Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs
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Recently, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has moved Blue-finned Mahseer from Endangered to the Least Concern’ status on its Red List.
Important points:
- The Mahseer belongs to the genus Tor, of which there are several subspecies to be found in India and in other range countries in South Asia.
- The Blue-finned Mahseer or Tor Khudree is one of the subspecies of the Mahseer.
- Mainly found in the Mota Mola river east of Pune. This species is also found in other rivers of the Deccan Plateau.
- The species is migratory; moving upstream during rains. It prefers clean, fast flowing and well oxygenated waters.
- Threatened by habitat manipulation, over harvesting and competition from other fish species.
- It is very sensitive to dissolved oxygen levels, water temperature and sudden climatic changes. It just cannot bear pollution.
- They have cultural and religious significance as well as they are protected in ‘temple sanctuaries’ across India.
- Tata Power (private company) is involved in conservation of the blue-finned for 50 years in Lonavala (near Pune), Maharashtra.
- IUCN Red List: Least Concern
International Union for Conservation of Nature
- IUCN is a membership union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations.
- Created in 1948, it is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. It is headquartered in Switzerland.
- The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, is the world’s most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species.
- It divides species into nine categories: Not Evaluated, Data Deficient, Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild and Extinct.
- It is recognized as the most authoritative guide to the status of biological diversity.
SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT
