'NATURALLY YOURS'
Photo Courtesy: Kopal Khanna, St. Stephen's College, Delhi
Saturday 28 April 2012
EDITORIAL
“And this, our life, exempt
from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons
in stones, and good in everything.”
- William Shakespeare
- William Shakespeare
Dear friends,
Very soon, we would not even be
in a position to appreciate the value of the quotation. Trapped in a concrete
jungle, we would only muse about what was, but by then, it would be too late to
reverse the process.
Nature has always been an
elixir to mankind, presenting itself to be a safe refuge, a breathing space
since time immemorial. But today, it stands on the verge of destruction with
its wonderful treasure trove of vegetation and wildlife on the brink of extinction.
Men had turned a deaf ear to their silent scream, mindlessly exploiting its
resources since ages; ungrateful and remorseless for his actions, waking up
only when it threatened their own survival, in the face of rising sea level,
global warming and water shortages.
It is high time we pay attention
to problems threatening the survival of the earth, and even though erasing the
harm already done is impossible, we can do our bit to prevent it from further
damage. The widespread felling of trees for paper production has motivated us into adopting this 'green' approach towards our journal. We are much obliged to all the
people who have helped put the journal together by contributing their valuable
thoughts and insights.
We hereby present our online journal-‘NATURALLY YOURS’, a humble attempt to spread awareness among people
and to show that, “YES, WE CARE”!!
Debdutta Sanyal Avnee Dhamija
Editor Editor-in-Chief
PRESIDENT’S
NOTE :
Another exemplary year
for the Wildlife Society has reached its closure. Only for bigger and better
things to follow!
This year saw a marked shift in the focus of the society.
While our endeavour of ‘Saving Life from Lifestyles’ is perpetual, activities
undertaken this year were primarily aimed at making positive impact on everyday
life- something as thoughtful as making gift bags from waste paper, for
instance.
Some highlights of this years society
calendar include, first of its kind Environment Week, trip to Ranathambhore
Tiger Reserve, workshop on gift bag making on campus, our annual fest,
Prakriti- which saw massive participation from students and various NGOs alike,
and continuing last year’s trend, here is a copy of our journal for you.
On a concluding note, I would heartily like
to thank the Second Year students for their hard work and sorry for the times I
shouted at you! And obviously the overenthusiastic First Year members, you know
how we couldn’t have done anything without you. And finally, thank you Dr.
Manjula Singh for your invaluable support for all our ventures.
It was a very fruitful year
for the society and I hope that this trend continues in the years to follow as
well. Here’s wishing Good Luck to everyone!!
- Shruti Sharma
President,
The Wildlife
Society.
St. Stephen's College
THE STAFF ADVISOR'S MESSAGE
THE STAFF ADVISOR’S MESSAGE :
Another event packed
year of activities to promote appreciation for nature, awareness of our
environment and the impact of human activities on it. Wildlife Society members, as always,
independently and enthusiastically planned and organized several fun-filled
events this year towards this aim despite their busy academic schedules. I want to thank the entire executive council
as well as other society members for their hard work in this endeavour.
There is a lot more to do
to make a positive difference and I hope this coming year will help us find a
solution to the leaf burning problem.
A vote of thanks also to
the editorial team for this “Naturally Yours” journal that I hope you find interesting
and informative– Enjoy!
Dr.
Manjula Singh
Staff Advisor
The Wildlife Society
St. Stephen's College
THE YEAR 2011-2012
Nature
Walk: The year started with a Nature Walk to
the Kamla Nehru Ridge on the 6th of August, 2011.Its aim was to
spread awareness among junior members about their beautiful surrounding and its
rich heritage.
Environment
Week: This year ‘The Environment Week’ is
something new that we came up with. We celebrated the entire 1st
week of September as the Environment Week which included a myriad of events
throughout seven days.
1)
Talk on Wildlife Photography: It
was a talk by Mr.Anish Andheria, Director of Sanctuary Asia and Wildlife
Conservation Trust.
2)
Treasure Hunt: It was based on the topic of Tiger Conservation.
3)
Nature Walk: To Asola Bhatti Mines with the people from Sanctuary Asia.
