Wildlife Unleashed

JAVAN RHINOCEROS

2021-01-10T01:50:00.007-08:00

JAVAN RHINOCEROS

The Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus), also known as the Sunda rhinoceros or lesser one-horned rhinoceros, is a very rare member of the family Rhinocerotidae and one of five extant Rhinoceroses. It belongs to the same genus as the Indian rhinoceros and has similar mosaic, armour-like skin, but at 3.1–3.2 m (10–10 ft) in length and 1.4–1.7 m (4.6–5.6 ft) in height, it is smaller (closer in size to the black rhinoceros of the genus Diceros). Its horn is usually shorter than 25 cm (9.8 in) and is smaller than those of the other rhino species. Only adult males have horns; females lack them altogether.

The Javan rhino is probably the rarest large mammal on the planet, with only 74 left in the wild and none in captivity. And every single Javan rhino lives within the confines of the Ujung Kulon National Park in Indonesia, making the species even more vulnerable to extinction.

However, the population has been inching up over the past five years and the creation of a second population could soon provide the species with some much-needed extra breathing - and breeding - space. Three species of rhino—black, Javan, and Sumatran—are critically endangered. Today, a small population of Javan rhinos is found in only one national park on the northern tip of the Indonesian island of Java. A mainland subspecies of the Javan rhino was declared extinct in Vietnam in 2011. Due to the large size, the only real predator of the Javan rhino in the forest is the large wild cats, such as tigers, will hunt the Javan rhino calf and the weak ones. Humans are the biggest threat to Javan rhinoceroses, as they are hunted to extinction for their horns.

The Javan rhino is smaller than the Indian rhinoceros and is close in size to the black rhinoceros. It is the largest animal in Java and the second-largest animal in Indonesia after the Asian elephant. The length of the Javan rhino including its head is 2 to 4 metres (6.5 to 13 feet), and it can reach a height of 1.4–1.7 m (4.6–5.6 ft). Adults are variously reported to weigh between 900 and 2,300 kg (1,980 and 5,070 lb), although a study to collect accurate measurements of the animals has never been conducted and is not a priority because of their extreme conservation status. No substantial size difference is seen between genders, but females may be slightly bigger. The rhinos in Vietnam appeared to be significantly smaller than those in Java, based on studies of photographic evidence and measurements of their footprints.

Like the Indian rhino, the Javan rhinoceros has a single horn (the other extant species have two horns). Its horn is the smallest of all extant rhinos, usually less than 20 cm (7.9 in) with the longest recorded only 27 cm (11 in). Only males have horns. Female Javan rhinos are the only extant rhinos that remain hornless into adulthood, though they may develop a tiny bump of an inch or two in height. The Javan rhinoceros does not appear to often use its horn for fighting but instead uses it to scrape mud away in wallows, to pull down plants for eating, and to open paths through thick vegetation. Similar to the other browsing species of rhino (Black and Sumatran), the Javan rhino has a long, pointed, upper lip which helps in grabbing food. Its lower incisors are long and sharp; when the Javan rhino fights, it uses these teeth. Behind the incisors, two rows of six low-crowned molars are used for chewing coarse plants. Like all rhinos, the Javan rhino smells and hears well, but has very poor vision. They are estimated to live for 30 to 45 years.

Its hairless, splotchy grey or grey-brown skin falls in folds to the shoulder, back and rump. The skin has a natural mosaic pattern, which lends the rhino an armoured appearance. The neck folds of the Javan rhinoceros are smaller than those of the Indian rhinoceros, but still, form a saddle shape over the shoulder. Because of the risks of interfering with such an endangered species, however, the Javan rhinoceros is primarily studied through faecal sampling and Camera traps. They are rarely encountered, observed or measured directly.

HABITAT

Historically Javan rhinos have shown a preference for low-lying areas, inhabiting dense lowland rain forests, tall grass, and reed beds abundant with wide floodplains, rivers, or wet areas dotted with mud wallows. The Javan rhinoceros inhabits forests, marshy areas, and regions of thick bush and bamboo. It is an active climber in a mountainous country. Javan rhinoceroses are mainly browsers and often feed on pioneer plants that dominate in gaps in the forest created by fallen trees. This species once occupied the islands of Java, Borneo, and Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, and a region extending northward through Myanmar (Burma) into Assam and eastern Bengal. The last known population from mainland Asia, which was located in Cat Loc, Vietnam, had died out by 2011, and thus Ujung Kulon National Park became the final refuge for these animals.

