57 Animal Species Critically Endangered in India

The IUCN recently released the list of critically endangered species of India. This includes birds and animals like the Jerdon’s courser, White Backed Vulture, the pygmy hog and more.

Before you read the complete list of animals included, read further to know what the status critically endangered means.

What is Critically Endangered?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has marked Critically Endangered (CR) to be the highest risk category given to any wild species. This means that the species population is so less that it can become extinct any time.

There are five criteria that govern whether a species can be called CR or not. These are,

1. Populations have declined or will decrease, by greater than 80% over the last 10 years or three generations.
2. Have a restricted geographical range.
3. Small population size of less than 250 individuals and continuing decline at 25% in 3 years or one generation.
4. Very small or restricted population of fewer than 50 mature individuals.
5. High probability of extinction in the wild.

If any animal or plant species is found to be adhering to any of the above criteria, it is said to be critically endangered.

Here are the 57 species of critically endangered animals of India.

Birds

Forest Owlet

1. Forest Owlet (Heteroglaux blewitti)
2. Jerdon’s courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus)
3. White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis)
4. White-backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis)
5. Slender-billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris)
6. Long-billed Vulture (Gyps indicus)
7. Red- headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus)
8. Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis)
9. Himalayan Quail (Ophrysia superciliosa)
10. Pink- headed Duck (Rhodonessa caryophyllacea)
11. Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarious)
12. Spoon Billed Sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus)
13. Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus)

Mammals

Pygmy Hog

1. Pygmy Hog (Porcula salvania) and the Pygmy hog-sucking Louse (Haematopinus oliveri) The survival of this louse is dependent on the pygmy hog.
2. Andaman White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura andamanensis)
3. Jenkin’s Andaman Spiny Shrew (Crocidura jenkinsi)
4. Nicobar White-tailed Shrew (Crocidura nicobarica)
5. Kondana Rat (Millardia kondana)
6. Large Rock Rat or Elvira Rat (Cremnomys elvira)
7. Namdapha Flying Squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi)
8. Malabar Civet (Viverra civettina)
9. Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)
10. Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus)

Reptiles

Gharial

1. Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)
2. Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
3. Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
4. Four-toed River Terrapin or River Terrapin (Batagur baska)
5. Red-crowned Roofed Turtle or the Bengal Roof Turtle (Batagur kachuga)
6. Sispara day gecko (Cnemaspis sisparensis)

Amphibians

Anamalai Flying Frog

1. Anamalai Flying Frog (Rhacophorus pseudomalabaricus)
2. Gundia Indian Frog (Indirana gundia)
3. Kerala Indian Frog (Indirana phrynoderma)
4. Charles Darwin’s Frog (Ingerana charlesdarwini)
5. Kottigehar Bubble-nest Frog (Micrixalus kottigeharensis)
6. Amboli Bush Frog (Pseudophilautus amboli)
7. Chalazodes Bubble-Nest Frog (Raorchestes chalazodes)
8. Small Bush Frog (Raorchestes chotta)
9. Green-eyed Bush Frog (Raorchestes chlorosomma)
10. Griet Bush Frog (Raorchestes griet)
11. Kaikatt’s Bush Frog (Raorchestes kaikatti)
12. Mark’s Bush Frog (Raorchestes marki)
13. Munnar Bush Frog (Raorchestes munnarensis)
14. Large Ponmudi Bush Frog (Raorchestes ponmudi)
15. Resplendent Shrub Frog (Raorchestes resplendens)
16. Sacred Grove Bush frog (Raorchestes sanctisilvaticus)
17. Sushil’s Bush Frog (Raorchestes sushili)
18. Shillong Bubble-nest Frog (Raorchestes shillongensis)
19. Tiger toad (Xanthophryne tigerinus)

Fish

Pondicherry Shark

1. The Pondicherry Shark (Carcharhinus hemiodon)
2. Ganges Shark (Glyphis gangeticus)
3. Knife-tooth Sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidata)
4. Large-tooth Sawfish (Pristis microdon)
5. Long-comb Sawfish or Narrow-snout Sawfish (Pristis zijsron)

Spiders

Metallic Tarantula

1. The Rameshwaram Ornamental or Rameshwaram Parachute Spider (Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica)
2. The Gooty Tarantula, Metallic Tarantula or Peacock Tarantula (Poecilotheria metallica)

Corals

Fire Coral

1. Fire corals (Millepora boschmai)

List courtesy Zoological Survey of India

South Africa unveils plans for 'world's biggest' solar power plant

Giant mirrors and solar panels in Northern Cape would reduce carbon emissions and generate one-tenth of the country's energy needs

• David Smith in Johannesburg
• guardian.co.uk

A worker makes adjustments before the inauguration ceremony of a parabolic trough solar thermal power plant in Alvarado, eastern Spain, 2009. Photograph: Nacho Doce/Reuters

South Africa is to unveil plans this week for what it claims will be the world's biggest solar power plant – a radical step in a coal-dependent country where one in six people still lacks electricity.

