Today is international #Vulture awareness day. Do you know vultures are called as ecosystem doctors. They are most efficient scavengers on earth. But in recent years the population of various species of vultures has reduced by 99%. For three years I looked after the most successful vulture conservation breeding centre of India apart from my normal duty, and all I can say is they are beautiful and amazing birds who need more support from us.

#Vultures are obligatory scavengers, so they never hunt. They feed on the dead bodies only. Also they can digest anything from diseased to old bodies, very efficient scavengers.

But in recent years their population is reduced and some are reduced like by 99%. And one drug killed them in such a huge number is Diclofenac. Diclofenac is administered to cattle - eating of dead cattle by the vultures. Vultures die of kidney failure (I am explaining in way simple manner) within some time.

This took a decade of research by people like Dr Vibhu Prakash to find out the exact reason behind their mortality. By the time we knew the cause it was already too late. Cattle grade diclofenac was banned and an alternative was proposed called as Meloxicam. But still diclofenac is used in many parts of India, which is a matter of worry.

Show me a more beautiful love story than this on #Valentines Day. The male Hornbill feeding the female, who has locked herself in nest to raise the kids. This he will do for few months, daily.

Hornbills have partners for lifetime. When they are expecting they search for a cavity or old nest. After finding one, the female enter the nest and seal from inside with whatever material is available.

Now the time tests them. Male keep searching for food and keep bringing that to the nest. While female remains locked in the nest for next 3-4 months. As the kid is growing the male has to increase the frequency. With this he has to feed himself and also protect the nest from predators.

If the male is poached on the way the family dies waiting in the nest.

Isn’t it the loveliest love story !! This is a story about hornbills which are perfect couple and which are also called as Gardner of the forest. How ?

There are 9 species of hornbills found in India. From Great to Grey. Hornbills are generally monogamous. The pair lasts long. Here a Wreathed Hornbill couple.

Do you know #elephant family is all women group. Made of #mother, #aunts, #grandmother & all other #ladies. Most of the times Male leave herd early. Kids are looked by all female elephants in herd not only mother. Most experienced female makes all decision for family. #WomensDay Obvious that experienced matriarch should lead #elephant family. She has accumulated immense traits/wisdom due to her long life. Which comes handy in long journeys & dangers. So when matriarch dies of some accident, the herd is directionless for some time.

Show me a more beautiful love story than this. The male Hornbill feeding the female, who has locked herself in nest to raise the kids. This he will do for few months, daily. This is a story about hornbills which are perfect couple and which are also called as Gardner of the forest. How ?

There are 9 species of hornbills found in India. From Great to Grey. Hornbills are generally monogamous. The pair lasts long. Here a Wreathed Hornbill couple.

An Indian scientist who demonstrated to the world that plants have life.

On May 10, 1901 at jam-packed hall of Royal Society, London he demonstrated how plants have life with crescograph. Invented telegram. Remembering JC Bose, 1st modern scientist of India on death anniversary. He recorded motion of plant tissues to about 10K times of their actual size.

Demonstrated how Plant died like a rat due to poisoned bromide solution.

Jagadish Chandra Bose became first Indian to be appointed as Professor of Physics in the Presidency College, and later to IES.

Today Shri Srinivas Rao, Forest Range Officer, Kothagudem circle in Telangana was attacked with sharp weapons. He laid his life while on forest protection duty and was protecting a plantation site. To the green soldier 🙏🏼🙏🏼 Shri Rao was a dedicated staff and won many prizes also. Rest in peace. Hope culprits will be punished soon.

This beauty. Let’s see who can guess the species. King Cobra; Ophiophagus hannah.

“Ophiophagus” is derived from Greek, meaning “snake-eating” and hannah is derived from the name of tree-dwelling nymphs in Greek mythology.

The snake whose 100% diet is other big snakes. Here old click of mine, king eating a spectacled cobra.

When #Cheetah are coming back to #India. A look at how the last of the lots were hunted, maimed and domesticated for hunting parties. Video made in 1939. 1/n Historical record suggests cheetah were in least conflict with humans. Rather they were domesticated and used by hunting parties widely. Even some used to call them ‘hunting leopards’. 2/n

Those egrets are having fun so as that male elephant. Classic case of commensalism in forest. Commensalism is an interaction between species where one species gets benefitted from interaction and another gains no benefit/loss.

Big animals say cattle, bison, sambar during their movement stir up and flush out insects from the vegetation which then are consumed by egrets.

On this day in 1730, 363 Bishnois from Jodhpur were killed in Khejarli, when objected to felling of Khejri trees by the king. Day is celebrated as #ForestMartyrsDay. Scores of ground staff & officers have laid down their lives in protecting the ecological security of country. When teams came to cut Khejri trees summons were sent to 83 Bishnoi villages.

The cry was “सिर साटे रुख रहे तो भी सस्तो जाण” which means even if head goes to save a tree then also it is worth.

With this 363 Bishnoi’s martyred to save trees led by Amrita Devi Bishnoi. 2/n

Just these duo from forest sending their wishes on #WorldElephantDay. Power and grace.

Mangroves are natures own disaster manager. Just 13 seconds to understand how it protects us from Tsunami, Cyclones & storms. Today is #MangrovesDay. Above video is by courtesy of Dutch research institute Deltares. But how Mangroves protect us from these disasters. Here is a thread.

Mangrove forest after a cyclone. The line of defense after a cyclone.

On FathersDay let me share story of this father from #forest. Great #Hornbill male is feeding the female who has locked her inside nest. This he will do for months !! This is a story about hornbills which are perfect couple and which are also called as Gardner of the forest. How ?

There are 9 species of hornbills found in India. From Great to Grey. Hornbills are generally monogamous. The pair lasts long. Here a Wreathed Hornbill couple.

Another beautiful hornbill species found in #India. The rufous-necked #hornbill. Another beauty from Indian forests. Wreathed hornbill species.

The most beautiful thing you will watch today. Great #Hornbill male is feeding the female who has locked her inside nest. This he will do for months !! This is a story about hornbills which are perfect couple and which are also called as Gardner of the forest. How ?

There are 9 species of hornbills found in India. From Great to Grey. Hornbills are generally monogamous. The pair lasts long. Here a Wreathed Hornbill couple.

Do you know Northwest #India just recorded the hottest March in 122 years, or since the records are maintained. In all probability a severe heat wave spell is looking at us. Which will impact millions. Brace. Heat waves impact the health of millions directly. They results in heat strokes and are fatal in many cases. This has severe impact on children and old.

But we also need to understand how heat waves impact many other sectors. 2/n

These 7-8 days old cubs were found by workers. Area was cordoned & monitoring was done. A 24 hour wait & mother took them to safe location ! It was a well thought out decision not to remove them from location. But remove all disturbance and put a 24X7 vigil.

Idea was to wait & provide protection. If mother doesn’t come for substantial time then backup plan.

But she came & took the cubs.

Our second such unit in forest villages. Livelihood + Sustainability. These are Areca leaf plate making units. They are made by locals using self collected material. Eco friendly and reduces plastic use. This is how they look. Products From this unit only. Livelihood + Sustainability.

Not a rocket science. Today is #WorldWetlandsDay. #Wetlands provide many ecosystem services.

- They replenish the ground water

On this day in 1966 at Mont Blanc #Bhabha lost his life in a flight crash. Father of Indian #Nuclear Programme, Bhabha came to #India during WW2, joined IISc. Later established TIFR & BARC. In picture Bhabha with Albert Einstein (relativity), Yukawa, John Wheeler (black hole). He joined IISc Bangalore after coming to Cambridge. Time when Vikram Sarabhai was also at IISc, who became father of Space programme. CV Raman was director of institute. Later Bhabha established Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. Giants walking the same corridor.

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