Eggs found in drain, 5 monitorlizards brought to life in a box
Municipal workers cleaning the drain in Mulund had found 10 eggs on Jan 26. Initially, it was not clear which species the eggs belonged to, said Pawan Sharma, president of Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW), an NGO that works for animal welfare. "We guessed though that the eggs were of some reptile species," said Sharma who informed the forest department about the find in the drain. Forest officials asked the NGO to take custody of the eggs for artificial incubation.
All 10 eggs were placed in a plastic container which had a bed of soil and powdered coconut husk. "This mixture has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties," said Chinmay Joshi, zoologist who kept a close watch on the eggs.
To check if the eggs had life in them, the 'candling' process was used. "A flashlight of high-intensity luminosity was used to check this. If the eggs are fertile, they glow," Joshi said, adding that five of them had life within.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Eyelash Transformation For Older Women
Prime Prometics
Learn More
Undo
The temperature within the plastic contained had to be maintained between 27 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius while the humidity level had to be kept between 70% and 85%, Joshi said, adding that he would examine the eggs in the container every two or three days to ensure that all was well with the temperature and humidity.
The spot in Mulund where the eggs had been found is located on the eastern fringe of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivli. Typically, the mother lizard, going by natural instinct, leaves the eggs at a place which she perceives is most conducive for the eggs to hatch. The baby lizards wriggled to life some 114 days after the eggs had been placed in the environment, the closest it could come to what nature would have provided.
The eggs hatched one by one, the last of the five on May 21. Five monitor lizard babies were found crawling inside the plastic container. All five were released into the wild, where they belong.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Rs5 Crore Allocation for Eco-Friendly Crematoriums
Nagpur: The civic body has allocated ₹5 crore in the current fiscal year to install air pollution control systems at major crematoriums across the city. In the first phase, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is installing systems at Gangabai Ghat, Mokshadham, and Manewada crematoriums—locations with high cremation volumes. Other crematoriums will be covered in subsequent phases as part of a broader initiative to make all cremation grounds environmentally sustainable. The initiative was discussed during a recent review meeting of the city-level committee overseeing the implementation of the air pollution control action plan. The meeting, chaired by NMC Commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari, also focused on expediting other measures aimed at improving Nagpur's air quality. Among the steps discussed, the civic body has proposed an additional ₹2 crore for installing sprinklers in air pollution hotspots. "A trial conducted by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neeri) in densely populated and high-traffic areas—such as HB Town, Lakadganj, Pardi, and other eastern localities—showed that water sprinkling significantly improved air quality," said Shweta Banerjee, superintending engineer (PHE). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "According to Neeri's study, levels of suspended particulate matter dropped markedly with regular sprinkling. Additionally, mechanical sweeping machines deployed in these same hotspots have helped reduce dust pollution, further supporting the city's clean air efforts," she added. To enhance green cover, NMC has earmarked ₹5 crore for 2025–26 for developing new green spaces. The meeting also reviewed plantation and beautification works undertaken in the past three financial years—2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25. The commissioner instructed officials to expedite the completion of ongoing projects and submit detailed progress reports to the state-level air quality control committee. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including additional commissioner Vasumana Pant, chief engineer Manoj Talewar, deputy commissioners Rajesh Bhagat and Ganesh Rathod, as well as representatives from Neeri and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). Senior engineers and department heads from the sanitation and garden departments also attended the meeting.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Class 1 admissions stall under Anwesha scheme in Koraput
Koraput: Despite the start of the new academic session, the Koraput administration has not enrolled any new students in Class 1 under the state-run Anwesha scheme, leaving many poor children deprived of the opportunity for quality English-medium education. The Anwesha scheme, launched by the state govt in 2015, aims to provide free education to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students in reputed English-medium private schools, with hostel and other necessary facilities fully sponsored by the state. Confirming the development, district welfare officer (Koraput) Sunil Kumar Tandi said, "We have not received any instructions from the govt regarding fresh admissions into Class 1 under Anwesha for the current academic year. Once the directions come, we will act accordingly." Currently, Koraput district has seven hostels under the Anwesha programme, two each in Jeypore, Semiliguda, and Koraput, and one in Laxmipur, with 1,365 children from previous years enrolled in Classes II to X. However, no fresh admissions have been carried out this year. The lack of admissions has sparked concern among parents and rights activists, who fear the delay may deprive an entire batch of eligible children of the scheme's benefits. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Japanese hair growth method Hair's Rich Learn More Undo "Every year, we see poor tribal children getting a chance to study in English-medium schools through Anwesha. This year, no such opportunity has been given. The administration must take proactive steps," said Surendra Patnaik, a local education activist. Meanwhile, in the absence of fresh enrolment, activists have raised questions about the continuity and commitment to a scheme that has played a key role in uplifting education standards among marginalised communities in tribal-dominated districts like Koraput. "The govt should initiate the process soon to ensure that no eligible child is left behind," said Harish Muduli, a tribal activist from Koraput.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Copper plates shed light on Kakatiya dynasty's ancestry
1 2 Hyderabad: Archaeological Survey of India's epigraphy division has successfully deciphered a newly discovered set of copper plates from Kodad. These plates reveal the coronation date of Vengi Chalukya king Vikramaditya II and sheds light on the genealogy of the Kakatiya dynasty's early ancestors. According to ASI epigraphy division director K Muniratnam Reddy, the copper plates, comprising three leaves, were recovered from a graveyard in Kodad in Suryapet district. They were now being preserved by the department of heritage, Telangana. The inscription, composed in Sanskrit using Telugu script, was dated Saka 840, Phalguna ba 5, Saturday —corresponding to March 6, 918 CE. The plates bear a seal featuring the 'varaha' (boar) symbol and the legend 'Sri Tribhuvanankusha', confirming the document's origin during the reign of Vikramaditya II, son of Chalukya Bhima I and Vijayamahadevi. Coronation Grant and Military Background You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad The inscription records that Vikramaditya II issued a land grant during his coronation to Lokamamba, the widow of Gunda II, the then governor of Kondapalli Vishaya. Gunda II died in battle while supporting Vikramaditya II in a conflict against an usurper named Talapa, who earlier captured and imprisoned the boy king Vijayaditya. The grant refers to this event as 'madrajyabhisekha punyaghosana samaya' — the auspicious occasion of coronation following the reconquest. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The land granted was the village of Kovuru in the Kandervadi Vishaya, given in recognition of Gunda II's loyalty and sacrifice. Meanwhile, officials also found Vengi Chalukya king Bhima I copper plate in a graveyard in Kodada. It is presently preserved in department of heritage, Telangana.