The project, expected to cost up to 200bn rand (£18.42bn), would aim by the end of its first decade to achieve an annual output of five gigawatts (GW) of electricity - currently one-tenth of South Africa's energy needs.

Giant mirrors and solar panels would be spread across the Northern Cape province, which the government says is among the sunniest 3% of regions in the world with minimal cloud or rain.

The government hopes the solar park will help reduce carbon emissionsfrom Africa's biggest economy, which is still more than 90% dependent on coal-fired power stations. In April, the World Bank came in for sharp criticism from environmentalists for approving a $3.75bn (£2.37bn) loan to build one of the world's largest coal-fired power plants in the country.

Energy is already a high priority in South Africa where, at the end of racial apartheid, less than 40% of households had electricity. Over 16 years the governing African National Congress has undertaken a huge national expansion, with a recent survey showing that 83% are now connected, but power outages are still not uncommon in both townships and middle-class suburbs.

An estimated 200 foreign and domestic investors will meet this week in Upington, Northern Cape, with a view to funding the hugely ambitious solar project. A master plan will be set out by the US engineering and construction group Fluor. This follows a viability study by the Clinton Climate Initiative, which described South Africa's "solar resource" as among the best in the world.

Jonathan de Vries, the project manager, said today: "I'd hate to make a large claim but yes, this would be the biggest solar park in the world."

De Vries said the park, costing 150-200bn rand, would aim to be contributing to the national grid by the end of 2012. In the initial phase it would produce 1,000 megawatts, or 1GW, using a mix of the latest solar technologies.

An initial 9,000 hectares of state-owned land have been earmarked for the park, with further sites in the "solar corridor" being explored.

De Vries, a special adviser to the energy minister, said the Northern Cape had been chosen for insolation readings (a measure of solar energy) that rank among the highest in the world. "It hardly ever rains, it hardly has clouds. It's even better than the Sahara desert because it doesn't have sandstorms."

The Orange River would provide water for the facilities, he added, while existing power transmission lines would be closer than for similar projects such as in Australia.

Northern Cape, which contains the historic diamond-rush town, Kimberley, is South Africa's biggest province and one of its poorest. But it is hoped that the park would create a "solar hub" and regenerate the local economy with fresh opportunities in manufacturing.

South Africa currently consumes 45-48GW of power per year. It is estimated this will double over the next 25 years. "In South Africa over 90% of our power comes from the burning of coal and we need to reduce this because of our international obligations on climate change," de Vries said.

"If this proves to be cost competitive with coal and nuclear, the government will roll out more solar parks. This is a very bold attempt."

He added: "Solar power isn't a panacea that will cure all but it's a part of the solution, and a very important part. There are zones in the world that are ideally suited to it, often those with low population density"

Top Ten Indoor Plants to Reduce Pollution

Indoor plants like an mini air conditioners and filters to adjust and clean the air around us. They are working hard to absorb carbon dioxide at night and release oxygen on days to incessantly providing humans with natural oxygen.

Adiantum Absorbs Radiation from Computer and Printer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adiantum
Adiantum absorbs 20 micrograms of formaldehyde per hour, it is considered the most effective natural cleaner. If you work with paints or having smokers around you, you should have some of them in your workplace. Besides, it can contain Xylene and Toluene released by monitors and printers.

Aloe can make “signal for help” when in an excessive harmful air.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe
Aloe is dubbed as an air cleaning expert. One pot of aloe equals to nine biological air cleaners. They can absorb formaldehyde, carbon dioxide, Carbon monoxide. When harmful elements in the air has exceeded due amount, there will spots appear on the leaves, these are signals for help. If you add more pots of aloe, the problem will be resolved.

Rubber tree can be helpful in eliminating harmful substance.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_tree
Rubber tree is a multi functional cleaner which eliminates harmful substance. They can absorb carbon dioxide, Carbon monoxide, HF, etc. They also collect Granules to reduce the dust around you.

Asparagus can kill viruses and bacteria.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asparagus
The fragrance of asparagus can contain the bacteria and viruses in the air to ensure your health. Besides, it is a valuable material in medication.

