Latest news with #InternationalUnionfortheConservationofNature
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Sanctuary captures rare glimpse of 'angel horse' spotted near cliff's edge — here's why this matters
A wildlife sanctuary in Thailand recently spotted an elusive but treasured species roaming the cliffs, signaling an important step for wildlife conservation in the area. The serow — also known as the "angel horse" in Thai — is an endangered and protected species native to the region by the Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary. According to Chiang Mai Citylife, a patrol team of the sanctuary captured the goat-like animal on camera grazing near a summit. A few years ago, a survey of the local population estimated that roughly 108 serows lived in the area. While more updated numbers aren't finalized, experts think that numbers have increased, with the population sitting at around 300 throughout Thailand. Leaders at the sanctuary say that this rare sighting is a clear indication of the health of the local ecosystem thanks to conservation efforts in the area. In fact, a study by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature found that conservation strategies around the world have resulted in a 45% increase in biodiversity. In Thailand, specifically, these efforts to support vulnerable animal populations and, by extension, local ecosystems have manifested themselves through sightings like this one. Trail cameras are often how these discoveries are captured, from spotting a herd of wild water buffalo to an elusive Siamese crocodile. Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary is closed to the public for the majority of the year in support of ecological restoration, though they open for a few months during the winter season for nature study. The government also has patrol teams on the ground throughout the year to deter poaching and keep track of protected populations like the serow. By placing priority on conserving native wildlife, governments and organizations alike are breathing life back into the ecological diversity and welfare of these species' natural habitats. These efforts not only protect animals, but they also help the ecosystem mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis, securing our food supply and making a cleaner and healthier planet for all. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
Rakyat Post
17 hours ago
- Rakyat Post
Caught On Camera: Another 'Penyu Terbang' Act Lands One Suspect In Police Custody
Subscribe to our FREE Many sea turtle species in Malaysian waters are categorised as endangered, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). There are many laws in place that incur heavy penalties against those who threaten the conservation of turtle species in the country. This is why if you spot a turtle on a beach, it's best to not interfere with it and just watch from a distance. However, turtle eggs are a rare and valuable delicacy in Malaysia, and there are those who would attempt to harvest them illegally. Video footage shows several men carrying a turtle on a beach away, allegedly to steal its eggs In a viral video posted by Jehan Bakar on Threads, a group of men could be seen hoisting a large sea turtle at Cherating beach in Kuantan, Pahang. 'I woke up to news about a 'flying turtle' where the turtle was carried against its will and moved to a different location,' she wrote in the post caption. Jehan then explained that 'egg thieves' would usually lift up a turtle while it's trying to lay eggs and move it to a different spot. Usually, these thieves would have dug a different hole in another spot, and they would place the turtle there. Why not just wait for the turtle to lay its eggs and steal it then? To this question, Jehan said those who were in the business of lifting innocent turtles up were usually drug addicts and not of sound mind. According to her caption, the videos were recorded by tourists last Sunday evening (27 July), who later shared the video with chalet owners in the area. 'Many lodged a report at the Department of Fisheries (DOF) because this beach is gazetted as a turtle landing beach and it is under the protection of DOF rangers. 'Any egg harvesting activity or moving turtles on a gazetted beach is a crime,' Jehan added. Police have arrested a suspect involved in the video According to a Harian Metro Kuantan acting chief of police Superintendent Mohd Adli Mat Daud said the 51-year-old suspect was arrested in a house in Cherating. The suspect also tested positive for drugs. 'The suspect is believed to have had intentions to sell the turtle eggs or use it for illegal purposes,' Mohd Adli said in a statement. The case is being investigated under Section 27 of the Fisheries Act 1985 that states no one may fish, capture, disturb, or take turtles. If convicted, they can be fined up to RM5,000. Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Efforts to restore mangroves can turn the tide on India's coastal security
