7 Wonders of World

Rise of snow leopards in Himachal Pradesh brings cheers to wildlife

The department conducted an estimate of snow leopard count in 2016 but it was not done in a scientific manner. At that time, it had put the number at 67. Earlier, it had estimated 20 leopards across the state that set alarm bells ringing.

“The frequent sighting of leopards is a good sign. It shows that they live in a healthy environment,” says Sanjay Kumar Dhiman, a wildlife official who has authored Cats of Himalayas.

HOME AND HABITAT

In Himachal Pradesh, the snow leopard’s habitat ranges from Kibber wildlife sanctuary in Lahaul and Spiti to Pangi in Chamba district. The cats are usually found in the rugged terrain at altitudes between 9,800 feet and 17,000 feet.

Snow leopards have been sighted in Lippa Asrang in the upper reaches of Kinnaur and the Great Himalayan National Park.

The Helan Shan blue sheep, also known as bharals, comprise the main prey for snow leopards. But the growing population of stray dogs in Kaza close to Kibber, the main habitat of the leopard, has emerged as a threat for the feline.

Snow leopards prefer to inhabit steep cliff areas, rocky outcrops and ravines. Such habitats provide them with the camouflage they need to ambush unsuspecting prey. They stalk their prey and usually spring from a distance of 20ft to 50ft. Their long and powerful hind limbs help them to leap up to 30 ft, which is six times their body length.

Staff who treated coronavirus patient asked to take precautions

Staffers on duty at the 32-bed isolation ward at Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, where a 45-year-old Delhi resident who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) was admitted, have been asked to stay under home quarantine for the next 14 days, a staff member said on the condition of anonymity on Monday.RML Hospital in central Delhi is one of the two nodal centres designated to quarantine and treat persons suspected to have Covid-19. The patient from Delhi, whose test came back positive on Monday, was kept in isolation at RML Hospital. He was later moved to Safdarjung Hospital, the second such centre.“All staff members who came in contact with the patient who tested positive have been asked to stay at home and stay away from the rest of their family members. The work roster was revised today (Monday),” said the staff member.

Currently, staff members in the ward are also being tested, this person said. “The staff members are of course worried. There is no treatment or vaccination for the disease right now.”

Minakshi Bhardwaj, medical superintendent at RML hospital, said: “We have been strictly asked not to give out any information. Please speak to the ministry for any information related to coronavirus.”

There are reports that the Air India crew who had flown the February 25 Vienna-Delhi flight, which was boarded by the male passenger, too, have been asked to stay at their homes for 14 days.

In mid-January, the hospital set up a six-bed isolation facility, which was later expanded when people started returning from China in large numbers towards the end of that month. At RML Hospital, the same ward and the same staff treat H1N1 (swine flu) patients.

In NCR, 124 people who have returned from Japan and 112 from China’s Wuhan, believed to be the epicentre of the outbreak, are under isolation at Haryana’s Manesar managed by the Indian Army and in the national capital’s Chhawla Camp managed by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

The quarantine facility — Himveer Awaas — at Chhawla Camp, is a five-storey building where people are housed on different floors. No one is allowed to enter the building without personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks. There is a common room where people are examined in batches every morning. Those who show symptoms such as cough, fever, or have difficulty in breathing are then sent to hospitals such as RML or Safdarjung for treatment.

“There is an ambulance ready to transport a sick patient at any time, and separate isolation beds have been kept for those who develop symptoms so that they are away from the rest till they are moved to a hospital,” said AP Joshi, chief medical officer, Chhawla Camp

