#mating olive pythons

[snakebusters]

Two mating Olive Pythons

[snakemanaustralia]

If you want to get hands on with a massive Olive Python like one of the two seen mating here, then reptile shows with Snakeman and Snakebusters are the only logical choice.

Whether it is for a reptile birthday party, kids event or school incursion, Snakebusters are Australia's best reptiles. Visit them at http://www.snakebusters.com.au and take a walk on the wild side!

[tadotravel]

African rock python is a species of large constrictor snake in the family of Pythonidae. 

The species is native to Africa. It is one of 10 living species in the genus Python. Africa's largest snake and one of the eight largest snake species in the world 

African rock pythons have a thick body covered with colored blotches, often joining up in a broad, irregular stripe. Body markings vary between brown, olive, chestnut, and yellow, but fade to white on the underside.

The head of these snakes is triangular and marked on top with a dark brown “spear-head” outlined in buffy yellow.

African rock pythons are non-venomous and snakes they don’t have fangs.

The snake is widely feared, though it very rarely kills humans

African rock python’s lifespan is 20 – 30 years but the might live even longer in the wild.

You’ve probably heard that snakes have poor eyesight. This is true!

African rock pythons. They aren’t blind, but they don’t perceive much with their eyes; instead, they rely on a complex sensory organs in and around their face.

The tongues of African rock pythons are able to “smell” the surrounding environment. If a prey is nearby, their tongues will sense it.

African rock pythons have heat-sensing pits in their scales that

Helps them locate both predators and prey.

African rock pythons start to mate with each other when they’re around 3 – 5 years old.

African rock pythons are solitary creatures that prefer to live and hunt alone. The exception to this is the mating season; they’ll come together to breed, but it doesn’t last long, and males leave the females as soon as they start nesting.

African rock pythons are most active at night, especially when they’re trying to hunt.

[msb-lair]

Clutch #3129 - Seedling/Sapling

Mated On: 2023-02-10 # of eggs: 3 Hatched On: 2023-02-15

Progeny:

Hatchling 8269 (Spur) - Obelisk Male, Sable Python/Olive Current/Tarnish Scale, Common - 15 gems on 2023-02-16

Hatchling 8270 - Skydancer Female, Sable Giraffe/Camo Safari/Brown Runes, Common - 15,000 on 2023-03-12

Hatchling 8271 - Skydancer XYX Female, Ginger Python/Peridot Safari/Ginger Scales, Uncommon

Comments:

[scarletarosa]

Nyx

Greek goddess of the night

Nyx (Roman: Nox) is the primordial goddess of the night and is one of the most ancient goddesses to dwell within this Universe, as she had originated within the Void beyond the Universe. Nyx formed from the depths of this ancient darkness without any parents and mated with several deities in order to bring about gods who were necessary for creation to evolve. From Chaos (the formless Void), Nyx gave birth to Nemesis, Hypnos, Momus, and many others. With her first husband, Ouranus (god of the heavens), she gave birth to many deities, including Philotes, the goddess of unity and love. Afterwards, Nyx mated with several other deities such as Olethros and Erebos. With Olethros (god of doom), Nyx gave birth to Pluto (god of death and the Underworld). In ancient Greek sources, Hesiod claims Pluto (Hades) to be the son of Kronos and Rhea, yet it is the Orphics who determine him to be the son of Nyx (which Nyx confirms). 

Nyx also temporarily mated with Erebos, the primordial god of darkness, with whom she gave birth to Aether (god of the upper light and aethereal air), Hemera (goddess of day), and Eris (goddess of strife and discord). In the evening, their mother Nyx would draw her dark veil across the sky, obscuring the ether and bringing night. In the morning, Hemera dispersed night's mist to reveal the shining blue ether of day. In the ancient cosmogonies, night and day were regarded as elements separate from the sun. Eris would go upon mankind and ruthlessly spread chaos, gossip, arguments, and battles with glee- her opposite and sister, Philotes, would be the one to amend this maliciousness with her harmonious powers. Philotes is the Universal power of harmony and the ability to subdue chaos through love and understanding. She is the most beloved of Nyx’s children and is the strongest among them. She arose as dawn and hope and began working to harmonize all of existence in order to bring peace and wisdom; fighting against all hardships.

"And Nyx bare hateful Moros (Doom of Death) and black Ker (Fate of Death) and Thanatos/Pluto (Death), and she bare Hypnos (Sleep) and the Oneiroi (Dreams). And again the goddess Nyx, though she lay with none, bare Momos (Criticism), painful Oizys (Misery), and the Hesperides (Evenings)...Also, she bore the Moirai (the Fates) and the ruthless avenging Keres (Deaths)...Also powerful Nyx bare Nemesis to bring retribution upon corruption, and after her, Apate (Deceit), Philotes (Unity), Geras (Old Age), and cold-hearted Eris (Strife) were born.”  

In Greece, Nyx was often depicted as the very substance of the night- a veil of dark mists drawn across the sky to obscure the light of Aether, the shining blue of the heavens. Her opposite is Hemera (Day) who scattered the mists of night at dawn. In her humanoid form, the goddess is depicted was a beautiful woman wearing a black dress and with black wings. Sometimes she was shown crowned with an aureole of dark mists. Homer (Il. xiv. 259, &c.) calls her the subduer of gods and men, and relates that Zeus himself stood in awe of her. In the ancient cosmogonies, Night is one of the very first created beings, for she is described as the daughter of Chaos (the Void).  

At the beginning there was only Chaos (the Void), Nyx (Night), Erebos (Darkness), and deep Tartarus (the Abyss). From the collected effort of elder creator deities, the Cosmic Egg was able to be formed in the depths of the Void, and eventually the Egg burst open- exploding into light to form the cosmos of the Universe, as well as the glorious deities Phanes (Lucifer) and Eros. These two beautiful deities were separated upon birth, with Eros staying within the Void and radiant Phanes remaining in solitude within this newly formed Universe. Eventually, Eros made a less-powerful copy of himself to be born to Aphrodite, so that he could interact within the Universe as well. Phanes held the distinguished sceptre [the rulership of the universe] and guided the other deities who came into being for many ages.  

The Orphic Hymn to Nyx [16]:

“Night, parent Goddess, source of sweet repose,   From whom at first both Gods and men arose,   Hear, blessed Venus, deck'd with starry light,   In sleep's deep silence dwelling Ebon night!   Dreams and soft case attend thy dusky train,   Pleas'd with the length'ned gloom and feastful strain.   Dissolving anxious care, the friend of Mirth,   With darkling coursers riding round the earth.   Goddess of phantoms and of shadowy play,   Whose drowsy pow'r divides the nat'ral day:   By Fate's decree you constant send the light   To deepest hell, remote from mortal sight;   For dire Necessity which nought withstands,   Invests the world with adamantine bands.   Be present, Goddess, to thy suppliant's pray'r,   Desir'd by all, whom all alike revere,   Blessed, benevolent, with friendly aid   Dispell the fears of Twilight's dreadful shade.”

