My Science School

Centred on the North Pole, the almost perennially ice-covered Arctic is a polar region. It comprises the Arctic Ocean, and spans the U.S., Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. The dominant biome (ecological area) of the Arctic is the tundra, which offers different kinds of landscapes from lowlands to mountains for plant and animal life. The tundra is characterised by low temperatures, high winds, and more than half a year without sunlight, resulting in a harsh climate. This means the biodiversity in the region is low, and only those plant and animal species that can adapt survive.

Wildlife

Due to its geographical location, the Arctic does not boast a variety of native trees, birds, animals, etc. But, it does make up for this with huge numbers in terms of population and uniqueness. The region is home to around 2.000 species of plants, including grasses and flowering plants. But they have a very short window to grow-about two months in summer. Some of the resident and migrant birds here include ravens, owls, ptarmigans, ducks, swans, plovers, curlews, falcons, hawks, gulls, buntings, fulmars, kittiwakes, terns and geese. The mammals in the region include the polar bear, seals, caribou, Arctic wolf, Arctic fox, Arctic hare, Arctic squirrel, musk ox, and rodents such as lemmings and voles. Due to the low temperatures, there are hardly any reptiles or amphibians in the tundra.

Threats

• Over the last three decades, the Arctic has warmed at about twice the rate as the rest of the world. This phenomenon has been called Arctic amplification. In essence, the Arctic is the fastest warming region globally. Scientists are of the view that this is a signal of human-induced climate change. The impact of the warming has been telling. Both floating sea ice in the Arctic Ocean and snow cover on land are decreasing. Meanwhile, many of the regions glaciers are retreating. Permafrost-the permanent frozen ground in many places within the Arctic is thawing.


• In addition to thinning ice and warming waters, the region has been witnessing long longer summers and shorter winters. This has an impact of the lifecycle of the vegetation and the animals of the region. For instance, polar bears depend on sea ice to hunt. But thinning ice means that much less access to food. There have been instances of polar bears entering residential localities in search of food. In the long-term, the lack of access to food would mean weaker cubs, and eventual extinction of local populations.


• The Arctic plays a vital role in keeping the world's climate balanced, and changes here will have an impact not across just the Northern Hemisphere, but across the globe. For instance, the Arctic's vast white ice cover sends back some of the sun's rays into space, keeping overall temperatures across the world even. So, when this ice cover shrinks, it absorbs more rays, leading to higher temperatures, and this vicious cycle will keep continuing.


• Among the other threats to the region are air pollution (black carbon from diesel engines can settle on the snow): industrial activities (mining and drilling can damage the fragile tundra habitats): and invasive and migrating species (the depletion of food sources and hosting of parasites, etc.).

 

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Covering several African countries and an area of more than 90 lakh sq.km., the Sahara Desert is the world's largest hot desert. Also the largest non-Polar desert, it is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, and the Niger River. Though a desert, only a part of the region is marked predominantly by sand sheets and dunes, while shallow basins, gravel-rich plains and rocky plateaus make up a huge part of the remaining areas. The region is home to more than two million people and nurtures a variety of plants and wildlife.

Wildlife

The mammals found in the region include the fennec fox, jerboa (a rodent), critically endangered addax (antelope), domesticated camels. gazelles, jackals, hyenas, baboons, and hedgehogs. Amphibians and reptiles include frogs, toads, crocodiles, lizards, snakes, chameleons, and skinks. Among the over 300 resident and migratory bird species found in the Sahara desert are the ostrich, buzzards, kestrels, falcons, kites, eagles, vultures, hawks, harriers, bustards, crakes, coots, geese, grebes, shelducks, ducks, pochards, bitterns, egrets, herons, teals, storks, cormorants, plovers. sandpipers, gulls, terns, sandgrouses, pigeons, doves, cuckoos, owls, nightjars, swifts, bee-eaters, larks, warblers, flycatchers, wheatears, wagtails, pipits, buntings, and sparrows.

Dust storms

Dust storms happen often over dry regions, especially deserts. Usually, tiny grains of sand carried by the wind return to the ground in a matter of hours. But the really tiny ones can remain in the air for a very long time and even be carried thousands of kilometres away through the wind. And that is what happens at the Sahara every year. The dust storms carry minute sand particles as far as the Caribbean, the U.S. and the Amazon region. It can lead to haze, affect the climate, and cause several health issues to humans - from skin problems to asthma. But the dust storm is not without its benefits either. The tiny particles of sand are loaded with nutrients that feed the Amazon. Loaded with phosphorus, potassium, and calcium, the particles fertilise the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems there.

Did you know?

• Expectedly, climate change is one of the worst threats facing the Sahara. Though it has a harsh terrain and seems inhospitable, the desert has a very fragile ecosystem. Which means, even a slight change-say, an unusual amount of rain during just one season - can drastically alter and affect the balance in the region. This change in the environment would affect the wildlife too.