4)
Workshop: There was a Workshop by Mr.Rohit Prakash, founder of i-dream, an NGO,
on ‘Waste Management’.
5)
Photography Competition: Throughout the Week we had a Photography Competition
on the theme ‘Nature at its Best’.
Inventory
of Trees on Campus:
In the months of September and October, we did an Inventory List of Trees on Campus.
We found out the Botanical, family and common name of all tree on campus.
Case
Study Competition:
On the 19th of October we had a Case study competition on Cities for
Forests which also was with the motive of creating awareness among the youth.
Nature Walk:
We organized another Nature Walk to Kamla Nehru Ridge on the 20th of
October in collaboration with the WWF’s Cities for Forests Campaign.
Society
Trip: The trip to Ranathambhor National Park
Paper
Bag Making:
an unique initiative was taken to create awareness and make youngsters more
environment friendly.
Prakriti:
The much awaited annual fest, comprising of an array of events along with NGOs
adorning our lawns with their stalls of eco-friendly products and a photography
exhibition on the themes-‘Man vs. Wild’, ‘Nature’s Miracle’ and ‘Jewels of the
Wild.’
Day 1-
Began with the Inauguration Ceremony, moved on to Student Paper Presentations
and ended with the fun filled event of ‘Pictionary.’
Day 2-
Had a lot in store, ranging from Treasure Hunt, Debate, the Terra Green Quiz,
to Crossword and Wealth from Waste.
Journal:
Last, but not the least, the year would come to close with the publication of
our annual journal- ‘Naturally Yours’.
APARNA UPADHYAY
Secretary,
The
Wildlife Society
St. Stephen's College, Delhi
CALL OF THE WILD
CALL OF THE WILD - A TRIP TO
RANTHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK
The fleeting glimpse of a tiger, the relentless
chirping of birds- such musical sounds and magical sights transported us to
another world as we set foot into the Ranthambore National Park. It was 26th
January when a group of excited students from our college and the Wildlife
Society, headed by Professor Shweta Jain, set off in the spirit of adventure to
this national park in Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan. Though the morning
safaris around the park proved to be chillingly cold, a pleasant weather aided
our exploration for the rest of the day. The guide augmented the horizon of our
experience through many interesting and even minute details about the national
park. We learnt that it covered an area of approximately 392 sq. kilometers. It
was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1957 and in 1974, it acquired the
protection of ‘Project Tiger’. Its identity was established as a national park
in 1981. It is known for its tiger population and is supposed to harbour 36
tigers. Free from the unlicensed presence of vehicles and people, the tigers
were likely to be spotted during the early hours of the day. The presence of
almost 272 species of birds have been documented; it is also the home of some
other wild animals like the leopard, nilgai, dhole, wild boar, sambar, hyena,
sloth bear and chital. A wide variety of
trees, plants and reptiles adorn the park further-it is the site for one of the
largest banyan trees in India
- Diksha Kumar
St. Stephen's College, Delhi
Photo Courtesy: Arnav Behera
SNAPS OF THE WILD
Photo Courtesy: Shrey Agarwal, Indian Institute of Technology,
Photo Courtesy: Kopal Khanna, St. Stephen’s College,
DID YOU KNOW
- Switzerland
- Ethanol is one of the best tools we have to fight air pollution from vehicles. Ethanol contains 35% oxygen. Adding oxygen to fuel results in more complete fuel combustion, thus reducing harmful tailpipe emissions. Ethanol also displaces the use of toxic gasoline components such as benzene, a carcinogen. Ethanol is non-toxic, water soluble and quickly biodegradable.
- Average temperatures
have climbed 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 degree Celcius) around the world since
1880, much of this in the recent decades, according to NASA’s Goddard Institute
for Space Studies.
-
Each year, humankind adds six to eight billion tons of carbon to the atmosphere
by burning fossil fuels and destroying forest, pumping up the concentration of
greenhouse gases responsible for global warming - an effect that could raise
temperatures by three to ten degrees by the year 2050
-
There are about 500 million cars on the planet and by 2030 it is expected to
double to 1 billion cars ... It is believed that current fuel supplies peaked
in 2006.