DIET

The Javan rhinoceros is herbivorous, eats diverse plant species, especially their shoots, twigs, young foliage and fallen fruit. Most of the plants favoured by the species grow in sunny areas in forest clearings, shrubland and other vegetation types with no large trees. The rhino knocks down saplings to reach its food and grabs it with its prehensile upper lip. It is the most adaptable feeder of all the rhino species. The rhino eats an estimated 50 kg (110 lb) of food daily. Like the Sumatran rhino, it needs salt in its diet. The salt licks common in its historical range do not exist in Ujung Kulon but the rhinos there have been observed drinking seawater, likely for the same nutritional need.

REPRODUCTION

Female Javan rhinos reach maturity at 3 – 4 years whereas males reach maturity much later around 6 years of age. The reproduction rate of the Javan rhino is relatively low. A single calf is born to the female every 4 – 5 years, the young are suckled for up to 2 years. Except for mothers and calves and mating pairs, the Javan rhino is a very solitary individual. However, they sometimes congregate at salt-licks and wallow sites.

THREATS

Javan rhinos are found in only one protected area in the world. The biology of the species is poorly understood, but we are starting to learn more about the species ecology and behaviour thanks to very intensive monitoring of the population. They are extremely vulnerable to extinction due to natural catastrophes, habitat loss, diseases, poaching, and potential inbreeding.

1. ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE

Javan rhinos were killed by trophy hunters during colonial times. They were also killed as agricultural pests and for their horn, a highly prized commodity in traditional Asian medicine. Poaching remains an ever-present threat.

2. REDUCED GENETIC DIVERSITY

The small size of the Javan rhino population is a cause for concern. Low genetic diversity and inbreeding could make it difficult for the long-term survival of the species.

3. NATURAL DISASTERS

The coastal Ujung Kulon National Park is highly vulnerable to tsunamis, and a major explosion of the nearby Anak Krakatau volcano could easily wipe out most life in the protected area. Rising sea levels because of climate change also threaten the park.

4. ARENGA PALM

The Arenga palm has overtaken parts of the park, reducing natural forage and habitat quality.

5. DISEASE

In recent years four rhinos, including one young adult female, are thought to have died from disease, probably transmitted to wild cattle in the park and subsequently to the rhinos.

6. HABITAT DEGRADATION

People living near the park are encroaching on and degrading crucial rhino habitats. Important economic development near the park, including from (eco)tourism, risks further encroachment into the park.

Facts

Here are 10 Facts about Javan Rhinos you must know :

All 67 Javan rhinos have names – one of them is called Rawing!
They’re heavy animals, weighing up to 2.3 tonnes.
They live for around 30-45 years in the wild.
They’re herbivorous, only eating plants.
They’re solitary animals, except for mating pairs and mothers with young.
They’re the second-largest animal in Indonesia after the Asian elephant.
Male Javan rhinos mark their territories with dung piles and by spraying urine.
Scrapes made by their feet in the ground and twisted saplings seem to be used for communication.
The cause of their population decline has mainly been caused by poaching due to excessive demand for rhino horn and medicine. Poaching ultimately wiped out the species in Vietnam.
Their food source in Ujung Kulon National Park is being taken over by out-of-control the invasive Arenga palm, but WWF-Australia is currently working to change that.

How you can help

Don't buy rhino horn products. The illegal trade in rhino horn continues to pose one of the greatest threats to rhinos today.
Use and support sustainable wood, paper and palm oil. By purchasing certified sustainable palm oil and FSC - certified forest products, retailers, traders, and manufacturers can help protect the Javan rhino habitat. Consumers can also play their part by demanding certified products.
Donate to Various Organisations helping in preserving Javan rhinos and other rhino species in Asia and Africa.
Spread the word! - Share this information with others via email or your favourite social networking service.

Newly Released Footage of Javan Rhino Babies

Breathtaking Natural Marvel - The Daintree Forest

2020-12-19T05:18:00.009-08:00

Breathtaking Natural Marvel - The Daintree Forest

The Daintree Rainforest is a region on the northeast coast of Queensland, Australia, north of Mossman and Cairns. At around 1,200 square kilometres (460 sq mi) the Daintree is a part of the largest continuous area of tropical rainforest on the Australian continent. The Daintree Rainforest is a part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland Rainforest, that spans across the Cairns Region. The Wet Tropics Rainforest (that the Daintree is a part of) is the oldest continually surviving tropical rainforest in the world. Along the coastline north of the Daintree River, the tropical forest grows right down to the edge of the sea. The Daintree Rainforest is estimated to be 180 million years old which is tens of millions of years older than the Amazon Rainforest.

This tropical rainforest ecosystem is one of the most complexes on earth. Its plant diversity and structural complexity is unrivalled on the Australian continent and represents the origins of our more familiar ‘Australian’ flora.

