Indian and Chinese Pangolin are the two species found in South Asia.
Chinese Pangolin is found in the North Eastern part of India and Indian Pangolin is found in the rest of India.
The pangolin is the most trafficked mammal in the world.
It is hunted mainly for meat in India but the demand for its scales in China has made it more vulnerable.
Almost 90% of smuggling of pangolin and pangolin scales is through the northeastern India.
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified Indian Pangolin as Endangered and Chinese Pangolins as Critically endangered.
Conservation of Manuscripts
A Bengaluru-based not-for-profit organization has procured a highly advanced multispectral imaging technology to preserve the vulnerable manuscripts in India.
The technology is used to preserve the manuscripts by capturing their images.
Multispectral imaging can capture texts in manuscripts that are affected by pests, fungus, over written, scribbled, blackened or scraped and cannot be seen with bare eyes.
It uses infrared rays and ultraviolet rays to retrieve texts.
The time span of the texts captured in images are enhanced by a patented technology called the wafer fiche.
Using photo lithography technology, the images are imprinted on silicon wafers.
These imprinted copies can last for thousands of years.
Aero India 2019
Aero India is biennial air show and aviation exhibition held in Bengaluru, India at the Yelahanka Air Force Station.
It is organized by the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Aero India 2019 presents a unique opportunity to highlight and showcase the enormous potential of the Aerospace & Defence industry.
It provides a platform to explore and forge strategic business alliances.
As a prelude to Aero India 2019, Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in association with the Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI) organizes the 12th Aero India International Seminar.
This year the theme of the seminar is “Emerging Frontiers in Aerospace Technologies”.
Seaweed
Seaweeds or Marine macro algae are plant-like organisms that generally live attached to rock or other hard substrata in coastal areas.
Seaweeds are nutritious and will play a major role in food security.
Seaweeds are rich sources of vitamins A and C, and minerals such as Ca, Mg, Zn, Se and Fe.
They also have a high level of vegetable proteins and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.
About 844 seaweed species are reported from India, a country with a coast line of 7,500 km.
Great Indian Horn Bill
A study has found that Great Indian hornbills can adapt to modified habitat.
It is also known as Great piped Hornbill.
It is found mostly in India and also in southwestern China, Bangladesh, western Thailand, mainland Southeast Asia.
The great Indian hornbill lives primarily in evergreen and moist deciduous forests.
It is on Appendix II of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
It is listed as vulnerable because of decreasing populations.
