1.Bandipur Tiger Reserve
Context:
- Bandipur Tiger Reserve Records First-Ever Documentation of Eye Colour Variation in Leopards
- In a first-ever documentation of variation in the coloration of the iris among leopards,
- Dhruv Patil, a member of the Karnataka State Board for Wildlife and wildlife photographer, has captured a rare genetic mutation among the leopards in Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka.
- “It is common that the same cat species (tiger or leopards) have two to three eye colour variations, but two different colours in a single individual is rare among the wild cats.
- A previous such condition has been reported from a leopard in Kruger National Parkin South Africa.
- Heterochromia iridium has also been reported in leopard cats in “
Bandipur Tiger Reserve:
- Bandipur National Park second highest tiger population in india Bandipur National Park is located in Gundulpet taluk, Chamarajanagar district.
- Park is the part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve making it largest protected area in Southern India and largest habitant of Wild Elephants in South Asia.
- Bandipur Tiger Reservelies in one of the richest biodiversity areas of our country representing “Western Ghats Mountains Biogeography Zone”, surrounded by Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu) in the South,
- Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary(Kerala) in the Southwest & on the North West Side the Kabini Reservoir separates the Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserve.
Rivers and the Highest Point:
- The park is located between the Kabini riverin the north and the Moyar river in the south.
- The Nugu riverruns through the park.
- The highest point in the park is on a hill called Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta.
Other Tiger Reserves in Karnataka:
- Bhadra Tiger Reserve
- Nagarahole Tiger Reserve
- Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve
- Biligiriranganatha Swamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve, Besides, Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuaryhas been proposed to be made a tiger reserve.
Consider the following protected areas: (2012 UPSC) 1. Bandipur 2. Bhitarkanika 3. Manas 4. Sunderbans Which of the above are declared Tiger Reserves? (a) 1 and 2 only Ans: (b) |
2.KHIR-City to be launched in Bengaluru
Highlight:
- The Karnataka government’s ambitious project “Knowledge Health Innovation Research-City” (KHIR-City), claimed to be first of its kind in the country, will be inaugurated on August 23.
- The novel city will be established on a land area spanning around 2,000 acres near the BIAL airport, State Minister for Infrastructure MB Patil announced on Saturday.
- In the first phase, the project will be developed on 1,000 acres. With an estimated investment of over Rs 40,000 crore, the entire project is expected to create about 50,000 jobs.
3.Western ghats
Context:
- The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has again issued a draft notification identifying the 56,826 sq km area of the Western Ghat region spanning the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as an ecologically sensitive area.
About report:
- In 2013, a high-level committee formed by the central government had submitted a report that an area of 59,940 sq km should be identified as an ecologically sensitive area to save the rare biodiversity, rivers, natural wealth, and abundant flora and fauna in the Western Ghats.
- 3,114 sq km less land area than the recommendation of this committee has been identified in the new draft notification.
- However, its finalization depends on the consent of the Western Ghats states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala
Gadgil, Kasturi Rangan Committee:
- The central government had earlier formed a committee under the leadership of senior scientist Madhav Gadgil to emphasize the conservation of the unique biodiversity of the Western Ghats.
- In 2011, the committee had recommended that 1,29,037 sq km of Ghat be declared an eco-sensitive area.
- It recommended that some restrictions should be placed on development in 64% of the Ghat area.
- When there was huge opposition to this in the political sphere, the central government formed a Dr. K. Kasturi Rangan committee on April 15, 2013 to review the Godgil report.
- This committee had issued a report on November 13 of the same year, identifying 37 percent forest area of Ghat, i.e. 59,940 sq. km as ecologically sensitive area.
4.Yamini Krishnamurthy 1940-2024
Context:
- Bharatanatyam doyen Yamini Krishnamurthy passes away at 84
Awards and Honors
- Krishnamurthy’s talent was recognized early in her career. At the young age of 17, she gave her first solo performance in 1957, marking the beginning of a illustrious journey.
- Her contributions to Indian classical dance were acknowledged with numerous prestigious awards:
Padma Shri in 1968, at the age of 28 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1977 Padma Bhushan in 2001 Padma Vibhushan in 2016 |
Artistic Style and Impact
- Krishnamurthy was renowned for her:
- Elegant stage presence
- Sculpture-like stance
- Expressive eyes
- Ability to bring “power, beauty, and glamour” to Bharatanatyam, as noted by her student Rama Vaidyanathan
Tributes from Dignitaries:
- Former Rajya Sabha MP and Bharatanatyam dancer Sonal Mansinghdescribed Krishnamurthy as blazing “like a meteor across the sky.”
- Political leaders including Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddyexpressed their condolences.