There are many natural and often unique features to be explored. The landscape is one of striking diversity including magnificent scenery, mountain ranges, fast-flowing streams and waterfalls, deep gorges and dense rainforest. There is outstanding coastal scenery that combines tropical rainforest, white sandy beaches and fringing reefs just offshore… an extremely rare combination. To the west of Cape Tribulation stands Mt Pieter Botte with its massive granite outcrops. The summit providing expansive vistas of undisturbed forest and to the south, the skyline is dominated by the giant granite boulders of Thornton Peak – one of Queensland’s highest mountains.

From a total of 19 primitive flowering plant families on Earth, 12 families are represented in the Daintree region making the highest concentration of these plants worldwide. These ancient plant families may well hold the secret to several unanswered questions regarding the origins of the flowering plants – plants on which the human race depends for food and medicines.

The Daintree is one of the best biologically diverse rainforests in the world. Home to a huge percentage of the entire country's animal population. This includes 30% of Australia's frog population, 65% of butterfly and bats and around 12,000 different insect species. As well as being diverse, the animals are unique.

Daintree Rainforest is unspoiled by artificial structures and strategies that are typical of public tourism experiences. This triumph of natural wonder and awe-inspiring beauty reveals hidden riches and inspirational insights. High quality guided interpreted walking tours, showcase unique biological diversity and exceptional rainforest integrity. There is no better way to successfully engage with such elusive complexity and intricacy than through the guiding expertise of long-term human inhabitants. This vitally important step, which all but around half-a-per cent of visitors fail to take, draws from the rainforest its human voice and the intellectual property of generations of attentive inhabitants. The Daintree Rainforest is a landscape with striking diversity. From the dense rainforest and mountain ranges to fast-flowing streams, waterfalls and gorges. With such a rich array of flora and fauna set amongst stunning scenery, there is a rich and colourful world here waiting to be discovered.

The History of the Daintree Rainforest

The Daintree Rainforest is part of the Kuku Yalanji country. The Kuku Yalanji people have lived in this area for thousands of years and their songs and legends continue to give special meaning to this landscape today. This is a spiritual and culturally significant place to the Kuku Yalanji people. This is one of 18 rainforest Aboriginal tribal groups located in the Wet Tropics World Heritage area. The Kuku Yalanju people relied on the rich array of plants and animals for food that the rainforest had to offer and travelled through the area seasonally. There was a massive change for the local Kulu Yalanji people when European settlers arrived in the 1800s. An early colonist named George Elphinstone Dalrymple explored the area in 1873 where he came across a magnificent river. He named the river after his friend and early government geologist, Richard Daintree. Now not only the river but the whole region has laid claim the Daintree name.

Daintree Development

Throughout the modern era, development has expanded into the Daintree region fuelled by tourism and scientific exploration purposes. The Daintree River ferry began in the 1950s and by 1961 the first road reached Cape Tribulation. It was then in 1970 when arguably Australia’s most significant botanical find was made – Idiospermum Australiense – the idiot fruit. This discovery generated awareness and scientific interest in this rainforest.

Idiot Fruit

As arguably Australia’s most significant botanical find, the idiot fruit has to be one of the most fascinating natural wonders to be found in the Daintree Rainforest.

Idiospermum Australiense, commonly known as the Idiot Fruit, is one of the rarest and most primitive of the flowering plants. Its discovery in 1970 was arguably Australia’s most significant botanical find, greatly increasing scientist’s awareness of just how ancient these forests are.

Emergent Trees

Within the forest of trees, some trees tower above the ‘standard’ height of the canopy. These towering trees are referred to as ‘Emergents’. The major benefit of rising above the surrounding canopy is the ability to gain maximum exposure to the sun. The trees are also easily spotted by any creatures that pollinate.

Plants to Avoid

While there are many plants to look at and enjoy, the rainforest is a wild place so there is also plant life that is best to avoid. Two primary plants are best to avoid in the rainforest. The Wait-A-While vine is a spiky plant that is so sharp it can cut you through clothing. There is also the stinging tree filled with tiny, unseen pricks that can cause an itch.

Rainfall

A significant amount of rain falls in the Daintree Rainforest to sustain the natural habitat. The average annual rainfall in the Daintree rainforest is approximately 2000mm (79in) per year. Some areas have even recorded up to 9000mm (345in) in a single year. The wet seasons are between December and March. Over 60% of the rain falls during this wet season.

Mangrove Nurseries

The mangrove system of forests that ring the mouths of creeks and rivers in the Daintree is a wonderful fish nursery that plays a particular importance in the ecology of the area. Mangroves are vital for many young fish species that migrate to the Great Barrier Reef later in life. They also hold the highest species diversity for this type of habitat anywhere in Australia.

The Wildlife

Anyone who visits the Daintree Rainforest is bound to stumble across some form of unique Australian wildlife whether it is our world-famous cassowary, mammals, colourful birds, scaly reptiles and snakes, frogs or invertebrates.

