In a noteworthy sighting, a pod of Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphins was observed in the vicinity of the Bandra-Worli sea link in Mumbai.
Dolphin Habitat and Distribution
The Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin, indigenous to the waters from South Africa to India, typically resides in shallow, coastal regions. This habitat preference leads to its inhabitance in some of the world’s most intensely utilized and polluted waters, affected by issues such as fishing, shipping, and environmental modification.
The Threat to Their Existence
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categorizes the Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin as an endangered species. In India, they fall under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which encompasses endangered cetacean species. Furthermore, they are included in Appendix I of The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
| Habitat | Status | Protection Act |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Ocean | Endangered | Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 |
Super Blood Wolf Moon: A Spectacular Lunar Event
On the nights of 20-21 January 2019, the Super Blood Wolf Moon, a total Lunar Eclipse, was observable in several regions worldwide, including North America, Central America, and South America. However, this phenomenon wasn’t visible in India.
What is the Super Blood Wolf Moon?
The Super Blood Wolf Moon refers to a particular type of lunar eclipse that lasts for approximately 62 minutes. During this period, the moon adopts a reddish hue as a result of sunlight scattered and refracted around the Earth.
A Deeper Look into Related Terms
Various phenomena occur during this event. A lunar eclipse is when the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, resulting in the Super Moon, where the moon is at its closest point to the Earth in its orbit. This occurrence causes a brighter, larger appearance than the usual full moon. The red coloration of the moon, known as the Blood Moon, is due to fine atmospheric particles like dust scattering the blue component of the solar spectrum. If two full moons appear in the same calendar month, the second is termed a “Blue Moon”.
RailWire: A Revolutionary Public WiFi Network
With 746 railway stations offering WiFi services under ‘RailWire’, RailTel’s retail Broadband initiative, it has become one of the world’s largest and fastest public WiFi networks. RailTel, a ‘Mini Ratna’, is a central public sector undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Railways, which also services rural railway stations lacking advanced telecom infrastructure.
Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)
Under the new telecom policy of 1999 (NTP’99), the Universal Service Obligation was established, funded by a ‘Universal Access Levy’. It gained statutory status by the Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act, 2003. It is exclusively used for providing telegraph services to people in rural and remote areas at an affordable and reasonable price.
Ladakh’s Dard Aryan Tribes: Threatened Heritage
The Dard Aryan tribe of Ladakh, believed to be original descendants of the ‘pure Aryan race’, have sought central government intervention to protect their culture and legacy. Their heritage is threatened by modernization, migration, and religious conversion. The tribe, known for its liberal customs and ornate costumes, resides primarily in the villages of Dha, Hanu, Darchik, and Gahanu.
Pulicat Lake: Hosting a Three-Day Flamingo Festival
Pulicat Lake is host to a three-day Flamingo Festival. As the country’s second-largest brackish water ecosystem next to Chilika lake in Odisha, Pulicat Lake lies at the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. It was noted that arrival of birds to the lake that typically starts in September was delayed until December this year due to a 47% deficit rainfall attributed to climate change.
