#Wildlife of the Deserts (1980)

[vintagewildlife]

Coyote in a den By: Jonathan T. Wright From: Wildlife of the Deserts 1980

[afeelgoodblog]

The Best News of Last Week

Welcome to Feel Good News! Each week, I scour the web to bring you a collection of uplifting and positive news stories. My goal is to provide you with a dose of inspiration and hope to start your week off on the right foot.

This week, I have stories about individuals who are making a difference in their communities, companies that are doing good in the world, and much more. I hope you enjoy reading these stories as much as I enjoyed putting this newsletter together.

Let’s start with:

1. FDA Plans to Allow More Gay, Bisexual Men to Donate Blood

Gay and bisexual men in monogamous relationships would be allowed to donate blood without abstaining from sex under guidelines being drafted by the Food and Drug Administration, people familiar with the plans said.

The change would be a departure from U.S. policy that for many years barred men who have sex with men from donating blood. The FDA policy originated in the 1980s during the AIDS epidemic, when tests for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, weren’t considered sensitive enough to protect the blood supply.

2. Biden-Harris Administration Makes $50 Million Available to Clean Up Orphaned Oil and Gas Wells on Tribal Lands

There are several thousand orphaned oil and gas wells on Tribal lands, jeopardizing public health and safety by contaminating groundwater, seeping toxic chemicals, emitting harmful pollutants including methane, and harming wildlife. Some of these wells are underwater, which creates an especially high risk of adverse impacts.

3. Golden bandicoots 'breeding rapidly' in the NSW outback 100 years after becoming locally extinct

The first golden bandicoots have been born in NSW's far north-west in 100 years, after formerly being extinct in the region.

Golden bandicoots have been breeding rapidly in Sturt National Park since being introduced to as part of the Wild Deserts project. There are initiatives in place as part of the project to protect native fauna from feral animals. More native species are set be reintroduced to the area and will be confirmed next year.

Cue the Crash Bandicoot references :D

4. Toledo Zoo welcomes twin polar bear cubs

Twin polar bear cubs were born at the Toledo Zoo, the zoo announced Thursday. The parents of the twin cubs are 24-year-old female, Crystal, and 18-year-old male, Nuka.

Crystal’s eighth and ninth cubs’ genders are unknown at this time. They are estimated to make their public exhibit debut in the spring of 2023.

Watch the video of the announcement here:

Feel Good News by Erica @feelgoodnwsToledo Zoo welcomes twin polar bear cubs

5. A Philadelphia woman collects thousands of stuffed animals and brings them to seniors who are in need of a Christmas gift

Santa Claus isn't the only person who travels around with a vehicle full of toys. Every holiday season, Patricia Gallagher fills her car with stuffed animals and drives around Philadelphia. She doesn't give them to kids, she gives them to seniors. 

"Who would think that elderly veterans would want stuffed animals? But they did," Patricia Gallagher said of the project.

6. 150 sea turtles saved from the cold. An aquarium in Boston has been treating "cold-stunned" sea turtles stranded on US beaches.

An aquarium in Boston has been treating "cold-stunned" sea turtles stranded on US beaches. Experts urge the public not to return stranded animals into the water.

Over 150 sea turtles have received treatment this season for "life-threatening medical conditions" prompted by hypothermia in the New England Aquarium, based in the US city of Boston.

7. 'No K-pop on a dead planet': Meet the K-pop stans taking on the climate crisis

What does Kpop4planet do?

Nurul a 23 year old fan from Indonesia and her colleagues have channeled most of their energy into six different climate campaigns. Over 33,000 fans from 170 countries have taken part in them.

The most successful of these has been ‘No K-pop on a dead planet’. It called for K-pop albums to go green by selling digital rather than physical albums, minimizing the packaging and encouraging low carbon performances.

The movement has proved popular with the fandom. For Kpop4planet work two full-time employees along with 20 volunteer ambassadors from nine countries. The group is funded by Action Speaks Louder, a charity registered in Australia who lobby to hold big companies accountable for their climate change promises.

. . .

That’s it for this week. If you liked this post you can support this newsletter with a small kofi donation:

Buy me a coffee ❤️

Have a great week ahead :)

[warningsine]

NEW DELHI (AP) — Nearly 970 million people — or over 10% of the global population — are eligible to vote in India’s general elections that start Friday and last to June 1. The mammoth exercise is the biggest anywhere in the world and will take 44 days before results are announced on June 4.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third successive term. He will face off against a broad but flailing alliance of opposition parties that are struggling to challenge his appeal. Most surveys predict Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party will win comfortably, cementing him as one of the country’s most popular and consequential leaders.

WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG?

It boils down to two key reasons: the sheer size of India, the world’s most populous country, and the astonishing level of logistics needed to ensure that every registered voter is able to cast their ballot.

Over the years, the duration of voting has wavered. It took nearly four months to complete the vote in India’s first elections in 1951-1952, after it gained independence from British rule, and just four days in 1980. In 2019, voting took 39 days, and this year’s election is the second longest.

With 969 million registered voters, the size of India’s electorate is bigger than the combined population of the 27 European Union member states. This includes 18 million first-time voters, and around 197 million who are in their 20s.

The vote to choose 543 lawmakers for the lower house of Parliament takes place over seven phases. India’s 28 states and eight federal territories will vote at different times. Each phase is one day, with the first held on April 19 and the last on June 1.

While some states will cast their ballots in a day, voting elsewhere may take longer. The largest state, Uttar Pradesh, which is the size of Brazil with 200 million people, will vote on all seven days, for example.

General elections in India tend to take weeks to conduct, but Modi’s opponents also say it gives him an advantage as it makes it easier for the prime minister, the public face of the BJP, to travel and campaign, especially in states where they are weak.

EVERY VOTE COUNTS

The Election Commission of India, which oversees the vote, has to make sure there is a voting booth available within 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) of every voter.

“Election officials have to travel to great lengths to ensure that even a single voter can exercise their franchise,” said Chakshu Roy of PRS Legislative Research, an independent think tank.

Some 15 million election officials and security staff will traverse the country’s deserts and mountains — sometimes by boat, foot and even on horseback — to try to reach every voter.

It can be especially arduous. In 2019, when India last held elections, a team of polling officers trekked over 480 kilometers (300 miles) for four days just so a single voter in a hamlet in the remote state of Arunachal Pradesh, which borders China, could exercise their right.

Officials also traveled to a village tucked away high up in the Himalayas in 2019 to install a booth at 15,256 feet (4,650 meters), the highest polling station anywhere in the world.

This time too, polling stations will be installed in remote places, including one inside a wildlife sanctuary in southern Kerala state and another in a shipping container in western Gujarat state.

TIGHT SECURITY

Experts say a key reason behind the multiphase elections in India is about security.

Tens of thousands of federal security forces, who usually guard borders for instance, are freed up and deployed alongside state police to prevent violence and transport electoral officials and voting machines.

Deadly clashes involving supporters of rival political parties, particularly in the eastern state of West Bengal, had marred previous elections. But such violence has tapered over the years, thanks to heavy security, and voting has been relatively peaceful.

“Look at the geography of the country … there are rivers, mountains, snow, jungles … think of the security forces’ movements. They will have to travel through the length and breadth of the country,” Rajiv Kumar, the chief election commissioner, said on Saturday. “We will walk the extra mile so voters don’t have to.”

[thelavyadigitals]

Embark on a Royal Odyssey: A Journey Aboard the Palace on Wheels

Have you ever dreamt of reliving the opulence of India's Maharajas? Imagine yourself traversing the vibrant landscapes of Rajasthan, not on a mundane train, but in a luxurious palace on wheels. The Palace on Wheels, India's most celebrated luxury train, offers a unique opportunity to experience the grandeur of a bygone era while indulging in modern comforts.

A Legacy of Regal Travel

The Palace on Wheels owes its origin to the vision of the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) in the 1980s. Inspired by the royal saloons used by Maharajas, the train was meticulously crafted from the coaches of princely states' private trains. Each carriage was meticulously restored, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship and artistic heritage of India.

A Glimpse Inside the Rolling Palace

The Palace on Wheels boasts 14 opulent carriages, each named after a former princely state of Rajasthan. These carriages house 23 luxurious saloons, designed to provide a haven of comfort and elegance. Imagine stepping into a world adorned with rich teak paneling, plush carpets, and ornate brass fittings.

The saloons are more than just sleeping quarters; they're personal sanctuaries. Each one features a private bathroom with marble fittings, a writing desk, and ample storage space. The highlight, however, is the panoramic windows that allow you to soak in the ever-changing scenery as you travel.