Cassowary – cassowaries are a highlight to see when visiting the Daintree Rainforest. The latest study (CSIRO 2014) lists the number of cassowaries in Australia’s Wet Tropics to be around 4,000. These magnificent creatures are large flightless birds. Fully grown female cassowaries can stand at 1.8m and weigh over 60kgs. Mature males are much smaller at 1.5m and about 35kg.

Birds – The greatest concentration o of Birds in Australia can be found in the Daintree. This natural hub boasts nine out of Australia’s ten kingfishers, seven of the nine Australian owls and over half of Australia’s pigeons, just to name a few. Over 430 species of birds have been recorded in the area encompassing the Wet Tropics and the Great Barrier Reef regions of Australia. This is more than half the bird species for the entire continent. Many of these birds are easily seen in the Daintree area throughout the year.

Invertebrates – A huge range of rare and common insect life can be found amongst the foliage in the Daintree Rainforest. Butterflies can also be spotted in the forest with 60% of Australia’s 400 species of butterflies found in tropical Queensland.

The Daintree lowland rainforest, along with parts of the nearby mountains, has a variety of types of flatworms (Platyhelminthes), earthworms (Annelida), and leeches (which are a type of parasitic earthworm which subsists entirely on blood).

Reptiles – The range of reptiles in the Daintree is extensive and varied. With slender goannas, lizards without legs, tiny skinks and two types of crocodiles just to name a few, you never know what kind of weird and wonderful reptile you could find with 131 reptile species found in this habitat.

Snakes – Both venomous and non-venomous varieties of snakes can be found in the Daintree. Most commonly found snakes in the Daintree include the Taipan, the Eastern Brown, the Death Adder and the Red-bellied Black. All of these snakes are dangerous to man and should be avoided at all times. Any visitors should always be careful when viewing snakes out in the wild. Amethystine Python, Green Tree Python, Jungle Carpet Python are some of the better-known pythons that reside in the Daintree Rainforest.

Frogs – All five Australian frog species can be found in the Tropical North East Queensland region. The largest tree frog in the world – the giant White-lipped Tree Frog, is a common find in the Daintree rainforest. Tree frogs, mist frogs, burrowing frogs, water-holding frogs and even frogs which do not have any aquatic tadpoles! are found in the Daintree Rainforest.

Bush Tucker in the Daintree Rainforest

The Kuku Yalanji people thrived for thousands of years in the Daintree Rainforest by hunting and gathering food. The Kuku Yalanji people also took advantage of the range of insects found in the rainforest for medicinal purposes. Some of these insects are also edible and were even considered gastronomic delicacies. A universal favourite was the witchetty grub. Witchetty grubs are highly nutritious and the raw innards were useful when treating sores and also assisted with relieving pain.

Another great source of food was the native bees. The larvae, honeycomb and honey were highly prized and the honey was also used as a healing agent. This is just a small sample of the range of bush tuckers and medicinal properties available in the Daintree Rainforest.

Save the Daintree Rainforest for Future Generations

It is so important for us to preserve this one of a kind natural wonder. You are welcome to visit this stunningly diverse natural habitat, but please ensure that you leave this pristine environment as it was when you arrived. Take any rubbish with you when leaving the forest, don’t pollute the water and don’t feed the wildlife. Protecting this natural environment starts with you. As they say, ‘Leave nothing but footsteps and take nothing but photographs’.

It is also vital to do what we can to protect the cassowary and boost their numbers in the Daintree. The best way to achieve this is with rainforest re-vegetation. Rainforest Rescue is a fantastic organisation who undertakes in the necessary re-vegetation that is needed to support the cassowary population. Every donation helps to save this magnificent creature and help sustain the wonderful natural diversity of the Daintree Rainforest.

see daintree forest on map

Sea Turtles - Serine Being

2020-12-17T03:34:00.005-08:00

What comes to your mind when u first hear the word ‘turtle’? A hard calcareous shell right? Unlike as shown in cartoons, turtles can’t just remove their shells, keep them aside & move away. Its an integral part of their body, in the same way as our hair are ..we can’t just remove them & keep them aside(unless it’s a wig).

Early records of can be dates back from 260 million years ago. A creature named Eunotosaurus africanus resided in the swamps of southern Africa in the late Middle Permian. It did not have what can be called as shells but rather a thickening of ribs that spread from the lower & upper abdomen. Scientist say that it was mainly used for its underground burrowing activities. It acts as a parareptile & also acts as a missing link between turtles & their prehistoric ancestors. Today ‘carapace’ is the term used for what the top of the turtles shell.

