In General..about the Big Cat....

Tigers are the most magnificent of all the cats. It is one of the five 'big cats'. A large male tiger averages about 9 feet (3mt.) in length (from head to the end of the tail).The average height is about 3 feet (1mt.) at the shoulder and it can weighs up to 250kgs.(500-550 lb) A female tiger is slightly smaller, being about a foot shorter and about 25 to 30 kgs. less in weight. The coloring of the tiger's coat ranges from fawn to red, and is overlaid with blackish-brown transverse stripes, providing excellent camouflage in forest regions. Till only about a century back, the tiger was widespread and was found from Turkey to China, but now it faces the danger of extension. It is now found in some parts of India, south-west Asia, Iran, Manchuria, Sumatra, Bali and Java. The total number of tigers living in the wild in these areas is now believed to be much less than 5000.The second part of the eighteenth till the end of the twentieth century witnessed the ever increasing decline of the tiger population. First by the wealthy hunters, who ruthlessly hunted down the tigers for sport and by the natives, out of fear. Later as civilization spread vast areas of forests were cleared to make place for humans and robbing the tigers of their natural habitat, resulting in great decline of the tiger population. As a result of the steady decline of the tiger count, in 1972, the World Wildlife Fund launched a campaign to protect the tiger. Soon countries like India and the Soviet Union banned the hunting and killing of tigers. Even the export of tiger skin and tiger bones and other ports of the tiger were banned. In the west, countries like the United States of America and the United Kingdom among others put an embargo on the import of the tiger skin. The Tiger is a solitary animal. Each tiger has its own territory which the tiger defends very furiously. The tiger marks its territory by spraying their own urine, also claw marks on trees and buses announces the intruders of the tigers territory. The territory is open only at the time of mating and that to for its partner. The urine of the female tiger has a peculiar smell during oestrus, which she sprays on trees and bushes to attract neighboring male tigers. The actual act of coupling generally lasts for 15-30 seconds only, but is repeated several times in a day during oestrus. The gestation time is 105 days and normally about three to four cubs are born in each litter. The infant mortality is very high, only about two on an average survive to adulthood. Generally the tiger leaves soon after the courtship, but many stay back until the birth. The cubs are born blind and weigh about 1.5 kgs. at birth. They have their distinct tiger stripes right from the time of birth. The eyes of the cubs open by the end of the second week and they are weaned at the sixth week. The cub usually stays with their mothers till they are two years old, during this time it learns most of arts of survival. They can however kill for themselves as early as when they are 6-7 months old. A tiger attains full maturity by the time they are three years old. The Tiger usually hunts at night, like most of the cats. Their coat being a superb camouflage makes the tiger stalk their prey from within yards and then make a surprise attack. The tiger, being strong usually fell their prey with one big leap and bite its preys throat or neck. They than drag their kill to a quit and cool place to enjoy the meal. It than hides its kill in a safe place only to return when hungry again. The deer, antelope, rabbits, porcupines, buffalo and monkey are the most common animals a tiger feeds on.

January 13th at 2:36 pm EST from contributors Gary Tuchman, Anderson Cooper, Brian Byrnes, Felicity Cruikshank, Hada Messia, Richard Greene, and Mike

January 13th at 2:36 pm EST from contributors Gary Tuchman, Anderson Cooper, Brian Byrnes, Felicity Cruikshank, Hada Messia, Richard Greene, and Mike Mount.

Although not confirmed, it is estimated that more than 100,000 people are dead and there is a serious shortage of medical supplies because the hospitals have been destroyed. At least 3 million people may have been affected by the earthquake.

The three aid centers operated by Doctors Without Borders are currently not functioning. The doctors are working hard on getting the centers operating again.

Most of Port-au-Prince is destroyed and the population is remaining calm. Basic services, such as water and electricity, are not available in most areas.

The National Penitentiary collapsed and the inmates escaped. There were approximately 3,908 inmates held in the prison.

At least 15 peacekeepers are reported dead. Eleven of them are from the Brazilian army, three are from Jordan and one peacekeeper is from Argentina.

More than 100 employees of the U.N Mission are missing. The five-storey building collapsed. The U.N. headquarters at the Christopher Hotel collapsed and people are still trapped inside.

Aid organizations and governments have deployed response teams. Rescue workers are being hampered by infrastructural damage. Heavy equipment is also needed in order to assist in rescue efforts.