A Culinary Adventure Awaits

A journey aboard the Palace on Wheels is incomplete without experiencing its exceptional culinary journey. The train boasts a dedicated team of chefs who prepare a delectable array of Indian and international cuisines. From aromatic curries and delicately spiced kebabs to continental delights, the meals are a celebration of flavors.

The meticulously designed dining car creates a truly regal ambiance. Imagine savoring a gourmet meal while surrounded by fellow travelers, exchanging stories and forging memories that will last a lifetime.

Beyond the Luxurious Trappings

The Palace on Wheels isn't just about luxurious accommodations and delectable meals. It's about immersing yourself in the rich tapestry of Rajasthan's culture and heritage. The itinerary includes carefully curated stops at some of the state's most iconic destinations:

Jaipur, the Pink City: Explore the majestic Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), the Amber Fort, and the City Palace, each a testament to the architectural brilliance of the Rajput era.

Jodhpur, the Blue City: Wander through the labyrinthine alleyways of the Mehrangarh Fort, marvel at the imposing Umaid Bhawan Palace, and lose yourself in the vibrant blue hues that paint the city.

Ranthambore National Park: Embark on a thrilling wildlife safari in search of the majestic Bengal tiger and other exotic animals.

Udaipur, the City of Lakes: Take a boat ride on the serene Lake Pichola, visit the City Palace, and soak in the romantic ambiance of this picturesque city.

Khajuraho: Witness the exquisitely carved temples of Khajuraho, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for their intricate erotic sculptures.

Unveiling the Hidden Gems

Beyond the popular tourist spots, the Palace on Wheels also takes you to lesser-known gems, offering an opportunity to experience the authentic spirit of Rajasthan. Visit local villages, interact with artisans as they showcase their traditional crafts, and witness cultural performances that bring the region's rich heritage to life.

A Journey for All Seasons

The Palace on Wheels operates on eight pre-defined circuits throughout the year, catering to different interests. The "Heritage of Rajasthan" circuit focuses on the state's historical landmarks, while the "Desert Odyssey" takes you on a captivating exploration of the Thar Desert during the winter months. The "Splendor of India" circuit extends the journey beyond Rajasthan, allowing you to explore the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra.

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

Traveling aboard the Palace on Wheels is an experience that transcends mere sightseeing. It's a meticulously crafted journey into a bygone era where royalty and luxury intertwined. It's a chance to disconnect from the everyday and reconnect with the essence of India – its vibrant culture, breathtaking landscapes, and the warmth of its people.

Planning Your Royal Adventure

The Palace on Wheels caters to discerning travelers seeking an exclusive and unforgettable experience. Due to its popularity, booking in advance is highly recommended.

So, if you're ready to embark on a royal odyssey, consider boarding the Palace on Wheels. Let the rhythmic clatter of the train lull you into a luxurious reverie as you traverse the vibrant landscapes of Rajasthan, creating memories that will be forever etched in your heart.

[ashokaholiday]

Ranthambore Wild Life Sanctuary: A Must-Visit Destination for Wildlife Enthusiasts

In response to fears of forest loss and species extinction, the British Raj established national parks like Jim Corbett National Park in 1936, beginning the long and storied history of wildlife sanctuaries in India. The 1972 Wildlife Protection Act led to the establishment of several additional national parks after independence.

The government established numerous sanctuaries in the 1970s and 1980s to safeguard specific ecosystems, animals, or habitats. The Bengal tiger and the regions it occupied were the primary targets of Project Tiger, which began in 1973. The initial network of wildlife preserves eventually grew to include a wider range of habitats and species. Efforts to protect animals have also benefited from the involvement of local people and global collaboration.

Wildlife sanctuaries in Rajasthan

The discussion of Rajasthan isn’t complete without mentioning its fascinating forts and historic cultural past. The wildlife reserves of Rajasthan, however, have gained recognition worldwide. Rajasthan is home to a number of wildlife sanctuaries, including the Sariska Tiger Reserve, Desert National Park, Keoladeo National Park (formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary), and many more.

But in this blog, we are going to provide details about India’s most famous wild sanctuary, which is Ranthambore National Park.

 Learn More...

[culturalsafaritours]

Complete Travel Guide to Ranthambore National Park

Complete Travel Guide to Ranthambore National Park

One of India's most beautiful wildlife parks is Ranthambore National Park, which is situated at the intersection of the Aravali and Vindhya Hill Ranges. It is home to many amazing big cats, including the Tiger, Leopard, Leopard Cat, Desert Cat, and many more Popular Wild Animals.

Things to do in Ranthambore

·         Experience the amazing Jeep Safari to see the Royal Bengal Tiger and other exotic creatures.

·         The Ranthambore Fort or Ranthambore ka Kila may be reached by hiking.

·         Go on a canter safari with plenty of people and take in the wildlife.

·         Try to see the elusive Indian striped hyenas and porcupines by taking a stroll through Lakarda and Anantpura.

·         Amazing regional artwork may be seen at the Ranthambore School of Art.

·         For fans of birds, the woodlands are a wonderland. Enjoy a leisurely day spotting some stunning and uncommon local and migrating birds.

·         Visit the Kachida valley, which lies a little outside. It provides some very stunning views of the area's scenery.

·         Get a bird's eye perspective of the stunning countryside by flying over it in a hot air balloon.

·         Take a walk around Padam Lake.

·         Explore Jogi Mahal, which the Jaipur royal family established. Must Read: Best 10 Things to Do In Ranthambore

About Ranthambore National Park

In Rajasthan, Sawai Madhopur is a city located around 13.5 kilometres from Ranthambore National Park. One of the best spots to see wild animals is near the intersection of the Aravali and Vindhya hill ranges since the animals are accustomed to the attention they receive there. If the Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary area is added to the park's 400 sq km of land, the total area is around 500 sq km.

There are several buildings in Ranthambore National Park that transport you back in time. The park contains a large number of water features that offer great comfort to the park's wild animals throughout the sweltering summer days. The park is called after a massive fort that dominates it from atop a hill. The forest has several ancient ruins dispersed throughout it, giving it a distinct, amazing, and blended flavour of nature, history, and fauna. In the Ranthambore National Park, tigers have even been observed hunting right in front of tourists.

History of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve

The Indian government first built Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary, which later became Ranthambore National Park. It was designated as one of India's Project Tiger reserves in 1973. Ranthambore was designated as a national park on November 1st, 1980, and the nearby woods were given the names Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary and Keladevi Sanctuary.

 Ranthambore National Park Location

Ranthambore National Park is located at the junction of the Aravali and Vindhya Hill Ranges. It is around 13-14 km from the city of Sawai Madhopur and 190 km from Jaipur in Rajasthan. A road trip from Jaipur to Ranthambore is guaranteed to delight tourists with its diverse landscapes and rustic sorroundings.

Suggested Tour Packages:

·         Jaipur Ranthambore Tour

·        Ranthambore Safari Package

·        Rajasthan Wildlife Tour with Taj Mahal

Facts about Ranthambore National Park

The Ranthambore National Park is home to the following significant facts:

·        The park has the name of the 10th-century fort known as Ranthambore. Three stone temples to Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, and Ramlalji are located inside its 700-foot-tall walls.

·        Padam Lake, Raj-Bag Lake, and Malik Lake are the three lakes in the park.

·        Near Padam Lake is where you may find India's second-largest Banyan tree.

·        At this lake, Princess Padmavati is said to have taken a bath and committed Sati.

·        There are numerous animal species and approximately 300 plant species in the national park.

Ranthambore National Park's flora

The Dhok is the plant that dominates the park the most. It makes up more than 75% of the park's vegetation. There are many different shrubs, and they are a key source of food for many animals. Banyan, Pipal, and Neem trees are among the park's other trees. There are also many fruit trees, including jamun, mango, and imli. There are many different floral plants and bushes there as well.

Fauna in Ranthambore National Park

Some magnificent big cats, including the Tiger, Leopard, Leopard Cat, Desert Cat, Jungle Cat, Caracal, and Fishing Cat, may be found in the Ranthambore National Park. The tiger in the Ranthambore National Park is at the top of the local food chain. Predators like the Jackal, Striped Hyena, Desert Fox, Crocodile, etc., as well as creatures like the Chital, Sambhar Deer, Nilgai, Chinkara, etc., may be found in the Ranthambore National Park. More than 300 different bird species live in and migrate to the Ranthambore Sanctuary.

Ranthambore National Park Safari

In this wildlife reserve, one of the most well-liked activities is the Ranthambore Tiger Safari. In fact, one of India's most popular tiger sanctuaries is the Ranthambore Tiger Sanctuary. The only way for tourists to see the region's stunning vegetation and see the Tiger among other creatures is on a safari. You may learn more about Ranthambore safari trips by reading the information below .

