River sand dredging at Punatsangchhu

The NRDCL holds valid clearances for operating the sand-dredging machine, which is under operation at Punatsangchu River near Wangdue Bridge. Nevertheless, i personally feel that the dredging of sand may not be really feasible in our fast moving river system as NRDCL proved to be successful. Through my literature review, it was found that dredging of sand with a mechanical digger usually destroys, or at least disrupts creating a less stable and less diverse environment. 

According to Clark, J. (n.d.), dredging would inevitably affect deposition, which takes place in gravel substrates, and juvenile fish that inhabit the substrate. On ecological ground, the dredging will have an effect on the direct loss of stream reserve habitat; disturbances of species attached to deposits, and reduced feeding opportunities (The Ojos Negros Research Group, n.d.).

On other hand, it may affect the respiratory system of fish and growth may also be affected since food supply and feeding success are reduced in the turbid conditions (Clark, J, n.d.). The Ojos Negros Research Group. (n.d.) states that, the dredging will lead to collapse of riverbanks, downstream changes in patterns of deposition, and changes in channel bed and habitat type. 

It is quite obvious that, the loss and alteration of natural habitats caused by dredging could have serious ecological impacts, in both the short-and long-term. Numerous publications have been written with respect to these effects, and the next step is what to do to prevent these environmental effects. Hence, i feel it is extremely crucial to carry out detail study on sociological and ecological impacts of sand dredging particularly at Punatsangchu before it is established permanently.

Source:

Clark, J. (n.d.). Rivers and their catchments: river dredging operations. Rivers and their catchments: river-dredging operations. Retrieved April 16, 2014, from http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/advisorynotes/23/23.htm

The Ojos Negros Research Group. (n.d.). Three issues in sustainable management in the Sand Mining. Retrieved April 16, 2014, from http://threeissues.sdsu.edu/three_issues_sandminingfacts01.html

Riding motorcycle in Bangkok

Bangkok has become destination for most of the people around the world and one of the hassles of living in Bangkok is the traffic. The city is almost always jammed and you can never find a taxi when you’re in a hurry. However one of the fastest ways to travel around the city is to ride a motorcycle taxi. It has become essential part of the transportation and probably local peoples are highest users of motorcycle taxis, and just few brave foreigners landed up trying this. They are easily spotted by their orange vested on the street ideally suited for short trips and don’t travel all over the city like a cab.

They drive wrong side of the road in an effort to get you there just bit faster and even pop onto a sidewalk. I noticed that drivers of other vehicles rarely care about motorcyclists, even if they do understand that having to brake hard on wet roads is likely to cause a trip to hospital. One should remember that, Bangkok is a clogged city and riding motorcycle taxi can be dangerous, but so far, I have been lucky. 

Tigers in cage

It was Mid-November 2013. I and my fellow Biology mates of Asia-Pacific International University, Thailand had an excursion to Sriracha Tiger Zoo, which is located in Sri Racha, a city on the outskirts of Pattaya, a city in the Chonburi Province of Thailand, which is about 60 miles from Bangkok. 

Well, i am particularly fascinated with natural settings of the zoo, however, i feel we greedy humans polluted the earth and destroyed or stole most of the habitat. I personally feel that animals should be in a protected park such as a national park or a wildlife park, for many it is a death sentence here. I strongly feel that, zoos should become a place to rehabilitate animals that can no longer survive in the wild. 

Sorry for the tigers, those wild canines confined at a short and narrowed space. It can only walk to the right, return, and to the left, repeating this pattern indefinitely like a machine. Those animals deprived of its natural habitat, not have enough room, and deprived of its natural social structure and companionship. Beside, treating animals in an appropriate way than keeping them healthy. It's possible for zoos to keep animals in perfect physical shape, but in conditions that cause the animals to display serious behavioral problems. This mostly results the loss of the natural ability, such as hunting for food themselves.