Read more at Suite101: Haiti Earthquake, January 12th 2010: Magnitude 7.0 Quake Struck 10 Miles South of Port-Au-Prince http://earthquakes.suite101.com/article.cfm/haiti_earthquake_january_12th_2010#ixzz18AtG7Vhg

Six-year-old Tiger found dead in Corbett Park ( TOI )

Dehradun, Jan 12 (PTI) Jim Corbett National Park has lost its second tiger this month with the carcass of a feline found in the reserve.

The carcass of the six-year-old tiger was found last night.

Park Director Ranjan Mishra today said the tiger died a natural death.

"There was no involvement of poachers as all the organs of the tiger were found intact," he said.

Earlier, a tigress was found dead in the park on January four.

Discovery of Methane Reveals Mars Is Not a Dead Planet

WASHINGTON -- A team of NASA and university scientists has achieved the first definitive detection of methane in the atmosphere of Mars. This discovery indicates the planet is either biologically or geologically active.

The team found methane in the Martian atmosphere by carefully observing the planet throughout several Mars years with NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility and the W.M. Keck telescope, both at Mauna Kea, Hawaii. The team used spectrometers on the telescopes to spread the light into its component colors, as a prism separates white light into a rainbow. The team detected three spectral features called absorption lines that together are a definitive signature of methane.

"Methane is quickly destroyed in the Martian atmosphere in a variety of ways, so our discovery of substantial plumes of methane in the northern hemisphere of Mars in 2003 indicates some ongoing process is releasing the gas," said Michael Mumma of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. "At northern mid-summer, methane is released at a rate comparable to that of the massive hydrocarbon seep at Coal Oil Point in Santa Barbara, Calif." Mumma is lead author of a paper describing this research that will appear in Science Express on Thursday.

Methane, four atoms of hydrogen bound to a carbon atom, is the main component of natural gas on Earth. Astrobiologists are interested in these data because organisms release much of Earth's methane as they digest nutrients. However, other purely geological processes, like oxidation of iron, also release methane.

"Right now, we do not have enough information to tell whether biology or geology -- or both -- is producing the methane on Mars," Mumma said. "But it does tell us the planet is still alive, at least in a geologic sense. It is as if Mars is challenging us, saying, 'hey, find out what this means.' "

If microscopic Martian life is producing the methane, it likely resides far below the surface where it is warm enough for liquid water to exist. Liquid water is necessary for all known forms of life, as are energy sources and a supply of carbon.

"On Earth, microorganisms thrive about 1.2 to 1.9 miles beneath the Witwatersrand basin of South Africa, where natural radioactivity splits water molecules into molecular hydrogen and oxygen," Mumma said. "The organisms use the hydrogen for energy. It might be possible for similar organisms to survive for billions of years below the permafrost layer on Mars, where water is liquid, radiation supplies energy, and carbon dioxide provides carbon. Gases, like methane, accumulated in such underground zones might be released into the atmosphere if pores or fissures open during the warm seasons, connecting the deep zones to the atmosphere at crater walls or canyons."

It is possible a geologic process produced the Martian methane, either now or eons ago. On Earth, the conversion of iron oxide into the serpentine group of minerals creates methane, and on Mars this process could proceed using water, carbon dioxide and the planet's internal heat. Although there is no evidence of active volcanism on Mars today, ancient methane trapped in ice cages called clathrates might be released now.

"We observed and mapped multiple plumes of methane on Mars, one of which released about 19,000 metric tons of methane," said co-author Geronimo Villanueva of the Catholic University of America in Washington. "The plumes were emitted during the warmer seasons, spring and summer, perhaps because ice blocking cracks and fissures vaporized, allowing methane to seep into the Martian air."

According to the team, the plumes were seen over areas that show evidence of ancient ground ice or flowing water. Plumes appeared over the Martian northern hemisphere regions such as east of Arabia Terra, the Nili Fossae region, and the south-east quadrant of Syrtis Major, an ancient volcano about 745 miles across.

One method to test whether life produced this methane is by measuring isotope ratios. Isotopes of an element have slightly different chemical properties, and life prefers to use the lighter isotopes. A chemical called deuterium is a heavier version of hydrogen. Methane and water released on Mars should show distinctive ratios for isotopes of hydrogen and carbon if life was responsible for methane production. It will take future missions, like NASA's Mars Science Laboratory, to discover the origin of the Martian methane.

The research was funded by the Planetary Astronomy Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington and the Astrobiology Institute at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. The University of Hawaii manages NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility.

WHY SHOULD WE SAVE TIGER?

Saving the tiger means saving mankind..

Not only is tiger a beautiful animal but it is also the indicator of the forest's health. Saving the tiger means we save the forest since tiger cannot live in places where trees have vanished and in turn secure food and water for all.

If we make sure tigers live, we have to make sure that deer, antelope and all other animals that the tiger eats (its prey base) live. To make sure that these herbivores live, we must make sure that all the trees, grass and other plants that these prey animals need for food are protected. In this way, the whole forest gets saved! Saving the tiger means saving its entire forest kingdom with all the other animals in it.

Also forests catch and help store rainwater and protect soils. In this way we protect our rivers and recharge groundwater sources. Areas with less trees lead to floods, killing people and destroying homes. It takes away the precious soil, leaving behind a wasteland. The soil jams up our lakes and dams, reducing their ability to store water. By destroying the tiger's home, we not only harm tigers, but also ourselves.

The tiger thus becomes the symbol for the protection of all species on our earth since it is at the top of the foodchain. This is why we sometimes call the tiger, an apex predator, an indicator of our ecosystem's health

Countdown to Extinction

In the 1970's we came dangerously close to losing forever one of the world most magnificent creatures. Poaching, deforestation, and human expansion brought all species of tiger to the brink of extinction. Indeed, over the past century, 3 of the 8 sub-species that existed became extinct; the Caspian, Javan and Balinese tigers. Today, we are by no means out of the woods. All remaining sub-species of tiger are endangered, making the tiger species as a whole nearly extinct.
Figure 2 shows how the range of tigers has changed over the past 100 years. Once ranging all throughout India, southeast Asia, central Asia, and eastern China, only small pockets of natural habitat remain(3).

The tiger population dropped over the past 100 years by a factor of 25 - from an estimated 100,000 in 1900 to only 4000 in the 1970's. A concerted effort by wildlife protection groups in the 1970's halted their rapid demise and the global population of tigers in the wild has grown modestly to around 6000 at the turn of the century(1). Poaching continues to this day, however. When a Russian poacher can make as much from a single tiger kill as he would normally earn in 6 years, it will take more than words to halt this tragedy(2).

Ten Facts About Coral From Polyps to Zooxanthellae

If you've ever visited an aquarium or gone snorkeling when on holiday, you're probably familiar with a wide variety of corals. You may even know that corals play a fundamental role in defining the structure of marine reefs, the most complex and diverse ecosystems in our planet's oceans. But what many don't realize is that these creatures, which resemble a cross between colorful rocks and various bits of seaweed, are in fact an animals. And amazing animals at that.

In this article, I'd like to explore ten things we should all know about coral, what makes them animals and what makes them so unique.

1. Corals belong to the Phylum Cnidaria. Other animals that belong to the Phylum Cnidaria include jellyfish, hydrae, and sea anemones. Cnidaria are invertebrates (they do not have a backbone) and all have specialized cells called nematocysts that help them capture prey and defend themselves. Cnidaria exhibit radial symmetry.

2. Corals belong to the Class Anthozoa (a subgroup of the Phylum Cnidaria). Members of this group of animals have flower-like structures called polyps. They have a simple body plan in which food passes in and out of a gastrovascular cavity (stomach-like sac) through a single opening.

3. Corals typically form colonies consisting of many individuals. Coral colonies grow from a single founder individual that divides repeatedly. A coral colony consists of a base that attaches coral to a reef, an upper surface that is exposed to light and hundreds of polyps.

4. The term 'coral' refers to a number of different of animals. These include hard corals, sea fans, sea feathers, sea pens, sea pansies, organ pipe coral, black coral, soft corals, fan corals whip corals.

5. Hard corals have a white skeleton that is made of limestone (calcium carbonate). Hard corals are reef builders and are responsible for the creation of the structure of a coral reef.

6. Soft corals lack the stiff limestone skeleton that hard corals possess. Instead, they have little limestone crystals (referred to as sclerites) embedded in their jelly-like tissues.

7. Many corals have zooxanthellae within their tissues. Zooxanthellae are algae that form a symbiotic relationship with the coral by producing organic compounds that the coral polyps use. This food source enables the corals to grow faster than they would without the zooxanthellae.

8. Corals inhabit a wide range of habitats and regions. Some solitary hard coral species are found in temperate and even polar waters and occur as far as 6000 meters below the surface of the water.

9. Corals are rare in the fossil record. They first appeared in the Cambrian period (570mya). Reef-building corals appeared during the middle of the Triassic period (251mya - 200mya).

10. Sea fan corals grow at right angles to the current of the water. This enables them to efficiently filter plankton from the passing water.

