Environment India

In today's digital age, where social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, its impact on various aspects of society is truly remarkable. One area where this influence shines brightly is in the world of tourism, especially when it comes to our interactions with our furry and feathered friends. While social media can sometimes be a bit tricky, let's talk about a recent  case study  by  Madelene Blaer , that explores the heartwarming side of our four-legged companions in the tourism scene, with a special focus on how animal rescue organizations can turn travel enthusiasts into animal-loving heroes, all in the digital age. Photo by International Fund for Animal Welfare Now, let's not deny that social media can sometimes act like a double-edged sword. It's true that it has, on occasion, unintentionally encouraged practices that aren't great for our animal buddies, like those wildlife selfies or supporting not-so-friendly industry practices. But here's...

  Vultures in Assam die by pesticide poisoning targeting stray dogs On March 17, carcasses of 100 Himalayan griffon vultures and one steppe eagle were found in Assam’s Chaygaon. Pesticide poisoning is suspected to be the cause of death. The intended target for the poisoning was not the raptors but the stray dogs which have been attacking village livestock. The incident at Chaygaon is not an isolated incident of vultures dying after consuming contaminated carrion. A fortnight before the Chaygaon incident, 30 vultures died after feeding on a poisoned carcass in Dibrugarh and earlier in January this year, 23 vultures died under similar circumstances. Even three years ago, 19 and 39 vultures had died in two separate incidents in Sivasagar district. However with increasing awareness about the role of vultures in the ecosystem and the impact of pesticides along with the forest department’s efforts in vulture conservation, there seems to be hope in protecting the birds an...

  Birds, animals killed in Paschim Medinipur hunting festival: W.Bengal A traditional hunting festival in Paschim Medinipur district killed several birds and animals on Monday, alleged animal activists who accused the forest department and police of inaction. A Calcutta High Court order in 2019 put a complete embargo on ritual hunting in various districts of south-west Bengal. In another order dated March 21, 2021, the court iterated its earlier order, saying that all such illegal activities have to be completely stopped by the state by exercising police power, if needed. Animal lovers fear a rerun of the massacre of a range of wildlife on several upcoming dates of ritual hunting in the southwestern districts of Bengal — Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Jhargram and Purulia. The kills included wild boars and birds like orange-headed thrush, said members of HEAL (Human and Environment Alliance League), who were in Paschim Medinipur to track the alleged hunters. "The...