• The region has the ideal conditions to generate solar energy. "Each square metre receives, on average, between 2.000 and 3.000 kilowatt hours of solar energy per year, according to NASA estimates." According to Forbes, "We could power the entire world by harnessing solar energy from 1% of The Sahara". And, Morocco has gotten on with it, thanks to the Noor Complex Solar Power Plant set up in the region. But the question is, is it viable? One of the disadvantages of having solar panels in a place as hot as the Sahara is that when the panels get too hot, their efficiency drops. Only time will tell how feasible this project is.


• Within the Sahara, the number of domestic animals around waterholes is high. During years with good rainfall, the number of livestock increases. Which means, these animals could deplete water and wild vegetation varieties and deny the wild animals a chance at survival.


• Among a number of human activities that threaten the Sahara are development projects and the cutting down of whatever little green cover is present for firewood. This affects perennial vegetation, alters the ecosystem, and eventually increases the area of barren land.

 

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Extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Andes mountains in the west the Amazon rainforest runs through eight countries in South America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, and Suriname. It is the world's largest rainforest, spanning over five million sq.km., and covering almost half of the continent. Considered one of the most biodiverse places in the world, the rainforest is home to millions of species of animals, birds, insects, and plants, and also to a large number of tribes. The rainforest has a structured layer of trees growing towards the sun, soaring over 100 feet, and below them, two or three levels of shade-dependent trees, all thriving harmoniously and welcoming a variety of wildlife. In addition to the rainforest, the Amazon Basin offers a range of ecosystems such as floodplain forests, savannahs and rivers. A large part of these forests is drained by the Amazon River Small wonder the rainforest is often referred to as the Earth's lungs!

Wildlife

Due to varied ecosystems, most of them nurtured by the rivers, the region teems with wildlife. But the presence of large land-dwelling mammals is relatively less (though now rare, one of the most noted big cats here is the jaguar). As if to make up for this, the number of tree-dwelling species is high, and includes a large number of bats, sloths, marmosets, tamarins, and other monkey species. Tapirs, deer, and water buffalo, and rodents such as porcupine, squirrels, and rats have made the region their home. The reptile varieties found here include iguanas and boas, the most noted being anacondas, the largest living snakes. Over 2.500 species of fish, including cat fish and piranhas, are found in the area, in addition to the more than 8,000 species of insects from ants, flies, wasps, and bees to scorpions, spiders, bugs, butterflies, and cicadas. Alligators, turtles, manatees, dolphins can be seen in the area's waters. The variety of birds found in the region is also high, and includes water birds such as herons, cormorants, spoonbills, and ibises. The forest also nurtures different types of eagles, hawks, woodpeckers, kingfishers, parakeets, macaws, toucans, quails, tinamous, and nightjars, among others.

Threats

Forest fires in the region do happen fairly regularly. However, over the last few years, the area it covers and the intensity with which it happens has been a cause of deep concern, and has been getting global attention. While forest fire is a natural phenomenon, there has been much speculation that in many instances if they were human-made, as part of deforestation, another grave concern in the region. Especially in Brazil, where the Amazon has its widest cover, deforestation has been growing at an alarming rate over the last few years. And, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the region, deforestation just got worse. According to a BBC report, "Deforestation jumped 55% in the first four months of 2020 compared with the same period last year, as people have taken advantage of the crisis to carry out illegal clearances." In addition, logging and illegal mining too have been on the rise, and scientists warn that at such a rate, the region could hit a point of no return. Meaning, at some point in the near future, the world's largest rainforest may no longer function the way it has been doing all along.

 

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Covering an area of nearly six lakh sq.km., and spanning many regions, including India. Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet, the Himalayas is one of the youngest mountain ranges in the world. Home to the world’s highest peak Mount Everest, it hosts several other high peaks too. Due to the different altitudes and climatic conditions within the vast expanse of the region, the vegetation is varied too. It spans everything from deciduous forests and alpine forests to meadows and scrubland. Many rivers and glaciers in the Himalayas too have a major influence in the shaping of the landscape.

Wildlife

The diversity in the flora of the Himalayas also means it nurtures a wide variety of birds, animals, reptiles, and amphibians. Red panda, snow leopard, clouded leopard, Himalayan tahr, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan marmot, Himalayan yak, and langur, are among the animals that can be spotted in the region. Birds that can be found here include bulbuls, barbets, finches, kingfishers, flycatchers, buntings, cuckoos, thrushes, owls, pigeons, flowerpeckers, quails, woodpeckers, warblers, tits, larks and eagles. The Himalayan monal is one of the most colourful birds of the region.

Lifeline

The Himalayas has been closely tied to the lives of people in Asia, and the mountain range is revered in several cultures. It is home to millions of people, and supports the livelihood of many more. Due to the altitude and location, the region plays an important role in the climate of many countries, including India. Several important rivers such as the Indus, the Ganges, and the Brahmaputra originate in the Himalayas. Melting snow, glaciers, and rainfall feed many of these perennial rivers, taking care of the water needs of millions of people across many countries. These rivers leave their nutrient-rich deposits as they flow, giving rise to fertile soil - just perfect for cultivation - across many regions. The forests of the mountain range not just host many types of wildlife but also ably support the growth of medicinal plants and timber, offer grazing grounds for cattle, in addition to several forest produce. The Himalayas is also an important place for tourists and pilgrims.

