tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69378885882843987802024-03-14T01:26:06.648-07:00Stop Demolishing GreeneryHi I am Arunava Das working for an MNC Market Research company, EmPower Research Knowledge Services Pvt. Ltd. located at Bangalore as a Media Analyst dealing with mainly Pharmaceutics. Anyone who likes nature blogging are welcome. They can post their articles, photos(nature and wildlife only).
Eager to receive requests from you...., so come together let us join hands to save our nature!!!80 Feet Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103646709469112204noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-26692132970163056192010-03-18T23:06:00.000-07:002010-03-18T23:10:19.763-07:00Innovation At Its Best: Peepoo Bag Comes To The Rescue Of The Underpriviledged In Using Proper Sanitation<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Innovation At Its Best: Peepoo Bag Comes To The Rescue Of The Underpriviledged In Using Proper Sanitation</span><br /></div><br /><br />In response to the article “Bag and Baggage”, by Elizabeth Flock in ‘WhatIf Cloumn’ of Forbes India (Volume 2, Issue 4, February 19, 2010, pp: 20), I would like to draw further attention that its a very successful idea in a developing country like India where almost 56% of the population remains under the poverty line. Indeed with Global Climate Change on the verge of reducing fresh water resources to minimum troughout the globe, Peepoople’s credibility in launching this brave project is highly plaudible.<br /><br />Elizabeth Flock’s presentation on the launch of Peepoo Sanitation bags creates a lasting impression on the reader’s mind. Indeed countries like India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and many other African nations can look forward to this newer approach of healthy sanitation, albeit social taboo permits them to do so. The idea or innovation will be possible if the developing nations look at it with a wider range of anti-scepticism and broader mind to look ahead of times.<br /><br />Moreover the bag not only improves the chances of safer sanitation in scarcity of water but also is a novel technology of converting human wastes into fertillizers. Professor Eric O. Odada is right in pointing out that the Peepoo bag could hasten India towards it’s Millenium Development Goal for Hygiene. He is an honorary member of UN Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation. The organization is also in the middle of parley with organizations like UNICEF, Oxfam, WaterAid, and UN Refugee Agency to maximize the effect. The bag could also play a major role during emergencies like natural calamities, such as floods and earthquakes or droughts.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.indiblogger.in/" title="IndiBlogger - Network of Indian Bloggers"><img src="http://www.indiblogger.in/badges/medium_bluegray.png" alt="IndiBlogger - Network of Indian Bloggers" width="147" border="0" height="62" /><br /></a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-18478000943710504542010-03-16T09:10:00.000-07:002010-03-16T09:27:44.371-07:00Teachings of Khentse Rinpoche at Thimphu, Bhutan on November 22, 2009<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Teachings of Khentse Rinpoche at Thimphu, Bhutan on November 22, 2009</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br />On November 20 – 22, His Eminence Dzongsar Rinpoche, Jamyang Khentse gave teachings on “Wisdom”, the Nine’th Chapter of Mahayana Buddhist Text, Jangchug Sempai Chenjug (Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life) in English to about 400 strong Bhutanese devotees in Thimphu.<br /><br /><br />Jangchug Sempai Chenjug was originally written in Sanskrit by Gyalshey Zhiwala (Shantideva), a Buddhist monk at Nalanda University in India around 700 A.D.<br /><br /><br />Wisdom, as the Rinpoche explains, is a completely Natural Mind. The nature of wisdom is indestructible and so is emptiness. Emptiness, wisdom, nirvana, enlightment and mind are synonymous and some of the components of wisdom are generosity, patience, and honesty, he said.<br /><br /><br />There are two kinds of truth in Buddhism, and the ultimate truth is that it does not exist on its own and that itself is emptiness. Citing an example of owning a car in a dream, he said, relative truths are all illusions and therefore life is like a dream and the dreamer does not realize that he is dreaming. Relating to the dream of a car, he said, wisdom has the capacity to understand and make sense of life. Wisdom is within ourselves but we need to recognize it. Then, how do we do so? By listening to the essential instructions of the Guru (Guru Padmasabha, the man who brought Buddhism to Bhutan) and following the vows of Bodhisattva.<br /><br /><br />On the aspect of differentiating between wisdom and intelligence, the Rinpoche uttered, intelligence is being clever, smart, alert and having the capacity to understand and memorize things easily, but wisdom has nothing to do with intelligence.<br /><br /><br />He also said that it has been seen that humans do not want sufferings, but we are actually attached to the cause of sufferings. Suffering doesn’t simply mean physical pain or misfortune, but also the suffering one has to go through to get money or buy a mobile phone. Then there is suffering to take care and protect the mobile from loss or damage.<br /><br /><br />To be happy – is not the aim of Buddhism but is the aim of mortal beings. If you are looking for happiness you are also looking for sufferings, he said. Sufferings and Happiness are inseparably intertwined.<br /><br /><br />The Rinpoche also explained, dualistic minds see impermanence as permanent. We care for our body as if it will last forever. We care for our arms with moisturizing creams, but how long will it continue? Hence, wisdom is non-dualistic mind that really sees the truth. All phenomena are like a dream and subject to change. Most of us today do not realize this and go on minting money. Life is like a dew drop on the grass, no matter how we try to fight off age. We are there to die one day and it has to be seen how we lead our life rather than how we make it comfortable. Bodhisattva sees how one makes life comfortable for others. That is when we realize we have attained nirvana. What we need to do is to realize this and be truthful, honest and kind to others, said His Eminence Dzongsar Jamyang Khentse Rinpoche.<br /><br /><br />Everything in life is determined by views. Views establish values. Bad views cause war, inflation and disharmony, while good views lead to Buddhahood. Of the nine views in Nyingma tradition, shame and fear of wrong-doings is the foundation of all Buddhist values.<br /><br /><br />The teaching of the Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life was started in 2005 on the request of Bhutanese devotees. The ten chapters of the text were completed on November 22 and I was a lucky one to listen to these enlightening lines from Mahayana Buddhist texts.<br /><br /><br />At the conclusion, the Rinpoche said his dedication was for the wellbeing of the earth, its beings and the leaders of Bhutan and the Bhutanese.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Reproduced with permission from “Kuensel Corporation, Thimphu, Bhutan”. Written by Arunava. Note: The article has also been published in the online version of American Chronicle and Riverside Chronicle</span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-23852328517300999822009-08-30T23:43:00.000-07:002009-08-30T23:45:50.105-07:00Researchers find out a different perspective of Global Warming<div align="center"><strong>Researchers find out a different perspective of Global Warming</strong><br /></div><div align="left">Most of us tend to think of global warming in terms of the greenhouse effect produced by CO2 emissions. While it may be partly true that CO2 emissions interfere with the radiation of the heat from sunlight back into space and thus warm up the atmosphere, the main culprit could be the amount of energy we produce and use; and the heat energy that is let out into the atmosphere in this process. Anyone familiar with thermal power plants would know that the efficiencies (ratio of electrical energy output to fuel energy input) are on average around 35%, with the cooling water taking away the bulk of the heat when steam is condensed into water. Even the useful energy that is produced is ultimately lost in space in the form of heat produced in various processes in which this energy is used. </div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">Researchers Bo Nordell and Bruno Gervet of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Lulea University of Technology in Sweden have calculated the total energy emissions from the start of the industrial revolution in the 1880s to the modern day. They have worked out that using the increase in average global air temperature as a measure of global warming is an inadequate measure of climate change. They suggest that scientists must also take into account the total energy of the ground, ice masses and the seas if they are to model climate change accurately.<br /></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">The researchers have calculated that the heat energy accumulated in the atmosphere corresponds to a mere 6.6% of global warming, while the remaining heat is stored in the ground (31.5%), melting ice (33.4%) and in sea water (28.5%). They point out that net heat emissions between the industrial revolution circa 1880 and the modern era at 2000 correspond to almost three quarters of the accumulated heat, i.e., global warming, during that period.<br /></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">The researchers also point out a flaw in the nuclear energy argument. Although nuclear power does not produce carbon dioxide emissions in the same way as burning fossil fuels, it does produce heat emissions equivalent to three times the energy of the electricity it generates (using the thermal cycle of steam turbine) and so contributes to global warming significantly.<br /></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Their calculations suggest that most measures to combat global warming, such as reducing our reliance on burning fossil fuels and switching to renewables like wind power and solar energy, will ultimately help in preventing catastrophic climate change in the long term. But the same calculations also show that trapping carbon dioxide, so-called carbon dioxide sequestration, and storing it deep underground or on the sea floor will have very little effect on global warming.<br /></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Source: International Journal of Global Warming-July 2009 Issue<br /><br /> <a title="IndiBlogger - Network of Indian Bloggers" href="http://www.indiblogger.in/"><br /><img height="62" alt="IndiBlogger - Network of Indian Bloggers" src="http://www.indiblogger.in/badges/medium_bluegray.png" width="147" border="0" /><br /></div></a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-21946484946227351652009-07-08T06:13:00.000-07:002009-07-08T06:15:34.694-07:00Action To Save Our Climate<div align="center"><strong><u>Action To Save Our Climate</u></strong><br /></div><div align="left">Action to save our climate is happening right now in Italy: As you read this our activists are scaling chimneys, chaining themselves to conveyor belts and blocking coal shipments at multiple locations in Italy. </div><div align="left"><br />They will be occupying coal-fired power stations during the G8 Summit beginning in Italy today and demanding that world leaders gathering for the summit make serious commitments to reducing world greenhouse gas emissions. </div><div align="left"><br />You can take action with them. You can demand that world leaders take personal responsibility for averting catastrophic climate change. You turn the Earth.</div><div align="left"><br />Follow our activists here: <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/g8action">www.greenpeace.org/g8action</a><br /></div><div align="left">Thanks for your support.<br /></div><div align="left">Mr. Arunava Das<br />Greenpeace International<br />http://www.greenpeace.org/climate<br /><br />Climate Project Presenter and Connector ACF 591<br />&<br />Senior Secondary Biology Teacher, Royal Government of Bhutan<br /><br /># + 91 033 2683 1456 (Kolkata, India, Residence)<br /> + 91 9748804959 (Kolkata, India, Residence)<br /> </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><a title="IndiBlogger - Network of Indian Bloggers" href="http://www.indiblogger.in/"><br /><img height="62" alt="IndiBlogger - Network of Indian Bloggers" src="http://www.indiblogger.in/badges/medium_bluegray.png" width="147" border="0" /><br /></a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-41157376137754900642009-06-29T21:50:00.000-07:002009-06-29T21:55:15.143-07:00Solar Powered Plane<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/Skmae7kU4BI/AAAAAAAAAMo/8DYMnju6taE/s1600-h/solar_impulse.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352979488283353106" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 189px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/Skmae7kU4BI/AAAAAAAAAMo/8DYMnju6taE/s320/solar_impulse.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Fig: The HB-SIA<br /><br /><br />Based in Switzerland, a team of over 50 specialists from six countries is working on the <a href="http://www.solarimpulse.com/index.php" target="_blank">Solar Impulse</a> project: a solar-powered airplane capable of taking off autonomously and maintaining itself in flight for several days, entirely propelled by the energy stored in the photovoltaic panels contained in its wings.<br /><br />The HB-SIA prototype is currently under construction and the round-the-world flight is programmed to happen in 2012, on a flight over land near the equator. Five stops are planned during the route, in order to change pilots and present the adventure to the public and authorities. Each flight leg will last from 3 to 4 days (considered the maximum endurance for a single pilot).<br /><br /><br /><br />This is certainly a technology many of us have been waiting for, and which seems a natural step in the aviation industry.<br /><br /><br /><a title="IndiBlogger - Network of Indian Bloggers" href="http://www.indiblogger.in/"><br /><img height="62" alt="IndiBlogger - Network of Indian Bloggers" src="http://www.indiblogger.in/badges/medium_bluegray.png" width="147" border="0" /><br /></a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-46303698856003876502009-01-12T02:37:00.000-08:002009-01-12T02:53:04.182-08:00Extraordinary Animal Stories<p class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; text-align: center; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; vertical-align: top;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">George the 140-Year-Old Lobster<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; text-align: center; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; vertical-align: top;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Extraordinary Animal Stories<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; text-align: center; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; vertical-align: top;" align="center">© Sara McGrath<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; text-align: center; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; vertical-align: top;" align="center">Jan 10, 2009</p> <p class="ecarticledate" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; text-align: center; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; vertical-align: top;" align="center"><br /></p> <p class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; text-align: center; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; vertical-align: top;" align="center"> </p> <p class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; vertical-align: top;">People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals championed for George the 140-year-old lobster's freedom, and won! He was released back into the ocean off the coast of <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Maine</st1:place></st1:state>.</p> <p class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"> A tank in the City Crab and Seafood restaurant in <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">New York</st1:state></st1:place> had been home to George, a 140-year-old, twenty-pound lobster, for about two weeks.</p> <p class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br />City Crab and Seafood purchased George the Giant Lobster for $100 after he was caught off <st1:state st="on">Newfoundland</st1:state>, <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region>. He was adopted as the restaurant mascot as a tourist attraction and was made available for photos with patrons. It was a restaurant patron who notified PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) of the lobster's confinement.