-
Worldwide, rainforests are disappearing at a rate of one and a half football
fields per second
-
The World Health Organization estimates that 25 percent of all deaths in
the developing world are directly attributable to environmental factor. Some
researchers estimate that exposure to pollution causes 40 percent of deaths
annually.
-
Glass takes up to 4000 years to decompose in a landfill yet can be recycled
indefinitely
-
The United Nations Environment Programme estimates that there are 46,000 pieces
of plastic litter floating in every square mile of ocean
-
Greenpeace says that at least 267 marine species are known to have suffered
from getting entangled in or ingesting marine debris. Nearly 90% of that debris
is plastic.
- Flamingos are grey. They get their pink
and orange tones from the shrimp and plankton they eat.
-
The technical term for a cat’s hairball is “bezoar”.
-
The oldest known animal in the world was 'Ming' the 405 year old clam,
discovered in 2007.
-
As we all know, mice are the most tested for scientific and psychological
experiments. To one’s surprise, mice and rats are very quick learners. A recent
study in 2007 revealed that they possess metacognition (a mental knack) which
has only been documented to be present in humans and a few primates. Mice are
ideal in detecting landmines and bombs due to their optimal sense of smell.
Their sense of smell is so terrific that they can even identify human sputum
samples infected with tuberculosis.
Compiled by
- Samten Norbu Bhutia
St. Stephen's College, Delhi
FACT FILE
F A C T F I L E
- Dolphins sleep with one eye
open.
- Owls are one of the only birds
who can see the colour blue.
- Bats always turn left when
exiting a cave.
- A chameleon’s tongue is twice as
long as their body.
- Sloths take two weeks to digest
their food.
- Minnows have teeth in their
throat.
- Dalmatians are born without
spots.
- The skin colour of polar bears
is black.
- Vampire bats adopt orphans, and
are one of the few mammals known to risk their own lives to share food
with less fortunate roost-mates.
- Ducks will only lay eggs early
in the morning.
- An albatross can sleep while it
flies.
- Female lions are
better hunters than male lions and do most of the hunting for a pride.
- The most expensive cow in the
world was sold $1.3 million.
- The fingerprints of koala bears
are virtually indistinguishable from those of humans, so much so that they
could be confused at a crime scene.
- Lake Nicaragua in
TOP TEN RARE ANIMALS
TOP TEN RARE ANIMALS
Tarsiers are found only
in the islands of
The Okapi’s history reaches back
to ancient
SAO TOME
SHREW
TARSIERS
Tarsiers are found only
in the islands of Southeast Asia . When you think about the fact that they used
to live in many more regions, it sort of puts in in perspective. They mostly live in Borneo . These primates are only 4-6 inches tall, but
their hind legs are twice the length of their torso. Additionally, their eyes are each the size of
their brains. They are the only primates
who are completely carnivorous – insectivorous to be exact. They stalk bugs and jump at them. They also eat small animals like birds, bats,
lizards, and snakes. Tarsiers are
considered Critically Endangered and will likely be on that list for some
time. They are, thus far, impossible to
breed in captivity.
OKAPI
The Okapi’s history reaches back
to ancient Egypt Africa , prior to the 20th century,
there existed legends of an “African unicorn.”
Today, that animal is thought to be the Okapi. In 1887, Henry Morton Stanley reported on a
type of donkey in the Congo
The
Sao Tome Shrew is on the Critically Endangered list because not only are there
few left, their habitat is progressively declining. The population continues to decrease, making
these animals rare. Found only Sao Tome Island ,
a small island that is actually a shield volcano that rises out of the Atlantic Ocean .
These little shrews are only about 3 inches long, and have white teeth
(other than the standard yellow) and light bellies.
THE
RED WOLF
The Red Wolf is a cousin to the Gray
Wolf. The Red Wolf was actually deemed
extinct in the wild in 1980. There were,
luckily, some Red Wolves were still in captivity, twenty to be exact. Wildlife conservationists increased the
number of Red Wolves in captivity to 207, and today there are about 100 living
in the wild. A success story, yes, but
the factors that caused the Red Wolf to become so endangered are still present
today, in that their hunting ground has been severely depleted. Luckily there are wildlife preserves that
allow these wolves to live in their natural habitat, though protected from
urban sprawl.
