Tigers are fighting back in India

Our readers have their say about tigers in India, planting trees, burqas and e-scooters

epa07747434 A Royal Bengal tiger in its enclosure at the Van Vihar National Park on the occasion of World Tiger Day in Bhopal, India, 29 July 2019. According to the latest Tiger census, the state of Madhya Pradesh has been declared as India's 'Tiger State' with highest tiger population at 526.  EPA/SANJEEV GUPTA
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I write to you in reference to the article India's tiger population jumps more than 30 per cent (July 30).

It was good to read that there has been an increase in the population of the big cat, despite recent tigress deaths. I also found it interesting that Karnataka, where I live, missed out on being the state with the highest tiger population when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the population count. Madhya Pradesh, with 526 tigers, has two more than Karnataka, even though the latter has greater forest cover. Keep up the good work.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru

Climate change really is a plague upon us all

With reference to Rashmee Roshan Lall's op-ed To tackle climate change, we must first address the crisis in coverage (June 18), which referred to the threat from dengue, a plethora of diseases accompany monsoons. While most people celebrate fresh showers from the sky during monsoon season, many others often end up suffering from infections inflicted by the season. Most of these infections are a result of unhealthy, unclean surroundings, mosquitoes and weather fluctuations.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease. Having bitten a person with dengue in their blood, the mosquito becomes infected. However, dengue does not spread directly from one person to another.

Symptoms in dengue fever generally show three to 14 days after infection. It can cause anything from fever, rash and muscle pain to severe bleeding, damage to lymph and blood vessels, a sudden drop in blood pressure and it can even be fatal.

The most obvious way to save yourself from dengue is to avoid being bitten by infected mosquitoes. We must strive to keep the mosquito population in our surroundings low and maintain hygiene.

Dr KS Harshith, Aster RV Hospital, Bengaluru

Majesty of night sky is a sight to behold

I write to you in reference to Justin Thomas's article We all deserve to see the stars – how light pollution affects our health (July 29).

I absolutely agree that the issue of artificial light at night is a genuine and growing environmental concern. I want to thank the writer for highlighting an important issue that is being ignored the world over. The majesty of the night skies is a sight to behold. I was fascinated by the glittering night sky in the UAE desert. It was as if peace and tranquility had descended gently from the sky.

Nazim Hasan Khan, UAE

Ensure e-scooters don't make roads dangerous

In reference to the article Abu Dhabi legalises e-scooter rentals to cut congestion (August 1): there will have to be some rules so that these scooters don't endanger pedestrians. I already see people on the road cycling against the traffic with no helmets.

Name withheld by request