A newly discovered beetle species, named Omorgus Khandesh, has been added to India’s biodiversity. Found in the country’s diverse ecosystems, this beetle of the Trogidae family is the 14th known extant species of this group in India. The species’ primary sources of sustenance are decomposing animal carcasses, earning it the name, keratin beetle. This gastronomic preference gives the beetle significant importance in forensic science, where it assists in determining an animal or human’s time of death. These beetles, often black or grey and encrusted with dirt, camouflage themselves in soil, leading some to refer to them as hide beetles. They possess a unique bumpy appearance featuring short, dense setae distributed throughout their bodies.
DHARA 2023: Driving Holistic Action for Urban Rivers
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) recently organised the annual meeting of the River Cities Alliance (RCA) members, known as Driving Holistic Action for Urban Rivers (DHARA). In collaboration with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), DHARA creates a communal platform for learning and discussing local water body management. The event’s base for 2024 will be Gwalior, a city located in Madhya Pradesh. One of the program’s innovative initiatives is the Ghat Par Yoga session that took place on the Mulla Mutha River in Pune. The meeting strongly aligns with the Urban20 (U20) initiative in India’s G20 Presidency ambit. It further encourages cities to adopt natural filters, reminiscent of the Catch the Rain campaign launched on World Water Day in 2021.
Cyclone Gabrielle’s Impact on New Zealand
New Zealand society had to rally together to rebuild and recover after Cyclone Gabrielle led to the death of at least five people and displacement of over 9,000. Cyclones, displaying rapid inward air circulation around a low-pressure area, circulate anticlockwise in the Northern hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern. The types of cyclones include Tropical and Extra-Tropical cyclones. New Zealand is a nation composed of the North and South Islands, along with several smaller islands. The country boasts a unique range of vegetation and animal life. Notably, it was the world’s first country to grant voting rights to women in 1893. Among its endemic species is the wetapunga, one of the world’s heaviest insects, which can weigh more than a regular sparrow.
The Historical Agasthyarkoodam Peak
The Western Ghat’s Agasthyarkoodam peak was once the site of a long-lost 19th-century observatory established by Scottish meteorologist John Allan Broun. These magnetic observatories continuously measure and record Earth’s magnetic field across various locations. Interestingly, India’s first geomagnetic observatory, named the Alibag Magnetic Observatory, was set up in Alibag in 1904. It holds the distinction of being one of its kind in the entirety of Asia. The Agasthyarkoodam peak, named after sage Agasthya, ranks among Kerala’s highest peaks. Recognised as a popular pilgrimage site, this peak is also a haven for bird watchers. Furthermore, the region is acknowledged for housing remarkable flora and fauna, including some rare medicinal herbs.