NORTHERN HAIRY-NOSED WOMBAT
This
cute critter, considered one of the rarest large mammals in the world, is on
the Critically Endangered list. Over 39
inches long, the Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat is a shade larger than normal
wombats, and are able to breed faster, though that has not improved their
Critically Endangered status. These
vision-impaired marsupials inhabit a mere 750 acre space in Epping
Forest in
Queensland
SEYCHELLE SHEATH-TAILED BAT
This sac-winged bat
lives in the Seychelles Islands that lie north of Madagascar
JAVAN
RHINO
The Javan Rhino is one
of five living rhinoceros types, and is part of the same genus as the Indian
Rhinoceros, but they are smaller. These
Javan Rhinos were once abundant in Indonesia
and Southeast Asia , but they are now on the
Critically Endangered list with only about sixty (broken into two known
populations) in the wild. There are no
Javan Rhinos in captivity. The Vietnam
War is cited to be one of the biggest deterrents to the Javan Rhino’s
existence, in that it severely depleted its natural habitat. Some sources say that this rhino is THE
rarest large mammal in the world, unlike the Fur-Nosed wombat, who is somewhere
on the “Most Rare” list.
GOLDEN TABBY TIGER
This type of rare tiger is only found in
captivity. The coloring is a result of a
recessive gene, and sometimes the Golden Tabby is also called the Strawberry
Tiger. These types of tigers have a Bengal parentage, but generally have Amur tiger in their
lineage somewhere. This type of tiger
has been in existence as far back as the early 1900s, and their occurrence is
strangely tied to areas with a heavy concentration of clay in the soil. There are less than 30 of these tigers known
in existence.
CHINESE
RIVER DOLPHIN
Also
called the Chinese River Dolphin, the Whitefin Dolphin, and the Yangtze
Dolphin, the Baiji is NOT the Chinese White Dolphin. This rare animal has become “functionally
extinct” because of China
PINTA
ISLAND TORTOISE
The
Pinta Island Tortoise has been reduced to one known survivor – Lonesome
George. A Galapagos tortoise, George is
considered a “poster child” for the conservation efforts in the Galapagos Islands . About 100 years old, all he’s missing
is a mate. Some sources report that there is reward for someone who finds a
female mate for George. There is some
skepticism about George’s claim as the last Pinta Island Tortoise in the
world. A Prague
- Compiled by Victoria Gomes
St. Stephen's College, Delhi
EXTINCTION OF VULTURES IN INDIA
Seeing vultures flying high in the sky is already a
thing of the past in most parts of the country. Such rapid decline is
especially dangerous for slow-breeding birds like vultures, which will be slow
to recover. Worse, vultures are highly social and rely on each other to find
food, so, once they are thinly spread, the end could be swift.
Any further delay in starting efforts for
conservation will lead to extinction of these ‘natural scavengers’. The
population of Slender-billed Gyps
tenuirostris, Indian Gyps
indicus and
White-rumped Vultures Gyps.
bengalensis,
in the last 12 years, has crashed by 97% (20
million -40 million birds 12 years ago, to a figure in the low thousands now) Now these birds are classified by the World
Conservation Union as "critically
endangered"; the category most at risk of extinction in the near future. The White-rumped Vulture was probably the most common large bird
of prey in the world prior to the diclofenac crisis.
It is interesting to know, that for several
years, no one noticed the vultures were declining rapidly because the original
population was so large, but by 1995 people began to wonder what was happening.
In 1997, an alert was issued warning that the
species had declined dramatically.
How did this happen?
·
The anti-inflammatory, diclofenac,
(similar to ibuprofen), was used by cattle farmers as a popular cure-all to
treat a variety of diseases.
·
Vultures feeding on carcasses of
cows treated with the drug died of kidney failure as it was a poison for the
vultures. Moreover. , the use of this medication was “careless and casual.”
