Prelims Focus 1st July 2024

Borneo elephants

In News: Borneo elephants, recently categorized as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List, are at risk due to habitat destruction and human conflicts. Conservation strategies aim to safeguard their habitats, minimize conflicts, and preserve genetic diversity by establishing wildlife corridors.

• • The Borneo elephant, also known as the Bornean elephant or Borneo pygmy elephant, is a critically endangered subspecies of the Asian elephant found in the northeastern part of the island of Borneo. 

• Threats to Borneo Elephants:

• • • Habitat loss and fragmentation due to logging, agriculture, and human settlement 
    • Human-elephant conflict as elephants venture into cultivated areas in search of resources 
    • Poaching for ivory and skin, despite anti-poaching measures 
    • Low genetic diversity due to their small and fragmented population 

• Conservation Efforts:

• • Establishing a new World Heritage Site, the DaMaI Rainforest Complex, to protect Borneo elephant habitats 
  • Conducting scientific studies to determine population size and distribution 
  • Implementing park and wildlife protection measures, including anti-poaching patrols and technology 
  • Promoting sustainable land use practices and human-elephant coexistence 
• The Borneo elephant is one of the most endangered elephant subspecies, with less than 1,500 individuals remaining in the wild. Extensive conservation efforts are crucial to protect their fragmented habitats and ensure the long-term survival of this unique Asian elephant population. 

Meningoencephalitis

In News:   The Kerala government has issued a warning against amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare and fatal infection of the brain caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba. This comes after a 5-year-old child in Malappuram district was diagnosed with the infection.

• Meningoencephalitis is a serious neurological condition that involves inflammation of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, as well as the brain tissue itself. 
• It can be caused by various infections and autoimmune disorders. 
• Symptoms include fever, severe headache, nausea, confusion, and weakness. 
• Diagnosis involves medical history, physical examination, and tests. 
• Treatment varies depending on the cause and may include medication and supportive care. 
• Meningoencephalitis can lead to severe complications and high mortality rates. Prevention measures include vaccination and prompt treatment of infections.

Keshava temple at Somanathapura

In News: Karnataka tourism plans to promote the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Somanathapura as part of Mysore tourism circuit.

• Location: The Keshava Temple is part of the Hoysala monument, positioned in Somanathapura town, on the banks of River Kaveri, in Mysore district, Karnataka.
• The construction of the temple was finished and consecrated in 1268 AD, by means of Somanatha Dandanayaka, a general of the Hoysala King Narasimha III.
• The predominant temple in the center is on a high star-shaped platform with 3 symmetrical sanctums (garbha-griha).
• This is a Trikuta Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna in three forms – Janardhana, Keshava and Venugopala.
• Significance: In 2023, the Somanathapura temple, at the side of the Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebidu and the Chennakeshava Temple at Belur, wasdeclared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO as part of the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas.

Ozempic 

In News: Recently scientists have figured out how popular medications like Ozempic help people in their weight-loss mechanism.

• Ozempic is used to treat type-2 diabetes. It enables decreased sugar ranges by promoting the frame to supply greater insulin.
• The capsules comprise the active aspect semaglutide which interacts with neurons in the dorsomedial hypothalamus, a region of the brain that performs an important position in regulating urge for food, energy expenditure or even our sleep-wake cycle or the circadian rhythm.

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