Threats

Climate change: Even though some of the areas in the Himalayas are remote, they are being affected by climate change too. Cold temperatures in most regions in the range have warmed up faster than in many parts of the world. As a result, glaciers and permafrost are melting faster. Even weather patterns have fluctuated wildly, triggering more natural disasters. This could mean dry spells, especially when farmers need water or unprecedented floods. These events affect landscapes, livelihoods, and lives too.

Human presence: While mountaineering can boost tourism in any country, it can bring with it several disadvantages too. Mount Everest in Nepal is a classic example of this. Already hit by climate change the peak is packed with mountaineers during the climbing season. Which means there's mounds of rubbish and garbage strewn around the place. Oxygen cylinders, cans, tom tents and ropes, and human waste make a bulk of the rubbish. Sadly, due to the expenses that could be incurred, sometimes the bodies of some dead climbers are left behind too. While there have been many calls to control the number of people climbing it and what they leave behind a lasting and concrete solution to the problem has remained elusive.

Territorial disputes: Since the mountain range spans many countries, "territorial disputes" can affect ongoing projects that study the region. Among these are international collaborations on research related to climate change in the mountain range. Diplomacy issues can last for a short period or extend into years, and both do affect precious work taken up to analyse the region.

 

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Snow leopards are found in several Asian countries such as Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, Nepal, Tajikistan, Mongolia, etc. This elusive cat species is found in India too. One of the best places to spot them is the Hemis National Park in the Ladakh region. Spanning an area of about 600 sq.km., it is said to house about 200 of these big cats. States such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh too are home to snow leopards. However, the number of these camivores and the chances of sighting them are believed to be higher in Hemis National Park than in other places, In all, over 450 snow leopards call the country home.

 

Snow leopard facts

• Snow leopards occur predominantly in the Himalayan mountain range and Tibetan plateau. Though they are usually found in mountainous regions if there are plains in their habitats, they seem to prefer rugged terrains within these areas. They are found at altitudes about 9,000 to over 15.000 feet. They prefer rocky outcrops because they help with camouflage when they hunt for prey.


• In India, they normally feed on Tibetan sheep and the blue sheep (bharal). These omnivores would also feed on smaller mammals and birds, in addition to livestock where the cat's habitat is interspersed with that of the humans.


• In 2017, the international Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) downlisted the snow leopard from "endangered" to vulnerable on its red list of threatened species, since the overall conservation situation" for snow leopards has been improving over the last decade.


• Snow leopard is the State animal of Himachal Pradesh.

Threats

According to report by the IUCN in 2020, about 7.500 snow leopards live in the wild globally today. However, they seem to facing the threat of extinction due to several factors such as habitat loss, poaching, hunting, and the impacts of climate change. They continue to be illegally traded for their body parts such as fur, bones, meat, etc. Retaliatory killings by people whose livestock has been killed by these cats too happen. In addition, due to the hunting of the cat's prey such as mountain sheep and goat, these herbivores population is dwindling, in effect, affecting the big cats too. Infrastructure development and human activity in the traditional habitats of these leopards is leading to degradation. As global warming continues, it melts ice in the regions these leopards roam, effectively shrinking the areas they live in.

Some good news!

While globally and in parts of India there's concern about the species facing decline in population, this month has brought in some news to cheer about. According to media reports, the "scientific” study conducted on snow leopards show that their numbers have been increasing in Himachal Pradesh. From the earlier estimates in 60s, the number today stands in 70s, excluding the cubs.

 

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The Manipur brow-antlered deer (Racervus eldii eldii) is locally known as sangai. It is a sub-species of the Eld's deer found in Asia. Though Eld's deer are found in other parts of the world too, sangai is found only in Manipur listed as endangered in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, its habitat in Manipur is the Keibul Lamjao National park Covering an area of about 40 sq. km. the Park is located on one end of the Loktak Lake The animals have adapted themselves to a life on floating meadows - called phumdis in the Lake. Interestingly, sangai is also called the dancing deer because of the way it delicately hops between the phumdis. Not surprisingly, it is the State animal of Manipur.

Sangai facts

• A medium-sized animal, the brow-antlered deer gets its name from its antlers that seemingly emerge from its eyebrows. The mammal has a small tail, and a dark reddish brown coat in winter, the coat gets lighter in summer.


• The deer's habitat varies from scrubland and grassland to dry forests and marshland, depending on the country they're found in. In India, however, these animals inhabit the regions in and around the Loktak Lake.


• When there's flooding, apparently, the deer population leaves the phumdis and moves to the hillocks nearby


• The un-submerged area of the Park has tall grasses and shrubs, some of which are food for sangai.

