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Amid the ongoing economic crisis in <keyword id="6355572" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sri-lanka" source="Orion">Sri Lanka</keyword>, the island nation's <keyword id="63845" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="department-of-zoology" source="Orion">Department of Zoology</keyword> has informed the <keyword id="14132233" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="wildlife-ministry" source="Orion">Wildlife Ministry</keyword> that it has run out of funds to provide food to the animals. Department officials said that there has been a severe shortage of funds due to the declining number of foreign tourists and local visitors, Xinhua news agency reported. They said the money allocated by the government in its yearly budget had also been running out. The Wildlife Ministry had told the officials that steps would be taken to consult with the <keyword id="6374832" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="treasury" source="Orion">treasury</keyword> to provide financial allocations to feed the animals. The Dehiwala Zoological Garden, one of the oldest zoos in Asia, has a substantial collection of animals from all over the world. The island nation of 22 million people is currently undergoing its worst ever economic crisis since it gained independence in 1948 following crippling foreign currency shortages, which has affected the import of essential items, including food, fuel and medicines. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/news/here-are-some-of-the-common-challenges-in-ai-adoption-and-the-ways-to-address-them/articleshow/92050997.cms">Three mantras to ease the pain that AI adoption could present</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/news/the-tech-driven-shift-to-d2c-in-the-b2b-sector/articleshow/92050727.cms">The tech-driven shift to D2C in the B2B sector</a>

Sri Lankan zoo animals face the heat of financial crisis as authorities run out of money to feed them

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The lion was found defanged and declawed in a high-end district in capital Phnom Penh.</li><li>Authorities spotted the big cat on <keyword id="6762469" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="TikTok">TikTok</keyword> videos in late April. </li><li>Videos show the lion being cuddled and bathed by its owner.</li></ul>Cambodian authorities confiscated a lion Sunday held in captive by a Chinese national at a Phnom Penh villa in the high-end Boeung Keng Kang district. It was discovered after <a href="https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/chinese-owner-pet-lion-confiscated-133712608.html">authorities saw it on TikTok videos in late April, Environment Ministry spokesman Neth Pheaktra told AFP</a>, saying they showed the lion being cuddled and bathed. The 18-month-old male, weighing 154 pounds, was found declawed and defanged, and had been imported by the owner, according to Pheaktra.In photos released Sunday by the environment ministry, the big cat was also shown with a small dog, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57628495">according to the BBC</a>. "People don't have right to raise <keyword id="6360144" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wildlife">wildlife</keyword> animals at home. Wildlife animals should be in the natural forest," <a href="https://twitter.com/pheaktraneth/status/1409162160530284549">tweeted Pheaktra</a>. Furthermore, "the conditions at a residential home are inappropriate for a wild animal," said <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WildlifeAlliance/posts/10160102741365676">NGO Wild Alliance who participated in the raid in a Facebook post</a>, adding that "the lion's canine teeth had been removed, along with its claws, which drastically reduces a lion's quality of life."The lion has since been transferred to Phnom Tamao Zoological Park and Wildlife Rescue Center, in <keyword id="6373180" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="cambodia">Cambodia</keyword>'s Takeo province.

A pet lion was confiscated in Cambodia after its owner tried to turn him into a TikTok star

The central government today set up a committee to review different <keyword id="498585" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="environment-laws">environment laws</keyword> so that they could be brought in line with the "current requirements." The committee, which consists of four members, will be headed by former cabinet secretary TSR Subramanian. It has been asked to review five crucial environment laws concerning conservation of environment, forest, wildlife, water and air among others. 
 
The government has been looking to speed up the environmental clearances to propel economic growth. The Environment Ministry has asked the committee to submit its report in two months. 
 
The ministry’s order said, "Based on experience gained in the implementation of aforesaid Acts, it has been decided to constitute a high-level committee to review these Acts and suggest appropriate amendments to bring them in line with their objectives." 
 
The laws to be reviewed include Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. 
 
"The panel has been asked to recommend specific amendments needed so as to bring them in line with current requirements. It has also been asked to draft proposed amendments in each of the aforesaid Acts to give effect to the proposed recommendations," the ministry order said.

Govt Constitutes Committee To Review Environment Laws

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A pet <keyword id="6370207" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="lion">lion</keyword> was confiscated by Cambodian authorities last week after it was spotted in several TikTok videos.</li><li>He was returned to his owner after <keyword id="6373180" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="cambodia">Cambodia</keyword>'s Prime Minister Hun Sen stepped in.</li><li>The Ministry of Environment said previously the lion was being kept illegally.</li></ul>A pet lion that was confiscated by Cambodian authorities last month in an upscale Phnom Penh district has been returned to its owner after Prime Minister Hun Sen stepped in. The lion <a href="https://www.insider.com/pet-lion-confiscated-from-chinese-national-in-cambodia-tiktok-2021-6">was confiscated late last month after authorities saw TikTok videos of it roaming in a villa</a> in April. It was then moved to a wildlife reserve. The lion's owner, whose name is Zhai Xinjiang, appealed to Cambodian authorities to have the lion returned. "I am not troubled by the allegations that I used the animal to flaunt my wealth. I am just saddened by accusations that I mistreated the lion. I never removed his teeth or claws as alleged in the media and online. We loved him and he was a member of our family. We have never inflicted any harm on an animal," Zhai told the <a href="https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50884601/touching-reunion-pp-lion-king-breaks-his-silence/">Khmer Times</a>. The prime minister responded in a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hunsencambodia/posts/4161002177281581">Facebook post</a> on Sunday that he decided to return the animal to Zhai after speaking with Agriculture Minister Veng Sakhon. He called the situation a "special case." Speaking to Voice of America Khmer, Sakhon called the prime minister's decision "sympathetic," adding that <a href="https://www.voacambodia.com/a/hun-sen-intervenes-to-release-smuggled-lion-cub-from-wildlife-center/5953659.html">authorities will continue to look after the wellbeing of the lion</a>.Zhai, whose Facebook moniker is Qi Xiao, posted an <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068636062273">open letter on Facebook on Monday thanking the prime minister and authorities</a> for their help and confirmed that the lion is now "home." In the post, he also included pictures of the lion with his French bulldog.<div type="image" title="A lion in a car with a pet French bulldog" height="541" width="720" msid="84162929" hostid="261"></div>"Because of this action, we have seen the tolerance and care of the Kingdom of Cambodia towards foreigners and made me feel that based on the rule of law, any kindness and sacrifice will not disappoint," he wrote. Wildlife Alliance, a wildlife conservation organization that partnered with authorities to confiscate the lion, said <a href="https://www.wildlifealliance.org/pet-lion-seized-phnom-penh/">in a statement last month</a> that a villa was "inappropriate for a wild animal," adding that being defanged and declawed "drastically reduces a lion's quality of life."Wildlife Alliance did not respond immediately to a request for comment from Insider.

A TikTok-famous pet lion living in Cambodia was returned to its owner after the country's prime minister stepped in

Human activities and their urban expansion are increasingly intruding upon wildlife habitats. This has forced animals into dangerous proximity with human infrastructure, resulting in a tragic surge of accidental deaths among animal populations. The situation is no different in Tamil Nadu, which has been grappling with the issue of <keyword id="21240191" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="elephant-deaths" source="keywords">elephant deaths</keyword> on and near its railway tracks. The southern state has recorded at least 36 fatalities from train collisions over the past decade. In response to this pressing issue, the state's high court mandated collaborative efforts between the forest department and railways to curb these incidents. To address this issue, Tamil Nadu has now sought help from the phenomenon that promises to change the world as we know it: <keyword id="19904566" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="artificial-intelligence" source="keywords">artificial intelligence</keyword> (<keyword id="6355999" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="AI" source="Orion">AI</keyword>). Installing 12 towers equipped with advanced <keyword id="7885611" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI-cameras" source="Orion">AI cameras</keyword> along two key rail tracks near Madukkarai, the state forest department aims to detect and prevent elephant-train collisions, particularly along routes intersecting the elephants' migratory paths. Each tower is outfitted with AI cameras capable of thermal and visible light imaging, comparable to those deployed by the Indian Army along the nation's borders. These cameras are programmed to detect elephants and humans near railway lines. When elephants are spotted within 100 feet of the tracks, alerts are swiftly relayed to forest and railway authorities, enabling them to mitigate risks by slowing down trains and guiding the animals away from harm's way. The project has been executed at a cost of ₹7.2 crore since its launch in February this year, Supriya Sahu, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, told the BBC. But the AI-based surveillance system has proved its worth by demonstrating promising results, detecting nearly 400 instances of elephants approaching railway tracks and facilitating timely interventions to prevent potential accidents. This proactive approach marks a significant improvement over traditional methods, such as regular patrols by forest personnel, which often proved inadequate in ensuring elephant safety. Encouraged by the success of this initiative, Tamil Nadu plans to expand the AI-based system to five additional vulnerable areas across the state, including Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Hosur and Gudalur. This strategic expansion underscores the state's commitment to safeguarding wildlife and mitigating <keyword id="20694291" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="human-wildlife-conflicts" source="keywords">human-wildlife conflicts</keyword> through innovative technological solutions. Moreover, Tamil Nadu's adoption of AI technology reflects a broader trend in India, where initiatives like the Gajraj project — spearheaded by the federal railway ministry — aim to protect wildlife in elephant corridors across multiple states. By leveraging AI-based surveillance systems to monitor animal movements near railway tracks, these initiatives strive to prevent accidents and foster better coexistence between humans and wildlife.

Tamil Nadu is using army-grade AI surveillance to prevent elephant deaths on railway tracks, and it’s working!

New Delhi, Dec 26 () State-run ONGC has received environment clearance (EC) for carrying out onshore exploration, development and production of oil and gas in 100 locations in non-forest area of Assam, that would entail an investment of Rs 3,500 crore, according to official documents.
 The Union Environment Ministry has given green clearance to ONGC, the country's largest oil and gas exploration and production company, after taking into account the recommendations of a green panel.
 "The EC is however subject to obtaining prior permission from the wildlife angle, including clearance from the Standing Committee of the National Board of Wildlife," the ministry said in a letter to ONGC.
 The company proposes to carry out drilling in 100 locations to evaluate the hydrocarbon potential of 21 different onshore Petroleum Mining Lease (PML) blocks in a non-forest area covering 944.39 km in Assam and Assam Arakan Basin covering whole of the Upper Assam North in Sivasagar district.
 After establishing the potential, the company will put the field under development and production. The project cost is estimated to be Rs 3,500 crore, the company added.
 According to ONGC, there is still a lot of scope in exploring new sub-surface structures in Assam for hydrocarbons. 
 The total area of Sivasagar district PML is 957.73 square kilometre, in which Lakwa, Rudrasagar, Geleki and its adjoining areas are important oil producing fields in North Assam Shelf of Sivasagar district.
 So far, more than 500 wells (including exploratory wells and development wells) have been drilled in this field with depths ranging from 2,400 metre to 4,200 metre.
 The current EC has been granted for exploratory drilling of 100 wells which is a part of ongoing exploration efforts in various PML areas falling within the three main blocks of North Assam Shelf in Sivasagar district.
 India is dependent on imports for crude oil, and the government is encouraging exploration and production of oil and gas. 
 ONGC produces 70 per cent of the country's crude oil and 60 per cent of its natural gas. LUX RVK

ONGC gets green nod for Rs 3,500 cr project in Assam

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Botswana's President, Mokgweetsi Masisi, threatened to send 20,000 elephants to Germany.</li><li>It came after Germany suggested there should be limits on importing hunting trophies.</li></ul>Botswana's president Mokgweetsi Masisi said he wants to send 20,000 wild <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/botswana-stalling-on-investigation-into-mass-elephant-death-2020-7">elephants</a> to Germany to challenge the country's stance on hunting.His comments came after Germany's environment ministry suggested there should be limits on hunting trophy imports due to poaching concerns, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/03/botswana-threatens-to-send-20000-elephants-to-germany-in-trophy-hunting-row">The Guardian</a> reported.Speaking to the German outlet <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bild.de/politik/ausland/politik-ausland/botswana-will-20-000-elefanten-nach-deutschland-abschieben-87716972.bild.html">Bild</a>, Masisi, 61, said it's unfair to criticize Botswana's hunting practices without looking at the impact that overpopulation of elephants has on the country.Germans should "live together with the animals, in the way you are trying to tell us to," he said. "It's not a joke.""It is very easy to sit in Berlin and have an opinion about our affairs in Botswana. We are paying the price for preserving these animals for the world – and even for Lemke's party," he added, referencing Germany's environment minister Steffi Lemke, leader of The Greens political party.Botswana has more than 130,000 elephants, with an increase of 6,000 each year, according to Bild. The country made trophy hunting illegal in 2014; however, the ban was lifted in 2019 due to pressure from the public, The Guardian reported.Massisi told the outlet that hunting is a means of controlling the elephant population, which has appeared to<a target="_blank" href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/in-good-news-for-elephants-africa-s-largest-savanna-elephant-population-is-stable#:~:text=The%20number%20of%20elephants%20in,Botswana%2C%20and%20Namibia%20increased%20slightly."> increase in recent years</a>.He added that the elephants often have a negative impact on the country's citizens: They can <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uganda-tourist-killed-elephant-when-he-went-to-relieve-himself-2022-1">trample people to death</a> and destroy crops and villages, he said.Svenja Kleinschmidt, a spokesperson for Germany's federal environment ministry, told Business Insider that "Botswana has not yet contacted" the ministry about the matter.However, Kleinschmidt noted that Botswana's environment minister met with the German environment minister last week for an "open and constructive exchange of views." The topics discussed were not disclosed."Germany is one of the largest importers of hunting trophies into the EU. For that reason and in the face of alarming loss of biodiversity, we have a special responsibility to ensure the legality and sustainability of the imports of hunting trophies of protected species into Germany," Kleinschmidt said.Kleinschmidt said discussions are currently underway to extend the compulsory import permit under the EU Wildlife Trade Regulation to cover hunting trophies of additional protected species.Botswana's elephant population and the ethical issues of hunting have been a subject of debate for years.Elephants are considered one of the deadliest species to humans because of their size and weight. As the largest existing land animals, elephants are responsible for around 500 human deaths per year, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/deadliest-animals-to-humans">BBC Wildlife Magazine</a>.There's also the economic impact of hunting to consider. In 2021, Botswana officials said the country earned around $2.7 million from elephant hunting, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.voanews.com/a/botswana-earns-2-7-million-from-elephant-hunting/6324550.html">VOA</a> reported.<a target="_blank" href="https://elephantswithoutborders.org/about-us/">Elephants Without Borders</a> is a Botswana-based conservation organization that has been publicly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a28675490/meghan-markle-prince-harry-elephant-day-instagram/">backed by Prince Harry and Meghan</a>. It wrote on its website that recent conservation efforts have led to "growing concern about how to manage this large population."But offering to give the elephants away doesn't appear to be an effective solution. Botswana has already attempted to give 8,000 elephants to Angola and 500 to Mozambique.Dumezweni Mthimkhulu, Botswana's wildlife minister, said in March that he wanted to send 10,000 elephants to London's Hyde Park after the UK proposed a ban on hunting trophies, <a target="_blank" href="https://metro.co.uk/2024/03/21/botswana-threatens-send-10-000-elephants-hyde-park-trophy-hunting-row-20502931/">Metro</a> reported."I want Britons to have a taste of living alongside elephants, which are overwhelming my country. In some areas, there are more of these beasts than people," he said."They are killing children who get in their path. They trample and eat farmers' crops leaving Africans hungry. They steal the water from pipes that is flowing to the people. They have lost their fear of humans," he added.Speaking to <a target="_blank" href="https://news.sky.com/video/trophy-hunting-botswanas-president-says-proposed-uk-ban-amounts-to-colonial-conquest-13099555">Sky News</a> in March, Masisi said the UK ban would be "condescending" and "a resurgence of colonial conquest."Representatives for Botswana's Government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Botswana offers to send 20,000 elephants to Germany, saying it should try looking after them instead of criticizing

New Delhi, Dec 26 () Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday released a postage stamp to commemorate distinguished service and glorious contribution of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in protecting the nation.
 After releasing the stamp, Sitharaman stressed on the critical need for training the officers of DRI in using technology and data analytics to be able to inspire confidence of citizens and deter smugglers, the Finance Ministry said in a statement.
 She remarked that DRI continues to play an immense role in countering smuggling as well as in preserving the cultural heritage and environment of the country.
 The challenges faced by the organisation continue to grow with the adoption of innovative modes of smuggling, she said and called for increasing the concerted efforts of DRI, the statement said.
 DRI was formed on December 4, 1957 to function as an apex intelligence agency of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes &amp; Customs to counter the menace of smuggling. 
 Through the years, DRI has established itself as the premier intelligence agency commanding the trust of international and national agencies with its intelligence inputs on myriad subjects inter alia ranging from fake Indian currency note, narcotics, gold, arms &amp; ammunitions, wildlife, cultural heritage and commercial fraud, it added. DP RVK

You Searched For "wildlife ministry" and got 8 results

Sri Lankan zoo animals face the heat of financial crisis as authorities run out of money to feed them

IANS

A pet lion was confiscated in Cambodia after its owner tried to turn him into a TikTok star

Vanessa Gu

Govt Constitutes Committee To Review Environment Laws

BI India Bureau

A TikTok-famous pet lion living in Cambodia was returned to its owner after the country's prime minister stepped in

Vanessa Gu

Tamil Nadu is using army-grade AI surveillance to prevent elephant deaths on railway tracks, and it’s working!

Kunal Kambli

ONGC gets green nod for Rs 3,500 cr project in Assam

PTI

Botswana offers to send 20,000 elephants to Germany, saying it should try looking after them instead of criticizing

Mikhaila Friel

FM Sitharman releases postage stamp to commemorate contribution of DRI

PTI

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