A female turtle(about 20y/o) lays about a 1000 eggs. Though turtle is a sea creature it comes to lay eggs on the shore. It digs a shallow pitch, lays eggs, covers it with eggs & swims back to the waters. About 800 hatch, 400 make it to the water, 200progress towards adulthood & only 20 survive harsh condition & only 10 reach to the reproductive age( without human invasion). Exempting human invasion isn’t possible so let’s consider it & only 2 survive out of 1000 eggs.

Young turtles are very vulnerable. But as they progress towards adulthood approximately about a decade or so the only creatures they should worry about are larger shark species (bulls, tigers, great whites, killer whales etc.). They have a wide range of food. Some are omnivores (like loggerheads), herbivores (fully grown green turtles), gelantivores (leatherback), crab meat (Kemp’s ridley), echinoderms, pices, cnidarians (Olive ridley). Not much is known about turtle intelligence. They sometimes mistake plastic bags floating as jelly fishes & choke to dead due to them. Rethink the next time you use plastic.

Younger turtles have a greater brain to body size ratio than adults. It has been difficult to fully understand their behavior. Its interesting how female turtles return back to the nesting ground from where they are to lay eggs. Here we can’t even remember what we had for dinner a night before (you just thought about it).There have been theories around that they use magnetic fields & chemical cues but this can’t be regarded as true.

Turtles are among some of the animals that breathe with their butts. Their lungs are at the top of their shells. Most animals have the ability to expand & contract their thoracic cavity while breathing. But due to their rigid shells this isn’t possible for them. Thus they rely on muscles in their ribs to pump air in their mouths mostly. But sometimes they breathe out through the cloaca. It sometimes functions as the gills. Cloaca is also the excretory part . Now, think about it. A turtle has gills as well as lungs but it isn’t an amphibian. This means that they can’t stay underwater for long. They have to come up to breathe quite often, otherwise they drown.

Turtles have been around for about 300 million years. Disappearance of them due to careless human activities can be very dangerous for the whole ecosystem. Their average life spans from 30 to 100 years. The oldest turtle. Some say that turtles can live upto 400-500 years of age. The oldest known turtle is held captive in Guangzhou aquarium in China is about 400 years old. The rainforests are an interesting place too. Since a few places are out of human reach we still don’t know if there are some freshwater turtles living peacefully in the water. There have been incidents recorded of humans finding giant turtles underwater but the authenticity of this information is as of yet unknown.

Baby turtles are adorable. Many people also have turtles as pets mainly due to them being low maintenance . Looking at the current scenario, due to extensive human activities turtles have become endangered. Extinction of sea turtles will be expensive & irreplaceable. Consumption of plastics, getting caught in fishing nests, losing habitat due to oil spills & regular human invasion on breeding grounds etc. are some of the major threats. Turtles share a symbiotic relationship with some algae. Touching the shell may weaken the algae & consequently the turtle too as a result of which it may die.

Why do we need to protect them anyway?

Sea water washes off the minerals from the coasts. Turtles build dunes to lay eggs. These dunes protect the soil being washed/leached off. They are also a keystone species. They prevent excess blooming of jelly fish by predating on them. Turtle eggs are rich in minerals. The dunes derive minerals from these eggs thus enriching the soil. Our human conscience helps us to realize about our duties & urges us to be responsible for whatever we do & whatever we should be doing. Therefore it becomes our utmost duty to protect turtles.

Methods of Forest Conservation

2020-12-15T08:59:00.006-08:00

Methods of Forest Conservation:

The following steps should be taken for the conservation of forests:

Regulated and Planned Cutting of Trees:

