The Nilgiri Tahr

 

By : Shravasti Sarkar

The antics of the sure-footed Nilgiritahr are a treat to watch, but these endangered wild mountain goats – found only in high altitudes in the Nilgiris — could be losing their footing. Stocky goats with short, coarse fur and a bristly mane, these gentle and generally shy animals had been listed as endangered on the IUCN red list, and schedule I on the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 after their numbers dwindled to around 2200-2500 individuals in the wild in 1996.

They are unique being the only mountain ungulate among the 12 species in India that is endemic to the WesternGhats. All the others are found only in the Himalayas.Males are larger than the females and both have curved horns. Adult males weigh 80-100 kg and stand about 100cm tall at the shoulder. Adult males develop a light grey area or “saddle” on their backs and are hence called “saddlebacks”.

Nilgiritahrs exist only in small, isolated populations due to extreme habitat fragmentation, illegal hunting, overgrazing by domestic lifestock. They are, as a result, vulnerable to local extinction. The reasons for the decline of tahr populations have not been fully understood. Despite several studies over the years, there are only rough estimations of Nilgiritahr populations. The species has always been under severe stress on account of the construction of numerous hydroelectric projects, timber felling and monoculture plantation of eucalyptus and wattles. All these development activities, especially the plantation activities affect the heart of the tahr habitat, which are the grasslands – sholas.

A new study has predicted that most of the existing habitats of the NilgiriTahr in the Western Ghats will become unsuitable as global warming intensifies.The study has been published by a team of five scientists, including two from the Bengaluru-based non-profit Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) in the journal, Ecological Engineering.

The Nilgiritahr has increased in numbers in recent decades thanks to strict protection within one of India’s most effective National Parks. TheEravikulam National Park was established in 1978 and covers around 97 square kilometers. Eravikulam National Park in Munnar is a prime example of a separate safe haven being created to preserve these gentle beings. In a very recent survey by the WWF and the forest department, the current population status and distribution of the tahr across its entire distribution range the total population of Nilgiritahr was estimated at 3,122 individuals. They have also located 17 previously unrecorded smaller pockets of Nilgiritahr habitat, totaling 131 individuals. But we cannot rest on these achievements. The threats remain and we must remain vigilant and proactive in our efforts to conserve the Nilgiritahr.

THE SEA-RIOUS ISSUE OF THE EARTH'S OCEANS

By: Aditya Srinivasa

We’re drowning marine ecosystems in trash, noise, oil, and carbon emissions.An estimated 8 million tonnes of plastic trash enter the ocean every year, and plastic straws make up only a very small percentage of it.
Saying no to plastic straws might feel like a conscientious effort to reduce marine litter, but this global movement does little to stem the pollution. The country of Taiwan has plans to ban plastic cups and straws by the year 2030 entirely. Even Great Britain, plans to eliminate the usage of plastic straws in a bid to fight waste.
Our oceans are threatened by three major challenges: climate change, overfishing and pollution. Plastic pollution is of growing concern, and has gained international attention from governments, media and large sections of the public, partly fuelled by last year’s BBC documentary Blue Planet II and its images of sperm whales and seabirds entangled or ingesting plastic debris. We’re familiar with the idea that we can all do something to prevent plastic ending up in the sea, such as refusing plastic straws and carrying a refillable water bottle. However, while we need to use less, we also need to produce less, and throw away less of it. This means not only individual behaviour change, but changes in industrial processes, and government policies worldwide. Local councils could set up rubbish and recycling facilities for beach goers and enforce penalties for littering and fly tipping near beaches and rivers. 
The fate of our seas is not only up to the government or industry. Our individual, daily actions matter, too. You can start by reducing water pollution and runoff at home, being more mindful of your plastic consumption, or organizing a cleanup of your local waterway. You can also support the work of environmental advocacy groups as well as other businesses and organizations that work to preserve our coasts and waters.

The Fundamentals Need of Building an Environmental Attitude

By: Monish M

In recent times environmental attitude is gaining importance .I strongly believe that by the developmental of an environmental attitude, our concerns regarding environmental degradation and deterioration can be solved to a great extent. I would start off by defining Environmental Attitude as a learned enduring orientation in the way we think, feel or act with respect to the Environment.
Environmental Attitude is a psychological tendency with a certain degree of indulgence associated while evaluating the environment. The development of Environmental Attitude requires different time frames for different people based on their culture, socio-economic conditions, ideologies and consciousness associated with environmental issues. But it is very essential to note that once an Environmental Attitude, that too a healthy one, is developed then, it may certainly help us in a broader perspective in  looking forward for a healthy and conservative  environment.
Though it has been debated whether awareness affects attitude or attitude affects awareness. It is still important to note that after developing an attitude, the awareness in terms of recognizing and observing different things about the topic comes into picture. This is especially valid for a country like India where these things are increasingly gaining understanding .In this era of global environmental upheaval including concerns like Global Warming, Climate Change, increase in the sea levels, rise in pollution, environmental degradation etc.
 One of the promising ways that one person can contribute individually is by developing all components of Environmental Attitude .The building of Environmental Attitude will also make the person to be ethically connected to the environmental issues and thus, he can think, feel and act in his individual capacity to solve this catastrophic problem.











