Earth Report – Global Disaster Watch
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.0 earthquake hits the Banda Sea.
5.4 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.2 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.2 earthquake hits western Turkey.
5.1 earthquake hits the Laptev Sea.
5.1 earthquake hits Komandorskiye Ostrova region, Russia.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
Tree Climbing Lions
Just six months has passed since the killing and mutilation of six lions in the Ishasha sector of Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP).
Visitors to the park see these so-called Ishasha lions lazing around in the myriad branches of towering fig trees. This group is one of only two populations of lions known to climb trees, making the majestic beasts fascinating subjects for study and a popular tourist attraction. Sadly, however, these lions face numerous threats, including habitat loss, snaring, human-wildlife conflict, illegal wildlife trade and the trafficking of lion body parts.
Because of these threats, the Ishasha lion population includes just 69 individuals; with increasing threats to these endearing fauna, tourism revenues — which make up close to 8% of Uganda’s gross domestic product (at least before the COVID-19 pandemic) — are also threatened.
Close Shave
A giant asteroid being monitored by NASA is going to shoot closely past Earth later this month.
The kilometer-wide space rock, called “1994 PC1”, is making its closest approach on January 18 and will fly by at 1,940,000 kilometres away which is roughly five times the distance of the moon to our planet. Data from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory shows the asteroid will be traveling at 19.56km/s which is an eye-watering 44,000 mph.
Covid-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Kala-azar Disease – India
The National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP) of the Union Health Ministry reports 33 deaths due to visceral leishmaniasis (VL), or kala-azar in November, the most reported in seven years. Of the 33 fatalities, 24 were reported in Bihar state and seven in neighboring Jharkland. No deaths were reported earlier in 2021 from these two states.