Archive for the ‘Wildlife and Conservation’ Category

Geckos – Poor mans Dinosaur!!!

May 21, 2009

Geckos are small to average sized lizards belonging to the family Gekkonidae which are found in warm climates throughout the world. Geckos are unique among lizards in their vocalizations, making chirping sounds in social interactions with other geckos.

http://picasaweb.google.com/drdayaprasad99/Gecko?feat=directlink

There are an estimated 2,000 different species of geckos worldwide, with many in existence still yet to be found. The name stems from the Indonesian/Javanese word gekok, imitative of its cry. The Malay word for gecko is cicak.

All geckos, excluding the Eublepharinae family, have no eyelids and instead have a transparent membrane which they lick to clean. Many species will, in defense, expel a foul-smelling material and feces onto their aggressors. There are also many species that will drop their tails in defense, a process called autotomy.

Many species are well known for their specialized toe pads that enable them to climb smooth and vertical surfaces, and even cross indoor ceilings with ease (it has been suggested that the Van der Waal’s force may contribute to this capability).

These antics are well-known to people who live in warm regions of the world, where several species of geckos make their home inside human habitations. These species (for example the House Gecko) become part of the indoor menagerie and are seldom really discouraged because they feed on insects.

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Squamata

Suborder: Lacertilia

Family: Gekkonidae {Gray, 1825}

Subfamilies

Aeluroscalabotinae

Eublepharinae

Gekkoninae

Teratoscincinae

Diplodactylinae

MUSIC for a cause

May 12, 2009
Music Video for song created by Music Director Ricky Kej protesting against the unnecessary chopping of trees to pave way for the Metro in Bangalore.
Lyrics and singer: Avinash Chebbi.
Starring: Kitty, Kiran, Charu Sharma and Muddu Krishna.

 

Mr. Ricky Kej, friend and well known Music Director, Ad Jingle producer and Musician has extended his support for the campaign against felling of the trees in Lalbagh and development of Metro. Ricky Kej has composed a jingle as a tribute to nature.

Listen to it here and feel free to download and forward it to all Bangloreans.

Save Lalbagh

April 15, 2009

Dear All,

Earlier this week(April 13 and 14), the Bangalore Metro Rail corporation(BMRCL) has demolished over 500 feet of Lalbagh’s wall and cut down 5 eucalyptus trees inside Lalbagh. BMRCL proposes to have a Metro station inside Lalbagh itself!

Lalbagh is protected by a separate, stringent law. In a highly undemocratic move, the Karnataka Government changed the law by moving an ordinance to acquire LalbaGh land for the Metro, rather than prefer a debate over the changed law, in the Assembly. The opposition has also failed to protest this undemocratic move.

Lalbagh and Lakshman Rao Park on R.V.Road, (also called the AC Road, Nanda Road ), both major landmarks and heritage of Bangalore are being destroyed for the Metro. This when the High Court is hearing PIL over alternatives in Metro alignment.

What seems like a minor portion of Lalbagh gone today will surely lead to greater portion of the park being taken away to create parking zones and malls that the Metro plans at its stations.

When they sought clearance, Metro authorities claimed trees on Nanda Road will be pruned, and not felled. Now they want to cut 323 trees on Nanda Road(R.V.Road) alone. The BBMP Tree Officer has confirmed that the tree felling in Lalbagh was not cleared by him.

This makes felling of Lalbagh’s heritage trees, daylight robbery!

Don’t be a mute witness to this wanton destruction and illegal desecration of our parks and open spaces. Come out and protest. Demand from candidates standing from Bangalore South to make their stand clear on the issue.

Let us stop the illegal construction of Metro in Lalbagh.

Join the Human Chain to be formed at the illegal demolition site(at R.V.Road, near Lalbagh westgate) on Wednesday,

April 15, 6.00 pm. Be there. 6 pm

. ……. Hasiru Usiru

The Fall of the Blackbucks…..

March 11, 2009
Deccan Herald 10 March 2009

Deccan Herald 10 March 2009

 

Related Links:

Ameen Ahmed: http://tumkurenvironment.blogspot.com/2009/03/blackbuck-census-backstage-images.html

Niranjan Mamillapalli: http://www.flickr.com/photos/savethetiger/sets/72157614505152900/