Tamil Nadu has successfully deployed AI tools to prevent human-animal conflicts, a move that has significantly reduced incidents involving wild elephants, the state's Additional Chief Secretary (Climate Change and Forests) Supriya Sahu said. In an exclusive interview with PTI Videos, Sahu said the state is embedding technology and community participation to address issues ranging from wildlife protection to climate change and waste management. "In Madukkarai, to prevent accidental deaths of wild elephants on railway tracks, we have deployed artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies. Cameras equipped with AI and thermal sensors have been installed along vulnerable stretches," she said. The initiative, she said, has helped achieve "near-zero elephant deaths" in the area as automated alerts generated by the system are shared in real time with local communities, train drivers, and forest teams. The project is being expanded to other regions, including the Nilgiris, she added. Sahu, who recently received the 2025 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Award, said the state is also building long-term climate models through a dedicated "Climate Studio". "We are creating decadal models of climate change and partnering with institutions such as IIT Madras, Anna University, the Gandhi Devadasan Institute, and organisations like CEEW, WRI, and ICLEI. We are also working with UNEP on cooling guidelines and implementing cool roof solutions across cities," she said. On coastal protection, she said the state government, in collaboration with the World Bank, is implementing the Tamil Nadu Strengthening Coastal Resilience and the Economy (TN-SHORE) project to develop bio-shields and protect shoreline communities during natural disasters. "We are planting new mangrove areas, rejuvenating existing ones, and restoring seagrass and coral reefs in the Gulf of Mannar. Efforts are also on to revive islands at risk of submergence. These are part of large-scale nature-based solutions being rolled out with the involvement of local communities," she said. Sahu said the state is also intensifying efforts to ensure segregation of household waste to reduce landfill accumulation. "We are working closely with the Department of Municipal Administration to strengthen segregation of household garbage at the source. In urban areas, bio-mining of legacy waste has been completed in over 70 to 75 sites," she said. She added that the government is engaging with town and village panchayats to build their capacity and connect them with recyclers, aiming to develop long-term sustainable solutions to address climate change challenges. 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.
02 January,2026 01:48 PM IST | Chennai | PTIClimate change fuelled extreme weather across the world in 2025, worsening heatwaves, droughts, storms and wildfires and pushing millions close to the "limits of adaptation", according to the World Weather Attribution's annual report. Scientists have called for a rapid reduction of fossil fuel consumption to avoid the worst consequences of climate change, it said. The World Weather Attribution is an international collaboration that analyses and communicates the possible influence of climate change on extreme weather events, such as storms, extreme rainfall, heatwaves and droughts. According to the report, heatwaves have become measurably more intense since the Paris Agreement was signed, with some events now up to 10 times more likely to happen than in 2015. "In 2025, climate change fuelled extreme weather across the world, worsening heatwaves, droughts, storms and wildfires, and pushing millions close to the limits of adaptation. Global temperatures were exceptionally high throughout the year," the report said. It noted that although natural modes like El Niño Southern Oscillation were in a cooler phase, global warming made 2025 one of the warmest years on record. "Extreme weather disproportionally affects vulnerable groups and marginalised communities. This inequality is also seen in climate science, where lack of data and limitations in climate models constrain analyses for Global South events," the report said. The experts said reducing vulnerability and exposure of the population saves lives, but some extreme events in 2025 showed that climate change is already pushing millions close to the "limits of adaptation". "Each year, the risks of climate change become less hypothetical and more brutal reality," Friederike Otto, professor in Climate Science at the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London, said. "The report shows that despite efforts to cut carbon emissions, they have fallen short in preventing global temperature rise and the worst impacts. Decision-makers must face the reality that their continued reliance on fossil fuels is costing lives, billions in economic losses, and causing irreversible damage to communities worldwide," Otto, who is also the co-founder of World Weather Attribution, added. The report noted that 2025, despite being a year with La Niña conditions -- a feature that is usually associated with colder equatorial Pacific ocean waters and milder global temperatures -- this year will still be one of the hottest three ever recorded. "The three-year average will also cross the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold for the first time. The rapid studies conducted by World Weather Attribution this year highlight the consequences of this warming. Most extreme weather events analysed by the group showed the fingerprints of climate change. "The analyses also show that for every extreme event, vulnerable populations are systematically the hardest hit," the report noted. In 2025, World Weather Attribution identified 157 extreme weather events that met a set of criteria of humanitarian impact. Floods and heatwaves were the most frequent occurrences, with 49 events each, followed by storms (38), wildfires (11), droughts (7) and cold spells (3). The team studied 22 of those events in-depth: three in Africa, seven in the Americas, five in Asia, six in Europe and one in Oceania. Of those, 17 were made more severe or more likely due to climate change, while five yielded inconclusive results, mostly due to the lack of weather data and limitations in climate models. The scientists also revisited six previous heat events for a report, looking at how extreme heat has become more frequent and intense since the signing of the Paris Agreement. Since 2015, global warming has increased but some heatwaves have become almost 10 times more likely -- yet another evidence that when it comes to climate change, every fraction of a degree matters, they said in the report. "Heatwaves were the deadliest extreme weather events of 2025. While most heat-related deaths remain unreported, one study estimated that 24,400 died from a single summer heatwave in Europe this year," the report said. Tropical cyclones and storms were also among the deadliest events of the year. One of the worst examples happened recently, when several simultaneous storms hit Asia and Southeast Asia, killing more than 1,700 people and causing billions in damages. 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.
