Uttar Pradesh

• 27 Mar 2023

Flag off of 520 Mobile Veterinary Unit & launch of Toll Free Helpline-1962

Why in News?

On 26 March 2023, Union Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Minister Parshottam Rupala and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath flagged off 520 mobile veterinary units and toll-free helpline-1962 at a cost of Rs 201 crore under 'Animal Health and Disease Control Scheme' from Lucknow.

Key Points

• In the flag off program of Veterinary Unit, Union Minister Parshottam Rupala said that the Central Government has started Mobile Veterinary Unit for animals at the expense of Government of India and facility like ambulance has been made available for helpless animals by dialing 108. Just as 108 is on everyone's lips for the facility of an ambulance for human diseases, in the same way now 1962 helpline has been started to provide facilities like ambulance to all the animals.
• The Union Minister said that India ranks No. 1 in milk production in the world and Uttar Pradesh ranks No. 1 in India. The reason why India is at the forefront of the world is because of Uttar Pradesh being at the top position in India.
• Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that mobile veterinary units were made available by the Government of India for the protection and promotion of about 6 crore livestocks and more than 6,600 cow shelters have been established in the state for the protection of destitute cattle.
• Now mobile veterinary vans will be operated through Integrated Command and Control Center in 05 zones of the state.
• It is known that there are a total of 12 lakh destitute cattle in the state, out of which the Uttar Pradesh government alone is taking the responsibility of protecting 11 lakh cattle.

Pilibhit Tiger Reserve gets 'Conservation Assured Tiger Standards' status

Why in News?

On 26 March 2023, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve’s (PTR) Deputy Director Naveen Khandelwal said that PTR has got the status of 'Conservation Assured Tiger Standards' from NTCA for conservation, maintenance and better management of tigers.

Key Points

• Six tiger reserves of the country have been given the status of 'Conservation Assured Tiger Standards' (CATS) by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for the conservation, maintenance and better management of tigers. This includes PTR as well.
• According to information, a letter has been issued on behalf of Hemant Singh, Assistant IGF, NTCA, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Central Government, six tiger reserves of the country - Kali, Melghat, Tadoba-Andheri, Navegaon-Nagjira, Periyar and Pilibhit have been given CATS status..
• Significantly, Pilibhit was declared a Tiger Reserve in the year 2014. In the year 2014, the number of tigers was only 25. After the formation of the tiger reserve, work was done according to the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority for the protection and conservation of tigers with the favorable environment of the forest. As a result, in the year 2020, the number of tigers increased to 65. For this achievement, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve was also discussed in the whole world.
• It is known that on November 2020, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve was given the International Level Tiger X-2 Award by Miss Mindori Paxton, Head of Ecosystem and Biodiversity in the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
• The special thing about this award was that out of 13 countries where tigers are found, only Pilibhit Tiger Reserve of India got this award for increasing the number of tigers in these countries. After this, the effect of increasing number of tigers was also recorded. The activism of tigers increased in the forest and outside areas. However, there has been a decrease in human-wildlife conflict compared to the past.
• It is noteworthy that 'Conservation Assured Tiger Standards' was officially launched in the year 2013. Under this, criteria are set for effective management of target species based on seven standard pillars and 17 basic elements. Under this, the area of conservation of tigers is given an opportunity to test and test.