One of the main reasons of deforestation is commercial felling of trees. According to an estimate, about 1,600 million cubic metres of wood have been used for various purposes in the world. Although trees are considered as perennial resource, when exploited on a very large scale, their revival cannot be possible.
Therefore, cutting should be regulated by adopting methods like:
(i) Clear cutting,
(ii) Selective cutting
(iii) Shelter wood cutting.
The clear cutting method is useful for those areas where the same types of trees are available over a large area. In that case, trees of same age group can be cut down in a selected area and then marked for replantation.
In selective cutting only mature trees are selected for cutting. This process is to be followed in rotation. Shelter wood cutting is where first of all useless trees having been cut down followed by medium and best quality timber trees.
The time gap between these cuttings is helpful in re-growth of trees. In regulated cutting only one-tenth of the forest area is selected for use and rotational system is always followed for their protection.
The forest can be managed in such a way that a timber crop may be harvested indefinitely year after year without being depleted. This technique is called the ‘sustained yield’ method adopted by many countries of the world.
Control over Forest Fire:
Destruction or loss of forest by fire is fairly common; because trees are highly exposed to fire and once started it becomes difficult to control. Sometimes, the fire starts by natural process, i.e., by lightning or by friction between trees during speedy winds, while in most cases it is started by man either intentionally or unintentionally.
According to an estimate, during the period from 1940 to 1950, in the US alone, fires consumed an average of 21.5 million acres of timber yearly and as many as 1,175,664 cases of forest fires occurred during 1955 to 1964 period.
Throughout the world, forest fire is common and in most cases they were begun by man. As John D. Guthrie, former fire inspector of US Forest Service has written: “To stage a Forest Fire you need only few things – a forest, the right atmospheric conditions, and a spark either from a lightning bolt or a match in the hands of a fool or a knave. The formula is simple – the larger the forest, the drier the air, the bigger the fool, the bigger the fire you will have”.
In order to save forests from fire it is necessary to adopt latest techniques of firefighting. Some of the fire suppression techniques are to develop three metre wide five lanes around the periphery of the fire, back fires, arrangement of water spray, fire retardant chemicals should be sprayed from back tank and if possible by helicopters. There must be a trained staff of firefighters to control the fire.
Reforestation and Afforestation:
The sustained yield concept dictates that whenever timber is removed, either by block cutting or by selective cutting, the denuded area must be reforested. This may be done by natural or artificial methods. Similarly, any forested land which has been destroyed by fire or mining activities should be reforested. In rugged terrain aerial seeding is the method of choice.
Besides all this, fresh afforestation programmes should be started. New plantations will not only increase the forest cover but also help in making up the eco-balance. For afforestation, selection of trees should be done according to local geographical conditions and care must be taken during initial growth of the trees.
Check over Forest Clearance for Agricultural and Flabitation Purposes:
Most of the present-day agricultural land was once forested and then cleared for the use of agriculture. But now it has reached the stage where further clearance will be dangerous for the entire ecosystem.
There are tribals in some parts of Asia, Africa and South America, where shifting cultivation is still a part of their system of land procurement. According to an estimate, about 40 million sq km of land is used for this purpose by 200 million tribals of the world.
For the conservation of forest, this should be checked and an alternative system should be suggested to them. Similarly, for the development of villages, towns and cities, forest lands have been cleared and this process continues to this day causing loss of forest cover. This also should be checked and green belts around cities should be developed.
Protection of Forest:
The existing forests should be protected. Apart from commercial cutting, unorganised grazing is also one of the reasons. There are several forest diseases resulting from parasitic fungi, rusts, mistletoes, viruses and nematodes which cause the destruction of trees. The forests should be protected either by use of chemical spray, antibiotics or by development of disease resistant strains of trees.
Proper Utilisation of Forest Products and Forests:
Generally, forests have been cut for logs and rest of the tree – stump, limbs, branches and foliage, etc., are left out in the forest as worthless debris. Further waste occurs at the sawmill. There is a need to use all this waste material. Now several uses have been developed and products like waterproof glues, board, etc., can be obtained.
Similarly, forests can easily be used or developed as tourist centres. By using them as tourist centres the country can earn substantial foreign exchange. This practice has been adopted by many countries, both developed and developing.
The concepts of ‘national park’ and ‘game sanctuary’ have now become popular and every country has developed its unique forest area as a ‘national park’. In India alone, there are as many as 21 national parks. This scheme is a good method of forest conservation.
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Effects of Deforestation

2020-12-15T08:49:00.003-08:00

IN THE TIME IT TAKES TO SAY ‘DEFORESTATION’, ANOTHER CHUNK OF FOREST THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL PITCH IS DESTROYED.

That’s every two seconds, every single day.
And we’re not including commercially grown trees and plantations. We mean natural, noisy forests that were full of life, and home to threatened species such as orangutans and jaguars.
There’s only about half the number of trees on the planet today that there were when humans first evolved. And the fastest rate of forest destruction has been in the past couple of centuries.
Up to 15 billion trees are now being cut down every year across the world. It’s just not sustainable, or very smart – for wildlife, for people, or for the climate.
Deforestation affects us all, whether we realise it or not.
Environmental Effects of Deforestation

Loss of Habitat

One of the most dangerous and unsettling effects of deforestation is the loss of animal and plant species due to their loss of habitat. 70% of land animals and plant species live in forests. Not only does deforestation threaten species known to us, but also those unknown.

The trees of the rainforest that provide shelter for some species also provide the canopy that regulates the temperature. Deforestation results in a more drastic temperature variation from day to night, much like a desert, which could prove fatal for many inhabitants.

Increased Greenhouse Gases

In addition to the loss of habitat, the lack of trees also allows a greater amount of greenhouse gases to be released into the atmosphere. Healthy forests absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, acting as valuable carbon sinks. Deforested areas lose that ability and release more carbon.

Water in the Atmosphere

The trees also help control the level of water in the atmosphere by helping to regulate the water cycle. In deforested areas, there is less water in the air to be returned to the soil. This then causes dryer soil and the inability to grow crops.

