Netaji Subhash Chandra Island

Netaji Subhash Chandra Island

News: The unchecked population growth of spotted deer (Chital) is causing issues on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island.

Background:
• The spotted deer (Chital) was introduced to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the early 1900s by the British for game hunting purposes.
• Due to the absence of large predators on the islands, the population of spotted deer multiplied unchecked over the years.
• This unchecked population growth has led to significant ecological and environmental problems, making the deer an invasive species.
• The authorities of the Union Territory are now facing challenges in managing and controlling the population of spotted deer to mitigate their impact on the local ecosystem and biodiversity.

About Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island:
• Formerly known as Ross Island, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island is situated in the Andaman Islands.
• It is located three kilometres east of Central Port Blair and falls under the South Andaman administrative district of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands hold a strategic position in the Indian Ocean, lying between the Indian mainland, Myanmar, and Indonesia, and serving as a key point along important maritime routes.
• Historically, these islands were controlled by the Dutch and later by the British, and during World War II, they came under the control of the Japanese military.
• By the end of 1943, the Azad Hind government gained de jure control of the islands from the Japanese, and Subhash Chandra Bose arrived in Port Blair on December 29 of the same year.
• In 2018, to commemorate the historical significance of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and honor Netaji Subhas Chandra Boses memory, Ross Island was officially renamed as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island during the Prime Ministers visit.
• Additionally, Neil Island was renamed Shaheed Dweep, and Havelock Island was renamed Swaraj Dweep during the same visit.
• All three islands, including Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, Shaheed Dweep, and Swaraj Dweep, are major tourist attractions in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.