IndiaWilds Newsletter Vol. 10 Issue VII

Climate Change: Pushing towards Noah’s Ark

IndiaWilds Newsletter – July 2018

While the leaders of many countries are busy rabble rousing and erecting walls across their borders, the fact that the future of mankind is in grave danger is virtually forgotten.

59 scientists from 17 countries sieved through past data on temperatures of earth from three warm periods in the previous three and half million years in which the temperature of earth was anywhere between half to two degrees above the pre-industrial revolution temperatures of the 19th century and have projected that sea levels can rise by six meters more than what the current climate based models have predicted for 2100. This research findings have been published in Nature Geoscience (Palaeoclimate constraints on the impact of 2 °C anthropogenic warming and beyond, Fisher Hubertus et al., Nature Geoscience volume 11, July 2018)

The scientists found that during the sustained warmer periods in the past the impact on the ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctic was massive. Our current models had got this data wrong and the sea levels during that time was much higher.

The researchers now closely examine three documented warm periods viz the Holocene thermal maximum, the last interglacial and the mid-Pliocene phase. These periods were 5000-9000 years ago, 1.16 lakh to 1.29 lakh years ago and 30 lakh to 33 lakh years ago respectively.

According to scientists the Holocene thermal maximum (5k-9k yrs ago) and last interglacial (1.16lakh to 1.29 lakh yrs ago) were caused by changes which occurred to the earths orbit. The mid-Pliocene era had witnessed carbon concentrations in the air which is comparable to modern era. However, it would also be pertinent to mention that all the three era had witnessed slower rate of global warming with the greenhouse gas emissions by our modern lifestyles being the differentiator.

The fact that sea level will rise by 6 meters (19.68 feet) means most of our coastal areas and cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai etc will be drowned. Many countries in the pacific will be completely submerged. So this is really shocking news because the debate about containing the temperature rise to 2 degrees have made lot of people believe that it is just a small number and mean nothing much. Some Government leaders even mistakenly believe that the 2 degrees rise means fiddling with some buttons more in the indoor Air conditioners. The complexity of the impact across ecosystems and the magnitude of the impact on the melting of sea ice and the final rise in sea levels is mind numbing and clearly needs to be told to the leaders like Trump who either don’t believe Climate Change or other leaders of developed countries who are simply shirking away from their responsiblity.

There would be a few conglomerates who are dependent on fossil fuels and they will try to protect their interests by denouncing this study. However, it would be foolish to do that. The Arctic is literally burning. In July, 2018 there have been confirmed reports of 11 wildfires in the Arctic Circle. The Scandinavian countries of Norway, Sweden, Finland and parts of Russia is also witnessing forest fires. They are resorting to using planes for dropping water to contain the forest fires.

(Image credit: TT News Agency/Maja Suslin via REUTERS)

Several years ago my trip to Artic Circle in Finland had got derailed due to delay in winter and very less snow. Still it was unthinkable for me to take off my gloves and shoot. In a few years the same places getting wildfires shows how bad the situation has been. Scientists may argue over their models, however, for the people living there the signs are unmistakable.

The spectre of climate change is already impacting USA whose political leadership is now discrediting it. Already many coastal towns in USA are feeling the impact of rising sea levels. The challenge is that this rising sea levels will hit us in unexpected manner. For eg. many internet data cables were rolled out in USA along the coast roads which were never imagined to go undersea. Now with this huge rise in sea levels, the first impact would be massive disruptions to the data cables which will immediately hit the internet. With our lifestyles so integrated and dependent on internet, the disruption will just bring us to standstill. There is no Option B which have been planned at that time. So consequences will be severe.

So the global leaders should urgently call a new post-Paris summit to take these numbers into consideration and admit that the carbon budget to avoid 2 °C warming of earth is completely inadequate. So a new framework and responsibilities need to be drawn on an urgent basis. Unfortunately, who will educate these leaders who simply refuse to protect our tomorrow?

Closer home: A Tale of Three Cities – Blinkered vision

Whereas one may lead to believe that the global leaders, especially those of the developed world, are to be blamed. However, our homegrown leaders too have blinkered vision as far as climate change and its impact is concerned.

Our current Prime Minister Mr Modi may have joked about climate change being felt only by the elderly people and laughed off such a serious issue. However, it is the scant attention paid by the Chief Ministers of various states and the authorities which is making the impact worse.

Climate change is like AIDS. It hits based on whichever area/systems/process is weak. In his seminal book The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable (https://www.indiawilds.com/diary/the-great-derangement-climate-change-and-the-unthinkable/) Amitav Ghosh correctly points out that the modern planning is exacerbating the impact of climate change. Man always had a degree of fear and reverence for the sea. Though people used to go to the sea for fishing or for traveling to distant lands, they never built large settlements very close to the sea. “The great old port cities of Europe, like London, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Stockholm, Lisbon and Hamburg, are all protected from the open ocean by bays, estuaries, or deltaic river systems. The same is true of old Asian ports: Cochin, Surat, Tamluk, Dhaka, Mrauk-U, Guangzhoud, Hangzhou and Malacca are all cases in point. It is as if, before the modern era, there had existed a general acceptance that provision had to be made for the unpredictable furies of the ocean – tsunamis, storm surges and the like”. However, today, a number of our major cities are built close to the sea and further expansion happens by reclaiming land. To make matters worse the cities like Bombay, Calcutta, Madras etc. were designed to cater to a far less number of people. Unfortunately, due to lack of planning as well as lopsided growth of our country, our cities are becoming bigger and bigger. So the civic infrastructure is crumbling. The drainage system which was originally designed for a far lesser number of people has to cater to a much larger number of residents. And the green areas have all been concretised. The wetlands have been reclaimed. So when there is rain the water can’t simply drain into the river or sea or absorbed through percolation into the ground in the marshy areas.

