Environmental and Wildlife Updates

Indore, Bhopal, Udaipur Selected for Wetland City Accreditation under the Ramsar Convention

• Wetland City Accreditation (WCA): A voluntary system under the Ramsar Convention approved in COP12 (2015).
• Purpose: Recognizes cities that are safeguarding urban wetlands.
• 43 cities from 17 countries have been acknowledged as "Wetland Cities" since Ramsar COP13.

Nominated Cities:

• Indore: Focus on Sirpur Lake, a Ramsar Site, for water bird conservation.
• Bhopal: Bhoj Wetland, a Ramsar Site.
• Udaipur: Surrounded by five major wetlands integral to the city's culture and climate.

Maharashtra Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) Becomes India's First Dark Sky Park

• Location: Southern reaches of the Satpura hills, covering Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
• Certification: Given by the International Dark-Sky Association.
• Significance: PTR is the fifth Dark Sky Park in Asia.

Kaziranga’s Fauna Enhanced with Two New Mammalian Species Enlisted

• Binturong: The largest civet in India, also known as the bearcat.
• Conservation Status: IUCN - Vulnerable, Wildlife Protection Act - Schedule I, CITES - Appendix III.
• Kaziranga National Park: Declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006, recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.

Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary to Offer 'Canopy Walk' Facility

• Location: 10 km from Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, on Dalma Hills.
• Named after: The local goddess "Dalma mai."
• Established: In 1975.

Eravikulam National Park

• Location: Idukki district, Kerala, along the Western Ghats.
• Declared: As a National Park in 1978, covering 97 sq. km.
• Anamudi: The highest peak in the Western Ghats and in South India.