Proud to be a Sikkimese: Sikkim Travel, Culture & Local Heritage

Gangtok, Aug. 11: Two months after a Himalayan serow, a threatened species of mountain goat, was found dead at the Teesta Stage III project site in North Sikkim, Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) has questioned the alleged inaction of the government in bringing the construction company to book. The chief coordinator of ACT, Tseten Lepcha, said except for an FIR, no proper action had been taken. “The forest department has been dragging its feet ostensibly to secure local witnesses, which is not possible as the project site is overrun with labourers and company employees, none of whom are residents of Sikkim,” Lepcha said. The FIR lodged by the forest department after the serow’s death mentioned that the animal was found with a broken horn and there was blood all around it. Lepcha said the post mortem findings of the veterinary do...

COURTESY PHOTO Petr Švácha has devoted his career to the study of insects such as the long-horned beetle, shown above in larva form and below, fully grown. The wasp beetle, bottom, has been studied for its ability to camouflage. COURTESY PHOTO Švácha is one of the world's foremost experts on beetle larvae. Authorities jail Czech scientists on suspicion of insect smuggling  By Markéta Hulpachová Staff Writer, The Prague Post July 2nd, 2008 issue   Bugs are Petr Švácha’s life passion. Described by his co-workers as an ardent entomologist with “no personal life,” the 51-year-old Academy of Sciences researcher devoted his career to the study of long-horned beetles. So when an Indian newspaper linked his June 23 arrest for colle...