Malay Chatterjee said the environment committee set up by the Supreme Court came up with this finding recently.
He said the company had planted over 16 lakh saplings, which have grown over the last eight years. Natural bunds have been formed on the slopes. The committee said there was no need of human intervention to restore the surroundings.
Hailstorm and unseasonal rains  damage standing crops in about 15,638 hectares in Karimnagar district, Telengana on Monday night: April 20
Elephant corridors passing through Sullia taluk in Dakshina Kannada district into Wayanad, Kerala widening? Apr 20
 <http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/After-Deaths-in-Kerala-Elephants-Suffering-in-Mangalore-Now/2015/04/20/article2773608.ece>
Huge congregation of Rosy Starlings on a  leafless tree in Vijayawada: April 19
The same tree with Rosy Starlings looks like a tree with leaves. The tree is on the premises of the Police Commissioner's office, Vijayawada. During early 90's I used to see the Rosy starlings up to 4000 numbers to roost on near  by Prosopis juliflora thickets in Uppalapadu (IBA, Andhra Pradesh). Gradually their number reduced to two digits. However in March 1992 an unexpected congregation of 50.000 Rosy Starlings was seen.
(Mrutyumjaya Rao, Madras Naturalists Society - from the Hindu, April 4, 2015)    
Similar to above, there is a tree outside Ujjain Rly station which is full of parakeets giving the tree its lively green colour! You have reach there early in the morn to see them in all splendour. As the sun goes they go away looking for food and the tree wears a deserted look.(Ramjee Nagarajan, MNS)
                                                                          
APRIL 21
Rains lashes most of the places across  Kashmir valleys; River Jhelum rises: April 20
MeT dept.predicts heavy rains, thunderstorms in next 24 hours
Flood alert in the Valley as Jhelum river crossed the danger mark: April 21
Heavy snowfall in Kargil: April 20
Silent flows the river - the Aghanashini drains the Western Ghats of northern Karnataka & ends at a an estuary called Tadadi: April 21
2 Red Sander smugglers held as Cops Raid WB, TN Dens: 21st April
 Dalma tusker shot dead by Bangladesh Border Guards: TNN | Apr 21
Heat wave conditions intensify in many parts of Odisha with temp. rising above 40-degree inat least 13 places: April 21
<http://www.thestatesman.com/news/odisha/heat-wave-conditions-intensify/58718.html>   
India has 988 species on IUCN ‘Red List’: April 21 
A.P Police probing the involvement of a former TN Minister in smuggling of red sanders: Apr 21 
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/exminister-under-scanner-for-red-sanders-smuggling/article7124160.ece>  
Andhra Pradesh police nab two key red sanders smugglers: April 21
Smugglers exploited skills of Malayali woodcutters - Report by Committee appointed by the Madras HC: April 21
 Wooden cuttings, planks and seeds of tree species are now displayed at Pilikula Botanical museum: April 22  
Water level recedes in river Jhelum as rain stops: April 21
 Flood threat wanes in Kashmir as weather improves: Srinagar, Apr 22
Jhelum River in flood 


Torrential rains in Chenab valley region last night has again closed  Batote-Doda-Kishtwar highway NH 1B for vehicular traffic due the heavy landslides. Reports of torrential rains have been reported from almost all the major townships as well as rural areas of the region: April 21
Calcutta wilted in the cruel April sun receives a thunderstorm: April 22
Moderate heat wave  grips parts of Jharkhand: April 22
Nor'wester ravages several Bihar districts last night: April 22
Olive Ridley sea turtle eggs  washed away by high tide at Rushikulya rookery: 22nd April
Met Department predicts ‘isolated heavy rainfall’ in Kerala during the next 10 days: 22nd April
This is being attributed to disturbances in the Bay of Bengal, upper air cyclonic circulation over Lakshadweep and the low-pressure formation intensifying into a depression. 
BNHS preparing master plan to document the Great Indian Bustard and a conservation plan for Karnataka: April 22
The NTCA has accorded final approval to Kudermukh NP in Karnataka and Rajaji NP  for being declared as tiger reserves: April 21
The ‘Experimental’ Aravali Biodiversity Park in Delhi opens today: TNN | Apr 22
Forest Minister launches rail fence project in Nagarhole: April 22
'Post-hailstorm Baisakhi' in Bihar: April 22
April 13 is observed as Baisakhi day in a large part of north India, particularly Punjab. It is also celebrated as New Year’s day by Sikhs as well as Hindus. The harvest season of the winter crops such as wheat, gram, pulses, maize etc starts from this day.Unseasonal rain and hailstorm lashed Bihar after a prolonged winter. Even a day before Baisakhi, heavy rain lashed a part of north Bihar, especially in Madhepura district. Inclement weather destroyed standing crop in vast areas of the state. A tropical storm with wind speeds over 140 kmph lashed Purnia, Madhepura and several other districts of Bihar late on Tuesday night (21st). The storm damaged thousands of houses, killled and injured several people and ruined  food and fruit crops. The tragedy is that the bad weather condition was not confined to one or two days, but were spread from February to April and continues till now.
The situation in Bihar is not as bad as in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand etc. Unseasonal rain, which had lashed the two States of Punjab, Haryana for most of the March, have continued in April as well with latest spell on 15th/16th accompanied by strong winds at some places coming as a blow for the peasants whose crops had already suffered damage owing to earlier spells.  The wet weather was likely to hamper wheat harvesting in the two agrarian States.
The latest spell of rain was caused due to a western disturbance which was active over north Pakistan and adjoining region in Jammu and Kashmir. An upper air cyclonic circulation over Punjab and neighbourhood also brought about the change in weather in the northern States. 55 districts in U.P have been affected by the unseasonal rain and hailstorm resulting in immense crop loss and aspate of farmers’ suicide. About 1.57 lakh farmers in 950 villages in U.P have been hit. But the story of Bihar is somewhat different. The farmers are mostly marginal. The population is very dense and apart from farming and earning as migrant labourers there is not much economic activities in the rural areas. 
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Environment and Conservation News from India: APRIL 1-15, 2015


APRIL 1  (Wednesday)
97 rhino poaching cases registered January 2009 in 5 districts of Assam, no conviction: Mar 31   <http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=apr0115/state054>  
More rain in Kashmir: Apr 1
A dry Tuesday brought relief to the residents of Srinagar as the water in the Jhelum receded below the flood alarm levels. At 8 p.m., the water level at the Sangam gauge in south Kashmir was recorded at 13.9 feet, dropping seven feet below the flood level of 21 feet. In Srinagar, the Jhelum was at 16.95 feet, a foot below the flood level of 18 feet. On Monday afternoon, at its peak, the river rumbled at 22.5 feet in Sangam and 19.7 feet in Srinagar. “The Jhelum flows quickly from south Kashmir to Srinagar but takes much longer to flow out from Srinagar towards north Kashmir. This puts Srinagar at the risk of floods,” Mr. Jaffer, Chief Engineer of Irrigation and Flood Control Department, said.
Jammu-Srinagar highway opened for one-way traffic: March 31

