In a world plagued by so many problems, is conservation of the rain forests that important? What do we stand to lose if they disappear?
ONCE upon a time, a broad emerald belt girdled our planet. Trees of every kind made up its fabric, and broad rivers laced its surface.
Like a huge natural greenhouse, it was a realm of beauty and diversity. Half the world's species of animals, birds, and insects lived there. But although it was the most bounteous region on earth, it was also fragile—more fragile than anyone imagined.
The tropical rain forest, as we now call it, seemed immense—and almost indestructible. It was not. The rain forest first began to disappear from the Caribbean islands. As early as 1671—ten years before the dodo bird became extinct—sugar plantations swallowed up the forest on Barbados.* Other islands in the region went through a similar experience, a foretaste of a global trend that has accelerated in the 20th century.
Today tropical rain forests carpet only 5 percent of the earth's surface, compared with 12 percent a century ago. And every year an area of forest greater than the size of England, or 50,000 square miles [130,000 sq km], is felled or burned.
This appalling rate of destruction threatens to condemn the rain forest—along with its inhabitants—to the same fate as the dodo. "It's dangerous to say the forest will disappear by a particular year, but unless things change, the forest will disappear," warns Philip Fearnside, a rain-forest researcher in Brazil. Diana Jean Schemo reported during October last year: "Data in recent weeks suggest that the burning going on in Brazil this year is greater than what has occurred in Indonesia, where major cities have been smothered under blankets of smoke that spread to other countries. . . . Burnings in the Amazon region are up 28 percent over last year, according to satellite data, and 1994 deforestation figures, the most recent available, show a 34 percent increase since 1991." www.watchtower.org/e/19980508/article_01.htm
Why are there so few Divorce Trials in Rhode Island Family Court? If there are thousands of cases filed in Rhode Island Family Court, why are there so few trials?
Divorce trials are very different from divorce hearings. A hearing in Family Court is when a judge hears testimony of witnesses or hears arguments from counsel about pretrial matters such as Child Custody, Child Support, Child Visitation, Contempt, Restraining Orders, Discovery motions, Motions to Modify Child Support, Temporary Alimony etc.
Divorce hearings occur much more frequently than Divorce trials. When the parties reach a settlement there must be a brief "nominal" hearing. Husband and wife must testify at that nominal hearing. This type of hearing is a formality.
There are a myriad of reasons for the miniscule amount of Rhode Island Divorce Trials. A fundamental "culture" and practice has evolved over decades in Rhode Island Family Court. This Culture and Process encourages out of Court settlements both directly and indirectly. This process also subtly punishes those litigants who do not settle their divorce.
In some instances, the pressure for a settlement is direct from the Trial Judge. In other instances, the parties perceive that if they perceived as being unreasonable then there will be some sort of penalty or adverse ruling at trial. Often that perception is just a perception rather than a reality. Sometimes the perception is a reality.
In some ways, a divorce trial is viewed by the Court as a breakdown of the system. The entire process is premised around parties reaching a settlement prior to trial.
The system, in itself, tends to wear the parties down to the point that they feel they have no other realistic option but to settle. Parties can be worn down both emotionally and financially by the Rhode Island Family Court process.
As far as equitable division of Assets in a Rhode Island Divorce is concerned, there is usually no absolute winners and losers. In a Rhode Island Contract or Personal Injury case that goes to trial, there is usually a winner and loser. In a Rhode Island Criminal Trial, the accused is either guilty or not guilty after trial. In a Divorce Trial, the Family Court Judge attempts to fashion an equitable solution after trial. In other words, if you cannot settle your divorce there will be a quasi settlement imposed by the judge after hearing testimony.
A seasoned and experienced Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer often has a general idea as to the outcome of the divorce trial. Many cases settle because the attorney informs their client that they cannot in all likelihood do better at trial and may do a lot worse.
How do parties get worn down to the point of settlement?
There are often many Court dates prior to the Divorce Trial. These Court hearings involve waiting hours to have motions or Pretrial Conferences resolved. Cases are often continued for various reasons including the calendars of Lawyers, the litigants and the Judges. Some cases are continued because more information or documents are needed or more time is needed for various reasons.
There are often frequent review dates to determine the progress of certain orders. For example, in a Rhode Island Divorce involving Visitation or Child Custody issues, the Family Court may hold frequent review dates. These review dates often determine the progress and compliance with a visitations schedule. If a person is not paying child support on a timely basis or is falling behind on child support, there may be frequent review dates to insure compliance with Rhode Island Child Support Court orders.
In contentious Divorce cases, the parties through their Rhode Island Divorce lawyers often file frequent motions concerning: Child Custody, Child Support, Child Visitation, Restraining Orders and the disposition of Marital assets.
There are frequent Pretrial conferences. In a pretial conference, the judge attempts to facilitate a settlement or helps the parties find a middle ground towards settlement.
The Rhode Island Family Court process can wreak havoc on a litigants work schedule causing their employer to become disappointed. Some people lose their job as a result of frequent Rhode Island Family Court appearances. Some people lose income as a result of the Rhode Island Divorce process.
Many people lose a sense of their dignity going through the sometimes contentious, confusing and unpredictable RI Divorce process. There is one fundamental truth in Rhode Island Family Court. Everyone must go through a similar process irrespective or race, gender and socioeconomic class. Usually in contested Rhode Island Divorce cases, the only thing that is predictable is the unpredictable nature of Rhode Island Family Court.
Attorney fees can become too expensive for a party to afford. Expensive Attorneys fees may be caused by frequent lengthy Court Dates, waiting in Court and the time and expense of answering discovery and preparing for the trial.
In some cases when one spouse has more resources then the other spouse they may try to drive up the other spouse' attorney fees to essentially force them into settlement. This is very unfair. However, it is the real world of Divorce in Rhode Island (RI).
The trial Judge will make every effort to encourage the husband and wife to come to a settlement prior to starting a trial. Some judges will require mediation by the Court appointed Mediators. Other Judges will require the parties to essentially lock themselves in a conference room with their lawyers in the Courthouse for a day or perhaps several days until they reach a settlement. Negotiating in the Courthouse prior to trial and mediation may be time consuming and expensive for the parties.
It is very expensive and time consuming endeavor for a Rhode Island Divorce Attorney to prepare for a Divorce Trial. Parties often want to curtail the amount of trial preparation because of the expense. A Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer must prepare testimony for all witnesses they intend to call to testify in the proceeding. the Attorney must prepare cross examinations of all opposing witnesses, prepare exhibits, prepare opening and closing statements. The Lawyer must also be prepared to argue motions as well as draft an extensive pretrial memorandum etc. Many clients do not want to pay the additional expense for their Attorneys' trial preparation and would rather settle.
Divorce trials are not similar to the trials that you see on television. Usually, judges have many other matters on the calendar on the day the divorce trial is scheduled. In Many instances, the divorce trial will not start until after 11am. It is not unusual for the court to allow only 2 hours a day for the actual trial. Sometimes the Court will hear less than 2 hours of trial testimony in a day. Therefore a trial can take many days to complete. Some Trials take weeks or months to complete.
Newport Family Court has 1 judge hearing divorce trials. That Judge is also responsible to hear and decide all Family Court matters in Newport County Family Court including Child Support, Divorce, Child Custody, Restraining orders etc. The Judge must resolve all matters scheduled for that day. The Judge cannot cancel all other important family Court business in order to hear a trial in Newport. The Judge must fit the trial into his or her schedule. This usually means that the trial will start after all of the courts business is resolved for that day. Newport County Includes Newport RI, Middletown, Portsmouth and Tiverton.
Kent County has 2 judges handling Divorce, Child Custody, Visitation and Family Court matters. Kent County Family Court includes Warwick, East Greenwich, Coventry and North Kingston.
Washington County Family Court has 1 judge hearing Divorce, Post Divorce Motions, Child Custody, Child support, Adoptions and Family Court matters. Washington county Family Court includes Wakefield, South Kingston and Narragansett etc.
Providence County Family Court includes Providence, Pawtucket, Barrington, Bristol, Warren, East Providence, Cumberland etc.
Why does the system "wear down" divorce litigants?
