Microplastics major threat to oceans: Expert at Mangaluru Lit Fest
Mangaluru (Karnataka)(PTI): Marine pollution is rising at an alarming rate, with microplastics emerging as one of the most serious threats to ocean health, environmental expert Raghu Murtugudde said at the Mangaluru Lit Fest on Saturday.
Speaking during a session titled 'Netravathi-Nile: Local Rivers, Global Stakes', Murtugudde said large quantities of waste were being dumped into the seas by ships, significantly worsening marine pollution.
"The impact on marine life is severe. Microplastics, in particular, are creating multiple ecological problems and are gradually entering the human food chain through fish," he said.
While efforts are being made globally to reduce plastic waste, Murtugudde stressed that microplastics require specific regulatory attention.
"Plastic use is being addressed to an extent, but there is an urgent need for stricter measures to curb microplastics," he added.
Highlighting the historical interconnectedness of riverine and maritime civilisations, environment writer Udayaraj drew parallels between India’s Netravathi River and Egypt’s Nile.
"Centuries ago, trade flourished between India and Egypt. Indian muslin cloth was exported to Egypt, showing how waterways connected civilisations long before modern transport," he said.
The speakers underlined that environmental challenges today are not confined by borders and that local ecological damage can have global consequences.
The session was moderated by Prashanth Vaidyaraj, with C J Giridhar Kamath also participating.
The discussion was part of a series of thematic conversations at the ongoing fest, which brings together scholars, environmentalists, and public intellectuals.
The eighth edition of the two-day Mangaluru Lit Fest, organised by the Bharat Foundation, began on January 10 at the TMA Pai International Convention Centre.
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Three new cubs born to Cheetah Gamini in MP's Kuno Park; India's count rises to 38
Sheopur (MP) (PTI): Cheetah 'Gamini' has given birth to three cubs at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, taking the number of these big cats in India to 38, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Wednesday.
Describing it as a "roaring" success of the government's ambitious Cheetah re-introduction programme, Yadav said it is a powerful symbol of the country’s determined and historic conservation effort.
Gamini was translocated to India from South Africa as part of the ambitious project launched in September 2022 to revive the population of the world's fastest land animal in India, which had gone extinct decades ago.
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Yadav, in a post on X, said, “Kuno welcomes three new cubs - A roaring new chapter at Kuno on the occasion of completion of 3 years of arrival of cheetahs from South Africa. Celebrations echo through Kuno National Park as Gamini, the South African cheetah and second-time mother, has brought 3 new cubs into the world."
This joyful arrival marks the ninth successful cheetah litter on Indian soil and takes the number of surviving Indian-born cubs to 27, he said.
With these newest additions, India's total cheetah population has now reached 38 - a powerful symbol of the country's determined and historic conservation effort, Yadav highlighted.
Each birth strengthens the foundation of Project Cheetah and reflects the passion, perseverance, and round-the-clock dedication of the field staff and veterinary teams who have nurtured this dream into reality, he said.
"A moment of pride for Kuno, and for India—may Gamini and her three little sprinters grow strong and carry the nation’s cheetah revival story forward with speed and grace," the minister added.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav noted that Madhya Pradesh is a powerful centre for cheetah reintroduction.
This is a historic achievement for the entire country in the direction of wildlife conservation, biodiversity, and environmental balance, the CM said in a post on X.
It is a matter of immense joy that under Project Cheetah, the female cheetah ‘Gamini’ who arrived from South Africa has given birth to three cubs, he said.
"With the completion of three years of cheetahs’ arrival at Kuno National Park in Sheopur district, this is the 9th successful birth (of a litter). The total number of cheetahs in India has now increased to 38," Yadav added.
Earlier this month, cheetah Aasha, translocated to India from Namibia, gave birth to five cubs in KNP.