APRIL 2
Coast Guard has launched ‘Operation Olivia’ for protection of sea turtles: April 2
Sand boas fall prey to poaching, loss of habitat in Chittoor district: April 2 
Kochi arachnologists discover rare spiders near Ponmudi and Malayattoor: April 2
Tigers need an uninterrupted corridor - they have crossed over from tiger reserves in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh  into forests in Adilabad: April 2
Hail, rain and snow in Sikkim because of a western disturbance: April 2
Fields in Yangyang village of South Sikkim covered in a blanket of hailstones on Wednesday
The upper reaches of Sikkim received snowfall on Wednesday afternoon and some lower areas of the state experienced hailstorm, such as Yangyang, Jorethang, Makha, Rongli, Tareythang and Biring. Gangtok has received 8.1mm rain in the past 24 hours. Rains accompanied by heavy hailstones have affected standing crops in East and South districts on a large scale.  <http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150402/jsp/siliguri/story_12099.jsp>
IISC experiment on Olive Ridley and Leatherback turtles migration for mass nesting: Paradip, April 1
Calcutta deprived of the season's third thundershower on Wednesday: April 2
A low-pressure trough extended from Sikkim to Jharkhand on Wednesday, sucking in moisture from the Bay of Bengal and causing clouds to form. The clouds did not  move towards Calcutta. Though the
 maximum temperature  was 34.4 degrees Celsius, there was not enough moisture over the city air to cause rainfall. Some districts in south Bengal received rain. North and South 24-Parganas and Nadia witnessed storm and rain in the evening.
Stormy conditions prevail in most parts of Himachal with  intermittent rain in mid and lower hills and  moderate snowfall in  while high-altitude areas: Shimla, April 1
NDMA, Army create channel to drain out artificial lake Phuktal river in Zanskar: April 2 <http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jammu-kashmir/ndma-army-create-channel-to-drain-out-artificial-lake-in-zanskar/61521.html>    
Moderate quake of 5.1 hits Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district: April 2 <http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/uttarakhand/moderate-quake-hits-uttarakhand-s-chamoli-dist/61881.html> 
India's largest 'trapdoor spider' found in Gujarat's Dang district: TNN | April 2
Mangrove habitats in Kollam and Thrissur districts to be notified as Ecologically Fragile Land (EFL): April 2

APRIL 3
No flood in Kashmir Valley and all the rivers flowing below the danger mark: April 2
Srinagar received around 27.6 millimeters of rain during last 24 hours, but rainfall recorded today was only 0.1 millimeter. Several other parts in valley also witnessed rainfall.  The weather conditions are Expected to improve from tomorrow afternoon or  evening. The scope of western disturbances is getting over. So far as per the predictions the weather conditions are expected to change from tomorrow or day after though there is possibility of more rains in next 24 hours,” director of state MET office said. Though Flood threat has abated in J&K, the threat of landslides persists in many areas of the Valley. The NH has remained closed for the third day today due to fresh landslides.
Forest land encroachment increase by 88% in J&K during 2003-12: April 2
Encroachment of forest land, streams leading to landslips - Experts: April 3
Himachal  witnesses wettest-ever March: April 3
ITBP expresses concern over poor condition of Kailash Mansoravar route - Yatra begins on June 12 via Lipulekh Pass: Apr 3
Strong wind accompanied by rain and hail lashes Odisha capital: April 3
Himalayan griffon vulture spotted along Gurgaon-Faridabad highway, near Mangar Bani sacred grove in Aravalis: Apr 3

APRIL 4
April 3: Out of 500 villages in  Budgam district in J & K , 88 villages are facing threat of landslide, mostly in Chadoora and Chrar-i-Sharief areas  following incessant rains early this week, the District Development Commissioner, Manzoor Ahmad Lone said. Incessant rains in Dessa belt of Doda district of Jammu region causes landslides. Batote-Doda-Kishtwar inter-district road  remained closed for the fourth day. A breach in the Nikki Tawi river due to  has posed danger to a large portion of crops in Suchetgarh area of Jammu. Chenab valley witnessed large number of landslides particularly along National Highways 44 and 244 and along higher reaches of Doda and Kishtwar. Flash flood and landslide in Poonch district washed away a foot bridge on Betar Nallah  cutting off many villages. District administration has put all the three tehsil on high alert after flash flood creates havoc in Poonch.Reports from Kathua said that due to heavy rainfall in higher reaches of Bani and Billawar flood alert was issued.  Sewa river crossed danger mark and Naaj and Bhini rivers were reported to be flowing above danger level. Water level in Ranjit Sagar Dam was reported to be 517 Ft against danger mark of 524 Ft.
Flood and landslides threat in Reasi district  due to incessant rains in last two days. Flood threat is completely over now but landslides persist in Uri district. According to a communication received from the divisional commissioner, Kashmir, an avalanche warning exists for next 24 hours from April 3 to 4, in the avalanche prone areas of Kulgam, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora and Ganderbal districts.Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for traffic for the fourth consecutive day today (from April 1).A sudden hailstorm which struck various areas of North Kashmir on Saturday and continued for more than half hour, destroyed orchards in large scale in the region .
Snow at Dhauladhars, Kangra valley drenched;Fresh snow in Bharmour, Pangi : April 4
Jammu-Srinagar highway closed for 4th day: April 4
 
