PLACES IN NEWS - 18 Oct. 2024

18-10-2024

Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, Assam

Proposal Status: Vedanta subsidiary's oil exploration deferred by the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).
Habitat Importance: Home to the endangered Hoolock Gibbon (120-130 individuals).
Concerns: Exploration proposed in eco-sensitive zone, proximity to gibbon habitat raises environmental concerns.
Next Steps: Site visit committee will assess potential impacts; includes representatives from various wildlife and environmental organizations.
Railway Electrification: Clearance granted for electrifying 9 km stretch of Lumding-Dibrugarh line; 1.65 km fragmenting sanctuary. Conditions for restricted train speeds and animal passage constructions enforced.

It is an evergreen forest located in the Jorhat district of Assam, India.

It was given the status of a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1997 by the Assam Government.
It is the only sanctuary in India named after a gibbon due to its distinction for containing the densest gibbon populations in Assam.
Situated at an altitude between 100 and 120 m (330 and 390 ft), the topography gently slopes downward from southeast to northwest.
The Bhogdoi River creates a waterlogged region dominated by semi-hydrophytic plants along the border of the sanctuary.
Flora:

1. The upper canopy of the forest is dominated by the Hollong tree, while the Nahar dominates the middle canopy.
2. The lower canopy consists of evergreen shrubs and herbs.

1. It contains India’s only gibbons–the hoolock gibbons, and Northeastern India’sonly nocturnal primate–the Bengal slow loris.
2. Also found at the sanctuary are Indian elephants, tigers, leopards, jungle cats, wild boar, three types of civet, four types of squirrels, stump-tailed macaque, northern pig-tailed macaque, etc.

Project: Road widening of National Highway-12 within the buffer zone.
Land Requirement: 28.8 hectares of forest land needed.
Recommendations:
1. Construction of animal underpasses for wildlife crossings.
2. Each kilometer of road through the buffer zone to include at least one underpass (50-meter span, minimum 30-meter).
3. Input from Rajasthan Forest Department on wildlife crossing points required.
Environmental Oversight: Site inspection committee has reviewed and recommended project with conditions for wildlife safety.

Date of Notification: May 16, 2022.
Announced by: Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.
Designation: Declared as the 52nd tiger reserve in India and the fourth in Rajasthan.

Current Reserves:

NTCA Approval: 'In-principle' approval for the creation of the Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve was granted on July 5, 2021.
Legal Framework: Approval under Section 38 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Expert Committee Formation: Constituted by the State Government to identify Critical Tiger Habitat (Core) and Buffer Area.

Geographical Context: Connects the habitat of tigers between Ranthambore in the northeast and Mukundara Hills in the south.
Ecosystem Diversity: Home to around 500 species of wildlife, including:
1. Indian wolf
2. Leopard
3. Striped woodpecker
4. Cheetal
5. Sambhar
6. Sloth bear
7. Golden jackal
8. Chinkara
9. Nilgai
10. Fox
11. Wild cats
12. Langur
13. Snakes
14. Crocodiles

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on October 17, 2024 that it had killed its most wanted man (Yahya Sinwar) in an operation in Gaza’s Rafah.
Legacy: His death followed the killing of other key Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, raising questions about Israel's long-term security strategy.

Location:

Rafah is a city in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestine.
It is the capital of the Rafah Governorate of the State of Palestine, located 30 kilometers south-west of Gaza City.

In 2017, Rafah had a population of 171,889

The 31 Indian fishermen were caught by the Bangladesh Navy within Bangladesh's maritime boundary during a chase near the Payra Port area.
They were attempting to fish in Bangladeshi waters despite the ongoing fishing ban in Bangladesh aimed at protecting marine resources.
According to the Bangladesh Navy, these fishermen tried fishing during the ongoing 22-day fishing ban in their country aimed at protecting marine resources.

About Port of Payra:

The Payra Port is Bangladesh's third sea port located at Kalapara in Patuakhali, Bangladesh.
It was established in 2013 and officially inaugurated in 2016.
It is located on the Ramnabad Channel near the Bay of Bengal.