Scientists discover deadly plant that eats rats

LONDON: British scientists have discovered a deadly plant that eats rats, and is believed to be the largest meat-eating shrub.

According to a report in The Sun, the giant pitcher plant lures rodents into its slipper-shaped mouth and dissolves them with acid-like enzymes.

Scientists, led by botanists Stewart McPherson and Alastair Robinson, tracked it down on Mount Victoria in the Philippines after hearing that missionaries had seen "whole rats" being eaten.

"The plant produces spectacular traps which catch not only insects, but also rodents. It is remarkable that it remained undiscovered until the 21st century," said McPherson, of Poole, Dorset.

The research team named the incredibly rare species after legendary wildlife broadcaster Sir David Attenborough.

"My team and I named it in honour of Sir David whose work has inspired generations toward a better understanding of the beauty and diversity of the natural world," said McPherson.

"I was contacted by the team shortly after the discovery and they asked if they could name it after me. I was delighted and told them, 'Thank you very much'," said Sir David.

"I'm absolutely flattered. This is a remarkable species the largest of its kind. I'm told it can catch rats then eat them with its digestive enzymes. It's certainly capable of that," he added.

The plant, now dubbed Nepenthes attenboroughii, is green and red and can grow a stem more than 4ft long. It is found only in the scrub high on the windswept slopes of Mount Victoria.

McPherson and former Cambridge University botanist Robinson made their discovery during an expedition in 2007.

But, they have only just described the killer shrub in a journal after a three-year study of all 120 species of pitcher plant.

Govt may monitor phone calls to counter terror threat

NEW DELHI: The government, in the wake terror threats, is planning to set up a centralised system to monitor communications on mobile phones,

landlines and the internet.

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT), a telecom research and development organisation, is working on the Telecom Security project, which will help the government to monitor both calls in the country through a centralised system.

Talking about the project, C-DoT Executive Director P V Acharya said: "It is viewed as a national project ... Basically, it is about monitoring certain messages or conversations so that we can ensure security of the country.

Essentially, our technology would provide an interface to operator of any service or technology and it will give them access to the messages traversing through their network," he said.

The present system of surveillance is managed by individual operators, and a phone is tapped and call details are given when law enforcement agencies ask for them.

The government has a Signal Intelligence Agency, a joint service organisation manned by personnel from the army, navy and airforce, which monitors military links (wireless) of other countries.

However, it does not have a centralised monitoring system for voice calls on the mobile, landlines and internet.

The government has not yet decided on how the surveillance system will work.

"We will just provide an opportunity to this ... but how this would be done depends on the agreement between the operators and the government," Acharya said.

Declining to share technical details of the project, Acharya said the first phase of the project will cost Rs 400 crore. It will end next year.

The need for lawful intervention is being felt more after the terror attacks in November last year, when the terrorists were in contact with their instructors on the phone.