Despite the Mumbai rains of 2005 leading to lot of planning, the projects have failed to be completed. So every year during rains, Mumbai cries. Amitav Ghosh in his book correctly raises the bleak scenario of the city facing a major storm, as storms are becoming the norm due to climate change. He asks “What might happen if a Category 4 or 5 storm, with 240 kmph or higher wind speeds, were to run directly into Mumbai?” “Many of Mumbai’s tall buildings have large glass windows; few, if any, are reinforced. In a cyclone, these exposed expanses of glass will have to withstand not just hurricane-strength winds but also flying debris. Many of the dwellings in Mumbai’s informal settlements have roofs made of metal sheets and corrugated iron; cyclone-force winds will turn these, and the thousands of billboards that encrust the city, into deadly projectiles, hurling them with great force at the glass-wrapped towers that soar above the city”.

However, the Government in this State in the West Coast of India as well as Central Government doesn’t seem to be overtly concerned as there is more discussion on creating the worlds tallest statue in the middle of Arabian Sea by reclaiming land. The statue of Shivaji riding a horse with sword in hand is hoped to be a more emotive issue for the state and influence vote banks rather than securing the future of the residents of Mumbai.

For the last few years the hashtags #MumbaiRains along with #ChennaiRains trend during the rainy season. Despite a few thousand kilometres separating these two metros and both lying in different coasts, life in both these two cities come to a standstill during the rains. The Government in this southern state of Tamil Nadu too has other pressing things in mind than climate change as the Government is trying to somehow hold on to power. When survival of the Government is at stake who cares for Climate Change?

A month or so ago heat waves were killing people in Odisha in the eastern Coast of India and now its capital city Bhubaneshwar is drowning. Such rapid change of climate from one extreme to another is throwing life into tatters. On 22^nd July morning, people in Odisha woke up to the news that Odisha had recorded an average rainfall in the state of 81.3mm in 24 hours with the highest being in the town of Burla in western Odisha where it rained 622mm. This had broken the 36year old record of Odisha, reminding many of us of a time when Odisha had witnessed massive floods in the rivers with trains and road traffic disrupted and many lives and livelihoods lost forever.

Unlike some other states Odisha has got a stable government with Chief Minister Naveen Pattanaik ruling the state for 4 terms. His Government had shown admirable efficiency in handling the super cyclone Phailin a few years ago. However, when a few days ago the city was flooded with cars being washed away, it was not a sign of a smart city.

Like all other State Governments, the Odisha State Government too hasn’t focused on urban planning. The capital city of Bhubaneshwar has grown in all directions and have virtually touched Cuttack and Khordha. The 26 km distance between Bhubaneshwar and Cuttack was divided by river and wetlands. However, there have been rapid land reclamation and concretisation. Many years ago when the National Highway between Bhubaneshwar and Cuttack was four-laned there were reports of hyenas found in the area and beaten to death by the road workers. There were also reports of leopard, jackals etc. Now all we see is concrete jungle on both sides of the road. Earlier the wetlands used to absorb the rainwaters. Now when it rains, there is no place for the water to go. So flooding is the natural consequence.

With Climate Change, the incidences of sudden heavy rainfalls will be more frequent. Since human greed, lack of planning coupled with authorities often turning a blind eye to the real estate mafia encroaching and reclaiming wetlands, the channels for rainwater is closed. The State Government will have uphill task to recreate a drainage system. We don’t have much hopes given the pace at which the bureaucracy works and the corruption and lack of planning in the system. The situation in other cities and states in India is similar. So urban flooding is there to stay. Soon there will be time when people will be forced to abandon the big cities and start moving away to smaller places. Not everyone can take that option. There will be mayhem.

Conservation News:

Inter-state Tiger Relocation to Satkosia faces headwinds:

A male tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) have been relocated to Satkosia tiger reserve from Kanha Tiger Reserve on 21^st June 2018. This is the first incident of tiger relocation across states. Till date tiger relocation has been within a particular state. This is the first instance of a state agreeing to relocate its tigers to another state. The male tiger code named MB-2 is reported to have settled in well. So a week later on 28^th June, a 27 month old tigress code named T-412 have been sent from Bandhavgarh to Satkosia.

The plan was to relocate three pairs of tigers to Satkosia in two years time. However, the future of this relocation project is not known as the locals have staged a massive protested in Angul in front of the district collectors residence under the banner of Satkosia Khatigrasta Surakhya Samiti. The locals fear that their livestock will be destroyed by the tigers. They accuse the authorities of closing certain roads inside the forest. They have even threatened to kill the tiger if their demands have not been met. These fears have been partially fuelled by vested interests who have spread the rumours that these tigers are known to attack people. The villages in and around Satkosia are used to hunting. Even today one can get Sambar meat is sold in Balanga, Tikarpada, Purunakote and a few other villages. Introducing tigers also leads to a fear element for the poachers who enter into the forest to set traps. The forest department has to up their game to prevent poaching and nabbing the culprits.

Taking note of the demonstrations by people, the Madhya Pradesh Government has reportedly put the relocation project on hold. The third tiger which was to be shifted to Satkosia from Kanha is now being shifted to Sanjay Duburi National Park instead.

