May 28, 2008
· Filed under Uncategorized
From The Indian Express
The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Guwahati has confirmed that pesticide caused the death of a tiger cub in a tea estate near Kaziranga National Park in January this year.
According to R P Gohain, director of the FSL, lab tests found pesticide residues in the carcass the tiger cub had eaten before its death in the Rongagora division of Hatikhuli, a tea estate owned by Tata Tea Ltd. “We have found quite a high concentration of pesticide in the cattle carcass on which the tiger cub had fed,” Gohain said.
A second tiger cub that also consumed part of the carcass survived and is currently lodged in the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation at Kaziranga.
May 28, 2008
· Filed under International · Tagged attacks, Italy, racial-hatred, xenophobia
Fears of rising intolerance towards migrants in Italy grew after a group armed with sticks went on the rampage in a multi-ethnic Rome neighbourhood, smashing shop windows and hurling abuses.
In the 10-minute blitz on Saturday, the group of between 10-20 men attacked a food shop owned by an Indian and two stores operated by Bangladeshis, disappearing before police arrived. The assault comes as Silvio Berlusconi’s administration launches a crackdown on illegal immigration, and days after a mob firebombed Gypsy camps in Naples. Last month, crowds at Rome’s town hall welcomed newly-elected mayor Gianni Alemanno with fascist salutes.
Mr. Alemanno, a former neo-fascist, was voted in after promising to expel 20,000 migrants from Rome he said had broken the law.
On Sunday, he said he was “outraged” by the attack and promised “exemplary punishment for the guilty.” Opposition politician Piero Fassino spoke of “an unbelievable wave of racist violence that can only provoke horror.”
The Pigneto neighbourhood, where the attack took place, is a traditionally working-class area, recently settled in by migrants as well as students and artists. It has a reputation for peaceful coexistence, although locals said the assailants were probably from the area. The police said trouble began earlier in the day with a row between an Italian man and a migrant over stolen money.
“Italy is not a racist country,” said Interior Minister Roberto Maroni of the anti-immigrant Northern League party.
“Episodes of this kind are sometimes inflamed by crimes committed by illegal immigrants,” he said.
Also on Saturday, Cristian Floris, who works for a gay website in Rome, was assaulted outside his house by two men. — © Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2008
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May 28, 2008
· Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged fire, Hyderabad, slums
HYDERABAD: At least 50 huts were destroyed in a fire accident at Filmnagar on Tuesday afternoon leaving many families homeless. However, no one was injured in the incident.
Six fire tenders were rushed to the spot after receiving a call around 2.30 p.m. and put-off the flames within an hour. Fire could have caused due to electrical short-circuit in a hut abutting an electrical pole and then flames spread to other houses, said District Fire Officer G. V. Narayana Rao.
© Copyright 2000 – 2008 The Hindu
May 24, 2008
· Filed under bodies-of-law · Tagged animal-rights spca Performing-Animals-Rules tamil-nadu
From here
in safe hands: The camel brought to the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at Vepery in Chennai on Friday.
CHENNAI: A camel and its caretaker found on Kamarajar Salai were brought to the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Vepery by police officials, after they found that the caretaker did not have the required certificates for keeping the animal.
The caretaker of the seized camel was produced before the XXII metropolitan magistrate mobile court and fined Rs. 150.
The animal is now at the SPCA and is cared for by the organisation.
The SPCA has received a letter from the secretary of Animal Welfare Board of India that two dozen camels had been brought into the city from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh for joy ride at places such as the Marina Beach, the island ground exhibition and Retteri near Padi.
The SPCA has been instructed to verify if the animal owner/caretaker has the valid transportation certificate as per rule 96 of Transport of Animal Rules, 2001, fitness certificate from a registered veterinary doctor in Chennai, if they are sheltered properly with provision for feed, fodder and water, if the animals are used during day time and if the owners/caretakers have registered the animals as per the provision of the Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2001.
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