The Court system is overburdened and judges have many cases on the docket on a given day. If every case went to trial the system would break down. If a substantial percent of cases went to a divorce trial the system would break down. The Rhode Island Family Court Lacks the Judges and resources to have too many cases go to trial.
The Court does not tell you it is trying to wear you down. The Judges may not intend to wear you down. However, the entire process has the practical effect of wearing parties down until they feel that they must settle to cut their losses.
Even though some parties do not want to settle their divorce, they fear that going to trial will be a loss of control. The loss of control is essentially allowing the Trial judge to make decisions rather than the parties agreeing to a negotiated solution controlled by the parties. In a mediated / negotiated resolution, the parties have some control over the outcome even though they may in some ways be dissatisfied with the divorce settlement. Rhode Island Divorce Lawyers often encourage settlement so long as the settlement is fair to the clients under the circumstances.
There is often pressure from the Trial Court Judge both direct and indirect to resolve the matter short of trial. All Judges want to settle cases! Judges rarely want to hear divorce trials.
It is not unusual for a case to go to the day of trial yet settle before the trial starts. Why does this happen? This phenomenon is often caused by clients and their lawyers attempting to get leverage to obtain the best settlement possible. There is obviously gamesmanship inherent in negotiations. Contentious Cases tend to settle immediately before a trial starts. Both sides are essentially driving at each other at 100 miles an hour but one or both usually veer at the last second to avert a collision.
What is the solution to this problem? The only real solution is to settle your divorce in a manner that is fair and equitable and in your best interests under the circumstances. Sometimes this is easier said than done!
Rhode Island Attorneys legal Notice per RI Rules of Professional Responsibility:
The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all lawyers in the general practice of law, but does not license or certify any lawyer / attorney as an expert or specialist in any field of practice.
David Slepkow is a Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer concentrating in Divorce, Family law, Restraining Orders, Child Custody, Child Support, Personal Injury and Car Accidents. Rhode Island Divorce Lawyers
This is a video i made for a project in my Gifted class. I think it is very important for the protection and preservation for animals on the verge of extinct... Video Rating: 4 / 5
When the first caveman grunted a greeting to another, communication was born for our species. Over time, it has evolved, covering major landmarks such as spoken language, writing, the printing press, postal services, and email. Many of these forms of communication threatened to put previous iterations six feet under; for example, do any of you still send telegraphs? In recent years, as the world crossed the bridge into the mythical land of Web 2.0 (and choirs of angels started singing), our perspective on communication shifted yet again, and an important question has been brought to light: might social networking kill email?
Email, first introduced in the 1970s, became prominent with free webmaila service that began springing up in the late 90s. It offered a huge number of advantages over other forms of communication. Legibility was simple, formatting was beautiful, storage was boundless, and organization was precise. Oh, and did we mention that messages sent were delivered across the globe within minutes? For both individuals and businesses, this leap forward was a massive breakthrough.
As other web-based services have added messaging, however, the need for email is starting to seem redundant. The trend started most substantially when MySpace provided messaging capabilities. Since that time, the direct message, group message, and even instant messaging services have improved substantially. For many people, email sites are used as the less frequent method of communication, with social networks providing a primary and more intricate inbox.
So, is there any reason that email hosting groups shouldnt bow down to social networking sites? Well, there are a few notable items. These include: 1) Attachments
While a few of the social networks allow limited attachment capabilities, they are restrictive. Only smaller attachments can be sent, and astoundingly tiny storage space is allotted. 2) Personal information
Just because you want to send someone a message doesnt necessarily mean you want to give them information on yourself personally. Home town, full name, and even your relationship status are commonly public on social networks. Email provides a shield of comfortable anonymity, especially if youre working with a business and sending emails on their behalf. You dont want to send someone a DM on Twitter and have them be able to start researching you, as a person. 3) Security
While social networks do have certain layers of security in place, they pale in comparison to the precautions being taken by email hosting groups. This is especially important for businesses functioning through electronic messages, where security is vital to both reputation and profitability. If youre sending anything business related, youre going to want to make sure you can encrypt or at least get more protection than a face social media wall. 4) Clutter
Social networks send you a fair deal more mail than just messages from friends. Event invites, requests for your help in Farmville, and even relentless (and annoying) application spam are present in many of these sites. This means that the social network inbox is likely to be much harder to navigate than that of classic webmail. Is it possible these things will change?
Absolutely.
But there will be plenty of warning before they do, and the changes themselves cannot be slight. When social networks conquer all the territory mentioned above, they may well reign as the new champions of the human communication world. For now, email provides us with a safer, more minimalistic, more secure, and less unnecessarily personal method to send messages
Jon Smith is a writer and is interested in topics related to technology. He is a part-time author at TechWench.com
Sometimes we forget how interwoven humans are to nature and how our decisions have a ripple effect on all living creatures. It is heartbreaking to see some of the beautiful creatures weve lost recently in just the last 40 years. The question is what you can do to prevent more extinctions.
Javan Tiger (1979)
Similar in appearance to the Sumatran tiger, the Javan tiger was native to the Indonesian island of Java. In the 1800s they were so common they were considered pests by island natives, but as the island was developed their population dwindled. By the 1950s, only 20 tigers remained.
Cause of extinction: Loss of habitat and agricultural development led to severe population decline. Conservation efforts in the 1940s and 50s were unsuccessful due to a lack of adequate land and planning.
Golden Toad (1989)
The golden toad is not the only species to disappear in the past 40 years, but it might just be the brightest. This fluorescent amphibian was found in the high-altitude ridges of Costa Rica.
Causes of extinction: pollution, global warming and fungal skin infections, the species became extinct in 1989.
Zanzibar Leopard (1996)
One of several subspecies of leopard, the Zanzibar leopard made its home on the Zanzibar archipelago of Tanzania. Its still unclear whether this large cat is technically extinct there are occasional unconfirmed sightings.
Cause of extinction: Locals believed the leopards were kept by witches, and aggressively hunted them. The animals were seen as evil predators that must be exterminated and even the government was in on the campaign. In the mid-90s there was a short-lived conservation effort but it was deemed too little, too late.
Poouli (2004)
A native of Maui, Hawaii, the Poouli, or Black-faced Honeycreeper, was only discovered in the 1970s. The birds inhabited the southwestern slope of Haleakala volcano. But the population declined rapidly, and by 1997 there were only three known Poouli left. Efforts to mate the remaining birds failed and the species was formally declared extinct seven years later.
Cause of extinction: Habitat loss, along with disease, predators and a decline in its food source native tree snails are all seen as reasons for the birds demise.
Madeiran Large White (2007
The stunning Madeiran Large White butterfly was found in the valleys of the Laurisilva forests on Portugals Madeira Islands. The butterflys closest relative, the Large White, is common across Europe, Africa and Asia.
Cause of extinction: Loss of habitat due to construction as well as pollution from agricultural fertilizers are two major causes of the species decline.
Tecopa Pupfish (1982)
The Tecopa pupfish, a native of the hot springs of the Mojave Desert, has the distinction of being the first animal declared extinct under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
causes of extinction: The pupfishs decline was precipitated when its natural habitat was encroached upon by developers. Cause of extinction: Destruction of natural habitat
Pyrenean Ibex (2000)
The last Pyrenean ibex died in 2000. However, a cloned ibex, created from skin samples taken from the last Pyrenean ibex, was birthed in 2009. It died shortly after birth from lung complications.
Cause of extinction: Hunting of the ibex had caused the animals numbers to seriously dwindle and conservationists blame the Spanish government for failing to act in time to save it.
West African Black Rhinoceros (2006)
The majestic West African black rhino was declared extinct in 2006, after conservationists failed to find any in their last remaining habitat in Cameroon. The West African black rhino was one of four subspecies of rhinoceros.
Cause of extinction: Poachers hunted the rhino for its horn, which is believed by some in Yemen and China to possess aphrodisiacal powers.
Spixs Macaw (2004)
Spixs Macaw, also called the Little Blue Macaw, was known for its beautiful blue feathers. While some still exist in captivity, these tiny blue birds are extinct in the wild. Cause of extinction: Habitat destruction and illegal trapping and trade contributed to the macaws dwindling numbers.