Threats

In the mid-20th Century, sangai was on the brink of extinction. However, a few individuals were spotted, and thanks to conservation efforts, their numbers today are said to be over a 100, at least. While this is a comforting story, the mammal continues to face several challenges. Foremost is the water pollution in the region. As the water in the Lake gets more and more polluted, the quality and thickness of the phumdis are affected. When phumdis get thinner it becomes difficult for the sangai deer to move from one place to another. In fact, it is said that the total area of the phumdis has been decreasing over the decades. A recent study has said that agriculture practices and newer human settlements in the region too are a threat to phumdis. According to media reports as recent as 2020, "unchecked growth of two perennial aquatic weeds - water hyacinth and para grass in the famous fresh water lake of Loktak in Moirang in Manipur is posing a major threat to sangai The increasing abundance of these weeds has reduced space for indigenous plants the sangai feeds on. For a subspecies already plagued by limited space and numbers, the possibility of in-breeding, and infection due to livestock, such challenges make them even more vulnerable. This could drive them toward extinction all over again, undoing decades of conservation effort.

 

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Populations in India

India is one of the few places in the world to spot the Swamp deer or barasingha in the wild Our country hosts three subspecies of the barasingha - the eastern, wetland and hard-ground barasingha They are found in three geographically distinct regions - while the eastern barasingha roams the Brahmaputra plain the wetland species spans the Indo-Gangetic plain, and the hand ground barasingha is found in central India. Among the most important places to spot them are the Kanha Tiger Reserve (hard-ground) in Maulija Pradesh and the Kaziranga National Park (eastern) in Assam in 2005, a population of over 300 wetland swamp deer was re-discovered at Jhilmil heel Conservation Reserve in Uttarakhand.

Threats

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it is likely that barasingha always had a patchy distribution, reflecting the available suitable habitat and so always had faced the threat of local extinction. But what has added to this problem is the conversion of its habitat to agricultural land. This has forced them into small and isolated fragments. When animals are grouped and isolated thus it increases the chance of disease transmission in-breeding and localised extinction. Another form of threat is hunting - they are killed for their meat and hide. It cannot be stressed enough how invasive species, loss of food and extreme weather events too threaten an already vulnerable species.

There's good news!

While the IUCN has listed that the population of barnsingha has generally been seeing a decline, there's some good news on this front from Madhya Pradesh. The number of hand ground swamp deer (Recensis duvauceli) found in Kanha has increased. According to reports in 2020, the number stands at 500 (it was nearly 450 in 2015), This is highly encouraging considering the species was close to extinction only a few decades ago. The increasing population said to be the is result of successful breeding programmes and conservation practices at Kanha. The methods included habitat improvement and captive breeding.

Barasingha facts

• Swamp deer or barasingha has been classified vunerable by the IUCN.


• The animals were spread from Pakistan and India to Nepal and Bangladesh in the 20th Century. Unfortunately, today they are found only in India and Nepal, and have gone extinct in Pakistan and Bangladesh. IUCN states that its presence is uncertain in Bhutan.


• While the hard-ground barasingha occupy sal forests and are grazers, the other two subspecies are adapted to swampy areas and feed also on aquatic plants.


• The three subspecies shed their antlers at different times during a year - the wetland species by mid-January, the hard-ground by late April, and the eastern by early October.


• Barasingha is the State animal of Madhya Pradesh. In 2017, Kanha became the first tiger reserve in India to officially introduce mascot (named Bhoorsingh), which was a barasingha.

 

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The coast of Odisha welcomes female olive ridleys in several thousands every year. It is said that the female returns to nest in the same place it was born in. Among the most important mass nesting sites in Odisha are the mouth of the Rushikulya river and the Devi river, and Gahirmatha Turtle Sanctuary. During arribada - mass nesting - female turtles arrive from the ocean to the beaches and lay an average of 100 eggs each, taking the final tally to a few lakh eggs. Though not as mass nesting sites, coastal regions of States such as Maharashtra, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala too host olive ridley turtles for sporadic nesting,

An unusual phenomenon

The breeding season of the olive ridley turtle is between November and May, In Rushikulya, mass nesting normally happens between February and March. However, the year 2020 turned out to be slightly unusual for two reasons - one, the nesting began only in the third week of March (delayed due to torrential rains in the region), and two day- nesting was witnessed. Olive ridley turtles usually lay their eggs only at night. Officials say that the last time day nesting happened was in 2013. Since the period coincided with the national lockdown imposed due to COVID-19, one does wonder if the day-nesting occurred due to human absence. However, experts deny there's any connection between the lockdown and the day nesting. In fact, it is said that mass nesting is influenced by factors such as tidal conditions, wind direction and lunar phase rather than human presence. That human absence did not in any way influence the turtles' nesting behaviour becomes more credible by the fact that while the 2020 season saw the arrival of more than 3.00,000 olive ridleys, in 2019. the turtles completely skipped Rushikulya, and the year before that they actually nested twice (in February and April)! But what the lockdown did do was to help authorities allow more personnel to improve care for turtles rather than towards monitoring humans who visited the beaches.

