What is the News ?

Presently, the Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Samudra Prahari is on an international mission covering ASEAN countries.

Facts About:

• Samudra Prahari is an Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) specifically designed for pollution control purposes.

Key Highlights:

• It holds the distinction of being Southeast Asia's pioneering pollution control vessel.
• Equipped with cutting-edge Pollution Response and Control equipment for effectively managing oil spills within the Exclusive Economic Zone.
• Features tanks and inflatable barges for the storage of oil spills.
• Capable of seamless oil recovery operations with a substantial storage capacity of 500 KL.
• Designed to accommodate and operate a twin-engine Advanced Light Helicopter, along with the capability to handle and embark Chetak helicopters.
• Notable features encompass an integrated platform management system, power management system, high-powered external firefighting system, and an indigenous gun mount with firefighting capabilities.
• The vessel possesses unmanned machinery operation capabilities for enhanced efficiency.

What is the News ?

The wildlife officials have found the TrailGuard AI camera-alert system very useful in the Kanha-Pench corridor in Madhya Pradesh.

Facts About:

• These cameras are thin and can be discreetly placed in trees.
• They look like a pen, measuring 13.8 cm long and 1.4 cm wide. They are connected to another unit, about the size of a notepad.
• These cameras have special software that can be told to take pictures of specific animals or people.
• They are really small, about the size of a person's index finger when you consider the camera head and the infrared sensor.
• You can set them to capture specific things like humans or certain animals like lions, tigers, or cheetahs.
• If the camera is near a cellphone tower, it can send pictures in just 30 seconds. If it's far from a tower, it might take 3-10 minutes using a longer method.
• The 'AI' part of this system means that it doesn't send every picture it takes. Instead, it only sends pictures that are interesting to the forest officials.
• This camera was created by RESOLVE, a non-profit organization. The brain of this camera is Intel's Myriad chip.

What is the News ?

India is getting ready to bring in a new group of cheetahs from South Africa and release them into the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.

Facts About:

• Location: Situated at the northern border of Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur and Nimach districts, adjacent to Rajasthan.
• Area: Covers 368.62 km2 (142.32 sq mi) and is part of the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forest ecoregion.
• Establishment: Established in 1974 and officially designated as a sanctuary in 1984.
• River Chambal: Divides the sanctuary into two sections and adds to its unique landscape.
• Terrain: Features diverse topography, including hills, plateaus, and the catchment area of the Gandhi Sagar Dam on the Chambal River.
• Cultural Significance: Houses historical, archaeological, and religious sites like Chaurasigarh, Chaturbhujnath temple, Bhadkaji rock paintings, Narsinghjhar Hinglajgarh fort, and Taxakeshwar temple.
• Flora: Dominated by tree species like Khair, Salai, Kardhai, Dhawda, Tendu, and Palash.
• Fauna: Home to herbivores such as Chinkara, Nilgai, and Spotted Deer, as well as carnivores like the Indian Leopard, Striped Hyena, and Jackal. The sanctuary also hosts a variety of aquatic life, including crocodiles, fish, otters, and turtles.

What is the News ?

Scrub Typhus claims 5 lives, while Leptospirosis spreads in Odisha; health authorities remain vigilant.

Facts About:

• Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi bacteria, is prevalent in Asia-Pacific regions, including India.
• It spreads via chigger mites in rural areas. Symptoms include high fever, headaches, muscle pain, and a distinctive rash, often leading to swollen lymph nodes.
• If untreated, it can cause severe complications affecting vital organs.
• Diagnosis relies on clinical symptoms and blood tests.
• Timely antibiotics like doxycycline or azithromycin are effective treatments.
• Preventive measures include protective clothing, insect repellent, and avoiding dense vegetation.
• Recent cases in Odisha, have prompted heightened health alerts and emphasize the importance of early detection and treatment, alongside public awareness efforts.

About Leptospirosis:

• Leptospirosis caused by the bacterium Leptospira interrogans, is a potentially fatal zoonotic disease and is common in warm, humid regions worldwide.
• Humans can contract it from infected animal urine, particularly rodents, cattle, pigs, and dogs.
• Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, and diarrhea.
• Leptospirosis may occur in two phases, with the second phase being more severe and potentially causing kidney or liver failure, or meningitis.
• Antibiotics are effective in treating the disease, particularly when administered early.
• It's prevalent in both urban and rural areas, emphasizing the importance of preventive measures and public health awareness.

What is the News ?

Recently, a group of researchers in Kerala found two brand new antlion species. They're called Nemoleon ghoshi and Nemoleon madayiensis.

Facts About:

• These two new antlion species are part of the Myrmeleontidae family in the Neuroptera order.
• Antlions are well-known for their habit of building pits.
• Some antlion types, during their larval stages, create cone-shaped pits in loose, dry soil to catch their prey.
• However, the larvae of Nemoleon don't build pits. They live beneath the surface in loose soil, which provides them protection from sunlight, wind, and rain.
• You can easily recognize antlions by their long, distinct antennae.
• This is the first time that the Nemoleon genus has been spotted in the Oriental region.
• In Kerala, these are the 5th and 6th antlion species to be discovered, and they are the 125th and 126th species found in India.
• Antlions are found all around the world, mainly in dry, sandy areas.
• The research was made possible with financial support from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).