Home/Articles in: Wildlife & Flora
Articles in: Wildlife & Flora
Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Jun 1st, 2013,
The world renowned Jim Corbett National Park is one of the most searched top destinations in India. Yes, this is true. Google India has revealed the top summer travel search trends that highlights a large number of people like to visit the Corbett to experience the wildlife and have the unforgettable summer holidays. What makes the park as one of the top search attractions in India; let us explore the various reasons: Oldest National Park Jim Corbett National Park is an oldest national park in India and it is one of the most prominent reasons as why most of the…
Animals, Nature, Weird Stuff, Wildlife & Flora, May 8th, 2013,
Species: North Island brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli) Status: Endangered (EN) Interesting Fact: The North Island brown kiwi is more like a mammal than a bird, with fur-like feathers, muscular legs and even cat-like whiskers on its face. Kiwis are the national bird of New Zealand, and are some of the most unusual of all birds. One of five kiwi species, the North Island brown kiwi is flightless and lives on the ground, where it shelters in a burrow during the day. Its long, thin bill has sensory pits at the end which can detect prey moving underground, while, uniquely among birds, the nostrils are…
Tags: endangered species of the week
Nature, Weird Stuff, Wildlife & Flora, May 6th, 2013,
With net migration to the United States from Mexico at zero, paranoid people need something else to freak out about. The “good” news is that there is always plenty of things to make both the sane and the insane flip their wigs. So where do the weird, invasive fish that have been turning up in America’s iconic parks, coastlines and even on dinner tables figure in? Big deal, minor curiosity or somewhere in between climate change and wind farms spoiling the view? Let’s look at a couple of recent examples of invasive fish hype: Fishzilla – the name alone says…
Tags: invasive species, lionfish, northern snakehead
Animals, Nature, Wildlife & Flora, May 5th, 2013,
Wildlife enthusiasts love to flaunt their knowledge about different species. If you are from the same group or wish to be a part of it, then have a look at the top interesting facts about the one-horned rhinoceros and sharpen your knowledge base. Rhino horn is not a bone but a compacted mass of hairs Keratin is the substance that makes the horn of rhinos. It is the same material that is used in making of human hairs and fingernails. So there is no bone in the rhino horn; rather, it is just a trampled bunch of fibers or hairs….
Animals, Weird Stuff, Wildlife & Flora, May 3rd, 2013,
Status:Critically Endangered (CR) Interesting Fact: The kakapo is the largest parrot in the world, and is also the only flightless parrot species. An extremely rare, nocturnal parrot, the kakapo was once widespread across New Zealand, but is now confined to two predator-free offshore islands. This unusual bird feeds on a variety of fruits, seeds and other plant material and generally lives alone, coming together only to breed. During the breeding season, male kakapos produce a loud ‘boom’ call to attract a mate, which can be heard up to five kilometres away. The kakapo is long-lived but breeds slowly, usually only once every two…
Tags: endangered species of the week
Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Apr 25th, 2013,
Do you notice the articles on wildlife that get published these days? Everything in negative light….no hope for sustenance, loss of habitat, declining population of various species and what not. As if the world has come to an end and only the worst possible things will happen last of the survivors. However, tell truth…..do you actually believe a picture to be that bleak? You know, there are good people trying to put in their expertise and efforts to make things better, even if that seems only an inch to those who do nothing but sit, observe and throw their…
Animals, Nature, Weird Stuff, Wildlife & Flora, Apr 24th, 2013,
Species: Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) Status: Critically Endangered (CR) Interesting Fact: The large proboscis-like nose of the saiga antelope is thought to help with body temperature control. The strange looking saiga antelope has an extremely distinctive appearance, with an enlarged nose that hangs down over the mouth. This impressive nose is thought to warm and moisten inhaled air during the winter, and act as a filter against dust during the dry summer. Saiga antelope feed by grazing on various plants, and are usually active during the day. They are nomadic, and undertake long seasonal migrations of up to 1,000 kilometers. During the mating season, male…
Politics, Pollution, Wildlife & Flora, Apr 16th, 2013,
