Robber fly - Nature photographer Thomas Shahan specializes in amazing portraits of tiny insects. It isn't easy. Shahan says that this Robber Fly (Holcocephala fusca), for instance, is "skittish" and doesn't like its picture taken.

Nature by Numbers (Video)

"The Greater Akashic System" – July 15, 2012 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Caroll) (Subjects: Lightworkers, Intent, To meet God, Past lives, Universe/Galaxy, Earth, Pleiadians, Souls Reincarnate, Invention: Measure Quantum state in 3D, Recalibrates, Multi-Dimensional/Divine, Akashic System to change to new system, Before religion changed the system, DNA, Old system react to Karma, New system react to intent now for next life, Animals (around humans) reincarnate again, This Animal want to come back to the same human, Akashic Inheritance, Reincarnate as Family, Other Planets, Global Unity … etc.)

Question: Dear Kryon: I live in Spain. I am sorry if I will ask you a question you might have already answered, but the translations of your books are very slow and I might not have gathered all information you have already given. I am quite concerned about abandoned animals. It seems that many people buy animals for their children and as soon as they grow, they set them out somewhere. Recently I had the occasion to see a small kitten in the middle of the street. I did not immediately react, since I could have stopped and taken it, without getting out of the car. So, I went on and at the first occasion I could turn, I went back to see if I could take the kitten, but it was to late, somebody had already killed it. This happened some month ago, but I still feel very sorry for that kitten. I just would like to know, what kind of entity are these animals and how does this fit in our world. Are these entities which choose this kind of life, like we do choose our kind of Human life? I see so many abandoned animals and every time I see one, my heart aches... I would like to know more about them.

Answer: Dear one, indeed the answer has been given, but let us give it again so you all understand. Animals are here on earth for three (3) reasons.

(1) The balance of biological life. . . the circle of energy that is needed for you to exist in what you call "nature."

(2) To be harvested. Yes, it's true. Many exist for your sustenance, and this is appropriate. It is a harmony between Human and animal, and always has. Remember the buffalo that willingly came into the indigenous tribes to be sacrificed when called? These are stories that you should examine again. The inappropriateness of today's culture is how these precious creatures are treated. Did you know that if there was an honoring ceremony at their death, they would nourish you better? Did you know that there is ceremony that could benefit all of humanity in this way. Perhaps it's time you saw it.

(3) To be loved and to love. For many cultures, animals serve as surrogate children, loved and taken care of. It gives Humans a chance to show compassion when they need it, and to have unconditional love when they need it. This is extremely important to many, and provides balance and centering for many.

Do animals know all this? At a basic level, they do. Not in the way you "know," but in a cellular awareness they understand that they are here in service to planet earth. If you honor them in all three instances, then balance will be the result. Your feelings about their treatment is important. Temper your reactions with the spiritual logic of their appropriateness and their service to humanity. Honor them in all three cases.

Dian Fossey's birthday celebrated with a Google doodle

Dian Fossey's birthday celebrated with a Google doodle
American zoologist played by Sigourney Weaver in the film Gorillas in the Mist would have been 82 on Thursday (16 January 2014)

Monday, October 31, 2011

Activists to release 30 orangutans in Aceh forest

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Mon, 10/31/2011

Environmental activists joined under the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program (SOCP) plan to release 30 orangutans at the Pinus Jantho conservation center in Aceh Besar, Nangroe Aceh Darussalam.

Activists from three organizations joining the program, including Swiss-based PanEco Foundation, the Ekosistem Lestari Foundation and the Forestry Ministry, were currently training the orangutans in a quarantine center at Batu Mbelin, Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, Antara news agency reported on Monday.

Ekosistem Lestari Foundation director Ian Singleton said that the quarantine program was to prepare the orangutans for life in the wild in their natural ecosystem.

The activists had previously released 13 orangutans on October 20.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Toba 'orchid paradise' yields 200 new species

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Sun, 10/23/2011

Scientists say they have found almost 200 new species of orchids in the Eden Park tourist forest in Sionggang village in Toba Samosir, North Sumatra.

A group led by botanists and orchid experts Ria Telambanua and Michele Sirait has been exploring the area for years.

“We’ve successfully identified almost 200 species of forest orchids after almost four years of research. We intentionally haven’t published any of them for the sake of preservation,” Ria said on Sunday in Toba Samosir.

The discovery of new orchid species was typically followed by large-scale exploitation, she said.

The researchers identified the new species by identifying morphological differences, using orchid catalogues and by consulting with experts.

“This area is an orchid paradise. It has extraordinary natural riches. There are thousands more orchid species that have yet to be identified here,” she said as quoted by Antara.

Ria and Michele will launch a book on the new species late next month, Ria said, adding that a portion of the profits would be donated to orchid experts.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

NGO says govt approval on transgenics hurts farmers, environment

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Thu, 10/20/2011

An NGO has criticized the Agriculture Minister's regulation No. 61/2011, which would allow transgenic seeds companies to conduct business, as it could harm greater interests.

“It is obvious that the government is ignorant to the fact that transgenic products can cause potential damage from an environmental, socioeconomic and health perspective,” the Alliance for Prosperous Villages' national coordinator, Tejo Wahyu Jatmiko, told a press conference on Thursday.

He then cited similar projects that were tested around 10 years ago, in the form of a cotton transgenic seed plantation in Bulukumba, South Sulawesi, and a joint project between the ministry and US agriculture giant Monsanto, but both were big failures.

