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- A rare sighting of a caracal has recently been reported in the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, sparking excitement among wildlife enthusiasts.
- About the Caracal:
- The caracal is a medium-sized, nocturnal wildcat.
- In India, it is known as siya gosh, a Persian term meaning 'black ear.'
- Scientific Name: Caracal caracal
- Distribution:
- Caracals are found in rocky hills and grasslands across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. In India, their population has dwindled to an estimated 50, mainly in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
- Habitat:
- These adaptable cats can thrive in various environments, including grasslands, savannas, scrublands, and forests.
- Physical Features:
- Caracals possess slender bodies and long legs, making them the largest of the African small cats. They typically weigh between 8-18 kg and can grow up to a meter in length, with males generally being larger than females. Their fur is short, dense, and colored tawny-brown to reddish-tan, with lighter underparts. Their face is adorned with dark lines and white spots around the eyes, and they have large, black, pointed ears. One of their most remarkable abilities is leaping up to 2 meters into the air to catch birds, showcasing their impressive agility. The caracal can reach speeds of up to 50 mph (80 kph) when running at full pace.
- Caracals are often solitary or found in small groups, and their elusive nature makes them hard to spot in the wild.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Least Concern
- The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
- The Bar Council of India (BCI) has recently issued a stern warning against "unethical" legal advertising and misleading social media promotions, which could lead to professional misconduct among advocates.
- About the Bar Council of India (BCI):
- The Bar Council of India is a statutory body established by Parliament to regulate and represent the Indian legal profession.
- It was founded under the Advocates Act of 1961, following the recommendations of the All India Bar Committee.
- The BCI's primary aim is to protect the rights, interests, and privileges of advocates across India.
- Functions:
- The BCI oversees regulatory functions by setting standards for professional conduct and ethics, while also exercising disciplinary authority over the legal community.
- It establishes criteria for legal education and accredits universities offering law degrees that qualify individuals for enrolment as advocates.
- The Bar Council of India conducts the All India Bar Examination (AIBE), granting a 'Certificate of Practice' to advocates wishing to practice law in India.
- The BCI also supports welfare schemes for economically disadvantaged and physically handicapped advocates.
- It recognizes foreign law qualifications on a reciprocal basis, allowing admission of international law graduates as advocates in India.
- Composition:
- The Bar Council consists of elected members from each State Bar Council, as well as the Attorney General of India and the Solicitor General of India, who are automatic members.
- State Bar Council members are elected for a five-year term.
- The BCI elects its own Chairman and Vice-Chairman from among its members, and they serve for two years.
- A 45-year-old woman from Garia, Kolkata, has been diagnosed with the human coronavirus HKU1 (HCoV-HKU1).
- About Human Coronavirus HKU1:
- Scientific Name: Human coronavirus HKU1, also known as Betacoronavirus hongkonense, is a species of coronavirus that can affect both humans and animals.
- Origin: It was first discovered in 2004 by researchers at Hong Kong University, which is how it received its name.
- Symptoms: Common symptoms of HKU1 include a runny nose, fever, cough, wheezing, headache, and sore throat. Though symptoms are typically mild, untreated cases can sometimes develop into bronchiolitis or pneumonia.
- Transmission: HKU1 spreads through direct contact with an infected person via respiratory droplets (from coughing or sneezing), or by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the face, mouth, or nose.
- Vulnerability: While HKU1 is usually self-limiting and resolves on its own, certain vulnerable groups—such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, and individuals with compromised immune systems or pre-existing health conditions—should be cautious as the virus can lead to more severe complications.
- Treatment: There is no specific vaccine or treatment for human coronaviruses like HKU1. Most individuals recover on their own without the need for medical intervention.
- Difference Between HKU1 and COVID-19:
- Both HKU1 and COVID-19 are caused by coronaviruses, but HKU1 generally causes milder illness compared to COVID-19.
- HKU1 is one of the four coronaviruses that are responsible for the common cold, whereas COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, a novel coronavirus that can lead to severe respiratory illness and has triggered a global pandemic.