EQ: Vultures, Illegal Wildlife Trade, Ocean Plastic and More

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Birds and other species are vulnerable to carelessly disposed plastic. (Photo: Flickr/Bo Eide)

E-India

Delhi’s air pollution troubles aren’t over. A new report highlights the fact that a large number of Delhi’s cars enter the city from other states everyday. It is thus imperative to find a public transport-related solution, and fast.

No end to hazy days, studies show. (Photo: iStockphoto)

• Haryana launches first Asian vulture reintroduction programme: In a welcome step for vulture conservation, a new initiative aims to increase their numbers in the wild.
  

Many vulture species have been wiped out by medicines given to cattle. (Photo: iStockphoto)

• Art of Living makes payment: Following the NGT’s strong order last week, the organisation has finally paid ₹4.65 crore to the government as environmental compensation.
  

The World Cultural Festival stage could be seen just off the DND (Photo altered by The Quint)

E-Waste

• Bio-toilets in the Indian Railways: Rail authorities have decided to install eco-friendly bio-toilets in all trains by 2019. This is a welcome move and one of the many environmentally friendly measures being implemented by the railways.
  

Environmentalists welcome an environmentally friendly way of dealing with human waste. (Photo: iStockphoto)

E-Technology

• Turning CO2 to stone: In a breakthrough for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology, a new study from Iceland has revealed that it is possible to mimic natural reactions and store the gas as a stone. This resolves one of the major problems with CCS technology and could prove to be instrumental in its adoption.
  

Carbon Capture and Storage is a controversial approach to addressing climate change. (Photo: iStockphoto)

E-Law

• Mumbai Metropolitan Authorities fined: The NGT has sent out a strong message by fining Mumbai authorities ₹25 lakhs as environmental compensation. The order raps the authorities for causing environmental damage and has instructed them to implement a number of corrective measures.
  

The authorities are said to have destroyed coastal mangroves. (Photo: Sanjoy Deb)

E-Stat

• 95%: The percentage of India’s vultures killed by Diclofenac, a cattle pain killer
  

Vultures are a crucial part of the food chain. (Photo: iStockphoto)

E-International

• Go Wild for Life: This year’s World Environment Day theme focuses on the need to prevent illegal wildlife trade which is devastating habitats and species around and the world. Along with drugs and arms, wildlife trade is one of the world’s largest illegal markets.
  

The illegal wildlife trade destroys ecosystems. (Photo: iStock)

E-Nature

• How exactly is animal extinction linked to human health? If you’ve ever wondered why we should care about the health of the non-human species we share our planet with, read this to find out.
  

Without other species, we wouldn’t be able to survive. (Photo: iStockphoto)

E-Video

• On the occasion of World Oceans Day, let’s take a look at marine plastic pollution:
  

E-Quiz

• Which iconic tiger reserve would the Ken-Betwa river linking project affect? (a) Annamalai (b) Panna (c) Orang (d) Buxa
  
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Shalini Iyengar is a lawyer and Research Associate at the International University College of Turin.