Butterflies of Andamans!

With about 225 species, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands house some of the larger most spectacular butterflies of the world. Ten species are endemic to these Islands. Mount Harriet National Park is one of the richest areas of butterfly and moth diversity on these Islands.
Butterflies pick and choose the environment they would like to live in. They are equally particular about the plants they live on. Some like the Andaman Blue Nawab are so fastidious that they will feed on only one species of plant. In the event of non-availability if their chosen plant species, they would rather starve and die than choose an alternate.

Formation of Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Far back in time, some 150 millions years ago, molten magma might have oozed from earth's crust along the dilated ocean floor at the foot of a submarine ridge. The phenomenon appears to have taken a long time thus creating mid-ocean rise known to many Geologists as 'whale back tumours'. These islands with a few expectations are volcanic in orgin. We are in fact at the tip of a risen undulating lava plateau, the core of which goes deep down beyond the ocean floor. This hypothesis is conformity with the expanding earth theory.

Source: Naval Marine Museum, Samudrika, Port Blair.

Diglipur

Diglipur, known as 'Rice bowl of Andamans', It is situated about 185 km north from Port Blair. Sandy beaches like Kalipur, Ariel Bay and Lamya bay and the meandering creeks in the area offer good scope for beach tourism. Saddle peak, the highest point (732 meters) in the Island is located near Diglipur and excellent for trekking. 'Kalpong' the only river in the Andaman group originated from Saddle peak and flows through Diglipur. It is connected to Port Blair by inter-Island ferry and by road.

Summer Solstice

Today is Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year! Sol + stice derives from a combination of Latin words meaning "sun" + "to stand still." As the days lengthen, the sun rises higher and higher until it seems to stand still in the sky.

Summer Solstice

Today is Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year! Sol + stice derives from a combination of Latin words meaning "sun" + "to stand still." As the days lengthen, the sun rises higher and higher until it seems to stand still in the sky.

Sheela swims to Indonesia!

After a smooth delivery, Sheela began her journey from the Little Andaman islands on the rim of the Indian Ocean in January. On Saturday , she was spotted near the Indonesian coast, having clocked more than 2,000km in 145 days. But this isn't about just another swimmer – Sheela is a leatherback turtle less than 2m long and has only flippers to propel her across the choppy seas.

The discovery of Sheela's trip has given hope to marine scientists in South Asia, who are conducting the first-ever experiment into the behavioural patterns of the leatherback, one of five turtles species that nest in India. A team from Bangalore's Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), along with the space technology cell of Indian Institute of Sciences and Andaman and Nicobar Environment Team, have tagged leatherbacks since November 2010 to study their post-nesting migration.

The leatherback is the biggest, most endangered and the deepest swimmer among seven turtle species known worldwide. The team attached transmitters to three of 29 leatherbacks that came ashore in the Andamans this year. All three moved south into the Indian Ocean. But only one, numbered 103333 and fondly called Sheela by field assistants, has survived so far. The transmitter on the turtle signals its location every time the turtle comes up to breathe.

Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-06/flora-fauna/29624882_1_leatherback-turtle-sheela-migration

Sheela swims to Indonesia!

After a smooth delivery, Sheela began her journey from the Little Andaman islands on the rim of the Indian Ocean in January. On Saturday , she was spotted near the Indonesian coast, having clocked more than 2,000km in 145 days. But this isn't about just another swimmer – Sheela is a leatherback turtle less than 2m long and has only flippers to propel her across the choppy seas.

The discovery of Sheela's trip has given hope to marine scientists in South Asia, who are conducting the first-ever experiment into the behavioural patterns of the leatherback, one of five turtles species that nest in India. A team from Bangalore's Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), along with the space technology cell of Indian Institute of Sciences and Andaman and Nicobar Environment Team, have tagged leatherbacks since November 2010 to study their post-nesting migration.

The leatherback is the biggest, most endangered and the deepest swimmer among seven turtle species known worldwide. The team attached transmitters to three of 29 leatherbacks that came ashore in the Andamans this year. All three moved south into the Indian Ocean. But only one, numbered 103333 and fondly called Sheela by field assistants, has survived so far. The transmitter on the turtle signals its location every time the turtle comes up to breathe.

Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-06/flora-fauna/29624882_1_leatherback-turtle-sheela-migration

Anthropological Museum, Port Blair

Since prehistoric times aboriginals like tribes of Negrito origin inhabit the Andaman group, while the Nicobar Islands are inhabited by the Mongoloid stock. The museum displays a small but interesting collection of the weapons, tools, implements, models and habitats of the aboriginal tribes of the Islands. Photographs of the tribes, their art and handicrafts are other attractions. Visits to tribal areas are not permissible due to laws and regulations, this is an excellent way to get an insight on the tribes of the Islands.

Nicobar pigeon

It is one of the most beautiful of the many species of pigeons or doves. Like all pigeons, the Nicobar pigeon is rather thick-set with a relatively small head, but is heavier than most pigeons the same size.
It is found only in Nicobar Islands. Feeds on seeds, berries and insects and spend most of the time in forest floor, usually lays two eggs in each clutch.

Let's all act together to protect the State Animal of the Andamans, Du gong, the "sea cow"!

Sign MoU to protect dugongs, India urges neighbours 

With fewer than 200 dugongs (commonly known as sea cow) in its waters, India is strongly encouraging its neighbours in South Asia to sign the Dugong United Nations Environment Programme/Convention of Mirgatory Species (UNEP/CMS) MoU as early as possible.

The first South Asian Dugong Conservation workshop, which was held at Tuticorin as the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere (GoMB) has the largest population of dugongs in the country, has asked Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to sign the MoU at the earliest.

Nine objectives

Already 14 countries have signed the MoU designed to facilitate national and trans-boundary actions leading to conservation of dugongs and their habitats. It has nine objectives, including reducing mortality; protect, conserve and manage habitats; raise awareness; improve legal protection and enhance regional cooperation. “We have fewer than 200 dugongs, mostly in GoMB and Andaman and Nicobar waters. There are very few in Gulf of Kutch. Cooperation of neighbouring countries is necessary as the migratory range of the species is long,” says A.K. Srivastava, Inspector General of Forests (Wildlife), Ministry of Environment and Forests. “Pakistan has no recent evidence of dugong population. In Sri Lanka there is evidence but could be migratory,” he says.

High genetic biodiversity value

According to Convention of Migratory Species, the dugong is a sea-grass dependent marine mammal of tropical and subtropical coastal waters, with high genetic biodiversity value.

Currently classified as vulnerable to extinction under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the dugongs are vulnerable to human-related influences due to their life history and dependence on sea grasses that are restricted to coastal habitats under increased pressure from human activities.

The draft Task Force Report on dugongs prepared by the Department of Endangered Species Management, Wildlife Institute of India, attributes several reasons for the decline in population, some of which include sea grass habitat loss and degradation, gill netting, chemical pollutants, indigenous use and hunting.

In GoMB, there has been a 30 per cent increase in population density in the past 20 years, essentially fishermen whose fishing ground has remained the same.

“A particular type of net where 40 to 50 persons operate it for five to six hours sweeps the sea floor completely,” says J.K. Patterson Edward, director, Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, Tuticorin. Another killer is the domestic sewage let into the marine biosphere without treatment.

In Andaman & Nicobar Islands, there has been a steady decline in dugong population due to poaching and habitat destruction. The poaching is more by foreign nationals than the local islanders, activists say.

“The co-ordination is to develop and deliver a practical and resource-efficient strategy to collaborate and implement regional management initiatives for conservation,” says Jagdish Kishwan, ADGP (Wildlife) and Director, Wildlife Preservation, MoEF.

 Source: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/article2094203.ece#.TfMNDeL3yYM;facebook

Naval Marine Museum, Andaman & Nicobar Islands

It is situated at Delanipur, Port Blair and set by Indian Navy, this museum creates awareness towards protection and conservation of the oceanic environment in a scientific manner. Information regarding marine life, non-living resources, the wide variety of shells found on the Islands as well as the people and environment of the Andamans is provided!

Chatham Saw Mill

It is owned by Forest department, is credited as one of the biggest and oldest saw mills all through Asia and is located at the north tip of Andaman. A bridge connects this saw mill to Port Blair. The mill, dating back to 1836, is a big store house for different varieties of wood including Marble, Padauk, Gurjan and Satin wood.
The mill cuts massive wood into different sizes and shapes of timber and is functioning as the main source of timber for government and private agencies at a moderate price. This mill processes many types of ornamental wood suitable for making furniture and handicrafts.

Dugong - State Animal of Andaman & Nicobar Islands

It is the state animal of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Also known as sea cows. It is a marine mammal found in shallow waters and feeds on sea grasses. They surface only to breath. Gestation period is 13 months and lay single calf at three to seven years intervals.