India's tiger success story

A success story at a tiger reserve in India could act as an inspiration to save other wild tigers.
The number of tigers has doubled at the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, following a move to stop illegal logging and grazing.

The animals had radio devices attached to their collars, to monitor their daily movements and discourage poaching.


The tiger acts as a symbol for the health of India, and the success in Panna acts as hope for both people and wildlife

Debbie Banks, Environmental Investigation Agency
The government was persuaded to close sandstone mines around the reserve and improve state-owned diamond mines that were polluting local water supplies.

The vulnerable population of 2-3 tigers per 100 square kilometres has now grown to 7-8, a healthy number for breeding. One tiger dies a day in India from poaching or habitat loss.

Debbie Banks of the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), which was behind the campaign, said: "The tiger acts as a symbol for the health of India, and the success in Panna acts as hope for both people and wildlife."

Better protection

Dr Raghunandan Singh Chundawat, who ran the project at Panna, said the long-term survival of the tiger depended not so much on the number of tigers in a particular area, but the number that are able to breed successfully.

"Our research project's daily monitoring of radio-collared tigers undoubtedly increased their protection from human-induced mortalities," he said.

"This allowed the radio-collared tigers to breed and increased the chances of cubs surviving to adulthood."

The EIA and Global Tiger Patrol are calling on the Indian government to learn from this example and act now to protect the tiger.

25 unusual national parks across the world

Gaze at sparking blue lakes, hear the gurgle of gushing rivers, be stunned by shifting sand dunes, lose yourself amidst thick forests... Feel one with nature at any of these gorgeous national parks.

Pilanesberg Game Reserve, South Africa

The fourth largest park in South Africa, Pilanesberg is a melting pot of topographies--which include syenite koppies, forested ravines, bush veld and rolling grasslands and lightly wooded areas--all contained in the crater of an extinct volcano that covers 55,000 hectares. Much of the beauties find reflection in the Mankwe Dam, the central water feature here. This is also a great place to spot wildlife, including the Big Five--the elephant, lion, leopard, rhinoceros and the cape buffalo.

Thabayadiotso, "the Proud Mountain", offers fitting relief to the panoramas of the park. Apart from the large mammals, the park is home to over 300 species of birds and they can be sighted while on the one-of-a-kind self-guided trail in the Walking Area at Manyane Complex. If the wild ones are not showing up, you can rest assured you'll see at least 80 species of birds at the walk-in aviary along the way.

Murchison National Park, Uganda

The largest park in Uganda, it straddles the Albertine Rift Valley the Bunyoro escarpment and the rolling plains of Acholiland. It takes its name from the stunning Murchison Falls, a cascade that tumbles 43m in the heart of this wilderness. Safaris offer the same highlights as in much of Africa, with sightings of the elephant, lion, giraffe and antelope being fairly regular.

The true highlight, however, remains the Nile, the world's longest river, which slices through the park and harbours the hippopotamus and the legendary Nile crocodile. Ferries that ply the river also offer excellent birding prospects, and the chance to angle for the Nile perch, tiger fish and catfish. The Kaniyo Pabidi site in the Budongo Forest Reserve are where the chimpanzees live, and walking trails through it is a good way to learn about these primates.

Boat rides to the base of the falls, to soak in the spray, and a visit to the bat caves at the top of the falls are also must-dos.

Namib Naukluft Park, Namibia

Shifting sand dunes, lichen-swathed expanses, winding canyons, oases where birds congregate in their thousands, and the place where the Namib desert meets the Atlantic Ocean--this park is a mish-mash of all that and more.

Namib Naukluft is one of the biggest national parks in Africa, and serviced only by four-wheel drive trails. Sossusvlei of gigantic-sand-dune fame, the Swakop and Kuiseb river canyons, Sandwich Harbour and the Moon Landscape of the Welwitschia Plains are the biggest draws.

The Naukluft Mountain area is also home to the Hartmann's mountain zebra, the species for which this park was originally created. This park is also home to
some of the rarest plant and animal species. They include the oryx, springbok and the Welwitschia mirabilis, a desert shrub, the oldest of which is estimated to be 1,500 years old.

Masai Mara, Kenya

Neither its touristy trappings, nor the alarming regularity with which it features in documentaries, can take away from the Great Migration it hosts between July and October each year. The annual march of wildebeest and zebra is a phenomenon of such massive scale--1,300,000 wildebeests, 360,000 Thomson's gazelles, and 191,000 zebras--that it gets caught even on a satellite pictures.

