A team of biologists from Delhi University (DU), University College Dublin (Ireland) and the National Museum (UK) have discovered four new species of horned frogs from the Himalayan regions of Northeast India. Included in the team is S D Biju from DU’s Department of Environmental Studies, who is often referred to as the ‘Frogman of India’.
Horned frogs are so named due to the fleshy horn-like projection on the upper eyelids of some species. The newly discovered species were found in the forests of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. The scientists decided to name the four new Indian species as follows: the Himalayan horned frog (Megophrys himalayana); the Garo white-lipped horned frog (Megophrys oreocrypta); the Yellow spotted white-lipped horned frog (Megophrys flavipunctata); and the Giant Himalayan horned frog (Megophrys periosa).
India’s First Elephant Hospital in Mathura
Located in Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), India’s first specialized hospital for elephants has opened its doors. Armed with facilities such as wireless digital X-Ray, thermal imaging, ultrasonography, tranquilization devices and quarantine facilities, this establishment is a haven for elephants and also attracts local and foreign tourists with its unique offering.
The hospital is situated close to the elephant conservation and care centre and has been designed specifically to treat injured, sick or geriatric elephants. It is equipped with a medical hoist for lifting elephants.
Solar Bubble Dryer
An innovative drying technology, Solar Bubble Dryer (SBD), was introduced to farmers in Odisha. This technology was developed collaboratively by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines; Grainpro, a leading post-harvest solution providing company; and the University of Hohenheim, Germany.
The SBD is a cost-effective drying technology providing a simple and flexible alternative to traditional sun-drying. This new method protects crops from spillage, animals, weather, and vehicles. In a unique approach, this technology has been designed in such a way that farmers can dismantle the machinery and reassemble it independently. Power is drawn from both solar energy and traditional electricity.
| Solar Bubble Dryer (SBD) |
|---|
| Cost-Effective Alternative to Sun-Drying |
| Protects Crops From Spillage, Animals, Weather, And Vehicles |
| Farmers Can Dismantle and Reassemble Independently |
| Power Drawn From Both Solar Energy and Traditional Electricity |
Elephant Corridors as ESZ
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has reached out to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), suggesting the possibility of declaring all elephant corridors in the country as Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ). These are areas specified by MoEFCC that are located around Protected Areas, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
According to the Environment (Protection Act) of 1986, activities conducted in eco-sensitive zones are regulated and it is forbidden for polluting industry or mining operation to be set up in such areas. The width of the eco-sensitive zone area could extend to 10 km around a protected area, and even further in places with sensitive corridors, connectivity and ecologically important patches crucial for landscape linkage. Certain activities such as commercial mining, commercial use of firewood and major hydropower projects are prohibited in these zones. The primary aim is to regulate certain activities around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries, minimizing the negative impacts of such activities on the fragile ecosystem encompassing the protected areas.