Across India's coasts, from the languid channels of the Sundarbans delta to Mumbai's stifled creeks, mangroves form a barrier between land and sea. These coastal forests are critical in India's pursuit of climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and the empowerment of coastal communities. However, in the face of urban expansion, climate change, and development, how are India's mangroves surviving — and who is protecting them? Mangroves matter Mangrove swamps are forested wetlands characterised by trees that can tolerate saline water. They serve as natural barriers, protecting coastal communities from cyclones, tidal surges, and erosion. During natural disasters like the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and recurring cyclones in the Bay of Bengal, mangroves have been known to attenuate damage to coastal infrastructure and biodiversity and have saved thousands of lives. Their role in biodiversity conservation is significant as well. Mangroves provide breeding and nursery grounds for fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and migratory birds. These salt-tolerant forests also store significant amounts of blue carbon (the carbon captured by marine and coastal ecosystems), helping mitigate climate change by trapping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in their roots and soil. The mangroves of India cover more than 4,900 sq. km, including in estuaries, deltas, and along the coasts of West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Karnataka, among other States. For coastal communities, especially traditional fishers and honey gatherers, mangroves are intimately linked to livelihoods and cultural practices. Yet they are increasingly threatened by urban expansion, aquaculture, pollution, and changing climate patterns. This isn't the case in India alone: around the world, more than half of all mangrove ecosystems are at risk of collapse by 2050, according to a recent report from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In spite of these mounting threats, however, India is also the epicentre of a growing number of inspiring efforts to protect and revive mangrove ecosystems. With the right mix of stewardship, scientific support, and policy attention, they are showing that mangroves can't only survive: they can thrive. Mangroves in Tamil Nadu In recent years, efforts to restore mangroves across Tamil Nadu have seen remarkable progress, driven by a combination of government initiatives, community participation, and scientific planning. Once severely degraded by shrimp farming, industrial pollution, and altered hydrology, the State's estuaries and coasts are today witnessing a slow but steady comeback. Under the Green Tamil Nadu Mission and other coastal restoration programmes, the districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Cuddalore among others have significantly expanded mangrove cover. As a result, Tamil Nadu nearly doubled its mangrove extent — from 4,500 hectares to more than 9,000 hectares between 2021 and 2024 — and has been leading coastal ecosystem recovery in India. In early 2017, the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai in collaboration with local village committees and the Tamil Nadu Forest Department began a project to restore 115 hectares of degraded mangroves in the Pattuvanachi estuary of Muthupettai. After thorough site assessments and community engagement, the team dug 19 major canals to restore tidal flow. Then team members planted more than 4.3 lakh Avicennia seeds from Muthupettai and 6,000 Rhizophora propagules from Pichavaram, successfully regenerating a once-stagnant landscape into a thriving mangrove forest. Yet another success story from Tamil Nadu is the restoration of a green belt of mangroves near Buckingham Canal in Kazhipattur in Chennai. Under the Green Tamil Nadu Mission, the Forest Department planted 12,500 mangrove seedlings from five species in 2024 with the help of scientific experts. The restoration involved removing invasive Prosopis juliflora weeds before planting the mangroves, with the goal of restoring Chennai's natural shield against cyclones and storm surges. Conservation in Mumbai In early 2025, Amazon's Right Now Climate Fund partnered with Hasten Regeneration and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to launch a $1.2 million (Rs 10.3 crore as on July 24, 2025) restoration project along Thane Creek in Mumbai, aimed at reviving essential mangrove forests and mudflats that support migratory flamingos and more than 180 other bird species. The project combined ecological restoration with urban cleanup: biodegradable barriers called trash booms were installed to intercept plastic pollution, targeting the collection of at least 150 tonnes of plastic over three years. Simultaneously, the initiative has planned to plant about 3.75 lakh mangrove saplings, creating new habitat for flamingos and empowering local communities, especially women, by providing paid employment in planting and maintenance activities. By focusing both on ecological recovery and socio-economic resilience, this project exemplifies how corporate-backed, nature-based solutions can advance biodiversity protection in India's rapidly urbanising coastal zones. Gujarat's success The State of Gujarat has become a national leader in mangrove restoration under the Indian government's Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes scheme, which was launched on World Environment Day 2023. Under this scheme, Gujarat has planted more than 19,000 hectares of mangroves in two years, surpassing the Central government's planned five-year target of 54,000 hectares. The goal of this effort is to rebuild coastal resilience across the Kutch and coastal Saurashtra regions, supporting biodiversity and local livelihoods alike, promoting ecotourism, and contributing to the nation's blue carbon goals. Gujarat is already home to 23.6% of India's mangrove cover and currently an example of how robust planning and strategic coastal mapping can help quickly upscale restoration efforts. These stories from India's coastal communities show us that mangrove conservation is not just possible but actually well underway. Such stories of hope must become the norm, not the exception. As climate change and rampant developmental activities continue to ravage our coasts, the need to protect what remains and restore what is lost has never been more urgent. Mangroves are the first line of defence against storms, and they also shelter fisheries and store carbon. Priya Ranganathan is a doctoral student and researcher at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru.
