In News:

• Bengaluru's first digital population clock was inaugurated at the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC) on November 8, 2024.
• The initiative is collaboration between ISEC and the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).

Purpose:

• The clock provides real-time population estimates for Karnataka and India.
• It aims to enhance awareness about population dynamics and provide accurate demographic data for research and policy analysis.

Key Features:

• Real-time Updates:
  • Karnataka’s population is updated every 1 minute and 10 seconds.
  • India’s population updates every 2 seconds.
• Precision:
  • The clock operates with satellite connections for real-time, accurate data updates.
  • It functions autonomously with integrated components, ensuring continuous and precise tracking.
• Location: The clock is prominently displayed at the entrance of ISEC.
• National Expansion: Similar digital population clocks are being installed in 18 Population Research Centres across India by MoHFW.

Significance:

• Awareness: The clock serves as a visual tool to highlight the rapid pace of population growth and its implications for sustainable development.
• Research and Analysis: The clock is part of a broader effort to improve demographic studies and inform policy-making.
• Census Data Research Workstation:
  • ISEC has introduced a new research workstation, supported by MoHFW, for in-depth demographic analysis.
  • The facility is equipped with advanced software for studying population trends and supporting academic research.

In News:

An adult tigress and three cubs have been spotted in the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary in Goa marking the first time evidence of the species has been recorded in the forests bordering the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka since 2020.

Key Highlights:

Location and Geography:

• It is located near Chorla Ghat, between North Goa and Belgavi, and borders Maharashtra and Karnataka.
• The sanctuary is traversed by the Mhadei River, which meets the sea at Panaji, Goa.

Ecological Significance:

• It is part of the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and shares this ecosystem with Mollem National Park and other protected areas in Goa.
• The sanctuary is integral to wildlife corridors connecting the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra) and Kali Tiger Reserve (Karnataka), critical for tiger conservation.

Flora and Fauna:

• It is home to diverse wildlife, including the critically endangered Long-billed vultures that nest at Vazra Falls.
• The region supports a variety of flora and fauna due to its biodiversity-rich Western Ghats ecosystem.

Conservation Status and Recommendations:

• Goa is the only state in India to have its entire portion of the Western Ghats under state protection, with Mhadei WLS being a key area.
• The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has recommended that Mhadei WLS be designated as a tiger reserve to enhance protection efforts.
• The sanctuary is a potential candidate for inclusion under Project Tiger.
• In 2020, a Royal Bengal tigress and her cubs were tragically poisoned due to human-animal conflict.

Mahadayi Water Dispute:

• The Mahadayi (Madei, Mandovi) River is a source of dispute between Karnataka and Goa regarding water sharing.
• Karnataka seeks to divert water from the river to the Malaprabha River basin for drinking water supply in several districts, through the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project.
• The matter is currently being heard in the Supreme Court.

A critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chick was successfully born through artificial insemination (AI) at a breeding center in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, marking a crucial step in efforts to save the species.

Endangered Status:

• The Great Indian Bustard is classified as critically endangered with fewer than 150 individuals left in the wild in India.
• About 90% of these birds are found in the desert areas of Rajasthan, with smaller populations in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.

Main Threats to the Species:

• Habitat Loss: The primary threat is the loss of habitat, which is often perceived as wasteland and is diverted for infrastructure projects like roads and development.
• Slow Reproductive Rate: The bustard’s low reproductive rate exacerbates its risk of extinction.

Conservation Efforts: Bustard Recovery Program

• In 2016, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change launched the Bustard Recovery Program to focus on captive breeding and creating a sustainable environment for the reintroduction of GIBs into the wild.
• A dedicated GIB breeding center was set up at the Desert National Park in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, as part of this initiative.

• Protection Status of GIB: 
  • IUCN: Critically Endangered
  • CITES: Appendix 1
  • Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix I
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
  • It is also the state bird of Rajasthan, emphasizing its importance in the region’s biodiversity.