Appearance: Nyx appears as a beautiful and regal woman with long wavy black hair, silver eyes, pale skin, black-feathered wings, and wears long flowing black dresses with tiny stars and silver jewelry. In her ancient form, Nyx is enormous, dwarfing in size even planets; her long black hair is like a shroud. Her piercing gaze can strike terror into most other deities who come upon her.

Personal experiences: She is extremely loving and wise, loves calculating things, is compassionate, understanding, graceful, regal, mysterious, charming, and very intelligent. She is one of the most wonderful goddesses I know of and is both incredibly gentle and wise. Whenever Nyx is happy, new stars are born in the Universe. She deeply values things such as inspiration, peaceful exploration and scientific pursuits, astronomy, pharmacology, and the pursuit of one’s dreams. Nyx is more withdrawn from humans than many other deities, but for those who come to her, she grants them serenity, guidance, and nourishment. She describes herself as “the one who guides and nurtures from the dark so the day can be born”. Nyx also explains that she is the goddess who the Egyptians called Nuit and who the Nords called Nótt, since it is she who embodies the night and has been known by many names throughout existence.

Offerings: chilled sweet red wine, chilled sarsaparilla, chilled absinthe, chilled blue raspberry soda, chilled pomegranate juice, chilled cranberry juice, oysters, prawns, caviar, swordfish, baguette, crème of strawberry, gateau, cooked hare, plums, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, olives, moonflowers, black dahlias, Queen of the Night flowers, anemone flowers, purple tulips, belladonna, Chanel no. 5 perfume, Jezebel perfume (Black Phoenix Alchemy), Midnight Dahlia perfume, ostrich eggs (not to eat), raven/crow feathers, raven/crow skulls, black silk, silver jewelry, star maps, bat figurines, crow/raven figurines, python figurines, sea turtle figurines, lapis lazuli, labradorite, star sapphires, cats eye, tanzanite, black onyx, antique combs, handheld silver mirrors, antique jewelry boxes, antique padlocks, fountain pens, poetry, black or dark blue candles

[loverboy-ish-archive]

Ophelia -- Peredur's mate. Female Obelisk. Light Flight (now in Arcane Region). Royal Starmap + Mulberry Constellation + Midnight Underbelly (may change to Glimmer). Faceted eyes. Apparel: Helpful Healer's Trail and Beacon (may collect full set or swap out later).

Peredur -- Rosie + Florence's son, Ophelia's mate. Male Tundra. Arcane Flight. Orchid Petals + Flaxen Constellation + Grapefruit Glimmer. Unusual eyes. Apparel: Golden Harvest Vines (to collect full set).

Fiamma -- Martha's mate. Female Bogsneak. Flame Flight. Sapphire Laced + Lemon Edged + Steel Ringlets. Primal eyes. Apparel: Fire Aura and Blaze Branches.

Martha -- Fiamma's mate. Male Fae. Fire Flight. Rose Skink + Pearl Butterfly + Rose Peacock. Bright eyes. Apparel: Mage's Walnut Bag.

Garland -- Sargon's mate. Female Fae. Earth Flight. Brown Python + Chocolate Morph + Coral Koi. Multi-Gaze eyes. Apparel: Teardrop Lapis Lazuli Armlet (to collect full set).

Sargon -- Garland's mate. Male Coatl. Lightning Flight. Gold Tiger + Gold Peregrine + Grapefruit Firefly. Primal eyes. Apparel: Lightning Aura, Powered Implants, Volatic Halo.

Tambourine -- Ryland's mate. Female Mirror. Ice Flight. Mint Cherub + Phthalo Seraph + Thicket Glimmer. Uncommon eyes. Apparel: Tigerlily Corsage, Flower Crown, Flowerfall, Lei, Tail Lei, and Wing Garland.

Ryland -- Tambourine's mate. Male Nocturne. Earth Flight. Azure Ribbon + Driftwood Marbled + Olive Glimmer. Faceted eyes.

Rhea -- Nought's mate. Female Pearlcatcher. Shadow Flight. Splash Bar + Royal Blend + Steel Crackle. Primal eyes.

Nought -- Rhea's mate. Male Wildclaw. Earth Flight. Midnight Lionfish + Oilslick Basic (to change to Toxin) + Caribbean Runes. Uncommon eyes, may change to Primal.

Pembe -- Artyom's mate. Female Ridgeback. Water Flight. Abyss Basic (to change to Flaunt) + Watermelon Flair + Pink Filigree. Glowing eyes.

Artyom -- Pembe's mate. Male Snapper. Light Flight. Pearl Savannah + Cerulean Stripes + Cottoncandy Soap. Common eyes, may change to Primal.

Ruby -- Adventure's mate. Female Skydancer. Water Flight. Wine Flaunt (to change to Pinstripe) + Ruby Hex + Bronze Circuit. Rare eyes, may change to Primal or leave alone.

Adventure -- Ruby's mate. Male Spiral. Shadow Flight. Rose Falcon + Coral Breakup (change to Peregrine) + Auburn Smoke. Multi-Gaze eyes.

additional notes: Ruby was going to have Flaunt (and does), but now I think Flaunt looks better for Pembe, so... swapsies. Might be a pain because I can't remember where I got Flaunt but oh well. May also swap Photios' and Adventure's planned genes, but that'll be later, too.

to be updated as-and-when.

[kevrocksicehouse]

The nuanced-mugging of Michael Palin who turns 78 today and used to belong to some comedy group or other:

Sir Galahad/Dennis/Knight who says Ni/et al. in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. D: Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones (1975). Sir Galahad the Chaste survives a castle full of beautiful young girls…barely (“Look, let me go back there and face the peril….Oh, let me have just a little bit of peril?”) only to fall to indecision over his favorite color; Dennis is a socialist peasant who disputes the legend of Excalibur (“Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.”); The leader of the just and fair Knights who say Ni keep changing the rules of their quest (“You must cut down the mightiest tree in the forest…WITH…A HERRING!”) and Palin, the Python’s most inspired clown, masterfully demonstrates the troupe’s essence – hyperintelligent and literary comedy writing, clothed in the trappings of insane silliness.

Pontious Pilate/An ex-leper/Boring prophet/Ben the Prisoner et. al in Monty Python’s Life of Brian. D: Terry Jones (1979). Banned for blasphemy and you can see why – not so much for denouncing Christ as for satirizing the whole idea of organized religion--this film had Palin playing an ex-leper beggar cured by Jesus (“One minute I’m a leper with a trade, next minute my livelihood’s gone. Without so much asa by-your-leave! ‘You’re cured, mate.’ Bloody do-gooder.”) A cellmate of Brian’s making light of his torture. (“They have me in manacles!...Manacles! Ooooh, my idea of heaven, is to be allowed to be put in manacles. Just for a few hours…..they must think the sun shines out your ass, sonny.”) and the spectacular verbal slapstick of his Pontius Pilate whose speech impediment cracks up the citizenry (“Give us Woger….Give us Woderick!”) and almost saves Bwian, I mean Brian, and whose almost straight face while trying to get his guards to doom themselves by laughing at his friends (“Anybody else feel like a giggle….. when I mention my fwiend… Biggus….Dickus?”) is one of the best examples of “breaking” in movies.