Though Satkosia has been declared as a Tiger Reserve, there are number of villages inside the forest. Earlier the preybase had depleted due to rampant poaching and anthropogenic pressures. In 2013 during an all night vigil in the labangi watch tower in core area resulted in sightings of a grand total of three herbivores and that too one each of Sambar, spotted deer and barking deer. Later a tiger from Satkosia wandered faraway from its home and entered into the Nandankanan Zoo where it was trapped and kept despite protests from conservationists.

The preybase in Satkosia now has reportedly bounced back. Nevertheless the grazing of cattle still continues and the villages are there. Relocation of villages is a time consuming affair and it needs money and will power. These days there is a concerted effort to grab land. The cost of land is increasing. The villages also have schools and other facilities inside the forests. So the villagers want to remain within the forest. Unlike the past when the number of people in each village was less and people used to coexist with wildlife, today the population of people has grown exponentially. The standard of living has also increased and the way of life has changed. So has their beliefs in peacefully coexisting with wildlife. So conflict is inevitable. If the Satkosia Tiger Reserve authorities and the Odisha Government back down then this will be the end of Satkosia as a tiger reserve.

The authorities have to do a massive PR exercise to educate people the benefits of having tigers in a forest as that would attract more tourist revenue. There is already a programme to have tourists inside the reserve with the participation of local people. However, people need to be told that the number of tourists will increase and the income of people is likely to go up. If there is any livestock killing then the forest department will immediately provide compensation. More of local people should be taken under contract as watchers. That would provide them employment as well as help in securing the forests.

The Odisha Government have to assure the Madhya Pradesh Government that he safety of the tigers will be ensured and the tiger relocation programme should be restarted.

Plan to Kill Jackals in Kolkata Airport:

The Kolkata airports authority plans to kill the jackals found in the Kolkata airport. The Jackals are protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and any such move need to get prior approval from the wildlife board. However, in the past few years getting approval to kill wildlife under the pretext of crop depredation or threat to humans have been easy and leopards, tigers, nilgai, monkeys, wild boars etc have been routinely killed.

There are an estimated 100 jackals in the airport. Given the porous walls of the airport, it is easy for them to sneak in. Jackals also can dig burrows under the wall and enter into the airport. Jackals are intelligent animals and the traps laid in the airport have failed to capture them. They are highly territorial and if they are captured and relocated, then they will increase the conflict in the area where they were relocated and will always try to comeback.

The noise and vibration due to flights taking off or landing will ensure that the jackals will not be on the runway. However, the jackals have been reportedly sighted close to the runway areas so the airport authorities want to remove them. Till date there have been no behavioural studies done on jackals. Instead of killing them it would be important to radio collar a few of them and study their movement patterns and interpolate with the flight take off and landing. That will give a very good idea about the jackals and if they are going to be a potential threat to flight operations in the airports.

Massive Ground water depletion in India:

Many civilisations have perished due to lack of water. Entire cities had been deserted by people when suddenly a river changed its course or dried due to successive droughts. Our modern cities and towns have grown exponentially and the water harvesting structures are not a focus area these days. The various municipal corporations allow extraction of ground water and charge the industries accordingly. However, the efforts to replenish the ground water levels is few and far between. This has now shown up in the data of Centra Ground Water board (CGWB).

While answering a question in the Lok Sabha the Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Minister of Water Resources has replied that the water levels in close to 61% of wells in India has fallen between the 2007 and 2017 levels. The CGWB had studied the water levels in 14,465 wells out of which the water level fell in 8785 wells. The water levels rose only in 5609 wells and there was no change in 71 wells. Pondicherry and Chandigarh showed maximum reduction in ground water levels with bewte 90-100% of wells showing decline. Tamil Nadu wells showed 87% reduction which was followed by Punjab with 85% reduction and Kerala, AP and UP showed atleast 70% decline.

Though the number of wells surveyed is a miniscule percentage of the total number of wells in this vast country, it is a good indicator of the overall health of the ground water level in India.

The minister had said that extraction of ground water for irrigation is the major reason for the groundwater depletion. The Minister for Water resources, Mr Meghwal then went on to blame the individual states “While regulation and conservation of ground water is a state subject, the central government is carrying out awareness camps at locations where over exploitation has been identified, both at the urban and rural levels through several schemes. We are telling citizens to harvest rainwater through traditional means”.

Unfortunately, there is little synchronisation between the Agriculture Ministry and the Water resources ministry. The Agriculture Ministry’s expert panel had earlier found that though the States like Punjab, Haryana are supposed to have high per acre productivity of rice, when their productivity vis-à-vis water use is compared they are found to be water guzzlers.

The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices in its report titled “Price Policy for Kharif Crops, The Marketing Season 2016-2017” clearly states the fact that Paddy Cultivation in Punjab is not water efficient. (page 33)

“Land productivity, i.e. production per unit of area, reflects only one dimension and ignores natural resource like water, which is becoming scarce. Punjab has the highest rice productivity (39.29 qtl/ha), followed by Haryana (32.12 qtl/ha) and Andhra Pradesh (30.45 qtl/ha). The per hectare water use by irrigation in these states is 161.78 lakh litre in Punjab followed by Tamil Nadu (137.50 lakh litre) and Uttar Pradesh (102.00 lakh litre). As against these states, per hectare water use by irrigation in Assam, West Bengal and Bihar is 50 lakh litre, 59.86 lakh litre and 66 lakh litre, respectively. If water consumption is measured in terms of per kilogram of rice, West Bengal becomes the most efficient state which consumes 2169 litre to produce one kg of rice, followed by Assam (2432 litre) and Karnataka (2635 litre). The water use is high in Punjab (4118 litre), Tamil Nadu (4557 litre) and Uttar Pradesh (4384 litre). It shows that the most efficient state in terms of land productivity is not necessarily the most efficient if irrigation water is factored into. This is because of high rainfall in the eastern region. Given that water tables in various states are depleting very fast, there is an urgent need to improve water use efficiency.

