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Today, it's undeniable that humanity holds a profound influence over Earth's climate and its biodiversity. However, contrary to modern media sensationalism, this relationship is not a recent revelation but a saga as ancient as time itself. Human impact on our planet's intricate web of life stretches back tens of thousands of years — possibly even since they first sauntered into the picture. Recent <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/cambridge-prisms-extinction/article/latequaternary-megafauna-extinctions-patterns-causes-ecological-consequences-and-implications-for-ecosystem-management-in-the-anthropocene/E885D8C5C90424254C1C75A61DE9D087">studies</a> have spotlighted the extinction or rapid decline of large mammals over the past 50,000 years. While climate change was once a convenient scapegoat, it has proven insufficient to explain these phenomena. Instead, mounting evidence implicates human activity as the primary driver. This phenomenon, known as the late-Quaternary megafauna extinction, marks a significant departure from previous extinction events in Earth's history, with distinct characteristics that set it apart. Unlike earlier extinction events that were often localised, the late-Quaternary extinctions were global in scope and severe in impact. They disproportionately affected larger-bodied species, with megaherbivores weighing over 1,000 kg particularly vulnerable. Shockingly, of the 57 known megaherbivore species from this period, only 11 survived beyond 1,000 AD, highlighting the scale of loss. <h2>Tale as old as time </h2>The narrative begins roughly 100,000 years ago, a time when mammoths roamed icy plains, sabre-toothed tigers prowled lush jungles, and giant ground sloths navigated primaeval forests. Despite the formidable odds, Homo sapiens, armed with finely crafted spears, ascended to the top of the food chain. However, their ascent left behind a trail of dwindling populations and silent extinctions. Previous periods of dramatic climate shifts, like ice ages, didn't cause such widespread extinction of large animals. New research highlights key points that point towards human intervention: <ul><li>Timing: Megafauna extinctions coincided with the arrival of modern humans in different regions around the globe.</li><li>Targeted hunting: Evidence from archaeological digs, like traps and spear points, suggests humans actively hunted these large animals. Isotope analysis even reveals that these giants were a major food source for our ancestors.</li><li>Vulnerability of megafauna: Large animals with slow reproduction rates were particularly susceptible to overhunting by humans.</li></ul>Yet, the impact wasn't limited to extinctions. Even species that survived, like elephants, bears, kangaroos, and antelopes, bore lasting scars from humanity's rise. A 2023 study analysing the DNA of 139 surviving megafauna species reveals a troubling decline in their populations over the last 50,000 years. Further, challenging prevailing theories that blame climate change for extinctions, study author Jens-Christian Svenning emphasised that many extinct megafauna inhabited temperate or tropical climates, undermining climate as the sole explanation. <h2>Looking ahead </h2>The loss of so many large animal species has had profound ecological consequences worldwide. These include disruptions to trophic processes, alterations in physical environmental engineering such as landscape modification, and changes in the transport of energy and matter within ecosystems. The repercussions of these extinctions continue to reverberate through modern ecosystems. In response to these ecological shifts, efforts in megafauna-based trophic rewilding have gained traction as a potential strategy for ecosystem restoration under current global change scenarios. By reintroducing large herbivores into landscapes, researchers and conservationists aim to re-establish ecological processes and enhance biodiversity. Furthermore, the interplay between megafauna and human-driven biotic globalisation underscores the complex relationships between species and ecosystems. Domesticated megafauna, such as livestock, present both ecological challenges and opportunities in managing modern landscapes. As debates continue among scholars — whether to blame climate change or human migration — the echoes of history resound clearly. Standing on the brink of a new era where our technological prowess imperils ecosystems and countless species, the story of these giants serves as a stark warning. What remains to be seen is if we heed the lessons from their decline and the enduring impact humanity has etched into the fabric of evolution, or if we will repeat the errors of our ancestors, leaving only silence in our wake? <meta content="cms.next" name="cmsei" />

Over 80% of prehistoric megaherbivores went extinct due to human activity and not climate change: Study

The issue of Bengaluru's water crisis is currently dominating various news platforms, highlighting the challenges faced by residents and the efforts made by the Karnataka government to address the situation. This problem is indicative of the widespread water scarcity across South India. With the world recently having commemorated Water Day 2024, it's pertinent to acknowledge our recurring failure in addressing this crisis whenever there's a shortfall in rainfall. The changing climate, leading to erratic weather patterns, exacerbates this collective failure, posing potential irreparable damages to socio-economic and ecological systems. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="A worsening crisis" comment="subhead" text="A worsening crisis">A worsening crisis</cmsannotation> This year, the southwest monsoon season (June to September), crucial for rainfall in southern states, experienced a significant 8% deficit compared to the long-term average in 2023. Additionally, the winter monsoon season (October to December) also saw a 13% rainfall deficit in the region. These consecutive deficits, along with insufficient rainfall this year, have adversely affected reservoir levels across South India. Urban centers in the region, including Bengaluru and Hyderabad, face the consequences, exacerbated by the closure of lake networks and excessive groundwater pumping in recent years <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Dipping water stores" comment="subhead" text="Dipping water stores">Dipping water stores</cmsannotation> According to the latest weekly report by the Central Water Commission (CWC), the combined storage capacity of 42 reservoirs in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu stands at 23% of their total live storage capacity, significantly lower than last year's levels (39%) and the ten-year average (32%). State-wise reservoir levels this week indicate a severe shortage, with Andhra Pradesh at 69% below normal, and Tamil Nadu (30%), Karnataka (24%), and Telangana (12%) also below normal. Kerala is the only state maintaining slightly above normal reservoir levels at 1%. Rivers such as the Krishna and Cauvery exhibit deficient storage levels, reflecting the widespread shortage in various regions. North India (33%), West India (45%), and Central India (46%) also face storage levels much lower than the ten-year average. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The road ahead" comment="subhead" text="The road ahead">The road ahead</cmsannotation> Looking ahead, despite current shortages, many state governments assure the public of sufficient water until June, with expectations of pre-monsoon and monsoon rains to replenish water resources. Reports of El Niño transitioning to neutral and a forthcoming La Niña event suggest normal to above-normal monsoon rainfall. In Bengaluru, residents are advised against using Cauvery and borewell water for festivities like Holi, although no additional water use restrictions have been imposed by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) for the festival. Given the nation's reservoir levels, celebrating a dry Holi seems prudent not only in Bengaluru but across the country. <meta content="cms.next" name="cmsei" />

Dipping reservoir stores in South India raise alarms on possible water shortages ahead

<ul><li>Das is currently pursuing his doctoral studies in the area of amphibians of Munnar at the Kerala Forest Research Institute.</li><li>Das's peculiar interest in frogs, particularly the purple frog.</li><li>He is also a winner of the Kerala State Wildlife Photography Award.</li></ul> For Sandeep Das, photography was more of a necessity rather than a passion. While pursuing his graduation in zoology, Das used to frequent the wetlands near his home to study birds. Soon he realised that he needed to take up photography to help present his findings to a scientific community to prove the unusual sightings of the rare and exotic birds he spotted. He began as a novice shooting pictures, randomly. Now, he is a winner of the Kerala State Wildlife Photography Award. Das is currently pursuing his doctoral studies in the area of amphibians of Munnar at the Kerala Forest Research Institute. He is also a fellow of Zoological Society of London on the research and conservation of Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) Purple Frog aka Mahabali Frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis). His key area of interest remains amphibians and, to some extent, reptiles. They essentially share the same ecosystem, and both are primarily nocturnal. So, if you study one, you are bound to bump into the other frequently. Das's peculiar interest in frogs, particularly the purple frog, stems from the fact that smaller animals, unfortunately, do not receive the attention they deserve, unlike larger animals like tigers, elephants and most birds. The incredible nature and capabilities of these tiny creatures are what Das wants to bring to the limelight. Melanobatrachus -- Galaxy Frog (Scientific name: Melanobatrachus indicus) <div type="image" title="Melanoatrachus" msid="83280115" hostid="261"></div> Photographed while with Rajkumar KP, another EDGE fellow working towards conservation of this endangered beauty. This is one of the rarest, evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered frogs of the Western Ghats. Very little is known about this species, but studies are underway. Purple Frog aka Mahabali Frog (Scientific name: Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis) <div type="image" title="Purple Frog" msid="83280124" hostid="261"></div> The proposal for declaring the purple frog as the state amphibian was submitted to the forest department by Das, primarily because the living fossil of this creature is evidence for India's prehistoric landmass connectivity with Africa. Frogs cannot tolerate salinity. So there is no way they could have swam across the oceans. Das and his fellow scientists named it "Mahabali frog" as it emerges from under the ground for only one day, like Kerala's mythological King Mahabali, who was banished to the underworld and given permission to meet his subjects in Kerala on Onam day. <div type="image" title="Road Kill" msid="83280222" hostid="261"></div> Unfortunately, however, the Purple Frog on its way to the breeding site often gets run over by vehicles, one of the significant threats faced by these amphibians. Raorchestes resplendens/ Resplendent Shrub Frog (Scientific name: Raorchestes resplendens) <div type="image" title="Raorchestes resplendens" msid="83280236" hostid="261"></div> Once thought to be found only in the Anamudi summit, Das and his team later found them in several adjoining areas. Large-scaled Pit Viper (Scientific name: Trimeresurus macrolepis) <div type="image" title="Large-scaled Pit Viper" msid="83280275" hostid="261"></div> One of the common pit vipers found in the Western Ghats, they are found in the mountains of Agasthyamala, higher reaches of AchanKovil forests, Periyar hills, Meghamalai, Anamalais (including Munnar, Idukki and Valparai) and Nelliyampathy hills. They are a widely distributed species in the mountains of Kerala and Tamil Nadu -- found in an elevational range of 700 to 2500 metres above sea level. These snakes are best seen in Munnar as they are common in plantations and roadside bushes. Major threats are habitat conversion and linear intrusions, including roads. Brown Dispar/Gunther's Vine Snake (Scientific name: Ahaetulla dispar) <div type="image" title="Brown Dispar" msid="83280290" hostid="261"></div> Found in the high elevation mountains of Anamalais. These Vine Snakes are harmless to humans, but they are mildly venomous, which is essential in bringing down their prey, including tiny frogs, other snakes, lizards etc. Green Reed Frog/Chalazodes Bubble Nest Frog (Scientific name: Raorchestes chalazodes) <div type="image" title="Raorchestes chalazodes" msid="83280304" hostid="261"></div> Another critically endangered species, this one is endemic to the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve. They breed inside reed clumps. They are direct-developing frogs whose eggs directly hatch out into tiny froglets. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/gdp-growth-projection-revised-by-rbi-to-9-5-leaves-rates-unchanged/articleshow/83226348.cms">RBI leaves rates unchanged as it lowers GDP growth projection to 9.5%, targets 5.1% inflation</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/whatsapp-app-is-adding-a-new-feature-to-help-you-replace-snapchat-completely/articleshow/83226216.cms">WhatsApp rips off another Snapchat feature — this time Disappearing Mode</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/google-camera-app-is-expected-to-receive-an-update-that-lets-you-capture-the-night-sky-in-motion/articleshow/83228479.cms">Google Camera update might add the ability to capture the night sky in time-lapse</a><meta content="cms.next" name="cmsei" />

This PhD student from Kerala wants to show the world that there is more to Indian wildlife than just tigers and elephants

Award-winning childrens author Vaishali Shroff belongs to a family of wildlife enthusiasts. While her husband and children look for interesting sightings and topographies to photograph, she looks for stories and lessons to be learnt, like for instance, that life in a forest evokes empathy for all living beings. A walk in the Chitwan National Park (CNP), in the Terai Lowlands of south-central Nepal on the border with India, inspired her to write "Sita's Chitwan" (Penguin). One part is the story of a brave and confident eight-year-old girl who dreams of being a nature guide like her father, and the other details the dedicated efforts to catapult the Park - the size of 178,000 football fields - from the brink of extinction to what it is now, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. "As a family, we are wildlife enthusiasts. While my husband and kids look for interesting sightings and topographies to capture through their lens, I look for stories. For over a decade, we have been frequenting various national parks in India and other countries. With every visit, I fall more and more in love with forests, their rich biodiversity, the various beautiful species that call it their home. "From bugs and spiders to big cats and elephants, from shrubs to sky-high tall trees, you form an innate bond with them that can't be explained and you know that our planet cannot survive without them. We cannot survive if not for them," Shroff told IANS in an interview. "A walk in the Chitwan National Park (CNP) in 2018 inspired me to write Sita's story and also to capture the dedicated efforts that the forest department at CNP made to catapult it from the brink of extinction to what it is now. I wanted to show children that you can make a future while saving nature - that exciting professions don't just exist in concrete jungles. "If you are committed to conserving the environment, you can be so many fascinating things inside a forest and save it for generations to come. Life in a forest teaches one to be patient, passionate, curious, adventurous, and above all, empathetic towards all living beings and eSita's Chitwan' is an attempt to talk about that," Shroff explained . And, with illustrations by Kalp Sanghvi, what a story it is! With a spring in her step and a group of eager tourists, Sita breezes through the forest. But when astray and face to face with a mamma rhino, will she be able to listen to the stillness of the jungle? Join this young Nepali as she unravels the secrets of the forest through a tour of this magnificent Park that is home to 68 species of mammals, 544 species of birds, 56 species of herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians) and 126 species of fish, CNP is especially renowned for it protection of the One-Horned Rhinoceros, the Royal Bengal Tiger and the Gharial Crocodile. Intermingled through this is Chitwan's history, its people, culture, biodiversity, conservation practices, and forest-related professions. How did Shroff choose this particular format for presenting the story? "I love the format of informational fiction where you use an exciting story to talk about something that's potentially mundane. I first experimented with this format in my award-winning book, "The Adventures of Padma and a Blue Dinosaur", the first book that talks exclusively about Indian dinosaurs and all you want to know about palaeontology in India." "Children love stories and what better way to introduce new concepts, facts, and ideas to them than through endearing characters! The story subtly weaves Chitwan's nuances into its narrative while taking the children on a wild adventure. The book becomes much more than what it talks about - children can not only connect with the protagonist and her story, but also enjoy learning along the way," Shroff elaborated. What are the lessons the world at large can learn from the development of the Chitwan National Park? "We learn that it's never too late to conserve what we have - from being a hunting ground for royals where tigers and rhinos were killed mindlessly and mercilessly to a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has experienced zero poaching for many years, Chitwan's conservation efforts have been exemplary," Shroff said. "We learn that nothing is impossible if you are determined to save our environment. That you don't have to belong to the forest department to save forests and wildlife - in Chitwan and all of Nepal, even the locals are involved in protecting the forests and their inhabitants alongside the forest department and military. The CBAPUs (Community-Based Anti-Poaching Units) across national parks in Nepal are a testimony to that," she added. "Sita's Chitwan" is only representative of the kind of conservation work that happens in national parks in Nepal, India and other countries, Shroff said. While poaching incidents are still reported and ambitious infrastructure projects continue to shrink our forests and the natural habitats of millions of species, books like "Sita's Chitwan" salute the untiring and relentless efforts of unsung heroes like Radha Wagle, Joint Secretary in Nepal's Ministry of Forests and Environment; Samantha Helle, a Conservation Scientist at Chitwan; and Doma Paudel, Nepal's first female Nature Guide. "Children, parents, and educators must read this book - not just to be inspired, not just to know more about CNP, but to feel that intrinsic connection we all have with nature and understand that the smallest of efforts towards saving the world around us can have a huge impact on the unprecedented environment and climate crisis we are going through at the moment. No effort is too small. Everything counts. Everything," Shroff asserted. What's next? What's her next project? "While I am looking forward to my picture book that talks about the need to conserve urban forests, especially the leopards of Mumbai, I am just through with my manuscript on a historic non-fiction period book, presented in a very unique format. I've started working on some new projects as well - biographies of stellar women and I am most excited to work on my next middle-grade non-fiction to be released in 2022. The concept of that book is very unique, too," Shroff concluded. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/go-air-has-filed-for-a-3600-crore-ipo-at-a-very-desperate-time/articleshow/82626097.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Go Air has filed for a ₹3,600 crore IPO at a very desperate time</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/markets/news/heres-why-the-spike-in-inflation-in-the-us-may-worry-markets-in-india/articleshow/82597218.cms">Here's why the spike in inflation in the US may worry markets in India ⁠— but experts say don’t panic yet</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/whatsapp-responds-to-privacy-criticism-by-alleging-other-apps-like-zomato-ola-aarogya-setu-zoom-google-and-other-apps/articleshow/82570897.cms">WhatsApp responds to privacy criticism by alleging that other apps and tech companies also show disdain for user privacy</a> <meta content="cms.next" name="cmsei" />

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