A chaplain/A Dad/The Lady Presenting the End of the Film et al in Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life. D: Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam (1983). In a throwback move towards the interconnected sketches of Python’s TV series, Palin doubles down on religious satire as an unctuous chaplain (“Forgive us, O Lord, for this, our dreadful toadying, and barefaced flattery. But You are so strong and, well, just so super. Amen.”) and a destitute Catholic parent of many children who blames his poverty on Catholic doctrine (“They preserved the might and majesty, the mystery of the church of Rome and the sanctity of the sacraments….but if they’d let me wear one of those little rubber things on the end of my c---, we wouldn’t be in the mess we are now.”) and sings the ecstatically catchy “Every Sperm is Sacred” production number, which doesn’t just satirize “Oliver!” but fulfills it. (You’ll leave the theater singing). As for the meaning of life, his bored, female narrator says “Well it’s nothing very special. Try to be nice to people, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all nations. And, finally, here are some completely gratuitous pictures of penises…….”)

[araingirl]

Heaven’s court on the earth

Everyone clapped together and went back to the seats as the couple came at the center of the room, placing their feet on the mandala artwork painted in blues and purples. The music started with the rings of the silver bells, then the ancient mouth-organs. Soon, the tabors joined as the couple spread their respective arms to the opposite sides, drawing quarter-circles in the air. Eyes were at eyes, the man had his hand on the right side of her slim waist and the female found hers on his left shoulder. He didn't forget to glance all over her looks once. Her turquoise and sky-blue Houmongi kimono and chikori-flowered hairpins attached to her soft mauve locks almost stopped his breaths.

Really, she was looking beautiful. Ravishing. Angelic. Ethereal. Nope, these words would be too less for her. Tyson thought it and snickered.

Flirt and let your smile spread,

Grape-shaped pearl's glow be shaped,

O, olive-colored pretty maiden,

O, dancing moonshine which is golden!

Parting away, they circled the mandala art on the floor, not leaving each other's hands which were bound in the fingers of the respective partner. Raising the same legs in the air parallelly, they curved their waists and returned to the arms. In her eyes, Dew held his cheerful rubies having a manly charm. She couldn't guess when the reckless and mischievous lad had turned into a bold, attractive and matured man. The way he was touching her was sending jolts to her heart. His fingers laid on her olive skin were giving her goosebumps. They were received by the watchers too but they were as silent as the dead, failing to express it.

Like a python, one of the legs of the female dancer wrapped the waist of her partner. He held it and lifted her up diagonally, seizing her midriff. Dew felt as if she'd been floating in the air. That's why, she enthusiastically spread her arms. Knowing that she could lose her balance and fall down, Tyson whispered in her ear, "Hold my neck." Nodding and thanking him inaudibly, she let her right elbow embrace his throat. He didn't feel uneasy at all. Dew was lighter than a feather to him at that time on the dance floor. Maintaining the position, the navy-haired boy swirled dramatically. People forgot to clap at the step. Tyson sneakily sang in Dew's ear, making her as red as a tomato:

Aren't you a golden anklet?

Aren't you a cooing nightingale?

Aren't you my peacock?

With rain, whose feet jingle?

Suddenly, all the windows of the room were pushed open, stormy gusts of wind blustered in. A few candles became smothered, decreasing the amount of light in the room in the half of its previous state. The murky shadows of the couple fell on the mandala, taller than they were. From nowhere, dry leaves stormed inside the room. People couldn't understand from where they were coming. The dancers weren't in the condition of noticing them. To them, the chamber had already become empty. No one else was falling in their eyes. Quietly, Tyson put his right hand under her kneepit and embraced her diaphragm as she curved back in bliss and rapture. After it, when they were marching forward dramatically, holding each other's waist, they were only two. Only two.

It was heaven's court on the earth.

Stealthily, his nose neared her hair and received the ethereal aroma of her silky violet tresses. It remained tucked at her pitcher neck for a short time. She was smelling like a lavender flower. Tyson thankfully smiled at it and rebuked himself not for realizing her beauty and worth before it. Her skin was heated but she wasn't feeling uneasy with him. Those blushes from her face disappeared nowhere. She felt as if she'd danced with Tyson since births and rebirths. To her, he was not a stranger. She knew him since a long time. A baby-blue ray poured in, increasing the divineness of the aura. The navy-haired boy smirked at her. She was Tyson's own lavender flower.

Hey, cooing birds!

She sings and coos,

In the birch tree, he swings and moves,

He makes the nest,

And calls you to mate,

O, crazy lover, he makes the nest,

And calls you to mate.

As she turned back, he pretended to tie an anklet around her left ankle. In return, she moved to him and poured some invisible water in his open palms which were spread before her like those of a beggar. A beggar he became, begging for her love. Finally, they sat on the dance floor on their knees. Dew's hands were joined together and shifted right. She looked below with embarrassment-ridden eyes, yet, with a honeyed smile clinging to her berry lips. Tyson's palm was still on her shoulder, his eyes held the confidence and the pride which were showering love on her. As the music stopped, all the ladies stood up and burst out wild applauses. Their claps were louder than the thunderbolts. Obvious it was, for the first time, they'd watched such a euphoric performance. Why shouldn't they express their joy?

________________________________________________________________

It was the one of the major TysonXDew (Dew is my OC and TySew is my third favorite OTP) in my story “Kingdom”. Just got to remember it :’D 

[fantasy-fields-bitty-center]

Olive Python field guide

Olive Python

Habitat: These bitties prefer to be inside and cared for, but can be found anywhere that isn't freezing,

Diet: They will eat anything that can fit into their mouth,

Hunting: They will hunt, forage, fish, and even garden in groups,

Offspring info: They lay soft shelled eggs, tho the shells are more firm then others, their clutch sizes vary from 2 - 14

Mating preferences: They don't care what kind of mate they have(dom, sub, switch, etc) as long as they are not aggressive/violent,

Den preferences: They live in large dens with many other bitties, and have no preferences when it comes to layout,

[rubydolly]

A trip to the zoo would not be complete without a million pictures of Noodles!!!! Taronga Zoo have a very impressive display of snakes, they have a few exotic snakes that I had never seen in person before so to see some of these snakes for the first time in the flesh was very exciting. (I was particularly excited to see the Eyelash Viper, I adore Viper’s but had never seen one before as we sadly don’t have them in this country SLIDE ONE - Eyelash Viper - Snakelet SLIDE TWO - Coastal Taipan SLIDE THREE - Green Anaconda SLIDE FOUR - Green Tree Python SLIDE FIVE - Olive Python SLIDE SIX - Centralian Carpet Python SLIDE SEVEN - Monocled Cobras (they were mating) SLIDE EIGHT - Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake PS - there were far more snakes than this but I couldn’t fit them all in

[rufusdawes]

Rays of Sunshine

Like most children, I too am trapped inside the body of someone no longer able to identify as a child. It does mean however, that I still want to climb trees, stick my tongue out and screw up my face after eating disgusting grown up foods like mushrooms or oysters (to be fair I won’t actually go near either), and have a favourite animal. Well, on that last point I have several. Obviously dogs. Especially ones from my past, present and future, as well as every single one I will never meet, and all their canid cousins. Secondly, reptiles. Again this is not restrictive, though if an adult were to ask then I’d say snakes and then fine if pushed, pythons. OK, if you’re really interested, let me get my book of Australian reptiles and I can show you all the ones I’ve seen in the wild since I’ve been ticking them off since I got here. Lastly, rays though specifically this time, the stingray family.