The idea of changing the world can be debatable. We very often think, "I’m only one person; what can I really do?" If every person thinks that, nothing will get done. But if every person did just one thing to make the world a better place today, billions of acts of kindness, social responsibility and generosity would take place  and wouldn’t that alone change the face of this planet?
Helen Keller said, "I am only one, but still I am one; I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and just because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."
So here is a list of things that we could do to make a difference
1. Volunteer your time at local schools
 Children are the future of this world. Spend time helping them reach their potential by tutoring, mentoring or taking part in a school program.
2. Recognize the humanity of other people, and respect their dignity
We must consciously realize that the homeless man we pass on the street every day is in fact, a man. Through choices of his own or circumstances out of his control, he ended up in this situation, and that makes him no less human. Learning to say hello and warmly greet him would surely make a large difference. Your greeting could bring healing to his heart, and help heal the world one person at a time. Treat people as equals, no matter how you interpret their social standing.
3. Use less paper
Our forests are being cut down at an alarming rate. Conserve the trees by conserving paper. Send an e-mail instead of a letter, type directions into your cell phone instead of writing them down, and bring your own fabric shopping bags to the store.
4. Drive less
Even the use of hybrid vehicles contributes to carbon emissions, greenhouse gases, and reduced air quality. Take a moment to consider how you can use your personal vehicle less. You could carpool or take public transportation to work, walk to church, or bike to pick up a few things from the store and make the world a better place.
5. Conserve water
Taking long showers and letting the water run as you brush your teeth are indulgences that negatively impact our world. Try to limit your water usage by timing how long you have the water running, and trying to beat that time the next time you turn on the faucet.
6. Donate to clean water charities
A large portion of the world is without fresh drinking water. Educate yourself about the drought epidemic, and make the world a better place by donating to organizations and charities helping to fight against the lack of clean water around the globe. Your donation could result in the reduction of preventable, water-related diseases.
7. Be generous
It's easy to be selfish with your time, money, and resources by getting caught up in our material-driven societal expectations. Try being generous and see how your life changes. Buy coffee for the person behind you in line at Starbucks, read to children at your local library, or simply stop and listen for the answer when you ask a friend how they're doing. Chances are that your generosity will energize you, and you'll feel less helpless about how to make the world a better place.

From a Concerned Member of the Plant Community...

From a concerned member of the plant community to man
By: Senthooran B

The first thing I remember is breaking the surface of the earth and taking my first breath. The air felt so pure and clean as it gushed through my veins.  I remember, during my childhood years, learning to be selfless and share all I had with anyone who cared enough to ask. I sheltered the birds from the elements, provided food to animals, and oxygen to all living things. I remember making friends with the other trees and making many happy memories.
During my teenage years was my first experience with man – the smartest and probably the most dangerous animal to walk the earth. He was a lone traveller- a man tired from a long journey. Being my usual compassionate self, I gave to him all I had to offer. The man seemed grateful for the shade and continued his long journey soon. Little did I know then, that he would return to cause me a great deal of sorrow.
My second experience with man was during my youth. This time man returned to cut down my friends and clear off my pet shrubs to lay a grey contraption called a road which allowed for his convenient transport. This upset me, but there was little I could do about it. Despite this, I continued giving all I had to mankind.
During my middle age man returned yet again and mercilessly cut down almost every one of my friends. He built his own shelters and farms. It seemed as if man did not require us trees anymore and that in itself was a reason for us not to exist. This was the last straw. I knew we couldn’t be friends, but we could perhaps co-operate in some manner?
The events that occur during my old age certainly don’t make it seem so. Man continues destroying my brethren, not just near his ’cities’, but in forests – places we thought to be a safe havens. Man continues destroying us, promising all the time that he will won’t. Man continues destroying us, even though we provide him with so many useful goods.
Thus, I appeal to the better nature of man. I seek only a modicum of grace from you, an acknowledgement of the difficulties that we face. It is not only for plants that I ask this of you, but also for your own wellbeing. Listen to you environmentalists- stop destroying us or soon you will reach a situation where global warming levels go unchecked and you have no air left to breathe.

Unnatural Disasters

UNNATURAL DISASTERS
By: Sujata Shivakumar

The cause and commencement of human existence, while hypothesized by many, is unknown. Generation, after generation we have thrived, we have breathed the air around us with joy and excitement at doing something extraordinary with our lives. Yet, in all this development, we seem to have lost a keen sense of what our mother Earth means to us. "Having taken the Earth and her resources for granted' is a gross understatement in the grand scheme of what human beings are collectively destroying. 