</p> <p class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br />PETA estimated George's age based on his weight, calculated by multiplying every pound he weighed by seven. If the estimate is correct, the lobster would have been born around 1869, the same year as Mahatma Gandhi.</p> <p class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br />In PETA's press release regarding their petition for George's release, they made note of a similar incident involving Bubba, a 100-year-old lobster who was caught off the coast of Nantucket, <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Massachusetts</st1:place></st1:state> in 2005. Bubba died after only one week in captivity in an aquarium in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Pittsburgh</st1:place></st1:city>. Bubba had been destined for a tank in a Ripley's Believe it or Not museum.</p> <p class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br />The City Crab and Seafood restaurant initially denied PETA's request to release George, the elderly crustacean, back into the <st1:place st="on">Atlantic Ocean</st1:place>. However, the restaurant had a change of heart and agreed to release the lobster in an area off the coast of <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Maine</st1:place></st1:state> where lobster trapping is banned. George was released in a rocky cove in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Kennebunkport</st1:city></st1:place> near the summer home of former President George H.W. Bush.</p> <p class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br />All states in the <st1:country-region st="on">US</st1:country-region> impose a minimum legal size for keeping lobsters, but the state of <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Maine</st1:place></st1:state> also imposes a maximum legal size of five inches carapace length. The carapace is the main body section of the lobster excluding the tail.</p> <p class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br />According to PETA, because a lobster has a sophisticated nervous system and high sensitivity to pain, live lobster boiling is illegal in some cities, such as <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Reggio</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">Italy</st1:country-region></st1:place>. PETA also pointed out that lobsters are sensitive to water quality and easily die if too much waste is secreted in their environment. Therefore, tank life for a lobster can be precarious.</p> <p class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br />"We never intended him to be sold," said Keith Valenti, manager of City Crab and Seafood, "just draw attention to the restaurant, and he did." However, he added that it was a "no brainer" to return the giant lobster to the ocean.</p> <p class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br />"We applaud the folks at City Crab and Seafood for their compassionate decision to allow this noble old-timer to live out his days in freedom and peace," said Ingrid E. Newkirk, president of PETA.</p><br /><br /><a href="http://www.indiblogger.in/" title="IndiBlogger - Network of Indian Bloggers"><img src="http://www.indiblogger.in/badges/medium_bluegray.png" alt="IndiBlogger - Network of Indian Bloggers" border="0" height="62" width="147" /><br /></a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-73596662991088287972008-10-30T05:54:00.000-07:002008-10-30T05:55:26.199-07:00Study Confirms Amphibians' Ability To Predict Changes In Biodiversity<object height="290" width="150"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.greenpeace.in/turtles/widget.swf"><embed src="http://www.greenpeace.in/turtles/widget.swf" height="290" width="150"></embed> </object><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="290" width="150"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Study Confirms Amphibians' Ability To Predict Changes In Biodiversity</span></object><br /><object height="290" width="150"></object></div><object height="290" width="150"><br />Biologists have long suspected that amphibians, whose moist permeable skins make them susceptible to slight changes in the environment, might be good bellwethers for impending alterations in biodiversity during rapid climate change.<br /><br />Now two University of California biologists have verified the predictive power of this sensitive group of animals in a global study of species turnover among amphibians and birds. The study appears this week in the advance online version of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.<br /><br />"Our study supports the role of amphibians as 'canaries in the coal mine'," said Lauren Buckley, a postdoctoral fellow at UC Santa Barbara's National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis and the first author of the study. "Amphibians are likely to be the first to respond to environmental changes and their responses can forecast how other species will respond."<br /><br />"Amphibians are much more tuned in to the changes in their specific environments," said Walter Jetz, an associate professor of biology at UC San Diego and the other author of the study. "They are much more sensitive to differences in environmental conditions as you move geographically from one location to another."<br /><br />The two scientists used maps of the environment and amphibian and bird distributions to answer the question of how the environment - as well as the distribution of birds and amphibians - changes as one moves from one place to another around the globe.<br /><br />The researchers found that if the environment changes rapidly as one travels from one location to another, the amphibian and bird communities also change rapidly. However, the species of amphibians would change more quickly than species of birds. This confirms that amphibians are particularly sensitive to changes in the environment, the researchers conclude, and that this sensitivity is particularly acute given their narrow distributions.<br /><br />Whether one is traveling through a tropical or temperature region also influences how quickly the types of animals change. Given a mountain of a certain size, the researchers found, the amphibian and bird communities change more quickly if one is climbing a mountain in the tropics than in a temperate region.<br /><br />"There are more species in the tropics and the species are generally more specially adapted to particular environmental conditions," said Jetz. "This suggests that tropical species may be more severely impacted by a given temperature increase as a result of climate change."<br /><br />For the study, he and Buckley produced a series of global maps of environmental turnover and the associated changes in amphibian and bird communities that reveal that the identities of birds and amphibians change particularly quickly in mountainous regions such as the Andes and Himalayas.<br /><br />"Understanding how environmental changes over space influence biodiversity patterns provides important background for forecasting how biodiversity will respond to environmental changes over time such as ongoing temperature increases," said Buckley.<br /><br />The study was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, UC Santa Barbara and the State of California.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">By Arunava Das</span><br /><br /></object>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-59467259010566423742008-10-30T05:53:00.001-07:002008-10-30T05:53:55.848-07:00Study Confirms Amphibians' Ability To Predict Changes In Biodiversity<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Study Confirms Amphibians' Ability To Predict Changes In Biodiversity</span><br /></div><br />Biologists have long suspected that amphibians, whose moist permeable skins make them susceptible to slight changes in the environment, might be good bellwethers for impending alterations in biodiversity during rapid climate change.<br /><br />Now two University of California biologists have verified the predictive power of this sensitive group of animals in a global study of species turnover among amphibians and birds. The study appears this week in the advance online version of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.<br /><br />"Our study supports the role of amphibians as 'canaries in the coal mine'," said Lauren Buckley, a postdoctoral fellow at UC Santa Barbara's National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis and the first author of the study. "Amphibians are likely to be the first to respond to environmental changes and their responses can forecast how other species will respond."<br /><br />"Amphibians are much more tuned in to the changes in their specific environments," said Walter Jetz, an associate professor of biology at UC San Diego and the other author of the study. "They are much more sensitive to differences in environmental conditions as you move geographically from one location to another."<br /><br />The two scientists used maps of the environment and amphibian and bird distributions to answer the question of how the environment - as well as the distribution of birds and amphibians - changes as one moves from one place to another around the globe.<br /><br />The researchers found that if the environment changes rapidly as one travels from one location to another, the amphibian and bird communities also change rapidly. However, the species of amphibians would change more quickly than species of birds. This confirms that amphibians are particularly sensitive to changes in the environment, the researchers conclude, and that this sensitivity is particularly acute given their narrow distributions.<br /><br />Whether one is traveling through a tropical or temperature region also influences how quickly the types of animals change. Given a mountain of a certain size, the researchers found, the amphibian and bird communities change more quickly if one is climbing a mountain in the tropics than in a temperate region.<br /><br />"There are more species in the tropics and the species are generally more specially adapted to particular environmental conditions," said Jetz. "This suggests that tropical species may be more severely impacted by a given temperature increase as a result of climate change."<br /><br />For the study, he and Buckley produced a series of global maps of environmental turnover and the associated changes in amphibian and bird communities that reveal that the identities of birds and amphibians change particularly quickly in mountainous regions such as the Andes and Himalayas.<br /><br />"Understanding how environmental changes over space influence biodiversity patterns provides important background for forecasting how biodiversity will respond to environmental changes over time such as ongoing temperature increases," said Buckley.<br /><br />The study was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, UC Santa Barbara and the State of California.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">By Arunava Das</span><br /><br /><br /><object height="290" width="150"><param name="movie" value="http://www.greenpeace.in/turtles/widget.swf"><embed src="http://www.greenpeace.in/turtles/widget.swf" height="290" width="150"></embed> </object>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-3947081555370293922008-09-11T05:29:00.000-07:002008-09-11T05:30:01.493-07:00Feasible Emission Scenarios Identified That Could Keep CO2 Below Climate Threatening Levels<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Feasible Emission Scenarios Identified That Could Keep CO<sub>2</sub> Below Climate Threatening Levels<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b><i style="">(In response to news published by ANI on September 11, 2008)<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>NASA researchers have identified feasible emission scenarios that could enable keeping carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) levels below that considered dangerous for climate by scientists.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>When and how global oil production will peak or will decrease has been debated, making it difficult to anticipate emissions from the burning of fuel and to precisely estimate its impact on climate.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>To justify how emissions might change in the future, Pushker Kharecha and James Hansen of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies in <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:State> considered a wide range of fossil fuel consumption scenarios.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>For a better understanding of the possible trajectory of future carbon dioxide emissions, Kharecha and Hansen devised five carbon dioxide emission scenarios that span the years 1850-2100. Each scenario reflects a different estimate for the global production peak of fossil fuels, the timing of which depends on reserve size, recoverability and technology.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>The first scenario estimates carbon dioxide levels, if emissions from fossil fuels are unconstrained and follow along “business as usual” growing by two percent annually until half of each reservoir has been recovered, after which emissions begin to decline by two percent annually.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>The second scenario considers a situation in which emissions from coal are reduced first by developed countries starting in 2013 and then by developing countries a decade later, leading to a global phase out by 2050 of the emissions from burning coal that reach the atmosphere.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>The reduction of emissions to the atmosphere in this case can come from reducing coal consumption or from capturing and sequestering the carbon dioxide before it reaches the atmosphere.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>The remaining three scenarios include the above-mentioned phase out of coal, but consider different scenarios for oil use and supply.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Next, the team proposes to use a simplified mathematical model, called the Bern Carbon Cycle model, to convert carbon dioxide emissions from each scenario into estimates of future carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>The unconstrained “business as usual” scenario resulted in a level of atmospheric carbon dioxide that more than doubled the pre-industrial level and from about 2035 onward levels exceed the 450 ppm threshold of this study.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Even when low-end estimates of reserves were assumed, the threshold exceeded from about 2050 onwards.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>The other four scenarios, however, resulted in carbon dioxide levels that peaked in various years but all fell below the prescribed cap of 450 ppm by about 2080 at the latest, with levels in two of the scenarios always staying below the threshold.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>The researchers suggested that the results illustrated by each scenario have clear implications for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from coal, as well as “unconventional” fuels such as methane hydrates and tar sands, all of which contain much more fossil carbon than conventional oil and gas. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><b style=""><i style="">By Arunava Das</i></b></p><br /><br /><object height="290" width="150"><param name="movie" value="http://www.greenpeace.in/turtles/widget.swf"><embed src="http://www.greenpeace.in/turtles/widget.swf" height="290" width="150"></embed> </object>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-61615356050121778402008-08-07T07:22:00.000-07:002008-08-07T07:27:52.985-07:00Forest Love: Do You Love Your Children???? Then You Should Love The Forest<span style="font-weight: bold;">Forest Love: Do You Love Your Children???? Then You Should Love The Forest</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tag: GreenPeaceBuzz </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">By: Arunava Das, Green Peace India</span><br /><br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">A </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">promotionary blog</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> for </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">GreenPeace Campaign: Forest Love</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> highlighting the Illegal Timber Business in the European Continent.</span>)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Request to “Saviour of Forests” Blogspot from Green Peace: </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Blogger Alert</span><br /><br />This is the first email of its kind for us. Remember that time you told us you have a blog or webpage where you can spread the word about Greenpeace campaigns? Well, this email is all about doing exactly that!<br /><br />31 JULY 2008: Check out our latest campaign and video:<br /><br />ForestLove video<br /><br />Blog this within the next few hours - and help us get this video to the top of the video viral charts!