APRIL 5
The number of tigers in  Odisha is around 60 and not 28 as earlier announced by the WII: April 5
Calcutta witnesses the shortest total lunar eclipse in 500 years on Saturday evening: April 5
The earth blotted out the moon completely for less than five minutes. The eclipse started at 6.15pm, as the earth moved in between the sun and the moon before forming a straight line and casting its shadow, and ended 7.15pm. “t was visible across the city.  <http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150405/jsp/bengal/story_12749.jsp>

 Rain, thunderstorm revive cold wave in Himachal: April 5
Another day of rain, snowfall in Uttarakhand: Apr 5

APRIL 6 (Monday)
Third thundershower of the season in Calcutta on Sunday with hail and lightning: April 6
Birder from Guwahati captures image of the chestnut-breasted partridge in Eagle Nest WLS: April 5 <http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150406/jsp/northeast/story_12928.jsp>  
Of parakeets and partridges: April 6
Moderate to heavy rain lashed several places in mid and lower hills of Himachal, while higher hills were lashed by strong-velocity winds in the past 24 hours: April 5
Tulip Garden in Srinagar: The Tulip Garden,  8 km from Srinagar city will be opened for visitors on Monday morning with a vista of 10 lakh flowers in a wide spectrum of shades. The garden, developed on the Zabarwan foothills and close to the banks of the Dal Lake, has the largest collection of tulips in Asia. This year, three lakh tulips of 22 varieties were procured from Holland.  A total of 10 lakh tulips of 53 shades and forms will bloom at the garden. The garden is encircled by a circuit of famed Mughal Gardens, Pari Mahal (The Palace of Fairies) and Cheshma Shahi (The Royal Spring) gardens . 


Dust storm in the Gulf region causes a dust cloud in Mumbai: April 6
Dust engulfed Mumbai’s skyline on Sunday, with a major dust storm in the Gulf region crossing the Arabian Sea. Though visibility was reduced up to 2 km at the airport and various parts of the city, flight services remained unaffected. Clouds of dust may remain for a couple of days.                                                                                                                 
 
APRIL 7
20 red sander smugglers shot dead by RSA-STF in in Seshachalam hills  near Tirupati: April 7
Bengaluru photographer captures the rare Chestnut-breasted Partridge in W. Kamang district: April 7
Air quality in India's major cities is fast deteriorating: April 7
Annual rainfall over Assam has decreased during the 60 years between 1950 and 2010: April 6
Gawkadal Gate between Dal, Jehlum re-opened: April 7
Tulip Gardens, Srinagar opened for visitors- Asia's largest: April 6    
New species of plant, a shrub from the genus Oldenlandia  discovered in Palakkad gap : April 6
Kamrup district administration has cleared five elephant corridors from encroachment around Deepor Beel: April 6
Timber mafia denude 25-acre mangrove patch around the Bhitarkanika NP: April 6

 APRIL 8
Combing on in AP forests; 14 red sanders smugglers detained: April 8
Tiger population in the Kaziranga landscape has gone up to 163 in 2014 tiger estimation against 106  in 2010: April 8
Dalma elephants heading home after their annual sojourn to the jungles of Bengal: April 8
Jharkhand soaks in rain due to a low-pressure trough boosted by a cyclonic circulation over Bihar and U.P: April 8
Jharkhand HC has asked the state government for details of its tiger conservation plans and  tiger deaths: April 7
Widespread rain in Himachal: April 8
Jammu-Srinagar highway opens for one-way traffic: April 8
Rain, snow lash Uttarakhand: 08 Apr 2015
<http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/uttarakhand/>              
Swamp deers at Kaziranga National Park on Tuesday: April 8 (Image)
                                                                                                  
 <http://sentinelassam.com.bh-in-7.webhostbox.net/cachar/index.php?sec=2&subsec=12&dtP=2015-04-08&ppr=1>
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