31 December,2025 09:53 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIThe Patna Zoo authorities are using oil heaters, fluorescent and UV lights as part of winter care for animals, an official said. Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, popularly called Patna Zoo, houses numerous animals and has been categorised as a 'large' zoo by the central zoo authority. Patna Zoo director Hemant Patil said, "We face a lot of challenges in helping animals adapt to the changing weather during harsh winters." The software engineer-turned IFS officer said this year, the Patna Zoo has introduced 'oil heaters' instead of rod heaters and blowers in carnivore cells. "This is a significant upgrade because blowers and rod heaters, which were used earlier, led to an increase in CO2 composition and hampered oxygen supply, which negatively affected animals," Patil said. Oil heaters, on the contrary, he said, allow for automated moderation and maintain the oxygen level. "In the reptiles section, including snakes, we have replaced tube lights and 100-watt bulbs with fluorescent and UV lights, which are quite effective in maintaining temperature," he said. On other arrangements for animals' winter care, the zoo director said, "On the routine end, we place paddy straws in various cells, increase animals' intake of food, particularly immunity and metabolism boosting items like chyawanprash to primates, honey and sugarcane to bears." Patil said the elephants have their own way of keeping it safe during winters. However, oil massage is done daily to keep them immune to winter. He estimated that around 1.5 to 2 litres of mustard oil is utilised for massage daily The Patna Zoo director emphasised that one of the major focuses this year has been to change the bloodlines of animals in the zoo through innovative changes in inbreeding patterns. "We are also looking for male-to-male swaps from other zoos in the country in order to change the bloodline so that animals can be prevented from certain genetic diseases. Luckily, we have not witnessed any considerable spread of such diseases thus far, but the time has arrived to change the bloodline," he said. Patil highlighted that Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park is categorised as a 'large' zoo by the Central Zoo Authority. There is a limited number of 'large' zoos across the country, and they have more or less the same species of animals. "We can swap animals, particularly males, across these zoos to change the bloodline of animals," he stressed. He hinted that authorities here are in talks with certain international zoos to "bring in some animals" as part of an exchange, which could serve as a point of attraction for children and is important from a conservation perspective. "Let it be a surprise element for now, and get it done probably in a couple of months," Patil said. He said that the zoo administration also aims to increase attraction points in the botany section. "Fern and cactus houses are to be upgraded, and entry areas are being beautified." "Our main focus is on cleanliness, apart from the regular infrastructure upgrades," Patil added. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar had made a surprise visit to the zoo on Thursday and took stock of the arrangements and developments. "The CM made a surprise visit here on Thursday and was very happy to see the developments. He assured of all possible assistance from the government's side. He is very positive in this regard," Patil 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.
29 December,2025 04:22 PM IST | Patna | PTIA long-billed vulture named J132 that was released in Maharashtra's Pench Tiger Reserve earlier this month has travelled nearly 750 km in 17 days and reached close to Anjaneri hills near Trimbakeshwar in Nashik district, officials said on Sunday. The vulture was released on December 11 as part of a conservation programme jointly run by the state forest department and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), whose researchers said the bird reached a location about 38 kilometres from Anjaneri on December 27. It followed a route covering Nagpur, Wardha, Yavatmal, Hingoli, Washim, Buldhana, Jalna and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar districts before entering Nashik region, these researchers added. Officials said the final destination of the tracked vulture has been kept confidential to ensure its safety. "The bird roosts in the evening, feeds in the morning and then flies to the next location. Activity data suggests it has had at least two full meals during its journey," BNHS researcher Manan Singh said. The vulture is part of the second batch of captively bred birds released in Pench. A total of 14 vultures were brought from Pinjore in Haryana to a specially created pre-release aviary in Pench Tiger Reserve in April 2025 and were trained for eight months to survive in the wild. These included eight white-rumped vultures and five long-billed vultures, all fitted with GPS tags to monitor their movements. After acclimatisation and training, the birds were released on December 11 by Maharashtra Chief Wildlife Warden Sreenivas Reddy and BNHS president Praveen Pardeshi. From December 12 to 15, all the released vultures were observed feeding along with wild vultures in Pench, officials said. While the white-rumped vultures have largely remained around the Pench area, the long-billed vultures have begun exploring wider regions, they added. Apart from J132, another long-billed vulture -- LBV AB 1 from the same batch has reached Dhanora in Gadchiroli district, a known vulture habitat, the officials informed. "The released vultures are fitted with GPS transmitters, which would help in long-term scientific monitoring of movement, habitat use and survival of the released birds. The journey of J132 has generated significant interest among the birding community. Monitoring will continue to strengthen vulture conservation efforts in central India," BNHS director Kishor Rithe said. Chief Wildlife Warden Shrinivas Reddy said similar tagging operations have also been completed in Melghat and Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserves, where vultures would be released soon. 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.
29 December,2025 04:12 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIOf the four mice involved in a recent mission aboard China's space station, one female has now successfully birthed healthy offspring on Earth, the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization (CSU) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) said on Saturday. The four mice -- two male and two female -- were sent into space aboard the Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceship on October 31, and were housed in a specialised habitat on the space station before returning to Earth on November 14, Xinhua news agency reported. After their return, one female conceived and later delivered nine pups on December 10. Six of the newborns have survived -- a rate considered normal. Researchers have noted that the mother is nursing normally and the pups appear active and healthy. "This mission showed that short-term space travel did not impair the reproductive capability of the mouse," said Wang Hongmei, a researcher at the Institute of Zoology of the CAS. "It also provides invaluable samples for the investigation of how the space environment influences early developmental stages in mammals," Hongmei added. The rodents were transported to China's space station to be raised in orbit for five to seven days, marking the country's first scientific experiments involving mammalian models in space. As a key model animal in the field of life sciences, the mice feature several advantages -- high genetic similarity to humans, small body size and short reproductive cycle, and a high amenability to genetic modification, said Huang Kun, an expert from the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). "These traits make them ideal for studying physiological and pathological processes, as well as the growth, development, and reproduction of living organisms in space," he said. The project, jointly led by the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics and the Institute of Zoology, both under the CAS, involved continuous multi-dimensional video monitoring of the mice throughout their stay in orbit. The lighting inside the mice experiment facility turned on at 7 a.m. and off at 7 p.m., maintaining the same circadian rhythm as on Earth, explained Li Tianda, an associate researcher at the Institute of Zoology. The rodent food was not only nutritionally balanced but also made it relatively hard to reduce crumbs and meet the mice's teeth-grinding habit. A directional air flow within the facility is designed to blow hair, faeces, and other garbage into a collection container, ensuring a clean and hygienic environment for the mice, Li said. By collecting preliminary data on stress responses and adaptation mechanisms in microgravity, the scientists aimed to use these observations to decode how weightlessness and enclosed space influence mice's behaviours. After completing their orbital mission, the "mice astronauts" returned to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-20 spaceship for further analysis. Previous animal experiments conducted in the Chinese space lab involved zebra fish and fruit flies. 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.
