Maintain a positive attitude
We always aspire to succeed in life, and without a positive attitude nobody can reach the desired goal. So we are to utilise every moment of our life in fulfilment, and our entire mindset should be focused on the present moment. It is categorically said that yesterday was a dream, today is reality, and tomorrow will be vision. That is why we must rely on today only, and the works done today will impact upon our yesterday and tomorrow. This life is precious, and we must leave no stone unturned to make it worth living. For this purpose, a definite goal is to be targeted and take into mind that the sky is the limit while moving ahead with a positive outlook and never falling prey to negativity. Self-confidence is key to success and a boon to a happy life, which is the aim of every human being. There is nothing more enviable than happiness, as stated by mathematician-turned-philosopher Bertrand Russell, and a happy one is above all earthly desires. Happy are those people whose desires are a few acres away. Happiness and success are twins, and both cannot be achieved at the cost of the other. So, our goal should be to live successfully as well as happily, and then only our life will be fruitful.
Benudhar Das
Galiahati- No.2
Barpeta
Zero tolerance for encroachment
The ongoing massive eviction drive to free 1,038 bighas of forest land from encroachers at Paikan Reserve Forest in Goalpara district as per the Assam Forests Regulations Act, 1891, which we have come to learn from the news article published in your esteemed daily on July 13, has not only delighted us, but the addictively committed action of the state government has once again proved that it will not at all compromise with illegal encroachers and their constructions on reserve forest lands. The state CM must be appreciated for his bold, determined, and visionary action, which was overdue for the sorry state of our forests. Assam's forest cover has decreased by over 83 sq km between 2021 and 2023. According to the latest report, there has been a decrease of 83.92 sq km of forest and tree cover across the state. Till recently, the scenario of the Reserve Forest (RFs) and Proposed Reserve Forest (PRFs) was the worst in the state. The ecologists feel that the native forests need to be pooled with commercial plantations, which have very limited value for endangered biodiversity. If we are really serious about checking rising pollution levels and impacting climatic conditions, we have to prevent forest cover from shrinking. What we need to do is to raise our voices against the grabbing of burdened forests by private companies for industrial plantations, which would not be healthy for our country's natural forests as well as its climate commitment. Let us hope that Assam will retain more and more dense forest cover that accounts for the region's famed wildlife and overall biodiversity in the coming days.
Iqbal Saikia,
Guwahati.
Elusive caracal spotted
The elusive "caracal" was recently spotted in the fenced cheetah closed area at the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in the Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh. Camera traps captured the adult wild cat, and it only means the "Cheetah Project" is aiding the biodiversity revival through the sighting of endangered animals.
Caracal spotting also implies that the ecosystem at the Gandhi Sagar sanctuary is robust, besides reviving research efforts. Native to a few African nations, caracals are documented to be present in Central Asia, Pakistan, and parts of India. The wildcat is included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
In India, the caracal is listed in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat are the states that can boast of sighting the rare cat. A 2023 report said that about 50 caracals were present in small clusters in Gujarat's Kutch and Rajasthan.
Tufted ears, black facial markings, and sandy brown coats characterise these medium-sized cats, which are also splendid hunters with an astounding leaping ability. A decline in their numbers is a mystery for experts because habitat encroachment does not seem to be a major issue. Diseases could be a major factor, wildlife experts aver.
Dr Ganapathi Bhat
(gbhat13@gmail.com)