Acute and far-reaching effects are still being felt some three years after the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig and resulting oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Here are some updates on the fallout from the United States’ worst ever environmental disaster: Poisoned wildlife From the Independent: Scientists believe that the 1.8 million gallons of dispersant, sprayed as part of the clean-up, have cemented the disaster’s toxic effect on ocean life and human health. The dispersant, called Corexit, caused what some scientists have described as “a giant black snowstorm” of tiny oil globules, which has been carried around…
Tags: deepwater horizon spill, gulf of mexico pollution, offshore drilling
Animal Rights, Conservation, Wildlife & Flora, Apr 1st, 2013,
The ongoing spat between crazy cat people and tree-hugging fanatic eco-fascists has reared its ugly head yet again. What I mean to say is that a recent article by one variety of animal-lover has rekindled a debate between conservationists and cat lovers. Back in mid March the Orlando Sentinel published an op-ed by Audubon Magazine editor “at large” Ted Williams, which put forth that feral cats should be trapped and euthanized – for reasons of conservation and human health – in place of the common practice of trapping, neutering and re-releasing them. William argues that feral cats constitute a health…
Tags: feral cats, florida wildlife, invasive species
Nature, Politics, Pollution, Videos & Documentaries, Wildlife & Flora, Mar 28th, 2013,
A provider of sanctuary to WikiLeaks founder and champion of transparency Julian Assange and staunch ally of the recently bereaved Venezuela, Ecuador has been punching above its weight of late. In terms of international relations, that is. Ecologically speaking, Ecuador is a bonafide heavyweight. According to Conservation International, it is one of the world’s 17 megadiverse countries, with the highest density of biodiversity per km on Earth. The Galápagos Islands alone should cement the nation’s global environmental value, but even without them Ecuador’s natural wealth is invaluable. Half the area of the country is covered by the Amazon rainforest and…
Tags: Ecuador Amazon, oil in Ecuador
Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Mar 25th, 2013,
Is the cloning of extinct species, or de-extinction, simply a fascinating exercise in futility? Or perhaps you consider it blasphemous – a bunch of modern-day Doctor Frankensteins “playing God”. On the other hand maybe could it lead to something truly exciting and monumental – a doable Jurassic Park where the visitors don’t get eaten? There are, of course, a host of potential issues that pop up as is the case with any experimental technology. Genetically engineered hoards of revived passenger pigeons could spread disease. And do we want billions to be spent on reintroducing species only to have them die…
Tags: cloning, de-extinction, extinction, woolly mammoth
Animals, Wildlife & Flora, Mar 21st, 2013,
The elephant seal, massive, fleshy and sometimes violent, is something to behold. Their pups are as cute as any other seal pups, but dwarf even adult harbor, harp or monk seals. Of course it’s the adult males that really live up to their namesake, with bulls reaching weights of 3,000 kilos (6,600 lbs) and a lengths of up to 6 meters (20 feet). When these blubbery bulls fight it’s like sumo wrestling with teeth. Conservation If there are any doubts as to whether species conservation works, the history of the elephant seal should dispel them. According to the Wildlife Conservation…
Tags: elephant seal brazil, elephant seal pups, elephant seal video
Animals, Conservation, Wildlife & Flora, Feb 28th, 2013,
Shooting giant snakes in the Florida Everglades may sound like an exciting and exotic opportunity for many hunters. In fact, the state’s recent Python Challenge attracted over 1,500 participants, though it only resulted in the killing or capture of 68 of the massive constrictors. 68 isn’t really a dent in the number of Burmese pythons purported to be thriving in the wilds of Florida. No one really knows how many of the invasive snake species actually live in the Everglades, but estimates range from the “tens of thousands” to 150,000. The snakes start out as pets for the childish adult…
Tags: Everglades, florida pythons, mercury poisoning
Animals, Conservation, Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Aug 26th, 2012,
Malaysia, along with Indonesia, is the only place in the world where one can witness orangutans in the wild. These solitary but social simians are the only great apes which are unique to Asia. Orangutans mostly feed on fruit, but also eat leaves, shoots and other vegetation and the occasional insect, egg or small vertebrate. The name “orangutan” comes from the Malay words “orang” meaning person and “hutan” meaning forest. The forest is the orangutan’s home and the best place to observe these gentle, highly intelligent primates. In order to see orangutans it is therefore recommended you visit Malaysia’s national…