<br /><br />On September 10, the EU will be voting on a vital law against illegal logging. ForestLove is a controversial campaign to push the EU's vote in the right direction.<br /><br />This summer we want people to take photos and video of themselves expressing love amongst the trees.<br /><br />After the deadline of August 31, Greenpeace will edit this material into a collaborative video that will show the EU commissioners just how much everyone loves the forests...<br /><br />So get blogging to stop the logging!<br />Read about our campaign<br />Grab the embedding code for the video page on YouTube<br />Spread the word on your blog or webpage!<br />(Do you tag your posts? Then please use this one today: greenpeacebuzz)<br /><br />Get Social<br />Can you do more?<br />Share the campaign on facebook<br />Stumble Upon<br />Tell us your promotion ideas (Greenpeace Forum)<br /><br />Thank you and good luck out there on the web!<br /><br />Giona and the forests campaign!!<br /><br />A link to the Forest Love Video:<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AEZbWtELQI&eurl=http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/forests/eu-ban-illegal-timber/forest-love<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The story behind the plot: </span><span style="font-style: italic;">The European Commission has delayed a vital vote on protecting forests from illegal logging till September. We want to make sure the commissioners don't forget about it during their summer holiday. We need you to help us make an extra impression before the September vote. </span><br /><br />Forests are the lifeline for all activities on the planet. It supports a number of rare land ecosystems that balance the seasonal changes on the planet. The heavy the forests are, the denser and greener they are more will be the amount of rainfall in the areas covering the forests and more will be the flora and fauna type of these regions. Moreover, lost of forest cover results in ultimate climate change that can lead to varied types of after effects, like unseasonal and irregularities in rainfalls, rise in global temperature, rise in sea level and increase of intensities of cyclones that in turn cause huge losses in terms of economy and loss of lives and domestic livestocks. It also results in an onslaught on climate and the resultant change is known as Climate Change.<br /><br />As the IPCC (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change</span>) warns a warming of 0.2 degree Celsius can lead to a staggering rise of 8.6 degrees till the end of the century that can spell havoc as far as the Global Temperature is concerned. The scientific evidence is already evident in the fact that we are getting longer summers, rainfalls not at the right time, heavy rainfalls at unexpected quarters of the year resulting in flooding and loss of lives and government property, no rainfall in some dry parts of the country for a long time creating drought like situations, decreased irritability and poor production of soil, flooding in low lying areas due to increase in sea level. Already we have lost around 56 acres of Mangrove forests due to increase in sea level and also we are on the verge of loosing our cities on the coastal areas if this continues.<br /><br />Forest also plays a crucial role to the village economy. Half of India’s population is in the villages and they solely depend upon the forest products. When there is forest loss, there will be loss of income for the scores of people who inhabit these villages.<br /><br />Nearly 2,00,000 villages and 70 million tribals in India are dependent on the forests for their daily bread. As a result, people from the rural areas are forced to migrate to urban areas for feeding their families. In Economics, we call this as “Workforce Migration” that brings about a population burst to already overcrowded Indian cities that serve as lifeline to Indian Economy. Thus we can see that Climate Change is not only impacting the Forest Biodiversity hampering the crucial ecosystems (that serve as linkers between the food chain) but also affecting the economy of almost all countries including India.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Climate Change Projections:</span><br /><br />Studies were carried out at the Indian Institute of Science (by Professors Ravindranath, Joshi and Sukumar), using the climate change projections from regional climate model of Hadley centre (HadRM3), obtained from Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, and a global vegetation response model called BIOME (Biogeochemical In¬formation Ordering Management Environment).<br /><br />The impacts were assessed for the period around 2085 for two (high and moderate) greenhouse gas emission scenarios, with projections of carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere at 740 and 575 parts per million by 2085.<br /><br />An assessment of the impact of climate change projections on forest ecosystems for the two greenhouse gas emission scenarios for 2085 showed that 68 per cent and 77 per cent of forested grid are likely to experience shifts in forest vegetation type.<br /><br />In other words, there may not be a total replacement of one forest type by another under the projected climate change scenarios, due to differing climate tolerance of the various plant species in a forest. For example researchers at the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun and Kerala, India have given an interesting example:<br /><br />• If the Montane grasslands of the Western Ghats are invaded by woody plants, including exotic weeds, the endemic Nilgiri Tahr may be threatened.<br /><br />• Similarly, upward altitudinal migration of plants in the Himalayas could reduce the Alpine meadows and related vegetation, adversely impacting the habitats of several high-altitude mammals including wild sheep, goat, antelope and cattle.<br /><br />• Further, increased precipitation in Northeastern India may lead to severe flooding of the Brahmaputra and place the wildlife of the Kaziranga National Park at risk.<br /><br />Biodiversity of the existing forest types will not be totally replaced by the new forest type or species-mix under the changed climate due to complexities of climate tolerance of different species in a forest and the barriers to species migration.<br /><br />Forest ecosystems are highly vulnerable to climate change. According to IPCC reports, that the unprecedented warming observed in the past few decades has already made an impact on forest ecosystems, such as, pole-ward and upward shift in ranges of plant, insect, bird and fish species. Further, plant flowering, bird arrival, migratory bird patterns, seasonal breeding patterns of animals like tigers, panthers, olive ridley turtles, as well as flowering plants have been observed to be occurring earlier than expected.<br /><br />See for yourself how much forest cover is deforested for Palm Plantations to feed the DOVE Soap Industries with palm oil, a major component of Dove soaps.<br /><br />Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odI7pQFyjso&feature=user<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Efforts And Planning To Reduce The Onslaught: </span><br /><br />Changing climate requires dynamic forest planning and management strategies. There is a need to incorporate climate change concern in the long-term forest planning and policy making process. The traditional Working Plan approach of managing forests adopted by the Forest Departments, which is not adequate even in a situation of no climate impacts, may need to be improved and made dynamic to incorporate the climate impacts.<br /><br />The Ministry of Environment and Forests as well as State Forest Departments do not have the luxury of waiting for a perfect understanding of the climate projections or the impacts on forest biodiversity and biomass production at micro level, to plan and implement adaptation practices and strategies. Many of the precautionary and win-win practices and strategies mentioned above could be evaluated and considered for implementation. Forest and biodiversity conservation, prevention of forest fragmentation and multi-species based afforestation are examples of such strategies.<br /><br />Examples of forest policies, which may reduce the vulnerability of forest ecosystems to climate change, include preventing fragmentation of forests, forest conservation, enhancing the coverage under protected areas and linking them, large afforestation with multiple species to reduce pressure on natural forests, and involvement of local communities in forest conservation and management. India has a large afforestation programme of over one million hectares annually and also has a plan to bring a third of the geographic area under forest cover. These newly planted forests, particularly the long-rotation species such as teak, will be subjected to changing climate parameters. Thus, it is important to consider and incorporate adaptation practices even in the afforestation programme.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><object height="290" width="150"><param name="movie" value="http://www.greenpeace.in/turtles/widget.swf"><embed src="http://www.greenpeace.in/turtles/widget.swf" height="290" width="150"></embed> </object>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-80596080638190127302008-08-06T00:39:00.000-07:002008-08-06T00:40:40.711-07:00A Small Tribute To Verghese Sir On His Last Day At EmPowerDear Sir,<br /><br />Perhaps we all have seen glowing stars in the night sky illuminating others on their path. They are rare and they are regarded as “Pathfinders”. They are like light houses showing the way to a lost traveler in the endless sea of struggle. That’s how Sir has been to me all these three months that I spent at EmPower. It is also my end of Probation at EmPower and I am looking to go out there ready to bloom in full majesty, ready to be a bright star at EmPower. The two events, my confirmation this week and Sir’s last day at EmPower this week have coincided. Like a tigress bids goodbye to its cubs 8 months after they are born to face the jungle music, she is rest assured that her efforts in bringing up her dear will not go in vain. Similar, on the last day of Verghese Sir at EmPower, we, Team Green Horns will make sure EmPower Earth Campaign will go on as stealthily as it has done so far, barely 3 weeks since its inception and we are proud that you are leaving the firm on a winning note.<br /><br />As of me, I will miss you as a person who rekindled my writing passions and will not be on his desk to see me blossom, but you will certainly hear from me as I owe my writing prowess to three beings, first my mom who has been there in all my hard times and who has sown the seeds of strong foundation in me, second you who have rekindled in me the lost art of writing and given me the exposure required to get noticed in the global corporate world and last but not the least, the Almighty for whom I have been on the planet against all odds. It is a matter of passion that you have shown in our upbringing of Green Horns Team and given courage to all who have shown great writing skills at 80 Feet Road and EmPower Blog and are glad enough that they can now freely express their ideas to the world.<br /><br />Last we feel proud that you are still chasing your dreams and we look up to you as a legend who has changed us and our personality in a radical process. You have pushed us and your constant encouragement will remain as a solace in your absence at EmPower. I on the behalf of Team Green Horns wish you success in all your future endeavors.<br /><br />Yours…<br />Gurunava!!<br />Arunava Das<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Team Green Horns</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Guru, Shilpa Sri, Sowjanya, Gunajit, Rakesh, Vijay Sir </span> <br /><br /><br /><object height="290" width="150"><param name="movie" value="http://www.greenpeace.in/turtles/widget.swf"><embed src="http://www.greenpeace.in/turtles/widget.swf" height="290" width="150"></embed> </object>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-83876901644619560422008-08-01T04:07:00.000-07:002008-12-08T16:48:47.145-08:00Climate Change: Take Action Now<b style=""><u>Climate Change: Take Action Now<o:p></o:p></u></b> <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SJMPqt-UbII/AAAAAAAAAIQ/g1yAy-e2c2k/s1600-h/clip_image002.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SJMPqt-UbII/AAAAAAAAAIQ/g1yAy-e2c2k/s320/clip_image002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229540818877181058" border="0" /></a><br /> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold;">Fig. 3:<span style="font-weight: normal;"> Around </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: normal;">70 million tribals in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place> are dependent on the forests</span><br />© Copyrighted under <st1:place st="on">S. Mahinsha</st1:place></p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SJMN09uhO1I/AAAAAAAAAII/rrhpCJdCZYE/s1600-h/clip_image001.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 308px; height: 168px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SJMN09uhO1I/AAAAAAAAAII/rrhpCJdCZYE/s320/clip_image001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229538795881315154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fig. 2:</span> Exotic Forest Hotspot at the Western Ghats<br />©Copyrighted with The Hindu Photo Library and CES, Indian Institute of Science<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SJMMRshyypI/AAAAAAAAAIA/9pRV6_Z4G2c/s1600-h/clip_image002.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SJMMRshyypI/AAAAAAAAAIA/9pRV6_Z4G2c/s320/clip_image002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229537090457488018" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fig. 1: <span style="font-style: italic;">Left panel:</span></span> Solid lines are multi-model global averages of surface warming (relative to 1980-1999) for the SRES scenarios A2, A1B and B1, shown as continuations of the 20th century simulations. The orange line is for the experiment where concentrations were held constant at year 2000 values.<br />The bars in the middle of the figure indicate the best estimate (solid line within each bar) and the likely range assessed for the six SRES marker scenarios at 2090-2099 relative to 1980-1999. The assessment of the best estimate and likely ranges in the bars includes the Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Models (AOGCMs) in the left part of the figure, as well as results from a hierarchy of independent models and observational constraints.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Right panel:</span> Projected surface temperature changes for the early and late 21st century relative to the period 1980-1999. The panels show the multi-AOGCM average projections for the A2 (top), A1B (middle) and B1 (bottom) SRES scenarios averaged over decades 2020-2029 (left) and 2090-2099 (right). [Source: IPCC, 2007]<br /><br /></span><object height="290" width="150"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Climate change today is a g</span>lowing issue. As rightly mentioned by Prof. (Dr.) N Ravindranath of Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISc. In the Survey Of The Environment, The Hindu, 2007 issue, “Climate change is the most important global environmental issue facing humanity.” It indeed has the capacity to derail and adversely affect the natural ecosystems that can affect the Species Distribution on planet and can even bring about a species altercation. This can also affect the socio-economic policies of many countries, directly affecting Food Security and Property Welfare Rights.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The latest report (see Fig: 1) by </span>the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) warns a warming of 0.2 degree Celsius can lead to a staggering rise of 8.6 degrees till the end of the century that can spell havoc as far as the Global Temperature is concerned. The scientific evidence is already showing upon the Indian weather as we are getting longer summers, rainfalls not at the right time, heavy rainfalls at unexpected quarters of the year resulting in flooding and loss of lives and government property, no rainfall in some dry parts of the country for a long time creating drought like situations, decreased irritability and poor production of soil, flooding in low lying areas due to increase in sea level. Already we have lost around 56 acres of Mangrove forests due to increase in sea level and also we are on the verge of loosing our cities on the coastal areas if this continues.