The country’s farm sector alone accounts for 83 percent of total water use. It is, therefore, imperative to augment the water productivity. Subsidizing electricity for agriculture in some states leads to its over use. The Commission in its previous report recommended metering electricity/water for their efficient use and reward farmers through cash incentive equivalent to unused units of water/power at the rates of their domestic resource costs. The Commission reiterates direct interventions in order to encourage the farmers to adopt water efficient practices like drip and sprinkler irrigation.” (For more check: https://www.indiawilds.com/diary/deadly-delhi-smog-agricultural-policy/ )

The Union Government has to wake up to this massive groundwater depletion and immediately implement water harvesting as well as bring out changes in agriculture by ensuring that procurement of water guzzling crops will only be done based on water efficiency and from climatically suitable states. That will put an end to arid or semi-arid areas using water from canals and groundwater to grow water intensive crops and go back to crops that are more suitable to their own areas. A mix of legislation, awareness, change in cropping pattern will be a big help.

Fishponds and Excavation work threatening Chilika Lake:

Chilika lake which has a minimum surface area of 900 sq. kms is India’s largest brackish water lake and also it hosts the largest number of migratory birds in winter. It is also a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar convention. Unfortunately, the fragile ecosystem of Chilika lake is now threatened due to the large scale construction of fish ponds and other excavation work in the villages dotting its shoreline.

These fish pond constructions are supposed to increase the fish production and hence expected to enhance the livelihood options of people living in the area. However, these largescale excavations have a huge impact on flora and fauna species of Chilika lake and no systematic studies or impact assessments have been conducted.

It would be pertinent to mention that there had been interventions in Chilika lake earlier like opening of a second mouth to the sea primarily from the perspective of increasing fish productivity. So smaller excavations at many locations in the villages may have either gone unnoticed or may have been dismissed as trivial without examination. There has been no studies done to examine the impact of these largescale excavations.

According to Wild Orissa, an NGO working to save the fragile ecosystem of Chilika lake as well as other wilderness areas of Odisha, “the Northern Sector is the largest and also the shallowest area in Chilika with diversified flora of both emergent and submergent types. It is primarily a freshwater zone and the abundance of phytoplankton is comparatively poor here. In the Northern Sector, the major macrophytes weighed for biomass studies were Phragmites karka, Potamogeton pectinatus, Potamogeton natans, Eichhornia crassipes, Schoenoplectus littoralis, Hydrilla verticilata, Vallisneria sp. Among them Phragmites karka was the most dominant species. In 43 species, the number of birds recorded exceeded their 1% biogeographical population. The role of Chilka in maintaining the global population of major wintering waterfowl and wader species of India was recognized through population estimates of individual species.”

The role of waterfowl in the fisheries of Chilika is often not understood and hence goes unappreciated by people. Birds feed on the plants and their guano helps in nutrient recycling. Birds feed on the vegetation and this helps to maintain the fresh sprouting of tender shoots and leaves with rich proteins and also control the excessive growth which in turn decomposes faster. This fresh growth benefits the fish and invertebrates. Thinning of vegetation by the waterbirds also enables the free movement of fish in dense vegetation area as well. The guano of the birds helps to recycle the nutrients back to the ecosystem. The amount of guano deposited into the Chilka ecosystem by the waterfowl (ducks and geese) is estimated to be around 33.8 tons of Nitrogen and 10.5 tons of Phosphorus, which could be the major factor for the high biomass production of macrophytes and the lucrative fisheries of Chilka.

This delicate balance of vegetation, birds, fishes and other invertebrates is going to be destroyed due to the large scale excavations. Since many bird species nest in these vegetation and/or use these thickets for resting, the excavation work is going to immediately threaten their numbers as well as their breeding. There have been previous instances of large scale fishpond constructions in Krushnaprasad and Brahmagiri Blocks of Chilika Lake in Puri District which had resulted in loss of habitat for birds and many other species including Fishing Cat, Otters, etc. Recently construction of “fish ponds” and excavation works is happening in Bhusandpur, Sundarpur, Mangalajodi, etc. areas of Chilika. Large scale machinery is being used for excavation and other earth works.

Alarmed by these large scale excavations Wild Orissa has petitioned the Hon’ble Chief Minister to immediately order the constructions to be stopped. Permission for any such fishpond construction should be given only after conducting a through Biodiversity impact assessment. This should be a wakeup call for the Government to set up minimum norms for conducting fisheries and aquaculture in Chilika lake so that the delicate ecosystem is not harmed. The Government should also support long-term multi-disciplinary research on the overall biodiversity of Chilika so that any emerging threat to this fragile ecosystem can be tackled before it reaches alarming proportions. We hope the Odisha Government will immediately take action to protect the Chilika lake from this big threat.

High end tourism to start in Lakshadweep Islands:

Indian Government is planning to develop 12 islands in Lakshadweep and is planning entry to these islands to only high-end tourists. The number of tourists will be contained to ensure that the tourism pressure doesn’t harm the ecologically fragile islands. The tourists who can only visit these islands on prior bookings will be give unrestricted access to the entire islands. Parts of the islands will be cordoned off to ensure segregation of locals from the tourists.