There are two options available while booking a Ranthambore Safari:

Jeep Safari –

A 6-seater, four-wheeled Gypsy that takes you through the wilderness to experience nature. Being a smaller vehicle, the Gypsy can traverse narrow trails and increase the chances of spotting a tiger and other elusive animals and birds.

Canter Safari

– A canter is a 20-seater vehicle that is a good option for larger families and groups.

Ranthambore National Park Safari Booking

The Rajasthan government's forest division oversees the management of Booking  for the Ranthambore safari. You can Ranthambore online safari Booking from the website of the forest department or offline at the office of the national park. You can choose between half-day and full-day safaris in certain zones.

Best Tiger Zone in Ranthambore

There are ten zones in the national park and not all zones are open for tourists. Below is a description of the various zones:

·        Zone 1 – More of a buffer zone and home to Tiger-39 and Tiger-57

·        Zone 2 – Many tiger sightings have been reported from this zone since there are water holes here

·        Zone 3 – Padam Lake falls in this zone where big cats can be frequently spotted.

·        Zone 4 – This zone is home to the most famous tigress of Ranthambore – Machli

·        Zone 5 – Various big cats can be spotted in this zone like T-25, T-28, T-17, T-74, and T-75

·        Zone 6 – This zone has more open grasslands with huge mountains in the backdrop. You might get a chance to spot the rare red-headed vulture here.

·        Zone 7 – Home to Tiger-8 and Tiger-34

·        Zone 8 – Very similar to Zone 7. The zone has a slightly different landscape compared to Zone 7 though.

·        Zone 9 – This zone is around 45 minutes away from the Ranthambore tiger reserve. It is home to Tiger-42 (Fateh), an aggressive male tiger who is known to chase the vehicles of the forest department.

·        Zone 10 – A good place to spot T-13, T-42, and T-43

Ranthambore safari timings

You must be aware of the ideal times to visit the sanctuary if you plan to schedule a Ranthambore safari. From July to September, which are rainy months, the park is closed. The safari's schedule for the remainder of the year is as follows:

October 1 to 30: 6.30-10 am and 2.30-6 pm

November 1 to January 31: 7-10.30 am and 2-5.30 pm

February 1 to March 31: 6.30-10 am and 2.30-6 pm

April 1 to May 15: 6-9.30 am and 3-6.30 pm

May 15 to June 30: 6-9.30 am and 3.30-7 pm

Ranthambore National Park Safari Price

Indians and tourists pay varying prices for the safari. Additionally, it contains a number of elements, such as the park entrance charge, rental fees for vehicles, guides' fees, etc. The Rajasthan government also raises the price of the safari by 10% year.

The safari prices as of 2022-23 is as follows:

Normal/ One zone permit Canter Safari Charges: 03:30 hrs long for both shifts i.e morning & afternoon. ( any zone out of 01 to 10).

·        Indian: 750/- INR per person per safari. Gov price without service charge & GST.

·        Foreign Tourist: 1815/- INR per person per safari. Gov price without service charge & GST.

[danisssshhhh]

Why are safaris at Ranthambore popular in India?

In Rajasthan's Sawai Madhopur district, there is a tiger reserve called Ranthambore National Park. It is one of the most well-liked locations in India for tiger safaris and is home to a variety of animals.

Ranthambore National Park was established as a national park in 1957 and was declared a tiger reserve on 12 November 1980. The park contains some of the most important types of terrain that are present in India, including grasslands, deciduous forests, thorny scrub forests, semi-deserts, and water bodies, or else you can stay at the best luxury resort in Ranthambore, to experience tranquillity and explore wildlife at its best.

There are many resorts in Ranthambore that offer wonderful rooms and villas for an affordable prices. Even the safari is offered from the lodge. Too excellent to stay at, both the resort and the location. One of the best locations in India to see tigers in Ranthambore National Park. More than 50 tigers and other animals can be found in the park. Rich in vegetation, home to a vast variety of animals, and offering a variety of safaris to visitors, the Ranthambore National Park is well known. One of the few tiger sanctuaries in India with the highest tiger density in the world is the Ranthambore National Park.

[whywishesarehorses]

A Mustang Crisis Looms in the West

With too many animals on public lands and too many on the public’s hands, the federal wild horse management program is short of money and palatable solutions.

By Dave Philipps       Published March 22, 2020

CHALLIS, Idaho — Dawn broke over the peaks of the Lost River Range, revealing a chase in the wide open valley below. Seven wild horses crashed through the sage, dark manes billowing in the golden light, pursued by a government contractor in a glossy helicopter that dodged left and right like a mechanical Border collie, driving the band forward into a hidden corral.

Within hours, the captured mustangs had been sorted, loaded onto trucks to be stamped with an identification number and sent to the Bureau of Land Management’s wild horse storage system. And the helicopter was back out hounding the hills for more.

All over the West, similar scenes have played out as the federal government fights to control the number of wild horses roaming public lands. Managers say they need to keep the herds down so they don’t destroy delicate native species habitat and threaten the livelihoods of ranchers.

But in recent years, the Bureau of Land Management has been losing that fight on two fronts: It hasn’t been able to round up nearly enough horses to limit the wild population. And it doesn’t know what to do with the ones it has managed to capture.

The roundup operation itself is strikingly efficient — a helicopter and a few workers in jean jackets can catch scores of mustangs in a day. The bureau rounded up 7,300 in 2019.

But once they are caught, they have to be fed and cared for. And the costs and frictions of having so many animals on the government’s hands — 49,000 at last count — have pushed the whole wild horse program toward collapse.

The rented pastures and feed lots where they are kept now devour more than two-thirds of the program’s budget, leaving little money for anything else, including looking for ways to get the bureau out of its current fix.

Low on cash, the bureau cut roundups drastically in recent years. But officials acknowledge that the move just made matters worse, by allowing the population on the range to grow rapidly. There are now about 100,000 wild horses and burros on public lands — more than at any time since the days of the Old West. The government reckons the land can sustain only about 27,000.

Bureau officials warn that the mustang herds are a looming catastrophe for the land, and there is no cheap or obvious solution. Capturing all the excess horses and caring for them in storage for the rest of their lives could cost up to $3 billion. Doing nothing may prove costly, too.

“If we don’t get this controlled, it’s just going to get worse,” said Alan Shepherd, the on-range branch chief for the wild horse program. Mustangs have already destroyed fragile desert springs in some places, and the birds, snakes and butterflies that depend on them, he said: “We are going to get to the point where the public lands are going to be almost unusable by anything.”

Mr. Shepherd started his career 30 years ago working on an emergency roundup on the Nellis Air Force Base missile test range in southern Nevada, where drought and overpopulation killed thousands of mustangs.

Now, near the end of his career, he worries that more herds are headed for a similar collapse.

Wild horse welfare groups argue that the crisis is largely invented. They say the government sets its population targets artificially low to justify mass removals that serve the interests of cattle ranchers and distract from other public land policies that are far more damaging.

“It’s a bait and switch,” said Suzanne Roy, director of the American Wild Horse Campaign, a group that has lobbied against roundups. “They say wild horses are an existential threat; meanwhile, they are loosening regulation on energy extraction. We do agree that roundups are creating a crisis in management, but the claims of overpopulation and horses starving are just not borne out by on-the-ground observations. Generally, the horses are doing pretty good.”

Crisis or no crisis, the number of horses on the range has risen into uncharted territory. Mr. Shepherd estimated that while 7,300 horses were captured in 2019, 17,000 foals were born. “We’re not even keeping at status quo,” he said.

In the early frontier days, wild horses in the West were too numerous to count. Explorers saw herds running on the Great Plains, likening the sight to the roll of waves in the ocean. On early maps, vast areas were labeled simply as “wild horse desert.” Later, as the region was settled, the herds were hunted down. Many were shipped east to pull city streetcars in places like Manhattan. Others were slaughtered for dog food and fertilizer. By the 1960s, only a few thousand mustangs were left.

Congress granted federal protection in 1971 to the remaining herds, which were nearly all on Bureau of Land Management land. With few predators and no hunters to cull them, the herds began to rebound, and land managers realized in the 1980s that they were quickly outgrowing the patchwork of public land allotted to them. That is when the helicopter roundups began.

At first, the program appeared sustainable. The bureau publicized an adoption program that found homes for captured horses, and the wild population stayed relatively constant. But news reports in the 1990s revealed that most of the “adopted” horses were actually going to slaughter, often while bureau employees profited. Regulations were tightened, and a backlog of unwanted horses began to build up on rented pastures in the Midwest.