Environmental Effects of Deforestation From Below

Soil Erosion and Flooding

Further effects of deforestation include soil erosion and coastal flooding. Trees help the land to retain water and topsoil, which provides the rich nutrients to sustain additional forest life.

Without forests, the soil erodes and washes away, causing farmers to move on and perpetuate the cycle. The barren land which is left behind in the wake of these unsustainable agricultural practices is then more susceptible to flooding, specifically in coastal regions.

Effects of Deforestation on Indigenous People

Destruction of Homelands

As large amounts of forests are cleared away, allowing exposed earth to whither and die and the habitats of innumerable species to be destroyed, the indigenous communities who live there and depend on the forest to sustain their way of life are also under threat.

The loss of forests has an immediate and direct effect on their lifestyle that we in the highly industrialized parts of the world, despite our own dependency on what the rainforest provides, will never know. The level of immediacy is exponentially greater for indigenous peoples.

The governments of nations with rainforests in their borders often attempt to evict indigenous tribes before the actual clear-cutting begins. This is one of the pre-emptive effects of deforestation.

Need For Forest Conservation

2020-12-15T08:14:00.006-08:00

Need For forest Conservation

Forest conservation is the practice of planting and maintaining forested areas for the benefit and sustainability of future generations. The conservation of forest also stands & aims at a quick shift in the composition of trees species and age distribution. Forest conservation involves the upkeep of the natural resources within a forest that are beneficial to both humans and the environment. Forests are vital for human life because they provide a diverse range of resources: they store carbon &act as carbon sink, produce oxygen which is vital for existence of life on the earth, so they are rightly called as earth lung, help in regulating hydrological cycle, planetary climate, purify water, provide wild life habitat(50% of the earth's biodiversity occurs in forests), reduce global warming, absorb toxic gases & noise, reduce pollution, conserve soil, mitigate natural hazards such as floods& landslides & so on. But now-a-days, forest cover is depleting rapidly due to many reasons such as an expansion of agriculture, timber plantation, other land uses like pulp and paper plantations, urbanization, construction of roads, industries, constitutes the biggest and severe threat to the forest causing serious environmental damage.

At least 36 per cent and perhaps up to 57 per cent of tree species in the Amazon are already on the verge of extinction and classified as globally threatened, according to Red List criteria of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), is the conclusion of the new research.The threat primarily comes from rampant deforestation, which has transformed millions of hectares of rainforest into agricultural land.If we continue on this track, there may not be much rainforest left in 50 to 100 years time, says one of the researchers behind the new study.

In the new study, scientists collected data from lots of other smaller studies that mapped trees in the Amazon. They gathered data on 15,000 different species and the results are not encouraging.Up to 9,000 species are threatened to such an extent that they are in danger of disappearing completely.If these trees disappear, it could create big problems for the rainforest's overall ecosystem, as animals and trees depend on each other in many ways.

"When you remove 100,000 hectares of forest, you also remove species that aren’t found anywhere else." A rainforest has a complex food chain where different species are highly interdependent.Removing some tree species can remove the food source for other species, creating a domino effect in which the necessary interactions between various species begins to collapse.

Scientisits suggests designating areas of the rainforests as national parks and employ monitoring staff to ensure the protection of the forests.The loss of trees and other vegetation can cause climate change, desertification, soil erosion, fewer crops, flooding, increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and a host of problems for indigenous people.

How have forests affected your life today?

Have you had your breakfast? Travelled to work in a bus or car? Sat on a chair? Made a shopping list? Got a parking ticket? Blown your nose into a tissue? Forest products are a vital part of our daily lives in more ways than we can imagine.

Over 2 billion people rely on forests

Forests provide us with shelter, livelihoods, water, food and fuel security. All these activities directly or indirectly involve forests. Some are easy to figure out - fruits, paper and wood from trees, and so on. Others are less obvious, such as by-products that go into everyday items like medicines, cosmetics and detergents.

Habitats for biodiversity and livelihood for humans

Looking at it beyond our narrow, human – not to mention urban – perspective, forests provide habitats to diverse animal species. They are home to 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity, and they also form the source of livelihood for many different human settlements, including 60 million indigenous people.

Forests provide jobs for more than 13 million people across the world

In addition, 300 million people live in forests, including 60 million indigenous people.Yet, we are losing them. Between 1990 and 2015, the world lost some 129 million ha of forest, an area the size of South Africa. When we take away the forest, it is not just the trees that go. The entire ecosystem begins to fall apart, with dire consequences for all of us.

After oceans, forests are the world’s largest storehouses of carbon.

They provide ecosystem services that are critical to human welfare. These include:

Absorbing harmful greenhouse gasses that produce climate change. In tropical forests alone, a quarter of a trillion tons of carbon is stored in above and below ground biomass
Providing clean water for drinking, bathing, and other household needs
Protecting watersheds and reducing or slowing the amount of erosion and chemicals that reach waterways
Providing food and medicine
Serving as a buffer in natural disasters like flood and rainfalls
Providing habitat to more than half of the world’s land-based species.

Queens of the Oceans-The Dolphins

2020-12-14T06:07:00.010-08:00

Queens of the Oceans-The Dolphins

These mammals are not as intelligent as humans but don’t consider them any lesser. Their brain to body size ratio is only next to humans. Dolphins are very playful & smart animals. In 1985 three researchers on a marine expenditure got a little bored. While in the boat they decided to put up a small act. One of them pretended to be Poseidon , by placing a sea weed on his head. Later he threw it in the water. Moments later a dolphin surfaced the water with the seaweed on his head. Coincidence? Or was it mimicking the researcher?

There have been incidences recorded that these creatures have saved lives of drowning humans by getting them to the surface to breathe. They are one of the few members of mammalian world which can recognize themselves in the mirror. They even mourn the dead! Yes. Dolphins have been seen to show respect to the dead & also have some funerals.

Ok now something about their source of energy. There are 86 different species of dolphins & all have different food. The only thing common is that they feed on fish. Most of them feed on salmon, mackerel. All dolphins have teeth but they do not chew their food. They just grab, bite & swallow. Dolphins show an interesting hunting pattern. This is known as hurdling. They hunt in cooperation. A dolphin designated as ‘the net-maker’ kicks up the mud while the other gives a signal for other dolphins to assemble & simultaneously catch up the escaping fish. Interesting right? This also proved that dolphins do have some kind of internal communication. Dolphins do pass their communication & other skills from one generation to the other. Different species have different ways of greeting each other. Each species has its own way of hunting, unique tactics & techniques. Thus they show a wide range of vocalization. Dolphins communicate with whistle-like sounds produced by vibrating connective tissue, similar to the way human vocal cords .function, and through burst-pulsed sounds, though the nature and extent of that ability is not known. Dolphin echolocation clicks are amongst the loudest sounds made by marine animals. Bottlenose dolphins have been found to have signature whistles , unique to every individual. These creatures also have a very sharp memory. A study conducted proved that dolphins could understand the difference between bringing the ball to the basket & taking the ball away from it.

Dolphins are also very playful. They have also been seen harassing birds. They drag birds underwater without the intent of eating them. As mentioned earlier there have been incidents recorded of dolphins saving humans. Even after this level of compassion humans do not hesitate in consuming dolphin meat. Captivating, imprisoning them we must reconsider our actions. Destroying their homes, reducing their habitats & breeding grounds makes it difficult for them to survive. There are various NGOs thriving today to protect dolphins. Here is a link to one such organization.

https://www.wwfindia.org/who_we_are/work_with_us/coordinator_freshwater_dolphin_conservation_/

Wildlife Unleashed

JAVAN RHINOCEROS

JAVAN RHINOCEROS

HABITAT

DIET

REPRODUCTION

THREATS

Facts

How you can help

Newly Released Footage of Javan Rhino Babies

Breathtaking Natural Marvel - The Daintree Forest

Breathtaking Natural Marvel - The Daintree Forest

The History of the Daintree Rainforest

Daintree Development

Idiot Fruit

Emergent Trees

Rainfall

Mangrove Nurseries

The Wildlife

Bush Tucker in the Daintree Rainforest

Save the Daintree Rainforest for Future Generations

Sea Turtles - Serine Being

Methods of Forest Conservation

Methods of Forest Conservation:

Regulated and Planned Cutting of Trees:

Control over Forest Fire:

Reforestation and Afforestation:

Check over Forest Clearance for Agricultural and Flabitation Purposes:

Protection of Forest:

Proper Utilisation of Forest Products and Forests:

Effects of Deforestation

IN THE TIME IT TAKES TO SAY ‘DEFORESTATION’, ANOTHER CHUNK OF FOREST THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL PITCH IS DESTROYED.

Loss of Habitat

Increased Greenhouse Gases

Water in the Atmosphere

Environmental Effects of Deforestation From Below

Soil Erosion and Flooding

Effects of Deforestation on Indigenous People

Destruction of Homelands

Need For Forest Conservation

Need For forest Conservation

How have forests affected your life today?

Over 2 billion people rely on forests

Habitats for biodiversity and livelihood for humans

Forests provide jobs for more than 13 million people across the world

After oceans, forests are the world’s largest storehouses of carbon.

Queens of the Oceans-The Dolphins

Queens of the Oceans-The Dolphins