The Government is reportedly planning to create capacity of 150 rooms in the first phase in association with Private partnership. These will come up both in human habitated as well as uninhabitated islands. A majority of this ie 84 rooms would be in the islands of Bangaram and Suheli. The work in the first phase will start in Minicoy, Kadmat, Agatti, Chetlat, Bitra, Bangaram, Thinakarra, Cheriyan, Suheli and Kalpeni island.

According to the plan resort owners who exceed their allocated quota of rooms would be penalised and their licences would be cancelled to ensure that there is no crowding of resorts in the islands. However this is easier said than done. Especially since these islands are so far from the mainland, any violations of rules as well as destruction of the fragile ecosystem of the coral islands is difficult to monitor. A seaplane service is also reportedly in the offing.

Equipment Discussions:

Nikon Launches 24-3000 mm superzoom compact camera:

The Nikon Coolpix P1000 has a massive 125x zoom corresponding to 24-3000mm in 35mm terms. As a wildlife filmmaker and photographer we are always limited by our focal length. At times despite our longest telephoto lens and TCs the subject is far away and something interesting is happening or identification of the species is difficult. Nikon P1000 promises to resolve that problem. That is the single most important reason to keep this camera in your bag. We haven’t tested this camera to know how good the quality of the files are. Nevertheless, it would be an interesting bet for specific situations.

Massive 125x Zoom:

With an incredible 125X optical zoom (24-3000mm equivalent) powered by high performance NIKKOR optics; the P1000 is the ideal companion camera for birding, sports, wildlife and celestial-photographers seeking superior performance from extreme distances. Beyond its incredible zoom range, the versatile 16-megapixel COOLPIX P1000 captures 4K UHD video and offers a myriad of manual controls, as well as user-friendly functions including built-in Wi-Fi1 and Bluetooth2 connectivity, letting photographers of all levels explore and share their creativity.

“The COOLPIX P1000 is the first of its kind for a compact digital camera,” said Jay Vannatter, Executive Vice President, Nikon Inc. “It raises the bar for superzoom cameras and is a testament to our commitment to delivering innovative tools that offer creative freedom to capture and allow users to share their unique visions of the world.”

Powerful Optics:

The COOLPIX P1000 incorporates state-of-the-art NIKKOR technology, designed with ED and Super ED lens elements, boasts the world’s most powerful3 125X optical zoom lens (24-3000mm f/2.8-8) and 250X Dynamic Fine Zoom4, equivalent to a staggering 6000mm from macro to extreme distances. This powerful zoom range gives the P1000 the versatility to chronicle an adventure filled vacation, capture a favorite ballplayer from the top tier of a stadium or fill the frame with celestial objects like the moon, that normally only a telescope could reach.

To handle such extreme distances, the camera is equipped with the latest Nikon EXPEED image processing system and Dual Detect Optical VR technology for 5-stops5 of camera shake compensation that help capture sharp images and reduce blur. Featuring a 16-megapixel back-side illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor and expanded ISO range up to 6400, the P1000 affords users the versatility to capture superior image quality even under challenging lighting conditions. The COOLPIX P1000 also boasts a variety of high-speed features including a quick start-up and fast Autofocus (AF) system, making it an ideal choice for capturing action from the sidelines of your kid’s soccer game or from an adventure-packed safari. Additionally, whether capturing a ballplayer sliding into home plate or photographing a bird in flight from afar, users will feel confident finding, tracking and capturing these far-away subjects using the camera’s snap-back zoom feature which temporarily expands the field of view for super-telephoto shots.

Versatility Ignites Creativity

The COOLPIX P1000 makes it easier than ever for photographers to express their personal creativity. Through its host of manual functions and RAW (NRW) image output, the P1000 is great for advanced users seeking precise control from point of capture to post-production. The COOLPIX P1000 offers an innovative control layout complete with a function button, command dial and mode dial to bring frequently used functions to a photographer’s fingertips.

Additionally, the camera includes a focus mode selector that can be used to change the focus mode and a control ring that allows for the adjustment of settings such as the white balance and manual focus. Photographers will find the camera’s built-in 2.3-million dot OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) helpful when composing their shot, while the Vari-Angle 3.2-inch 921K-dot TFT LCD display is ideal for capturing challenging angles like framing a performer on a concert stage.

The COOLPIX P1000 offers numerous picture controls, creative modes and filter effects to help photographers bring their creative vision to life. Whether capturing the night sky or a bird perched on a tree branch, users can take advantage of the camera’s designated scene modes, such as Moon Mode and Bird Watching Mode, to automatically adjust settings to deliver brilliant results in a variety of environments. While amazing for extreme zoom, the COOLPIX P1000 also supports versatile shooting scenarios like capturing macro images from as close as 1 cm away. Beyond mastering still photography from both near and far, the P1000 is also capable of incredible 4K UHD video with stereo audio recording and time-lapse effects to further expand artistic expression. Lastly, with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, images will transfer automatically to a photographer’s compatible mobile device so family and friends can view stunning vacation moments or epic shots of the night sky in real time.

New Accessory: Bluetooth Connected Remote

The new COOLPIX P1000 is equipped with an accessory terminal and an accessory shoe that supports a wide variety of compatible devices, including external Nikon Speedlights. To bring more capabilities and creative control to photographers, Nikon also announced the new ML-L7 Bluetooth connected remote as another optional accessory available for the COOLPIX P1000. The ML-L7 Bluetooth connected remote control expands the shooting possibilities of the P1000 by enabling users to trigger various camera functions, including video start and smooth zoom control, remotely.