The months of migration are also the best time, naturally, to watch stalk, chase and kill. The other highlight of a trip to this park is gaining an acquaintance with the culture of the tribe of the same name--the Masais, a colourful pastoral people who have managed to hold their own in the daunting wilderness.

Grand Etang National Park, Grenada

This is a wonderland of ferns and orchids, birds and butterflies and reptiles and amphibians. And in the midst of it all lies the lake that takes lends its name to the park--Grand Etang. The crater lake most definitely is the highlight of any hike through this rainforest, though the views of lush hills and cloud-skirted mountains can give it a run for its title.

Even secluded beaches abound, for those who don't fancy swatting bugs during a hike through the jungles. Wildlife viewing is another adventure, especially because visitors are allowed to camp anywhere within the park, as long as they don't littler, and maintain silence.

For details, visit www.grenadagrenadines.com

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Seeing two of the world's most active volcanoes--Mauna Loa (4,170m high) and Kilauea (1,250m high)--should be incentive enough to visit this park that rises in the Pacific Ocean. If that were not enough reason, add the flora, fauna and topography to the list. Some of the hiking trails rise up to the crater's rim to offer you a chance to peep into the belly of the volcano bubbling with lava.

Legend has it that the islands that make up the park were created by Pele, the fire goddess, as she moves from place to place and narrating stories of her travels. She is supposed to stamp her feet during her storytelling sessions, making the earth tremble and rise above the sea.

For details, visit www.nps.gov/havo

Amber Mountain National Park, Madagascar

Almost-human lemurs, spot-me-if-you-can chameleons, peek-a-boo waterfalls and greenery that could put jealousy to shame--that's what this national park is all about. Counted among the most biologically diverse swathe of forest in Madagascar, Amber Mountain National park is home to 75 species of birds, 25 species of mammals, and 59 species of reptiles.

Better still, it is all on 18,200 hectares of volcanic massif with altitudes ranging from 800m to 1,475m. The top draw are the playful lemurs, seven species of which are found here. The best loved are the crowned lemur and Sanford's brown lemur. The 20-km walking trail through the park is the best (read only) way to meet them and the other reptiles such as the leaf-mimic chameleon. Of the waterfalls, Cascade d'Antomboka and Cascade Sacree are worth the gasps of awe.

For details, visit www.madagascar-tourisme.com

Galapagos National Park

Up close and personal gets new meaning at this archipelago that is almost entirely the national park. Under water or on land, the diversity of life that calls the islands home, is mostly unmatched in shape size and curiosity. The only common trait shared by the sea lions, penguins, blue-footed booby, albatrosses, the Galapagos giant tortoise and the marine iguana is their lack of fear of man.

The close encounters offer enough evidence of why Darwin was so in thrall when he first arrived there. Two of the best diving sites in the world, Wolf and Darwin, part of the Galapagos Marine Reserve, are touted as the only places where you stand the chance of surely seeing the hammerhead shark. Other inhabitants of the waters are manta rays, dolphins and whales.

For details, visit www.galapagosonline.com

Yosemite, USA

This wilderness, whose geology has been largely shaped by the work of water and ice over millennia, once inspired the likes of photographer Ansel Adams and explorer Jon Muir with its 'hanging' valleys, waterfalls, cirque lakes, moraines and Giant Sequoia groves. Today El Captain, Bridalveil Waterfall, Half Dome and Lower Cathedral Lake continue to rank among American landscapes which, in Muir's words, "enriches one's life forever."

The 3,000 sq km park is open all year--except in the peak of winter when most trails are snowed in--offering visitors the chance to see the dramatic changes that come over the forested expanses in the various seasons. Hiking and biking remain the best way to get around the park and enjoy its beauty to the fullest. The park is also home to a rich array of fauna including mountain lions, wolves, coyotes and the black bear, and herbivores that include the bighorn sheep.


For details, visit www.yosemitepark.com

Banff National Park, Canada

Say "Great Outdoors" and chances are that visions of sweeping vistas, snow-draped peaks, gurgling brooks and thick lush forests will float before the mind's eye. The Banff National Park, sprawled out over the Continental Divide, is all this and lots more. Spread out over 6,638 sq km, the park boasts some of the most stupendous panoramas and exotic geological and ecological features on the planet--rugged mountains, alpine meadows, glittering lakes, canyons carved by glaciers and roiling hot springs. The roller coaster heights and depths within this reserve provide sanctuary to more than 990 species of trees, grasses and flowers, 407 varieties of lichens, 243 kinds of mosses and 53 species of mammals, including elk, bighorn sheep, black bear and grizzly bear, wolf, coyote, caribou and the mountain lion.