28 December,2025 02:18 PM IST | Beijing | IANSA new study has found that species are being discovered at a faster rate than ever before, with scientists identifying more than 16,000 new species each year. Researchers led by those at the University of Arizona looked at the classification histories of roughly two million species, spanning all groups of living organisms. Findings published in the journal Science Advances show that between 2015 and 2020 -- the most recent period with comprehensive data -- an average of more than 16,000 new species each year were documented, including more than 10,000 animals, 2,500 plants and 2,000 fungi. Discovering new species is important because species cannot be protected until scientifically described, senior author John Wiens, a professor in the University of Arizona's department of ecology and evolutionary biology, said. "Documentation is the first step in conservation -- we can't safeguard a species from extinction if we don't know it exists," Wiens said. The author said that scientists have suggested that the pace at which new species are being documented has slowed down, indicating that "we are running out of new species to discover, but our results show the opposite". "In fact, we're finding new species at a faster rate than ever before," Wiens said. The researchers added that the trend shows no sign of slowing and predicted that biodiversity among certain groups, such as plants, fungi, arachnids, fish and amphibians is richer than what was originally thought. For example, the team projected that there might be as many 1,15,000 fish species and 41,000 amphibian species, even though there are only about 42,000 fish and 9,000 amphibian species described now. They also projected that the final number of plant species might be over half a million. "Across life, we found that the overall number of living, described species continues to increase rapidly, with little sign of slowing in recent decades," the authors wrote. "Furthermore, the fastest rates of species description (more than 16,000 species per year) were all since 2015. The maximum rate (17,044 species per year) was in 2020," they said. The researchers also predicted that the discovery rate of new living things will continue to increase. "Right now, most new species are identified by visible traits. But as molecular tools improve, we will uncover even more cryptic species -- organisms distinguishable only on a genetic level. This is especially promising for revealing more unique bacteria and fungi," Wiens 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.
28 December,2025 10:46 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIMadhya Pradesh Public Works Department Minister Rakesh Singh has said that the state is set to develop the country's first state-level, multi-national park Tiger Corridor in collaboration with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Minister Singh announced while addressing a press conference at the Kushabhau Thakre Convention Centre in the state capital Bhopal, on Thursday. The minister said the corridor would serve as a model for integrating modern infrastructure with environmental responsibility. Highlighting the features of the tiger corridor, Minister Singh said, "It is the country's first state-level multi-national park tiger corridor, which is being developed in coordination with NHAI and PWD. It will incorporate underpasses in forest areas, slow-traffic zones, and wildlife-safe designs to balance tiger movement, tourism, and local connectivity. This will also promote eco-tourism and strengthen the local economy." The minister further said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, roads in Madhya Pradesh were no longer merely means of transport but had become a strong foundation for economic growth, investment, and new opportunities. He also outlined an ambitious roadmap for the next three years, from 2025 to 2028, under which six major expressways and pragatipath projects with a combined length of 3,368 kilometres will be constructed. These projects include the Narmada Pragatipath, Vindhya Expressway, Malwa-Nimar Vikaspath, Atal Pragatipath, Bundelkhand Vikaspath and Madhya Bharat Vikaspath. The total estimated cost of these projects is Rs 36,483 crore, and most of them are targeted for completion by June 2028. The minister added that the projects would significantly reduce travel time, enhance road safety, and provide fresh momentum to industrial, agricultural, and tourism activities across the state. Minister Singh also said they signed an MOU worth Rs 1 lakh crore with NHAI, and that works worth Rs 28,000 crore were approved under it to develop 948 kilometres of new national highways in the state. It will strengthen interstate connectivity, logistics efficiency, and industrial investment potential. The Minister further highlighted that the Madhya Pradesh government signed an MOU with the Government of India's National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML) for the construction of four ropeways in Madhya Pradesh. Of these, the construction of the ropeway in Ujjain from the Railway Station to Mahakal Temple is underway. "In the last two years, we have worked at a rapid pace, and approximately 10,000 kilometres of roads have been constructed at a cost of Rs 17,284 crore alone in 2024-25. Additionally, 739 buildings have been constructed at a cost of Rs 6,627 crore in the state," Singh said. Additionally, the minister said that several initiatives were planned under the Hybrid Annuity Model over the next three years. Within the next six months alone, five major projects covering 285 kilometres, with an estimated cost of Rs 15,000 crore, are proposed. These projects are expected to boost logistics, agriculture and trade at the regional level. "822 new rural roads with a total length of 11,310 kilometres will be constructed over the next three years to ensure that every village in Madhya Pradesh is connected to national and global markets," he said. The minister further emphasised that the Lokpath App 2 would soon be launched, providing information on routes, toll plazas, and police stations along the route. It will also send an alert if there is any black spot on that route before the commuters. He added that the state government was committed to quality construction, timely execution, and the use of advanced technology, and that the PWD's forward-looking roadmap would lay the foundation for a new era of speed, safety, and prosperity in the state. 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.