Price and Availability

The COOLPIX P1000 will have a suggested retail price (SRP) of $999.95 and will be available in September 2018. The new ML-L7 Bluetooth connected remote control will also be available in September 2018 for a SRP of $49.95.

Nikon Announces Development of Full-frame Mirrorless Camera:

Nikon has gone ahead and announced that it is developing a Full-Frame mirrorless camera with a new mount and new lenses to go with it.

It had long been speculated that Nikon will enter into the fullframe mirrorless camera market as the mirrorless camera segment is increasing spectacularly. Simultaneously the compact camera market is rapidly shrinking and DSLRs are also taking a hit. So it was speculated that Canon and Nikon will enter into the mirrorless market with full force.

According to Nikon “The new mirrorless camera and NIKKOR lenses that are in development will enable a new dimension in optical performance with the adoption of a new mount. The system is the result of Nikon’s unsurpassed optical and manufacturing capabilities gained through more than a century of imaging expertise. Proven reliability and trusted performance are core traits of Nikon Digital-SLRs, and decades of feedback from professional creators around the world has further contributed to the development of this system.”

Nikon has also announced that all existing F mount lenses will be capable of being used in the new mount by using an F-mount adapter. Nikon hasn’t announced any further details of the camera or lenses that are going to be launched or the launch date as well.

Nikon has launched a teaser video called Travel of Light https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akZZkw8d5a4 and further details will come at this site https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/mirrorless-is-coming.page

PRESS RELEASE

Nikon Announces Development of Next Generation Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera and NIKKOR Lenses—Featuring a New Mount—That Pursue a New Dimension in Optical Performance

MELVILLE, NY – Nikon Inc. is pleased to announce the development of a next-generation full-frame (Nikon FX-format) mirrorless camera and NIKKOR lenses featuring a new mount.

The new mirrorless camera and NIKKOR lenses that are in development will enable a new dimension in optical performance with the adoption of a new mount. The system is the result of Nikon’s unsurpassed optical and manufacturing capabilities gained through more than a century of imaging expertise. Proven reliability and trusted performance are core traits of Nikon Digital-SLRs, and decades of feedback from professional creators around the world has further contributed to the development of this system.

Through the development of this new mirrorless camera, Nikon reaffirms our commitment to providing photographers with the ability to capture images that are richer and more vivid than ever before.

Additionally, an F-Mount adapter is being developed that will enable the use of a wide variety of F-Mount NIKKOR lenses with the new camera.

Nikon will continue to lead imaging innovation with the launch of the new mirrorless camera and the continued development of Nikon Digital-SLR cameras as well as the impressive NIKKOR lens lineup. Soon, Nikon users will have two industry-leading camera systems to choose from, giving consumers the choice to enjoy the unique values that each system offers.

FUJIFILM announces XF10 Premium Compact Camera  

FUJIFILM has announced that it will launch a premium compact digital camera “FUJIFILM XF10” (XF10) as the latest model in the X Series known for superior image quality with proprietary color reproduction technology. The XF10 features an 24.2 Megapixel APS-C sized sensor and comes wit a high quality FUJINON 18.5mm f2.8 lens.

It will be launched on August 2018. XF10 features an approximately 280g compact.  It also features an enhanced Bluetooth® connectivity for seamless transfer of images to a smartphone after shooting by using simple touchscreen operations.

“We are excited to introduce the XF10 as a premium, ultra-lightweight compact camera that delivers high quality images and new features in a body small enough to travel with, and possesses functionality to instantly transfer images to your phone to share,” said Yuji Igarashi, General Manager of the Electronic Imaging Division & Optical Devices Division at FUJIFILM North America Corporation.

The XF10 has wide dynamic range and produces sharp, high resolution images. Combined with Fujifilm’s proprietary color reproduction technology, its 24.2 megapixel APS-C sized sensor allows the XF10 to produce high quality images in a wide range of settings. In addition, both 4K movie and Full HD high speed video are available on the XF10.

The new FUJIFILM XF10 is the first X Series camera to offer the new “SQUARE MODE,” which allows users to switch to a 1:1 format with a single flick of the touchscreen. Combined with a method for seamless transfer of images to a smartphone, this camera enhances compatibility with social media where the 1:1 format has become a popular image format for posting photos. Available in Black or Champagne Gold, the XF10 is a stylish and portable tool for everyday creatives.

High Quality FUJINON Lens Covers a Wide Range of Subjects from Landscapes to Snapshots

The XF10 features an 18.5mmF2.8 FUJINON lens (equivalent to 28mm on 35mm format) that ensures every image is sharp from center to edges. The optical design of the lens is perfectly matched to the sensor in the XF10, to ensure there is no compromise in quality due to the camera’s compact size. With the Digital Teleconverter function, the camera is capable of taking photos with equivalent focal lengths of 35mm and 50mm on a 35mm format.

Enhanced Creativity with Unique Film Simulation and Advanced Filter Modes

The XF10 offers 11 unique FUJIFILM Film Simulations and 19 Advanced Filters, providing photographers with the ability to enhance their creativity. The camera also introduces two new Advanced Filters – “Rich & Fine” and “Monochrome [NIR]” – to easily add artistic flair or film-like color tones to photos. The new “Rich & Fine” filter provides brighter and more vivid color at the center of the image, and a slight shadow at the corners in order to emphasize the subject, perfect for food and other tabletop photography. The “Monochrome [NIR]” filter simulates a monochrome effect as taken by near-infrared cameras.

