The first-ever genetic study of endangered Asian elephants has been conducted in Cambodia's northern plains, estimating that the population of the mammals in the region was 51, said a Fauna & Flora Cambodia's press release on Thursday. Conducted by Fauna & Flora in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, the study was carried out during the 2020-2021 dry season and utilised non-invasive genetic sampling techniques across three key protected areas: Prey Lang, Preah Roka, and Chhaeb Wildlife Sanctuaries, the press release said. The genetic research was performed at the Royal University of Phnom Penh with technical support from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, it added. "The researchers estimated a population of 51 elephants in the region, larger than previous local estimates suggested," the press release said. While smaller than Cambodia's primary elephant populations in the Cardamom Mountains and Eastern Plains, which support 200-300 individuals, the Prey Lang Extended Landscape population exhibits high genetic diversity, a critical factor for long-term viability, it added. Listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are some of the largest mammals on the planet. Pablo Sinovas, country director of the Fauna & Flora Cambodia Programme, said that in this study, researchers combined molecular and spatial modelling techniques to assess the population size, genetic diversity, and habitat availability of an important yet imperilled group of Asian elephants in Cambodia. "Despite its small size, this population retains high levels of genetic diversity, an essential foundation for long-term survival," he said. Alex Ball, WildGenes conservation manager for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said that having a high level of genetic diversity within a population is fundamental to its long-term future, Xinhua news agency reported. "We now hope to expand this methodology across Cambodia and beyond, helping to build a clearer picture of Asian elephant numbers, which will inform how best we can work to help reverse the decline of these spectacular animals," he said. It is estimated that there are currently 400 to 600 Asian elephants in the wild in Cambodia, the press release said. The study's findings underscore the potential of the Prey Lang Extended Landscape to become a national stronghold for Asian elephants, significantly contributing to Cambodia's biodiversity conservation goals, it added.
14 March,2025 10:31 AM IST | Phnom Penh (Cambodia) | IANSNASA's newest space telescope rocketed into orbit Tuesday to map the entire sky like never before a sweeping look at hundreds of millions of galaxies and their shared cosmic glow since the beginning of time. SpaceX launched the Spherex observatory from California, putting it on course to fly over Earth's poles. Tagging along were four suitcase-size satellites to study the sun. Spherex popped off the rocket's upper stage first, drifting into the blackness of space with a blue Earth in the background. The USD 488 million Spherex mission aims to explain how galaxies formed and evolved over billions of years, and how the universe expanded so fast in its first moments. Closer to home in our own Milky Way galaxy, Spherex will hunt for water and other ingredients of life in the icy clouds between stars where new solar systems emerge. The cone-shaped Spherex at 1,110 pounds (500 kilograms) or the heft of a grand piano will take six months to map the entire sky with its infrared eyes and wide field of view. Four full-sky surveys are planned over two years, as the telescope circles the globe from pole to pole 400 miles (650 kilometers) up. Spherex won't see galaxies in exquisite detail like NASA's larger and more elaborate Hubble and Webb space telescopes, with their narrow fields of view. Instead of counting galaxies or focusing on them, Spherex will observe the total glow produced by the whole lot, including the earliest ones formed in the wake of the universe-creating Big Bang. This cosmological glow captures all light emitted over cosmic history,¿ said the mission's chief scientist Jamie Bock of the California Institute of Technology. It's a very different way of looking at the universe,¿ enabling scientists to see what sources of light may have been missed in the past. By observing the collective glow, scientists hope to tease out the light from the earliest galaxies and learn how they came to be, Bock said. We won't see the Big Bang. But we'll see the aftermath from it and learn about the beginning of the universe that way,¿ he said. The telescope's infrared detectors will be able to distinguish 102 colors invisible to the human eye, yielding the most colorful, inclusive map ever made of the cosmos. It's like "looking at the universe through a set of rainbow-colored glasses, said deputy project manager Beth Fabinsky of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. To keep the infrared detectors super cold ¿ minus 350 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 210 degrees Celsius) Spherex has a unique look. It sports three aluminum-honeycomb cones, one inside the other, to protect from the sun and Earth's heat, resembling a 10-foot (3-meter) shield collar for an ailing dog. Besides the telescope, SpaceX's Falcon rocket provided a lift from Vandenberg Space Force Base for a quartet of NASA satellites called Punch. From their own separate polar orbit, the satellites will observe the sun's corona, or outer atmosphere, and the resulting solar wind. The evening launch was delayed two weeks because of rocket and other issues. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