We have heard about the greatness and prosperity of India. She was once the Guru of the world. People from all over the world came here to study and acquire knowledge. India was then the golden sparrow which attracted TRADERS from all parts of the world. India, however, fell on evil days, and became a slave country, first under the Mughals and then under the Britishers. It was in 1947 that India became free. It was hoped that India would prosper under Swadeshi rule. India has now been free for over four decades. But what do we see? She has made wonderful progress in industries and technology. Indian Scientists have earned a name for themselves. A brave son of India went into the space even with Russian cosmonauts3 and returned to the earth safe. India today, however, is beset with difficulties. There is discontent among the people. Prices are rising at an alarming rate. The purchasing value of a rupee has gone down to 16 paise a rupee. Industries are producing goods but most of them are exported in order to earn foreign exchange. Even COMMODITIES of common use are exported so mat the government might balance its budget. India today is self-sufficient in food. Hundreds of crores rupees are being spent to tap the petroleum resources of India. New wells, in the country and on the high seas, are being sunk in order to produce more petrol and gas and save valuable foreign exchange. If, however, we cast our glance at the people, we are tilled with dismay. The people are corrupt, self-centred, backward and politically ignorant. They are dishonest. There is a crisis of character. Everybody wants to become rich by hook or by crook. The rich are thus becoming richer and 60 per cent of the population is living below the poverty line. Our society today is torn with internal strife's. There is no communal harmony. Everyone is ready to murder another on the slightest pretext. Murders and widespread violence and terrorism, this is the order of the day. The political situation is probably the worst Political leaders are not true to the electorate. They seek the votes of the people in order to grind their own axe. They have no principles and they change sides by throwing all their political ideologies to the wind. They are unprincipled, corrupt and self-seeking. On the economic front too, all is not well. There is shortage of power which means decline in industrial production. There is inflation and the people are made to suffer. The situation though bleak is not beyond repair. The youth of die country should come forward, safeguard India's integrity® and work for national integration. The country is surrounded by enemies. There is external danger too, and the army should be kept in readiness to protect our borders.

TALENT OF PAPER GUN BY DeLorean

<div id="fb-root"></div><script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script><div class="fb-video" data-allowfullscreen="1" data-href="/teamdelorean/videos/vb.154238749766/10153354397954767/?type=3"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/teamdelorean/videos/10153354397954767/"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/teamdelorean/videos/10153354397954767/">Now this is amazing, pure TALENT....How to Make a paper gun that shoots......</a><p>Now this is amazing, pure TALENT....How to Make a paper gun that shoots......</p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/teamdelorean">DeLorean</a> on Friday, May 15, 2015</blockquote></div></div>

Indian ocean in Danger

Marine scientists have expressed concern over the fast warming of the Indian Ocean, which, according to them, may lead to species extinction.

Speaking at the opening session of a winter school on climate change in marine fisheries organised by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) here, they said climate change had been affecting Indian fisheries through changes in stock productivity and distribution, said a press release here.

Inaugurating the 21-day programme, which will provide a platform for academic-oriented discussions on a wide array of topics on the impact of climate change on marine fisheries, A. Ramachandran, Vice Chancellor, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), said climate change was causing floods and drought across the globe.According to him, the rise in water temperature and higher carbon dioxide concentration are making the ocean more acidic. He warned of a drop in productivity in the future owing to a gradual damage to the ecosystem and biodiversity.A.  CMFRI representative, said the Indian ocean was warming (0.11°C per decade) faster than the Atlantic (0.07°C per decade) and the Pacific (0.05°C per decade), and that the sea surface temperature in the Indian Ocean would increase by 0.60oC by 2050.“However, Indian marine fish harvesting is more eco-friendly compared to the global fishing scenario. Our marine fisheries emit 17.5% less carbon footprints compared to the global average when it comes to fishing materials involved,” he said.CMFRI has catalogued resource-wise information, and the Institute is in the process of predicting fish biomass changes in oceans in the future. CMFRI has also prepared adaptation strategies to climate change with an action plan.

Attempt Never Ruines once again PROVED

The doors of the shrine of Lord Ayyappa in Sabarimala, Kerala, opened on 17th of last month  for the first time after the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to worship in the temple. The temple remained open for the next five days for the monthly rituals in the Malayalam month of Thulam.While most women devotees of menstruating age stayed away from the temple, a few attempted to climb the hill, only to be turned away by thousands of protesters.As many as nine women below the age of 50 unsuccessfully tried to climb up to the hill shrine. This included two journalists, a Dalit activist and activist Rehana Fathima.The protesters, purportedly Ayyappa devotees, have been camping at Nilackal since last Tuesday. The 'Save Sabarimala' campaign that is being supported by political parties  seeks a review of the Supreme Court verdict and vows to "protect the traditional practices" of the hill shrine.In these five days, Sabarimala and parts of Kerala witnessed violent protests with reports of stone pelting on police forces and women journalists covering the developments too were attacked.Here is a look at all the attempts by women of menstruating age to climb to the shrine in the last few days.

Two women from Andrapradesh went to hill shrine with protection from police