19 December,2025 11:22 AM IST | Bhopal | ANITamil Nadu researchers have sounded a fresh warning over the continued threat posed by a banned veterinary drug to India’s critically endangered vultures, after a major new study confirmed that diclofenac — prohibited nearly two decades ago — is still being used to treat livestock across several regions in the country. The findings are part of the study: "The continued threat of toxic NSAIDs to Critically Endangered Gyps vultures in South Asia", conducted by 13 researchers between 2012 and 2024 and published recently in Bird Conservation International. The study reveals that three Gyps species endemic to Asia — the white-rumped vulture, red-headed vulture, and long-billed vulture — continue to suffer population decline due to unintentional poisoning. When these birds feed on carcasses of cattle treated with diclofenac, they suffer fatal kidney failure, a phenomenon identified as the primary cause of the rapid crash in vulture numbers since the 1990s. Despite the Union government’s ban on veterinary use of diclofenac in May 2006 and additional restrictions on multi-dose vials in 2015, the drug is still being stocked illegally. Researchers found that Rajasthan - a state where intensive conservation advocacy has not been undertaken - recorded the highest prevalence, with up to 25 per cent of surveyed pharmacies offering diclofenac. Tamil Nadu’s Vulture Safe Zones (VSZs) fared better, but enforcement challenges persist. According to S. Bharathidasan, secretary of conservation organisation Arulagam, which helped survey VSZs in the state, more than 100 court cases have been filed against suppliers, manufacturers, and retailers. He said the diclofenac vials detected in Tamil Nadu originated largely from Karnataka, outside the VSZ, where conservation outreach remains limited. The study also reveals that access to veterinary NSAIDs varies widely, with 64.3 per cent of pharmacies in Tamil Nadu and 100 per cent in Rajasthan offering them. Much of the diclofenac found was stocked in 3-ml vials — legal for human use but illegal for veterinary treatment, making them a loophole for misuse. While the Centre has additionally banned ketoprofen and aceclofenac since July 2023, Tamil Nadu has taken proactive steps by restricting the use of flunixin in key vulture habitats such as The Nilgiris, Erode and Coimbatore from 2019, and curbing ketoprofen as early as 2015. However, researchers warn that banning known toxic drugs is not enough if untested substitutes with similar risks enter the market. They emphasised the need to curb pilferage of human-use vials for veterinary purposes and ensure strict enforcement, warning that vulture populations will remain vulnerable unless the illegal use of diclofenac is eliminated statewide and nationally. 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.
19 December,2025 11:02 AM IST | Chennai | IANSYes the darkest day of the year is here, but that means brighter days are ahead. Sunday, December 21, is the shortest day of the year north of the equator, where the solstice marks the start of astronomical winter. It's the opposite in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is the longest day of the year and summer will start. The word 'solstice' comes from the Latin words 'sol' for sun and 'stitium' which can mean 'pause' or 'stop'. The solstice is an end of the sun's annual march higher or lower in the sky. The winter solstice is when the sun makes its shortest, lowest arc. The good news for sun lovers: It then starts climbing again and days will get a little longer every day until late June. People have marked solstices for eons with celebrations and monuments such as Stonehenge, which was designed to align with the sun's paths at the solstices. But what is happening in the heavens? Here's what to know about the Earth's orbit. What is the solstice?As the Earth travels around the sun, it does so at an angle, making the sun's warmth and light fall unequally on the northern and southern halves of the planet for most of the year. The solstices mark the times when the Earth's tilt toward or away from the sun is at its maximum. This means the hemispheres are getting very different amounts of sunlight ¿ and days and nights are at their most unequal. At the Northern Hemisphere's winter solstice the upper half of the Earth is at its furthest lean away from the sun ¿ leading to the shortest day and longest night of the year. The winter solstice falls can fall between December 20 and 23 ¿ this year it's the 21st. The opposite happens at a Northern Hemisphere summer solstice: The upper half of the Earth is leaning toward the sun, creating the longest day and shortest night of the year. This solstice falls between June 20 and 22. What is the equinox?During the equinox, the Earth's axis and its orbit align so that both hemispheres get an equal amount of sunlight. The word equinox comes from two Latin words meaning equal and night. That's because on the equinox, day and night last almost the same amount of time ¿ though one may get a few extra minutes, depending on where you are on the planet. The Northern Hemisphere's fall or 'autumnal' equinox can land between September 21 and 24, depending on the year. Its spring or 'vernal' equinox can land between March 19 and 21. What's the difference between meteorological and astronomical seasons?These are just two different ways to carve up the year. While astronomical seasons depend on how the Earth moves around the sun, meteorological seasons are defined by the weather. Meteorologists break down the year into three-month seasons based on annual temperature cycles. By that calendar, spring starts on March 1, summer on June 1, fall on September 1 and winter on December 1. 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.