Fortunately, I was spending holidays just after New Year’s at some friends’ house in south-west Western Australia. A stunning property sitting atop 30 acres with an olive grove, fruit trees, a small dam, and enough potential to create quite the permaculture retreat, it’s also nestled just a short drive from each of the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and the Blackwood River. Two of these supposedly contain at least four species of our stingray family which, in turn, could make me one happy little traveller.

On January 1st, 2005, I landed in Perth, WA, with a mate as we set off on an Australasian adventure from our homes back in Bristol, UK. Our very first week on Aussie soil saw us take a drive into the south-west corner of WA, including a night in Bunbury where we were able to handfeed the resident dolphins. Further down the coast, and following some Lonely Planet advice, we rocked up at a beach called Hamelin Bay. Here, we were advised, one would often see stingrays humbugging the returning fisherman for scraps as the caught haul were prepared in the shadows of what remained of a decaying wooden jetty, once used to service timber milling operations.

In 2005, we were not disappointed. My memory of the entire five week trip largely following the urban coastal part of this isle is somewhat hazy. Not through any drink or drug induced haze but merely through my own inability to remember anything other than that which may crop up during a round of Jeopardy. However, my one crystal clear memory is of stroking these huge cartilaginous cousins of sharks in the lapping shoreline of the tranquil Indian Ocean (pic below).

It was another thirteen years until I saw another in the wild. This was during a free diving adventure off the coast of Bali, involved the largest of the stingray family, the manta ray, and can be read about in a previous blog ‘Among the Fields of Bali’. Three years further along and I’m back at Hamelin Bay, just a ten minute drive from my friends’ house and almost just as I remember it.

The friends have an eleven month old son and it was he we were entertaining with an evening dip at the beach. I spent the appropriate amount of time pretending not to be excited about being back at Stingray City before getting unnecessarily excited about being back at Stingray City. To mask my inner stan, I casually sauntered towards the boat ramp and beyond, the dilapidated pillars of the jetty to find… nothing. Nada, zilch, squat. Natch. Uh oh. Upon my return to my friends I was informed that some rays had been brutally butchered by a few callous locals a few years ago. Unprotected as they were, they were fair game for a ‘catch’ and the laws insufficient for those actions to be classed as illegal. Now, the shoreline is a protected zone for the rays however, it seemed that they had not yet returned. I left deflated.

A day or two later I was in the township of Augusta which sits just up from the estuary of the Blackwood River before it empties into the Southern Ocean and is also just a ten minute drive from my holiday basecamp. Along the riverbank sit numerous cleaning stations. These are small, wooden structures utilised for the cleaning and filleting of caught fish before they’re thrown onto a barbecue at the campground behind for the freshest of feeds. The resident rays are wise to the process and loiter when someone is nearby. Here I was able to amble among eagle rays and spotted rays. If no scraps are on offer, the rays will nudge into you like a hungry puppy and loiter at your feet expectantly. I spent too many hours across a few days paddling with, and photographing these rays. In the absence of the Indian Ocean mob, I was delighted to be entertained by half a dozen or so of these wee fellas, but it wasn’t the same.

A week later, I returned alone to Hamelin Bay and trundled down to the shore to reminisce. It was sixteen years to the day when I was there earlier this trip. Now, these seven days on, I was enjoying the twilight views and a cooling ocean breeze in ankle deep water. From the corner of one eye, a dark shadow caught my attention. Watching carefully, is it a rock? Are the gentle undulations of the tide suggesting underwater movement where none exists? Perhaps it’s just a mass of seaweed. And then, a turn! A tail flicks behind it as the shadow nears. A ray is back! It turns out they didn’t disappear. My attendance earlier just unfortunate timing. On this occasion I counted a dozen or so patrolling the shoreline, a mix of black and silky stingrays. As more onlookers arrived, the rays approached, seeking the scraps they are so often presented. Considerably larger than their freshwater brethren, they are just as demanding nudging the calves and resting above feet awaiting their feed. They are rewarded often enough though are unable to distinguish between the mass of legs as to who may be a provider. It can be a surreal thirty seconds or so feeling the sand move between the toes as a result of the ray drawing water through its mouth an inch from your foot and out through the gills where gas exchange occurs, before the ray loses patience and moves onto the next grounded limb.

I returned one further time, on my last evening in the region, to wander among these graceful beauties. Sitting on the beach after my final frolic and staring out across the Western Australian horizon, I was a pretty content human. The inner child had been allowed out to play for a fortnight and is delighted to announce that his favourite animal is now the stingray. Well, at least until someone lets me pet their dog.

[mr-w-rambles]

The Gorgonettes

A Trio of Greek Punk Rockers that band is known for combining Ancient and Classical Greek and Roman Choruses with Riot Grrl Punk music stylings and all three members wearing stylized masks, all resembling iron maiden faces. The band’s Symbol is a Gorgoneion with three wings encircling it.The Members of the Gorgonettes are-

-Melanea, lead vocalist (all three of the members sing) and bass player of the band, wearing a purple leather coat with the cuffs made of brass encircling serpents, and the Band Symbol on her Back is Unique as it is wearing a blindfold. She likes to braid fake snakes into curly black hair and occasionally goes onto stage with her Pet Ball Python, Echidna. Her mask resembles the face of an Iron Maiden. Her Brass-Snake Belt extends into a metal lash when she wants to brawl. She is a Greek Woman of Color. She is of bubbly but scholarly personality. Stands at 5′ 10″

- Egan, the guitarist of the group,with her guitar heavily stylized to resemble a lyre with a dragon for the neck. The guitar is also reinforced as to be used as a club it things turn into a melee. Her band-mates joke with her she should have made it into a literal axe, but Egan insists that joke is too obvious. She dyes her long, straight hair bright red to go with her “fiery” personality. Her red leather jacket is adorned with the classic spikes across the shoulders, with the sleeves made of light mail, and her stylized symbol is the Gorgon head breathing fire. She is responsible for making the costumes and clothing for the band.Stands at 5′ 6″

- Stheno, To quote John Mulanely, immediately gives a “Don’t Fuck with Me” vibe, even with the mask on. She is the drummer of the band, and standing at 6′ 4″ is the tallest member of the band. Atop her “boyishly” short, curly golden hair she wears a circlet made of a chain and barb-wire. Her jacket, the Band symbol surrounded by an Ouroboros, is an green alligator skin jacket with the sleeves cut off, revealing with muscular, freckle covered olive skinned arms. Criss-crossing chains hang off the front of the vest in place of buttons. Her belt is instead a coiled chain, locked into place by a pad-lock shaped like a heart. Leather riding boots with silver toes finish off her outfit. It sh*t hits the fan, Stheno has two collapsible batons on her person, with the cudgels at the ends resembling little skulls. Her prized possession is the large bronze bell she keeps as part of her drum set.

