ETV BHARATH MONITORING (EB MONITORING)

The Zoo Outreach Organisation (Zooreach) celebrated World Tiger Beetle Day with a virtual event honoring renowned entomologist Dr. David Pearson. The day, celebrated on Dr. Pearson’s birthday, aimed to raise awareness about these colorful predators and their importance in the ecosystem. Zooreach, along with the South Asian Invertebrate Specialist Group, organized the event to highlight the diversity of tiger beetles in India, which boasts the third highest number of species globally. The event included a talk by Dr. Pearson about his research and a discussion on the conservation efforts needed to protect these fascinating insects. Zooreach emphasized the crucial role tiger beetles play in managing insect populations, including those considered pests to crops. The organization also highlighted the discovery of rare tiger beetle species in Tamil Nadu, underscoring the need for continued research and conservation efforts to protect these “six-legged tigers.”

The Tamil Nadu Forest Department is establishing a Crocodile Conservation Centre at Anaikarai near Kumbakonam to address the growing human-crocodile conflict in the Kollidam River. The ₹2.5 crore project aims to mitigate conflicts, educate local communities about crocodile conservation and human safety, and conduct research on the Mugger crocodile population and its habitat. The centre will include a nature park, a watch tower, and GI chain link mesh fencing in vulnerable areas. The project will also involve awareness campaigns through meetings, street plays, and other publicity modes to educate communities about safe practices and the importance of crocodile conservation. The initiative comes in response to increasing reports of crocodiles preying on livestock and occasionally attacking humans, highlighting the need for a comprehensive approach to managing the conflict and ensuring the safety of both humans and crocodiles.

Perumal Murugan’s acclaimed novel “Maadhorupaagan,” known in English as “One Part Woman,” has been translated into French by Léticia Ibanez and will be published by Gallimard, a prestigious French publishing house, on January 16, 2025. Ibanez, who holds a PhD in Tamil literature, faced several challenges in translating the novel, including the repetition of pronouns and the extensive use of flashbacks in the original Tamil text. She relied on the English translation by Aniruddhan Vasudevan for guidance but ultimately made her own choices, particularly in translating dialogues into colloquial French with a touch of Kongu Tamil dialect. Ibanez also worked closely with Perumal Murugan and other translators to ensure the accuracy and quality of the translation, highlighting the collaborative nature of the process. She expressed her hope that the French translation will be well-received by readers and do justice to the work of all involved in its publication.