In 2006, the Indian government took the crucial
first step by ordering a halt to the production and sale of the veterinary
drug. However, Wildlife group Birdlife International
said that "researchers looking into safe alternatives have now identified
that a second livestock treatment in Asia --
ketoprofen -- is also lethal to the birds.” Conservationists are
now pushing for another drug to be used by farmers in a last-ditch effort to
save the vultures.
Scientists say that the absence of vultures
poses a threat to public health, since uneaten livestock carcasses provide
breeding grounds for bacteria. The situation might already have deteriorated to
the point of no return. Vultures are large birds, long-living and
slow-breeding, and produce an average of just one egg a year. It will take many
years for the birds to come back, if ever. It is time for action, it is time. - Unnattee Eusebius
St. Stephen's College, Delhi
ENDANGERED species
According to scientists, more than one and
one-half million species exist on the earth today. However, recent estimates
state that at least 20 times that many species inhabit the planet.
In the United States
Even though there are
more than 3,500 protected areas in existence worldwide. These areas include
parks, wildlife refuges and other reserves covering a total of nearly 2 million
square miles (5 million square km), or 3% of our total land area, there are
more than 1,000 animal species that are endangered.
Aquatic species, which are often overlooked,
are facing serious trouble. One third of the United States
Here is a short
account on how such species are dealt with.
Endangered Species Terms
VULNERABLE SPECIES - A species particularly
at risk because of low or declining numbers or small range, but not a
threatened species.
THREATENED SPECIES – a species whose
population is not yet low enough to be in immediate danger of extinction, but who
certainly faces serious problems. If the problems affecting these species
aren’t resolved, it is probable that the species will become endangered. The
eastern indigo snake and the red kangaroo are examples of threatened species.
ENDANGERED SPECIES – a specie, plant or
animal, that is in immediate danger of becoming extinct. Its numbers are
usually low, and it needs protection in order to survive. The Siberian tiger,
the southern sea otter, the snow leopard, the green pitcher plant, and
thousands of other plants and animals are endangered worldwide.
EXTINCT SPECIES – an extinct species is one
that is no longer living. The passenger pigeon, the dodo, and the Stegosaurus
are examples of extinct species. These animals no longer exist on the earth.
Listing of Endangered Species
A declining species
has to be added to the official list of endangered and threatened species
before it receives any federal protection. But just getting on the list can be
the hardest part. The Fish and Wildlife Service maintains a current list of
endangered and threatened species online.
How Does A Species Get "Listed?"
Any person may petition the government to list
a species as either endangered or threatened. An endangered species is any
species "in danger of extinction through all or a significant portion of
its range." A threatened species is any species "which is likely to
become an endangered species within the foreseeable future." The decision
to list a species is supposed to be based solely on science, not politics. The
listing process is designed to take no more than 27 months. (In some limited
circumstances an expedited or emergency listing may be given temporarily.)
What Is A Candidate Species?
Unfortunately, many
species sit on the "candidate" list for years and years owing to
adverse political pressure or funding constraints. If there is enough evidence
that the species needs to be listed, but there is inadequate funding to finish
the process, the Service usually declares the species' listing "warranted
but precluded." For example, the Florida
What Is A Candidate Conservation Agreement?
A candidate
conservation plan is supposed to help implement needed conservation measures
for declining wildlife before they need federal protection. Unfortunately, the
Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service sometimes
use candidate conservation agreements to avoid needed listings when a species
is politically controversial. There's an obvious problem with relying on
future, unenforceable promises when a species needs to be listed immediately.
The Atlantic Salmon, for example, is in dire need of federal protection, but a
voluntary conservation plan by Maine
What is a recovery
plan?
Recovery plans, as
part of the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Reovery Program, are designed to
reverse the decline of a threatened or endangered species and eventually bring
the population to a self-sustaining level. Each plan should include a
description of the species’ current situation, including any relevant
scientific data, a recovery objective (for example, a target population
number), and a list of criteria for indicating when the objective has been
achieved, an implementation schedule, including priorities of tasks and cost
estimates, an appendix identifying appropriate external reviews of the plan,
and any additional pertinent information.