P.S. Their names mean She who dwells in hidden places, Young Fighter, and The Strong One, Respectively.

Send Me Bad Girl Pitches

And then I will draw them this weekend, maybe, if 2020 isn’t a complete nightmare to me about it.

Your bad girl pitch must include ALL of the following: Genre: Fantasy, Horror, or Science Fiction? Vibe: Punk Rock, Goth, or Biker? Occupation: Mercenary?  Thief?  Witch? Thug? Pirate? Something Else? Melee Weapon of Choice (something crude and simple - baseball bat, hammer, knife, brass knuckles, etc.) What kind of rad jacket does she have? List one more accessory she has on her person.

Send ‘em to me via an ask or a reply/reblog of this post, please!

[msb-lair]

Clutch #1608 - Echo/Narcissus

Mated On: 2018-12-03 # of eggs: 3 Hatched On: 2018-12-08

Progeny:

Hatchling 4243 (Asnaki) - Coatl Female,  Yellow Python/Moss Morph/Banana Glimmer, Uncommon - 15,000 on 2018-12-14

Hatchling 4244 (Aparal) - Wildclaw Male,  Lemon Python/Honey Morph/Olive Glimmer, Common - 15,000 on 2018-12-19

Hatchling 4245 (Anleifr) - Coatl Male, Flaxen Python/Olive Morph/Amber Glimmer, Uncommon - 15,000 on 2018-12-11

Comments: Last clutch from these two I think, time to finally get around to culling Narcissus, and putting Echo back into non-breeding status.

[luziflor]

Update (long post)

So I wouldnt say I was astral projecting today. Much more of lighly travelling up there and getting to some sort of inbetween spot between here and there, maybe?

Background: Years ago in my coven my mentor had us do a meditation exercise. We would visualize roots growing from where we stood, and tree branches growing up from us. It would lead you into a starry space, and she taught us to put up a ward and shield there. You would then travel into the tree to get to something that was supposed to be a personal temple, to meet with your deities and such. Not really the same as astral home. So im gonna like.... push it up there. Or something. Point is, I have a home thing already its just not really in the right location yet, but is close-ish maybe. Another problem i have with this though is that I used to be into thoughtforms. I had a few, and they had pet dragons. We had a lovely home with lots of wooded areas and a sea and everything. I could tell that one was strictly in my head at the time though, as I used to get severe headaches and even feel the energy in my brain severely shift. Thats a different story, but causes me to again question if im actually doing anything or just creating more thats only my brain (then again, ive heard of egregores being able to see egregores of others or travel to their homes.... ). Clearly, I have some things to work through.

About the home/temple that was already there - literally was created by 16 year old me after seeing an aesthetic pic on tumblr. Maybe I can find it again but I really doubt it. Anyways, the inside is light and dark blue marble. It has gold accents, and greek styled columns. The whole thing is really an old greek looking place. I recall I had a waterfall or something in there that would cause severe damage to a real house but I liked the look so it didnt bother me. There is a white greek statue of a woman in there but I could not tell you who it is. To the left there is an altar. The original was above a stone fireplace.

How its been updated: Same color scheme, theme, and random statue. The water feature was changed though, now its a small pond outside my house with a mini rock waterfall. Like for turtles. My altar is now a weird wooden desk bookshelf hybrid, that doesnt fit the theme at all. But its pretty. And I added a pet altar, it came to me as a wooden slab on metal legs or something, and it has wings that fold upward on it. Very cheesy but its a lovely piece, so I let it be. It has constant offerings of meat, water, and leaves or veggies to my passed away pets. I´ve also made it so they have a space where they can come and go as they please. I was also interacting with my deities and like uh hey guys u can make your own rooms if you want, just follow normal human rules. And I dont think any of them except Hecate did, and she did it immediately hahahah. But its not something I expected from her, though I am new to her as well. She made one that is kind of like a cave? And it had glowing amber light from the inside, and a gold metal accent piece at the top. She placed it very close to my altar but not rudely close. Apparently theres also a kitchen in there but its much more modern looking, and I got blocked from going in there (see below). I added new shields and wards, and a symbol appeared to me but its not related to any deity or anything. It came as I was setting up the shield and looking for sigils too. Its at a weird angle, a bunch of buildings mostly sky scrapers on a flat street. Below it are one line going down, and two lines attached to it with arrows or something going out. I would also like to point out that I huge painted ball python wrapped itself around my house, but it only came in images and energy I cant actually see it on the house.

Experience this time: Went in, established my being there. Looked around, was mostly the same as when I left it though some features such as my altar and water had been changed. Basically anything that worked with elements had disappeared really, or left behind a mild energy and base to build off of again. 

Welcomed in my deities to talk to them. Had a great meeting with Zeus, Poseidon, Lilith, and for the first time, Hecate (though I have interacted with her already).

Hecate was the first I greeted. She had her hair in a nice smooth updo, and looked like an oil painting. Im still working on visualization, she didnt move much  but I heard her speaking and felt the energy. She also had a golden bird metal band in her hair, which surprised me as well. Shes very nice so far, though i find it funny that she, mother of witches, had to put her room right next to my altar (which only has one side available). I thanked her for her work with me so far, especially as my oldest dog passed just recently, and I have another one whos young and sick now (he is much better today!).

Then was Lilith. When i first saw her, she was old and cranky but none the less friendly to me. Just kinda like a grandma with a temper. That had been in winter. Now as it is summer here (or spring? guate is weird), she came to me as a woman who had to be 19-early 20s. She had light olive skin, and swamp green eyes with slit pupils. She had brown loose curled hair that was every so slightly frizzy and very full. She was full human, but this time her body was super limber and a bit long like a snake. She was in a plain white dress, but it was like you could feel that her abdomen had a very specific shape that was like a snake. She was lovely, very kind, and patient with me as always. She is sweet but definitely has a jokester and teasing energy about her. After I left her, a huge californian king snake wrapped itself up around my shoulders just to chill, and I felt his scales moving across my shoulder. I havent held a snake in years, and I know for a fact my old cal king has died.

Next was Zeus. He is so much like a father figure to me, and he was very cheerful. Unfortunately because I havent really met up with him in a very long time, he looked to me like the animated Neptune from Little Mermaid. Yeeaah, sorry man. But he was fine none the less. We have a good relationship, he was glad to see me reaching out to them again. Even though I could not see him as he is for me, I could feel his energy. For me he is very hearty, and big. Its like santa clause with an attitude problem. (sorry pops)

Finally, Neptune/Poseidon. This one has been confusing for me as he presents himself to me as both. First it was more of Neptune, but now more of Poseidon. While Zeus is more like a father to me, Poseidon is the one that has all of my interests or is coincidentally related to weird things that happen to me. While Zeus has always been like a father, Zeus and I were more detached to begin with. But Poseidon was always the sweet uncle who related to what I liked and taught me valuable lessons. Today I saw him and felt him at the time, but once I was recording it in my journal I forgot almost everything about the experience other than it was super nice. 

