Monkey fever detected in black faced langur in Mudumalai

S M Arun

Common Langur or Tufted gray langur

COIMBATORE: For the first time since the discovery of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) or Monkey fever in March 1957, the disease which is endemic in the state of Karnataka has entered Tamil Nadu. A black faced langur found dead in Mudumalai in the Nilgiris could have been infected with the disease, say forest officials. The body of black-faced langur was found a week ago in Mudumalai and the autopsy report revealed that the death was due to the KFD virus. Since it is the first time the presence of the disease is confirmed in Tamil Nadu, health officials in both Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts were put on high alert.

The disease is transmitted by bite of KFD infected ticks and has a mortality rate of 4 % to 15 % in human being; say Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) studies. Hunters, forest workers, farmers, campers and trekkers are those who are highly susceptible to the disease as infected ticks could transmit it to humans when they enter forests. They might carry the ticks with them to their homes and it could become epidemic. Coimbatore deputy director of health services Dr R Damodharan said after KFD was reported in Mudumalai, forest department staff in the Nilgiris have been vaccinated against the disease.

"Health officials have been put on alert. So far no KFD incidents have been reported in Coimbatore. We have also intensified the monitoring and surveillance," he said. He said 11 human KFD cases were reported in Gundlupet area recently and one of them succumbed to the disease. The symptoms include fever with bleeding disorders and a reduction in platelet counts, RBC and WBC. "Hospital on wheels and Medical Outreach (MO) Services in tribal areas have been put on alert in Coimbatore-Nilgiri border areas," he added.

Though vaccinations are available against KFD, there is no specific treatment. But, timely supportive therapy reduces mortality in humans. Besides tick bites, humans can get infected by the disease following contact with an infected animal. The disease was named after the forest area where it was discovered. Diagnosis of KFD is normally through enzyme-linked immunosorbent serologic assay (ELISA), the same test which is used to diagnose dengue.

With more and more people taking to trekking and camping in forests and also visiting tourist spots like Mudumalai in the Nilgiris, the risk factor is higher and the transportation of infected ticks from forests to cities will be disastrous especially at this juncture when the KFD infection has been confirmed in Mudumalai.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Monkey-fever-detected-in-black-faced-langur-in-Mudumalai/articleshow/18438275.cms

Tortoise smuggling bid thwarted, 2 held

A fresh water tortoise that was rescued by forest officials, in the city
on Saturday | Martin Louis

Chennai: Two persons, suspected to be couriers, were caught at the International Airport here when they attempted to smuggle 27 fresh water tortoises to Bangkok on Friday night. The two couriers, who had been transporting textile clothing for more than 10 years, claimed they received the baggage with the tortoises at Central Railway Station but were not aware of what was inside it.

Forest officials said that the passengers, H Shamsudeen (67), a native of Kamuthi in Ramanathapuram district currently living in Washermenpet in Chennai, and M Mohamad Yoonus (47), of Ilayangudi in Sivagangai district and presently living in Seven Wells here, were caught before they could board a flight to Bangkok. Customs officials fell suspicious of the stroller suitcase they were carrying and intercepted them. When the officials checked their baggage, they found 27 fresh water adult tortoises neatly packaged and kept inside.

Customs officials questioned the duo and found that they did not possess any valid document to carry the species, protected under the Schedule IV of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

The passengers were detained and were later handed over to the forest department.

Forest officials said the duo was booked under Section 39 (3) (A) (B) and 48 A of the Wildlife Protection Act. “They claimed they received the baggage from an unidentified man at Central Railway Station around 5 pm on Friday before heading for the airport. The maximum punishment for such an offense is seven years imprisonment,” said S Davidraj, forest ranger, Velachery range office.

Mohamed Yoonus, one of the passengers, told Express that he had been operating as a carrier for the past 20 years transporting textile clothing from merchants in North Chennai to Malaysia and Bangkok. “I have been doing this for the past 10 years. Once we get acquainted with a person, we don’t check or inquire what they have in the baggage. We were told we would get `3,000 and were instructed to hand over the box to a man waiting at Bangkok airport wearing a black shirt,” Shamsudeen, the other passenger, told forest officials. But passengers could not give a convincing reply when asked by forest officials why they did not check the content of the baggage when they received it from a stranger.

The rescued tortoises were given carrots and cabbage and the officials said they would be sent to the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur. Last time around a similar arrest was made at the Airport in 2010, officials said adding that smuggling of wildlife through Chennai had come down considerably due to intensive checking and strict punishments.

Source: http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/article1457314.ece

A lifeline under siege

N. SHIVA KUMAR

Though they play a vital role in sustaining the eco-system, the country’s natural wetlands are falling prey to rising pollution and urbanisation.

Water lily: Disappearing fast along with vanishing wetlands. Photos: N. Shiva Kumar

The World Wetlands Day (WWD) was observed sporadically across India on February 2 and yet many of us are not aware about the richness and necessity of wetlands in our lives. While wetlands are nature’s water storage and water purification zones, they are also a paradise for wildlife, fishing, angling and bird-watching, water sports, relaxation and rejuvenation. Scientists believe that wetlands are the kidneys of nature. Unfortunately, wetlands today have become mere dumping grounds for garbage, rapidly throttling the water bodies.

Over the centuries, India had a number of sustainable natural wetlands and these were the lifeline of local communities who depended on these water bodies for staple food, livestock grazing, fodder, fuel-wood transport and irrigation. In addition to the natural wetlands were a number of man-made traditional reservoirs constructed virtually in every town and village — supplying water for everyday needs. However, with booming population and burgeoning urbanisation, these self-sustaining water bodies have become increasingly filthy and unfit for human utilisation. Even the beautiful lotus and water lilies, which were part and parcel of wetlands, have disappeared in many regions.

The country’s rivers have turned into giant gutters carrying waste released by thousands of towns and cities. Although considerable money has been spent to cleanse these waterways, the government’s indifference and citizens’ ignorance have resulted in the continuation of debris being dumped into the rivers. It is estimated that three billion litres of sewage flows into the Ganga alone daily with industries also contributing their effluents.

Over the years, wetlands have been neglected and have not gained importance as other areas of nature and wildlife conservation. It is imperative that wetlands occupy the heart of conservation efforts as water management is at the core of sustainable uses of wetlands. Water scarcity today is becoming an urgent problem for mankind that needs effective remediation.

For the WWD this year, the theme set by UNESCO’s Hydrological Programme was ‘Wetlands Take Care of Water’. It reflected the interdependence between water and wetlands. “Making the link between wetlands and water is essential because without water there will be no wetlands — and without wetlands there will be no water! Wetlands such as mangroves, bogs, freshwater swamps are home to a wealth of biodiversity. Wetlands fulfil vital roles in carbon storage, pollution control and protection from natural hazards such as floods and storms. Millions of people around the world relay on wetlands as it provide ecosystem services such as food, fresh water and fuel,” says Mark Smith, director of IUCN’s Global Water Programme.

By the virtue of its geographical location, varied terrain and climatic zones, India supports a rich diversity of inland and coastal wetlands; but they are in distress currently. The Wular Lake in Kashmir or Kolleru Lake in Andhra Pradesh, two of the largest lakes in the country, are depleting as they are losing their vitality to regenerate. The story is similar for other lakes and rivers across the subcontinent.

The National Wetland Atlas, prepared by Space Applications Centre (SAC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has classified 67,429 wetlands in India occupying 60 million hectares, including paddy cultivation. The majority of these inland wetlands are dependent on major rivers like the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery. However, with rising water pollution, drought and water battles between various States, conservation of wetlands needs to be taken up on a war footing.

Fortunately, some of the wetlands are receiving their due importance for their contribution to the natural wealth. For instance, the Chilika Lake in Odisha is about to become the first lake from Asia to adopt the “Ecosystem Health Report Card” — an effective means of tracking and reporting the health of a wetland. The Chilika will join the elite club of iconic wetlands like Chesapeake Bay (U.S.A) and the Great Barrier Reef (Australia).

“Increased human population around wetlands adds to ecological degradation due to unsustainable practices like agriculture expansion and over-exploitation. Due to this both wildlife and people suffer, particularly water birds like the cormorants. The condition of the existing wetlands needs to be conserved as our natural assets. With judicious use of numerous useful aquatic bacteria, plants and animals associated with wetlands, harmful impurities can be removed and water can be purified,” says Emeritus Professor C.R. Babuin, in-charge of Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems, University of Delhi.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/a-lifeline-under-siege/article4397277.ece