One year of Project Cheetah
Context:
A year into the implementation of Project Cheetah, India’s initiative to reintroduce African cheetahs into the country’s natural habitat has shown notable progress.
Details of the developments:
Project Cheetah has achieved positive outcomes in several key areas:
- Survival Rate: The introduced cheetahs have demonstrated a 50% survival rate, marking a noteworthy achievement.
- Establishment of Home Ranges: Significant strides have been made in establishing home ranges for the cheetahs, contributing to their adaptation to the new environment.
- Cub Births in Kuno: The successful birth of cubs in the Kuno region indicates a positive trend in the reproductive aspects of the cheetah population.
Community Impact: The project has led to revenue generation for local communities, creating job opportunities and economic benefits. Importantly, no conflicts between humans and cheetahs have been reported in the area.
About the Cheetah Reintroduction Project:
Initiated by the Government of India, this project aims to reintroduce cheetahs to the country. Cheetahs were declared extinct in India in 1952. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, is responsible for its implementation.
The objective of the project is to bring 50 cheetahs from African countries to various national parks in India over the next five years. Currently, 20 radio-collared cheetahs have been successfully translocated from Namibia and South Africa to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. This marks the first-ever transcontinental wild-to-wild translocation, involving the movement of cheetahs from Africa to Asia.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) status, the Asiatic Cheetah is classified as critically endangered, while the African cheetah is categorized as vulnerable.
Evaluation of Project Cheetah:
- Cheetah Survival: Despite expectations outlined in India’s official Cheetah Action Plan, where the imported cheetahs were supposed to spend a cumulative 75 ‘cheetah months’ in the wild, the actual time spent outside the bomas was approximately 16 ‘cheetah months.’ Nevertheless, the project experienced a 40% loss in its functional adult population.
- Establishment of Home Ranges: It is observed that fewer than four cheetahs have stayed continuously in the wild for more than three months, raising doubts about the formation of “home ranges” in Kuno.
- Reproduction: While the goal was to achieve successful cheetah reproduction in the wild, the Namibian female that gave birth to four cubs in Kuno was captive-raised, deviating from the intended plan.
- Livelihood Impact: On a positive note, the project has had a favorable impact on local communities by creating jobs and generating economic opportunities. Additionally, the price of land around Kuno has witnessed a significant increase.
While Project Cheetah has seen success in certain aspects, there are challenges and deviations from the initial plan that require careful consideration for the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of the initiative.
Stable Aural Arc
Key Idea
The Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) in Ladakh recently captivated global attention by unveiling stunning images of a rare red aurora, specifically identified as a Stable Auroral Arc (SAR).
Understanding Stable Auroral Arc (SAR)
- Exceptional Occurrence: SAR stands out as an atmospheric phenomenon occurring during a powerful G3-class geomagnetic storm.
- Distinctive Origins: Unlike typical auroras resulting from the interaction of space-borne charged particles with the atmosphere, SAR arcs have a unique origin.
- Indicator of Energy Transfer: SAR arcs serve as indicators of the transfer of heat energy into the upper atmosphere from Earth’s ring current system—a circular path carrying substantial electrical currents encircling our planet.
- Geomagnetic Storm Impact: The recent manifestation of SAR arcs was influenced by a dynamically charged ring current during a prolonged period of intense geomagnetic activity.
- Global Consequence: This celestial spectacle left a lasting impression across various regions worldwide.
Formation Process
- Solar Wind Dynamics: The formation of auroras initiates when the sun releases charged particles from its corona, generating solar wind. The captivating aurora takes shape upon interacting with Earth’s ionosphere.
- Northern and Southern Variations: In the Northern Hemisphere, it is recognized as the northern lights (aurora borealis), while in the Southern Hemisphere, it is known as the southern lights (aurora australis).
Magnetic Interplay: The diverse appearance of auroras in different hemispheres is attributed, in part, to the intricate interplay between the sun’s magnetic field and Earth’s magnetic field.
GPS Ankle Monitors: Ethics of Technology and Law
Context
In a recent development in India, GPS ankle monitors were introduced for the first time to track the movements of an individual out on bail. This gives rise to various ethical concerns.
Primary Concern: The potential flaws in the monitors could lead to unintended consequences for the accused individuals. Additionally, assuming that the police in India are adequately trained to use this technology would be imprudent.
This highlights the ethical considerations surrounding Electronic Monitoring.
Background:
On November 5, a Special Court in Jammu granted bail to Ghulam Mohd Bhat, accused of terror financing under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967, with the condition that Bhat wears a GPS tracker around his ankle. With this order, the Jammu and Kashmir police became the first in the country to deploy a GPS-enabled wearable tracking device to monitor and record the movement of an accused released on bail. Conditions for Bail- Why?
Despite the norm of “Bail over Jail,” specific conditions are imposed on the accused. These conditions aim to ensure that those released do not contact victims or witnesses, tamper with evidence, or commit further crimes.
As a result, conditions often require them to stay in a specific geographic area or prohibit them from leaving the court’s jurisdiction without permission. Tracking movements is useful in checking compliance with such conditions, and GPS-enabled trackers are considered a crucial tool for this purpose.
Key Questions and Concerns
- Validity and reliability of the technology in use – Error proneness of Technology.
- Capacity of Police to use high-end Tech – Concerns regarding training and Capacity building of Police.