Some conservative lawmakers from rural districts have pushed the bureau to euthanize excess horses or sell them for slaughter, but those steps remain widely unpopular and have not gained traction in Congress.

The bureau has told lawmakers repeatedly that it could create a sustainable program if Congress budgeted enough money to reduce the wild population to 27,000. Three times in the past 30 years, Congress has done so. Each time, though, the efforts were tripped up by dizzying costs and lawsuits from animal welfare groups.

Now the bureau is asking again. William Perry Pendley, its acting director, is a longtime conservative activist and lawyer who sued the bureau a number of times on behalf of ranchers before entering the administration. In an interview, he said he favors a proposal to remove more than 70,000 horses from the range over five years.

“Right now, it’s the ‘Sorcerer’s Apprentice,’” he said. “We’re carrying water and not getting anywhere.”

The bureau is in talks to open two huge feedlots to hold thousands of horses. But it is unclear if Congress is willing to spend billions to store unwanted horses, especially if an economic downturn drains public funds. Bureau staff say privately that they expect the population on the range to continue to grow toward disaster.

It wasn’t supposed to turn out this way. More than a decade ago, government auditors warned that the cost of storing captured horses would “overwhelm the program.” A 2013 report by the National Academy of Sciences urged the bureau to shift away from roundups and start using readily available and inexpensive fertility control drugs, which are typically administered by dart gun annually in the field.

Bureau leaders acknowledged the warnings and promised to embrace fertility control drugs, but their use actually declined in the years after the report. Less than 1 percent of the program’s current budget is spent on them.

Nearly all of the fertility control now happening on wild horse ranges is done by local volunteers, often retirees, who have learned to wield dart guns in the field.

That includes Andrea Macki, a visual artist who has been darting horses in the Challis herd for more than five years. She says the fertility control treatments have slowed reproduction rates by half, and could do more.

“It’s the obvious solution,” she said as she squinted through the dawn light to watch the helicopter rounding up horses she knew. “I wish the B.L.M. would invest in it, instead of all this.”

Bureau officials say that darting tens of thousands of horses in the field each year is not practical, and would take years to shrink the herds as much as a roundup can in a few days. Congress approved a $21 million increase in the wild horse program’s budget for this year, with the stipulation that the money would be released only when the bureau submitted a five-year plan that includes increases in both roundups and fertility control.

The bureau has also taken steps to dispose of captured horses, including deals that may be sending horses quietly to slaughter. It has ramped up sales of horses it deems unadoptable, charging $25 a head. In 2019 it sold 1,967 that way, often by the truckload in bulk sales; officials have refused to say who the buyers were.

Mr. Shepherd say the bureau tries to screen out slaughter buyers, but acknowledged that it does nothing to monitor the fate of horses after sale.

The bureau also created a program that offers $1,000 to anyone willing to adopt a horse.

Together, the sales and adoptions put about 7,000 horses into private hands last year, not enough even to keep pace with roundups, let alone draw down the number now warehoused.

On the edge of the wild horse range in Challis in central Idaho, Jackie Ingram, a rancher, has shared 168,700 acres of public land with the mustang herds for 46 years. Each spring her family drives hundreds of Black Angus cattle up a steep road through Spar Canyon to graze the high, windswept hills on Bureau of Land Management land.

In some years, she said, the wild horses left so little grass to eat that other wildlife disappeared, and her family had to cut back their cattle herd.

“We like the horses, but we also want to protect the land,” she said. “Every time they do a roundup, we’re happy. If the horses get to be too numerous, it affects the sage grouse, the elk, the antelope and us. All of us depend on the grass.”

[fatehbaz]

regarding the difference between a forest and a tree plantation. again today, encountered a headline about this. because of some highly-publicized academic research in late 2019, involving comparisons between Colombian and Southeast Asian plantations, all of these “authoritative” and “serious” Scientists and revered academic journals have recently been talking about “sustainable” plantations in Colombia in 2019/2020. which they only qualify as: plantations can be sustainable if they provide “vegetative cover” or perform “carbon storage” and “ecosystem services”, which are suspect categories of Euro-American values systems and veiled neocolonial/extractivist logic to begin with. but these grand-sounding scientific articles and headlines fail to consider that, uh, regardless of whether or not a landscape “performs ecosystem services,” plantations harm actual human beings, especially the Indigenous and Afro-descendant people who depend on those forests in the Choco-Darien bioregion (one of the rainiest and most biodiverse locations on the planet) where plantations are expanding. Choco-Darien bioregion’s human communities: 90% Afro-descendant. the nation of Colombia is the world’s fourth-largest producer of palm oil. (outside of Southeast Asia, the nation of Colombia is the world’s largest producer.) “climate and wildlife friendly” plantations? hard to believe that statement to begin with, but how friendly are the plantations to communities of Colombia? did these esteemed Euro-American academic institutions just ... forget to consider this before flooding pop-sci magazines with headlines like this?

stuff on dispossession and palm oil plantations in the Choco-Darien bioregion:

-- Ulrich Oslender. “Geographies of the Pluriverse: Decolonial Thinking and Ontological Conflict on Colombia’s Pacific Coast.” January 2019.

-- Taran Volckhausen. “How Colombia became Latin America’s palm oil powerhouse.” Mongabay. 31 May 2018

-- Arturo Escobar, “Thinking-Feeling with the Earth: Territorial Struggles and the Ontological Dimensions of the Epistemologies of the South.” Revista de Antropologica Iberoamericana. 2016.

-- Claudia Leal. Landscapes of Freedom: Building a Postemancipation Society in the Rainforests of Western Colombia. 2018.

and for “technical” info:

-- Fagua, Baggio, and Ramsey. “Drivers of forest cover changes in the Chocó‐Darien Global Ecoregion of South America.” Ecosphere. March 2019. And also: Camila Fagua and R Douglas Ramsey. “Geospatial modeling of land cover change in the Chocó-Darien global ecoregion of South America; One of most biodiverse and rainy areas in the world.” PLOS One. February 2019.

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check out these headlines:

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Afro-descendant communities in South America:

Colombia:

compare:

Excerpt:

Even if the relations that keep the mangrove-world always in a state of becoming are always changing, to mess up significantly with them often results in the degradation of such worlds. Such is the case with industrial shrimp farming schemes and oil palm plantations for agro-fuels, which have proliferated in tropical regions in many parts of the world, often built at the expense of mangrove and humid forest lands, with the aim to transform them from ‘worthless swamp’ to agro-industrial complexes (Ogden 2010). Here, of course, we find […] the conversion of everything that exists in the mangrove-world into ‘nature’ and ‘nature’ into ‘resources’; the effacing of the life-enabling materiality of the entire domains of the inorganic and the  non-human, and its treatment as ‘objects’ to be had, destroyed, or extracted; and linking the forest worlds so transformed to ‘world markets’ for profit. In these cases, the insatiable appetite […] spells out the progressive destruction of the mangrove-world, its ontological capture and reconversion by capital and the State. […] Another clear case […] comes from the  southernmost area in the Colombian Pacific, around the port city of Tumaco. Here, since the early 1980s, the forest has been destroyed and communities displaced to give way to oil palm plantations. Inexistent in the 1970s, by the mid-1990s they had expanded to over 30,000 hectares. The monotony of the plantation – row after row of palm as far as you can see, a green desert of sorts – replaced the diverse, heterogeneous and entangled world of forest and communities. […] The ‘plantation form’ effaces the relations maintained by the forest-world.

[Arturo Escobar. “Thinking-feeling ...” 2015.]

Excerpt:

Researcher Victoria Marin-Burgos’ studies on palm oil expansion between 2000 and 2010 showed that Uribe’s special treatment helped to expand palm oil projects into municipalities that had experienced high and medium levels of displacement. Marin-Burgos [...] said that Carlos Murgas, who served as Agricultural Minister during the presidency of Uribe’s predecessor Andres Pastrana, was responsible for developing the “palm oil model” [...]. Murgas’ palm oil business Oleoflores S.A. received support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) [...]. However, critics such as Comisión Colombiana de Juristas (CCJ) lawyer Jhenifer Mojica said that the ZIDRES law would “spearhead the expansion of the multinational agroindustrial groups in Colombia.”Mojica said the ZIDRES land use changes will effectively “legalize the accumulation of land” that agribusiness interests “illegitimately obtained [...].“ In an interview with Fede/palma trade magazine Palm/icultor, J**** E***** V****, who played a critical role in crafting the ZIDRES legislation, said the land ownership model in the baldios would change to “surface rights that would allow for land exploitation.” [He] explained that the surface rights would not be affected by Colombia’s laws against land accumulation because a single business owner, entity or multinational corporation could “buy various surface rights” without being required to own the title to the land.