Daily Maverick
6 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Soldiers and smugglers strip South Sudan's valuable teak forests
East African countries should invest in DNA databases and electronic wood tracking to help preserve South Sudan's 'king of woods'. In January, South Sudan's Environment and Forestry Minister Josephine Napwon stopped the issuing of logging permits to protect teak and other endangered tree species. Concerns have been growing over the smuggling of South Sudanese teak to meet high demand, mostly from India and, to a lesser extent, the Netherlands. Teak, known as the 'king of woods', has been listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 2004. And although trade in the species from South Sudan has been banned by Cites (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), logging continues. Teak is a durable tropical hardwood used for high-quality furniture, luxury yachts, boats and construction. It is South Sudan's second most valuable raw material after oil, with more than 100,000 tons of the timber exported to world markets every year, according to media outlet The Elephant. According to the World Bank, South Sudan could earn up to $150-million in revenue annually from teak, but instead brings in just $2-million, with the rest leaving the country illegally. Smuggling on this scale is causing environmental degradation, soil erosion and loss of natural resources. Plantations in the south of the country near the borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda have been decimated by illegal logging. The illicit activity is facilitated by armed groups, including the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) and Sudan People's Liberation Army-In-Opposition, says Justin Khamis, a Juba-based border security expert. According to the UN Security Council's South Sudan expert panel, some SSPDF members participate in felling the trees, while others supervise and protect loggers. Some loggers work for South Sudanese companies that have links to the military. Civil wars The involvement of South Sudanese soldiers is linked to the civil wars that divided the army into two factions, says former defence minister Angelina Teny. A lack of pay may have induced military personnel to participate in illegal logging to earn a living. These armed groups also facilitate teak smuggling from South Sudan into Uganda's northern Moyo District. Environmental activists accuse South Sudan's military of colluding with corrupt administrative and border officials to transport the wood into Uganda. Ugandan administrative officials write authorisation letters to facilitate the movement of harvested teak across the border and into the country. Fake certificates of origin are then prepared in Uganda to help transport the timber, disguised as Ugandan products, to Kenya's Mombasa Port. Kenyan investigative journalist John-Allan Namu says that once in Uganda, South Sudanese teak is mixed with teak from the DRC and declared Ugandan, allowing it to be exported through Kenya to international markets. South Sudanese teak shipments are shipped from Mombasa to India, the destination for about 73% of illegally exported South Sudanese teak, according to The Elephant. Although India has teak plantations, global demand for raw and processed teak products exceeds domestic production. South Sudanese teak is used either to manufacture products falsely declared as originating in India, or the wood is transported from India to Rotterdam's port in the Netherlands. False certificates of origin from corrupt Indian Chamber of Commerce officers enable smugglers to bypass the European Union's (EU) timber regulation, which bans illegally logged or smuggled wood from the EU. Evidence of online teak sales on Facebook and other platforms highlights regulatory shortcomings in South Sudan and countries receiving the timber. Companies selling teak online are often unregistered and operate unnoticed, with loggers venturing deep into South Sudan's forests without proper authorisation or legal documentation. DNA databases Developing DNA databases for high-value timber in Africa would be a first step towards addressing this problem. With DNA markers unique to specific regions, authorities could use portable sequencing devices to trace illegal shipments back to their origin, even if the timber is processed or disguised. DNA databases can also be developed and used in collaboration with international timber traders and regulatory bodies. These databases can be used with electronic wood tracking like that implemented in Ghana. This includes a timber legality assurance system that relies on data collected throughout the supply chain, enabling real-time reconciliation and identification of anomalies in wood flows. Similar databases such as Africa-Twix and the Central Africa Forest Observatory, with platforms like the Open Timber Portal managed by the World Resources Institute, help enhance forest governance and monitor natural resources. These databases ensure the traceability of timber, promote information exchange and foster regional cooperation. Using databases and tracking systems allows for more effective law enforcement, identification of smuggling routes and disruption of illegal trade networks. They can also be deterrents, as smugglers realise their activities can be tracked and traced. However, such technology is only valuable if backed by operational support from law enforcement and customs officials along the teak trading value chain. South Sudan faces myriad security and governance challenges, and remains institutionally weak. The borders with Uganda and Kenya are porous, and reports of corruption among officials abound. Civil society and the media, among other stakeholders, should raise these issues nationally and regionally. Information on incidents and the impact of teak smuggling on the environment and society is essential. Placing pressure on governments, businesses and consumers to disrupt this trade is vital to such advocacy work. International organisations such as the IUCN and World Customs Organization must recognise that institutional vulnerabilities — particularly in South Sudan — require a more proactive collaboration with the South Sudanese and other countries in the region. DM Josephine Muthama is an Intern and Willis Okumu a Senior Researcher at Enact, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Nairobi.
ITV News
6 days ago
- General
- ITV News
'Adorable' first ever snow leopard cub born at Chester Zoo in 'significant moment' for conservation
CCTV footage shows the precious early moments between the newborn cub and her mum Nubra. The first ever snow leopard cub has been born at Chester Zoo in its 94-year history. The six-week-old carnivore has been tucked away in a den with all of its early moments caught on camera. It was born after parents Nubra and Yashin were carefully matched together as part of a breeding programme to protect the population of the species. Snow leopards are classed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, with as few as 4,000 now remaining in the wild. Carnivore experts at the zoo say Nubra is showing "excellent maternal instincts" and has been nursing her arrival every few hours. She has been keeping close by, only leaving the den momentarily to feed. Dave Hall, Team Manager of Carnivores at Chester Zoo said: "This is her first cub and she's doing an exceptional job of caring for her little one - feeding regularly and staying snuggled away in a cosy, behind-the-scenes den, where the pair have been quietly bonding and getting to know one another." He added: 'This is the first snow leopard cub to be born at Chester Zoo. It's a truly historic moment and a real cause for celebration - not just for our teams here but also for the future of this magnificent species globally." The carnivore team have stayed well away from the den to ensure it is a peaceful area for the leopards, deciding to use CCTV cameras to monitor the cub's development. The cub has gained in strength and confidence, and is expected to venture outside at any moment. Want more on the issues affecting the North? Our podcast, From the North answers the questions that matter to our region.