- Legal issues and application of UAPA – The concerns are heightened in the Indian Criminal Justice system, where there is little focus on critical and corrective thinking alongside technological enablement – examples include forensics, cybercrime, etc.
- The tech competence of the police in India has come under question repeatedly, whether it is the appreciation of forensic evidence in courts or the usage of GPS-enabled devices for monitoring accused persons.
- Technology is perceived to be error-free and objective by most stakeholders in the criminal justice system, including law enforcement personnel and the judiciary.
- The nature of rules, laws, and court procedures makes it difficult for the processing of such technology to act as support for legal proceedings.
Limitations of Technology
- Unhindered connection with the sky and good communication networks are necessary.
- While available in uran areas, challenges persist overall. Accuracy concerns of the GPS.
- Other physical factors like buildings, foliage, and weather conditions can lead to a poor quality of signals.
- Dependency on batteries – Malfunction and discharge Case: One instance where the failure of technology led to severe consequences for the accused, despite no fault of his own, is the case of Kevin Jones.
- Jones was arrested by the police in Oakland County, Michigan (the US) for violating conditions of his release on probation – because the battery of his “tether,” the GPS-enabled device used to track him, malfunctioned when he was asleep.
International Experience
- Proneness to “False Alarms” – Research conducted by the University of Chicago shows that ankle monitors are highly prone to false alarms due to poor signal.
- Challenges for Police to determine the genuineness of an alert.
- Lack of Training of personnel to handle such sophisticated tech.
Caution
- Given such attitudes, it is not surprising that GPS-enabled trackers have been readily adopted in the administration of criminal justice without due diligence.
- However, it is important that we take a step back and confront the questions about the validity and reliability of this technology, as well as the capacity of our law enforcement personnel to use it.
- Moving ahead with the use of GPS trackers without addressing these fundamental issues carries serious risks for the fair trial rights of accused persons.
Conceptual and Analytical Discourse
Technological Ethics
- The application of GPS ankle monitors raises significant technological ethics concerns, primarily concerning the reliability and validity of the technology. The technology’s track record, as evidenced by experiences in other jurisdictions, highlights its susceptibility to errors.
- Issues such as the need for an unobstructed view of the sky, dependence on a robust cellular network, and vulnerability to atmospheric hindrances pose substantial challenges, especially in diverse and dynamic environments like India.
- The assumption of optimal conditions, a prerequisite for accurate tracking, becomes a critical point of contention.
Legal Ethics
From a legal ethics perspective, the introduction of GPS ankle monitors as a bail condition raises concerns about potential infringements on the accused person’s rights. Conditions imposed for bail are traditionally designed to prevent further crimes or tampering with evidence. However, the use of technology that is inherently flawed and prone to malfunctions introduces the risk of false accusations and unjust consequences for the accused.
Electronic Monitoring and Ethical Concerns
Ethical Question 1: Privacy Concerns and Intrusiveness
EM utilizes sophisticated tracking technologies for real-time monitoring of individuals, raising questions about privacy infringement. Critics argue that this encroachment violates fundamental human rights, especially in pre-trial cases where individuals may undergo monitoring without a jury conviction. On the other hand, proponents contend that EM is less intrusive than incarceration, emphasizing its role in safeguarding domestic violence survivors. Balancing the scales between privacy rights and public safety becomes paramount.
Ethical Question 2: Impact on Third Parties
Research reveals that EM disproportionately affects adult male offenders, potentially reinforcing traditional gender roles. Home confinement, a common aspect of EM, may place a heavier burden on women, contributing to gender inequality. Additionally, the stigmatizing nature of EM can lead to social isolation for the families of offenders, creating a sense of punishment for crimes they did not commit.
Ethical Question 3: Financial Implications
The financial dynamics of EM introduce ethical dilemmas. While governments see it as a cost-effective alternative, placing the financial burden on offenders, often from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, raises concerns. The potential for long-term economic consequences, coupled with limited employment opportunities during EM, adds complexity to the ethical discourse.
Ethical Question 4: Loss of Control Over Public Perception
The visibility of EM devices raises questions about an individual’s right to control their public image. Restrictions on clothing choices and potential social stigmatization can impact an offender’s self-esteem and rehabilitation prospects. Balancing public safety concerns with the individual’s right to choose what information to disclose becomes a delicate ethical challenge.
Ethical Question 5: Technological Failures and Unjust Imprisonment
The imperfect nature of technology introduces ethical concerns regarding unjust imprisonment. Technical glitches, from connectivity issues to inaccurate signals, could lead to false accusations and potential incarceration. Striking a balance between technological advancements and safeguarding against unjust punishment is a critical aspect of the ethical considerations surrounding EM.
The takeaway
- Despite the ethical questions raised by the adoption of EM, its benefits as a humane, cost-effective alternative to incarceration cannot be ignored.
- To address these concerns, a multi-faceted approach is necessary, including smarter EM programs, public education, family support, and rigorous testing protocols.
- By implementing these measures, societies can navigate the ethical complexities associated with EM, making it a more acceptable alternative to traditional prison sentences.
Conclusion
As India pioneers the use of GPS ankle monitors in the context of bail conditions for UAPA-accused individuals, it is imperative to address the dual dimensions of technological and legal ethics associated with this innovation.
Critical evaluation, transparent discourse, and enhanced training for law enforcement personnel are necessary steps to ensure that the deployment of GPS tracking technology aligns with the principles of fairness