This area encompasses Castleguard Caves, snuggled in the remote northwest corner of the park, which finds mention in the record books as the longest cave system in Canada.

For details, visit www.banffnationalpark.com

Kronotsky Nature Reserve, Russia

The thrill of this reserve begins with where it is located--Kamchatka. And the thrill rises with what is contained in this fascinating million-acre reserve. There is geyser valley, where about 250 to 300 litres of thermal water spouts out every second. There are rivers that are a haven for salmon, waterfalls, valleys and hissing volcanoes. Though chances are slim, there could even be an encounter with the sable, an antelope of great beauty that was all but rendered extinct by hunters.

The most impressive geyser is Velikan, and has an eruption that rises 30m into the air. Hiking, under supervision, is allowed with base set up at the foot of the Karymsky volcano, which is still active.

For details, contact Kronotsky Preserve Visitor Centre and Museum; tel: +415 31 617 54

Glacier Bay National Park, USA

Nine tidewater glaciers, icebergs all around, steep-sided fjords at places and ice caves worth exploring at. And no roads, cell service, television or internet. Primal could well be a synonym for Glacier Bay National Park, which boasts 3.3 million acres of glaciers. The only way to get to the park is by boat, or by plane. For what? To watch breaching humpback whales or to have fur seals for company. The more adventurous could even forego cruise lines and set off on kayak to explore ice caves, or set off on a bear's trail. Forty species of mammals and more than 220 species of birds have been recorded in the park.

One of the most stunning sights is that of calving icebergs--when mammoth chunks of ice break off the glacier and crash into the water. There are many glaciers known for that so the lack of patience is not a problem.

For details, visit www.glacierbay.org

Zion National Park, USA

Located in Southern Utah, the Zion National Park offers a stunning proof of what a misnomer the "badlands" are. A desert canyon, Zion is an exhibition of plateaus, canyons, rock towers and free-standing arches, and mesas and monoliths in sandstone that range in shade from cream, to pink to russet. Flat and dead though it may look to the eye, the park's elevation ranges from 3,800 ft to 8,800 ft, with each altitude zone nurturing a healthy number of niche creatures and critters. The best way to discover the wonders of this land is on foot. And they include archaeological remains of the Anzai people, a tribe that managed to thrive here centuries ago.

For details, visit www.zionnationalpark.com

Namdapha, India

Situated in Arunachal Pradesh near the Indo-Myanmar border, this is the only national park that is credited with offering a refuge to all three top cats--the Bengal tiger, the clouded leopard and the snow leopard.

The variance in altitudes within the park bestows on it a diverse range of flora and fauna. The gaur, mithun, elephant, Himalayan black bear, takin, a peculiar wild goat which is the national animal of Bhutan, musk deer, slow lorris, and the red panda are all found here. This is also the only park which offers sanctuary to the Hoolock gibbon. The uniqueness of Namdapha can easily be understood by the fact that botanists and researchers feel it will take at least 50 years to complete a comprehensive study of the botanical diversity the park contains. The mountainous terrain and the many river flowing through it offer a great variety and equally stunning landscapes.

For details, visit www.changlang.nic.in/namdapha

Komodo National Park, Indonesia

There are no points for guessing what people go to see here. But if you're still wondering, this park is where the world's largest lizard, aptly called the Komodo dragon, can be found. The park also offers refuge to lesser-known animals--orange-footed scrub fowl, an endemic rat, and the Timor deer. Spread over the islands of Komodo, Rinca and Padar, the park includes the waters that separate them. These waters, too, offer rich pickings for those interested in scuba diving or snorkelling. Coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds and semi-enclosed bays are some of the wonders of the blue beyond, apart from more that 1,000 species of fish, 260 species of reef-building coral, and 70 species of sponges.

For details visit www.komodonationalpark.org

Hemis National Park, India

Situated in the eastern region of Ladakh, the high-altitude reserve is the largest in India and offers some of the most stunning panoramas of the trans-Himalayas. This is considered the wilderness that offers the best chances of seeing a snow leopard. Marmots, the blue sheep, Tibetan agrali, ibex and a host of birds, including the golden eagle, can be sighted here.

There are several trek routes that criss-cross the park, and villages--Rumbak and Markha--are two of better-known ones where homestay facilities are also provided. Bits of the park can also be driven through, though it is best not to use that option considering the fragility of the environment.