12 March,2025 03:10 PM IST | Vandenberg Space Force Base (US) | APA study has been released, which for the first time tallies butterfly data from more than 76,000 surveys across the continental United States. The results: between 2000 and 2020, total butterfly abundance fell by 22 per cent across the 554 species counted. That means that for every five individual butterflies within the contiguous US in the year 2000, there were only four in 2020. "Action must be taken," said Elise Zipkin, a Red Cedar Distinguished Professor of quantitative ecology at Michigan State University and a co-author of the paper. "To lose 22 percent of butterflies across the continental U.S. in just two decades is distressing and shows a clear need for broad-scale conservation interventions," Elise added. In this paper, Zipkin and Haddad were among a working group of scientists with the USGS Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis who aggregated decades of butterfly data from 35 monitor programs, including records of over 12.6 million butterflies. Using data integration approaches, the team examined how butterfly abundances changed regionally and individually for the 342 species with enough data. Abundance is a term that threatens to become ironic. Butterfly populations dropped an average of 1.3 per cent annually across the country, except for the Pacific Northwest. But even that encouraging result came with a caveat. Further scrutiny of the apparent 10 per cent increase in overall abundance in the Pacific Northwest over the 20-year study period was credited largely to the California tortoiseshell butterfly, which was enjoying a population boom not expected to be sustained. "This is the definitive study of butterflies in the U.S.," said Collin Edwards, the study's lead author. "For those who were not already aware of insect declines, this should be a wake-up call. We urgently need both local- and national-scale conservation efforts to support butterflies and other insects. We have never had as clear and compelling a picture of butterfly declines as we do now." Edwards had been a postdoctoral research associate at Washington State University, Vancouver, and now works at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The results reveal that 13 times as many species declined as increased- with 107 species losing more than half their populations.
11 March,2025 10:25 AM IST | Washington DC (USA) | ANIAs global temperatures climb due to climate change, cities are expected to face a growing risk of fires, according to Australian and international researchers on Tuesday. A new modelling study, published in Nature Cities, predicts that certain types of urban fires will become more frequent in the coming decades. Researchers estimate that, worldwide, this trend could result in an additional 330,000 fire-related deaths and over a million more injuries between 2020 and 2100. However, if global warming is limited to below 1.5 degrees Celsius, the number of deaths could be reduced by half. To establish this connection, the international research team analysed fires and peak monthly air temperatures across more than 2,800 cities in 20 countries, including the United States, China, Australia, and Britain, representing over 20 per cent of the global population. The findings could be useful for future urban planning and emergency response strategies. The researchers measured how the frequency of different urban fire incidents -- such as building fires, vehicle fires, and outdoor blazes at sites like landfills -- changes in response to rising temperatures, which aimed to evaluate the potential impact of global warming on various types of urban fires. There could be an 11.6 per cent increase in vehicle fires and a 22.2 per cent increase in outdoor fires by 2100, but a 4.6 per cent decrease in building fires, under a high greenhouse gas emission scenario, said the authors from the University of Science and Technology of China, the RMIT University in Melbourne, Shanghai Maritime University, Charles Darwin University, among others. They also estimate that global warming could contribute to approximately 335,000 fire-related deaths and 1.1 million injuries across all cities analysed between 2020 and 2100, Xinhua news agency reported. Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions. Also Read: Cities at highest risk as climate change increases heatwave mortality: Study This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