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Highly Vulnerable</span><br /><br />Climate is the most important determinant of vegetation patterns and has a significant influence on forest patterns. Climate change could cause irreversible damage to unique forest ecosystems and biodiversity, rendering several exotic plant and animal species extinct.1<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fig.2:</span> Exotic Forest Hotspot at the Western Ghats<br />©Copyrighted with The Hindu Photo Library and CES, Indian Institute of Science<br /><br />Forest ecosystems are highly vulnerable to climate change. According to IPCC reports, that the unprecedented warming observed in the past few decades has already made an impact on forest ecosystems, such as, pole-ward and upward shift in ranges of plant, insect, bird and fish species. Further, plant flowering, bird arrival, migratory bird patterns 2 , seasonal breeding patterns of animals like tigers, panthers, olive ridley turtles, as well as flowering plants have been observed to be occurring earlier than expected.<br /><br />Before independence, it was recorded that India’s Gross Forest Cover (GFC) was 40% of the geographical area and that have reduced to a mere 20% in the year 2003 (Source: Forest Survey of India). As we all know, India is developing country and the loss of GFC has been largely attributed to the expansion of cities and industrialization. More and more population means more and more production of food crops. To gain a balance between increasing population and liquidity of food flow, large forest areas are still getting deforested every year leading to loss of GFC. This in turn is putting pressure on the forest animals. Man-animal conflict is on the rise and researchers are pointing their fingers to the loss of GFC as one of the major factors that are responsible for the present scenario.<br /><br />Forest also plays a crucial role to the village economy. Half of India’s population is in the villages and they solely depend upon the forest products. When there is forest loss, there will be loss of income for the scores of people who inhabit these villages.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nearly 2,00,000 v</span>illages and 70 million (<span style="font-weight: bold;">see Fig.3</span>) tribals in India are dependent on the forests for their daily bread. As a result, people from the rural areas are forced to migrate to urban areas for feeding their families. In Economics, we call this as “Workforce Migration” that brings about a population burst to already overcrowded Indian cities that serve as lifeline to Indian Economy. Thus we can see that Climate Change is not only impacting the Forest Biodiversity hampering the crucial ecosystems (that serve as linkers between the food chain) but also affecting the economy of almost all countries including India.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Climate Change Projections</span><br /><br />Studies were carried out at the Indian Institute of Science (by Professors Ravindranath, Joshi and Sukumar), using the climate change projections from regional climate model of Hadley centre (HadRM3), obtained from Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, and a global vegetation response model called BIOME (Biogeochemical Information Ordering Management Environment).<br /><br />The impacts were assessed for the period around 2085 for two (high and moderate) greenhouse gas emission scenarios, with projections of carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere at 740 and 575 parts per million by 2085.<br /><br />The Indian subcontinent is projected to experience a warming of 2-6° C by the end of the current century. As far as Unseasonal rainfall is concerned, it is projected to change in some regions, but very little change is projected for the Indian monsoon over major parts of peninsular India. For example, Rajasthan may experience reduction in rainfall and Punjab may experience no change or a marginal reduction in rainfall; whereas in the rest of the states, rainfall may increase during the monsoon months.<br />An assessment of the impact of climate change projections on forest ecosystems for the two greenhouse gas emission scenarios for 2085 showed that 68 per cent and 77 per cent of forested grid are likely to experience shifts in forest vegetation type.<br /><br />In other words, there may not be a total replacement of one forest type by another under the projected climate change scenarios, due to differing climate tolerance of the various plant species in a forest. For example researchers at the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun and Kerala have given an interesting example:<br /><br />• If the Montane grasslands of the Western Ghats are invaded by woody plants, including exotic weeds, the endemic Nilgiri Tahr may be threatened.<br /><br />• Similarly, upward altitudinal migration of plants in the Himalayas could reduce the Alpine meadows and related vegetation, adversely impacting the habitats of several high-altitude mammals including wild sheep, goat, antelope and cattle.<br /><br />• Further, increased precipitation in Northeastern India may lead to severe flooding of the Brahmaputra and place the wildlife of the Kaziranga National Park at risk.<br /><br />Biodiversity of the existing forest types will not be totally replaced by the new forest type or species-mix under the changed climate due to complexities of climate tolerance of different species in a forest and the barriers to species migration.<br /><br />Changing climate requires dynamic forest planning and management strategies. There is a need to incorporate climate change concern in the long-term forest planning and policy making process. The traditional Working Plan approach of managing forests adopted by the Forest Departments, which is not adequate even in a situation of no climate impacts, may need to be improved and made dynamic to incorporate the climate impacts.<br /><br />The Ministry of Environment and Forests as well as State Forest Departments do not have the luxury of waiting for a perfect understanding of the climate projections or the impacts on forest biodiversity and biomass production at microlevel, to plan and implement adaptation practices and strategies. Many of the precautionary and win-win practices and strategies mentioned above could be evaluated and considered for implementation. Forest and biodiversity conservation, prevention of forest fragmentation and multi-species based afforestation are examples of such strategies.<br /><br />Examples of forest policies, which may reduce the vulnerability of forest ecosystems to climate change, include preventing fragmentation of forests, forest conservation, enhancing the coverage under protected areas and linking them, large afforestation with multiple species to reduce pressure on natural forests, and involvement of local communities in forest conservation and management. India has a large afforestation programme of over one million hectares annually and also has a plan to bring a third of the geographic area under forest cover. These newly planted forests, particularly the long-rotation species such as teak, will be subjected to changing climate parameters. Thus, it is important to consider and incorporate adaptation practices even in the afforestation programme.<br /><br />Surely India has many progressive forest conservation, afforestation, wildlife protection and community forestry policies and programmes. It is possible to explore how climate change consideration could be incorporated into the on-going forestry programmes and policies.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">By Arunava Das, Media Analyst</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></object>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-56677448885595847652008-07-15T05:13:00.001-07:002008-07-15T05:16:42.359-07:00Aftermath Of Bhopal Gas Tragedy ---- A Shameful Example Set By IIT Alumni At The US<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">The Western Influence Showing On As IIT Alumni In The <st1:country-region st="on">US</st1:country-region> Decides To Take Dow Chemicals As Sponsors For Their 50<sup>th</sup> Alumni Meet At The <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">EmPower Research Knowledge Services</span>, By Arunava Das (Media Analyst)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">July 15, 2008</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">(In response to an article, “IITians say no to Dow” published in Silicon <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> on July 15, 2008)<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It is really a shameful act of blemishes committed by a host of IIT’ians at the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> to invite Dow Chemicals as sponsors for their upcoming 50<sup>th</sup> Alumni Meet in the country. As far as I know and everybody will agree that to get into any one of the IIT is a big ask which requires umpteen dedication towards studies and those who eventually get into are considered the gems of the country. As gems of the country, we have responsibilities on our shoulders, we Indians rest our hopes on them that they graduate with flying colors and bring name and fame to the country. <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> shines with them. <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s economy grows with them as she finds a place in the global economy chart. No doubt the past decade has seen a real bloom in Indian economy and will continue to bloom this way as it heads towards the future. We are one of the few countries with <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region> who has the youngest pool source of youth who are considered to contribute big time to the country’s growth, be it economy, politics, industry, finance, revenue, foreign trade, healthcare sector, hospitality sector or retail sector. Hence, as responsible citizens of <st1:country-region st="on">India</st1:country-region>, we need to refrain from acts that can harm the Indian policy and the fame that <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> is a proud owner of.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">United Carbide is one such company that will remain etched in the history books as being responsible for one of the worst industrial tragedies of all time, The Bhopal Gas Tragedy that took place on the fateful night of December 3, 1984 that left 3800 people dead and thousand affected of the gas leak. Many are suffering still now and many have not even got justice till date. The Dow Chemicals now owns Union Carbide. Under such circumstances, when IITians in India have already rejected either campus recruitment or call for sponsors from Dow Chemicals, the India based IITians would have expected their states based counterparts to also follow the suit but instead they were in with a sudden shock and surprise as they discovered that their counterparts in the US have infact endorsed Dow Chemicals as the sponsors of their 50<sup>th</sup> Alumni Meet Golden Jubilee function which will be organized under the aegis of IIT-Bombay Heritage Fund in New York between July 18-20. This shows that once we leave our motherland for a career in the western world, we also leave behind our cultural heritage in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>. According to a Mumbai based IIT-Bombay alumni, Mr. Janak Daftari, a group of IIT-B alumni, mostly from Silicon Valley, in total disregard to the sentiments and the callous practices being followed by the firm (Dow Chemicals) in their (alumini's) origin country, has gone ahead and under the aegis of IIT-Bombay Heritage Fund are organizing a two-day golden jubilee function in New York between July 18-20. Following this incident, many IIT alumni including faculty and current students in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> have decided to boycott the grand event. Another <st1:city st="on">Delhi</st1:City> based IITian, Ravi Kuchimanchi, said, “In 1984 when the gas leaked in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bhopal</st1:place></st1:City>, I and other students in IIT-Bombay were shocked and angry. Today I am shocked to see, instead of forcing Dow to fork up money and clean up the <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bhopal</st1:place></st1:City> site, the organisers of the 50th anniversary celebrations have sought its money. As IIT alumni we can do better.” </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It needs to be seen now whether the event goes on smoothly and how many alumni attend the meet. According to ex IIT-B, Janak Daftari, "Obviously, the golden jubilee celebration is being done privately but then there is a tacit approval from the senior administrators. After all they are seriously contemplating to attend the event even though scores of faculty members have opposed the sponsorship itself.” However, it would be better as to see that such blemishes do not occur again as this tarnishes the global image of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> and as the responsible gems of the country, we need to respect our identity.</p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-88330514321962819962008-07-08T00:09:00.001-07:002008-07-08T00:09:56.511-07:00Please Stand Up And Voice Ur Protest Against Maharashtra Government’s Silly Attitude---- By Arunava ---- Saviour of Forests (hopethane@yahoogroups.com<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">On Sun, 6/7/08, Rajesh Sachdev <rajeshdsachdev@> wrote:<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">From: Rajesh Sachdev <rajeshdsachdev@></b><br /><b style="">Subject: [hopethane] Maha Govt to approach SC for reducing bird sanctuary area</b><br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">To:</b> "BOB" <birdsofbombay@yahoogroups.com>, "Mumbainaturalists" <mumbainaturalists@yahoogroups.com>, defendingwildindia@yahoogroups.com, "nathistory" <nathistory-india@princeton.edu>, "Maharashtra Pakshimitra Pakshimitra" <maharashtrapakshimitra-subscribe@yahoogroups.com>, "wild mumbai" <wild_mumbai@yahoogroups.co.in>, <b style="">hopethane@yahoogroups.com</b>, "orientalbirding yahoogroups" <orientalbirding@yahoogroups.com>, forestrights@yahoogroups.com, ecwatch@yahoogroups.com, moefchalo-owner@yahoogroups.com<br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Date:</b> Sunday, 6 July, 2008, 3:54 PM</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="">MUMBAI:</b> <st1:place st="on">Maharashtra</st1:place> Government will approach the <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Maha_Govt_to_approach_SC_for_reducing_bird_sanctuary_area/articleshow/3202661.cms" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Supreme Court</span></a> next week, for approval to limit the area of the Great Indian Bustard sanctuary in the state to around 350 sq km. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br />This is a drastic climb down from the original proposal of the State Government in 1985 to have the sanctuary, spread in Solapur and Ahmednagar districts, in a 8,500 sq km area.<br /><br />"The apex court has asked for a compliance report and next week, we will be making a submission before the Court, for limiting the sanctuary area to around 347 sq km", a senior Forest Department official said.<br /><br />Vociferous protest by people's representatives in these areas, at a <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Maha_Govt_to_approach_SC_for_reducing_bird_sanctuary_area/articleshow/3202661.cms" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">meeting</span></a> in Pune recently, is among the reasons for reducing size of the sanctuary, whose core area is around Nannaj in Solapur district.<br /><br />Forest Minister Babanrao Pachpute's appeal to drastically shrink the sanctuary, home to the endangered bird species, has been rejected by the apex court-appointed panel.<br /><br />The committee, headed by V B Savarkar, had insisted that the state should retain at least 1,222 sq km area of the sanctuary to protect the rare bird.<br /><br />The apex court has the powers to de-notify areas of the sanctuaries, under the wildlife protection laws.<br /><br /><a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Maha_Govt_%20to_approach_%20SC_for_reducing_bird_sanctuary_area/articleshow%20/3202661.cms">http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Maha_Govt_ to_approach_ SC_for_reducing_bird_sanctuary_area/articleshow /3202661.cms</a><br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Regards<br />Rajesh Sachdev<br />Wild Mumbai Nature Conservation <br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"The tiger cannot be preserved in isolation. It is at the apex of a large and complex biotope. Its habitat, threatened by human intrusion, commercial forestry, and cattle grazing, must first be made inviolate." - Mrs. Indira Gandhi </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-6058381695135941782008-07-02T19:21:00.000-07:002008-07-02T19:22:57.578-07:00We Can Solve The Climate Crisis<strong>Runaway Ice Chunk In Antarctica Worries Scientists</strong><br />The Associated Press<br />March 26, 2008<br />(Taken by Arunava Das, Media Analyst, EmPower Research, Bangalore with special permission from Alfred Albert Al Gore, Environmental Activist, UN for Blog Display on 3 June, 2008… Details: <a href="http://www.wecansolveit.org/content/entry/giant_chunk_of_ice_collapses_in_antartica/">http://www.wecansolveit.org/content/entry/giant_chunk_of_ice_collapses_in_antartica/</a><br />Saviourofforests is a registered user with <a href="http://www.wecansolveit.org/">http://www.wecansolveit.org</a> --- We Can Solve The Climate Crisis)<br /><br /><strong>WASHINGTON:</strong> A chunk of Antarctic ice seven times the size of Manhattan Island has suddenly collapsed, putting an even greater portion of glacial ice at risk, according to scientists.