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- The world’s oldest known wild bird, a Laysan albatross named Wisdom, has just laid her 60th egg at the remarkable age of 74.
- About Laysan Albatross:
- The Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) is a majestic seabird found across the North Pacific Ocean. The vast majority of the species, approximately 99.7%, resides in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. These birds spend much of their lives soaring over the open ocean, navigating tropical waters with ease.
- Laysan albatrosses typically nest in open, sandy, or grassy areas of islands, with a large portion of breeding pairs found on Laysan Island and Midway Atoll. They can also be found on other small Hawaiian Islands, as well as on the larger islands of Oahu and Kauai, and in select locations off the coasts of Japan and Mexico.
- Known for their exceptional flying skills, Laysan albatrosses can glide for hundreds of miles without needing to flap their wings. These birds feature blackish-brown feathers on their backs and upper wings, accented with white on their primary feathers. Their underwings are white with dark edges, and they have a distinctive dark tail band visible in flight.
- The species is monogamous, with albatrosses forming lifelong pair bonds. Currently listed as "Near Threatened" on the IUCN Red List, Laysan albatrosses face ongoing challenges to their population.
- Sacred groves play a vital role in preserving biodiversity and can also function as carbon sinks, yet many are currently facing significant threats.
- About Sacred Groves:
- Sacred groves are areas of natural or semi-natural vegetation that local communities dedicate to ancestral spirits or deities. These groves are safeguarded by the community, often through traditional taboos and practices that have both cultural and ecological significance.
- India is home to over 13,000 documented sacred groves, with states such as Kerala, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu being particularly rich in these sites. In Kerala, they are known as Kavu or Sarpa Kavu, while in Karnataka they are referred to as Devarakadu or Devkad, and in Maharashtra, they are called Deorai or Devrai. In Odisha, they are called Jahera or Thakuramma.
- The level of sanctity associated with these groves varies widely. For instance, the Garo and Khasi tribes in northeastern India impose a strict ban on any human activity within their sacred groves. These groves are crucial for the conservation of a wide range of plant and animal species, often serving as the last bastions for endemic species in the region. The protection of sacred groves by local communities has helped maintain biodiversity in a sustainable and culturally significant manner.
- The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development for 2024 will be awarded to former Chilean president and renowned human rights advocate Michelle Bachelet, as announced in a recent statement from the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.
- About the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize:
- The Indira Gandhi Peace Prize, officially known as the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development, was established in 1986 by a trust in honor of the former Prime Minister of India. The prize includes a monetary award of 25 lakh rupees and a citation.
- This prestigious award is presented to individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to fostering international peace and development, ensuring that scientific advancements are harnessed for the betterment of humanity, and advocating for a new international economic order.
- Previous recipients of the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize include:
- Mikhail Gorbachev, former leader of the Soviet Union (1987)
- UNICEF (1989)
- Jimmy Carter, former President of the United States (1997)
- The United Nations and its Secretary-General Kofi Annan (2003)
- Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany (2013)
- Indian Space Research Organisation (2014)
- Former Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh (2017)
- Sir David Attenborough (2019)
- Pratham NGO (2021)
- Indian Medical Association and the Trained Nurses Association of India (2022)
- Daniel Barenboim and Ali Abu Awwad (2023)