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Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Collapse of 400-year-old baobab on outskirts of Hyderabad sparks alarm
Hyderabad: A 400-year-old baobab tree, part of a rare and historic cluster in the Chingi Cherla forest on Hyderabad's outskirts, has collapsed, triggering alarm among environmentalists and tree lovers. Thought to have been planted by African settlers more than four centuries ago, the ancient tree is believed to have succumbed to a severe pest infestation. Only three baobabs now remain in the cluster, which are located within 50 metres of one another. 'One of them has a girth of over 20 metres,' said Salman K, a local who last visited the tree in November 2024. 'At that time, I noticed a minor infestation on a few branches, some of which had already fallen. I never imagined the damage would spread so drastically. Seeing the collapsed tree was heartbreaking,' he added. Another concern highlighted by environmentalists is the dense plantation under the baobabs. Under the Yadadri Model Plantation scheme implemented in 2021–22, more than 10,000 saplings, including banyan, karanji, raavi, and others, were planted across the forest with just one-metre spacing. A rusted plantation board still stands nearby, listing 22 species planted under the CAMPA scheme. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 Most Beautiful Female Athletes in the World Click Here Undo You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad 'But these heritage trees are now in serious jeopardy. The real issue is the uncontrolled plantation activity near them. These saplings are encroaching on the baobabs' root zone,' said Uday Krishna, an environmentalist who documented the tree through his initiative, The Big Tree Quest. 'Baobabs have shallow roots and wide canopies. Fast-growing species like banyan and karanji compete for essential resources like space, water, and sunlight. This weakens the older baobabs, making them more susceptible to perish, but they can live up to 1000 years if maintained,' he added. 'I've only seen such a dense baobab grouping once before, in Savannur, Karnataka,' he added. Today, fewer than 20 baobabs are thought to survive in the Deccan region. The Chingi Cherla cluster is believed to be the only naturally occurring group of baobabs in India, making its preservation all the more vital. Environmentalists are now calling on the Telangana Forest Department to urgently remove the encroaching saplings, treat pest infections, and formally protect the area as a heritage grove. 'We have inspected the site. The fall was due to natural decay. We have also initiated fresh regeneration at the location,' said an official from the forest department. 'There was a proposal to develop a park around the area a few years ago, but it didn't materialise. As for conservation, regular monitoring is being done. These are old trees, and aging is a factor, but we are taking all necessary precautions.'
News18
12 hours ago
- News18
76 Killed, Dozens Missing After Migrant Boat Capsizes Near Yemen In Bad Weather
Last Updated: This tragedy is the latest in a series of shipwrecks off Yemen, which have killed hundreds of African migrants fleeing conflict and poverty and reaching Gulf countries. At least 76 people were killed in one of the deadliest migrant shipwrecks near Yemen after a boat carrying mostly Ethiopian migrants sank in the Gulf of Aden in bad weather, according to officials. Security officials said 32 people had been rescued and dozens remained missing, with their fates unknown. Abdusattor Esoev, the UN International Organisation for Migration's (IOM) chief of mission for Yemen, told AFP that the ship was headed to Abyan governorate in southern Yemen, a frequent destination for boats smuggling African migrants hoping to reach the wealthy Gulf states. The UN migration agency said there were 157 people, of whom 76 had died and 32 had been rescued. Some of those rescued have been transferred to Yemen's Aden, near Abyan, a security official said. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See's secretary of state, said the Pope was 'deeply saddened by the devastating loss of life". Despite the civil war that has ravaged Yemen since 2014, the impoverished country has remained a key transit point for irregular migration, in particular from Ethiopia, which itself has been roiled by ethnic conflict. 'This route is predominantly controlled by smugglers and human-trafficking networks… Refugees and migrants have no other alternative but to hire their services," Ayla Bonfiglio, of the Mixed Migration Centre research and policy organisation, told AFP. 'Migrants are well aware of the risks, but with no legal pathways and families relying on remittances from Saudi Arabia or the Emirates, many feel they have no choice," she added. Last month, at least eight people died after smugglers forced 150 migrants off a boat in the Red Sea, according to the IOM. The vessel that sank off Abyan was carrying mostly Ethiopian migrants, according to the province's security directorate and an IOM source. On their way to the Gulf, migrants cross the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the narrow waterway at the mouth of the Red Sea that is a major route for international trade, as well as for migration and human trafficking. Upon reaching Yemen, the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula, migrants frequently encounter additional threats to their safety, as tens and thousands become stranded there and suffer abuse and exploitation. (with AFP inputs) view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
14 hours ago
- News18
Israel euthanises crocodiles after repeated escapes, inhumane treatment
Petzael (West Bank), Aug 4 (AP) A bask of crocodiles brought to an Israeli settlement in the West Bank decades ago is meeting its end, as authorities euthanise the aging reptiles after years of their repeated escapes from a long-neglected farm. Israeli authorities said Monday that government veterinarians had culled the crocodiles because they threatened the area's residents and were themselves suffering from inhumane treatment. The exact number of crocodiles euthanised and the method of culling were not immediately clear. 'The Nile crocodiles at the farm were being kept in an abandoned compound under poor conditions that constitute animal abuse, with insufficient access to food, which had driven them to cannibalistic behaviour," COGAT, the Israeli defence body that administers civilian affairs in the West Bank, said. The crocodiles were initially brought to the town of Petzael as a tourist attraction — a business adventure derailed by violence between Israel and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. They were later purchased by an entrepreneur who hoped to sell their skin. Their fate has been an open question since Israel in 2012 passed a law classifying the reptiles as protected animals and banned raising them for sale as meat or merchandise. 'I don't want to think of what will happen if a crocodile manages to escape and reaches the Jordan River, and then we'll have an international incident," the head of the local community told The Associated Press in 2018, referencing the border with Jordan 6.8 kilometres away. COGAT said that authorities had spent hundreds of thousands of Israeli shekels (more than USD 29,000) to re-fence the dilapidated farm, which has been in a state of disrepair since it was shut down in 2013. It said that veterinarians were consulted on how to humanely exterminate the animals. (AP) GRS GRS (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
