Vultures turn vulnerable

                                          -Jessica Bernard

Indian vulture too to list of endangered species! The species of Indian vultures belonging to the genus Gyps is in the verge of getting in to the Red Data Book.Guys,the White-backed,Long-billed and Slender-billed vultures are really in trouble.It is disheartening  that these species are endemic to the Moyar Valley in Sathyamangalam forest division of Tamil Nadu.

Decline in the number of Indian  vultures was first noticed in Rajasthan.A drastic reduction in vulture population was detected initially in KeoLadeo national park in 1960s and by 1999-2000, vultures of various species could not be found in KeoLadeo.Loss of habitat is one of the major causes for this plight.Ruthless deforestation and human encroachments are posing threat to their havens.Recent studies reveal that drugs administered to cattle such as `diclofenac’ are harmful to these scavengers.The practice of poisoning of carcasses by villagers also contribute to the plight of vultures.

 

Moyar Valley is the habitat for about four species of Gyps vultures.It is high time that we start acting to prevent these species from getting extinct.Proper awareness is to be created to deter villagers from indulging in actions causing havoc to the of vulture population. Only collective actions collaborated between the authorities and local communities can save our vultures.

Quizzz Time ---

 
                                  - jaideep & akshay
How environment savvy are you!?

Are you the messiah of our century capable of salvaging the earth’s environment or are you yet another ignorant and irresponsible carbon junkie who thinks global warming is a conspiracy hatched by “those rumour mongering, attention seeking green activists”?

Find out by answering our eco quiz. 

1. You all know him for his record breaking Hollywood hits; The Departed, Blood Diamond and Inception being a few of them. Do you also know that he is a very enthusiastic champion of the environment cause? Name the famous documentary about the environment in which this famous personality starred.

2. Now that we have seen an eco-crusader, lets get down to learning about some real nasty people, the oil companies. So you guys have heard about BP, the company responsible for the worst environmental disaster of recent times, the deepwater horizon incident. Before this incident, the notorious title of worst oil spill was held by another company. Name this company.

3. This fictional hero stars in a Disney movie about the apocalyptic, “not so distant” future. He cleans up the earth while the humans have left the earth to live in outer space because they have rendered it uninhabitable. His only friends are a cockroach and a small green plant. Name this hero.

4. This former US vice president is one of the leading faces of the green cause having jointly won a nobel peace prize in 2007 for his contributions in creating awareness about the environment. Name this champ.

5. This activity is highly endangering the survival of some species of animals living in the ocean. Japan, Iceland and Norway are the most notorious nations practicing this activity off their shores. Environmental activist groups such as one called “sea shepherd” often get involved in skirmishes with commercial trawlers practicing this activity. These groups attack the ships in high speed boats to prevent them from carrying out the environmentally destructive activity. Name the activity.






Answers:

1. The 11th hour

2. Exxon corporation

3. Wall-e

4. Al Gore

5. Whaling