<br /><br />Satellite images starting Feb. 28 show the runaway disintegration of a chunk covering 414 square kilometers, or 160 square miles. The ice was on the edge of the Wilkins Ice Shelf and had been there for possibly 1,500 years.<br /><br />This is the result of global warming, David Vaughan, a scientist at the British Antarctic Survey, said Tuesday.<br /><br />Because scientists noticed satellite images within hours, they diverted satellite cameras and even flew an airplane over the ongoing collapse for rare pictures and video.<br /><br />"It's an event we don't get to see very often," said Ted Scambos, lead scientist at the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado. "The cracks fill with water and slice off and topple. That gets to be a runaway situation."<br /><br />While icebergs naturally break away from the mainland, collapses like this are unusual but are happening more frequently in recent decades, Vaughan said. The collapse is similar to what happens to hardened glass when it is smashed with a hammer, he explained.<br /><br />The rest of the Wilkins Ice Shelf, which totals about 14,500 square kilometers, is holding on by a narrow beam of thin ice. Scientists worry that it, too, may collapse. Larger, more dramatic ice collapses occurred in 1995 and 2002.<br /><br />There is still a chance the rest of the ice shelf will survive until next year, Vaughan said, because this is the end of the Antarctic summer and colder weather is setting in.<br /><br />Scientists said that they were not concerned about a rise in sea level from the latest event but that it was a sign of worsening global warming.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-26191905658056544362008-07-02T07:23:00.001-07:002008-12-08T16:48:47.377-08:00Firefly (Direct pick up from Wikipedia, Taken with permission purely for blog display)<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Lampyridae is a family in the beetle order Coleoptera, members of which are commonly called fireflies, lightning bugs or (ambiguously) "glow worms" due to their conspicuous nocturnal (or, more accurately, crepuscular) use of bioluminescence to attract mates or prey. Fireflies are capable of producing a "cold light" containing no ultraviolet or infrared rays, with a wavelength from 510 to 670 nanometers, pale reddish, yellowish or green in color, with a lighting efficiency of up to 96%[1].</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">There are more than 2000 species of firefly found in temperate and tropical environments around the world. Many species can be found in marshes or in wet, wooded areas where their larvae have abundant sources of food.</span><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXh5ZAAIAHAitI5geuUZ7xpHJrG8_GbkABlszRzGGXmTKKr-pnsh5tymbqc_rp_Em0_V82MqlBMdW7KZcjyaa2TzhOmqai9_Wds2ukARW2gHX1_YMaMwX818ULSeSeQAzWqJBBylzot9O-/s1600-h/240px-Photuris_lucicrescens.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXh5ZAAIAHAitI5geuUZ7xpHJrG8_GbkABlszRzGGXmTKKr-pnsh5tymbqc_rp_Em0_V82MqlBMdW7KZcjyaa2TzhOmqai9_Wds2ukARW2gHX1_YMaMwX818ULSeSeQAzWqJBBylzot9O-/s320/240px-Photuris_lucicrescens.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218423895347355954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Biology</span><br /><br />Fireflies tend to be brown and soft-bodied, often with the elytra more leathery than in other beetles. Though the females of some species are similar in appearance to males, larviform females are found in many other firefly species. These females can often be distinguished from the larvae only because they have compound eyes. The most commonly known fireflies are nocturnal, though there are numerous species that are diurnal. Most diurnal species are non-luminescent, though some species that remain in shadowy areas can produce light.<br /><br />A few days after mating, a female lays her fertilized eggs on or just below the surface of the ground. The eggs hatch 3-4 weeks later and the larva feed until the end of the summer. The larvae are commonly called glowworms, not to be confused with the distinct beetle family Phengodidae or fly genus Arachnocampa. Lampyrid larvae have simple eyes. The term glowworm is also used for both adults and larvae of species such as Lampyris noctiluca, the common European glowworm, in which only the non-flying adult females glow brightly and the flying males glow only very weakly and intermittently. Fireflies overwinter (some species for several years) during the larval stage. Some do this by burrowing underground, while others find places on or under the bark of trees. They emerge in the spring. After several weeks of feeding, they pupate for 1 to 2.5 weeks and emerge as adults. The larvae of most species are specialized predators and feed on other larvae, terrestrial snails, and slugs. Some are so specialized that they have grooved mandibles which deliver digestive fluids directly to their prey. The diet of adults is variable. It has been reported that some are predatory, while others feed on plant pollen or nectar.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Light production</span><br /><br />Light production in fireflies is due to a chemical reaction that occurs in specialized light-emitting organs, usually on the lower abdomen. The enzyme luciferase acts on luciferin in this organ to stimulate light emission. Genes coding for these substances have been inserted into many different organisms (see Luciferase - Applications). Luciferase is also used in forensics, and the enzyme has medical uses.<br /><br />For adult beetles, it is primarily used to locate other individuals of the same species for reproduction. Many species, especially in the genus Photinus, are distinguished by the unique courtship flash patterns emitted by flying males in search of females. Photinus females generally do not fly, but give a flash response to males of their own species.<br />Bioluminescence is a very efficient process. Some 90% of the energy a firefly uses to create light is actually converted into visible light. By comparison, an incandescent electric bulb can convert only 10 percent of total energy used into visible light, and the remainder is emitted as heat.<br /><br />Tropical fireflies, particularly in Southeast Asia (Thailand and Malaysia), routinely synchronize their flashes among large groups, a startling example of spontaneous biological order. This phenomenon occurs through the night along river banks in the Malaysian jungles every day of the year. Current hypotheses about the causes of this behavior involve diet, social interaction, and altitude. In the United States, one of the most famous sightings of fireflies blinking in unison occurred near Elkmont, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains during the second week of June 2005[1]. Congaree National Park in South Carolina is another host to the phenomenon [2].<br /><br />Female Photuris fireflies are known for mimicking the mating flashes of other fireflies for the sole purpose of predation. Target males are attracted to what appears to be a suitable mate, and are then eaten. For this reason the Photuris female is sometimes referred to as "femme fatale".<br /><br />Many fireflies do not produce light. Usually these species are diurnal, or day-flying, such as those in the genus Ellychnia. A few diurnal fireflies that primarily inhabit shadowy places, such as beneath tall plants or trees, are luminescent. One such genus is Lucidota.<br /><br />All fireflies glow as larvae. Bioluminescence serves a different function in lampyrid larvae than it does in adults. It appears to be a warning signal to predators, since many firefly larvae contain chemicals that are distasteful or toxic.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Systematics</span><br /><br />Firefly systematics, as with many insects, are in a constant state of flux, as new species continue to be discovered. The five subfamilies listed above are the most commonly accepted ones, though others such as the Amydetinae and Psilocladinae have been proposed. This was mainly done in an attempt to revise the Lampyrinae, which by and by had become something of a "wastebin taxon" to hold incertae sedis species and genera of fireflies. Other changes are occasionally proposed, such as merging the Ototetrinae into the Luciolinae, but the arrangement used here appears to be the most frequently-seen and stable layout, at least for the time being.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fireflies and humans</span><br /><br />Fireflies were a part of ancient Mayan mythology, often being associated with the stars. Further, they were associated with cigar smoking and may have had at least one representative in the pantheon of Mayan gods (Lopes 2004).<br /><br />In East Asia, the ancient Chinese sometimes captured fireflies in transparent or semi-transparent containers and used them as (short-term) lanterns[citation needed]. Some species of the genus Luciola (hotaru, 蛍) rival the famous sakura cherry blossoms as regards their significance in Japanese culture and folklore[citation needed].<br /><br />The Pennsylvania Firefly (Photuris pennsylvanica) is the state insect of Pennsylvania, and the Common Eastern Firefly (Photinus pyralis) one of the state insects of Tennessee. At one point, Indiana seriously considered making the State's insect a firefly, but the legislature never put the measure to a vote.<br /><br />The spectacular synchronized flashing by Pteroptyx and other Luciolinae fireflies has potential economic significance. Notably on the Selangor River at Kampong Kuantan (close to Kuala Selangor, Malaysia), it has become a major attraction for tourists which create considerable revenue.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">References</span><br /><br />^ Firefly / Lightning Bug - Photuris lucicrescens. Retrieved on 2008-06-28.<br />• http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/hotaru-net/. A site about Japanese aquatic firefly habits, life-history, biology, resources, and activities.<br />• http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/hotaru-net/photo/firefly.html<br />• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi<br />• http://www.iisc.ernet.in/academy/resonance/Sept2002/pdf/Sept2002p49-55.pdf<br />• Branham, M. A., and J. W. Wenzel. 2003. The origin of photic behavior and the evolution of sexual communication in fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). Cladistics 19: 1-22.<br />• Lopes, Luís. 2004. Some notes on fireflies. Mesoweb. http://www.mesoweb.com/features/lopes/Fireflies.pdf<br />• Stous, Hollend. 1997. A review of predation in Photuris, and its effects on the evolution of flash signaling in other New World fireflies. http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Entomology/courses/en507/papers_1997/stous.html<br />• http://www.fireflies.tk . A site about the Firefly meeting 2007 in Portugal and information on fireflies in general.<br />• http://pirilampos-lightalive.blogspot.com/. A site about bioluminescence and Firefly project in Portugal.<br /></span></div></div>80 Feet Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103646709469112204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-35651188918363291182008-06-27T05:08:00.000-07:002008-06-27T05:09:31.797-07:00A Sad Story: Destruction Of Another Forest Zone Of Interest: Please Forward This To Your Friends To Raise Awareness<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">A Sad Story: Destruction Of Another Forest Zone Of Interest: Please Forward This To Your Friends To Raise Awareness<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">From Balakrishnan Valappil <<a href="mailto:balakrishnan_%20valappil@yahoo.com">balakrishnan_ valappil@yahoo.com</a>></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">To Yahoo Hope Thane Group Members and <a href="mailto:butterflyindia@yahoogroups.com">butterflyindia@yahoogroups.com</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hi friends</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Palaparamba is a typical hill top near my house, just five minutes walk away! It is above 400 ft from MSL and around 40 km from the west coast and the same distance away from <st1:place st="on">Western Ghats</st1:place>. It is a private land of extend less than 2 hectares; there are cashew nut plants amidst open and bushy land the flora and fauna diversity is very interesting, especially insects. I am a regular visitor here since the last three years. Apart from the common butterflies I have sighted are Silver streaked blue ciliate, blue and redspot (M&F) here regularly and I haven’t seen these butterflies elsewhere. Some of other species to be mentioned are Buddha peacock, Short banded sailor, Chestnut steaked sailor, Blue admiral, Southern birdwing, and at least three types of lineblues, blackvein, sergeant, peacock royal, WC and Manytailed oakblue, White banded owl and a Common tinsel (to be confirmed). I will be posting a complete checklist soon; the most interesting thing is that I have seen fresh specimens of all the butterflies mentioned and hence could be assumed that they are born here. A ciliate blue sighting chance is 75% on anyday on the calendar. Between August and December I can guarantee the sighting of Blue admiral, WC oakblue, Buddha peacock and all the three sailors here are high. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But the most saddening part of the story is that as many of the hundreds of such hilltops in our district Palaparamba is also under threat an approach road is already constructed and surveying and markings are in progress to convert it into a housing project and within a couple of years the fauna and flora will be lost forever. In Kerala, majority of insects breed in such pristine locations which are basically private lands and were of no economical importance till a couple of years ago and they were safe to some extent due to that matter of fact that now laterite quarrying, housing projects, other institutions like hospitals, schools, colleges, IT parks are built in lieu of wonderful fauna and flora. There is considerable awareness and conservation on the part of wildlife in the forested lands but as far as I know there is nothing done to protect these uncared biodiversity. My question to the members from Kerala is how often you have sighted Ciliate blue, Redspot and Silver streak blue in the reserve forests? (Dr Unni, Dr Kalesh, Rafeek and others please respond) the answers will decide the importance of the matter. Not square kilometers but square meters that matter as far as butterflies are concerned. Can anyone help tracing the larva plant and hence larvae of the above mentioned butterflies? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Attached pictures are shots from a recent visit to Palaparamba. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Help ID the Line blue other butterfly links on my stream all from Palaparamba peacock royal</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 760342851/budha peacock</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 1490190054/Imperial</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 2552726909/</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 2552727017/manytailedoakblue</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 1797804209/</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 1797794137/redspot</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 1523117205/</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 1616548060/</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 746904897/</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 746904909/silverstreak blue</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 693955223/wcoakblue</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 1690054061/</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 693955247/</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 1467545259/</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 2043427250/</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 2181671183/commonleopard</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 1672597594/blue admiral</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 1025754644/lascar</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 1050426385/yeomon and rustic</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 630223807/jezebel</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 1797941929/</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 1797941921/birdwing</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 1345924306/</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Some other insects sighted on June 22, 2008</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 2614605753/</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 2615431184/ hitlerbugsmating</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 2614601629/</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.flickr. com/photos/ balakrishnan_ valappil/ 2614601851/</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">All these links are to demonstrate the biodiversity of Palaparamba</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">-- </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">-- </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Regards</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rajesh Sachdev</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Wild Mumbai Nature Conservation</p> <p class="MsoNormal">--</p> <p class="MsoNormal">"The tiger cannot be preserved in isolation. It is at the apex of a</p> <p class="MsoNormal">large and complex biotope. Its habitat, threatened by human intrusion,</p> <p class="MsoNormal">commercial forestry, and cattle grazing, must first be made</p> <p class="MsoNormal">inviolate." - Mrs. Indira Gandhi</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-21428978099365742892008-06-24T01:39:00.000-07:002008-12-08T16:48:47.520-08:00Napoleons Fatal Ruso Expedition<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SGDHjI5XfNI/AAAAAAAAAHc/vDfoGCv1G0s/s1600-h/Napoleons+Fatal+Ruso+Expedition.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SGDHjI5XfNI/AAAAAAAAAHc/vDfoGCv1G0s/s320/Napoleons+Fatal+Ruso+Expedition.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215387774992481490" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Joseph_Minard" title="Charles Joseph Minard">Charles Minard's</a> <i>Carte figurative</i> (1869), which details the losses of men, the position of the army, and the freezing temperatures on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_I_of_France" title="Napoleon I of France">Napoleon's</a> disastrous 1812 <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_invasion_of_Russia" title="French invasion of Russia">invasion of Russia</a></b>. Created in an effort to show the horrors of war, the graph "defies the pen of the historian in its brutal eloquence" and has been called the best <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_graphics" title="Information graphics">statistical graphic</a> ever drawn.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-81591475538169047682008-06-24T01:34:00.000-07:002008-12-08T16:48:47.637-08:00Photo In The News: Mars Lander Finds Ice, NASA Says<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SGCx3czeyeI/AAAAAAAAAHU/fZNNEDI9FuY/s1600-h/080620-ice-mars-photo_big.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SGCx3czeyeI/AAAAAAAAAHU/fZNNEDI9FuY/s320/080620-ice-mars-photo_big.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215363934678075874" border="0" /></a><br /> <p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fig: Ice on Mars - lander photo</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Photo In The News: Mars Lander Finds<br />Ice, NASA Says<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Associated Press, By John Antczak </p> <p class="MsoNormal">June 20, 2008</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Ice on Mars - lander photo</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">June 20, 2008—Before-and-after photos taken by NASA's Mars Phoenix Lander show "perfect evidence" of water ice on Mars, according to Peter Smith, the mission's principal investigator, in a statement released Thursday.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The dice-size crumbs of bright material seen in the bottom left corner of the so-called Snow White trench in the left image, taken June 15, appear to have vanished by the time the right image was taken, on June 19.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Scientists are convinced the material was frozen water that vaporized after the lander's robotic arm dug up the material.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"There had been some question whether the bright material was salt," Smith, of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename st="on">Arizona</st1:placename></st1:place>, said. "Salt can't do that."</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> is studying whether the Mars's arctic region could be suitable for life as we know it—a key ingredient of which is water.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">More recently, <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city>'s arm encountered a hard surface on Thursday while digging another trench. The arm went into a "holding position" after three attempts to dig further, which is expected when the arm reaches a hard surface, NASA said.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Scientists, who hope to uncover an icy layer, have dubbed the newer trench Snow White 2, in keeping with the <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> team's practice of using names from fairy tales and mythology to designate features at the lander's "Wonderland" site.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In 2002 the Mars Odyssey orbiter had detected hints of a vast store of ice below the surface of Mars's polar regions.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The arctic terrain where <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> touched down has polygon shapes in the ground similar to those found in Earth's permafrost regions. The patterns on Earth are caused by seasonal expansion and shrinking of underground ice.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Images from AP Photo/NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/Texas A&M University</p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-42807956508642207102008-06-23T06:12:00.000-07:002008-06-23T06:14:09.657-07:00Oh, Barn The Superstition! It's Just A Harmless Owl<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><b style="">Oh, Barn The Superstition! It's Just A Harmless Owl<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">Daily News and Analysis, By Ashwin Aghor</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">June 21, 2008 </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">Experts say though the bird is thriving in the city, it faces threat as it consumes rodents killed with poison</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">The next time you spot a pair of eyes glowing in the dark or hear a sinister hoot, don’t be alarmed. It’s just your friendly neighbourhood barn owl, which bird experts say is thriving in the city.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><span style=""> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">“If the number of distress calls received for bird rescue are any indication, there is no doubt that barn owl population in the city has increased. The majority of the calls are for the rescue of injured juvenile as well as adult barn owls,” said Adesh Shivkar, bird expert.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">The large quantity of garbage generated in the city every day attracts rodents, which are the main prey of barn owls.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">The bird got its name because of its adaptability to living close to human settlements. “Even in the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">United Kingdom</st1:place></st1:country-region>, the bird is found in barns, abandoned castles,” Shivkar said. However, despite a consistent growth in its population, barn owl is facing severe threats.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">Contradicting superstitions shroud all types of owls in general. Some people consider the bird a bad omen and kill it the moment it is spotted. “On the other hand, it is considered to be the vehicle of goddess Lakshmi. There is a need to educate people to protect the bird, by telling them that getting rid of the bird is akin to getting rid of wealth,” Shivkar says. “There is a general belief that barn owl claws bring prosperity to the person who possesses them. A considerable chunk of people in the city believe in superstitions,” said naturalist Sunjoy Monga.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">Recently, in the Mantralaya when an owl was seen on a painting frame on sixth floor, news spread like wildfire and people started speculating about fate of the chief minister himself as his office is on the same floor.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">Though domesticating the owl is illegal, many people keep the bird as a pet and even supply them to Bollywood and tantriks.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">Another threat the bird is facing is rat poison. “Rodents being their main prey, many times owls eat rats killed with poison, which proves fatal for the bird, too,” said Anand Pendharkar, founder director of Sprouts, an institution working for the environment.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">There is a great deal of misbelief about the hissing sound made by the barn owls. “It is the defence mechanism of most of the birds which nest in tree hollows or holes in walls. On sensing danger, the juvenile birds emulate the hissing sound of a snake,” Shivkar said.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">The rescue calls for the bird are the maximum during winter, the breeding season of the owls. “In majority of cases, it lands in wrong hands due to superstitions,” said Sunish Subramanian of Plant and Animal Welfare Society, Mumbai.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">a_ashwin@dnaindia.net</p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-43017315292623166122008-06-23T06:07:00.000-07:002008-06-23T06:08:46.307-07:00From Yahoo Group HopeThane: Save Our Water Bodies!!!! Urgent!!<p style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br /><span class="gmailquote">From: <b>Leo Saldanha</b> To: <b style="">Arunava Das by <st1:personname st="on">arunavadas1983@yahoo.co.in</st1:PersonName></b></span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">FYI....<br /><br />Dear All,<br /><br />Acting on the Public Interest Litigation filed by Environment Support<br />Group against Privatisation of Lakes in <st1:city st="on">Bangalore</st1:City> (WP 817/2008), the<br />Hon'ble High Court of Karnataka has directed the Forest Department to<br />file a report on the status of lakes in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Bangalore</st1:City></st1:place>.<br /><br />The petition challenges the Lake Development Authority's move of leasing<br />lakes to private entities, who will be exploiting the water bodies for<br />commercial activities like setting up of hotels, boating, amusement<br />parks and so on. Apart from destroying nesting grounds of birds (both<br />local and migratory) such activities will ruin the water bodies and also<br />impact the ecological cycle. It will also mean giving away our public<br />commons to private entities, who will make profits without any regard<br />for the resources.<br /><br />If you endorse this idea, please sign the online representation to the<br />Principal Chief Conservations of Forests at<br /><a href="http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/blorelakes/signatures.html" target="_blank">http://www.ipetitio ns.com/petition/ blorelakes/ signatures. html</a><br /><br />Regards<br />Divya<br /><br />PS: More details about the PIL are accessible at <a href="http://www.esgindia.org/">www.esgindia.org</a></p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-16713935564230308642008-06-23T05:16:00.000-07:002008-12-08T16:48:48.122-08:00Blue Iguana (Direct pick up from Wikipedia, Taken with permission purely for blog display)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF-W0hBIKuI/AAAAAAAAAG8/4LbAvWy5ZMM/s1600-h/180px-Blue_Iguana_in_tree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF-W0hBIKuI/AAAAAAAAAG8/4LbAvWy5ZMM/s320/180px-Blue_Iguana_in_tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215052722478787298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF-W0hY66bI/AAAAAAAAAHE/72IuP21JZHY/s1600-h/250px-Grand_Cayman_Blue_Iguana.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF-W0hY66bI/AAAAAAAAAHE/72IuP21JZHY/s320/250px-Grand_Cayman_Blue_Iguana.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215052722578581938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF-W01Y80ZI/AAAAAAAAAHM/XJyX9TtVJpQ/s1600-h/300px-Cayman_Islands_%28detail%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF-W01Y80ZI/AAAAAAAAAHM/XJyX9TtVJpQ/s320/300px-Cayman_Islands_%28detail%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215052727947415954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />[Pictures of Cayman Islands(Iguana is endemic to this region) and Iguana]<br /> <h1>Blue Iguana</h1> <h3>From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</h3> <table class="MsoNormalTable" style="width: 194.45pt;" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="259"> <tbody><tr style=""> <td style="padding: 1.9pt; background: rgb(211, 211, 164) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b>Blue Iguana<o:p></o:p></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 1.9pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><o:p> </o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 1.9pt; background: rgb(211, 211, 164) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservation_status" title="Conservation status">Conservation status</a><o:p></o:p></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 1.9pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Status_iucn3.1_CR.svg" title="Status iucn3.1 CR.svg"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Status_iucn3.1_CR.svg" title=""Status iucn3.1 CR.svg"" style="'width:135pt;height:36pt'" button="t"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\arunava\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.png" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/Status_iucn3.1_CR.svg/180px-Status_iucn3.1_CR.svg.png"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style=""></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critically_endangered_species" title="Critically endangered species">Critically Endangered</a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IUCN_Red_List" title="IUCN Red List">IUCN 3.1</a>)</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 1.9pt; background: rgb(211, 211, 164) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_classification" title="Biological classification">Scientific classification</a><o:p></o:p></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 1.9pt;"> <div align="center"> <table class="MsoNormalTable" style="" border="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody><tr style=""> <td style="padding: 1.5pt;" valign="top"> <p class="MsoNormal">Kingdom:</p> </td> <td style="padding: 1.5pt;" valign="top"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="kingdom"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal" title="Animal">Animalia</a></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 1.5pt;" valign="top"> <p class="MsoNormal">Phylum:</p> </td> <td style="padding: 1.5pt;" valign="top"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="phylum"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chordate" title="Chordate">Chordata</a></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 1.5pt;" valign="top"> <p class="MsoNormal">Class:</p> </td> <td style="padding: 1.5pt;" valign="top"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="taxoclass"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptile" title="Reptile">Sauropsida</a></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 1.5pt;" valign="top"> <p class="MsoNormal">Order:</p> </td> <td style="padding: 1.5pt;" valign="top"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="order"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squamata" title="Squamata">Squamata</a></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 1.5pt;" valign="top"> <p class="MsoNormal">Family:</p> </td> <td style="padding: 1.5pt;" valign="top"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="family"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iguanidae" title="Iguanidae">Iguanidae</a></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 1.5pt;" valign="top"> <p class="MsoNormal">Genus:</p> </td> <td style="padding: 1.5pt;" valign="top"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="genus"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclura" title="Cyclura">Cyclura</a></i></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 1.5pt;" valign="top"> <p class="MsoNormal">Species:</p> </td> <td style="padding: 1.5pt;" valign="top"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>C. lewisi</i></b></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 1.9pt; background: rgb(211, 211, 164) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binomial_nomenclature" title="Binomial nomenclature">Binomial name</a><o:p></o:p></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 1.9pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span class="binomial"><b><i>Cyclura lewisi</i></b></span><br /> <span style="font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapman_Grant" title="Chapman Grant">Grant</a>, 1940</span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p>The <b>Blue Iguana</b> or <b>Grand Cayman Iguana</b> (<b><i>Cyclura lewisi</i></b>) is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critically_endangered_species" title="Critically endangered species">critically endangered species</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizard" title="Lizard">lizard</a> of the genus <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclura" title="Cyclura">Cyclura</a></i> endemic to the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">island</st1:PlaceType> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Cayman" title="Grand Cayman">Grand Cayman</a>. Previously listed as a subspecies of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclura_nubila_nubila" title="Cyclura nubila nubila">Cuban Iguana</a>, it was reclassified as a separate species in 2004 due to genetic differences discovered four years earlier. The Blue Iguana is one of the longest-living species of lizard (possibly up to 69 years) and is a national symbol of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cayman_Islands" title="Cayman Islands">Cayman Islands</a>.