FUJIFILM XF10 Key Features:

• 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor
• 3.0-inch” (approx. 1,040K-dot) color LCD touchscreen, aspect ratio 3:2
• Standard output sensitivity of ISO200 – ISO12800
  • Extended output sensitivity of ISO100 – ISO51200
• Bluetooth® version 4.1 low energy technology
• New “SQUARE MODE” for 1:1 format
• 4K 3840 x 2160 15P, continuous recording up to approx. 30 min.
  • Full HD 1920 x 1080 59.94P / 50P / 24P / 23.98P, continuous recording up to approx. 30 min.
  • HD 1280 x 720 59.94P / 50P / 24P / 23.98P, continuous recording up to approx. 30min.
  • High Speed Movie 1280 x 720 1.6x / 2x / 3.3x / 4x
• Accessories include:
  • Li-ion Battery NP-95
  • AC-5VG AC adapter
  • USB Cable
  • Hand Strap
  • Lens Cap
  • Owner’s Manual

Availability and Pricing

The new FUJIFILM XF10 will be available in August 2018 in the U.S. and Canada for USD $499.95 and CAD $649.99.

FUJIFILM Announces XF200mm F2 telephoto lens:

FUJIFILM Corporation has announced that it will introduce the FUJINON XF200mmF2 R LM OIS WR Lens (XF200mmF2 R LM OIS WR), a large-diameter telephoto prime lens for the X Series of digital cameras. It is priced at $5999.95. It uses Fujifilm’s unique color reproduction technology to deliver outstanding photo quality. The lens will be released in late October, 2018, in a kit that also contains the FUJINON Teleconverter XF1.4X TC F2 WR (XF1.4X TC F2 WR), a high-performance teleconverter that can extend the lens’s focal length by 1.4 times.

The XF200mmF2 R LM OIS WR is the X Series’ first telephoto interchangeable lens that offers the maximum aperture of F2.0. The lens has the focal length of 200mm (equivalent to 305mm in the 35mm film format.) Tapping into the optical technologies nurtured through the production of FUJINON lenses, widely used in the broadcasting and cinematography industries, it produces advanced sharpness and beautiful bokeh to achieve outstanding descriptive performance. It can be combined with the XF1.4X TC F2 WR, which supports the main lens’s maximum aperture of F2.0 and extends its focal length by 1.4 times, to cover the ultra-telephoto focal length of 280mm (equivalent to 427mm in the 35mm film format)**, making it an ideal choice for shooting sports, airplanes and wild birds.

The XF200mmF2 R LM OIS WR is a large-diameter telephoto prime lens, capable of bringing out the full performance of FUJIFILM’s X-TransTM CMOS sensor, used in mirrorless digital cameras including the FUJIFILM X-H1. The lens offers sharpness even when the aperture is wide open, using advanced optical design technology and manufacturing technology that makes it possible to process lens surfaces at micron-level precision, fostered through the development of industry-leading FUJINON lenses including broadcast lenses that support 4K / 8K video. The maximum aperture of F2.0 and the long focal length of 200mm (equivalent to 305mm in the 35mm film format) creates beautiful bokeh for outstanding descriptive performance. The lens also features the new Focus Preset function, which allows you to instantaneously change the focus to a pre-defined position to capture your main subject with ease without having to make focus re-adjustments. The lens barrel is made of magnesium alloy to create a lightweight yet robust body. The lens is also dust and weather resistant, and capable of operating in environments as cold as -10°C, making it highly reliable as photo equipment for use by professional photographers.

The XF1.4X TC F2 WR is a high-performance telecoverter that is fitted between a camera body and a lens to extend the lens’s focal length by 1.4 times while drawing out the lens’s advanced optical performance to the maximum extent. It is specifically designed to control aberration well, while supporting the lens’s maximum aperture of F2.0. The combination of the XF200mmF2 R LM OIS WR and the XF1.4X TC F2 WR covers the focal length of 280mm (equivalent to 427mm in the 35mm film format), broadening users’ scope of photography.

Offering the total lineup of 34 lenses including the XF8-16mmF2.8 R LM WR ultra wide-angle zoom lens announced today as well as the FUJINON Lens XF16mmF2.8 R WR, FUJINON Lens XF16-80mmF4 R OIS WR and FUJINON Lens XF33mmF1 R WR, featured in the roadmap for developing X Series’ interchangeable lenses, Fujifilm covers a wide range of shooting conditions from ultra wide-angle to ultra telephoto, providing photographic pleasure with the X Series.

Detailed Product features

(1) Large-diameter telephoto prime lens, XF200mmF2 R LM OIS WR
[1] Exceptional resolving performance and beautiful bokeh

• This lens uses large-diameter lens elements, polished at precision finer than 0.1μm, using outstanding optical design technology fostered through the development of industry-leading FUJINON lenses including broadcast lenses that support 4K / 8K video. The lens consists of 19 elements in 14 groups, including one large-diameter super ED lens element and two large-diameter ED lens elements, comparable to the performance of fluorite elements*6. The design minimizes chromatic aberration to deliver a high resolution.
• The maximum aperture of F2.0 and the long focal length of 200mm (equivalent to 305mm in the 35mm film format) create beautiful bokeh for outstanding descriptive performance.

• *6A type of lens element made of fluorite, which is characterized by reduced wavelength dispersion in light transmission and refraction. It facilitates an optical design with minimal chromatic aberration.