[Volckhausen. “How Colombia became Latin America’s palm oil powerhouse.” Mongabay. 31 May 2018.]

[the-cryptid-kid-but-lame]

Cryptid #2

Altamaha-ha

The Altamaha-ha or “Altie” is a legendary creature from Georgia. It lives in the Altamaha River, which is where it got its name. The Altie legends originate from the Muskogee tribe. There have been sightings of this creature and a lot of speculation, still it has not been classified as a species we are aware of and has not been studied. 

Altamaha River

The Altamaha River has had many names in history; A-lot-amaha, Alatahama, Allama, Frederica River, Rio Al Tama, Rio de Talaje, and Talaxe River. 

It is a major river in Georgia and flows toward the Atlantic Ocean, spanning over 137 miles. It is almost completely untouched by man. The Nature Conservancy designated it as a bioreserve in 1991. 

In Oliver Goldsmith’s poem “The Deserted Village” he talks about the depopulation of English villages and the Altamaha is mentioned.

“ Ah, no. To distant climes, a dreary scene, Where half the convex world intrudes between, Through torrid tracts with fainting steps they go, Where wild Altama murmurs to their woe. Far different there from all that charm'd before, The various terrors of that horrid shore; Those blazing suns that dart a downward ray, And fiercely shed intolerable day; Those matted woods where birds forget to sing, But silent bats in drowsy clusters cling; Those poisonous fields with rank luxuriance crowned, Where the dark scorpion gathers death around; Where at each step the stranger fears to wake The rattling terrors of the vengeful snake; Where crouching tigers wait their hapless prey, And savage men, more murderous still than they; While oft in whirls the mad tornado flies, Mingling the ravaged landscape with the skies.”

Sightings

There have been many sightings of the Altie. So many that it confuses me as to how no one has captured and researched this creature. 

The first non-native sighting was by on April 18th, 1830. The Savannah Georgia newspaper reported several sightings of a sea monster. (I am not sure why they use this terminology though because it obviously is in a river.) One of the sightings was by a Captain Delano who reported a large creature on St. Simons Island. Describing it as around 70 feet long, the circumference to be as round as a barrel, and a head like an alligator. 

Almost 100 years later we have our next reported sighting. Timbermen riding the river reported to see a large snake-like creature in the water. 

Then in 1935, a group of hunters spot a “giant snake” swimming around.

Boy scouts in the 1940′s say they saw a creature in the river.

Two officials from the Reidsville State Prison in the 1950′s also reported seeing a creature. 

In 1969 we have a more detailed sighting by two brothers. They were fishing in the Altamaha River at Clarks Bluff. They reported seeing what at first they thought was a sturgeon, but upon further scrutiny changed their minds. Describing it to be about 10 to 12 feet long, a snout like an alligator, and a horizontal tail. With a triangle ridge along the top of its body, sharp, pointy teeth, and a “gun-metal” gray in color.

Two men in 1980 saw an Altamaha-ha stranded on a mud bank. Saying the animal was lying half in the water and half on land. It was thrashing around desperately trying to get back into its home. They described it as being dark colored, with rough skin, and 20 feet long. The creature did free itself and make its way back into the river. 

Later that year another man said to see what he thought was an Altamaha-ha in Smith Lake. His description said the animal was 15 to 20 feet long, snake-like, with two brown humps, and left behind a trail that appeared like a speed boats wake.

One more report in the 80′s by a crab fisherman saying he saw the “worlds largest eel”.

More recent sightings happened in 2002 and 2010. The former being a reported sighting by a man pulling up a boat in the river near Brunswick, seeing something over 20 feet long and 6 feet wide break the water. And then the latter year being a video by an amateur photographer. We can see something very large swimming in the channel off Fort King George Historic Site in Darien.

https://youtu.be/LNEfs1u0OMY

Logical Conclusions

Many people have thought the Altie to be an Alligator Gar. The Alligator Gar is a ray-finned, euryhaline fish. It can grow up to 10 feet and weigh up to 350 pounds. An interesting thing about this fish is it has special gills that allow it to breathe in water and air. Commonly seen coming up to surface to take gulps of air! Their eggs are a bright red and poisonous to humans when consumed. 

Another thought that could be true is the Altamaha-ha is actually an unrecognized river dolphin seeing as it swims like one. 

Without actually seeing one in person and studying it one can not know what this river monster truly is.

Physical Proof

The only physical proof that has been found turned out to be fake. In 2018 remains were found on a beach in Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge which matched the Altie perfectly. The artist Zardulu (the Mythmaster) came clean about making the remains from a stuffed shark and paper mache.

Final Conclusion

No one can be sure what the Altamaha-ha truly is, but one thing I do know is something is most definitely out there!

[bimboficationblues]

following @decadent-trans-girl‘s example, here’s my top albums of 196*mumble* to 2019. listing under the cut.

some things I learned are - the middle and late 2000s were an absolute desert, culminating in 2008 where there isn’t a single album I could find that I actually like - my musical knowledge prior to 1963 is pretty limited - this is way harder if you limit it to one album per artist, as I did - particularly difficult years for deciding between favorites included ‘83-84, ‘65, and ‘93-95 - don’t @ me about American Idiot being included over Madvillainy or whatever, I’m not having it

1960s

Charles Mingus: The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady

Bob Dylan: The Times They are a-Changin’

Nina Simone: Pastel Blues

Monks: Black Monk Time

Velvet Underground: The Velvet Underground & Nico

The Beatles: White Album (leave me alone)

Miles Davis: In a Silent Way

1970s

Neil Young: After the Gold Rush

Gil Scott-Heron: Pieces of a Man

David Bowie: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust…

Iggy and the Stooges: Raw Power

Bob Marley and the Wailers: Natty Dread

Patti Smith: Horses

Thin Lizzy: Jailbreak

Wire: Pink Flag

Devo: Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!

The Clash: London Calling

1980s

Dead Kennedys: Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables

Elvis Costello and the Attractions: Trust

The Cure: Pornography

Talking Heads: Speaking in Tongues

Minutemen: Double Nickels on the Dime

The Mekons: Fear and Whiskey

Bad Brains: I Against I

Public Enemy: It Takes a Nation of Millions…

Living Colour: Vivid

Pixies: Doolittle

1990s

They Might Be Giants: Flood

A Tribe Called Quest: The Low End Theory

Rage Against the Machine: Rage Against the Machine

Wu-Tang Clan: Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Let Love In

Big L: Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous

OutKast: ATLiens

Sleater-Kinney: Dig Me Out

System of a Down: System of a Down

Mr. Bungle: California

2000s

At the Drive-In: Relationship of Command

Fugazi: The Argument

The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

Streetlight Manifesto: Everything Goes Numb

Green Day: American Idiot

The Mountain Goats: The Sunset Tree

Rise Against: The Sufferer & The Witness

Anberlin: Cities

—

Converge: Axe to Fall

2010s

Gorillaz: Plastic Beach

La Dispute: Wildlife

Killer Mike: R.A.P. Music

Touche Amore: Is Survived By

clipping.: CLPPNG

Kendrick Lamar: To Pimp a Butterfly

Danny Brown: Atrocity Exhibition

St. Vincent: MASSEDUCTION

Hop Along: Bark Your Head Off, Dog

Carly Rae Jepsen: Dedicated (so far!)

[vintagewildlife]

Collared peccaries By: Kenneth W. Fink From: Wildlife of the Deserts 1980

[mrmrswales]

A speech by The Duke of Cambridge at the 2018 Tusk Conservation Awards

Thank you Kate. Good evening ladies and gentlemen.

Catherine and I are delighted to be here again at the Tusk Conservation Awards. It is always a pleasure to help celebrate the exceptional achievements of the award winners and finalists.

I would like to acknowledge the support of all tonight’s sponsors, particularly Investec Asset Management and Land Rover, for continuing to make this evening possible. Thank you for your generosity.

As ever, I am inspired and humbled by the sheer dedication and commitment that our 2018 nominees have demonstrated. It never ceases to amaze me how they achieve so much against the odds and with so few resources.  

But tonight is also time for sober reflection. It was deeply moving to read the names of the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for conservation. Their deaths are a terrible and tragic loss.

Amongst the names listed were two leading investigators, Esmond Bradley Martin and Wayne Lotter. Each of them had worked tirelessly in the battle against the illegal wildlife trade. Their deaths, like all of the rangers, represent a huge loss to the conservation world.

Esmond was the first person to highlight the scale of the international consumer demand for ivory and rhino horn back in the 1980s. And Wayne’s dedication to tackling poaching meant he became a target for the traffickers he was trying to expose. We should all be inspired by the courage that Wayne’s partner Krissie is showing as she continues this important work.

As with many of the rangers who lost their lives this year, both Esmond and Wayne would surely have been worthy recipients of a Tusk award.  Tonight we remember their bravery and selfless commitment.  

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to visit Namibia and Tanzania to see some programmes that Tusk supports for myself.

In Namibia it was fantastic to see desert rhino roaming freely in the beautiful, Mars-like landscape of the Kunene Region. Even if Charlie Mayhew did make me get up at 5am and take a 5-hour round trip to see a rhino for only 30 seconds!

I met many Namibian conservationists who are doing inspiring work in Kunene to increase the benefits for local communities. It was music to my ears to hear the women and elders of the People’s Park Initiative describe wildlife as an important economic asset that they had to protect for generations to come.    

And in Tanzania, I saw how Mkomazi, a once decimated game reserve, has been successfully rehabilitated into a National Park. Mkomazi’s vibrant outreach programme is teaching school children from neighbouring communities to respect and protect the magnificent wildlife and habitats on their doorstep.

This sort of work on the front-line remains crucial if we are to succeed in protecting the world’s iconic and endangered species.

It was great to see so many countries come together to reaffirm their commitments at the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference, here in London, last month. But for the tide to really turn on the trade, we require consistent, global political leadership and action. Recent announcements that weaken commitments on rhino horn and tiger parts are deeply concerning. We must fiercely protect the fragile gains we have made.

These gains are even more important in the face of last week’s Living Planet Report. This was a stark reminder that in just 40 years we have destroyed 60% of the world’s mammals, fish, birds and reptile species.

Our own survival is reliant on our ability to reverse the terrifying decline in the world’s biodiversity.  Modern human society as we know it depends on natural resources to survive and thrive. As the report says - ‘nature is not just a nice to have’.

Two years ago at this event, Sir David Attenborough warned that man is losing his own connection with nature.

The IPCC’s recent report was the loudest warning bell yet from the scientific community that we must act now. The clock is ticking towards a tipping point when the impact of what we are doing will become dangerously irreversible.

Whether we are living in an urban or rural environment, nature matters to us all. We have a responsibility and an obligation to the next generation to drastically reduce the extent to which we plunder the planet’s natural resources.

I am convinced that we have it in our power to reverse this trend. As the late Paul Allen, a great conservation philanthropist, said: “As long as we work together – with urgency and determination – there is no limit to what we can achieve.”

Let me finish by congratulating the winners and finalists again for their incredible work and achievements. We can only hope to shine a spotlight on a few each year through these awards. But in doing so, we rightly continue to uncover some of the unsung heroes of conservation in Africa.

Thank you.

[vulpixen]

👶 - Mystery Trio, perhaps? Or 🏝️, if you'd prefer.

I’ve decided to combine the two into one fic! And this is the result of this Mystery Trio short fic as they end up on an island with very special water. Somewhere out on a seemingly deserted island in the middle of nowhere, 1980….

Stanford Pines was walking ahead, using a machete to cut away the heavy foliage of the humid jungle along with his twin brother, Stanley Pines. Ford’s assistant, Fiddleford McGucket, in tow. They were determined to find the materials needed to repair their ship and sail off to the mainland. But first, they must find a viable source of water. It wasn’t long before complaints on Stan’s part were being made. 

“How long is this gonna take before we find fresh water?” Stan cuts away another branch, “We’ve been trekking out here for hours, mosquitoes are biting the hell outta me, and I’m starting to get hungry and thirsty!” 

“Sigh. I know, I know…. Stanley, if there is wildlife out here, then there’s likely a viable source of water they thrive off of,” groaned Ford, being tired himself as they’ve been stranded for a few days, more than ready to return home. Fiddleford had to agree with him. 

“Ah reckon we should be getting close to a source of…” Fiddleford spotted, from his peripheral vision, what looked to be pool of water with stone walls at the edge except for the sole entrance, guarded by a younger man clad in old Spanish armor carrying a poleaxe in hand. “Think we should ask that fella? I mean, he could be reasonable.”

Stan and Ford exchanged perplexed expressions, the three wondering why there was a man guarding that pool. However, seeing that there was a person, they came to the conclusion they stumbled upon a possible civilization hidden from the world. What appears to them, at least. Ford noted the armor and weapon, “What he’s wearing seems familiar–”

Stan had Ford stand aside, “Familiar or not, we’re going to get some water.”

“Stanley, we have to be careful!” warned Ford, him and Fiddleford following Stan out to the clearing of the dense jungle to confront the guard. 

“Hey, man with the pointy stick and metal butt, can we get some of that water?” Stan asked with an assured grin. That grin turned to an alarmed frown when the man points his poleaxe at him. 

“None must enter here by the order of my superior, Alejandro the Bold! If you are looking for drinking water, you won’t have any here.” The young Spaniard glanced behind him, “This water is… special.”

“Is it the most holiest water in existence or something?” questioned Stan. 

“Well, it does have some magical properties.”

Ford and Fiddleford couldn’t help to pry further in intrigued. “Can you tell us what sort of magical properties? I’m Stanford Pines and my partner here, Fiddleford McGucket, we’re scholars. My rude brother here is Stanley.”

“I ain’t that rude,” Stan mumbled back. 

“I can’t reveal too much, I’m sorry. But my name Leon Rivera-Cruz, pardon my own rudeness.” The lone soldier had to ask of the three men, seeing their more modern clothing he hadn’t seen before, “But can you tell me where you men came from? I’ve never seen such clothes.”

“From Gravity Falls, Oregon. The United States of America.” The Spaniard gave a confused look that prompted Fiddleford to ask, “It’s 1980, and it looks like you’ve been away from the rest of the world for a long time.”

“I….” The soldier was bewildered. It had been hundreds of years since he and the rest of his comrades had been off the island. It didn’t take Ford and his brother and assistant long to piece everything together to figure out what the soldier was hiding.

“That water has been keeping you and your men alive, hasn’t it?”

Leon nodded, relenting to tell the truth, “It is. The others want to keep it to ourselves no matter what and never leave. Why I can’t let you pass.”

Not wanting to stand by any longer and wait, being thirsty as he was, Stan rush passed Leon and dunk his head into the pristine pool age-reducing water, taking two big gulps of it before raising his head in satisfaction. Ford, Fiddleford and Leon were flabbergasted. 

“STANLEY!!!”

“What? This water is good! I can already feel better now that –” Stan’s voice cracked, sounding much younger as his whole form was engulfed in light, changing his form to appear as a ten-year old child within seconds. Thankfully, his clothes changed with him as shrunk. Stan was a child again before his brother and the other’s eyes. “– I feel much better!” Stan didn’t notice at first until he saw how much taller everyone else was. Stan raised a brow, “Why are you guys… taller?” Stan looks at his hands, then his reflection in the water to see that he has changed back to a kid again, “Holy shit! I’m a little kid! Whoo, I’m a little kid!”

“Sweet sarsaparilla, Stanley, hopefully this is temporary,” Fiddleford remarked, wiping his brow. 

“Oh it is. You have to keep drinking the water to remain young.” Leon points to the opening of the rock face where the water was coming from, “It comes from there. There are colorful stones in there that have touched this water that gives its power. My superior broke a piece off, but it lost its magic the moment it was removed from the base.”

“Fascinating!” Ford said, documenting the discovery in the first journal. “We don’t aim to stay here for long as we are stranded and in need of repairs and supplies. Though while we wait, I can study this if you don’t mind, Leon.”

Leon nodded, pleading Ford, “Um, yes, we can help repair what ship you have and let you three be on your way. Just promise you’ll keep this whole place a secret. The rest of the world would taint this place.”

Fiddleford, Ford and Stan agreed. 

“Yeah, whatever, old/young guy. Kinda feels nice being a kid again,” grinned Stanley. “No aches and body pain like an older person.”

Fiddleford asks, “Could I take a sip of this? See if the amount of water affects how much age is reduced on me?”

“Great idea, Fiddleford!” encouraged Ford in eagerness. “I’ll even try it myself. Stanley, how much did you drink?”

Stanley thought for a moment while he climbs up a tall coconut tree, “Two big mouthfuls, I guess.” Stan yelps, seeing a coconut crab, “Ah! Fight me, buster!” Stan uses fisticuffs against the large crab, knocking it out of the tree and had it scurrying off to another tree. “Yeah! Can’t take on a kid like me, you crusty idiot! Pines! Pines! Pines!

