Environment & Ecology JULY Week-1

Nipah virus

The Nipah virus infection is a newly emerging zoonosis, that is, a disease transmitted from animals to humans as stated by the WHO. The virus belongs to a new genus termed Henipavirus (subfamily Paramyxovirinae).

It was first reported in 1998 at Kampung Sungai Nipah village, Malaysia. So virus is named after this village.

The natural host of the virus are fruit bats (Pteropus giganteus) belonging to the family Pteropodidae. 

In 2004, humans were affected after eating the date palm contaminated by infected fruit bats. Pigs can also act as intermediate hosts.

Natural host are those animals in which pathogens reside naturally and not infecting them. Here they grows upto a certain stage of their life cycle.

Intermediate hosts are those in which pathogens reside and not causing harm to them and here they are in inactive state i.e not growing further.

Primary host are those in which pathogens reside and infect them causing severe medical implications. Here these pathogens further mature sexually and reproduce within host' s body.

A reservoir host can harbour a pathogen indefinitely with no ill effects.

For Example- 

Fruit bats (Pteropus giganteus) are natural host of Nipah virus.

Pigs can be intermediate host.

Humans are primary host or definitive host.

Prosopis juliflora
A thorny, invasive alien species locally (in Vernacular) known as Seemai karuvelam in Tamil.
Farmers of Thoothikudi Districts uses its wood to make charcoal that provides them sustenance, however court recently ruled to cut it down because of its invasive nature.

Quick facts
It is native to Mexico, South America and the Caribbean.
It is a shrub.

Bhitarkanika National Park-  IUCN category 2 for national parks.

Located in Kendrapara District, Odisha

Established as national park 1998

Bhitarkanika represented by 3 protected areas:-

1. Bhitarkanika national park
2. Bhitarkanika wildlife sactuary
3. Gahirmatha marine sanctuary (in 2002)

4 Rivers are inundating the sanctuary Baitarani, Dharma, Brahmani and Pathsala.

it is second largest Ecosystem of Mangroves in India.

It is home of Estuarine Crocodile or Salt water Crocodile having Endangered status By IUCN.

It is one of largest heronry grounds of water Birds.

JIM CORBETT National park

Located in Nainital district, Uttarakhand, established in 1936 as HAILEY NATIONAL PARK.

Its is first and oldest national park of India, established to protect Endangered Bengal Tigers and was first to come under project tiger initiative.

Koala Bear

it is a pouched mammal belonging to Marsupials.

status IUCN = Vulnerable

it shows Exceptional parental care and feeding habit.

In news because of its whole genome has been decoded. it has 26,000 functional genes.

a gene identified as P450 gene which aids in its unusual and exceptional feeding habits because it helps to detoxify Eucalyptus leaves, otherwise it is poisonous to other animals.

its milk contain antimicrobial contents which helps to infants in their growth.