TDF Nature Series

28/03/2022

Butterflies have evolved in remarkable ways that help them avoid being eaten by birds, lizards, and other predators. Pachliopta Aristolochiae or the Common Rose Butterfly beat their wings slowly, holding their wings almost parallel to the ground to display the warning colouration on their hindwings. The red body, slow peculiar flight, bright colours, and pattern of the wings protects it. It also emits a nasty smelling substance when handled to further protect itself. Hence, it is rarely attacked by predators, a strategy so successful, that edible butterflies have evolved to mimic it. This butterfly specie is commonly found South and Southeast Asia.
This beauty was seen flapping its wings on a flower in our Science Garden. Have you ever spotted one?

21/03/2022

Karachi is home to a sacred tree called 'Peepal' or the 'Sacred Fig' (ficus religiosa). Peepal tree is considered to have great medicinal value and is used to treat various diseases. Culturally, peepal tree has the distinction of being the earliest tree depicted in the art of the subcontinent.

On World Forest Day, we celebrate the utility of a peepal tree leaf, spread out over 3 stages, over its lifespan:

Photosynthesis: The process by which green plants transform light energy into chemical energy. During photosynthesis, light energy is captured and used to convert water, carbon dioxide, and minerals into oxygen and energy-rich organic compounds.

Mulching: During this stage, leaves turn brown, shed, and spread over the ground around the tree. This process helps soil in retaining moisture and protects plant roots from heat, cold, or drought.

Compost: It is the final stage in a leaf's lifespan. Brownish, translucent leaves rich in minerals are broken down into molecules and turn into nutrients nourishing their own parent plants. This is a recycling process for leaves which helps keep the plants healthy and green.

20/03/2022

The Oriental garden lizard (Calotes versicolor) is an insectivorous lizard, generally of a light brownish olive colour. It can change its ground-colour to bright red, black, or a mixture of both.
During the breeding season, the male lizard's head and shoulders turn bright orange and his throat black. They also turn red-headed after a successful battle with rivals.
Oriental garden lizards spend most of their time in low shrubs and tree trunks trying to stay undetected.
We found one hiding at the Science Garden. Explore and see if you can find one too!



Source:
https://animalia.bio/oriental-garden-lizard
https://bangkokherps.wordpress.com/2011/09/20/oriental-garden-lizard/

16/03/2022

Broad-winged Katydid (Microcentrum rhombifolium) are large insects, sized at least two inches from the head to the tip of the wings. They are excellent leaf mimics and have bright green bodies, wings, and heads. Their long antennae, which are covered with sensory receptors, help them find their way in the dark.

There are about 6,400 species of Katydids worldwide. They are found on every continent except for Antarctica. The vast majority of the species live in tropical regions.

The photographed Broad-winged Katydid was spotted at TDF MagnifiScience Centre’s Science Garden. Visit and see if you can find one too!



Source:
https://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.php?identification=Greater-Angle-Wing-Katydid
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/katydids/

13/03/2022

Think you’ve got what it takes to capture the natural beauty of PAKISTAN? We’re giving all photographers a chance for their work to be featured at TDF MagnifiScience Centre! Send us a wide angle, panoramic photo of the glaciers found on Pakistan's Karakoram mountain and avail the opportunity for your work to be seen by the Science Centre visitors.

Email us at: [email protected]

28/12/2021

As we begin gearing up to release our newest documentary, we are holding screenings of our four previous films daily at TDF Magnifiscience Centre. Come watch clips from Frozen Giants of Karakoram, Mangroves: Custodians of the Coast, Margalla Urban Wilderness and Cliffwalkers of Chitral Gol with us in the next coming weeks and stay tuned for the release of our next documentary!

28/12/2021

As we begin gearing up to release our newest documentary, we are holding screenings of our four previous films daily at .magnifisciencecentre . Come watch clips from Frozen Giants of Karakoram, Mangroves: Custodians of the Coast, Margalla Urban Wilderness and Cliffwalkers of Chitral Gol with us in the next coming weeks and stay tuned for the release of our next documentary!

20/12/2021

Trip to the Mangroves with Samoodiyan Sath (2/3)

The Mangrove Forests are a wonderful sanctuary for all kinds of bird life, providing them with a safe and quiet shelter as well as plenty to eat. The birds give back to the mangroves by preventing overgrowth of mangrove-choking algae and maintaining the delicate food web. Our team was lucky enough to be treated to a show by huge flocks of different types of herons. These pictures feature grey herons, little egrets, and Indian pond herons.

Photos by our team member
4

16/12/2021

Our team had a great time screening our documentaries at this year’s Children’s Learning Festival. We were so happy to see students engaged and ready to interact with the content. Looking forward to more screenings very soon!

14/12/2021

Watch our documentaries 'Mangroves: Custodians of the Coast' and 'The Frozen Giants of Karakoram' being screened at Pakistan Learning Festival, Arts Council.

Join us at on Day 2 for short films for Classrooms & Discussion by and on 15th December from 11:20 am - 01:30 pm at Bhittai Auditorium

Register now:
https://childrensliteraturefestival.com/clf_karachi_2021

13/12/2021

Join us at the Arts Council for the screening of our documentary on 'Frozen Giants of Karakoram'.
The documentary focuses on the glaciers of Pakistan. With 7,253 known glaciers, including 543 in the Chitral Valley, there is more glacial ice in Pakistan than anywhere on Earth outside the Polar Regions, according to various studies.These glaciers are enormous reservoirs of fresh water and their melt water is an important resource which feed rivers in Pakistan.

13/12/2021

Join us at the Arts Council for the screening of our documentary on 'Mangroves - Custodians of the Coast'.
The documentary focuses on the mangroves of Pakistan which are spread across the coastal line of Pakistan, covering an area of about 600,000 hectares. They have a unique ecosystem as they are a sanctuary to numerous indigenous and migratory birds, terrestrial, and marine life.