Tags: Malaysia, wild orangutans
Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Aug 22nd, 2012,
Multi-ethnic, rich in culture and biodiversity, Malaysia is both a place you want to visit and don’t want to spoil by being an “ugly tourist”. By “spoil” I mean contribute to overdevelopment, thereby watering down the traditional culture or even destroying the nature that brought you here in the first place. “Ugly” tourism fails to respect the local culture or environment and rather draws people solely for its weather, waves and lightness on the wallet. Ethical travel, on the other hand, does the reverse. The ethical tourist wants to give something back – and I don’t mean empty beer bottles…
Tags: eco-tourism, ethical travel, Malaysia
Green living, Wildlife & Flora, Aug 21st, 2012,
Sustainable travel, including responsible nature holidays and what has become known as eco-tourism, is on the rise in Malaysia – and with good reason. Though Malaysia has highly developed urban regions, it is also home to a rich ecology and diverse geography. For the nature-interested traveller, this Southeast Asian nation comprises mountains and highlands; beaches and countless tropical islands; rainforests and mangrove estuaries plus much more. The well-organized tourism infrastructure and wealth of natural locations and activities help make Malaysia one of the world’s top destinations for environmentally-conscious travel. Malaysia is an exciting as well as convenient location for a…
Tags: agricultural tourism, eco-breaks, islands, Malaysia, orangutan, voluntourism, wildlife observation
Animals, Conservation, Wildlife & Flora, Aug 13th, 2012,
According to a piece in the New York Times, great white sharks are responsible for most overall shark attacks world wide as well as most fatal and unprovoked attacks. There have been 5 fatal shark attacks off the coast of Western Australia in the past 10 months, sparking speculation that the population of great whites is increasing and discussion about removing the shark’s protected status. Great whites have been protected in Australia since 1999. Despite the dangers that some varieties of sharks sometimes pose, experts recommend managing human behavior rather than reducing shark populations. A shark attack registry maintained by the University…
Tags: attack, endangered, great white, protected, shark, species
Animal Rights, Animals, Conservation, Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Aug 8th, 2012,
Across the globe it’s once again humans vs. wolves. This timeless battle has changed its face from hunters and farmers simply shooting wolves in order to protect their livestock and assuage their communities’ fears, whether real or imagined. It’s now a confusing mix of laws, politics and technology. Wiped out, endangered, protected species… it doesn’t matter. While humans can’t get enough of their domesticated off-shoots (dogs, incase you don’t catch my drift) many still hate and fear wolves. In the US, where local and national laws often collide confusingly, some wolves in some parts of the State of Washington are…
Tags: France, shepherds, Switzerland, USA, Washington State, wolves
Animals, Nature, Weird Stuff, Wildlife & Flora, Aug 2nd, 2012,
I don’t mean to lower the tone of the website by posting about an animal that looks like a male generative organ, but I’m going to do just that. This slimy beast has been making a bit of a splash on the science and environment pages of many a website of late after Brazilian biologists found six examples of the blind and lungless species of amphibian called the Atretochoana eiselti at the bottom of a drained river in the northern state of Rondonia. A ‘member’ (stop it) of the caecilian order of amphibians, which physically resemble earthworms or snakes, very…
Tags: amphibian, Atretochoana eiselti, lungless
Animals, Nature, Weird Stuff, Wildlife & Flora, Jul 23rd, 2012,
If you’re not from Florida, you wouldn’t have thought it, but manatees often make the news in the Sunshine State. For example, did you know that there are professional manatee spotters working in south Florida? They scan waterways in search of the gentle, lumbering sea cows to make sure they aren’t too close to any work sites. If they spot one approaching, all work on the site must stop until the manatee moves on to a safe distance. From the Los Angeles Times: The slow-moving sea cows are vulnerable to heavy equipment like the unforgiving dredging buckets that bite huge…
Tags: Florida, manatees
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