”Leon doesn’t bother to say no this time, “Be my guest, but just a little. Drink too much and you become an infant for a whole day like what happened to me the first time I drank too much of it.” He chuckled at the thought for what was a lifetime ago. 

And so, Ford and Fiddleford tested the youth-giving waters and stones. The scientists found it amazing as they’ve heard of the fabled, Fountain of Youth, but never thought to find something similar to it. Fiddleford took no more than a small gulp, turning him into a young teenager again, him having been more lanky and flexible back then. Ford ended up taking notes along with two big gulps like his brother did, turning into a kid himself. 

Stan took notice of his brother’s change, finding a good time to ask him, “Hey, Sixer! Why don’t you come play with me like we used to as kids? At least until it wears off.”

Ford gave it thought before agreeing with Stan, “Alright! And we can fit into smaller places we couldn’t before.”

“That’s the spirit, bro!” Stan laughed as him and Ford go off. Fiddleford making sure they don’t get into too much trouble on his watch. 

[fl4shera-blog]

Are bear canisters required on the PCT?

Animals are attracted to human foods. To get your food they can do anything. You are required to protect your food properly on most of the PCT. While you are traveling on the PCT you have to know the food storage regulations and follow this, this is very important. Because human foods are sometimes a threat to the bears and they can be died by eating these foods. For protecting the wildlife and for the future backcountry travelers to make the trail experience you have to follow these regulations in the PTC areas - this is the bottom line.

Foods that are improperly stored, bears become adept at gaining, in places. Bears that are too habituated to going after human food, sometimes managers have to kill these bears - bears can access those foods that are stored inadequate or improper way. While traveling it is important to keep safe your food from bears, and keeping your food safe can protect them too!

When getting human food bears are legendarily good that are resident PCT. In the bear canisters, you should keep your all scented items in some of the trailer regions. In some of the regions, it is mandatory to use bear canisters. Also, there are some areas to carry a bear canister it should be on their list.

In recent years the black bears have increased. In the 1980s to around, from 10,000 to 35,000 the bear population has grown in California. The range of the bear's has also been increased. Bears are now in the places too where you didn't use to worry about. And they tend to steal human food. From the northern border to the southern deserts, in the mountains of the PCT bears are at home.

When you will be traveling, gather some knowledge about how to store foods and make a plan ahead before your trip. In the different trials and places the appropriate protocols and regulations are different.

On the Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir Trail, where are bear canisters required?

In the Lassen Volcanic National Parks, Yosemite, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests, Sierra, Inyo, Kings Canyon National Parks, and Sequoia it is required to use bear canisters. On the Pacific Crest Trail, these places are required to use bear canisters. And you have to carry a bear canister all the entire way of the John Muir Trail if you're hiking there. When you make your camp, then in you bear canister you have to keep all of your food and scented items. In the Sierra, it is not required to carry the bear canisters all the portions. But we will recommend you to carry a bear canister in all the way.

It is a great way to store food and other goodies in bear canisters but if it is not required to use a bear canister then what you will do? You can keep your food nearby to the camp but it is not a decent idea. So you should always carry a bear canister while trailing. To protect your foods, using bear canisters is the most effective way.  Find us on Facebook if you are looking for more Information.

[whatiswildness]

Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Moral Values in Management

“Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Moral Values in Management” was a talk I gave to the Cambridge Conservation Initiative Annual Symposium 2019

Background

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), centred on the Yellowstone National Park, is an area of twenty-two million acres — over a third of the total land area of the UK. Spanning part of three western states in the USA, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana, the area is comprised of five national forests, three national wildlife refuges, Bureau of Land Management holdings, state lands, two national parks, Indian lands and five million acres of private land. Within this landscape milieu, wild things are appearing in places they have not been seen for generations. From the Yellowstone National Park at the GYE’s centre, bison, grizzlies and wolves are being restored to the periphery. 

As the simultaneous restoration of the ‘full suite’ of wild things, rewilding began with the reintroduction of the wolf in 1994-5—the last, large animal present during pre-European times to be returned to the Yellowstone National Park. Through subsequent rewilding practices, its range and population increased, and similarly for the grizzly bear (grizzly) and bison although some of those changes preceded the wolf by several years. Beyond the boundaries of the Park, wild things, increasingly, are hopping fences, sinking their teeth into cattle, running from hunters, scrumping for apples, grazing gardens, and occasionally injuring and killing people. Rewilding in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, to put it simply, is ‘restoring wild things’, significantly, ‘restoring bison, grizzly bears and wolves’.

Before reintroduction, only the occasional wolf had been sighted and no viable packs seen for almost 100 years. Wolves number approximately 100 individuals which reside mainly in the Yellowstone National Park and 500 in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The leading cause of death overall (around 80%) is humans, especially by hunting, followed by other wolves (which is the leading cause of death inside the Park) and next, disease.

Bison, which have a much less extensive range in the GYE, were estimated to number 4,527 in August 2018 before this winter’s cull and hunt. The leading cause of death is again humans. The National Park captures and sends to slaughter several hundred each year while hunting makes up the rest. Last winter just over a thousand were killed. Wild bison were thought to number around 23 individuals following their near-total eradication during the 19th century. Captive breeding and much later, bison release, occurred in the Park during the 20th century. Bison have only begun to migrate beyond the Park boundaries since the 1980s.

In 1975, there were 136 individual grizzlies in the Park. Now they may number 1,000 in the GYE although good estimates are notoriously difficult to obtain. They were recently removed from the endangered species list, many feel prematurely. They were relisted in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem by a Federal judge in 2018. Their range in the GYE has expanded significantly over recent years and there is much talk of grizzlies traversing agricultural and developed areas to the NW of the GYE. This could connect them with populations in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem, and thus Canadian populations. Humans have controlled grizzly numbers here for over 100 years and their low in 1975 was generally thought to be a result of Park policy. This included removing open rubbish dumps resulting in the bears’ dispersal, then the killing of bears which roamed outside of the Park.

I find in my research that the landscape here tells a recent and surprising story of humans restoring wild things. I’m not so interested in the science of which predator eats which prey, changing which ecological indicator (although it is fascinating). I am interested in WHY people rewild. Really WHY, as in deep motivations, and for that matter why they fight this kind of thing. This is a question of love, fear, enchantment and anger around wildness, which is totally mixed up in what’s going on in wider society; cultural questions of identity, heritage, belief and power. Some people are passionately engaged in occupational practices aimed at expanding the ranges and numbers of wolves, bison and grizzly bears over a huge area already occupied by people. Others are radically opposed and dedicate much of their working life to resistance, politically, or very directly through the barrel of a gun. What is fundamentally meaningful and motivating to these groups?

Surely, it’s not all about money for the objectors? Or on the other side, purely about scientific data for the advocates?

Why do some of these people advocate for more rewilding? And why do others resist?

Methods

“Not everything that counts can be measured; and not everything that can be measured, counts.”

I like this quote. Amongst many esteemed biologists, ecologists (natural scientists) here, it helps to explain why I spent six months doing empirical research in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, measuring precisely nothing. Instead, I undertook semi-structured interviews and observed people at work over extended periods of months to try and make sense of the things which count for them, but can’t be measured.

My research population included those whose work centred on three iconic wild things: grizzlies, bison and wolves because these species emerged as quintessential embodied wildness for both those for and against rewilding. I focussed on land managers, state and federal scientists, activists, lobbyists and campaigners in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and not least those who have lived and worked on the land their whole lives, but who don’t have a college degree.

Problem

All are battling with the reality that their work, their measurements and claims to knowledge, often don’t count politically or socially. Wildlife scientists and ranchers alike struggle to articulate why their knowledge often doesn’t count in practice. In fact, hidden moral values are at play.

If there is one take-away from this talk, it is that if you believe in rewilding, it seems you will need a range of means of articulating the ways in which wildness is meaningful and valuable; in which it counts. Science can only go so far in winning hearts and minds. Gaining trust must involve acknowledging that all science has bias: acknowledging that there is no objective understanding of what a ‘good’ landscape looks like and how it works best. There are only contingent understandings.

Let me give you an example from the Yellowstone which demonstrates the schism.

Recent publications on grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem have shown quite convincingly that grizzly bear movements through landscapes can be predicted with a surprising level of statistical certainty. Potential pathways between isolated populations have been mapped with at least one clear implication, that we now have an excellent idea of where best to create corridors and we have the evidence to justify strategic land restoration and preservation.

But this research, its conclusions and its implied applications are based on two subjective assumptions: a) there were more grizzlies over larger areas at some (rather arbitrary) point in history and b) therefore; there should be more again. Actually this is more about belief.