In the past half billion years, five great extinctions have transformed life on Earth, whether brought about by a catastrophic meteor impact that killed off the dinosaurs or prolonged periods of intense volcanic activity, which wiped out as much as 97 percent of all species. 

Now, say scientists, Earth may be experiencing a sixth wave of mass extinction. But this time, humans are the cause.

The impacts of human beings' ability to denature the Earth's environment, quite literally are tenfold:

We're losing species at just an incredible rate and I think most scientists think that rate is increasing.Degradation of the world’s natural resources by humans is rapidly outpacing the planet’s ability to absorb the damage, meaning the rate of deterioration is increasing globally, the most comprehensive environmental study ever undertaken by the UN has found.

Apart from this, Greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere are eating up the ozone layer - the gas that successfully prevents us from frying in the sun- at such a rate, chipping away at whatever is left of the livable earth. Add preventable oil spills, drinking water contamination, chemical explosions and disappearing bodies of green to the mix and you've got one rapidly declining environment with no salvation in the near future. 

This leads us to the question if how long Earth has to live. Have Humans caused irreparable damage or is there something to salvage for future generations? Are we capable of learning from these mistakes and moving forward with a better outlook? The playlist reveals a history of negligence, apathy toward safety and a fatal devaluation of the environment at the apical point of the world's largest unnatural disaster. 

Our environment is precious and delicate and it is in our best interest to keep it clean and healthy, the water free of drainage filled with toxins and the land filled with greenery .
We must strive to maintain environment conditions that are as natural as possible. It only makes sense to adopt such an attitude because a polluted and dirty environment is nothing but toxic to Hymabs, Flora and fauna . These are more than sufficient reasons for people to unite and work towards healthier, cleaner lifestyles. After all, destroying mother Earth means destroying ourselves .

Dystopian Furure

DYSTOPIAN FUTURE
By: Karan Anand

Humans have destroyed a tenth of Earth’s remaining wilderness in the last 25 years and there may be none left within a century if trends continue, according to an authoritative new study.
Researchers found a vast area the size of two Alaskas – 3.3m square kilometres – had been tarnished by human activities between 1993 and today, which experts said was a “shockingly bad” and “profoundly large number”.
The Amazon accounted for nearly a third of the “catastrophic” loss, showing huge tracts of pristine rainforest are still being disrupted despite the Brazilian government slowing deforestation rates in recent years. A further 14% disappeared in central Africa, home to thousands of species including forest elephants and chimpanzees.
Our natural ecosystems are finding it hard to cope with the different pressures and are unable to adjust. If we continue depleting  resources and destroying our environment, soon it will be too late for them to recover, even with our help.
When we’ve mined what we can from our planet, when all animals have died, when there are no more fish in the sea, when the Earth is barren and devoid of trees… what will happen to us?
• Increased flooding due to the erosion of soil and lack of trees
• Rising of the sea levels due to the melting of the glaciers, caused by Global Warming
• Disruption of the food chain when the apex predators become extinct
• Water shortage -  we only have a finite supply of fresh drinking water
• Food shortage as the lands become barren and the oceans become fishless
• Loss of biodiversity as whole species of living things disappear due to deforestation
• Pollution will eventually become unmanageable and affect our health.
• Rising temperatures may be too much for all living things on the planet
Although things appear to be bleak for the entire planet, this is not the last leg of the race. We need to unite , put aside our petty differences and strive to ensure the survival of this planet .

An Ode to a Beautiful Woman

              An Ode to a Beautiful Woman
By: Shravasti Sarkar

Only when the last tree has died the last river has been poisoned and the last fish caught will we realize that we cannot eat money?
Often we talk of saving the environment but rarely do we recognize those who stand up for the earth who doesn’t have a voice of her own. Today I want to spread some awareness about a strong and popular socialist of India Medha Patkar.
Medha Patkar is the creator of the Narmada bachao andolan. A voice for those who do not have much of a say, Medha Patkar is a social activist who spearheaded and participated in a number of social causes ranging from the Narmada Bachao Andolan to the Tata-Singur issue.
Whether it was the influence of her politically active parents or her innate nature, Medha Patkar was always inclined towards social work. She graduated with a Masters degree in Social Work from the reputed institute, TISS.
In 1989, Medha Patkar concocted the Narmada Bachao Andolan on behalf of the farmers and tribal people to prevent the Sardar Sarovar Dam from being erected on the Narmada river.
She has been firm on the issue and till date ensures that tribal agitations – be it for their own rights or for protecting the environment – get her full support.
In the Tata-Singur case, Medha Patkar played a pivotal role in curbing Tata’s intention of laying down a Nano plant, which would have rendered a number of farmers without land and hence without any means of income.
She has truly proven that a dream or a vision doesn’t become reality through magic it takes sweat, determination and hard work. She has inspired us and taught us that we need to stop doubting the fact that we can save the world and make it happen. Most importantly she taught us one very important thing : Don’t play victim to the circumstances you created , if you are not a part of the solution you are a part of the problem.