</st1:place></p> <p>The Blue Iguana prefers rocky, sunlit, open areas in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_forest" title="Dry forest">dry forests</a> or near the shore, as females must dig holes in the sand to lay eggs in June and July. Their <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbivory" title="Herbivory">vegetarian</a> diet includes plants, fruits, and flowers. Their coloration is tan to gray with a bluish cast that is more pronounced during the breeding season, and more so in males. They are large and heavy-bodied with a dorsal crest of short spines running from the base of the neck to the end of the tail.</p> <p>The fossil record indicates that the Blue Iguana was abundant before <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_colonization" title="European colonization">European colonization</a>; but fewer than 15 animals remained in the wild by 2003, and this wild population was predicted to become <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinct" title="Extinct">extinct</a> within the first decade of the 21st century. The species' decline is mainly being driven by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predation" title="Predation">predation</a> by feral pets (cats and dogs) and indirectly by the destruction of their natural <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_%28ecology%29" title="Habitat (ecology)">habitat</a> as fruit farms are converted to pasture for cattle grazing. Since 2004, 219 captive-bred animals have been released into a preserve on <st1:place st="on">Grand Cayman</st1:place> run by a partnership headed by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durrell_Wildlife_Conservation_Trust" title="Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust">Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust</a>, in an attempt to save the species. Some success with naturally laid eggs has been reported in the wild. At least five non-profit organizations are working with the government of the <st1:place st="on">Cayman Islands</st1:place> to ensure the survival of the Blue Iguana.</p> <h2><span class="mw-headline">Taxonomy</span></h2> <p>The Blue Iguana (<i>Cyclura lewisi</i>) is endemic to the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">island</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:placename st="on">Grand Gayman</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-kenyon2-0" title="">[1]</a></sup> Its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genus" title="Genus">generic</a> name (<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclura" title="Cyclura">Cyclura</a></i>) is derived from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek" title="Ancient Greek">Ancient Greek</a> words <i>cyclos</i> (κύκλος) meaning "circular" and <i>urus</i> (ο<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">ὔ</span>ρος) meaning "tail", after the thick-ringed tail characteristic of all <i>Cyclura</i> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iguana" title="Iguana">iguanas</a>.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Sanchez-1" title="">[2]</a></sup> Its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species" title="Species">specific</a> name is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latinisation_%28literature%29" title="Latinisation (literature)">Latinized</a> form of the name of the scientist who first described this species, Bernard C. Lewis.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-cnnblue-2" title="">[3]</a></sup> Its closest relatives are the Cuban Iguana (<i>C. nubila nubila</i>) on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuba" title="Cuba">Cuba</a>, and the Andros Island Iguana (<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclura_cychlura" title="Cyclura cychlura">C. cychlura cychlura</a></i>) in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahamas" title="Bahamas">Bahamas</a>, the three species having diverged from a common ancestor some three million years ago.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-kenyon2-0" title="">[1]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-kenyon-3" title="">[4]</a></sup> The species has a low <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_diversity" title="Genetic diversity">genetic diversity</a> but does not seem to suffer the same lack of vitality that afflicts other such species of rock iguana.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Hudson-4" title="">[5]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Malone-5" title="">[6]</a></sup> One theory is that the species evolved from a single female Cuban Iguana (<i>C. nubila nubila</i>) with eggs inside her who drifted across the sea, perhaps during a storm.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-kenyon-3" title="">[4]</a></sup> It is distinct from the subspecies found on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Cayman" title="Little Cayman">Little Cayman</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cayman_Brac" title="Cayman Brac">Cayman Brac</a> known as <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclura_nubila_caymanensis" title="Cyclura nubila caymanensis">C. nubila caymanensis</a></i>, although it can breed with this subspecies and produce fertile offspring.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-taxo-6" title="">[7]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-greenblue-7" title="">[8]</a></sup></p> <p>In 1938, Bernard C. Lewis of the <st1:placetype st="on">Institute</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:placename st="on">Jamaica</st1:PlaceName> joined an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_University" title="Oxford University">Oxford University</a> biological expedition to the <st1:place st="on">Cayman Islands</st1:place>.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-cnnblue-2" title="">[3]</a></sup> Lewis was able to obtain two Blue Iguanas, a male and a female, which were later lodged with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Museum" title="British Museum">British Museum</a> of Natural History.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-cnnblue-2" title="">[3]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapman_Grant" title="Chapman Grant">Chapman Grant</a>, in a monograph published in 1940,<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-grant-8" title="">[9]</a></sup> formally described the Blue Iguana for the first time as <i>Cyclura macleayi lewisi</i>.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-cnnblue-2" title="">[3]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-iucn-9" title="">[10]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-taxo-6" title="">[7]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-hollingsworth-10" title="">[11]</a></sup> Schwartz and Carey established the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinomial_nomenclature" title="Trinomial nomenclature">trinomial</a> (<i>Cyclura nubila lewisi</i>) in 1977.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-taxo-6" title="">[7]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-hollingsworth-10" title="">[11]</a></sup> They held that the Blue Iguana was a strongly distinct subspecies of the Cuban Iguana (<i>C. nubila</i>), the species which it evolved from and can breed with. They emphasized its overall bright blue coloration, and noted that further study could reveal it to be a distinct species.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-taxo-6" title="">[7]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-hollingsworth-10" title="">[11]</a></sup> Frederic Burton reclassified the Blue Iguana as a distinct species in 2004,<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-taxo-6" title="">[7]</a></sup> after years of research comparing scale counts on the heads of Caribbean iguanas, including those found on Little Cayman, Cayman Brac, Cuba, and the Bahamas, as well as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitochondrial_DNA" title="Mitochondrial DNA">mitochondrial DNA</a> analysis performed by Dr. Catherine Malone, to re-examine the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylogeography" title="Phylogeography">phylogeography</a> of the different species.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-taxo-6" title="">[7]</a></sup></p> <h2><a name="Description"></a><span class="mw-headline">Description</span></h2> <p>The Blue Iguana is the largest native land animal on Grand Cayman with a total nose-to-tail length of 5 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_%28length%29" title="Foot (length)">ft</a> (1.5 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metre" title="Metre">m</a>) and weighing as much as 30 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pound_%28mass%29" title="Pound (mass)">lb</a> (14 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilogram" title="Kilogram">kg</a>).<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-devosjoli-11" title="">[12]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Dorge-12" title="">[13]</a></sup> Its body length is 20–30 inches (51–76 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centimeter" title="Centimeter">cm</a>) with a tail equal in length.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-herp-13" title="">[14]</a></sup> The Blue Iguana's toes are articulated to be efficient in digging and climbing trees.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-winker-14" title="">[15]</a></sup> Although not known to be arboreal, the Blue Iguana has been observed climbing trees 15 feet (4.6 m) and higher.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-herp-13" title="">[14]</a></sup> The male is larger than the female by one third of his body size.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-herp-13" title="">[14]</a></sup> The mature male's skin color ranges from dark grey to turquoise blue, whereas the female is more olive green to pale blue.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-herp-13" title="">[14]</a></sup> Young animals tend to be uniformly dark brown or green with faint darker banding.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-herp-13" title="">[14]</a></sup> When they first emerge from the nest the neonates have an intricate pattern of eight dark <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorsum_%28biology%29" title="Dorsum (biology)">dorsal</a> chevrons from the crest of their necks to their pelvic area.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Color-15" title="">[16]</a></sup> These markings fade by the time the animal is one year old, changing to mottled gray and cream and eventually giving way to blue as adults.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Color-15" title="">[16]</a></sup> The adult Blue Iguana is typically dark gray matching the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karst" title="Karst">karst</a> rock of its landscape.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Color-15" title="">[16]</a></sup> The animal changes its color to blue when it is in the presence of other iguanas to signal and establish territory.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Color-15" title="">[16]</a></sup> The blue color is more pronounced in males of the species.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Color-15" title="">[16]</a></sup> Their distinctive black feet stand in contrast to their lighter overall body color.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-herp-13" title="">[14]</a></sup> Male Blue Iguanas have <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thigh" title="Thigh">femoral</a> pores, which are used to release <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheromone" title="Pheromone">pheromones</a>.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-winker-14" title="">[15]</a></sup> Females lack these pores and have a less prominent dorsal crest, making the animal somewhat <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_dimorphism" title="Sexual dimorphism">sexually dimorphic</a>.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-devosjoli-11" title="">[12]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-winker-14" title="">[15]</a></sup></p> <h3><a name="Eyes_and_vision"></a><span class="mw-headline">Eyes and vision</span></h3> <p>The Blue Iguana's eyes have a golden <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_%28anatomy%29" title="Iris (anatomy)">iris</a> and red <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sclera" title="Sclera">sclera</a>.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-herp-13" title="">[14]</a></sup> They have excellent vision, which allows them to detect shapes and motions at long distances.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Brames-16" title="">[17]</a></sup> As Blue Iguanas have only a few <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_cell" title="Rod cell">rod cells</a>, they have poor vision in low-light conditions. At the same time, they have cells called "double <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cone_cell" title="Cone cell">cones</a>" which give them sharp color vision and enable them to see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet" title="Ultraviolet">ultraviolet</a> wavelengths.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Brames-16" title="">[17]</a></sup> This ability is highly useful when basking so the animal can ensure that it absorbs enough sunlight in the forms of UVA and UVB to produce <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_D" title="Vitamin D">Vitamin D</a>.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-devosjoli-11" title="">[12]</a></sup></p> <p>Blue Iguanas have evolved a white photosensory organ on the top of their heads called the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parietal_eye" title="Parietal eye">parietal eye</a> (also known as the third eye, pineal eye or pineal gland).<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Brames-16" title="">[17]</a></sup> This "eye" does not work the same way as a normal eye as it has only a rudimentary retina and lens and thus, cannot form images.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Brames-16" title="">[17]</a></sup> It is however sensitive to changes in light and dark and can detect movement.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Brames-16" title="">[17]</a></sup></p> <h2><a name="Distribution_and_habitat"></a><span class="mw-headline">Distribution and habitat</span></h2> <p>The Blue Iguana is found only on the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">island</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:placename st="on">Grand Cayman</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>. Comparison with other <i>Cyclura</i> species in the region strongly suggests that there was once a coastal population of Blue Iguanas which was gradually displaced or extirpated by human settlements and the construction of roads.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-iucn-9" title="">[10]</a></sup> The Blue Iguana now only occurs inland in natural <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerophytic" title="Xerophytic">xerophytic</a> shrubland and along the interfaces between farm clearings, roads, and gardens and closed-canopy dry forest or shrubland.