Round Island Burrowing Boa (1975)
Native to Round Island, a tiny island off the coast of Mauritius, the Round Island Burrowing Boa preferred to live on the topsoil layers of volcanic slopes. It was once found on several other islands around Mauritius, but its population had dwindled by the 1940s, and it could only be found on Round Island after 1949. It was last seen in 1975.
Cause of extinction: The introduction of non-native species of rabbits and goats to the island destroyed vegetation and upset the boas habitat.
Dutch Alcon Blue Butterfly (1979)
This Dutch butterfly a subspecies of the Alcon Blue was found mainly in the grasslands of The Netherlands. While closely related species (pictured here) still exist in parts of Europe and Asia, the last Dutch Alcon Blue was seen in the wild in 1979.
Cause of extinction: Increases in farming and building had a negative impact on the Alcon Blues habitat and caused it to lose its main food source.
When will we understand that the welfare of human beings is deeply linked to nature to the existence in our world of a vast diversity of wild animals and plants. Because diversity has intrinsic value, and because its loss impoverishes society, we must work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. We must do so through science, law and creative media. We must focus on protecting the lands; waters and climate that species need to survive.
The biggest question we must ask is do we want those who come after us to inherit a world where the wild is still alive? All of these animals have become extinction largely because of mans influence on nature through industrialization, hunting, illegal trade and carelessness. It must stop.
Ian McCoy Author The fastest growing environmental news service on the internet www.just4theplanet.com
seminolecanyon164 Image by mlhradio Seminole Canyon State Park, Val Verde County, Texas. One of the more remote state parks, tucked into the southwest corner of Texas about an hour's drive west of Del Rio.
This area has been inhabited since the very earliest days that humans set foot in North America, going back nearly 12,000 years - back during the last Ice Age when the land was more verdant with now-extinct animals still roaming the surrounding prairies and forest. But over the millenia, the climate changed to its current, arid desert landscape - and the Indians adapted.
All through these years, the local Indians drew pictograms all over the surrounding canyon walls and caves. In the dry climate, protected by overhanging rock walls, many of these pictograms survived through the ages. Some of the more famous sites, such as the Fate Bell and Panther Cave, are the feature attractions of Seminole Canyon, and can be visited by guided tour through the park.
However, I have not yet visited these sites - instead focusing on other areas of the park. On the first visit (March 9th, 2008), I arrived after the park had closed for the day. I walked along the short 'Windmill Trail', a small loop near the visitor's center. This trail leads down to a small year-round spring and the ruins of a water catchment system that was used by local settlers over the past hundred years.
The return trip (September 27, 2008) was much more fruitful - I chose to hike the Rio Grande River Trail, a six-mile out-and-back loop that leads to the far corner of the park, almost a stone's throw from Old Mexico. With recent rains it was fairly lively and green, with countless butterflies passing through on their annual migration. The trail starts alongside the original 'Loop Trail', the 1882 railroad alignment that was abandoned a decade later when a less strenuous route was forged and the Pecos River High Bridge was built.
The trail itself is pretty boring - a flat, featureless hike across a nondescript desert plain. But the main highlight of the hike quickly comes into view. There is a mile-long spur shooting off to the left called the Pressa Trail, which leads to an overlook looking down at a three-way intersection in the Seminole Canyon below. Here, the waters from Lake Amistad many miles away along the Rio Grande peter out; to the right, the waters are wide and deep, muddied from the recent rainstorms. To the left, the two forks of Seminole Canyon are mostly dry. From the top of the overlook, sheer cliffs lead staight down over a hundred feet to the waters below. The view is, well, *breathtaking* - and worth the trip.
Back on the main trail, a few miles later it comes to an abrupt end at the junction where Seminole Canyon merges with the Rio Grande. The location overlooks the Panther Cave pictograms, on the opposite shore far below, accessible only by boat. To the right, a few hundred yards away, are the hills of Mexico. Here, the water is deeper, the canyons steeper, the chasm wider. An impressive view, although not as amazing as the Pressa Trail overlook.
From here, it is a straight hike back along the south portion of the loop, my only companion a great horned toad trying to hide in the gravel of the trail. I would like to return to this park to take the guided tours, and there are other tours available nearby on private land to other pictogram sites as well. And I am told this park is also fabulous for bird watchers as well.
seminolecanyon010 Image by mlhradio Seminole Canyon State Park, Val Verde County, Texas. One of the more remote state parks, tucked into the southwest corner of Texas about an hour's drive west of Del Rio.
This area has been inhabited since the very earliest days that humans set foot in North America, going back nearly 12,000 years - back during the last Ice Age when the land was more verdant with now-extinct animals still roaming the surrounding prairies and forest. But over the millenia, the climate changed to its current, arid desert landscape - and the Indians adapted.
All through these years, the local Indians drew pictograms all over the surrounding canyon walls and caves. In the dry climate, protected by overhanging rock walls, many of these pictograms survived through the ages. Some of the more famous sites, such as the Fate Bell and Panther Cave, are the feature attractions of Seminole Canyon, and can be visited by guided tour through the park.
However, I have not yet visited these sites - instead focusing on other areas of the park. On the first visit (March 9th, 2008), I arrived after the park had closed for the day. I walked along the short 'Windmill Trail', a small loop near the visitor's center. This trail leads down to a small year-round spring and the ruins of a water catchment system that was used by local settlers over the past hundred years.
The return trip (September 27, 2008) was much more fruitful - I chose to hike the Rio Grande River Trail, a six-mile out-and-back loop that leads to the far corner of the park, almost a stone's throw from Old Mexico. With recent rains it was fairly lively and green, with countless butterflies passing through on their annual migration. The trail starts alongside the original 'Loop Trail', the 1882 railroad alignment that was abandoned a decade later when a less strenuous route was forged and the Pecos River High Bridge was built.
The trail itself is pretty boring - a flat, featureless hike across a nondescript desert plain. But the main highlight of the hike quickly comes into view. There is a mile-long spur shooting off to the left called the Pressa Trail, which leads to an overlook looking down at a three-way intersection in the Seminole Canyon below. Here, the waters from Lake Amistad many miles away along the Rio Grande peter out; to the right, the waters are wide and deep, muddied from the recent rainstorms. To the left, the two forks of Seminole Canyon are mostly dry. From the top of the overlook, sheer cliffs lead staight down over a hundred feet to the waters below. The view is, well, *breathtaking* - and worth the trip.
Back on the main trail, a few miles later it comes to an abrupt end at the junction where Seminole Canyon merges with the Rio Grande. The location overlooks the Panther Cave pictograms, on the opposite shore far below, accessible only by boat. To the right, a few hundred yards away, are the hills of Mexico. Here, the water is deeper, the canyons steeper, the chasm wider. An impressive view, although not as amazing as the Pressa Trail overlook.
From here, it is a straight hike back along the south portion of the loop, my only companion a great horned toad trying to hide in the gravel of the trail. I would like to return to this park to take the guided tours, and there are other tours available nearby on private land to other pictogram sites as well. And I am told this park is also fabulous for bird watchers as well.
seminolecanyon071 Image by mlhradio Seminole Canyon State Park, Val Verde County, Texas. One of the more remote state parks, tucked into the southwest corner of Texas about an hour's drive west of Del Rio.
This area has been inhabited since the very earliest days that humans set foot in North America, going back nearly 12,000 years - back during the last Ice Age when the land was more verdant with now-extinct animals still roaming the surrounding prairies and forest. But over the millenia, the climate changed to its current, arid desert landscape - and the Indians adapted.
All through these years, the local Indians drew pictograms all over the surrounding canyon walls and caves. In the dry climate, protected by overhanging rock walls, many of these pictograms survived through the ages. Some of the more famous sites, such as the Fate Bell and Panther Cave, are the feature attractions of Seminole Canyon, and can be visited by guided tour through the park.
However, I have not yet visited these sites - instead focusing on other areas of the park. On the first visit (March 9th, 2008), I arrived after the park had closed for the day. I walked along the short 'Windmill Trail', a small loop near the visitor's center. This trail leads down to a small year-round spring and the ruins of a water catchment system that was used by local settlers over the past hundred years.