Ivy is the king in absorbing formaldehyde.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy
Ivy is the most effective indoor plant in absorbing formaldehyde.
Ivy per square meter can absorb 1.49 grams of formaldehyde. In the mean time, it can absorb harmful substances like Benzene. In 24 hours, it can 90% of indoor benzene. In 10 square meters, if you put 2-3 pots of ivy, it should be enough to perform the function of cleaning the air and dust.

Cacti is the best in reducing radiation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cacti
Cacti is very strong in eliminating bacteria. In tackling pollution, cacti is the best in reducing radiation. Besides, cacti absorbs carbon dioxide at night to release oxygen. Putting cacti in the room is helpful in sleeping and supplementing oxygen.

Chlorophytum is an air filter itself.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorophytum
Chlorophytum can perform photosynthesis under weak light and absorb harmful air. One pot of Chlorophytum in a 8-10 square meters of room is enough to perform as an air filter, which releases oxygen and absorbs Carcinogens like formaldehyde and Styrene. Chlorophytum is very strong in absorbing carbon monoxide and formaldehyde normally up 95% and 85%. It decomposes benzene and Nicotine in tobaccos. So they are called green filters.

Clivia keeps air fresh in winter.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clivia
One grown up Clivia can absorb one liter of air and release 80% of oxygen overnight. It can perform photosynthesis under very weak light. Two and three pots of clivia can absorb the smoke in ten square meters. In winter in the north, even with doors and windows closed, Clivia can adjust the air make it fresh.

Monstera improves air quality at night.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monstera
Monstera is not so good at cleaning the air, but it is really good at absorbing formaldehyde. Besides, it absorbs carbon dioxide at night and releases the oxygen, so it is helpful in improving air quality. It is also good looking and elegant, proves to be a very good indoor plants.

Pachira absorbs smoke well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachira
If you hates smokers around you and being a victim of secondhand smoke, but futile in stopping them from smoking, you can put pachira around you, it will absorb smoke effectively. It also absorbs carbon dioxide and monoxide, releases oxygen.

How air pollution attacks the various organs of our body?

How air pollution attacks the various organs of our body?

Our body has its own defense system to fight against harmful and undesirable elements when they come in contact with our body. The body has its own fight or flight mechanism that engages quickly when danger is near. However, air pollution is the danger that can break down the body’s defenses or at least weaken our defense system. Let us have a look at the various ways in which the air pollution attacks our body:

The Nose, Mouth and Throat
The major chunk of air pollutants enter our body through nose and as our nose traps and holds these pollutants, they accumulate in the nose can and cause problems in the nose and sinuses or be absorbed in mucus membranes, resulting in a number of harmful effects on the body.

The Skin

Our skin is the organ most exposed to air and exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation is closely associated with the development of skin cancers. Chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) deplete the ozone layer allowing harmful amounts of UVB to penetrate to the earth’s surface which lead to skin cancer.

The Blood
When air pollutants enter our blood stream they distribute their harmful effects throughout the body. Some of the air pollutants include benzene, lead, mercury, carbon monoxide, volatile nitrites, pesticides and herbicides, and others. All of these have been found to lead to harmful effects on the blood as well as the system that is involved in the formation of blood including: blood cells, bone marrow, spleen, lymph nodes and the net-like system of cells that clean out foreign particles and infectious microorganisms.

The Lungs
One of the most harmful and obvious effect of air pollution is respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Oxidants air pollutants like ground-level ozone, nitrogen oxide and airborne particles lead to cell damage causing inflammation and making cells more vulnerable to cancer. Severe inflammation can cause significant damage including scarring of lung tissue, called fibrosis, and abnormal thickening. These disorders make breathing more difficult.

Inhalation of particulate matter that is 2.5 microns in diameter and smaller may injure the deeper, smaller thin-walled bronchi-oles where the body begins to extract oxygen from air. Exposure to toxic chemicals from incinerators, power plants, mining operations and other industrial facilities also have been linked to lung cancer.

Level of air pollution in cities may impair brain

'Level of air pollution in cities may impair brain'
Charu Sudan Kasturi, Hindustan Times
New Delhi, July 05, 2011

Waiting at a traffic signal behind a vehicle spewing pollutants could hurt your ability to learn. Exposure to particulate matter (PM) pollution over prolonged periods at levels typical of Delhi and other Indian and Chinese cities could impair cognition, cause depression and chronically
damage key parts of the brain, scientists have found.

The findings, published in the Nature Journal Molecular Psychiatry, suggest that air pollution —known to cause body inflammation, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity — has other previously ignored public health implications.

Most big cities in India actually have pollution levels higher than the ones we used in experiments by the researchers, Sanjay Rajagopalan, Ohio State University professor and a coauthor of the research said.

"We didn't expect the kind dramatic results we got. But the results suggest that it is very important for policy-makers in India to address these problems though it won't be easy," Rajagopalan told HT.

The researchers —Rajagopalan, Laura Fonken and Qinghua Sun — exposed one set of mice to polluted air and another set to filtered air for 10 months before performing a series of behavioral tests on them. Mice were tested because humans are exposed to several other influencing factors and isolating the impact of air pollution on the brain is difficult.

Delhi typically has average PM concentration of the range of 50-120 micrograms in every cubic metre, even after the reduced air pollution following the introduction of compressed natural gas (CNG). The mice were exposed to PM concentration of 80-90 micrograms per cubic metre. But the region directly behind a pollution spewing vehicle would typically have PM concentration as high as 600 micrograms per cubic metre. "The tests were specifically designed for conditions in Indian and Chinese cities," Rajagopalan said.

Related Article: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/07/air-pollution-linked-to-brain-damage-and-depression.php

7 Tips to Save the World's Oceans

Photo: OCEANA Carlos Minguell

June 8, 2011 is World Oceans Day, and it's a day to be taken seriously. Never before have the oceans been so endangered from pollution, overfishing and more. Here are some startling figures from Oceana: "The international marine conservation organization estimates that since the beginning of the 21st century, 70 million tonnes of fish have been caught and afterwards discarded dead, 110,000 hectares of seagrass meadows that were home to thousands of organisms have been destroyed and 99% of the marine species in danger of extinction still lack conservation plans." Oceana is the largest international organization dedicated exclusively to marine conservation. Here are seven tips that they have has put together on how we can all help to save the world's oceans.

7. Beach cleanups
Photo: OCEANA Enrique Talledo

Pollution is a huge danger to marine life forms, many of which swallow or get caught up in it. Cans, the plastic rings used to hold them together, bilge water and beach trash all contribute to this problem. Oceana's underwater remotely operated underwater vehicle has shown this garbage even at depths of 500 meters. Then there is the danger from cut nets that entangle everything in their path, including coral. Organizing beach cleanups is one way we can help to tackle this problem.

6. Watch what you eat
Photo: OCEANA LX

Only eat sustainable fish and try to avoid those caught by bottom trawling or which come from big industrial ships. Check with your fishmonger or supermarket fish manager to see which, if any, fish come from local fishermen associations. It really does work; consumer pressure made one of the largest grocery chains in Canada implement a "sustainable fish only" policy in all their stores. Fish 2 Fork is a resource that will help you see which restaurants in your area only use sustainable fish.

5. Shop with a conscience
Photo: OCEANA Carlos Minguell_182

Products to avoid buying include coral jewelry, sea turtle shells, dried seahorses and shark products. However, there are a lot of things you can buy that help conservation, like bags made from old fishing nets and cosmetics that don't use shark acids. Coral that is thousands of years old has been destroyed in just a few years, and sharks have been overfished leading to their being threatened – as some species only give birth to one individual a year.

4. Put away the plastic Photo: OCEANA Carlos Suárez

One notorious example of pollution is an area called the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch". Oceana explains: "It’s a mass of floating marine litter that contains an estimated 150 million tons of plastic covering an area estimated to be twice the size of France. It has caused the death of millions of seabirds and over a hundred thousand marine mammals." So, try to avoid using plastic bags; they take 400 years to decompose and kill thousands of marine animals.

3. Educate yourself
Photo: OCEANA Carlos Minguell

There are many wonderful books and TV shows that explain the predicament the world's oceans are in. One idea might therefore be to start a book club where you can read and discuss books together with other information about the perils the planet is facing. Book clubs are informative and fun, which makes educating yourself a pleasure rather than a chore.

2. Spread the word
Photo: OCEANA Carlos Minguell

Get involved! Tell your friends and family about the plight of the oceans and marine life, and sign petitions and talk to politicians about such issues. It is amazing what spreading the word, one person at a time, can accomplish.

1. Donate Photo: OCEANA Carlos Minguell

Donate to organizations like Oceana and others which are fighting for our oceans and marine life. They fight to create Marine Protected Areas (MPA) throughout the world, to give fish some places to safely breed, coral a chance to regrow, and seabirds and mammals some safety from human predators and pollution.

The world's oceans are vital to our well-being. Not just because we eat fish but because their health contributes to the health of the environment as a whole. One of the most dangerous greenhouse gases is water vapor, which increases as the oceans rise, causing extreme weather conditions. Seafood is vital to seaboard towns, cities and village economies. And destroying species will cause long-term pain because if it continues there will be nothing left to fish. Even now some areas are running out of crab and lobsters, and this also means that predators who prey on them are running out of food and won't themselves thrive.

Written by Michele Collet