Heena Sharma Blog

  World Wildlife Day : Cheetahs, which once roamed across much of India and West Asia, are now confined to just a few dozen animals in remote regions of Iran. The big cat was declared extinct in India over 70 years ago. The world's fastest land mammal is considered vulnerable under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)'s red list of threatened species, with a declining population of less than 7,000 found primarily in African savannas. However, on Wednesday, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the government was working on re-introduction of Cheetah. This big cat will be a reality soon, he tweeted on World Wildlife Day. The minister's tweet is in line with the Supreme Court's 2020 ruling, in which it agreed that wildlife authorities could reintroduce the cheetah to India. Read More

  As World Wildlife Day is being observed, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday appealed to ensure protection of animals and preserve forest and safe habitats for them. In a tweet, the Vice President said: "On this World Wildlife Day, let us all put in dedicated efforts to save and preserve the wildlife and create greater awareness on the need to maintain a healthy ecological balance on our planet." Prime Minister Modi saluted those working towards wildlife protection on the World Wildlife Day and teeeted: "Be it lions, tigers and leopards, India is seeing a steady rise in the population of various animals. We should do everything possible to ensure protection of our forests and safe habitats for animals." World Wildlife Day is observed annually on March 3 to celebrate and raise awareness of the world's flora and fauna. Read More

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will feature in a special episode of Discovery's " Man Vs Wild " which will highlight "issues related to environmental change." According to a statement from the channel, the special episode, featuring survivalist and adventurer Bear Grylls and shot in the India's Jim Corbett National Park, will be a "frank and freewheeling journey" which will throw light on wildlife conservation. The episode will premiere on August 12 and will be showcased in more than 180 countries across the world on Discovery network of channels. "For years, I have lived among nature, in the mountains and the forests. These years have a lasting impact on my life. So when I was asked about a special programme focussing on life beyond politics and that too in the midst of nature I was both intrigued and inclined to take part in it," the PM said in a statement. "For me, this show presents a great opportunity to showcase to