The return trip (September 27, 2008) was much more fruitful - I chose to hike the Rio Grande River Trail, a six-mile out-and-back loop that leads to the far corner of the park, almost a stone's throw from Old Mexico. With recent rains it was fairly lively and green, with countless butterflies passing through on their annual migration. The trail starts alongside the original 'Loop Trail', the 1882 railroad alignment that was abandoned a decade later when a less strenuous route was forged and the Pecos River High Bridge was built.
The trail itself is pretty boring - a flat, featureless hike across a nondescript desert plain. But the main highlight of the hike quickly comes into view. There is a mile-long spur shooting off to the left called the Pressa Trail, which leads to an overlook looking down at a three-way intersection in the Seminole Canyon below. Here, the waters from Lake Amistad many miles away along the Rio Grande peter out; to the right, the waters are wide and deep, muddied from the recent rainstorms. To the left, the two forks of Seminole Canyon are mostly dry. From the top of the overlook, sheer cliffs lead staight down over a hundred feet to the waters below. The view is, well, *breathtaking* - and worth the trip.
Back on the main trail, a few miles later it comes to an abrupt end at the junction where Seminole Canyon merges with the Rio Grande. The location overlooks the Panther Cave pictograms, on the opposite shore far below, accessible only by boat. To the right, a few hundred yards away, are the hills of Mexico. Here, the water is deeper, the canyons steeper, the chasm wider. An impressive view, although not as amazing as the Pressa Trail overlook.
From here, it is a straight hike back along the south portion of the loop, my only companion a great horned toad trying to hide in the gravel of the trail. I would like to return to this park to take the guided tours, and there are other tours available nearby on private land to other pictogram sites as well. And I am told this park is also fabulous for bird watchers as well.
Gorillas are large, quiet, gentle apes that can be found in Africa. Although gorillas are sometimes portrayed as out of control, they are in fact vegetarians. Because of unbelievable reduction in habitat, these beautiful primates are in great danger of going extinct.
There are 3 subspecies of gorillas living in parts of Africa. The differences between them are hard to spot, the 3 subspecies are.
· Western Lowland Gorilla (gorilla gorilla)
· Eastern Lowland Gorilla (gorilla graueri)
· Mountain Gorilla (gorilla berengei)
As with many differences between animal species the differences between the mountain and lowland gorilla are the result of their changing to the surroundings they live in, the high altitude of the mountain gorilla necessitate longer body hair for added warmth, higher foreheads, larger nostrils to aid more effective breathing at high altitudes, broader chests to enclose the larger lungs, they also have shorter arms, shorter, wider hands and feet possibly as a result there being less dense forest at the higher altitude.
Extensive efforts have been made to attempt to ensure the continued survival of the gorilla in the wild but the loss of habitat and poaching is a cause of grave concern, gorilla numbers are only approximate but the 3 species have only 15,000 - 30,000 animals left.
The breakdown between species is along the lines of
Western gorillas- A total of approximately 10,000-25,000 in Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Congo, and Zaire .
Eastern gorillas - A total of approximately 4,000, in eastern Zaire.
Mountain gorillas - A total of approximately 620 in 285, and in danger of becoming less, square miles in the rain forests of Rwanda, Uganda and Zaire.
Gorillas are social animals in as much as they live in social groups of 3-30, in a typical group you will find one dominant mature silverback and he is the alpha male of the group, there are 3-4 adult females, an immature silverback, one immature male and three to six youngsters under 8 years old.
To reduce fighting within the group the males usually leave after sexual maturity and start their own group, although from time to time a challenge is made to the silverback alpha male for dominance of the group, this can lead to one of the gorillas being forced out of the group.
The gorillas only predator is us, this should be good news as you would think that we would say to ourselves lets protect these amazing animals and help them survive but the problem is we are destroying the habitat they are living in and poachers are destroying them too. Some dedicated groups are attempting to help halt this, money is the main driver behind the clearance of the habitats, so using the land for echo tourism is a great way to convince the local people to preserve the land and animals that live on it.
What eco tourism aims to do is allow people to see the gorillas and other animals in their own habitat and educate and inspire these people to spread the word about the amazing experience and the danger these gorillas are in.
Sean Cravenplan works with Volcanoes safaris, we specialise in organising gorilla safaris great trips you will remember forever.
As someone who's gone through school, you know that the bulk of your schooling was centered around writing. Be it creative writing, essay writing, or simply taking notes, it was something that you couldn't get away from. Of course, with the rise of the Internet and various other applications both for the computer and for your cell phone, you may be wondering whether or not essay papers are in fact becoming extinct. After all, since you can find anything you need on the Internet anyways, what's the point of keeping what some consider a quaint artform alive?
Something to think about is that as technology has advanced, canned writing itself is almost considered an ancient practice. With the continual growth of things like short text messaging, Facebook, dictation software and other tools, actually taking the time to hand write something is seen as tedious and an art form that is dying. Much the same can be said regarding essay papers simply because it is so easy now to find something on the web that fits what you need, a rewrite or repurpose, and then handed in as your own. This of course is not to say that you will get caught however, it is something that is very tempting. Even the way you research has changed.
The library, once used for primary reserach, has given way to the Internet, with its faster speed. Researching an essay paper in the library meant taking out or gathering together many different books each with information on the topic at hand. Then you have to go through and take notes and then distill those notes and write your paper. Now with the Internet, you can find an overwhelming amount of information that you can use in your paper however, something that you need to do is ensure that you can accurately tell what information is relevant and what information is completely incorrect.
Once you've done that, you still need to think about the information that you have obtained and then write a coherent paper.
So the idea that essay papers are becoming extinct is one that is false. True, there are certain aspects of essay writing that have been made a little bit quicker. However, the actual writing process is something that we still need to know how to do. After all, we are also looking at leaving a legacy behind and that will be the written word.
Erik Heyl is a freelance author and marketer in Canada. I offer press release writing and submission, Wordpress installation and configuration as well as e-book and article creation. I can be reached at www.erikheyl.com
Cuckoo clocks from the Black Forest have been around since the mid-1700s. Prior to that time, sundials and hourglasses were the usual way to keep time. Cuckoo Clocks are a specialty of the black forest region in Germany. All ages can and will enjoy the sound of a Cuckoo Clock. Cuckoo clocks haven’t changed much in how they work over the centuries. All have a swinging pendulum that counts seconds and all have pipes that signal the hour in the form of the common cuckoo bird call.
Cuckoo clocks have been made in Germany since 1750, when Franz Anton Ketterer of the Black Forest villiage of Schonwald managed to reproduce the cuckoo bird’s song with the clever use of bellows producing two different notes. In the following century, the Black Forest cuckoo clock industry developed rapidly. Cuckoo clocks are almost always mechanical weight driven movement; a very few are spring driven. The weights are made of cast iron in a pine cone shape. Cuckoo Clocks are available in different styles with different movements. Some cuckoo clock designs are quite common – like the Dear Head Top – but over the time many different colors, styles and basic characteristics find their way to the hearts of the customer.
Black Forest cuckoo clocks are definitely among the most popular of all clocks. For centuries, these elegant and sometimes whimsical cuckoo clocks have been one of the most popularly exported productions in Germany. Black forest background music. Made of wood or painted wood these cuckoo clocks proudly stand at top of our most requested items!
Cuckoo clocks have two movements: one-day and eight-day movement. One day movements will sound on every half hour and on the hour.
Cuckoo Clocks are available in different styles with different movements. Some cuckoo clock designs are quite common – like the Dear Head Top – but over the time many different colors, styles and basic characteristics find their way to the hearts of the customer. Cuckoo clocks are heirloom timepieces just like any other mechanical clock and with our technical service support a cuckoo clock purchase from us is sure to become a family favorite. These clocks run by the gravitational pull of weights that hang on long chains.
Lambert Reyes is a proud contributing author and writes articles on several subjects. You can read more of The Professors latest articles on Coo Coo Clocks.
A few nice animals that are extinct images I found:
NYC - AMNH: Stegosaurus Image by wallyg Stegosaurus means "roofed reptile." Its "roof" is made up of the large plates along the ridge of the animal's back. What were they for? Originally, paleontologists speculated that the plates represented a type of armor, used for protection. But the surfaces of the plates are crisscrossed with grooves for blood vessels, indicating that they were covered with skin when the animal was alive. This led later paleontologists to speculate that the plates were used for controlling body temperature—like solar collectors or heat radiators. While that is an interesting hypothesis, it cannot be tested scientifically, since all stegosaurs are extinct. This is one of the many cases in which scientists do not have conclusive answers. Extinct dinosaurs present us with many such mysteries.
Stegosaurus offers more mysteries, such as how it could function with its tiny brain. The image of dinosaurs as massive beasts with walnut-sized brains is not true of many dinosaurs, but it is true of Stegosaurus. It has even been suggested that Stegosaurus had a second brain to control its hindquarters, since the one in its head seems to be too small to manage the entire beast. But it was, and it did. Stegosaurus had only one, small brain.
Still another mystery involves Stegosaurus's front legs. As a baby fossil, the front legs are straight up and down. As an adult fossil, however, they are splayed out to the side. Which is correct? We're not sure, since they seem to fit both ways.
Thylacine pelvis Image by Merryjack Collector unknown, date unknown, officially extinct 1936.
"The thylacine was noted as having a stiff and somewhat awkward gait, making it unable to run at high speed. It could also perform a bipedal hop, in a fashion similar to a kangaroo—demonstrated at various times by captive specimens. Guiler speculates that this was used as an accelerated form of motion when the animal became alarmed. The animal was also able to balance on its hind legs and stand upright for brief periods." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thylacine
June 2012 Specimen of the Month: Ichthyosaurus intermedius Image by wagnerfreeinstitute Ichthyosaurs were large marine reptiles resembling dolphins that lived during the Mesozoic Era - 250 million years ago (mya) to 65 mya. The name “Ichthyosaur” is Greek for “Fish lizard.” They were not dinosaurs but a separate group of marine vertebrates abundant during the Jurassic period. They had a wide geographic range and are estimated to have lived on earth for over 100 million years, disappearing around 65-90 mya. Ichthyosaurs were the top predator of the seas until they were replaced by Plesiosaurs in the Cretaceous period. Fossils indicate that they ate fish, cephalopods, crustaceans, and possibly other small reptiles.
Ichthyosaurs ranged in size, averaging 6-13 feet in length. Some species were smaller and some were much larger (up to 75 feet). Their large eyes and thick earbones gave them acute sight and hearing. They had long snouts with many teeth, a dorsal fin and fin-like limbs. Their long flexible bodies were built for speed and probably undulated like eels to move through the water. It is believed that they evolved from a land-based reptile that moved back into the water. Although they couldn’t leave the water, they breathed air and gave birth to live young.
Ichthyosaurus is a genus of Ichthyosaur from the Jurassic period found in Europe. They averaged 6-7 feet in length, making them one of the smaller Ichthyosaurs. Mary Anning, a woman who made five major fossil discoveries, found the first complete fossil in 1811 in Lyme Regis, England (she was 12 years old). It was an Ichthyosaurus and it became the first extinct animal known to the world and caused great debate among Christians and the scientific community. Mary Anning’s discoveries were often described by male paleontologists, one of them being William D. Conybeare. He was an English geologist, palaeontologist and clergyman famous for his work done on marine reptile fossils. He described her findings, including the Ichthyosaurus and his drawing is included here.
The Wagner Free Institute has a number of Ichthyosaur fossils, including skeletons that hang on the west wall of the museum. The specimen highlighted here can be found in case 54A and is just a fossil of the head. It was purchased from a sale in New York State in 1869.
The panda bear, also known as the giant panda bear, is native to central-western and southwestern China. Panda bears have distinct physical features including large, patches of black fur around their eyes, over their ears and across their round body, which is covered in white fur. Their bodies are round due to their diet. Though classified as a carnivore, the panda bear has a diet which consists mainly of bamboo; panda bears will occasionally eat other foods like honey, eggs, fish, yams, shrub leaves, oranges and bananas.
The average panda bear eats as much as 20 to 30 pounds of bamboo shoots a day. Because panda bears consume a diet low in nutrition, it is important for it to keep its digestive tract full. The limited energy input imposed on it by its diet has affected the panda's behavior. The Giant Panda tends to limit its social interactions and avoids steeply sloping terrain in order to limit its energy expenditures. To learn more about the panda bear's diet and behavior, read environmental magazines like Smithsonian, Audubon and Preservation magazine.
In the wild, panda bears' life expectancy is about 14 to 20 years; in habitats managed by humans the expectancy goes up to approximately 30 years.
Panda bears are listed as endangered species. The latest estimate of pandas living in the wild is 1,600, according to National Geographic magazine. The greatest threats to the panda species is habitat loss and a low birthrate. Poaching by locals and by foreigners is also a threat to the survival of panda bears.
Efforts to sustain the panda bear population are international. In China there is a panda sanctuary called the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries in the province of Sichuan, protection by law from the Chinese government and other wildlife reserves.
In the U.S., researchers at zoos like the San Diego Zoo are studying pandas' behaviors and needs in hopes of learning how to better care for the animals. Some of the behaviors and needs being studied are panda bears' scent marking, nutritional needs and how they communicate with each other. In addition, worldwide environmental organizations like the World Wide Fund for Nature are working on saving pandas.
Song: Eternity by Robbie William recently some of them were rediscovered/possible rediscovered ;) like: Yunnan Box Turtle: officially critically endangered G... Video Rating: 4 / 5
Watches were once some necessary products for every adult, kind of like cell phones in the present world. It was the only convenient way to get the time in the 80s. But time changes, now we can know the time everywhere, from computers, cell phones or even regular calculators, almost all the digital products. Watches are not necessary any more, and the demands have been dropping steeply, but why are watched not extinct?
Some wrist watches are still expensive because they become a symbol of fame and prestige like Rolex. Business men wear this kind of wrist watch to show their success and great credit standing situation. These watches are more like a masculine jewelry for men, and they would never out of the market, because the demands always exist. But the sales would not be very great since not everyone can afford one.
And the regular inexpensive watches are not extinct because there’re still some demands in the market. Some seniors who have difficulties getting around with modern digital products like cell phones still prefer watches. And there are some young people who are fond of the old fashion love wrist watches.
Besides, women’s watches are changing according to the new demands. Wrist watches for women are becoming more fashionable with modern elements and stylish designs. These watches are not designed to show time to girls, but to decorate their wrists like bracelet. Some watches look even better than regular bracelets. And ladies can match different watches with their apparel.
Moreover, there’re some watch enthusiastics who just love watches and collect them. For these people, watches are like treasure to them. They think watches can have an intensely personal connection to the wearer, and as such, make a better heirloom than almost anything else as the new owner can wear it every day and be reminded of its original owner.
Hehe is an editor of wholesale electronics and cool gadgets website. In his 18, he began to be involved in business area and study how to be a great businessman by himself. Now, he is a marketing expert.
Some of the extinct animals that I thought were kinda cool, hope you enjoy! Video Rating: 4 / 5
seminolecanyon098 Image by mlhradio Seminole Canyon State Park, Val Verde County, Texas. One of the more remote state parks, tucked into the southwest corner of Texas about an hour's drive west of Del Rio.
This area has been inhabited since the very earliest days that humans set foot in North America, going back nearly 12,000 years - back during the last Ice Age when the land was more verdant with now-extinct animals still roaming the surrounding prairies and forest. But over the millenia, the climate changed to its current, arid desert landscape - and the Indians adapted.
All through these years, the local Indians drew pictograms all over the surrounding canyon walls and caves. In the dry climate, protected by overhanging rock walls, many of these pictograms survived through the ages. Some of the more famous sites, such as the Fate Bell and Panther Cave, are the feature attractions of Seminole Canyon, and can be visited by guided tour through the park.
However, I have not yet visited these sites - instead focusing on other areas of the park. On the first visit (March 9th, 2008), I arrived after the park had closed for the day. I walked along the short 'Windmill Trail', a small loop near the visitor's center. This trail leads down to a small year-round spring and the ruins of a water catchment system that was used by local settlers over the past hundred years.
The return trip (September 27, 2008) was much more fruitful - I chose to hike the Rio Grande River Trail, a six-mile out-and-back loop that leads to the far corner of the park, almost a stone's throw from Old Mexico. With recent rains it was fairly lively and green, with countless butterflies passing through on their annual migration. The trail starts alongside the original 'Loop Trail', the 1882 railroad alignment that was abandoned a decade later when a less strenuous route was forged and the Pecos River High Bridge was built.
The trail itself is pretty boring - a flat, featureless hike across a nondescript desert plain. But the main highlight of the hike quickly comes into view. There is a mile-long spur shooting off to the left called the Pressa Trail, which leads to an overlook looking down at a three-way intersection in the Seminole Canyon below. Here, the waters from Lake Amistad many miles away along the Rio Grande peter out; to the right, the waters are wide and deep, muddied from the recent rainstorms. To the left, the two forks of Seminole Canyon are mostly dry. From the top of the overlook, sheer cliffs lead staight down over a hundred feet to the waters below. The view is, well, *breathtaking* - and worth the trip.
Back on the main trail, a few miles later it comes to an abrupt end at the junction where Seminole Canyon merges with the Rio Grande. The location overlooks the Panther Cave pictograms, on the opposite shore far below, accessible only by boat. To the right, a few hundred yards away, are the hills of Mexico. Here, the water is deeper, the canyons steeper, the chasm wider. An impressive view, although not as amazing as the Pressa Trail overlook.
From here, it is a straight hike back along the south portion of the loop, my only companion a great horned toad trying to hide in the gravel of the trail. I would like to return to this park to take the guided tours, and there are other tours available nearby on private land to other pictogram sites as well. And I am told this park is also fabulous for bird watchers as well.
seminolecanyon091 Image by mlhradio Seminole Canyon State Park, Val Verde County, Texas. One of the more remote state parks, tucked into the southwest corner of Texas about an hour's drive west of Del Rio.
This area has been inhabited since the very earliest days that humans set foot in North America, going back nearly 12,000 years - back during the last Ice Age when the land was more verdant with now-extinct animals still roaming the surrounding prairies and forest. But over the millenia, the climate changed to its current, arid desert landscape - and the Indians adapted.
All through these years, the local Indians drew pictograms all over the surrounding canyon walls and caves. In the dry climate, protected by overhanging rock walls, many of these pictograms survived through the ages. Some of the more famous sites, such as the Fate Bell and Panther Cave, are the feature attractions of Seminole Canyon, and can be visited by guided tour through the park.
However, I have not yet visited these sites - instead focusing on other areas of the park. On the first visit (March 9th, 2008), I arrived after the park had closed for the day. I walked along the short 'Windmill Trail', a small loop near the visitor's center. This trail leads down to a small year-round spring and the ruins of a water catchment system that was used by local settlers over the past hundred years.
The return trip (September 27, 2008) was much more fruitful - I chose to hike the Rio Grande River Trail, a six-mile out-and-back loop that leads to the far corner of the park, almost a stone's throw from Old Mexico. With recent rains it was fairly lively and green, with countless butterflies passing through on their annual migration. The trail starts alongside the original 'Loop Trail', the 1882 railroad alignment that was abandoned a decade later when a less strenuous route was forged and the Pecos River High Bridge was built.
The trail itself is pretty boring - a flat, featureless hike across a nondescript desert plain. But the main highlight of the hike quickly comes into view. There is a mile-long spur shooting off to the left called the Pressa Trail, which leads to an overlook looking down at a three-way intersection in the Seminole Canyon below. Here, the waters from Lake Amistad many miles away along the Rio Grande peter out; to the right, the waters are wide and deep, muddied from the recent rainstorms. To the left, the two forks of Seminole Canyon are mostly dry. From the top of the overlook, sheer cliffs lead staight down over a hundred feet to the waters below. The view is, well, *breathtaking* - and worth the trip.
Back on the main trail, a few miles later it comes to an abrupt end at the junction where Seminole Canyon merges with the Rio Grande. The location overlooks the Panther Cave pictograms, on the opposite shore far below, accessible only by boat. To the right, a few hundred yards away, are the hills of Mexico. Here, the water is deeper, the canyons steeper, the chasm wider. An impressive view, although not as amazing as the Pressa Trail overlook.
From here, it is a straight hike back along the south portion of the loop, my only companion a great horned toad trying to hide in the gravel of the trail. I would like to return to this park to take the guided tours, and there are other tours available nearby on private land to other pictogram sites as well. And I am told this park is also fabulous for bird watchers as well.
Dinosaurs, Crystal Palace Image by Pete Reed The Crystal Palace Dinosaurs are sculptures that were commissioned in 1852 and unveiled in 1854. When the Crystal Palace was moved to Sydenham Hill after the Great Exhibition, the new Crystal Palace Company commissioned Benjamin Waterhouse (a sculptor) and Sir Richard Owen (a biologist and palaeontologist) to build life-sized models of extinct animals. In the end, the funding ran out, and some of the planned sculptures remained uncompleted.
The reconstructions were based on fossils from the Natural History Museum, and skeletons of modern animals. They predated the publication of Darwin's Origin of Species by several years, and at the time were controversial. Within 40 years, science had moved on, and the models were recognised as being unrealistic. They fell into disrepair, but were restored in 2002, and were grade-1 listed in 2007.
When I was a child I had a dinosaur book with pictures of these, and I have waited for almost half a century to see the real thing. Today I finally made it. After all that time, I was prepared to be disappointed, and slightly surprised that I wasn't.
Dinosaurs, Crystal Palace Image by Pete Reed The Crystal Palace Dinosaurs are sculptures that were commissioned in 1852 and unveiled in 1854. When the Crystal Palace was moved to Sydenham Hill after the Great Exhibition, the new Crystal Palace Company commissioned Benjamin Waterhouse (a sculptor) and Sir Richard Owen (a biologist and palaeontologist) to build life-sized models of extinct animals. In the end, the funding ran out, and some of the planned sculptures remained uncompleted.
The reconstructions were based on fossils from the Natural History Museum, and skeletons of modern animals. They predated the publication of Darwin's Origin of Species by several years, and at the time were controversial. Within 40 years, science had moved on, and the models were recognised as being unrealistic. They fell into disrepair, but were restored in 2002, and were grade-1 listed in 2007.
When I was a child I had a dinosaur book with pictures of these, and I have waited for almost half a century to see the real thing. Today I finally made it. After all that time, I was prepared to be disappointed, and slightly surprised that I wasn't.
Dinosaurs, Crystal Palace Image by Pete Reed The Crystal Palace Dinosaurs are sculptures that were commissioned in 1852 and unveiled in 1854. When the Crystal Palace was moved to Sydenham Hill after the Great Exhibition, the new Crystal Palace Company commissioned Benjamin Waterhouse (a sculptor) and Sir Richard Owen (a biologist and palaeontologist) to build life-sized models of extinct animals. In the end, the funding ran out, and some of the planned sculptures remained uncompleted.
The reconstructions were based on fossils from the Natural History Museum, and skeletons of modern animals. They predated the publication of Darwin's Origin of Species by several years, and at the time were controversial. Within 40 years, science had moved on, and the models were recognised as being unrealistic. They fell into disrepair, but were restored in 2002, and were grade-1 listed in 2007.
When I was a child I had a dinosaur book with pictures of these, and I have waited for almost half a century to see the real thing. Today I finally made it. After all that time, I was prepared to be disappointed, and slightly surprised that I wasn't.
Uganda and Rwanda are known for gorillas which are about to become extinct. A huge damage to their population was done during the civil strife that gripped the region in the early part of the 1990s – there was no safety cover that could protect gorillas from poachers. There were nearly 700 gorillas in 2002 which has been reduced to 260 in 2008. The curiosity to see the endangered gorillas forces travelers from around the world to come and know the close ancestors of human from close – they share 97% genetic material with human beings.
The ORTPN Park is known to have rare Giant primates or the Legendary Mountain Gorillas in Africa. Travelers who do Safari at the park can have an opportunity to see these gorillas; however, a major problem is that the creature does not often come out and it depends a lot upon the time and luck that a traveler can have a view of them. Generally, gorillas come out when they are hungry and that too at the nearest food.