The park is bounded to the north by the Indus, and includes the catchments of Markha, Sumdah and Rumbak, and parts of the Zanskar Range.

For details contact (01982) 252 297 and 252 094

Kumana National Park, Sri Lanka

Popularly referred to as a birder's paradise, this park, located in the southeast corner of Sri Lanka, certainly lives up to its name. The showcase of the park is a 200-hectare swamp lake called Kumana Villu that offers myriad birds the perfect place to fatten up before, or midway through, their migration.

The best time to visit the park is during the months of May and June when pelicans, painted storks, spoonbills, white ibis, herons, egrets and the very rare black-necked stork make this mangrove area their home. Among mammals, the park has a healthy population of elephants and leopards, apart from species of deer and antelope. Half the joy of visiting this park, however, lies in the approach to it. An eco-tourism spot, the way to the camp can be completed only of 4X4 vehicles.

For details, call Sri Lanka Tourism; tel: +975 232 3251

Thrumshingla, Bhutan

This lesser-known park snuggles within the forested expanse of an equally enigmatic kingdom--Bhutan. Covering 768 sq km in the eastern edge of the Himalayan kingdom, the park offers wonderful panoramas and a variety of trekking routes. Ranging between 1,000 to 4,000m in altitude, its forests vary from subtropical to alpine, with a distinct set of animals in each eco-system. This is also the only national park where a tiger had been photographed above 3,000m, something zoologists had never thought possible. The snow leopard is among one of the more than 65 species of mammals found here. Of birds, more than 340 species have been recorded.

A trek through this park gets more rewarding with a trained guide, who will be able to point out the countless medicinal herbs that grow there.

For details contact Tourism Council of Bhutan; tel: +94 11 238 0944

Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

According to the Unesco, this park contains 'superlative natural beauty and is of great aesthetic importance'. And it could not have been any other way.

This is the world's highest national park and is surrounded by, what else, the world's highest peaks. Sagarmatha, incidentally, is also the name of the crowning peak in whose shadow the park rests--Mount Everest. Lhotse, Thamerku, Pumori, Ama Dablam, Cho Oyu, Kwangde, Kangtaiga and Gyachyung Kang are the other peaks that tower over the park. Sagarmatha has more than 118 species of birds and 26 species of butterflies reside in the park. Several hiking routes in the park and the opportunity to mingle with the sherpas, or stay at their homes are reasons why this park can't be missed.

For details, contact Nepal Tourism Info; tel: +977 1441 0430

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

The top draw of the park is its 16 lakes, each fed by waterfalls, which in turn are all interlinked. The sight--veils of water crashing down in steps, rainbows forming in the mist if the light--stuns at first sight and continues to stun thereafter. The best part is that these sights are for everybody, not reserved for superhikers, courtesy of the park officials who have laid out trails that meander through the less challenging sections of this mountain grit park. The woods surrounding the falls are home to deer, bears, wolves, boars and many species of birds. Besides touring the park on foot, boat rides and shuttle bus services are good options to explore the forest or for taking a closer look at the falls.

For details, visit www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr

Northeast Greenland National Park, Greenland

Greenland has one national park, and that is the largest in the world. Sheathed mostly in ice, the landscapes offer views all the way to the horizon. Where the ice cover is less is where the ocean has carved out finger-like fjords that lead to sheltered coves of even greater beauty.

The most beautiful of this park, however, are the polar bears and this is one of its last strongholds. This park also contains much of the world's musk ox population. The lesser animals that roam the land are the arctic fox grey wolf, stoat, collared lemming and Canadian arctic hare. Marine mammals include Atlantic walrus and ringed seal, bearded seal, harp seal and hooded seal. Narwhal and white whales or belugas can also be sighted. Eider ducks, snowy owl and the ptarmigan are among the birds that inhabit the park.

For details, visit East Greenland Tourist Office; tel: +299 981 543

Kakadu National Park, Australia

The monsoon is popularly known a "suicide season" in this region of Australia, with more than 60 inches of rain having been recorded in less than 100 days. But it is this rain that makes Kakadu as varied as it is. The park's habitats include savannah woodlands, plateaus, escarpments, rainforests, flood plains and billabongs, tidal flats and coastal beaches. About 10,000 species of insects, 280 bird species, 117 reptile species, 60 species of mammals, 53 species of freshwater fish and more than 1,700 different plants have been recorded here.

