The whales never stopped coming to Gujarat's beaches, watchers find
The invalidation of Tamil Nadu's order enabling persons converting to Islam from Backward Classes and Scheduled Castes to obtain Backward Class Muslim certificates highlights that while conversion cannot automatically transfer a person into a different notified community, continuing social disadvantage calls for an evidence-based inquiry. Meanwhile, long-term data from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) reveals that marine strandings along Gujarat's coast have significantly increased from 138 in 2016 to 470 in 2024. Experts emphasize that improved reporting, better monitoring, and strengthened marine conservation measures are essential to address threats like marine pollution, fishing gear entanglement, and climate change affecting marine biodiversity.
Key Points
- Conversion cannot automatically transfer a person into a different notified community, raising social disadvantage questions.
- Marine strandings along Gujarat's coast have significantly increased from 138 records in 2016 to 470 records in 2024.
- Data collected by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) dates back to 1963 regarding marine mammal strandings.
- Stranded whales often show signs of injury, disease, starvation, or fishing gear entanglement, requiring urgent conservation.
Exam Facts
- India's first recorded whale stranding dates back to 1972.
- A blue whale measuring approximately 20 metres was found near Gavier, close to Surat, on February 23, 1963.
- Marine strandings increased from 138 recorded in 2016 to 470 recorded in 2024.
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