The endangered gorillas are also found in Africa’s Virunga Volcanoes Mountains. Another species that attracts travelers is Golden Monkey which is found in Thousand Hills. The subspecies of blue monkey, Golden Monkey are common sites in the bamboo forests of the volcanic mountain chain that is spread in the parts of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Rwenzori trekking
Rwenzori Trekking offers exciting adventurous traveling experience to travelers with its terrain and wildlife. Also called the Mountains of the Moon, Rwenzori Mountains are a mountain range of central Africa.
Located between Uganda and the DRC, the mountain has an height of 5,109 m. Most of the time, the peaks of Rwenzori Mountain are snow-capped which can be considered ideal for mountaineering and trekking. Travelers from far countries come to expedite the tough terrain and feel victorious after reaching atop the hill.
The range of mountain has diverse flora and fauna that attract travelers and enchant them a lot. Vegetation, ranging from tropical rainforest to alpine meadows to snow can be considered a major attraction; such diversity is unparallel and unfound anywhere in the world. Nonetheless, the animals found in the range of mountain can be considered exquisite ones. Animals ranging from forest elephants to giant heathers to senecios and lobelias, etc. amongst others can be seen anytime at these mountains.
Uganda Safari at Safaritoeastafrica.com, offers Uganda Tours , Rwanda tours, Uganda safari, destination Jungle, Vacations to Uganda, Gorilla Trekking and rwenzori trekking.
Between April and July 1987 over 1500 adult Golden Toads were counted within a small area in the Monteverde Cloudforest region of Northern Costa Rica. The following year barely 10 Golden Toads were counted and on the 15 May 1989 the last Golden Toad ever to be seen was recorded. No one is really sure what has happened to this, now, emblematic animal. One theory is that a particularly harsh El Niño year in 1987 dried up the ponds where the eggs were spawned resulting in very few tadpoles and affecting the adult toads. Another theory is that the toads have gone underground until a time when the climate may return to a more agreeable state for them. Numerous species of toads and frogs have also fallen to a fungal infection, chyrtridiomycosis, which has been spreading further and further, in particular creeping south in Central America. The only certainty is that no member of the Golden Toad has been seen in over 21 years and the species was officially declared extinct by the IUCN in 2004.
But hope is not lost. A team from the IUCN Amphibian Specialist Group has just embarked on a massive amphibian search in 14 countries. Every species they are looking for has not been seen in years and many are thought to be extinct, including the Golden Toad of Monteverde. Amphibians are an important indicator of the health of the environment and any discovery of these disappeared species would be a great indication of hope.
The Ecuadorian government has signed a historic deal to not drill for oil in the Yasuni National Park, the ancestral home of the Huaorani indigenous people.
It is estimated that under the Yasuni National Park lies around 900 million barrels of crude. Yasuni, covering 2.5 million acres of primary tropical forest is also a remote part of the Amazon, is an area of extreme biodiversity with what is thought to be the highest density of trees and insects in the world. It is also the ancestral home of the Huaorani people, an indigenous group that had virtually no contact with the outside world until the arrival of missionaries in the late 1950s.
The deal brokered by the UNDP has lead to the creation of a trust fund into which foreign governments will place money to compensate Ecuador for the loss of revenue from not exploiting the oil reserves under the National Park. France, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany and Spain are amongst the countries that have already committed to the scheme pledging, collectively, GB£1.1 billion, about half of the amount the Ecuadorian government is asking for.
Oil prospecting and extraction is the single greatest threat to the rich biodiversity of the area and to the traditional way of life of the Huaorani people. Not only will this deal help protect the National Park and its inhabitants, but will also, hopefully, prevent some 400 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from going into the atmosphere. This could be a precursor to similar schemes in other countries including Guatemala, Vietnam and Nigeria.
seminolecanyon126 Image by mlhradio Seminole Canyon State Park, Val Verde County, Texas. One of the more remote state parks, tucked into the southwest corner of Texas about an hour's drive west of Del Rio.
This area has been inhabited since the very earliest days that humans set foot in North America, going back nearly 12,000 years - back during the last Ice Age when the land was more verdant with now-extinct animals still roaming the surrounding prairies and forest. But over the millenia, the climate changed to its current, arid desert landscape - and the Indians adapted.
All through these years, the local Indians drew pictograms all over the surrounding canyon walls and caves. In the dry climate, protected by overhanging rock walls, many of these pictograms survived through the ages. Some of the more famous sites, such as the Fate Bell and Panther Cave, are the feature attractions of Seminole Canyon, and can be visited by guided tour through the park.
However, I have not yet visited these sites - instead focusing on other areas of the park. On the first visit (March 9th, 2008), I arrived after the park had closed for the day. I walked along the short 'Windmill Trail', a small loop near the visitor's center. This trail leads down to a small year-round spring and the ruins of a water catchment system that was used by local settlers over the past hundred years.
The return trip (September 27, 2008) was much more fruitful - I chose to hike the Rio Grande River Trail, a six-mile out-and-back loop that leads to the far corner of the park, almost a stone's throw from Old Mexico. With recent rains it was fairly lively and green, with countless butterflies passing through on their annual migration. The trail starts alongside the original 'Loop Trail', the 1882 railroad alignment that was abandoned a decade later when a less strenuous route was forged and the Pecos River High Bridge was built.
The trail itself is pretty boring - a flat, featureless hike across a nondescript desert plain. But the main highlight of the hike quickly comes into view. There is a mile-long spur shooting off to the left called the Pressa Trail, which leads to an overlook looking down at a three-way intersection in the Seminole Canyon below. Here, the waters from Lake Amistad many miles away along the Rio Grande peter out; to the right, the waters are wide and deep, muddied from the recent rainstorms. To the left, the two forks of Seminole Canyon are mostly dry. From the top of the overlook, sheer cliffs lead staight down over a hundred feet to the waters below. The view is, well, *breathtaking* - and worth the trip.
Back on the main trail, a few miles later it comes to an abrupt end at the junction where Seminole Canyon merges with the Rio Grande. The location overlooks the Panther Cave pictograms, on the opposite shore far below, accessible only by boat. To the right, a few hundred yards away, are the hills of Mexico. Here, the water is deeper, the canyons steeper, the chasm wider. An impressive view, although not as amazing as the Pressa Trail overlook.
From here, it is a straight hike back along the south portion of the loop, my only companion a great horned toad trying to hide in the gravel of the trail. I would like to return to this park to take the guided tours, and there are other tours available nearby on private land to other pictogram sites as well. And I am told this park is also fabulous for bird watchers as well.
Vishnuram Handique from Assam, India is the saviour of a traditional knowledge and technique of making writing materials. This old version of paper called "Sanci Paat" is made up of the inner bark of the Agar or Aloe tree. Vishnuram accidently got some manuscripts describing how the Sanci Paat writing material is made. He was not aware of the content information until one day he decided to read the manuscripts and by chance he knew Brajaboli, the language in which the manuscript was written. Vishnuram showed interest in trying out this age old technique of making paper. He did a lot of experiments and finally succeeded in making the Sanci Paat.
The paper is linked with the Assamese cultural heritage and it was used by the monarchs for issuing sermons and diktats. These papers were also used by the saints and priests for writing down scriptures. These saints used to say that the use of Agar tree made papers are coming from time since immemorial and have great religious importance.
Process of preparing Sanci Paat
The process of making the paper first involve dipping the Agar bark in water for a day and then it is taken out for drying during night as the daylight cramps the bark edges. The bark pieces are pressed under the wooden press for 2-3 days and again the pieces are wetted and dried. The barks surface are then painted with an organic dye locally called "Hengool" and is not used for next 15 days after which the edges of the bark pieces are painted and it is done by using another organic dye called "haital". After 2-3 days the bark becomes ready for writing. First a proper shape is given to the bark layers by cutting them into a definite size.
Writing on these leaves is done using pointed material and then they are rubbed so that the lines get visible.
The Paat is susceptible of cracking on the edges and so it tried at the centre. The way of preparation makes Paat resistant to insects and gives it a long life.
Recognition for the Effort
National Innovation Foundation, India (NIF) has recognised the efforts of Vishnuram in protecting this almost extinct technique of paper making and writing on it and it has awarded him with special honour in its biennial national competition for unaided green grassroots innovations and traditional knowledge.
Ashish Kumar is a student at Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. He likes to write articles on grassroots innovations and other related topics.
To know the story of "Sanci Paat" in deatil, please visit
seminolecanyon009 Image by mlhradio Seminole Canyon State Park, Val Verde County, Texas. One of the more remote state parks, tucked into the southwest corner of Texas about an hour's drive west of Del Rio.
This area has been inhabited since the very earliest days that humans set foot in North America, going back nearly 12,000 years - back during the last Ice Age when the land was more verdant with now-extinct animals still roaming the surrounding prairies and forest. But over the millenia, the climate changed to its current, arid desert landscape - and the Indians adapted.
All through these years, the local Indians drew pictograms all over the surrounding canyon walls and caves. In the dry climate, protected by overhanging rock walls, many of these pictograms survived through the ages. Some of the more famous sites, such as the Fate Bell and Panther Cave, are the feature attractions of Seminole Canyon, and can be visited by guided tour through the park.
However, I have not yet visited these sites - instead focusing on other areas of the park. On the first visit (March 9th, 2008), I arrived after the park had closed for the day. I walked along the short 'Windmill Trail', a small loop near the visitor's center. This trail leads down to a small year-round spring and the ruins of a water catchment system that was used by local settlers over the past hundred years.
The return trip (September 27, 2008) was much more fruitful - I chose to hike the Rio Grande River Trail, a six-mile out-and-back loop that leads to the far corner of the park, almost a stone's throw from Old Mexico. With recent rains it was fairly lively and green, with countless butterflies passing through on their annual migration. The trail starts alongside the original 'Loop Trail', the 1882 railroad alignment that was abandoned a decade later when a less strenuous route was forged and the Pecos River High Bridge was built.
The trail itself is pretty boring - a flat, featureless hike across a nondescript desert plain. But the main highlight of the hike quickly comes into view. There is a mile-long spur shooting off to the left called the Pressa Trail, which leads to an overlook looking down at a three-way intersection in the Seminole Canyon below. Here, the waters from Lake Amistad many miles away along the Rio Grande peter out; to the right, the waters are wide and deep, muddied from the recent rainstorms. To the left, the two forks of Seminole Canyon are mostly dry. From the top of the overlook, sheer cliffs lead staight down over a hundred feet to the waters below. The view is, well, *breathtaking* - and worth the trip.
Back on the main trail, a few miles later it comes to an abrupt end at the junction where Seminole Canyon merges with the Rio Grande. The location overlooks the Panther Cave pictograms, on the opposite shore far below, accessible only by boat. To the right, a few hundred yards away, are the hills of Mexico. Here, the water is deeper, the canyons steeper, the chasm wider. An impressive view, although not as amazing as the Pressa Trail overlook.
From here, it is a straight hike back along the south portion of the loop, my only companion a great horned toad trying to hide in the gravel of the trail. I would like to return to this park to take the guided tours, and there are other tours available nearby on private land to other pictogram sites as well. And I am told this park is also fabulous for bird watchers as well.
seminolecanyon104 Image by mlhradio Seminole Canyon State Park, Val Verde County, Texas. One of the more remote state parks, tucked into the southwest corner of Texas about an hour's drive west of Del Rio.
This area has been inhabited since the very earliest days that humans set foot in North America, going back nearly 12,000 years - back during the last Ice Age when the land was more verdant with now-extinct animals still roaming the surrounding prairies and forest. But over the millenia, the climate changed to its current, arid desert landscape - and the Indians adapted.
All through these years, the local Indians drew pictograms all over the surrounding canyon walls and caves. In the dry climate, protected by overhanging rock walls, many of these pictograms survived through the ages. Some of the more famous sites, such as the Fate Bell and Panther Cave, are the feature attractions of Seminole Canyon, and can be visited by guided tour through the park.
However, I have not yet visited these sites - instead focusing on other areas of the park. On the first visit (March 9th, 2008), I arrived after the park had closed for the day. I walked along the short 'Windmill Trail', a small loop near the visitor's center. This trail leads down to a small year-round spring and the ruins of a water catchment system that was used by local settlers over the past hundred years.
The return trip (September 27, 2008) was much more fruitful - I chose to hike the Rio Grande River Trail, a six-mile out-and-back loop that leads to the far corner of the park, almost a stone's throw from Old Mexico. With recent rains it was fairly lively and green, with countless butterflies passing through on their annual migration. The trail starts alongside the original 'Loop Trail', the 1882 railroad alignment that was abandoned a decade later when a less strenuous route was forged and the Pecos River High Bridge was built.
The trail itself is pretty boring - a flat, featureless hike across a nondescript desert plain. But the main highlight of the hike quickly comes into view. There is a mile-long spur shooting off to the left called the Pressa Trail, which leads to an overlook looking down at a three-way intersection in the Seminole Canyon below. Here, the waters from Lake Amistad many miles away along the Rio Grande peter out; to the right, the waters are wide and deep, muddied from the recent rainstorms. To the left, the two forks of Seminole Canyon are mostly dry. From the top of the overlook, sheer cliffs lead staight down over a hundred feet to the waters below. The view is, well, *breathtaking* - and worth the trip.
Back on the main trail, a few miles later it comes to an abrupt end at the junction where Seminole Canyon merges with the Rio Grande. The location overlooks the Panther Cave pictograms, on the opposite shore far below, accessible only by boat. To the right, a few hundred yards away, are the hills of Mexico. Here, the water is deeper, the canyons steeper, the chasm wider. An impressive view, although not as amazing as the Pressa Trail overlook.
From here, it is a straight hike back along the south portion of the loop, my only companion a great horned toad trying to hide in the gravel of the trail. I would like to return to this park to take the guided tours, and there are other tours available nearby on private land to other pictogram sites as well. And I am told this park is also fabulous for bird watchers as well.
The Tyrannosaurus Rex is one of the most famous extinct animals. He was the largest carnivorous land animal of all time, measuring forty-three feet long and sixteen and a half feet high, with a weight that may have approached seven tons. He had a huge skull (but a small brain), balanced by a long tail. His hind legs were large and powerful, but his forelimbs were very small and they only had two digits on them.
T. Rex fossils have been found in North America, and these date back to the last years of the Cretaceous Period. This was roughly sixty-five million years ago. He was one of the last dinosaurs on earth before the extinction-causing event that befell all the dinosaurs. There have been more than thirty fossil structures unearthed that archaeologists identify as T. rex.
Another interesting mammal on the extinct animals list is the Quagga, which is a wild animal, half horse, half zebra. Scientists have since genetically manipulated genes to create a Zorse, which is also a horse-zebra hybrid. The original Quagga's have been extinct in the wild since 1883. These animals had zebra markings only on the front part of their body - the back part was usually a mousy dun color. Their name came from a Khoikhoi word for Zebra.
The Quagga was originally put into the mammal class as its own species, Equus Quagga. But scientists realized that this was no simple Zebra they were looking at. Quagga were hunted to extinction for their hides and meat, and to save feed for domestic animals. The Quagga was the first of the extinct animals to have researchers study its DNA.
The Tasmanian Tiger has been extinct since 1936. This was the largest carnivorous marsupial alive in modern times.
The breed originated in New Guinea and Australia, and it was also called the Tasmanian Wolf, and locally, where they were found, as Tazzy Tiger or Tiger.
The Tasmanian Tiger survived on the isle of Tasmania for thousands of years after it had disappeared from Australia. There were Tasmanian Tiger hunts, which helped to cause its extinction, but it was also affected by human encroachment on their lands, as well as dogs being introduced to their areas, and diseases affecting them.
Steller's Sea Cow went extinct in 1768. It used to be found near the Bering Sea, where it was discovered in 1741. The sea cow grew to about twenty-six feet in length, and weighed up to three tons. It looked much like a larger version of the seal, but it had a tail like a whale, and two stout forearms. According to the man who discovered the animals, he said they never came out on the shore, but always lived in the water. He also said that the animal had thick black skin like the bark of an oak tree.
These are just a few of the extinct animals that no longer roam - or swim - the earth.