[2] Variety of functions for easy AF operations

• The lens features the new Focus Preset function*7, which instantaneously changes the focus to a pre-set position, defined with the SET button in advance. It allows you to focus on your main subject with ease without having to make focus re-adjustments.
• The lens features the focus limiter function, which limits the shooting distance range for autofocusing. This function shortens the lens’s operation time to deliver high-speed AF when shooting a subject at the distance of 5 meters or greater. Use the Focus Range Selector switch to activate the function.
• The Focus Control button*7 is positioned at the tip of the lens barrel. Use the Focus Select switch to assign a function of your choice, making it easy to access operations such as AF-ON and Focus Lock.
• [3] Powerful image stabilization performance
  • The lens offers a 5-stop image stabilization performance in accordance with CIPA. This means you can hand-hold the telephoto lens, normally susceptible to camera shake. The lens recognizes shooting conditions such as panning or on tripod, and automatically applies optimum image-stabilization control.

  [4] Fast, quiet and highly accurate AF

  • The use of lighter focus lens group and linear motors results in fast, quiet and high-precision AF performance. There is also a new mechanism that stabilizes the focus motor group when the camera is powered off or in the playback of photos taken to reduce unnecessary vibrations.

  [5] Advanced toughness to withstand various shooting conditions

  • The lens’s main body is in the new matte silver color, which effectively reduces the increase of its internal temperature under intense summer heat. The application of light-diffusing coating also controls light reflections from the lens body.
  • The use of magnesium alloy achieves a lightweight and robust lens body. The barrel is sealed at 17 places to make the lens dust and weather resistant, and capable of operating in environments as cold as -10°C. The front lens element is coated with fluorine to repel water and dirt, adding extra toughness performance so that the lens can be used outdoors with peace of mind even under showers and dust exposure.

  

  [6] Arca-Swiss compatible tripod mount for greater equipment compatibility

  • The tripod mount features an Arca-Swiss compatible dovetail groove*8, and also supports both 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch tripod screw to accommodate professional equipment.
  • *8Supporting the Arca-Swiss Quick Release Plate

  
  (2) High-performance XF1.4X TC F2 WR teleconverter

  • This high-performance teleconverter extends the focal length by 1.4 times while drawing out the lens’s full optical performance. It is specifically designed to control aberration well, while supporting the lens’s maximum aperture of F2.0.
  • The combination of the XF200mmF2 R LM OIS WR and the XF1.4X TC F2 WR covers the focal length of 280mm (equivalent to 427mm in the 35mm film format)**, broadening users’ scope of photography.

  <Accessories>
  PRF-105 protection filter / FLCP-105 lens front cap (accessories)

  • Upon the release of the XF200mmF2 R LM OIS WR, Fujifilm will also introduce the PRF-105 protection filter compatible with the lens’s Φ105mm filter threads, and the FLCP-105 lens front cap at the same time.

Natural History

COUNTRY NOTEBOOK: M. Krishnan: ‘An Elephantine Inhibition‘ shared By Saktipada Panigrahi

https://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?8852-Country-notebook-m-krishnan&p=85859#post85859

Wildlife Photography

Sub-adult Male Tiger in Ranathambore by Vipin Sharma

https://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?18835-Subadult-male-cub-RTR-diary-May-18

Tiger in bush by Jerin Dinesh

https://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?18823-The-Natural-frame-for-tiger

Leopard in Satpura by Shyamala Kumar

https://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?18818-Leopard-on-the-Rocks

Small Blue Kingfisher by Jitendra Katre

https://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?18833-Small-blue-kingfisher

Tibetan Sandgrouse by Sandipan Ghosh

https://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?18805-Tibetan-Sandgrouse

Mantis Laying eggs by Prajwal Ullal

https://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?18845-Setting-up-the-future-gen

Roadkill in Kanha, Chilpi Range, NH30  by Sabyasachi Patra

https://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?18826-Roadkill-in-Kanha-Chilpi-Range-NH30

This is the 115th Issue of IndiaWilds.

The photo Forest fire adorns the cover page of this issue. Climate change is going to exacerbate the problem of wild forest fires, which is further going to increase the Co2 burden in our atmosphere.

I look forward to your inputs and support in preserving the last tracts of wilderness and wildlife left in our beautiful country and raising awareness about it. For other interesting articles and images check –

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/

To post in the IndiaWilds forums, you can register free of cost using your Full Name as user id at:

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/register.php

If you are already a member of IndiaWilds and have forgotten your user id and/or password you can mail to:
administrator@indiawilds.com

If you want to contribute original articles, or for any image enquiries please send a mail to:
administrator@indiawilds.com

Regards,

Sabyasachi Patra

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Sabyasachi Patra

Sabyasachi is an award winning Cinematographer and shoots for international broadcasters, production houses and corporates to make a living. He is a passionate filmmaker/wildlife photographer and has won awards and accolades for his documentary 'A Call in the Rainforest' and "Discovering Rann". He has been striving to make his films and photographs full of life and emotion and writing articles to educate and evangelise the need for conserving the last tracts of vanishing wilderness and wildlife in our country. He hopes that his wildlife films, photographs and writings force people to pause, look, ponder and ultimately take action.

Sabyasachi is available for Hire as a DP for shoots any where in India.

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Latest posts by Sabyasachi Patra (see all)

• GoPro Hero 12 Black - 6 September,2023
• Leopards: The Last Stand - 2 July,2023
• Drifting in the Waters of Sundarbans - 26 March,2023

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