Gopal Kharvy finally makes it to Guinness book of world records

Udupi, Dec 1: Gopal Kharvy has entered Guinness Book of World record by swimming across a stretch of 3.08 kms with bound hands and legs.

With hands and legs tied in chain, Kharvy swam from St Mary's island to Malpe beach in 2.43 hours on Sunday morning.

Guinness Officer Pradeep Patel has confirmed the entry into the prestigious book of world records after witnessing the entire feat.

The glorious episode was also witnessed by various dignitaries including Shiroor Mutt seer Lakshmivara Theertha Swamiji, Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, MP Jayaprakash Hegde, MLA Pramodh Madhwaraj and others.

The Guinness officials had already inspected the stretch that Mr Kharvy was supposed to take.

It may be recalled that Kharvy's earlier attempt to make it to the world records failed because then, a GPS camera were not installed.

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Elusive bamboo shrimp resurfaces in Mangaluru estuary after 70 years

News Network

December 7,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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