04 March,2025 10:40 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSThe first population estimation of riverine dolphins in India has revealed the presence of 6,324 dolphins in the Ganga, Brahmaputra and Indus River systems, according to a government report published on Monday. The Ganges River dolphin, known for its unique features, is found in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system and its tributaries across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. A small population of the Indus river dolphin, a close relative of the Ganges river dolphin, is found in the Indus River system in India. As part of "Project Dolphin", a comprehensive survey was conducted for the first time to estimate the population of river dolphins across eight states -- Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam and Punjab. It is one of the world's largest freshwater surveys, covering the entire range of the Ganges river dolphin in the Ganga and Brahmaputra, as well as the Indus river dolphin in the Beas river, according to the report "Population Status of River Dolphin in India". The survey estimated 6,324 Ganges river dolphins (range: 5,977-6,688) and three Indus river dolphins. The findings suggest that dolphins thrive in areas with adequate water depth and minimal human disturbances, it said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Project Dolphin on August 15, 2020, to conserve dolphins and other aquatic ecosystems. Monitoring dolphin populations is crucial for conservation, especially for river dolphins, which have a slow growth rate and live in some of the world's most threatened habitats. The survey covering over 8,000 km was conducted from 2021 to 2023. It included eight states -- along the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers and their tributaries, as well as the Beas river. During the survey, 58 rivers were assessed. Of these, 28 rivers were actively surveyed by boat, while 30 were studied through road surveys, focusing on locations where the Ganges river dolphin had been historically reported. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
03 March,2025 06:05 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday commended the steady rise in population of Asiatic lions at Gujarat’s Gir wildlife sanctuary, highlighting the role of tribal communities in the surrounding areas in preserving their natural habitat. On the occasion of World Wildlife Day, which is observed on March 3 every year, he undertook a lion safari at the Gir wildlife sanctuary, post which he shared the information. “In the last many years, collective efforts have ensured that the population of Asiatic Lions is rising steadily,” Prime Minister informed in a post on X. This morning, on #WorldWildlifeDay, I went on a Safari in Gir, which, as we all know, is home to the majestic Asiatic Lion. Coming to Gir also brings back many memories of the work we collectively did when I was serving as Gujarat CM. In the last many years, collective efforts… pic.twitter.com/S8XMmn2zN7 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 3, 2025 He further stated, “Equally commendable is the role of tribal communities and women from surrounding areas in preserving the habitat of the Asiatic Lions.” The pictures shared from his social media handles showed PM Modi taking a closer view of the majestic Asiatic lions at the national park. He also took to X to share pictures of lions and lionesses that he clicked from his camera. “Lions and lionesses in Gir! Tried my hand at some photography this morning,” he wrote on X. Lions and lionesses in Gir! Tried my hand at some photography this morning. pic.twitter.com/TKBMKCGA7m — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 3, 2025 Further, he also informed that populations of tigers, leopards and rhinos have also risen in the past ten years. Over the last decade, the population of tigers, leopards, rhinos have risen too, indicating how deeply we cherish wildlife and are working to build sustainable habitats for animals. #WorldWildlifeDay — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 3, 2025 Last year, a report titled “Status of Tigers: Co-predators and Prey in India-2022 also put the spotlight on India's growing tiger population and said that a significant growth of 6.1% was registered, bringing the estimated number of tigers to 3,682. The report jointly released by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India said that India has become home to approximately 75 percent of world’s tiger population. (With inputs from IANS)
03 March,2025 04:27 PM IST | Gujarat | mid-day online correspondentIn a heartwarming gesture, the Academy honoured firefighters who helped battle deadly wildfires in Los Angeles on Sunday night. Host Conan O'Brien welcomed a team of firefighters on the stage. The audience gave them a standing ovation. "On behalf of everyone in greater Los Angeles, thank you for all you do," O'Brien said before he welcomed several firefighters to speak. Firefighters' appearance at the Oscars also left the audience in splits as they cracked a joke or two, as per Variety. Los Angeles Fire Department captain Erik Scott kicked things off with a doozy: "Our hearts go out to those who have lost their homes," he said. "And I'm talking about the producers of 'Joker 2.'" Even O'Brien was impressed with the one-liner. "Damn," the comedian cracked, "best delivery of the night." Los Angeles Fire Department pilot Jonas Johnson was next and took aim at "A Complete Unknown," a musical biopic about the early life of Bob Dylan. "To play Bob Dylan, Timothee Chalamet learned how to sing," Johnson said. "In fact, his singing was so good, he almost lost the part." Los Angeles firefighters were welcomed with a warm reception last month as well at the Grammy's. The wildfires, which started earlier this month, have caused massive destruction. At least 25 people lost their lives, and over 105,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes.