Threats

Despite only one in a thousand reaching adulthood, the olive ridley turtle is the most abundant in the world. However, it has been listed "Vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and its numbers are said to be declining. Accidental injury and death caused when trapped in fishing nets has been of great concern. Though Turtle Excluder Devices have helped control this to a certain extent such injuries and deaths continue. Though measures are in place to protect them, the turtles are killed for meat and their eggs are consumed. When unprotected, eggs and newborns are consumed by birds and stray animals on the beach. Among the greatest threats to the eggs is sea erosion. There have been instances of even a few lakh eggs being lost to high tide. Sea erosion destroys certain sandy stretches that the turtles use for mass nesting. When the stretches disappear, the turtles lay their eggs on sand bars formed by erosion. These sand bars - and along with them, the eggs - are washed away by high tide.

Olive ridley facts

• Olive ridley turtles get their name from the greenish colour of their skin and shell.


• They are the most abundant turtles in the world.


• They are found in warmer waters of the Southern Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.


• They weigh up to 50 kg and are about two feet long.


• These turtles feed mostly on jellyfish, shrimp, snails, crabs, and fish and their eggs. They occasionally eat algae and seaweed as well.


• However, only one hatchling in a thousand makes it to adulthood.


•  

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So far as natural habitats o, Manas is unusual - it is a wildlife sanctuary national park biosphere hotspot a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Project Tiger and Project Elephant reserve. Located in Assam. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is spread across 390 sq.km. The sanctuary is contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park of neighbouring country Bhutan. Located on Himalayan foothills, the sanctuary is fed both by monsoon rains and the Manas River it spans. The fertile Manas region is marked by riverine tracts rigged mountains, forested hills, tropical evergreen forests, mixed moist and dry deciduous forests and alluvial grasslands it nurtures about 60 mammal species over 40 reptile species and 500 species of birds. These include many globally threatened species too.

The danger tag

Pride of Assam, the Manas Wild Sanctuary became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985. But that joy was to be short lived in only seven years (1992), the sanctuary was places in the “danger” list by UNESCO due to several reasons budding poaching, general infrastructure degradation and the ethnic strife that dominated the region. And that tag was not easy to shake. It took several years of concerted effort from local activists and the government to in prove the conditions in the sanctuary Thong did take a while, the efforts eventually did pay off - in 2011, the region was struck off the danger let. Sadly a study in 2018 showed that Manas was one of the over 100 UNESCO World Heritage sites severely damaged by human activity The study also showed it had the most intense increase in human pressure.

Wildlife

Apart from the tiger and the Asian elephant the sanctuary hosts the greater one-horned rhino, swamp deer, pygmy hog, hispid hare, golden langur, clouded leopard, Assam roofed turtle, sloth bear and wild water buffalo. The bird species found here include pochards, francolins, nightjar, coucals, crakes, thickknees, plovers, jacanas, sandpipers, buttonquails, kites, buzzards, eagles, vultures, harriers, hornbills, woodpeckers, barbet, bee-eaters, kestrels, falconets, falcons, parakeets, pipits, buntings, tits, martins, starlings, garganey, mallards, common teals, little grebes, Bengal floricans and greater Adjutants. In addition Manas displays high plant diversity with at least 80 tree species 45 shrubs 35 under 170 herbs and 35 climbers. Among these, the many varieties of orchids ferns and grasses make for vital forage for the hooved mammals roaming the region

Threat

After poaching one of the main areas of concerns about the region has been invasive species. This is not an animal but two plant varieties from South America According to a 2019 study conducted by four researchers. the impact of the plant species Chromolaena odorata and Mikania micrantha - cannot be ignore The study says they are found in the Terai grasslands of the region and have been growing and expanding at an alarming rate over the years of these species continue to grow at the current rate the study said that over 15 of the total Manas area and 30 of the areca nuts are likely to come under the invasion This would mean significant reduction in the habitats of animals such as the Asiatic wild buffalo, one horned rhino, swamp deer and hog deer, and the eventual decline in their population.

 

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Colourful carpets

The undulating terrain of Eravikulam is marked by rolling grasslands, hillocks and shola forests. It is dominated by a stunning range of balsams and orchids. The region is also one of the best places to catch the neelakurinji in all its glory. A plant endemic to the Western Ghats the neelakurinji blooms once every 12 years to cover the region in carpets of a purplish blue pink colour. The most recent blooming of this flower happened here in 2018. Considered one of the rarest flowers due to its limited flowering window, the neelakurinji is said to have neither any fragrance nor medicinal value.

Bloom in doom?

Scientifically called Strobilanthes kunthianus, the neelakurinji was first documented in 1838, and has bloomed as many as 16 times since. They were once abundant. But now, just like the Nilgiri tahr, they have disappeared from much of their earlier range on the Western Ghats. At the heart of this problem is loss of habitat. Hilly grasslands are the homes of these plants. But according to the National Geographic "plantations of eucalyptus and acacia. Agriculture, and most recently, tourism have "stripped the grasslands in which kurinji grows. A study from 2018 "looked at satellite imagery in one part of the Western Ghats from the past 40 years and found that grasslands shrank 66 percent. It also showed that as grasslands decreased so did timber plantations increase.

With global warming and climate change already altering or destroying habitats and their inhabitants, additional human-induced destruction, deforestation and development activities around ecologically fragile and significant areas only add to existing problems.

Located in the Idukki district of Kerala and covering an area of nearly 100 sq.km., the Eravikulam National Park got its status in 1978 for its ecological faunal, geomorphological and zoological significance". Overlooking the Park is Anamudi, one of south India's highest peaks. Interspersed with grasslands and sholas, the region receives ample rainfall during the monsoons, making it an ideal habitat for wildlife. The Park is also synonymous with the endangered Nilgiri tahr and the blooming of the neelakurinji.

Bad news

Though the State animal of Tamil Nadu, the largest population of Nilgiri tahr is now found in neighbouring State Kerala's Eravikulam National Park. While these ungulates were once spread across several regions of the Western Ghats, today they are found only in a few fragmented areas of these two States. And there's more bad news for this population climate change. A study in 2018 analysed as many as 10 tahr habitats and different climate scenarios for three time periods - 2030s, 2050s and 2080s. The peer reviewed study published in the journal "Ecological Engineering" conducted there would be a drastic loss of tahr habitat in all three scenarios - a maximum of more than 60% in each time period. While population in areas such as Eravikulam may not face great threats, the concerns are more for the smaller and isolated populations in other areas.

...and some good news!

As the nation was braving the COVID-induced lockdown in April, there was some encouraging news coming in from Eravikulam. A survey held by the Forest Department that month showed that the number of Nilgiri tahr in the region had increased by 155 - newborns! With that the total count of the ungulates stood at 723. Around the same time last year, the numbers were 526 (with 91 newborns). Newspaper reports attribute the increase in newborns to the decline in human interference in forest areas". It's the mating season for the stars now, and with no human interference still the numbers of newborns are expected to go up in the next season too.

 

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Part of Project Tiger, both Pench and Kanha are national parks located in Madhya Pradesh. Apart of Pench extends into neighbouring Maharashtra. Together they span over 2,500 sq.km., dominated by moist peninsular sal forests, tropical moist mixed deciduous mixed forest, an abundance of bamboo and trees such as teak and jamun, and green carpets of grassy patches and shrub. The combined regions teem with wildlife – they are a haven for over 1,000 species of plants, animals, and at least 300 species of resident and migrant birds.

Wildlife

A large number of bird species, including ducks, geese, shelducks, pochards, quails, grebes, nightjars, swifts, crakes, storks, herons, ibises, thickknees, plovers, lapwings, jacanas, sandpipers, redshanks, buttonquails, vultures, buzzards, harriers, hornbills, falcons, parakeets, minivets, orioles, cuckooshrikes, pipits, wagtails, buntings, prinias, nuthatches, starlings, flycatchers, thrushes, and wheatears, can be spotted here. Apart from their impressive population of tigers, the regions also nurture leopards, barasingha, mouse deer, barking deer, chital, sambar, bear, black buck, blue bull, chousingha (four-horned antelope), langur, etc.

Kanha: Room for improvement

Considered one of the better managed national parks, Kanha does have a lot of room for improvement. According to a study by the Indian Institute of Forest Management in 2019, one of the areas that need attention is the inadequate number of guards at night, as it opens up potential for poaching. In addition, there appears to be a need for wider and higher use of technology in monitoring the forest areas of the park. It is also said that some regions of the park lack proper fencing, which again unwittingly aids in poaching. It is noted for its work on tigers and the swamp deer species called barasingha. However, there are a lot of other species too that call the forests their home. The study says that other vulnerable species such as black buck and mouse deer need more attention too, and this can be done since the park has the means to do it. Finally, since there are a lot of villagers surrounding the park, human-animal conflicts do occur. Efforts must be taken to resolve this, though usually villagers seem kinder to carnivores attacking their livestock than to herbivores destroying their crops.

Pench: The problem of plenty

In Pench, the very forests that inspired the classic “Jungle Book”, the good news is the bad news. A few years ago, there were reports that pointed to an increase in the tiger population at Pench. While this was heartening news, it also meant that the exact same area (or even less!) will be shared by more number of tigers, animals known for their territorial integrity. This is a problem because the Pench forests are not contiguous with its neighbouring region Kanha where the tigers could move into. In the face of severe space crunch, animals could end up killing each other in territorial fights, stray into human habitation leading to human-animal conflict or the animal could fall into the hands of poachers. Also, the management of Pench is complicated by the fact that it is spread across two States. Each State is said to be functioning differently, though it is just one contiguous forest. Remember, humans create boundaries, not Nature? For instance, when issues such as poaching or human-animal conflict come up, the system to resolve these could be complex due to the issue of boundary and State-based action.

 

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A mosaic of lakes and islands of mangroves, evergreen scrub and thorn forest, the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is spread over 30 hectares. Located 75 km away from Tamil Nadu’s capital Chennai, it is considered the oldest water bird sanctuary in the country. In addition to the fish in the lakes, paddy fields nearby too feed some of the bird species.

Every year, between November and June, several migratory birds, including some from as far as Europe, visit the sanctuary. Each season, at least 20,000 birds visit the sanctuary, only to usually leave in far greater numbers, accompanied by their offspring at the end of the season. However, monsoon failure in the region does affect the number of avian visitors. For instance, in 2013 and 2014, their numbers dwindled to just a few thousands after a disappointing monsoon. But, following a good monsoon in 2015, the number of birds increased drastically to several thousands.

The sanctuary hosts resident and migratory birds such as painted stork, Asian open bill, Eurasian spoonbill, glossy ibis, black-crowned night heron, Indian pond heron, grey heron, spot-billed pelican, little cormorant, great cormorant, oriental darter, black-winged stilt, red-wattled lapwing, pied kingsher, oriental white ibis, spot-billed duck, purple moorhen, coot, garganey, among others.

A considerate village

The sanctuary is named after the village it is located in. in 2018, a news report suggested that the villagers of Vedanthangla, by and large, had not burst firecrackers for close to five decades during Deepavali. And the reason is deeply linked to the birds. This festival of lights invariably falls during the time the birds begin arriving at the sanctuary, say during October or November. The villagers – across age groups – embraced this practice in deference to the birds’ safety. However, 2018 was a year when the lake had almost dried up, and the number of birds at the sanctuary had fallen to just a few hundred as against the usual several thousands. And that year, a few kids did burst firecrackers for Deepvali! Apparently, some of the adults still could not being themselves to, and many prayed for monsoon rains to save the lake and help the birds.

Meanwhile, the threat…

A study from July 2020 discovered the both ground and surface water downstream of a pharmaceuticals factory inside the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary “are polluted with industrial solvents, which can cause adverse health diseases for both humans and birds”. As many as four common industrial solvents used in pharmaceuticals manufacturing were detected in the water samples studied. The findings of the study point to a ground reality that differs from what the State’s pollution control board and the factory have been claiming – that it “is a zero liquid discharge facility”. The study came about around the time the Forest Department had proposed to “denotify the outer 2 km of the core zone of the bird sanctuary”. That proposal, allegedly aimed at helping the offending pharma company, caused collective outrage among people from several walks of life, including environmentalists.

 

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A major coral reef area of India, the Gulf of Mannar comprises as many as 21 islands and spans an area of 10,500 sq.km. This large shallow bay lies between the southeastern tip of India and the west coast of Sri Lanka. In addition to the coral reefs, this marine ecosystem includes salt marshes, algae communities, mangroves, and sea grasses too. One of the world’s richest regions of marine biodiversity, it faces threats such as climate change, pollution, coastal development, coral mining and mechanised fishing.

A marine biosphere reserve, this region houses over 1,100 species of fish, 800 species of molluscs, 150 species of anthropods, five species of turtles, over 10 species of snakes, and seven types of marine mammals. The marine creatures include starfish, crabs, sharks, seahorses, barracudas, dolphins, sea turtles such as olive ridleys and green turtles, whales, dugongs, sea cucumbers and otters. In addition to these, a variety of birds such as seagulls, plovers, curlews, and terns too can be spotted in the region.

Algal bloom concerns

In September 2019, the Reef Research Team of the Suganthi Devadasan Marine Research Institute reported that algal bloom had killed more than 180 coral reef colonies in Shingle Island located within the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park. The death of the corals came to light after the fisherfolk in Ramanathapuram (located near the Gulf of Mannar) witnessed the sea water having turned green and the death of fish in thousands. Scientists from the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) confirmed that the algae Noctiluca scintillans had bloomed. However, it was found that the nearby island of Krusadai was not impacted by the algal bloom. While climate change causes algal bloom, affecting corals and creatures such as fish, there was speculation if this incident was caused by ballast water. Ballast water is the water used in ships, especially cargo ships when they are empty, to help them with stability. This water carries several types of organisms. When the water is emptied into a region different from where it was collected, the organisms in it could cause negative ecological impacts on their habitat.

And some good news!

While COVID-19 has cost livelihoods and lives, and changed lifestyles globally, the pandemic is not without a few positives. The lockdown has had an especially positive impact in the context of ecology. And that is evident on the coastal ecosystems of the Gulf of Mannar along Thoothukudi district, according to newspaper reports. While collecting data for a State government project, the Suganthi Devadasan Marine Research Institute inThoothukudi conducted a study between May 25 and June 2 and discovered “a remarkable reduction” in the macro and meso-plastic pollution levels in many coastal locations in the region. The study also showed an “increase in the number of species of coral reef fishes from 89 in February to 96 in May”, at the Thoothukudi group of islands of Gulf of Mannar. It is said that fish normally migrated in the summer due to high population showed a spike, “thanks to less human disturbance during the lockdown period”.

