India lost 204 tigers in 2023, most of them in Maharashtra, WPSI (GS Paper 3, Environment)
Why in news?
- India lost a record 204 tigers in 2023 from January 1-December 25, according to figures compiled by non-profit, Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI).
State-wise data:
- Maharashtra, with 52 deaths, topped the list of Indian states. It was followed by Madhya Pradesh with 45 deaths. Uttarakhand came next with 26 deaths,.
- Tamil Nadu and Kerala recorded 15 deaths each.
- Karnataka, which has the second-highest number of tigers in the country after Madhya Pradesh, registered 13 deaths. Assam and Rajasthan recorded 10 deaths each.
- Uttar Pradesh recorded 7 deaths. Bihar and Chhattisgarh recorded 3 deaths each, with Odisha and Andhra Pradesh witnessing the deaths of two tigers each. Telangana recorded one tiger death in 2023.
Reasons for death:
- The reasons for tiger deaths were varied. ‘Natural & other causes’ claimed 79 tigers, the biggest cause of death.
- This was followed by poaching due to which 55 individuals died. Infighting came next. It caused the deaths of 46 tigers.
- Fourteen tigers died during rescue/treatment. Linear infrastructure/Roadkill/ Train or road deaths caused seven tiger deaths.
- Two tigers were killed by other species while one was shot by the forest department/ police or killed by villagers.
India’s tiger population:
- India’s tiger population increased by 200 from 2018 to 2022, according to the fifth cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation (2022) released April 9, 2023.
- The number of tigers in India was 3,167 in 2022, up from 2,967 in 2018.
Indian researchers identify gene that helps TB bacterium survive in human body
(GS Paper 2, Health)
Why in news?
- Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have made a significant discovery in the fight against tuberculosis (TB).
- They have identified a gene that plays a crucial role in the survival and persistence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) within the human host.
Focus:
- The research team focused on understanding how Mtb can remain dormant in the body for extended periods.
- They explained that while the immune system can often detect and eliminate Mtb, the bacterium has developed ways to hide and persist in oxygen-poor regions of the lungs, evading both the immune response and TB medications.
Details:
- They cultivated Mtb in a Bio Safely Level-3 facility at IISc's Center for Infectious Disease Research, examining the bacterium's reliance on iron-sulphur clusters.
- These clusters are vital for various cellular processes, including respiration and energy production, which enable Mtb to survive the hostile environment of the lungs and cause infection.
Key observations:
- They discovered that the production of these iron-sulphur clusters is primarily controlled by a single gene known as IscS under normal and low-oxygen conditions.
- However, when the bacterium is under oxidative stress, another set of genes, the SUF operon, is activated to meet the increased demand for new clusters.
- By creating a mutant Mtb strain lacking the IscS gene, the team observed that its absence led to a severe form of the disease in mouse models, rather than the typical persistent, chronic infection.
- This suggests that the IscS gene regulates the SUF operon, maintaining a balance that allows the bacterium to persist in the host.
- Furthermore, the mutant bacteria were found to be more susceptible to certain antibiotics, indicating potential new avenues for treatment.
- The researchers propose that targeting the IscS and SUF systems with a combination of antibiotics might enhance treatment efficacy.
Way Forward:
- This discovery not only sheds light on the mechanisms of TB persistence but also opens up possibilities for developing therapies aimed at eradicating the disease.
- With continued research, the insights gained from the IISc study could eventually lead to the elimination of TB as a global health threat
Ancient underwater mountain range discovered in Southern Ocean
(GS Paper 3, Environment)
Why in news?
- Scientists have discovered an ancient underwater mountain range hidden within the world's strongest ocean current, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current.
- This revelation came to light during a high-resolution mapping expedition conducted by an Australian and international research team.
Details:
- The research voyage, aboard the CSIRO research vessel Investigator, explored a vast area of the Southern Ocean, stretching 20,000 square kilometers between Tasmania and Antarctica.
- The seafloor, reaching depths of 4,000 meters, was mapped in unprecedented three-dimensional detail, revealing a spectacular chain of eight long-dormant volcanoes, with peaks soaring up to 1,500 meters high.
- The FOCUS voyage was designed to complement the capabilities of the new Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite, developed jointly by NASA and the French space agency CNES.
Key Findings:
- The findings included four newly discovered volcanoes and detailed information on previously partially mapped seamounts and a fault line ridge.
- The survey area, located 200 nautical miles west of Macquarie Island, sits atop the tectonically active Macquarie Ridge, where these seamounts were formed by hotspot magmatism within the last 20 million years.
Significance:
- The Antarctic Circumpolar Current interacts with the seafloor, creating eddies that play a significant role in transporting heat and carbon deeper into the ocean, thus serving as a buffer against global warming.
- The discovery provides crucial insights into the behavior of ocean currents and their impact on climate
Way Forward:
- They emphasized the urgency of understanding the ocean's role as a 'climate shock absorber,' absorbing over 90% of the heat from global warming and about 25% of human CO2 emissions.
- They focused on how heat is channeled towards Antarctica, affecting ice melt and contributing to sea-level rise, a critical concern for climate change mitigation efforts.
