Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba in the late Holocene.
Coral reefs in the gulf of Eilat have undergone an unexpected 3,000-year hiatus or stagnation in growth, between 4,400 and 1,000 years ago.
It was probably because of a low sea level that might have been caused by cooling of the earth.
Although this took a very long time, the reef has finally been restored and the coral species come back, appearing in deeper waters, which proves the natural strength.
There was amazing consistency in coral diversity and abundance before and after the hiatus.
Faunal survey of Parambikulam TR.
The Forest Department has conducted a faunal survey of the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in Palakkad and has added 15 species to the checklist in the reserves.
A total of 206 bird species were listed in the survey.
The new additions total into 302 species of birds in the reserve.
The reserve also had five additional butterfly species added to the checklist.
These additions increase the number of species of butterflies in the reserve to 273.
In addition, 39 species of odonates, including three new ones, have been discovered in the survey.
They are adding 69 species to the odonate checklist of the reserve.
CPCB report on Ganga water
In Prayagraj, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has also expressed concern over the presence of high faecal coliform bacteria in the Ganga and Yamuna rivers.
According to a report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), faecal bacteria was found to be very high at different stages along the two rivers around Sangam in Prayagraj.
Water contamination with faecal coliform was caused by the combination of human or livestock excreta.
Its levels measure the quality of the water and serve to check the presence of bacteria that cause diseases.
The overall level of coliform (faecal and otherwise) in the Ganga was observed to be approximately 1,400 times higher than the normal.
In the Yamuna they were 660 times greater at some places in Prayagraj.
In 2004 a committee established by the ministry of urban development recommended that the preferred faecal coliform limit must be 500 MPN/100ml.
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater.
Aandivilai near the Manakudy Mangroves in the Kanniyakumari