Rush to see Brazilian monkeys at Chhattisgarh zoo

September 7th, 2009 VIENNA - Ripe bananas glow blue in ultraviolet light, possibly helping monkeys to spot choice fruit, Austrian researchers have found in a study. "When brown spots develop, blue halos appear around them," said Bernhard Kraeutler, an organic chemist at the University of Innsbruck who published the work of his team in the US journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Monday.

August 31st, 2009 KOLKATA - The prime accused in the theft of Brazilian Marmoset monkeys from a Kolkata zoo gave the slip to his police guards and fled from a train in Orissa Monday while being brought here for interrogation, police said. The monkeys have been brought back too.

August 30th, 2009 KANKER - A Head Constable of the Chhattisgarh Armed Police committed suicide using his AK-47 service rifle at Kanker in Chhattisgarh. He died on Saturday evening after shooting himself on his chest.

August 30th, 2009 DURG - Seven of the eight Brazilian Common Marmosets, stolen from the Alipore Zoological Garden in Kolkata were recovered from Chhattisgarh's Durg district on Saturday. Acting on a tip-off, Chhattisgarh Police nabbed a person, Raju Singh Soikia, here and rescued seven marmosets, it is believed that one of the stolen eight died.

August 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Animal rights activist and MP Maneka Gandhi has written a letter to the governor of Puerto Rico seeking a prohibition on importing monkeys to that country from Mauritius for laboratory experiments. "After learning about a proposal to construct a massive monkey-breeding facility in Guayama, Puerto Rico, MP Maneka Gandhi has sent an urgent letter to Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuo asking him to stop Bioculture, a company that sells monkeys to laboratories, from completing plans to capture monkeys from their home in Mauritius," said a statement from People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

July 29th, 2009 RAIPUR - Wild elephants trampled to death 10 people in the past three months in Chhattisgarh, the state assembly was informed Wednesday. Forest Minister Vikram Usendi told the house in a written reply that at least 10 people were trampled to death by wild tuskers in the state between April 1 and June 30.

July 29th, 2009 RAIPUR - Maoist violence in Bastar region has prevented the Chhattisgarh government from carrying out a count of tigers, the state assembly was informed Wednesday. Forest Minister Vikram Usendi told the assembly in a written reply that the count of tigers of the Indravati tiger project had not been undertaken for several years as the area is dominated by Maoists rebels.

July 22nd, 2009 Scientists find HIV's 'missing link' in ill chimpsWASHINGTON — Scientists believe they have found a "missing link" in the evolution of the virus that causes AIDS. It bridges the gap between the infection that does no harm to most monkeys and the one that kills millions of people.

July 13th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Rhesus monkeys and humans recognise faces the same way, according to the latest research. The study provides insight into the evolution of the critical human social skill of facial recognition, which enables us to form relationships and interact appropriately with others.

July 13th, 2009 Study: 1918 flu survivors seem immune to swine fluWASHINGTON — The way swine flu multiplies in the respiratory system is more severe than ordinary winter flu, a new study in animals finds. Tests in monkeys, mice and ferrets show that the swine flu thrives in greater numbers all over the respiratory system, including the lungs, and causes lesions, instead of staying in the nose and throat like seasonal flu.

July 8th, 2009 Drug gives anthrax protection in animal studiesNEW YORK — An experimental drug helped monkeys and rabbits survive anthrax in a series of studies, suggesting it could be useful in case of another anthrax attack. In 2001, five people died after inhaling anthrax germs they'd gotten through the U.S.

June 27th, 2009 Monkey-breeding facility in PR faces oppositionSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Residents of a Puerto Rican town are vowing to fight a planned monkey-breeding facility for fear that the primates will escape and overrun their community. The facility, which will supply monkeys to pharmaceutical companies for research, was cleared for construction this week.

June 12th, 2009 LA zoo searches for new simians after monkey snubLOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Zoo may have the nation's only monkey lair approved by a feng shui expert. There's only one problem: No monkeys.

May 31st, 2009 RAIPUR - Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has asked the industry department to take a tough stand against 14 mining companies that failed to fulfil their commitment of planting saplings, an official said Sunday. The industry department is now planning to cancel the mining leases of the companies, both public and private, blaming them for "environment neglect".

April 14th, 2009 KANKER - Congress president Sonia Gandhi Tuesday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Chhattisgarh for neglecting the development of the state. 'The state lacks development because of the lack of will for development among those who are ruling the state,' Gandhi said at an election rally here, while recounting development schemes like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the midday meal plan undertaken by the Congress-led government in New Delhi.