Filed under: Nature | Tags: Africa, Animals, Black Rhino, Endangered, extinct, Extinction, International Rhino Foundation, mammals, Rhinoceros, species, Suman, WWF, zoo
An endangered species is a population of an organism (usually a taxonomic species), which because it is either few in number or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters, leaving it at risk of becoming extinct. Many countries have laws offering special protection to these species or their habitats: for example, forbidding hunting, restricting land development or creating preserves.
Only a few of the many endangered species actually make it to the official lists and obtain legal protection.
Many more species become extinct, or potentially will become extinct, without gaining public notice. The greatest factor of concern is the rate at which species are becoming extinct within the last 150 years.
While species have evolved and become extinct on a regular basis for the last several hundred million years, the number of species becoming extinct since the Industrial Revolution has no precedent in biological history. If this rate of extinction continues, or accelerates as now seems to be the case, the number of species becoming extinct in the next decade could number in the millions.
While most people readily relate to endangerment of large mammals or birdlife, some of the greatest ecological issues are the threats to stability of whole ecosystems if key species vanish at any level of the food chain. One such endangered animal is the Black Rhinoceros.
The Black Rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis also colloquially Black Rhino is a mammal in the order Perissodactyla, native to the eastern and central areas of Africa including Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroon, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Although the Rhino is referred to as a “Black” creature, it is actually more of a grey-white color in appearance. For most of the 20th century the continental black rhino was the most numerous of all rhino species. Around 1900 there were probably several hundred thousand living in Africa. During the later half of the 20th century their number severely reduced from an estimated 70,000 in the late 1960s to only 10,000 to 15,000 in 1981.
In the early 1990s the number dipped below 2500, and in 1995 it was reported that only 2,410 black rhinos remained.
According to the International Rhino Foundation, the total African population has since then slightly recovered to 3,610 by 2003. According to a July 2006 report by the World Conservation Union, a recent survey of the West African Black Rhino, which once ranged across the savannahs of western Africa but had dropped to just 10, concluded the subspecies to be extinct.
Filed under: Nature | Tags: Air Pollution, biological waste, Clean Air Act, Global Warming, Greenhouse, Suman Das, World Health Organization
Today, we have many definitions and attributes of air pollution. But what is the real fact? Let’s look into this more closely!
Air pollution is a broad term applied to any chemical, physical (particulate matter), or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere.
The atmosphere is a complex, dynamic natural gaseous system that is essential to support life on planet earth.
Stratospheric ozone depletion due to air pollution has long been recognized as a threat to human health as well as to the earth’s ecosystems. Worldwide air pollution is responsible for large numbers of deaths and cases of respiratory disease. Enforced air quality standards, like the Clean Air Act in the United States, have reduced the presence of some pollutants. While major stationary sources are often identified with air pollution, the greatest source of emissions are actually mobile sources, principally the automobile. There are many available air pollution control technologies and urban planning strategies available to reduce air pollution; however, worldwide costs of addressing the issue are high.
The most immediate method of improving air quality would be the use of bioethanol fuel, biodiesel, solar energy, and hybrid vehicle technologies. The World Health Organization estimates that 4.6 million people die each year from causes directly attributable to air pollution. Many of these mortalities are attributable to indoor air pollution. Worldwide more deaths per year are linked to air pollution than to automobile accidents. A Research report published in 2005 suggests that 310,000 Europeans die from air pollution annually. Direct causes of air pollution related deaths include aggravated asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, lung and heart diseases, and respiratory allergies…
Filed under: Nature | Tags: Bangladesh, Bengali, India, Indian forest lands, Indian National Animal, Pride of Bengal, Ramsar wetlands, Royal Bengal Tiger, Salman Rushdie, Suman Das, Sundarbans, UNESCO World Heritage, West Bengal
The Sundarbans (Shundorbon in Bengali) is believed to be the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world. Once, it was known as the most “beautiful” forest in Asia. With a vast number of Sundari trees in its abode, it boasted of the highest number of the Indian National Animal, the Royal Bengal Tiger.
This once beautiful place starts at the birthplace of the great Ganges, and is spread over West Bengal (India), and parts of Bangladesh. With a total area of over 10,000 sq km, it was inscripted as a UNESCO World Heritage site in the year 1997. It was largely known for its Royal Bengal Tigers, unique species of birds, spotted deer, crocodiles and snakes. Once home to about 20,000 Bengal Tigers and over 50,000 spotted deer, it was designated a Ramsar site on 21st May, 1992. In the early 18th century, it got the distinction of being the first mangrove forest in the world to be brought under scientific management. In the late 19th century, it was declared a reserved forest, under the Forest Act, 1865.
In around 1911, it was described as a tract of waste country which had never been surveyed, nor had the census been extended to it. It was a water-logged jungle, in which tigers and other wild beasts abounded. Few attempts were made for reclamation, albeit unsuccessfully. Biotic factors here play a significant role in physical coastal evolution and for wildlife a variety of habitats have developed including beaches, permanent and semi-permanent swamps, tidal flats, tidal creeks, coastal dunes, back dunes, and levees.
A total of 245 genera and 334 plant species were recorded in the Sundarbans in 1903. The Sundarbans provides a unique ecosystem and extensive habitats for wildlife.
Apart from the Royal Bengal Tiger, some of the resident species include: the river terrapin, Indian flap-shelled turtle, peacock turtle, yellow monitor, water monitor, and the Indian Python. Some of these species are also protected by the Bangladesh Wildlife Order. Constituting more than 50% of the total reserved forest estate of Bangladesh, it contributes to about 40% of the total forest revenue of the country.
Various non-timber forest products and plantations help generate considerable employment and income generation opportunities for at least half a million of the poor coastal population. The Sundarbans has also been illustrated and widely celebrated in numerous Bengali and English novels, songs, and movies. e.g; Midnight’s Children.
Thanks to the West Bengal Government and its countable attempts to stop poaching, once the home to over 20,000 Royal Bengal Tigers, the Sunderbans now cries out loud only to the remaining 200-odd cats.
