Revenge Tourism

The recent increasing trends in the human-animal conflict in Wayanad district of Kerala is caused due to the Revenge Tourism.

Revenge Tourism refers to a phenomenon wherein people travel with a vengeance after being locked down due to COVID-19 pandemic.

• The concerns of the revenge tourism include:
  • Increasing human-animal conflict – Exacerbating the problem by disturbing wildlife habitat and increasing human presence in sensitive areas.
  • Pressure on tourism infrastructure – Overcrowding can strain local resources and damage fragile ecosystems.
  • Resource depletion – Overuse of water, energy, and natural resources can put pressure on local communities and threaten long-term sustainability.
  • Cultural commodification – Exploitation of local culture and traditions for tourism can lead to inauthentic experiences and disrespect.

National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)

The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has recently approved the Chapaguri to Amteka Assam Mala project road that extends up to the Bhutan border.

• The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) is a “statutory board” constituted under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
• However, originally enacted in 1972, did not provide for the NBWL and it is provided under the under the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act of 2002 replacing the Indian Board for Wildlife.
• The Board is responsible for promotion of conservation and development of wildlife and forests.
• Composition – The National Board for Wildlife has 47 members which is chaired by the Prime Minister.
• Among 47 members, 19 members are ex-officio members.
• Every new government constitutes a new board, based on the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, with the new PM as the chair.
• The Minister in charge of the Ministry of Environment & Forests in the Central Government is the Vice-Chairperson.
• The Additional Director General of Forests (WL) & Director, Wildlife Preservation is the Member-Secretary to the Board.
• The members of the board also include chief of army staff and defence secretary.
• Wildlife conservation is a multi-disciplinary effort, so the members of the members are drawn from diverse fields.
• Standing Committee – Under the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (WLPA), the NBWL can constitute a Standing Committee, but the board has to meet at least twice a year.
• The Standing Committee’s function is to regulate land diversion within Protected Areas and Eco Sensitive Zones, making it a purely project clearance body.

Baleen Whales

The scientists have recently discovered the anatomy behind the songs of baleen whales.

• Baleen whales is a group that includes the blue whale, the largest animal in Earth’s history.
• They use larynx for vocalization that is anatomically modified to enable underwater vocalisation unlike toothed whales.
• Toothed whales (dolphins) have a larynx but don't use it to make sounds, instead they have evolved a specialized organ in their nose.
• All baleen whales, also including the fin, sei, right, gray, minke, bowhead and others, make very-low frequency calls barely audible to humans.
• Baleen whales have a unique fat and muscle cushion in their larynx (voice box) that vibrates with airflow to create sound.
• This mechanism differs from humans (vocal cords) but follows similar physical principles of air-tissue interaction.
• The laryngeal modifications in Baleen whales follows the same principles as other mammals, ranging from bats to tigers to elephants, and including humans, along with birds.

Morodharo

Morodharo is the recently discovered Harappa site near Dholavira that provides insight into the expansion and influence of the ancient civilization.

• Morodharo is a Harappa site dated back to around 4,500 years ago, flourished during (2,600-1,900 BCE) to late (1,900-1,300 BCE) Harappan periods.
• It is located near the village of Lodrani, about 51 km from the World Heritage Site of Dholavira.
• The settlement features a large fortification, platform, well and burial cairns.
• The discovery included a substantial quantity of Harappan pottery reminiscent of artefacts found in Dholavira.
• Artefacts found at Morodharo are similar to those found at Dholavira, indicating cultural connections.
• It is Situated close to the Rann desert and it is interpreted that the region, which eventually turned into a desert, was likely navigable during the Harappan era.

Badaga

Recently the Tamil Nadu Finance Minister in his budget speech allocated Rs 2 crore towards the preservation of two languages, Badaga and Saurashtra.

• Badaga is a unique ethnic groups in the state of Tamil Nadu.
• It is a 2,300-year-old Dravidian language spoken by the Badaga people in the Nilgris and bears striking similarities to Kannada.
• It is categorised as a “definitely endangered language” by UNESCO and categorised as a dialect of Kannada and comes from the Tamil-Kannada branch of Dravidian languages.
• Distribution – According to the 2011 Census, Badaga is predominantly spoken in the Nilgiris, a hilly district located in Tamil Nadu that shares its borders with Kerala and Karnataka.
• The 2011 Nigiris district census handbook classifies Badagas, along with other indigenous groups such as Todas, Kotas, Kurumbas, and Irulas, as the district’s “original inhabitants”.
• The Tamil Nadu government, however, lists them as a “backward class” group found predominantly in the Gudalur, Coonoor, and Kotagiri regions of the district.
• It is listed in the database of Worlds Indigenous Peoples by the United Nations Mountain Partnership.
• Mountain Partnership is a United Nations alliance of partners dedicated to improving the lives of mountain peoples and protecting mountain environments around the world.