For first time 19 swamp deer translocated from Kaziranga to Manas National Park
For the first time in India, a herd of 19 swamp deer were translocated from Kaziranga National Park to Manas National Park in Assam. It was part of ‘Eastern Swamp Deer Conservation Project’ to source their population to Manas National Park.
This translocation initiative was initiated by a team of experts from the Assam Forest Department (AFD), Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and Assam College of Veterinary Science.
As
a part of translocation, they were transported more than 400 kms away
from present habitat and were released in a specially prepared enclosure
or boma in Manas. This boma (enclosure) is secured by a two-line power fence installed over a barrier to deter leopards.
In this enclosure, they are provided
with transplanted short grass originally from their habitat to ensure well- being of the herd.
As part of translocation they will kept in boma for the first few months and later will be released in the park in batches. While some of them will be kept in the boma for breeding purposes.
Swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii ranjitsinhi) are popularly known as ‘Barasingha’. Its entire population is currently found only in Kaziranga National Park.
Eastern Swamp Deer Conservation Project- It is an ecological research programme of AFD and WTI along with ONGC started in 2010. The aim of the project is to understand the ecology of the eastern swamp deer and develop management strategies for conservation of their last surviving population in India.
The project generally focuses on researching diet, genetic constitution and behaviour of swap deers which will provide useful insight for scientific management of the sub-species in Kaziranga, along with creating a second home in Manas National Park.
Translocation: It is a wildlife conservation biology which includes capture, transport and release or introduce species from their original habitat to another habitat far away. It seeks to reduce the risk of their extinction by increasing, augmenting their critical population.
This translocation initiative was initiated by a team of experts from the Assam Forest Department (AFD), Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and Assam College of Veterinary Science.
As
a part of translocation, they were transported more than 400 kms away
from present habitat and were released in a specially prepared enclosure
or boma in Manas. This boma (enclosure) is secured by a two-line power fence installed over a barrier to deter leopards.In this enclosure, they are provided
with transplanted short grass originally from their habitat to ensure well- being of the herd.
As part of translocation they will kept in boma for the first few months and later will be released in the park in batches. While some of them will be kept in the boma for breeding purposes.
Swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii ranjitsinhi) are popularly known as ‘Barasingha’. Its entire population is currently found only in Kaziranga National Park.
Eastern Swamp Deer Conservation Project- It is an ecological research programme of AFD and WTI along with ONGC started in 2010. The aim of the project is to understand the ecology of the eastern swamp deer and develop management strategies for conservation of their last surviving population in India.
The project generally focuses on researching diet, genetic constitution and behaviour of swap deers which will provide useful insight for scientific management of the sub-species in Kaziranga, along with creating a second home in Manas National Park.
Translocation: It is a wildlife conservation biology which includes capture, transport and release or introduce species from their original habitat to another habitat far away. It seeks to reduce the risk of their extinction by increasing, augmenting their critical population.
NATO formally ends its 13 year war in Afghanistan
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has formally ended its war in Afghanistan after 13 years of conflict.
In this regard, a low-key ceremony took place in Kabul (Afghanistan’s capital) in secret and it was held in a sports hall at NATO headquarters.
This ceremony completes the gradual handover of responsibility to maintain peace and security of Afghanistan to its government which at present has 350,000-strong personnel in their forces, who have been in charge of nationwide security since the middle of last year.
From 1st January 2015, joint US-NATO led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) combat mission will be replaced by a NATO Training and Support mission.
For this mission about 12,500 foreign troops will stay in Afghanistan. They will be not directly involved in any combat mission, but will assist and train Afghan army and police forces in their battle against the Taliban.
Summary
ISAF combat mission comes to an end after 13 years of September 11 terror attacks that sparked their invasion of Afghanistan to topple the Taliban-led Government (who had ruled from 1996 until 2001) and fight against terrorism.
In this combat mission 3,485 military had died since it began 2001.
In this regard, a low-key ceremony took place in Kabul (Afghanistan’s capital) in secret and it was held in a sports hall at NATO headquarters.
This ceremony completes the gradual handover of responsibility to maintain peace and security of Afghanistan to its government which at present has 350,000-strong personnel in their forces, who have been in charge of nationwide security since the middle of last year.
From 1st January 2015, joint US-NATO led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) combat mission will be replaced by a NATO Training and Support mission.For this mission about 12,500 foreign troops will stay in Afghanistan. They will be not directly involved in any combat mission, but will assist and train Afghan army and police forces in their battle against the Taliban.
Summary
ISAF combat mission comes to an end after 13 years of September 11 terror attacks that sparked their invasion of Afghanistan to topple the Taliban-led Government (who had ruled from 1996 until 2001) and fight against terrorism.
In this combat mission 3,485 military had died since it began 2001.
Central Government employees asked to declare assets under Lokpal Act, 2013
Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has asked all Central government employees to declare their assets and liabilities under the provisions of Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013. In this regards DoPT has also made mandatory for them to disclose deposits in foreign banks.
Earlier in Dember 2014, DoPT had extended the date of declaring assets till April 2015 from 31 December 2014 as per the Public Servants (Furnishing of Information and Annual Return of Assets and Liabilities and the Limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns) Amendment Rules, 2014.
This rules were issued in September 2014.
Some facts about rules
Earlier in Dember 2014, DoPT had extended the date of declaring assets till April 2015 from 31 December 2014 as per the Public Servants (Furnishing of Information and Annual Return of Assets and Liabilities and the Limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns) Amendment Rules, 2014.
This rules were issued in September 2014.
Some facts about rules
- Central government employees must file the returns of their assets and liabilities, including of their spouse and dependent family members every year on March 31 on or before July 31 of that year.
- These declarations will come under the Lokpal Act and in addition to various services rules.
- In this regards all Group A, B, and C employees will declare the assets under the new rules. It should be noted that there are about 26,29, 913 employees in these three categories.
- As per the rules, assets and liabilities includes details of cash in hand, bank deposits, investment in bonds, debentures, shares and units in companies or mutual funds, insurance policies, provident fund, personal loans and advance given to any person or entity, among others.
- The employees also need to declare motor vehicles, aircraft, yachts or ships, gold and silver jewellery and bullion possessed by them, their spouses and dependent children.