18 December,2025 01:03 PM IST | New York | APThe mating season of Olive Ridley turtles has begun near Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha's Ganjam district, as the administration increased patrolling to keep away poachers, an official said. Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sunny Khokkar said that many pairs of turtles were seen in the area, and mating might pick up in the last week of December. Nesting of turtles usually takes place for 45 days after mating, he said. After mating, female turtles lay eggs by digging pits in the sand and return to the sea, with the hatchlings emerging 45-50 days later. "We hope Olive Ridley turtles turn up in large numbers this year as well. Mass nesting is expected to take place in the third week of February," the DFO said. Last year, a record number of over 9.04 lakh turtles had laid eggs in around a seven-km-long beach stretch from Bateswar to Gokharakuda in two phases of the mass nesting. As many as 6,98,698 turtles had laid eggs from February 16-23 in the first phase, while 2.05 lakh turtles laid eggs in the second phase from March 16 to 23, sources said. Meanwhile, patrolling has been intensified in the sea for protecting the mating Olive ridley turtles from poachers, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), Khallikote range, Dibya Shankar Behera, said. During patrolling, two mechanised fishing trawlers from Andhra Pradesh have been seized for illegal fishing in the area, he said. The government has banned fishing by the mechanised trawlers within 20 km from the coast from November 1 to May 31 as the turtles congregate for mass nesting during the period. The forest department has also held a coordination meeting with fishermen, seeking their cooperation during the mating, nesting and hatching people in the Rushikulya River rookery. The fishermen demanded the doubling of compensation from Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000 during the fishing ban period.
16 December,2025 01:30 PM IST | Berhampur (Odisha) | PTITwo dozen Kemp's ridley sea turtles are rehabilitating in Florida after the frigid waters off of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, left them struggling with frostbite, pneumonia and abrasions. The 24 endangered sea turtles arrived at the Loggerhead Marinelife Centre in Juno Beach, Florida, on December 9, thanks to the nonprofit organisation LightHawk. Last year, the centre welcomed another bunch of cold-stunned turtles that were released into the Atlantic months later. They are expected to remain at the facility until spring, when they'll be released into the Atlantic Ocean to make their way back to New England, said Heather Barron, chief science officer and veterinarian at Loggerhead. She said the turtles suffered from a condition called cold stunning, which requires treatment with antibiotics, fluids and nebulisation. Cold stunning occurs in extremely frigid temperatures and causes the cold-blooded sea turtles to become lethargic and lose mobility, and Kemp's ridley, loggerhead and green sea turtles are typically affected. The turtles migrate north in the summer, and many get stuck while heading south in the hooked peninsula of Cape Cod, according to a New England Aquarium fact sheet. As the ocean temperatures drop, the turtles become lethargic, emaciated and hypothermic. They begin washing ashore, where volunteers rescue them and take them to the sea turtle hospital. A number of turtles were sent to Florida to relieve overcrowding at the New England Aquarium, said Pam Bechtold Snyder, director of marketing and communications for the Boston facility. Most of those turtles were stranded during a strong westerly wind event on Nov. 28 and went through the triage process at the Boston facility, Snyder said. They were sent to Florida to make room for more turtles coming in from Cape Cod, she said. So far during the annual cold-stunning phenomenon that began on November 7, they've treated 472 hypothermic turtles. The hospital staff works with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service to transfer the turtles to various sea turtle hospitals, including Loggerhead, Snyder said. "These guys are very critically ill when they get here, and they are undergoing extensive treatment," Barron said of the turtles sent to Juno Beach. "They're getting nebulised where they actually breathe in medicine. That helps their lungs do their job better." When turtles arrive in groups at Loggerhead, the staff gives them names, following a theme, Barron said. "And in this case, it is Greek mythology,¿ Barron said. "So we have Pandora and Gaia and Persephone and Helios and all those guys." 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.
16 December,2025 01:20 PM IST | Juno Beach (US) | APADVERTISEMENT
