Illegal sand mining is in complete violation of the Environment Protection Act. Sand mining on floodplains of rivers leads to natural hazards. The issue of licences for sand mining is very strict, and illegal mining must be stamped out with an iron hand.
It is not a party issue, but a national issue... We will crackdown on illegal sand mining. If anything is found, will take action under the Environment Protection Act,” said minister of state for environment Jayanthi Natarajan.

Read more at http://www.asianage.com/india/sand-mining-banned-green-bench-984

Accused of killing over 200 tigers besides thousands of other wildlife species, Chand had opposed levying of charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act on technical grounds.

His counsel, Pramod Kumar Dubey, had said that a MCOCA case is not applicable against Sansar Chand as it was filed as a supplementary charge.

In 2010, the court had granted bail to Sansar Chand. Chand was arrested in June 2005 by Delhi Police from Paharganj area, after which CBI had taken him into custody.

During interrogation Chand had provided several clues to CBI and also pointed to the existence of an organized crime syndicate engaged in a large-scale operation across various wildlife sanctuaries in the country.

In 2005, the agency had chargesheeted him under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), a first against any wildlife criminal.

Read More at

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-17/delhi/40633896_1_poacher-sansar-chand-mcoca-case-organised-crime-act

When the Malayalam month of Karkidakam starts on Wednesday, it’s going to be boom time for ayurveda clinics as the tradition of rejuvenation begins.

And this year, with the copious rains, the low temperature has turned out to be ideal for the special porridge of herbs and cereals and also for the ritual oil massage to keep people healthy for the next full year.

The state government-owned Oushadhi in Thrissur has already come out with 11 varieties of porridge which will be made available at its canteen from 8 am to 8 pm, according to Dr K.S.Rajithan.

The herbs and grain that go to make these porridges which include horsegram, fenugreek and navara rice, help keep the body warm. A doctor will also be around to provide free counselling on the medicinal porridge and other forms of Karkidaka care.

The porridge can trace its roots to the lean season when the monsoon left people with little work. The available rice and cereals were cooked with leafy vegetables, herbs and roots.

During monsoon, the absorption power and immunity of the body are at their lowest and this will have to be supplemented with herbs, medicines and oils which is what this rejuvenation therapy is all about, say ayurveda experts.

Read More at

The 21 voters, all belonging to Scheduled Tribes, argued that mining at the hills would negatively impact their life and impinge on their cultural and religious rights.  The 21 voters, all belonging to Scheduled Tribes, argued that mining at the hills
would negatively impact their life and impinge on their cultural and religious rights.

Read More at

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-25/bhubaneswar/40792556_1_gram-sabha-niyamgiri-hills-forest-rights-act

Singapore seized a shipment of ivory, estimated to be worth 2.5 million Singapore dollars ($1.97 million), in January when it was in transit in Singapore, Xinhua reported.

The tusks were en route to another country from Kenya. They were packed in 65 gunny sacks and falsely declared as waste paper.  

The shipment was the second largest ivory seizure in Singapore since 2002.

Singapore is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and all African and Asian elephants are endangered species under the convention.

International trade in ivory has been banned under the convention since 1989.

In Singapore, the maximum penalty for illegal trade of ivory is a fine of 50,000 Singapore dollars (around $39,400) or imprisonment of up to two years.

Read More at

http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2013/07/25/21--Singapore-sends-1-8-tonnes-of-ivory-back-to-Africa-.html

Zoo Tycoon" allows players to run their own wildlife reserve, on their own or with friends, and find out more about what animals (and zoo guests) like the best. 

Announced at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in June, and therefore part of Microsoft's grandstand Xbox One push, "Zoo Tycoon" is the next game from Frontier Developments, which created animal cuddling game "Kinectimals"
and the theme park themed "Kinect: Disneyland Adventures."

Up to four players can get stuck in to keeping a shared zoo ticking over, and there'll be special challenges that tie in to real-world conservation, breeding, and rehabilitation efforts.

Lions, butterflies, monkeys, rhinos, lemurs and mother and baby elephants are among the first animals confirmed for inclusion through the game's trailer and images. 

Because it's an Xbox One game, it will be able to make use of the new Kinect sensor's voice and motion recognition.

Read More at

http://www.hindustantimes.com/technology/Game-Reviews/Zoo-Tycoon-links-in-with-real-world-conservation/SP-Article1-1093209.aspx