Apart from the flora and fauna, the other highlight of this park are the countless aboriginal rock paintings that create a fascinating timeline. More than 1,500 such sites have been discovered within the park, with depictions ranging from the hunting game with spears to the first time they made contact with the outside world.

For details visit www.kakadunationalparkaustralia.com

Blue Mountains, National Park, Australia

The name leaves no room for doubt that this one is situated in the region made famous by the unique mountains in sandstone and granite. The Blue Mountains are in fact cliffs, some around 2,000m high, with multiple gorges that run in between. Conveniently located west of Sydney, this national park makes for great photo-ops, thanks to the blue haze in the air. The tinge comes from the combination of a volatile oil from eucalyptus trees and droplets of water.

The best views of the park can be enjoyed from the lookouts between Wentworth Falls and Blackheath, a town located near the top of the Blue Mountains. This park is certainly a bushwalkers paradise. Also worth a dekko are caves where the aborigines lived.

For details visit www.environment.nsw.gov.au

Paparoa National Park, New Zealand

This park certainly knows how to pull the crowds. Not only does it have a coastline that impresses, and limestone cliffs, river canyons, blowholes and underground streams, each of its attractions are so easy to access and explore, it can be labelled family-friendly. Among its most popular sites are the Pancake Rocks and blowholes of Dolomite Point, where high tide triggers an awesome geyser-like eruptions. Vegetation varies between broadleaf forest along the coast. The forest further inland is made up of hard, red and silver beech and offers the promise of rewarding hikes. The Westland petrel/titi colony near Punakaiki River boasts of being the only place in the world where burrowing seabirds breed. Looking for other kinds of adventure? Try canoeing the Pororari River or opt for a subterranean thrill by trying your hand at caving in the Punakaiki Cavern.

For details, contact Paparoa National Park Visitor Centre; tel: +643 731 1895

Skaftafell National Park, Iceland

Formed of fire and ice, this park in Iceland holds a trump in its vivid contrasts of lush green forests, black sandy expanses and pristine glaciers. Though getting to the park is easy, the only way to explore the reserve is by foot. Several hiking trails meander their way throughout with designated camping sites on each of them.

Svartifoss, or the Black waterfall, is one of the major attractions in the park. Part of its popularity is because of the cascade itself, but what is most striking is the series of black basalt pillars that flak it. Each pillar is a naturally formed hexagon, and each is suspended from the hillside. In fact, these unique pillars provided the inspiration for the design of National Theatre in Reykjav'k.

The glacier lagoon Jokulsarlon and the Laki crater area, both not very far from the national park, are a treat for the eyes and offer an education on the manner in which this land was formed.

For details visit http://english.ust.is/Skaftafellnationalpark

Central government confirms tiger poached in Goa, state denies

Panaji, Nov 24 (IANS) The controversy over the poaching of a Royal Bengal tiger in Goa earlier this year has taken a fresh twist with central government officially admitting that the animal was killed, contrary to the stand of the state forest department.

Citing information compiled by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), a release of the central government’s environment and forest ministry, published on the press information bureau (PIB) website, said a tiger was indeed killed in Goa, along with other 58 tigers poached in India till Nov 13, 2009.

The press release says the data was part of a written reply tabled Monday in the Rajya Sabha by Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh.

The state forest department, especially the Chief Conservator of Forests Shashi Kumar had repeatedly denied the reports of a tiger being poached in Goa, making wildlife activists sceptical of the department’s role in investigating the incident.

Wildlife activist Rajendra Kerkar, who first brought the February tiger poaching case in the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary to light through a newspaper article and accompanying photographs of the slain animal, alleged that Kumar was under pressure from several politicians to cover up the incident.

“The chief conservator of forests Dr Shashi Kumar is under tremendous pressure to cover up the tiger poaching incident,” Kerkar told IANS, adding that several politicians who owned legitimate mines in the area and who ran illegal mining operations within the reserve forest itself, were responsible for the attempted cover up.

“Mere acknowledgement of a resident tiger is very, very significant to Goa. The forest department has always been trying to scuttle efforts made by the wildlife enthusiasts to establish the presence of a tiger here. But this is different. A poached tiger makes it an extremely sensitive situation,” he said.

Meanwhile, the forest department has charged Kerkar with abetment in the poaching case for not disclosing the name of the person who took photographs of the slain animal.

Shashi Kumar maintains that it was difficult to verify the tiger poaching incident. “Even the preliminary forensic examination of samples collected by my officers from the place where the tiger was allegedly killed shows that the dead animal was not a tiger,” Kumar said.

The preliminary report was not released to the media.