There was some point where I had looked down, and noticed I had on partial armor in the color of gold on my legs and on my lower arms. Then I saw light dusty blue fabric draped over my arm, and more detail came from there. I was somehow wearing a stereotypical greek dress, but also bits of gold armor. I looked into a mirror and also saw that I had on a golden crown which felt a bit much in my tastes, but it was lovely so I kept it anyways! 

I saw my old dog Molly in there, though we didnt interact. Muffin, my recently passed, was there too. And I met up with her, and while I cant for sure say it was her it was good to have a few moments where I felt like I was playing with her again and hearing her weird snorts she makes when shes happy. My physical body had started crying after that. I could feel her bones again, if it was her shes happy but needs some serious vetting, which is probably the case anyways. Hopefully the offerings and me getting more experienced will help as time goes on. 

In my pet altar, I opened the drawer and found pictures. The only one I could really make out was one of my passed kitten, Possum. Possum had been a soul mate of a cat for me, ive never felt a connection like that before. And when he was passing away in the middle of the night across my whole house, I woke up for no reason not feeling tired at all. Then something told me to go outside because I had to go get him. He died a few hours after that, and im broken hearted to this day. 

At the beginning of this whole thing, I created an athame. Its based off of the ones they sell here but I have yet to actually get my hands on. Its made of metal and stone, and the tip of the handle has a tigers head. This one is a regular athame but I was immediately moved to make it into something to defend me from malicious spirits as well. I immediately slipped it into a knife holder that happened to be around my waist.

I was going to the kitchen, as my deities had left, there were no pets running around in there (maybe Muffin, but I had been interuppted in the physical world so our session broke off), so I was lonely and wanted to explore. I immediately felt blocked from going in there, and a black figure flew out at me. I felt just about nothing from this experience so I dont think that part was real (and I will go into more detail about this in a second). I grabbed my knife, stabbed it in the head, and the spirit was passed out or whatever for a second. I took it outside and realized I could removed the black around it, it was just cloth. It was what appeared to be some sort of white teenager, but the look of him really made me feel like he was not modern times. I dont know. Ive never seen him before either, and again, I didnt feel any panic from this at all. Only when i got blocked from the kitchen.

When I had egregores, I had a nice home for them. But in the upstairs I would hate going to because a black figure would come up to me. I would feel panic and even feel this in the physical realm sometimes. It is not around me anymore I dont think, or if it is, its only kept in my mind so its something personal I would assume. He was banished long ago, I changed their house, and didnt see him ever again. I questioned that experience at the time but it felt more real than the one I had earlier today. I dont know. 

Long story short- met up with the deities, Hecate had to put her room next to my altar, new guards up, snake things happened, might have killed a spirit but maybe nah, maybe hung out with my deceased dog for just a few seconds.

[xpwewarchive]

XPWEW Friday Night Pyro (3-27-2020)

Friday Night Pyro Episode #419 March 27th, 2020 Los Angeles, California The Barracks

Show Intro

Commentary: Kaitlyn Khaos & Nick Simmonds

Opening Segment: Champagne Clausen comes down dapperly dressed. Champagne: “It was last January at Guilty as Charged I was in the midst of the most dominant world title run in this promotion. And I warned the All Man not to metal in that and what did he do..he did. I told him then that “consequences will never be the same!” And it took this long, whether it was our bean-headed general manger Romeo Roselli who told me I couldn’t challenge for the title as long as he was champion well then just like I thought and just like everyone else All Man proved he was indeed “just a TRANSITIONAL champion” and now here we stand. 2 days! 2 days! I get my hands on that rat and I get my hands on that smiling, that fake, that fraud, that snake in sheep’s clothing Golden Bryce. I get my hands on both of them. I don’t gotta pin em, I don’t gotta knock them out, I don’t even have to snap their leg in half. ALL I HAVE TO DO is hit one move. Three times. In the blink of a second, in the pop of a cork I can be world champion again

Freight Train enters Train: “I think you might have a bad memory Curtis cause I remember it was only 6 or 7 days ago in this building you pushed my friend. You hit your daddy. You did a bad thang. Well you know what you might have just pissed me of. I took Troy off the medicines and Sunday he’s gonna have a lot to say so you better cover your hind-end or say I’m sorry cause I bet he’s real mad Champagne: Huh...haha Do they call you Freight Train because your the size of a train or do they call you Freight Train because your mind tends to slip off of the tracks. Because NEWS FLASH idiot! He’s a vegetable! He has no memory, no frame of reference since Halloween! Y’know the one with candy! Bring em out! I’m sure he’ll come out here and tell nobody in the crowd that he’s the best, we’ll I’ll say this if he does anything again to impede MY SPOTLIGHT. I’m gonna do more than sedate him. I’ll sedate him permanently and you can whisper that to that human bag of meat. So why don’t you go do that

Freight Train slumps his shoulders and leaves he keeps looking back sadly

Champagne: LEAVE!

All Man, All Woman & Scott Steiner enter

Steiner : Your daddy issues are nobody’s concern your moron. Nobody gives a damn about your carrot cake brain daddy ok all people wanna see is THE POPPA BACK ON PYRO! LOOK AT THE LARGEST ARMS IN THE WORLD

2 weeks ago! I got checked into the hospital and I looked the grim reaper right in his beetie eyes and told him I ain’t leaving until the ALL MAN wins the title 2 times! 2 times!

All Man: 2 times! 2 times!

Champagne: that’s cute, I’m looking to do what neither of you have done. Win that title a second time myself, All Man really? Let’s recall your title reign, you beat me after I had a hard fought match, you beat me with a low battery okay and then you defended it at Flirting With Disaster and Golden Bryce beat you in 8 minutes and let’s see Scott I’ll use your math here.

Steiner: HEY THATS MY GIMMICK! GIVE IT BACK! GIVE IT BACK TO ME!

Golden Bryce enters with the TITLE

Golden Bryce: I feel like I’m watching Step Brothers right now lol both of you sound the same. Complaining. Not doing. I MEAN GUYS! 48 hours! 3 finishers. ZERO FANS! Oh wait sorry Tenille, I respect women!! Scott! glad to see you’ve made a 100% recovery

Steiner: SHUT UP GOLDYLOCKS

Bryce: corpses tries not to laugh

Steiner: Listen up!

All Woman: Scott Steiner!, This Sunday it’s going to be a 3 Way Dance for the XPWEW World Title at Blitzkrieg between All Man, Champagne Clausen and Golden Bryce! What’s your opinion on the upcoming bout?

Steiner: **You know they say that ALL MEN are created equal but you look at the ALL MAN and you look at Champagne Clausen and you can see that statement is not true. See normally if you go 1 on 1 with the another wrestler you got a 50/50 chance of winning. But All Man is ALL IN and he’s not normal. So you got a 25% chance AT BEST of beating All Man at Blitzkrieg! Then you add GOLDYLOCKS to the mix! Your chances drastic go UP! Because he can’t win a big main event match to save him life and he ain’t even gonna try! See the 3 way at Blitzkrieg. You got a 33 1/3rd chance of winning, but All Man! All Man has got a 66% and 2/3rd’s chance of winning!

Senior Champagne! The numbers don’t lie and they spell disaster for you at Blitzkrieg!

Kaitlyn Khaos: “I’ve just gotten word from General Manger Romeo Roselli that tonight! The world champion Golden Bryce will go 1 on 1 with Champagne Clausen and All Woman will act as the special guest referee. That’s gonna be interesting and that is tonight’s main event!”

<<Let’s get this COVID-19 awareness episode of Pyro under way and take it straight to the action!

1 on 1 M1: Doxy Deity defeats All Woman w/ All Man and Scott Steiner @ ringside

<<<Back and forth contest, both competitors were able to get action and offense, This match showcased All Woman even in LOSS because she’s had very limited ring time in the Fed since joining last July but this match we got to see her shine a bit because she really has only had a handful of matches here. In the end Doxy would catch All Woman mid air off the top rope then hits her finish in a great matchup. Quick and fast paced. Steiner’s ringside commentary made it funnier” Steiner: “Do it for my freaks?!!!!”

[PROMO\Hype] Lockdown 7 in 56 days May 23rd, 2020 Dubai, United Arab Emirates mini documentary showing performers hyping up the biggest event of the year

[In-ring segment] Interview from James Westerbeck! XPWEW INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION! Slayer w/ Rosemary& Lotus

Priscilla Kelly bathtub promo }}} Priscilla via Titan tron challenges Slayer to a match for the xpwew international title this Sunday at Blitzkrieg

Slayer accepts So just like that! BREAKING NEWS! This Sunday at Blitzkrieg Slayer will defend his XPWEW International Title 1 on 1 against Priscilla Kelly! Sheeeeeeeeee’s baaaaaaaaaaack

((Slayer walks to the back)) (((Rosemary joins the commentary booth with Kaitlyn Khaos and Nick Simmonds and she’s in character the whole time and Rosemary is creeping Kaitlyn Khaos our the whole time, absolute golden on the mic during this match. Hyping Lotus up!

1 on 1 M2: Lotus defeats Genevalisse

PROMO: XPWEW commercial informing all the UK fans that we sincerely apologize that Blitzkrieg set for this Sunday was suppose to take place at the O2 in London but not to worry because! *Anarchy in the UK by Sex Pistols plays “Because this September we are bringing the XPWEW Anarchy Rules pay-per-view to you! That’s right! We can’t wait to bring the best fans in the world some Xtreme wrestling!!!”

The Set enters Ruckus joins commentary but he is silent the whole time (he goes to light up a blunt) Nick Simmonds: Do you mind um I uh have bad asthma Ruckus: hits blunt coughs intensely/ Damn Vro me too < Siaka Lexoni is sensational at the commentary booth putting over Jordan Oliver, Myron and Kotto over big time >

Tag Team Match M3: Myron Reed & Kotto Brazil defeat Jacques & Dragon Kid

1 on 1 [XPWEW Juniorweight Title ON THE LINE] M4: Jordan Oliver defeats Based Fabian

(((Match of the night, total spot fest #Dive)))

Garrett Thompson and Ethan Bedlam enters GT @ McGraw (speaking into camera) “Last week McGraw it was merely a flesh wound! Merely a mercy beating! I could have beaten your bullocks within an inch of your life, but your little wee damsel in the distress saved your backside huh. Ryu come to this ring.

McGraw enters with a neck brace on

Ryu steps in front of him “it’s not worth it, he’s scum, he’s scum, don’t do this. Not now.” GT and Bedlam wants McGraw with his hand motions just baiting him in to come get this 2 on 1 beatdown < McGraw jerks the mic out of Ryu “You gotta be the luckiest muffin eating sum bitches I’ve ever seen! Ethan Bedlam get your finger outta Garrett’s ass GT: “Your not funny....Not funny mate” Leonard: Oh that ain’t funny. Not so funny. Well hell son I’m not a modern day Monty Python here shit But if this is all comedy, if this shit is just a joke to you GT I’d suggest I get your input on this next bit ive been working on! [[[MCGRAW SLOWLY PULLS AWAY THE NECK BRACE REVEALING THAT HE IS NOT INJURED THIS WHOLE TIME] <<GT cocks his head sideways and Bedlam looks back and forth in confusion>> McGraw: Oh well hell it ain’t funny but it damn sure is peculiar. This neck straightening device here don’t mean shit to me because damn son I don’t need it I’m not injured I don’t have broken neck, I don’t have a broken bollocks or whatever the fuck you said, I don’t have a bedfellow named Ethan and I sure as hell don’t have a fanger stuck up nobody’s ass but what I do have is a challenge I want you in this ring 1 on 1 this Sunday you big bastard GT: Leo, You don’t deserve a match against me you peasant. But I’ll say this. If you can beat...Ethan Bedlam...1 on 1 inside a steel cage this Sunday then you’ll get your match Larry the Cable guy Leonard: So this is how we’re gonna play it? Your gonna put your life partner in harms way like at? I’ll step in a steel cage Sunday but right now I’m just gonna get a piece of your ass first ((Mic slams)) Leonard hits the ring and takes out both Bedlam and GT but GT gets out of dodge by throwing Bedlam in front and Him quickly

LEONARD MCGRAW DECKS ETHAN BEDLAM WITH THE BUCKSHOT AND DAMN NEAR TAKES HIS HEAD OFF!

McGraw in ring flips off GT standing at stage

[PROMO] Dark Side of The Ring commercial airs “The death of the Xtreme Giant” premieres this Tuesday only on VICE

Leonard McGraw and Ryu join commentary Ryu is nice and polite Nick Simmonds: “Leonard why did you pretend you had a neck injury” McGraw: “I got kids to feed man and sometimes it’s a good way to get out of work shit! But even I get complacent I wanna get back in there and I’m fixing to beat Ethan Bedlam’s ass in that cage match come Sunday

1 on 1 M5: Genevalisse defeats Lola Starr

Match Announcement!!!

Kiera Hogan will now defend her XPWEW Women’s Title against Genevalisse this Sunday at Blitzkrieg 2020

Special Guest Referee: All Man & All Woman enter

Champagne Clausen enters

XPWEW World Heavyweight Champion Golden Bryce enters!!!

SpecialGuestReferee: All Woman 1 on 1 M6: Golden Bryce defeats Champagne Clausen

Bryce raises the title up high and All Man low blows him and attacks him from behind at the cheering and behest of Scott Steiner who encouraged him to blindside Bryce but Steiner slides in a steel chair All Man sizes up Bryce but Bryce ducks and All Man cracks Champagne over the skull with the steel chair and Bryce stands up in All Man’s face and they press up against each other s foreheads and it’s an epic finish but you can hear Steiner in the background “Hit him! Hit him! Hit him he’s right on ya”

Show ends

[iasshikshalove]

Daily Current Affairs 26th March 2020

Today’s  Important  Topic’s  For UPSC Preparation

1.   UNDISTURBED MASS NESTING OF OLIVE RIDLEYS AT RUSHIKULYA.

2.  SAUDI KING TO CHAIR G20 VIRTUAL SUMMIT.

3.  WHITE HOUSE, CONGRESS AGREE ON $2 TRILLION VIRUS RESCUE BILL.

4.  FINANCE MINISTER WRITES TO RBI FOR RELAXING FARM LOAN NPA NORMS.

5.  UNDERSTANDING PM GARIB KALYAN RELIEF PACKAGE.

UNDISTURBED MASS NESTING OF OLIVE RIDLEYS AT RUSHIKULYAOLIVE RIDLEY SEA TURTLE:Scientific Name:  Lepidochelys olivaceaConservation Status: Vulnerable

Olive ridley sea turtle also known commonly as the Pacific ridley sea turtle.

