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Researchers from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) have rediscovered the rare flowering plant species Geum macrosepalumin the alpine region of Arunachal Pradesh nearly 120 years after it was last officially recorded in India, officials said.

The species, endemic to the eastern Himalaya and considered vulnerable, was found near the strategically important Sela Pass in western Arunachal during an extensive botanical survey in high-altitude alpine meadows, they said.

According to researchers, the species was rediscovered during a field study conducted under a project assessing the impact of climate change on floristic diversity and migration of vascular plants in the alpine and subalpine landscapes of western Arunachal.

The research team, comprising botanists Subhajit Lahiri, Monalisa Das and Sudhansu Sekhar Dash, located the species in the Sela area between Tawang and West Kameng districts at an altitude of around 4,200 metres

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geum\_macrophyllum

https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:725293-1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geum

Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered two new species of lace-sheet-weaver spiders from the forested hills of Nagaland and recorded a significant range extension for another species.

The findings, published in the international journal Zootaxa, were made during a pre-monsoon faunal expedition in Peren and Tseminyu districts. The two new species belong to the genus Psechrus — Psechrus ntu and Psechrus phenshunyu — named after the hill villages of Ntu and Phenshunyu where they were found.

The spiders are known for building large horizontal sheet-like webs in humid forest habitats.

They are characterized by elongated, slightly flattened bodies and long slender legs, particularly the anterior pair adapted for moving quickly across their webs.

They inhabit shaded forest patches, rocky crevices and areas beneath rocks and tree roots.

In addition, the study recorded Psechrus himalayanus in Nagaland for the first time, extending its known distribution from the Himalayas into Northeast India’s Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.

An interesting behavioural observation noted during the study was a male P. himalayanus sharing the web of a female P. phenshunyu, a rare instance of heterospecific cohabitation among psechrid spiders.

The study was led by arachnologists Dr. Puthoor Pattammal Sudhin, Shouvik Mali and Dr. Souvik Sen.

The team acknowledged the support of local spider enthusiasts and the warm cooperation of villagers from Ntu and Phenshunyu.

With these discoveries, India now has nine known species of Psechrus, most with limited and fragmented distributions. Researchers believe many more species may await discovery in the region’s remote forests.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psechrus

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1055790317309144

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24990038/

https://www.mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.5609.3.7

The sighting of a globally endangered Indian Skimmer at Illalur Lake near Chengalpattu has sparked fresh calls from conservationists to protect the ecologically fragile Nemmeli-Illalur wetland complex.

Birders documented a lone Indian Skimmer (Rynchops albicollis) at Illalur lake on May 10 between 7.55 am and 8.30 am, marking the only the second confirmed record of the species from the lake and only the 20th documented observation event in the state over the last 11 years. The species is estimated to have fewer than 3,000 individuals globally.

The observation was made by birders Ravichandran, I Abinesh and Madhan. According to the observers, the bird was seen foraging in knee-deep water amid extensive mudflats exposed by low water levels at the lake. “We assume skimmers and other pratincoles chose the site because of the extensive mudflats available for roosting and foraging. These mudflats should not be removed in the name of future lake restoration,” the group said.

Illalur lake, located adjacent to the Nemmeli coastal wetland, has long served as a seasonal habitat for several waterbirds including Small Pratincole, Little Ringed Plover, Black-winged Stilt, Spot-billed Duck and Fulvous Whistling Duck. Birders say the lake’s exposed mudflats and shallow waters create ideal stopover conditions for migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian\_skimmer

https://www.google.com/amp/s/timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/thaiyur-lake-nemmeli-wetland-new-birding-spots/amp\_articleshow/89144336.cms

The Oriental pied hornbill is not native to Delhi. It is largely a Terai and Himalayan foothill species, with historical records noting only scattered sightings in the 1940s and early 1970s. After decades of silence, isolated reports began surfacing again after 2013. According to birder Sudhir Vyas, these birds may be long-lived escapees from captivity or wandering vagrants that have dispersed unusually far south into the Indo-Gangetic plains.

Delhi now appears to have at least two — both believed to be females. One is frequently spotted around Jamia Millia Islamia; the other has transfixed birders at Lodhi Garden.

On Friday morning, observers watched the female pied hornbill arrive repeatedly at the nest cavity, regurgitating berries and fruit into the narrow slit. Two beaks emerged from inside to accept the food. Moments later, the resident male grey hornbill would arrive and feed the chicks in turn. The coexistence was not always peaceful: during one feeding round, the pied hornbill aggressively chased the male grey hornbill around the tree before returning to the nest herself.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbill

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian\_grey\_hornbill

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental\_pied\_hornbill

In a rare wildlife event, a female elephant has given birth to healthy twin calves in the Garjiya tourism zone of Corbett National Park, marking an extraordinary occurrence that has drawn the attention of wildlife experts, park officials and nature enthusiasts.

The mother elephant and her two calves were spotted during a jungle safari by noted wildlife enthusiast Sanjay Chimwal, who captured the sighting on video. The footage has since gone viral, with experts describing it as a remarkable sign of the region’s thriving ecosystem.

Dr Saket Badola, Director of Corbett Tiger Reserve, said the successful birth reflected the strength of the landscape.

"The Corbett Tiger Reserve and the entire Shivalik Elephant Reserve are crucial for elephant conservation," Dr Badola told TNIE. "Uttarakhand hosts a significant population of elephants in the Corbett landscape, with over 1,200 individuals recorded. The birth of twin calves is a positive indicator of a healthy, secure wildlife environment."

He further elaborated on the biological rarity of the event, stating, "Elephants have a gestation period of approximately 22 to 24 months. After such a long period of development, the arrival of twins is a unique event. Generally, elephants give birth to a single calf, making the birth and survival of twins an exceptional anomaly."

https://moef.gov.in/uploads/2022/08/Elephant-Reserve-of-India-an-atlas\_final.pdf

https://www.corbettnationalpark.in/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian\_elephant

Twin elephant births are an incredibly rare biological phenomenon, occurring in less than \(1\%\) of all elephant pregnancies. Because elephant gestation lasts roughly 22 months, carrying two calves is physically taxing. Consequently, twins face a high risk of being born prematurely, being rejected by the mother, or struggling to survive in the wild.

https://www.google.com/search?q=twins+in+elephants&client=ms-android-realme-terr1-rso2&hs=wXtp&sca\_esv=ffa8f2a440a92ee0&biw=360&bih=663&sxsrf=ANbL-n5dHmnW3u45bfCSsRPwFDun1CHp4Q%3A1778860281847&ei=-UAHatyzM\_6-4-EPx-LzwA8&oq=twins+in+elep&gs\_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIg10d2lucyBpbiBlbGVwKgIIADIFEAAYgAQyBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgYQABgWGB4yCxAAGIAEGIYDGIoFMgsQABiABBiGAxiKBTILEAAYgAQYhgMYigUyCxAAGIAEGIYDGIoFSPA0UKIKWIgtcAJ4AJABAJgBxAKgAfsXqgEIMC4xLjExLjG4AQHIAQD4AQGYAg-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&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp#lfId=ChxjMe

Dengue cases often rise sharply during the monsoon and post-monsoon months, putting both adults and children at risk. However, doctors warn that while children are not necessarily more likely to contract dengue than adults, they may be more exposed to mosquito bites and can deteriorate faster once infected. This makes early recognition and timely medical care especially important in younger age groups. According to Dr. Arvind Kumar, Principal Director & HOD Paediatrics, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, children are not inherently more susceptible to the dengue virus itself, but certain behavioral and biological factors increase their risk of exposure and severe illness. "Both children and adults are equally vulnerable to dengue infection if exposed to the virus transmitted by the Aedes mosquito. However, children tend to get more mosquito bites, which increases their chance of exposure," says Dr Arvind Kumar.

https://www.ndtv.com/health/dengue-outpaces-virus-blocking-mosquitoes-in-brazil-11481763

https://www.ndtv.com/health/6-common-misconceptions-around-dengue-busted-11496288

https://www.ndtv.com/health/is-it-gas-or-something-else-heres-what-your-stomach-pain-really-means-9791752

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430732/

https://iapindia.org/pdf/Ch-138-Dengue-in-Children.pdf

https://ncvbdc.mohfw.gov.in/index4.php

https://www.who.int/india/health-topics/dengue-and-severe-dengue