A recovery plan may
include a myriad of different options including reintroduction, habitat
acquisition, captive propagation, habitat restoration and protection,
population assessments, research and technical assistance for landowners, and
public education. Unfortunately, implementation of a recovery plan is not
mandatory, so once it is finalized, the plan may just collect dust on a shelf.
Sources of Information: National Wildlife Federation, U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service
-Anjani Shankar
WAKE UP INDEAH !!
1 country, 28 states, 1618
languages, 6400 castes, 6 religions, 6 ethnic groups, 29 major festivals-INDIA.
One should be proud to be an Indian!
Which other country will have such a vast outlook? Day by day India
The changing climatic conditions are having a drastic
effect on this country and will probably make life impossible in a few thousand
or even hundred years. Scientists believe that the fluctuating weather
conditions in a country suggest that the country is reeling under climatic
chaos. For more than a decade now, the country has been experiencing
contrasting extreme weather conditions: from heat waves to cyclones, from
droughts to floods.
Taking a first look at the monsoons,
India is a country where the farmers depend on the rains, thus forcing them to
borrow money and ultimately end up committing suicide as they cannot pay up for
their loans. Other than this, changes to India 's annual monsoon are expected to result in
severe droughts and intense flooding in parts of India India India India
The temperature of the country is also increasing and affecting the health of the people. For e.g. smog and polluted air affects the respiratory systems of people and drastically affects pregnant women. Unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene as well as indoor and outdoor air pollution are all said to be killing people and preventing economic development. In addition, increasing soil pollution, pesticides, hazardous waste and chemicals in food are significantly affecting health and economies. Cancers are linked to environmental conditions, and global warming has a major impact on health. According to a report "For almost all forms of cancer, the risk of contracting this disease can be reduced if physical environments are safe for human habitation and food items are safe for consumption.” In 2000 more than 1 lakh premature deaths were attributed to various climate change impacts, according to the World Health Organization.
The 7500 Km long densely populated
coastline of India Bengal Tiger and the other animal
species. The Himalayas , the world’s tallest
mountain range, has the largest concentration of glaciers outside the polar
region. About 750 million people live in the watershed areas of the rivers
whose source are these glaciers. On the long run this melting of glaciers
affects downstream villages.
The year 1998, was the warmest year since the start of temperature
recordings some 150 years ago. Similarly, the 1990s have been the warmest
decade recorded. In addition, 1998 saw the strongest El Nino ever recorded. As
a consequence of this, very high water temperatures were observed in many parts
of the oceans, particularly in the tropical Indian Ocean, Massive mortality and bleaching occurred on
the reefs of Sri Lanka, Maldives, India, Kenya, Tanzania, and Seychelles with
mortalities of up to 90% in many shallow areas. Coral death during 1998 was
unprecedented in severity. In addition to potential decreases in fish stocks
and negative effects on tourism, erosion may become an acute problem,
particularly in the Maldives
and Seychelles Indian Ocean , as well as in
other parts of the tropical oceans in coming years. Climatic changes even affect the interiors of the earth leading to
earthquakes which are indeed very disastrous like the tsunami in 2004 and the earthquake
that rocked Gujarat in 2001. There was immense
loss of life and have left many people homeless even up to now.
As the result of climatic
changes the economy of the country is also drastically affected leading to
losses in millions. In terms of percentage reductions in gross domestic product, India and Africa together are expected to lose
about 10 times more from climate change than countries like USA and China India India
The
level at which the green house gases are increasing in the atmosphere is also
very dangerous. From the angle of contribution to climate
change, India figures among
the top 10 countries of the world with the highest greenhouse gas emissions,
with the total CO2 emissions from India India
Its time people open up their eyes and become aware of what is happening to
our country. The government should pass laws taking strict action against
people who pollute the environment. They should be strictly dealt with. The
“Polluter Pays” axiom should be started so that the polluters make sure they
cough up the money for the damages caused and also help in cleaning up the
environment. People should try their best to limit pollution by using resources
judiciously. Just like Newton
said “To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction”, any
climatic change in India
- Parnika Praleya
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