For many this science counts for nothing. From diverse professional backgrounds, some looked at this type of research and were totally appalled that these groups even got funding or contributors were even in a job. They cast it aside to get on with what they felt was the real business. For instance, making wildlife management or planning decisions based on human need, lobbying for the cattle industry, and running farming operations. Activities that are equally values-driven. It’s not easy to define and measure why they cast it aside with such disgust, the same as it is tough to define and measure why the researchers spend years of their life contributing to wildlife conservation through science, but whatever the reasons, they sure count.

So let’s have a look at some of the cultural and historical factors which I believe influence decision-making on the ground, and produce conflict through opposing values in Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. As I go, parallels should emerge with rewilding in Europe and the UK. At times, there was something oddly similar about the ways in which people in very different cultural and environmental contexts, the western USA and Europe or the UK, think about wildness.

So first, what are some of the reasons people value wildness and wild things in the GYE?

Take the ‘wolf-watchers’ for instance, who spend each day watching wolves, most often in the northern part of the Park. They generally know one another, hike together, and attend the same social events in the Gardiner, Livingston and Bozeman areas—Park and Gallatin Counties, Montana. Most are from ‘out-of-state’ but now live in the area permanently or for months at a time. ‘Wolf-watchers’ are generally wealthy, retired, semi-retired, or have business interests elsewhere that do not occupy their time.

Wild things, for the ‘wolf-watchers’, are profoundly beautiful and reminiscent of an imagined, perhaps beguiling past before their eradication, perhaps even before people. It was common for the wolf watchers to refer to key American authors, sometimes directly quoting them: Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness (Abbey 1968) and A Sand County Almanac (Leopold 1970) were especially well cited. Thematic literature informed discourse and even expressions of feeling. Their focus on wild beauty in conversation regularly drew upon ideals which can be traced back in American literature. This was fairly unique amongst a relatively small number of wealthy in-migrants, generally college-educated and with a passion for restoring wildness.

Wilderness ideals in literature began to become formative of beliefs around wildness in the 18th century. Roderick Nash claims of its earliest aesthetic appreciation, that by the mid-eighteenth century, “wilderness was associated with the beauty and godliness that previously had defined it by their absence”. In the 19th century, the ‘sublime’, which “captivates while it awes, and charms while it elevates and expands the soul” entered into aestheticism of ‘nature’ also informing beliefs around wildness. Later, the American literary contributions of Henry David Thoreau were influential: famously, “this world is but a canvas to our imagination.” and “in wildness is the preservation of [that] world”. Also, of John Muir, and later still, Edward Abbey who wrote extensively on wildness, “out there is a different world, older and greater and deeper by far” (1968). The beauty of the ‘ecological wholeness’ of nature came to the fore with Aldo Leopold (1887–1948) who also led a paradigm shift towards aesthetic acceptance of carnivores, contrasting to an earlier time in which, for instance, statesman and wildlife enthusiast Theodore Roosevelt reportedly described wolves as “beasts of desolation and waste”. Wild things now embody a positive and influential aesthetic of wildness. This is only reaffirmed through experience for the wolf-watchers who also perceive beauty in every howl, growl or bellow.

Aesthetic appreciation is primarily why they do what they do, also providing important public, volunteer and financial support to the rewilding cause.

Here’s an example of another way of moralising in support of wildness.

A government wolf biologist I interviewed, angered by degradation of natural processes and biodiversity, pins his hopes on the wild wolf. He foregrounds its scientific value as a keystone species within a natural ecosystem, an ecosystem which is not complete, as he believes it once was, without the wolf. He does not question concepts of naturalness, categorisations of that nature, or that a particular past was necessarily more “complete”. For him, this ecosystem, and the wolf’s functional place in it, is somehow fully scientifically knowable and measurable. It is the moral imperative to defer to science, which favours wolves for the government biologist. They have historical primacy in an ecosystem which is imagined to have functioned “correctly” in a time before European settlers. This reveals a belief in the ‘goodness’ of a particular past. It also reveals a certain belief in the system, the science and the scientific and bureaucratic structures which give it legitimacy such as the National Park Service and ultimately the democratically elected US government. In parts of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem this faith was largely absent. It was particularly marked among Federal, less so State, employees.

So, what are some of the reasons people do not value wildness and wild things in the GYE?

I want to read a passage from my field diary.

The cow heaved painfully, sucking air through its torn, bloody nostrils. The whites of its eyes showed clearly as it tried to sense its surroundings, exhausted and unable even to turn its head. As ranchers pulled up in large trucks one at a time and took their place at a respectful distance, the cow followed the sounds with just one remaining ear. Terese briefed me so that no one else could hear. It had been chased by feral “pit bulls”—terriers—, separated from the herd, and had run, terrified, into a cattle grid where two legs remained deeply wedged. Its open side glistened in the afternoon sun, crimson and specked with flies, tooth marks clearly visible. Two burly men dressed in flannel shirts and cowboy hats tried to slide a wooden plank between the suffering beast and the bars of the cattle grid in an effort to lever it into a position that it might escape. It had no fight left and made only feeble movements with its free hooves. The ranchers then roped the cow to the tow bar of a pickup, attempting to drag it free. As the rope tightened, the man with the beast grimaced and gestured urgently to stop. The cow’s leg was broken and its innards began to spill through the hole in its flank. None of those present owned the cow or the land. The owner, was unreachable on his mobile and none were willing to carry out the inevitable, put a gun to the animal’s head, without consulting him first. The mood was sombre and the ranching men and women became largely silent for several minutes. Few shifted their gaze from the animal, close to death, and as the nearby road quietened also, the only sounds were the wind in the couch grass, and the fading breath of the cow. Although they tried to hide it, all were visibly upset. One or two returned to their trucks to sit alone, but they didn’t drive away. The animal was worth between $1,300 and $2000 depending on breeding potential, not a huge financial loss and none at all to the neighbours present. It was one of many which die or are severely injured by pit bulls each year on the Wind River reservation. It occurred to me that I was witnessing mourning. The emotion was palpable and the respect for the soon-to-be-deceased unshakeable. The ranching folk stood in reverence for the cow itself.

Typical for many ranchers I spoke to about wolf and bear attacks: the emotional impact of wild things harming domestic animals, which they care deeply about as the fruit of their labour and respect in some way as sentient beings, was hard to grasp in interview alone. Experiencing the ‘mourning’ gave such descriptions deeper meaning.

Here is an extract from an interview with another rancher and lobbyist.

“after they [the wolves] mauled this one cow up so bad that I had to shoot her… and the cows tore down the fence in the middle of the night, and they were all running down the highway, and I'm out there at 5 o'clock in the morning trying to push them back, that's when I completely lost it.”

Utilitarianism and dominionism are connected notions which frame animals and the environment as being for the use of people. This set of values influences practices for those who saw ‘wildness as bad’: generally the part of the research population involved with ranching, outfitting or more broadly having had parents and grandparents involved in such activities in the tri-state area. Ranchers are intimate with their charges. They felt consumers or wildness advocates—outsiders—often don’t “understand the profound experience of working with [livestock]”. And ranchers “care for the land in a way that only those who are invested can care, by history in and love of a place”. Further, the emotional importance of “holding on to the land to both honor family heritage and continue the legacy of stewardship” should not be underestimated. Perhaps this goes some way to making sense of the loss felt by many of those who find wildness to be bad. This morality is further engendered by rewilding, that might only be conceived of as continued forfeiture and bereavement as wild things are restored. The wolf or the bison are reminders that wild things are in and the cowboy is out.

Conclusion

My research population in the Yellowstone tended towards polarised beliefs about wildness, that it was either good or bad (although they generally agreed that wolves, grizzlies and bison were together central to its meaning and embodiment one way or another).

Those beliefs seemed to have stood the test of recent decades and were reaffirmed by each person’s experience - that’s why I describe them as moral values. That wildness was either good or bad was pretty fundamental to these people.

The reasons for these values are historical and cultural. As we have discussed here, I believe on one hand they are to do with aestheticism, a belief in science and “the system”, and which we haven’t had time to discuss, aspiring to native Americaness, coopting indigenous spirituality around wild animals. On the other hand, values underpinning resistance to rewilding were about using and caring for the land in a quest for the pastoral ideal and perhaps continuing the American pioneer dream; and separately which I haven’t mentioned again, about rugged individualism and a deep distrust of Federal government, especially in land management.  

The data gathered offers an insight into the motivations of those at either end of the rewilding spectrum in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. My research was empirical, but I don’t claim to be unbiased. Although we will not all emerge as winners, that includes some of the wildlife we currently live with: with careful listening to all stakeholders, creative expression, and honesty, I hope we do see a wild rumpus return to the UK soon.