“This policy won’t aid farmers; it will only profit big companies,” he said. 


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Monday, October 17, 2011

Elephants run amok in jambi oil palm, rubber plantations

Antara News, Mon, October 17 2011

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Muaratebo, Jambi (ANTARA News) - Tens of elephants have been running amok in oil palm and rubber plantations in Koto VII Sub-district, in Tebo District, Jambi Province, Sumatra, since Friday (Oct 14).

The elephants destroyed hundreds of hectares of oil palm and rubber plantations at Teluk Kayu Putih, Tanjung, Kuamang and Aur Cino villages, Tanjung Village Head Safarudin, said here on Monday.

They attacked the plantations in the evening, Safarudin said.

Local villagers have been constantly on guard for the last three weeks to protect their plantations from the herd of elephants but they could not prevent the animals` destruotive behavior.

They reported the elephants` attacks to the Tebo district administration and the provincial natural resource conservation agency (BKSDA).

Tebo district administration and BKSDA personnel did come to Tanjung village but they only checked the damages, he said.

The rubber and oil palm plantations are located around 15 km from Tanjung village. Earlier this year, a local villager was killed by a herd of elephants.

Conflicts between Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus) and humans have increased over the past few years claiming lives among both humans and elephants but mostly among the giant animals.

Editor: Aditia Maruli

Thursday, October 13, 2011

50 Injured in Bali as Earthquake Strikes

Jakarta Globe, October 13, 2011


An earthquake of 6.2 magnitude struck off the Indonesian
 resort island of Bali on Thursday, the US geological
survey said. (Image courtesy of USGC)
       
A powerful earthquake jolted Indonesia’s popular resort island of Bali on Thursday, causing widespread panic and injuring at least 50 people, many with broken bones and head wounds.

The US Geological Survey said the 6.0-magnitude quake was centered 100 kilometers southwest of the island. It hit 60 kilometers beneath the ocean floor.

Indonesia’s Metrology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BKMG) said the earthquake had a 6.8 magnitude and was 10 kilometers deep, 143 kilometers southwest of Nusa Dua.

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no current tsunami warning in effect.

Although not strong enough to trigger a tsunami, the quake was felt on neighboring Java and Lombok islands, hundreds of kilometers away.

Candy Juliani, a public relations officer for the Sanur Beach Hotel, said terrified guests fled the building.

“We have special emergency routes for this type of situation, but everyone was so scared, they just ignored them,” Juliani said.

At least 50 people were hurt, many with cuts, broken bones and head wounds, said Wayan Sudanti, a hospital spokesman.

Three were in critical condition.

Strong shaking was felt for several minutes in the main tourist district of Kuta, said Endro Tjahjono from the Bali office of Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics Agency.

“There was panic, everyone ran out of the buildings. When we returned to our office building, we saw some cracks on the wall and plaster had come off the walls,” he said.

Schools, office buildings and hospitals were evacuated.

A number of buildings suffered minor damage.

Caroline Mercier, a 40-year-old tourist in the island’s cultural centre of Ubud, said she was used to feeling quakes in California, but never like this one. 

“It started at my feet and went all though my heart and head -- it made me nauseous. My first reaction was to get out of the house. I was very confused when the roof started shaking,” she said.

Novotel Bali Benoa, one of the many resorts in the luxury southern beach area of Nusa Dua, evacuated its guests as the hotel shook for a minute.

“The funny thing is that the foreign guests who were sitting in the lobby did not feel the shaking. They started running when hearing people say ‘there’s an earthquake’ while running down the lobby,” hotel worker Ariyanti said.

Endro Tjahjono, head of information at Bali’s meteorology agency, said there was no tsunami potential and no reports of aftershocks.

Cracks appeared in the walls and glass lobby windows of his office in the southern town of Kuta, and some top floor ceilings fell off, he said.

The quake was measured at 61.3 kilometers deep, and struck some 130 kilometers south-southwest of Bali’s capital Denpasar, the US seismologists said.

“I’m still shaking,” said Stuart McDonald, an Australian living in Bali.

“There’s no serious damage but stuff fell off walls,” he said. “It was very loud.”

Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics Agency measured the undersea quake at 6.8-magnitude and put the quake’s depth at just 10 kilometers but said it was unlikely to cause a tsunami.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where the meeting of continental plates causes high seismic activity, and is frequently hit by earthquakes.

The BKMG said there was no risk of a tsunami.

AFP, JG

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Tourists Warned to Stay Clear of Anak Krakatau Volcano

Jakarta Globe, October 04, 2011

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Authorities are warning tourists and fishermen to stay more than a mile (two kilometers) from a smoking Indonesian volcano known as 'Child of Krakatoa.'

The volcano in the Sunda Strait, 80 miles (130 kilometers) west of the capital, Jakarta, was created by the same tectonic forces that led to the 1883 Krakatoa eruption that killed tens of thousands of people.

Its "child," growing five yards (meters) a year, is now 1,320 feet (400 meters) tall and popular among hikers.

Gede Suantika of the Center for Volcanology says the mountain's alert level was raised to the second-highest level last week after the number of volcanic tremors soared from 200 a day to 7,200.

Suantika said Tuesday that he worries a powerful burst could shoot incandescent rocks down its slopes and far into the ocean.