03 March,2025 11:55 AM IST | Los Angeles | ANIHuman-driven activities, including climate change, could be affecting body clocks of mammals, according to a global study that found that only 39 per cent of the species are behaving in line with what previous research says. Further, because of the environmental changes and the resulting effects, a majority of previous research related to body clocks of mammals could be outdated, researchers, including those from The University of Sydney, Australia, said. All animals are known to have circadian rhythms, or body clocks, regulating activities over a 24-hour period -- also called diel cycle. Collectively, the rhythms can develop into a generalised behaviour for a species. However, climate change threatens to upend these established patterns with unexpected consequences, the researchers said. For their analysis, published in the journal Science Advances, the team analysed video camera footage of 445 mammal species to note activity patterns over a 24-hour period. Results were compared with previous studies. "Through a global network representing 38 countries, we leveraged 8.9 million mammalian observations to create a library of 14,587 standardised diel activity estimates for 445 species," the authors wrote. "Overall, we found only 39 per cent agreement between our results and reference classifications, which further suggests that we need to re-evaluate species diel behaviour to fully understand their niche and how to conserve them in an anthropogenic world," they said. The team looked at whether circadian activity was responsive or resistant to environmental changes. The species showed a high plasticity in their diel patterns, indicating an ability to adjust daily activity depending on environmental conditions, the authors said. Finally, among a selected 126 species, the team studied how geography affected diel plasticity. "Distance from the equator, daylight hours per day, and exposure to human activity influenced diel phenotypes for 74 per cent of these species," they wrote. Data for the study was taken from the Global Animal Diel Activity Project, which includes 217 collaborators from 20,080 camera sites across 38 countries.
01 March,2025 09:47 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIA new study led by Professor Gemma Harvey from Queen Mary University of London has revealed how hundreds of species shape the landscapes we depend on, from termite mounds visible from space to beavers creating wetlands and hippos carving drainage systems.Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), this first-of-its-kind global synthesis identifies 603 species, genera, or families that influence Earth's surface processes. From tiny ants shifting soil to salmon reshaping riverbeds, the study highlights the diversity and scale of animals' impact across all freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems.By estimating the collective energy of these "natural engineers," the research shows that their geomorphic contributions rival those of hundreds of thousands of major floods.Key Insights from the Study:Unexpected Diversity: Beyond iconic examples like beavers and salmon, the study identifies hundreds of species -- including insects, mammals, fish, birds, and reptiles -- that shape landscapes in remarkable ways.Freshwater Ecosystems in Focus: Despite covering just 2.4% of the planet's surface, freshwater habitats host over a third of these remarkable species.Impressive Energy Output: Animals collectively contribute at least 76,000 gigajoules of energy annually to shaping the Earth's surface -- a figure comparable to hundreds of thousands of extreme floods. This estimate is likely conservative, as significant knowledge gaps exist, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions where biodiversity is highest but research is limited.Fascinating Examples: Termites build vast networks of mounds in Brazil, some covering thousands of square kilometres, while salmon spawning can shift as much sediment as annual flooding. Even ants, through their tiny but countless actions, alter soil structure and drainage.Professor Harvey explains: "This research shows that the role of animals in shaping Earth's landscapes is much more significant than previously recognised. From beavers creating wetlands to ants building mounds of soil, these diverse natural processes are crucial, yet we risk losing them as biodiversity declines."Nearly 30 per cent of the identified species are rare, endemic, or threatened, meaning vital geomorphic processes could cease before their full significance is understood. This loss could have profound consequences for ecosystems and the landscapes they support. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
22 February,2025 10:46 AM IST | London | ANIAn Indian biologist and wildlife conservationist has been named by Time Magazine among this year's 'Women of the Year' in a list that honours "extraordinary leaders" working toward a better, more equal world. Purnima Devi Barman, 45 is the only Indian woman on Time's Women of the Year 2025 list released Thursday. The list of 13 women also includes actor Nicole Kidman and Gisele Pelicot of France who was drugged by her husband and raped by over 70 different men and who became a global icon in the campaign against sexual violence. The profile on Barman states that she remembers the day in 2007 when her life changed when she got a call that a tree that was home to a family of greater adjutant storks, was being chopped down in Assam, where she lives. As she questioned why the tree was being cut, she said ¿Everyone surrounded me, started whistling at me.¿ But all she could think about were her infant twin daughters. Like the storks, they were so small. Barman was compelled to rescue the birds. Feeling their heartbeats moved her,¿ the Time profile said. It quoted her as saying that for the first time, she felt the importance the call of nature. From that day, my mission started. It noted that at the time, there were an estimated 450 greater adjutant storks left in the region. In 2023, thanks to Barman's work, the stork was moved from endangered status under the International Union for Conservation of Nature's classification to ¿near threatened.¿ "Their population in Assam has soared to more than 1,800,¿ it added. Supporting Barman in her efforts is her Hargila Army a team of some 20,000 women who protect the birds' nests and educate others about the beauty of these imposing, nearly 5-ft.-tall scavengers. The network has been expanding, from Assam to other parts of India and now Cambodia, with schools as far away as France teaching students about her work. Today, Barman proudly dons her traditional dress and shawl decorated with images of the storks woven by members of the Hargila Army who are able to earn a living by selling such items,¿ Time said. From clothing, songs, or celebrating baby showers for new chicks, "this bird is now a part of our tradition and culture,¿ she said. Time said that in deciding who makes the Women of the Year list each year, we ask ourselves the same question: What are the most significant issues facing women and girls around the world right now? Challenges are abundant, from gender-based violence and attacks on women's rights to the dangers of a volatile climate. But everywhere those threats can be found, so too can leaders pushing for change. The 13 women on this year's list are all, in their own way, working toward creating a better, more equitable world. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 February,2025 11:56 PM IST | New York | PTISnow cover atop Mount Everest retreated by 150 metres, indicating a lack of snow accumulation during the winter season of 2024-2025, researchers have noted. Analysing NASA satellite images from October 2023 till early January 2025, trends illustrated "a rise in snow line through January in both 2024 and 2025", glaciologist Mauri Pelto, a professor of environmental science at Nichols College, US, wrote in a blog post on February 2. At 8,849 metres above sea level, Mount Everest is the tallest point on Earth. The Himalayan peak is located between Nepal and Tibet. 'Snow line' refers to the boundary or elevation at which snow permanently stays on a mountain. A 'rising snow line' -- in which snow melts at lower heights, forcing the snow line boundary up a mountainside -- is suggestive of a warming climate. Pelto said that warmer and drier conditions have been prevailing in recent winters, including those of 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025, which are driving a reduced snow cover, higher snow lines and increased forest fires. While the region saw a few small snow events early in each winter, the snow cover does not persist, suggesting that glaciers have continued to retreat even above 6000 metres on Mount Everest, he said. Snow cover loss during winter at these altitudes is primarily the result of sublimation -- where ice directly evaporates -- with losses observed up to 2.5 millimetres daily, Pelto added. Sublimation is said to significantly contribute to the loss in overall mass of a glacier, causing it to retreat. In December 2024, Nepal saw 20-25 per cent of normal with drier conditions in the east, accompanied by above average temperatures. This resulted in extreme drought in several provinces, including Koshi Province, the glaciologist said. He observed that January 2025 has continued to be dry, with consistently warm conditions, thereby enabling high snow lines to persist and rise from early December into early February, 2025. "The average snow line (on Mount Everest Region glaciers on January 28, 2025) is 6,100 metres -- 150 metres higher than on December 11, 2024," Pelto wrote. The blog post was an update to that written in May 2024, which noted a "limited snow cover" persisting since November 2023. The glaciologist explained that the 2023-2024 winter season was "different", because the high snow lines of 2020-21 were a result of an "extraordinary January heat wave" -- there was no heat wave this time. Instead, above normal temperature and a "lack of any significant precipitation" were critical to the outcome of rising snow line, with less than 25 millimetres of precipitation at Everest Base Camp during January 1 - March 31, 2024, Pelto said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
20 February,2025 02:56 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIADVERTISEMENT
