The post Former Bus Conductor, Doctors Among 45 Padma Shri Awardees Named Unsung Heroes appeared first on The Edge Media.
]]>Anke Gowda, once a bus conductor from Haralahalli village near Mysuru in Karnataka, has been honoured for setting up Pustak Mane, the world’s largest free access library. The library houses over two million books in more than 20 languages along with rare manuscripts and has emerged as a major centre for learning and knowledge sharing across the country.
Medical professionals feature prominently among the awardees. Mumbai based paediatrician Armida Fernandes has been recognised for founding Asia’s first human milk bank, a pioneering initiative that has significantly improved infant survival. Shyam Sundar was selected for developing an affordable diagnostic test for Kala Azar, also known as black fever, while veteran haematologist Suresh Hangavadi was honoured for his lifelong contribution to the treatment of Haemophilia.
The list also includes Ladakh based Padma Gurmet for promoting ancient Tibetan medicine, Tamil Nadu veterinary scientist Punniamurthy Natesan for combining traditional practices with modern animal healthcare, Hyderabad based geneticist Kumarasamy Thangharaj, and Gujarat based social worker Nilesh Vinodchandra Mandlewala, founder of Donate Life, who has played a key role in promoting organ donation.
Several artists preserving India’s rich cultural heritage have also been honoured. These include Bundeli war art trainer Bhagwandas Raikwar from Madhya Pradesh, Silambam martial art exponent K Pajanivel from Puducherry, 90 year old tribal Tarpa musician Bhiklya Ladakya Dhinda from Maharashtra, and 100 year old Nata Sankirtana performer Yumnam Jatra Singh from Manipur.
Other awardees include folk dancer Vishwa Bandhu from Bihar, Rajasthani Bhapang musician Gafruddin Mewati Jogi, Gujarati Maanbhatt artist Dharmiklal Chunilal Pandya and Taga Ram Bheel, who has worked to preserve the fading Algoza musical tradition.
The Padma Shri has also been conferred on theatre and performing arts contributors, such as, Odisha based Sakhi Nata actor Simanchal Patro, Naga folk theatre guru Sangyusang S Pongener, and Assam scenographer Nuruddin Ahmed.
Among those recognised for social service and community development are Jammu and Kashmir based social worker Brij Lal Bhat, Budri Thati for establishing schools in Naxal affected regions of Chhattisgarh, Ramchandra and Sunita Godbole for providing affordable healthcare to tribal communities in Bastar, former IPS officer Inderjit Singh Sandhu for sanitation advocacy, and Techi Gubin for preserving the culture of the Nishi tribe in Arunachal Pradesh.
The list further honours literary figures and artisans, such as, Santhali author Charan Hembram, senior journalist Kailash Chandra Pant for promoting Hindi for over six decades, Kashmiri writer Shafi Shauq, and Naresh Chandra Debbarma for advancing Tripura’s Kokborok language.
Craft and environmental contributions were recognised through awards to brass engraver Chiranji Lal Yadav from Moradabad, bronze sculptor Rajastapathi Kaliappa Goundar, Kantha embroidery mentor Tripti Mukherjee, Jamdani weaving trainer Khem Raj Sundriyal, 92 year old environmentalist Kollakkayil Devaki Amma G from Kerala, Meghalaya’s Hally War for traditional afforestation and water conservationist Mohan Nagar from Madhya Pradesh.
Agricultural innovation and rural development were acknowledged through honours to Shrirang Devba Lad for the Dada Lad cotton farming technique, Mahendra Kumar Mishra of Odisha for protecting tribal voices, Raghupat Singh from Uttar Pradesh for farming innovations, and Raghuveer Tukaram Khedkar for using Tamasha art to raise awareness on drug addiction.
Sources said the Padma Awards this year continue the tradition of celebrating ordinary Indians who have made extraordinary contributions to society, many of whom have overcome personal hardship while serving communities in remote and marginalised regions.
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]]>The post Government Says Over 90 Percent of Aravalli Region Will Remain Protected appeared first on The Edge Media.
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Speaking to the media after a meeting related to Project Elephant and the National Tiger Conservation Authority in the Sundarbans of West Bengal, Yadav said, no relaxation has been granted for mining activities in the Aravalli region. He alleged that misinformation was being circulated and urged critics to stop misleading the public.
According to the minister, the total geographical area of the Aravalli range spans about 1.44 lakh square kilometres, of which mining eligibility exists in only around 0.19 percent.
He said the remaining vast stretch of the mountain system is preserved and protected under existing environmental and judicial safeguards.
The Supreme Court, on November 20, 2025, accepted recommendations made by a committee constituted under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to establish a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges. Under this definition, an Aravalli hill is described as any landform in notified Aravalli districts that rises at least 100 metres above the local relief. An Aravalli range is defined as a cluster of two or more such hills located within a distance of 500 metres from each other.
The government clarified that it is incorrect to assume that areas below the 100 metre threshold are automatically open for mining. Officials explained that mining restrictions apply to entire hill systems, including enclosed landforms, and not merely to hilltops or slopes. The aim, they said, is to prevent exploitation near hill bases, which had occurred earlier due to vague and inconsistent definitions across states.
Sources in the Environment Ministry said the Supreme Court had set up the committee in May 2024 while hearing long-pending cases related to illegal mining in the Aravallis. The panel, chaired by the Environment Ministry Secretary and including representatives from Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat and Delhi along with technical institutions, found that only Rajasthan had followed a consistent definition since 2006. That definition treats landforms rising 100 metres or more above local relief as hills and bans mining within the lowest enclosing contour around them, regardless of internal elevations.
Yadav said confusion had been deliberately created around the 100 metre criterion. He explained that lower areas within hill systems remain protected and that land between two hills located within 500 metres is also treated as part of the range. He added that with this approach, more than 90 percent of the Aravalli landscape falls under protected status.
The minister said the government remains committed to conserving the Aravallis and highlighted initiatives such as the Green Aravalli movement aimed at restoring and preserving the fragile ecosystem. He alleged that false narratives were being pushed despite these efforts.
Officials said all four Aravalli states have agreed to adopt the Rajasthan definition with added safeguards to ensure transparency and objectivity. These include mandatory mapping of hills and ranges using Survey of India maps before granting any mining permission, treating closely located hills as a single range and clearly demarcating core and inviolate zones where mining is completely prohibited.
The government also said the Supreme Court has accepted the committee’s recommendation to ban mining in protected areas, eco sensitive zones, tiger reserves, wetlands and surrounding buffer areas. Limited exemptions may be considered only for critical and strategic minerals in national interest.
As per the court’s directions, no new mining leases will be issued in the Aravalli region until a comprehensive Management Plan for Sustainable Mining is prepared for the entire landscape by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education. Existing mines can continue operations only if they strictly follow sustainable mining norms prescribed by the committee.
District level assessments across Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat show that legally approved mining currently accounts for only about 0.19 percent of the total area across 37 Aravalli districts. Delhi, which includes five Aravalli districts, does not allow any mining at all.
The government said illegal and unregulated mining remains the biggest threat to the Aravalli ecosystem and the committee has recommended stricter enforcement measures, improved monitoring and greater use of technology such as drones and surveillance systems to curb violations.
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]]>The post Seven Elephants Killed After Rajdhani Express Hits Herd in Assam appeared first on The Edge Media.
]]>Initial reports suggested that all eight elephants had died in the collision, but officials later confirmed that one calf survived with injuries. No passengers were hurt in the mishap, according to authorities.
Senior forest department officials rushed to the site soon after the incident and confirmed that autopsies of the dead elephants were underway, while veterinary teams began treatment for the injured calf. Cremation of the carcasses is being carried out near the accident location, with all legal procedures being followed.
The incident took place at Changjurai village in the Jamunamukh Kampur section under the Lumding railway division, approximately 126 kilometres from Guwahati. Officials suspect that heavy fog in the area may have contributed to poor visibility at the time of the collision.
The Northeast Frontier Railway stated that the location was not officially marked as an elephant corridor. According to railway officials, the train driver applied emergency brakes after spotting the herd, but the elephants collided with the train before it could come to a complete halt. Accident relief trains and senior railway officials, including the general manager and divisional railway manager, reached the site shortly after the incident.
The Sairang New Delhi Rajdhani Express, which connects Mizoram’s Sairang near Aizawl to the Anand Vihar Terminal in Delhi, resumed movement towards Guwahati without the affected coaches at 6.11 am. Passengers were temporarily accommodated in vacant berths in other coaches, and additional coaches are set to be attached at Guwahati before the train continues its onward journey.
Rail traffic in the affected section was severely disrupted following the collision. Several trains were cancelled, diverted, regulated, or short terminated as restoration work began. Railway authorities confirmed that nine trains were cancelled, 13 regulated, and two short terminated for the day, while others were diverted through alternative routes. Helpline numbers were also activated at Guwahati railway station to assist passengers.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed deep sorrow over the loss of wildlife and ordered a thorough enquiry into the incident. He directed the forest department to investigate the circumstances leading to the accident and to strengthen wildlife corridors, especially during seasons of low visibility.
Environment and Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said that top forest officials, including the principal chief conservator of forests and the chief wildlife warden, have been asked to coordinate with senior Indian Railways officials to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi termed the deaths deeply concerning and blamed unplanned and poorly regulated development for increasing human animal conflict in Assam. He pointed to shrinking forest cover and disrupted migration routes as major factors behind the rising number of such accidents, calling for development policies that balance infrastructure growth with ecological protection.
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]]>The post Loco Pilots Halt Train To Save Elephant Near Railway Track appeared first on The Edge Media.
]]>Over the next few seconds, the majestic animal stands in the same spot before turning around and making its way into the thick shrubbery leading to the jungle. Sharing the video, the tweet said, “While working 03150 – Alipur Duar Sealdah KanchanKanya Special at 17.45 hours today, alert LP Sri D.Dorai and ALP Sri P. Kumar noticed one tusker adjacent to track at KM 72/1 between Nagrakata-Chalsa and applied emergency brake to control the train and save it.”
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]]>The post All you need to know about World Elephant Day appeared first on The Edge Media.
]]>Over the years, the initiative gained extensive support from celebrities, politicians and others.
World Elephant Day 2021: History
On August 12, 2012, the first World Elephant Day was observed, highlighting the plight of Asian and African elephants. The Thai-based Elephant Reintroduction Foundation, in collaboration with Canadian filmmaker Patricia Sims, organized the event for the day. And since 2012, The Sims has been a leader in World Elephant Day.
The day also focuses on spreading awareness about their preservation and protection. Notably, various threats including, poaching, habitat loss, mistreatment in captivity hover over elephants, especially Asian and African.
Over the years, Canadian filmmaker Patricia Sims’s charitable organisation World Elephant Society has educated many and has also created awareness on an international level for elephant protection.
The Society works in partnership with 100 elephant conservation organisations. Several organisations and individuals are urged to come together to raise awareness about the challenges that elephants face.
The organization’s “unbiased” approach allows and encourages campaigns by all groups and citizens under the common umbrella of “World Elephant Day”.
World Elephant Day 2021: Significance
According to recent data of WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature), there are roughly 440,000 elephants left on the planet. The WWF also revealed that every year around 15,000 elephants are hunted by poachers. It is not only our responsibility to take measures for their conservation but also create awareness about the possible ‘Elephant Extinction.’
Meanwhile, despite being cultural and religious icons in India, elephants are badly treated by unschooled mahouts. Many elephants fell prey to electrocution, train accidents, poaching and poisoning.
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, the number of wild Asiatic elephants has dipped below 50,000, which is just 15% of its historic average. Wild Asiatic elephants are primarily found in India and in some parts of Southeast Asia.
World Elephant Day 2021: Support the cause
To observe World Elephant Day, Blue Dart will plant 1,031,170 trees for elephants on the outskirts of Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary in East Singhbum, Jharkhand. While Grow-Trees.com is planting millions of trees in Singhbhum Elephant Reserve, Jharkhand to repair fragmented migration routes, create sheltered and screened areas for elephants and expand habitats.
World Elephant Day 2021: Theme
This theme for this year’s World Elephant Day has not been announced, however, last year it was ‘Haathi Hamara Saathi.’
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]]>The post 40 Asiatic lions from Sakkarbaug Zoo to be given in exchange of other wild animals appeared first on The Edge Media.
]]>Notably, a record 46 lion cubs were born in Sakkarbaug Zoo, situated on the outskirts of Junagadh city, between April 2020 and July this year, said D T Vasavada, chief conservator of forest, Junagadh Wildlife Circle.
“Sakkarbaug Zoo has been authorised by the Central Zoo Authority for captive breeding of Asiatic lions and six other species. As many as 46 lion cubs were born in the zoo between April 2020 till July this year, which itself is a record for the facility,” Mr Vasavada said.
Now, under the animal exchange programme, 40 Asiatic lions of this zoo will be traded with zoos across the country for different wild animals, range forest officer of the zoo Nirav Makwana said, adding that the zoo is the only breeding centre in the country for the captive breeding of Asiatic lions.
In the last five years, the birth rate of lions has gone up significantly. Since the newly opened zoo in Kevadia needs more wild species, we have decided to trade 40 of our lions with other zoos to get various wild species under the CZA’s exchange programme,” Makwana told reporters.
The list of animals that Gujarat will receive in exchange is still being finalised, as the process has just commenced, he added.
Till now, around 80 lions have been sent to different national and international zoos, including those in London, Zurich and Prague. Zoos situated in 21 states in the country have received Asiatic lions from Sakkarbaug in exchange for rare animals such as hippopotamuses and bison, the official said.
In October last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the “Sardar Patel Zoological Park”, popularly known as Kevadia Jungle Safari near the 182-metre Statue of Unity in Narmada district.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by the Edge Media staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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]]>The post On the occasion of World Snake Day, here are some stunning facts about snakes appeared first on The Edge Media.
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Sixteenth of July each year marks the celebration as World Snake Day. The day aims to raise awareness about different kinds of snakes found in the world and to shine a spotlight on the indispensable role they play in the biosphere.
Our planet Earth is home to more than 3,500 species of snakes of which nearly 600 are venomous. Unfortunately, these limbless, elongated reptiles are often misunderstood. This World Snake Day shed your fears and learn more about snakes.
Below are some stunning facts about snakes :
1) King Cobra, the world’s longest snake, is also the only snake species in the world that makes a nest for laying its eggs.
2) Flying snakes exist. These limbless creatures aren’t capable of flying like birds or bats but can glide down from trees by trapping air under their bodies with the help of their ribs.
3) Snakes lack external ears. Then how do they sense sound? Well, bones in the lower jaw of snakes are capable of picking up sound waves from water or ground surface.
4) You’d think that a creature without limbs would a poor climber. But this is not true in the case of snakes. These limbless reptiles can smoothly climb trees with the help of their belly scales.
5) Snake venom is actually modified saliva. Snakes use venom to immobilise and digest prey, and as a defence against threats.
6) Snake venom has the ability to cure. Snake venom components are used for developing certain muscle relaxants, analgesics, and drugs for neurodegenerative disorders.
7) Some snake species give birth to developed young ones instead of laying eggs. Russell’s viper is one of them.
8) Evolution has gifted some snake species infrared vision, also known as heat vision. It helps these cold-blooded reptiles track warm-blooded prey by sensing the heat they emit from their bodies.
9) Snakes have poor eyesight and limited hearing, but they have an impeccable sense of smell. Did you know that snakes smell with their tongues? Snake tongue grabs chemical compounds (that smells are made of) from air, water and ground. That’s why snakes keep flicking their tongues out.
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]]>The post Critically Endangered Sumatran Elephant found beheaded in Indonesia. appeared first on The Edge Media.
]]>On Sunday, The rotting carcass was discovered at a palm oil plantation in Sumatra’s Aceh region and a subsequent autopsy found that the animal had also been poisoned.
“The remains of the wild elephant were found in a tragic condition with its head gone,” Said Rosa Rika Wahyuni, a doctor at the Aceh conservation agency.
“We found the poison in its digestive system,” she added.
It was not clear how long the male elephant, estimated to be about 12 years old, had been dead.
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]]>The post Critical Endangered gharials babies found in Odisha after 4 decades. appeared first on The Edge Media.
]]>Suvendu Behera, Assistant Conservator of Forest said, “About 28 hatchlings were spotted in May in Mehanadi..”. The baby gharials are being closely monitored by the officials , and CCTV and drones are also being used,” Mr. Behera added.
This particular variety under the crocodile family, has been moved from the ‘Endangered’ to ‘Critically Endangered’ status by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).
Gharials can be easily distinguished from other crocodiles since they have long and narrow snouts and interlocking sharp teeth.
The wild gharial population has declined drastically since the 1930’s due to the increase in industrialization.
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]]>The post 4 lions found infected with Delta variant of COVID-19 in Chennai zoo. appeared first on The Edge Media.
]]>“Nine lions housed at Vandalur Arignar Anna Zoological Park here tested positive for COVID-19 on June 3. Genome sequencing of the samples of four of these lions was then done by Indian Council of Agricultural Research- National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases(ICAR-NIHSAD) and as per the result report of genome sequencing done at NIHSAD, Bhopal, all four samples were infected with the Delta or B.1.617.2 variant of COVID-19,” an official said.
The local government of tamil Nadu on Friday constituted a state-level task force to provide support and guidance to authorities on the prevention and mitigation of COVID-19 infection in wild and captive animals in tiger reserves, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forest.
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