Saturday, January 8, 2011
are we the nation calling ourself patriots?
A nation can never make progress unless it marches in one formation. We are all Pakistanis and citizens of the state and we should serve, sacrifice and die for the state so that we may make it the most glorious and sovereign states in the World.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The blind dolphins of the River Indus
Courtesy Saima Tariq Khan Gulf News Report.
This rare species of mammal faces extinction and authorities in Pakistan are doing all they can to help the few remaining to thrive.
The River Indus is one of the longest rivers in the world. It is formed by the convergence of Himalayan glacial streams and passes through two of the world's tallest mountain ranges before flowing into the Arabian Sea. The major tributaries of this mighty river are the Sutlej, Ravi and Chenab.
This mighty river has for centuries, been host to the blind dolphin (Platanista minor). Although it has a closely related cousin (Platanista gangetica) that lives in the Ganges River in India, this dolphin has some distinctive features that place it in a separate subspecies.
Locals refer to this small mammal as bhulan while the term used in India for the Platanista Gangetica is susu. The characteristics that set this dolphin apart in its class is the long beak it exhibits and the fact that it has no eye lens which effectively renders the animal blind. The bhulan navigates using echolocation to find fish, shrimp and other prey in the river bottom. It weighs 70-110 kg (155-245 lbs). The maximum size is 2.5m (8.2 ft), with males smaller than females.
Due to the fact that The Indus River dolphin swims on its side, trailing a flipper along the river bottom, it is able to move in water as shallow as 30 cm. The dolphin comes up for air every 30-60 seconds and rotates to breathe before rotating once more to swim back towards the river bed. This side-swimming behavior is unique to the Platanista. It also, sometimes, carries its young on its back above the water surface.
It is included in the IUCN (the World Conservation Union) Red List of Threatened Species. In 1988 and 1990 the dolphin was listed as vulnerable under IUCN but since 2004 it has been included on the Red List. The Inia, which is found in the Yangtze River, has an even lower chance of survival with its population numbering about 100.
This rare species of mammal faces extinction and authorities in Pakistan are doing all they can to help the few remaining to thrive.
The River Indus is one of the longest rivers in the world. It is formed by the convergence of Himalayan glacial streams and passes through two of the world's tallest mountain ranges before flowing into the Arabian Sea. The major tributaries of this mighty river are the Sutlej, Ravi and Chenab.
This mighty river has for centuries, been host to the blind dolphin (Platanista minor). Although it has a closely related cousin (Platanista gangetica) that lives in the Ganges River in India, this dolphin has some distinctive features that place it in a separate subspecies.
Locals refer to this small mammal as bhulan while the term used in India for the Platanista Gangetica is susu. The characteristics that set this dolphin apart in its class is the long beak it exhibits and the fact that it has no eye lens which effectively renders the animal blind. The bhulan navigates using echolocation to find fish, shrimp and other prey in the river bottom. It weighs 70-110 kg (155-245 lbs). The maximum size is 2.5m (8.2 ft), with males smaller than females.
Due to the fact that The Indus River dolphin swims on its side, trailing a flipper along the river bottom, it is able to move in water as shallow as 30 cm. The dolphin comes up for air every 30-60 seconds and rotates to breathe before rotating once more to swim back towards the river bed. This side-swimming behavior is unique to the Platanista. It also, sometimes, carries its young on its back above the water surface.
It is included in the IUCN (the World Conservation Union) Red List of Threatened Species. In 1988 and 1990 the dolphin was listed as vulnerable under IUCN but since 2004 it has been included on the Red List. The Inia, which is found in the Yangtze River, has an even lower chance of survival with its population numbering about 100.
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