India should drop the idea of Ken Betwa Linking Project (KBLP) which will require felling of 2 to 4 million trees in the emerald forests of Panna national park . Think of the loss of this staggering number of trees in the backdrop of the unprecedented summers that the country experienced in the year 2024. Many parts of Bundelkhand where Panna is situated recorded 49 degrees Celsius while the mercury soared to 52.9 degrees C in Delhi, later corrected by the government to 50 degrees C (49.9). For a moment forget the loss of tiger habitat in the park, think over our own survival. Referring to the special morphological significance and unique biodiversity of Panna national park, the central empowered committee of the Supreme Court on the KBLP observed ," implementing this project would result in the complete breakdown of the evolutionary processes of millions of years." It warned of the widespread ecological devastation.River Ken is lifeline of the tiger reser
Amidst controversy created by the death of cheetahs both in India and South Africa, the forestry and environment ministry of the African nation said the 11 remaining cheetahs will be released in the free ranging conditions “over the next two months.” Interestingly, there is no commitment on cheetah release from Indian officials. Two cheetahs died in Kuno national park – one each from South Africa and Namibia. After the death of Uday, the South African cheetah, the main opposition party has also questioned the minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, on the export of 12 cheetahs to India. Two MPs from the the opposition Democratic Alliance Hannah Shameema Winckler and Dave Bryant have sought explanation from the minister and accountability for the cheetah death. This has happened two months after lawyers of an animals' rights organisation in South Africa petitioned the minister to stop the cheetah export until the risks to the animals’ su