The species is the second smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.

It is found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, but also in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

This turtle and the related Kemps ridley turtle are best known for their unique mass nesting called arribada, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.

Though found in abundance, their numbers have been declining over the past few years, and the species is recognized as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red list and schedule 1 in wild life protection Act,1972.

The Olive ridley gets its name from its olive colored carapace, which is heart-shaped and rounded.

They are carnivores, and feed mainly on jellyfish, shrimp, snails, crabs, molluscs and a variety of fish and their eggs. These turtles spend their entire lives in the ocean, and migrate thousands of kilometers between feeding and mating grounds in the course of a year.

Threat:

Olive-ridleys face serious threats across their migratory route, habitat and nesting beaches, due to human activities such as turtle unfriendly fishing practices, development and exploitation of nesting beaches for ports, and tourist centres.

Though international trade in these turtles and their products is banned under CITES Appendix I, they are still extensively poached for their meat, shell and leather, and their eggs, though illegal to harvest, have a significantly large market around the coastal regions.

Most severe threat they face is the accidental killing of adult turtles through entanglement in trawl nets and gill nets due to uncontrolled fishing during their mating season around nesting beaches.

Increase in plastic waste in oceans.

Major Nesting Sites in India:Gahirmatha Beach, Odisha:

Gahirmatha beach of Odisha is largest mass nesting site for the olive ridley turtles in India. The beach is now now a part of the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary surrounded by mangroves forest and best place in India to spot Olive Ridley Sea Turtles.

Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary is very popular tourist attraction of Odisha, located in Bhitarkanika Mangroves and home to Olive ridley turtles, Indian python, King cobra, saltwater crocodile and water monitor.

Rushikulya River Mouth, Odisha:

The river flows from the Daringbadi hill station and meets the Bay of Bengal at Puruna Bandha in Ganjam, create Rushikulya river beach estuary. The mouth of the Rushikulya river is another best sites of olive ridley sea turtles in India and beach in Odisha.

Devi River Mouth, Odisha:

Devi river is a distributaries of Mahanadi that joins Bay of Bengal and the river mouth serves as a nesting ground for olive ridley sea turtles in Odisha during their breeding season. Rambha is another notified area in Odisha known to be a nesting site.

Marina Beach, Chennai:

Marina beach of Chennai is the longest natural urban beach in India, Also one of the most crowded beaches of South India. The beach and its rich ecosystem is a protected site for olive ridley turtle nests especially along the Neelankarai section of the beach.

Velas Beach, Ratnagiri:

Velas beach of Ratnagiri is not only home to turtles but the mangroves surrounded by coconut trees and a famous ecotourism place in Maharashtra where you can see endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles.

Cites:

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, often referred to as CITES also known as Washington Convention.

It is an agreement between governments that regulates the international trade of wildlife and wildlife products—everything from live animals and plants to food, leather goods, and trinkets.

It came into force in 1975 with the goal of ensuring that international trade does not threaten the survival of wild plants and animals.

There are about 5,800 species of animals and 30,000 species of plants protected by CITES currently.

They’re categorized into one of three appendices, depending on how at risk from trade they are.

As of June 2019, CITES had 183 party governments, which must abide by CITES regulations by implementing legislation within their own borders to enforce those regulations.

CITES was first conceived of at a 1963 meeting of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the global authority on the conservation status of wild animals and plants.

Classifications:

It classifies plants and animals according to three categories, or appendices, based on how threatened. They are.

Appendix I:

It lists species that are in danger of extinction because international trade.

It prohibits commercial trade of these plants and animals except in extraordinary situations for scientific or educational reasons.

The Asiatic lion and tigers are two species listed as Appendix I.

Appendix II species:

They are those that are not threatened with extinction but that might suffer a serious decline in number if trade is not restricted.

Their trade is regulated by permit.

American alligators are listed on Appendix II, for example.

They were overhunted through the 1960s for their skin, but their numbers are now on the rise.

CITES Appendix II listing helps ensure the alligator skin trade doesn’t become a threat again.

Appendix III species:

They are protected in at least one country that is a CITES member states and that has petitioned others for help in controlling international trade in that species.

What happens at CITES meetings?

Every two to three years, CITES parties meet at what’s called the Conference of the Parties (or “CoP”) to evaluate how the convention is being enforced.

The purpose of this two-week meeting is to consider new proposals for listing or removing species from appendices, to debate other decisions and resolutions about implementation of regulations, and to review conservation progress.

Appendix changes, the main event at the CoP, are proposed if a species is thought to need more—or less—protection from trade.

Why in News?

Restrictions in place for the COVID-19 threat are saving lakhs of Olive Ridley turtles from possible disturbance by humans, especially tourists, while they are continuing mass nesting at Odisha’s Rushikulya rookery.

According to the Forest Department’s enumeration, over 2,78,502 turtles nested at this coast.

Since Tuesday evening, over 72,142 Olive Ridleys have arrived at the beach to dig nests and lay eggs.

Day-time Nesting:

Olive Ridleys began mass nesting at the Rushikulya rookery from around 2 a.m. on March 21.

Later in the day, the unusual phenomenon of day-time mass nesting took place at the coast.

As a large number of turtles are still in the sea near this coast, mass nesting is expected to continue for some more nights.

Proper maintenance of cleanliness and provision of protection to the turtles at sea since November 2019, when the turtles mate, are major reasons for the large scale mass nesting at Rushikulya this year.

Cyclone’s Aftermath:

Cyclone Titli in October 2018, and the floods that followed, left huge piles of waste over about 8 km of the Rushikulya coast, which had to be cleaned with excavators.

It has been estimated that minute particles of waste remained, keeping Olive Ridleys away in 2019.

This year, the beach received a thorough cleaning long before the mass nesting commenced.

The Forest Department also set up 11 off-shore camps early this year to monitor the beach.

SAUDI KING TO CHAIR G-20 VIRTUAL SUMMITG-20:

The Group of 20, also called the G-20, is a group of finance ministers and central bank governors from 19 of the world’s largest economies, including those of many developing nations, along with the European Union.

Formed in 1999, the G-20 has a mandate to promote global economic growth, international trade, and regulation of financial markets.

The G-20 is a leading forum for global financial issues whose members include major developed and developing economies.

Although not a legislative body, its discussions help shape financial policy within each of its member countries.

It is worth to mention that G 20 members represent around 85% of global GDP, over 75% of global trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population.

G-20 Members: