Latest news with #wildlifeProtection
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
India investigates 'unnatural' death of five tigers
India has launched an investigation after an endangered tigress and her four cubs were found dead in a protected forest in the southern state of Karnataka, an official said Friday. State forest minister Eshwar Khandre said the "unnatural" deaths were "extremely tragic and distressing" and that an investigation team had been formed. Local media reports said forest officials suspected poisoning. The tigress had reportedly killed a cow days earlier, and poison may have been laced into the carcass, which her cubs also fed on, according to The Times of India. "If there has been any negligence, or if the tigers died due to any reason, I have ordered criminal action against those responsible," Khandre said. Sustained conservation efforts have led to a steady rebound of the big cats' numbers in India. According to the latest census, there are over 3,600 of them in the wild in India -- 75 percent of the global tiger population. But shrinking habitats and expanding human settlements have also fuelled conflict. More than 600 people were killed in tiger attacks over the past decade, according to official figures. sai/pjm/dhc
CNA
a day ago
- CNA
India investigates 'unnatural' death of five tigers
NEW DELHI: India has launched an investigation after an endangered tigress and her four cubs were found dead in a protected forest in the southern state of Karnataka, an official said on Friday (Jun 27). State forest minister Eshwar Khandre said the "unnatural" deaths were "extremely tragic and distressing" and that an investigation team had been formed. Local media reports said forest officials suspected poisoning. The tigress had reportedly killed a cow days earlier, and poison may have been laced into the carcass, which her cubs also fed on, according to The Times of India. "If there has been any negligence, or if the tigers died due to any reason, I have ordered criminal action against those responsible," Khandre said. Sustained conservation efforts have led to a steady rebound of the big cats' numbers in India. According to the latest census, there are over 3,600 of them in the wild in India – 75 per cent of the global tiger population. But shrinking habitats and expanding human settlements have also fuelled conflict. More than 600 people were killed in tiger attacks over the past decade, according to official figures.
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Invasive catfish removed from lake at Dinton Pastures Country Park
A species of fish that could potentially grow up to 9ft (2.7m) long and "devastate local wildlife" was found to have been illegally introduced to a Berkshire fishing Borough Council said a Wels catfish was caught by anglers at Dinton Pastures Country reported their catch to the council and two fish were humanely removed to protect native is illegal to stock the Wels catfish and others like it without a special licence from the Environment Agency and Cefas (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science). The council said the "top predators" could "devastate local wildlife, including swans, geese and native fish species"."Thank you to the anglers who did the right thing - the vast majority of whom are responsible and conservation-minded - and to everyone who helps us protect Dinton's precious wildlife," a council statement said."We'll be keeping a close eye on things, but if you ever see anything that doesn't look right, please let one of the team know."The Canal and River Trust said that in continental Europe, with warmer water and plenty of food, Wels catfish have been known to grow to weights of 305.7kg (674lb). You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
The Herald
17-06-2025
- General
- The Herald
Addo Elephant National Park meeting jumbo accommodation challenge
Since the establishment of Addo Elephant National Park in 1931 for the protection of the remaining 11 elephants in the area, the population has done extremely well. So much so that it led to a steady enlargement of what is known as the Addo main camp section from 1955 to 2015 to ensure other biological components are not affected by the elephants. The park is now home to more than 800 elephants in various sections and biomes. The largest single expansion included the addition of the Colchester section towards the south of the park in 2010, with the dropping of fences between the sections. The combined main camp/Colchester section is now about 268km² in size (Lombard et al. 2001) and contains several boreholes and earthen dams due to the lack of natural rivers in this section of the park. Addo expanded substantially over time and by 2022 it had seven areas separated by fences, interspersed with private land in some cases. This provided opportunities for elephant range expansion, with the main camp serving as the source for other sections of Addo and externally. For instance, authorities translocated four juveniles from Addo to the Pilanesberg National Park in 1979 (Hancock, 1984) and a further 11 bulls to various private game reserves across SA in 2005. In 2003, 61 elephants were moved from the main camp to the Nyathi section, while four bulls were introduced from Kruger National Park. The Darlington section received 28 elephants from the main camp/Colchester section in 2018. Fencing of the park in 1954 confined the elephants to an area which led to most of the main camp being used by elephants and subsequently resulted in impacts on vegetation structure and sensitive species (Lombard et al. 2001; Kerley & Landman, 2006). To alleviate these impacts, the main camp was expanded into the Colchester section where water provision was limited. However, the main camp/Colchester section was not big enough to significantly change elephant space use and therefore other management interventions to limit population growth, such as elephant contraception and water availability gradient, had to be implemented. Recent studies have shown that historical management approaches have generally not been able to impose spatial and temporal limitations on elephant space use in the main camp/Colchester section (Guldemond et al. 2022). This in turn could lead to impacts on other biodiversity components if management interventions are not continued and by expanding land availability through the consolidation of current sections and the addition of new land to Addo. It is for this reason that the relocation of 42 elephants from the main camp to the Kabouga section (towards the north of Addo), last month was undertaken. From observations of the various family groups since through nine tracking collars, it appears they are exploring and settling well into their new home. As recently as June 3, Addo Elephant National Park biotechnician Joshua Roberts was in the area servicing cameras when he came across the youngest of the lot, aptly named Kabouga, and his herd — all looking healthy and happy. The consolidation of the neighbouring Kabouga and Darlington sections is planned, which will provide the two populations with an even greater area to roam. Charlene Bisset — SANParks regional ecologist The Herald
Arab News
14-06-2025
- Arab News
Acacia rebirth: Saudi royal reserve boosts green cover
RIYADH: Nestled in the northeast of Riyadh, the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve is an environmental gem, boasting a mix of nature's finest features and an array of awe-inspiring terrains. As well as being a haven for distinctive geological formations, it also contains rare plants and animals featured on the Red List of Threatened Species. The reserve is undertaking extensive restoration efforts, planting hundreds of thousands of trees, particularly Acacia, across its vast 91,500 sq. km area. This initiative aligns with the Saudi Green Initiative, aiming to revitalize the reserve's vegetation and restore ecological balance, a Saudi Press Agency report said. Acacia trees are crucial to this effort due to their resilience in harsh desert climates and their significant ecological role. They provide grazing, shade and habitat for wildlife while also helping to stabilize the soil and offering a vital nectar source for high-quality honey. These comprehensive afforestation projects are crucial in combating desertification and enhancing biodiversity, reinforcing Saudi Arabia's commitment to environmental sustainability. • Acacia trees are crucial to this effort due to their resilience in harsh desert climates and their significant ecological role. • This eco haven is the Kingdom's second-largest royal reserve. The reserve's development authority focuses on increasing community awareness, supporting biodiversity protection and fostering a sustainable environment for wildlife reproduction and conservation. The authority also provides guided tours and excursions led by environmental tour guides, making it a hotspot for eco-enthusiasts interested in hiking, climbing and other ecotourism activities. This eco haven is the Kingdom's second-largest royal reserve. It hosts diverse wildlife and plant species, making it ideal for hiking, wilderness adventures, camping and sustainable hunting. Its vegetation cover provides a refuge for various bird species, crucial for maintaining ecosystem balance by controlling insects, small rodents and carrion. The reserve stands out with its streams and valleys, where rainwater and floods flow from the Al-Urumah Plateau into the reserve's valleys, such as Al-Thumama Valley and Ghilana Valley, leading to streams and parks such as Rawdat Khuraim.