 

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One of the very few places in the world for spotting lions in the wild, the Gir forest is home to the largest number of wild Asiatic lions. Located in southern Gujarat, the region was first declared a reserve forest, and eventually granted the status of a sanctuary in 1965. The Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is a dry scrubland spanning 1,400 sq.km. Around half of the forested area of the park is teak. The other half mostly has broad leaf and evergreen trees. The entire region is covered with dry deciduous forests, acacia scrub and grassland, and fed by rivers and reservoirs. Dominated by vegetation ideal for fauna, it is no surprise that over 250 species of birds are found in and around the area. This includes a whole variety from teals, kingfishers, nightjars and swifts to eagles, vultures, harriers, ibises and the oriental white-eye. While the lion is the most popular inhabitant of the Gir forest, the region also hosts the leopard, hyena, wild boar, spotted deer, nilgai, jackal, jungle cat, honey badger, porcupine etc. and reptiles such as Indian cobra and the marsh crocodile.

An unusual journey

The last time a tiger roamed Gujarat’s forest was in 1992. However, that changed in February 2019 when a school teacher saw a tiger crossing a road and took a photo on a phone. Having a big cat back in Gujarat was a huge moment of ecological victory. While the image went viral, the forest department got into action – camera traps were set up. Within a week, the tiger was spotted again; it was a young male. The same one that had started its journey from Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary in neighbouring State Madhya Pradesh back in 2017. When it reached Gujarat, it had travelled about 300 km, one of the longest journeys for tiger. The hope was that the tiger could eventually reach Gir forest, where it would settle in a conductive environment full of prey. However, the tiger died within weeks – of starvation. When it roamed the forests in Gujarat, the State became the only one to host the lion, the tiger and the leopard. That joy turned out to be short-lived. However, the tiger also left behind hope that someday someone else from his species would follow him and perhaps ensure that the joy lasts forever.

Lion deaths

On June 10, 2020 Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that “Population of the majestic Asiatic Lion, living in Gujarat’s Gir forest, is up by almost 29% Geographically, distribution area is up by 36%.” While this was comforting news, a report released by the government around the same time wasn’t. it said that as many as 92 lions had died in Gujarat’s Asiatic Lion Landscape (ALL) since January 2020. ALL includes Gir National Park and Sanctuary, among a few other regions. These numbers are worrying, especially due to the canine distemper virus (CDV) outbreak that occurred in 2018. The virus infection had claimed the lives of more than 20 lions in Gir forest division in a matter of weeks. While the 92 lions “reportedly died of unnatural causes” this year, the State government has denied the presence of CDV.

 

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Spanning two countries and spread over 2,00,000 sq.km., it is no surprise that Thar Desert is one of the largest deserts in the world. While easily much more than three-fourths of the desert spans four States in India – Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana.

However, despite its dry conditions and low rainfall, it hosts a large number of people, and a variety of flora and fauna. In fact, it is said that about 40% of the people in Rajasthan call the region home. The scrub, water-resistant trees and sparse grasslands support a variety of fauna.

Wildlife

At least 300 species of resident and migratory birds can be found here. Among them are the critically endangered great Indian bustard and lesser florican. Raptors include critically endangered red-headed vulture, white-rumped vulture and Indian vulture. Blackbuck, chinkara, Indian wild ass, desert fox, sloth bear, wild cat, several species of reptiles such as snakes and lizards, and insects such as beetles too can be spotted here.

Desertification

Desertification refers to the gradual degradation of dryland ecosystems caused due to soil and vegetation loss, resulting in more areas turning into dry regions. This happens due to continuous human activity such as agriculture, overgrazing, deforestation etc., and change in climate. This phenomenon is being observed globally, and it is no different in Thar Desert. A changing landscape with diminishing vegetation affects the various birds and animals too dependent on the region for survival. The Central Arid Zone Research Institute studied various aspects of desertification, including wind erosion/deposition, vegetation degradation etc. in the Thar Desert, especially in Rajasthan. The report released by the Institute in 2019 said that the damage is so severe that it could take a long while for the landscape to recover.

Two sides to locust attack

The Thar Desert was in the news a few months ago for locust invasion in the region. Considered one of the worst in decades, the attacks were reported from a few other neigbouring regions too, and the locusts made short work of the crop farmers had raised over several acres. The farmers were advised to spray pesticides on the crops to keep these hungry locusts at bay. This was of concern because while the insecticide killed the locusts, it could harm birds and other creatures eating locusts that die thus.

Meanwhile, it was lucky time for birds and animals that could feast on locusts while they were still alive and untouched by the pesticide. Locusts are said to be rich in protein. Apparently, several creatures in the wild – from the great Indian bustard to lizards, foxes, desert cats, jackals and wolves 0 had hearty and nutritious meals, thanks to the invasion. In fact, it is said that the insects helped increase reproduction rates in the bustards under the captive breeding programme.

 

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