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-iucn-9" title="">[10]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a></sup> The interior population is believed to have been attracted to agricultural clearings and fruit farms which provide thermoregulatory opportunities, herbaceous browse, fallen fruit, and nesting soil, but this also brought the Blue Iguana into contact with humans and feral animals.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-iucn-9" title="">[10]</a></sup> Females often migrate to coastal areas to nest.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-salina-18" title="">[19]</a></sup></p> <p>Blue Iguanas released into the <st1:placename st="on">Queen</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placename st="on">Elizabeth</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placename st="on">II</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placename st="on">Botanical</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Park</st1:PlaceType> on <st1:place st="on">Grand Cayman</st1:place> were radiotracked in 2004 to determine ranges for each animal.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-BIRP0606-19" title="">[20]</a></sup> Females were found to occupy territories of 0.6 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acre" title="Acre">acres</a> (0.24 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hectare" title="Hectare">ha</a>) and males an average of 1.4 acres (0.57 ha) with overlap in common territories, indicating that they chose to maintain a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_density" title="Population density">population density</a> of four to five animals per <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hectare" title="Hectare">hectare</a>.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-BIRP0606-19" title="">[20]</a></sup></p> <p>The Blue Iguanas occupy rock holes and tree cavities, and as adults are primarily terrestrial.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Dorge-12" title="">[13]</a></sup> Younger individuals tend to be more arboreal.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Dorge-12" title="">[13]</a></sup> Hatchlings are preyed upon by the native snake <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alsophis" title="Alsophis">Alsophis cantherigerus</a></i>.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a></sup> The adults have no natural predators but can fall victim to feral dogs.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-iucn-9" title="">[10]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a></sup> They typically reach sexual maturity at three to four years of age.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-herp-13" title="">[14]</a></sup></p> <h2><a name="Diet_and_longevity"></a><span class="mw-headline">Diet and longevity</span></h2> <p>Like all <i>Cyclura</i> species, the Blue Iguana is primarily <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbivory" title="Herbivory">herbivorous</a>, consuming leaves, flowers, and fruits from over 45 species of plant.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-iucn-9" title="">[10]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a></sup> This diet is very rarely supplemented with insect larvae, crabs, slugs, dead birds, and fungi.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-herp-13" title="">[14]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a></sup> The iguanas are presented with a special problem for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osmoregulation" title="Osmoregulation">osmoregulation</a>: plant matter contains more <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium" title="Potassium">potassium</a> and as it has less nutritional content per gram, more must be eaten to meet the lizard's metabolic needs.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Hazard-20" title="">[21]</a></sup> As they are not capable of creating urine more concentrated than their bodily fluids, they excrete nitrogenous wastes as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urate" title="Urate">uric acid</a> salts through a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_gland" title="Salt gland">salt gland</a> in the same manner as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird" title="Bird">birds</a>.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Hazard-20" title="">[21]</a></sup> As a result, they have developed this lateral nasal gland to supplement renal salt secretion by expelling excess potassium and sodium chloride.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Hazard-20" title="">[21]</a></sup></p> <p>Longevity in the wild is unknown but is presumed to be many decades. A Blue Iguana named "Godzilla" captured on Grand Cayman in 1950 by naturalist Ira Thompson was imported to the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> in 1985 by Ramon Noegel and sold to reptile importer and breeder, Tom Crutchfield in 1990.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Colette-21" title="">[22]</a></sup> Crutchfield donated Godzilla to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladys_Porter_Zoo" title="Gladys Porter Zoo">Gladys Porter Zoo</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownsville%2C_Texas" title="Brownsville, Texas">Brownsville</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas" title="Texas">Texas</a> in 1997 and the lizard remained there until its death in 2004.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Colette-21" title="">[22]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-godzilla-22" title="">[23]</a></sup> Thompson estimated Godzilla to be 15 years-of-age at the time of his capture.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-godzilla-22" title="">[23]</a></sup> At an estimated 69 years of age (54 of which were spent in captivity), Godzilla may be the world's longest-living lizard for which there is reliable record.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-godzilla-22" title="">[23]</a></sup> A closely related Lesser Caymans Iguana (<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclura_nubila_caymanensis" title="Cyclura nubila caymanensis">C. nubila caymanensis</a></i>) has been documented as living 33 years in captivity.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-iverson-23" title="">[24]</a></sup></p> <h2><a name="Reproduction"></a><span class="mw-headline">Reproduction</span></h2> <p>Mating occurs from May through June.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-iucn-9" title="">[10]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-herp-13" title="">[14]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copulation" title="Copulation">Copulation</a> is preceded by numerous head-bobs on the part of the male, who then circles around behind the female and grasps the nape of her neck.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-herp-13" title="">[14]</a></sup> He then attempts to restrain the female in order to maneuver his tail under hers to position himself for intromission.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-herp-13" title="">[14]</a></sup> Copulation generally lasts from 30 to 90 seconds, and a pair is rarely observed mating more than once or twice a day.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-herp-13" title="">[14]</a></sup> A clutch of anywhere from 1 to 21 eggs are usually laid in June or July depending on the size and age of the female, in nests excavated in pockets of earth exposed to the sun.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-iucn-9" title="">[10]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Blair-24" title="">[25]</a></sup> Several exploratory nests are begun before one is completed.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-herp-13" title="">[14]</a></sup> These burrows can range from 16 inches (0.41 m) to over 60 inches (1.5 m) in length, with an enlarged chamber at its terminal portion to allow the female to turn around.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-herp-13" title="">[14]</a></sup> The temperature within nests that have been monitored by researchers remained a constant 32 °C (90 °F) throughout the incubation period which ranges from 65–90 days.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-herp-13" title="">[14]</a></sup> The Blue Iguana's eggs are among the largest laid by any lizard.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-herp-13" title="">[14]</a></sup></p> <p>Individuals are aggressively territorial from the age of about three months onward.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a></sup> Females occupy overlapping areas of the order of 0.6 acres (0.24 ha) seemingly regardless of age, while males occupy progressively larger and more extensively overlapping territories as they age and grow.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-iucn-9" title="">[10]</a></sup></p> <h2><a name="Conservation"></a><span class="mw-headline">Conservation</span></h2> <h3><a name="Endangered_status"></a><span class="mw-headline">Endangered status</span></h3> <p>The Blue Iguana is listed as critically endangered on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IUCN_Red_List" title="IUCN Red List">IUCN Red List</a>.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-iucn-9" title="">[10]</a></sup> The population is restricted to the eastern interior of <st1:place st="on">Grand Cayman</st1:place>, where it had been reduced to a critically low level, only three animals having been observed before the survey in 1988.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-cnnblue-2" title="">[3]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-iucn-9" title="">[10]</a></sup> The range of the Blue Iguana has contracted significantly over the past 25 years, with many sites once populated now showing no signs of iguanas.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-cnnblue-2" title="">[3]</a></sup> Surveys in 2003 indicated a total population in the range of 5–15 individuals.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a></sup> By 2005 the unmanaged wild population was considered to be functionally extinct.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Burton-25" title="">[26]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-wissman-26" title="">[27]</a></sup> The species is one of the most endangered animals on Earth.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Malone-5" title="">[6]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-independent-27" title="">[28]</a></sup> A further blow to the dwindling population came in May of 2008 when six individuals were found butchered in a nature preserve.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-natgeog-28" title="">[29]</a></sup></p> <p>As the Blue Iguana consumes a variety of plant material, favoring fruits and flowers over leaves and stems when available, it is valuable on <st1:place st="on">Grand Cayman</st1:place> as a seed disperser throughout its range.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-iucn-9" title="">[10]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-alberts-29" title="">[30]</a></sup> A study in 2000 by Dr Allison Alberts revealed that seeds passing through the digestive tracts of <i>Cycluras</i> germinate more rapidly than those that do not.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-alberts-29" title="">[30]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Derr-30" title="">[31]</a></sup> These seeds in the fruits consumed by the Blue Iguana have an adaptive advantage by sprouting before the end of very short rainy seasons.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-alberts-29" title="">[30]</a></sup> The Blue Iguana is also an important means of distributing seeds to new areas and, as the largest native herbivore of <st1:place st="on">Grand Cayman</st1:place>'s ecosystems, it is essential for maintaining the delicate balance between climate and vegetation necessary to survive under harsh conditions.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-alberts-29" title="">[30]</a></sup></p> <p>Restored free-roaming subpopulations in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Queen</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placename st="on">Elizabeth</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placename st="on">II</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placename st="on">Botanic</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Park</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> and the Salina Reserve numbered approximately 125 individuals in total after a release in December 2005.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-independent-27" title="">[28]</a></sup> The restored subpopulation in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Queen</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placename st="on">Elizabeth</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placename st="on">II</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placename st="on">Botanic</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Park</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> has been breeding since 2001, and the subpopulation in the Salina Reserve was deemed to be breeding in 2006 after a nest of three hatched eggs was discovered in the wild.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Hudson-4" title="">[5]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-bbc1-31" title="">[32]</a></sup> As of April 2007, after another large-scale release, there are 299 Blue Iguanas living in the wild, with hundreds more being raised in captivity on <st1:place st="on">Grand Cayman</st1:place>.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Burton-25" title="">[26]</a></sup></p> <h3><a name="Causes_of_decline"></a><span class="mw-headline">Causes of decline</span></h3> <p>Habitat destruction is the main factor threatening imminent extinction for this iguana. Land clearance within remnant habitat is occurring for agriculture, road construction, and real estate development and speculation.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Burton-25" title="">[26]</a></sup> Conversion of traditional crop lands to cattle pasture is also eliminating secondary Blue Iguana habitat.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-iucn-9" title="">[10]</a></sup></p> <p>Predation and injury to hatchlings by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat" title="Rat">rats</a>, to hatchlings and sub-adults by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feral_cat" title="Feral cat">feral cats</a>, and killing of adults by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pariah_dog" title="Pariah dog">roaming dogs</a> are all placing severe pressure on the remaining wild population.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Hudson-4" title="">[5]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-iucn-9" title="">[10]</a></sup> Automobiles and motorscooters are an increasing cause of mortality as the iguanas rarely survive the collisions. Trapping and shooting is a comparatively minor concern, but occasional trapping continues despite legal protection and sustained efforts to increase public awareness.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-kenyon2-0" title="">[1]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-iucn-9" title="">[10]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-wissman-26" title="">[27]</a></sup></p> <p>The common <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Iguana" title="Green Iguana">Green Iguana</a>, (<i>Iguana iguana</i>), has been introduced from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honduras" title="Honduras">Honduras</a> and is well-established on <st1:place st="on">Grand Cayman</st1:place> as an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasive_species" title="Invasive species">invasive species</a>. It far outnumbers the endemic Blue Iguana.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-wildblue-32" title="">[33]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-seidel-33" title="">[34]</a></sup> No direct negative consequences of this introduction on the Blue Iguana are known, but the mere presence of the Green Iguana confuses public attitudes and understanding.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-iucn-9" title="">[10]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-caymannetnews-34" title="">[35]</a></sup> For example, the people of the island are told that Blue Iguanas are endangered and rare, and when they subsequently see large numbers of the introduced Green Iguana, they do not understand the difference.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-greenblue-7" title="">[8]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-caymannetnews-34" title="">[35]</a></sup></p> <p>Blue Iguanas used to regularly be sold to tourists as pets, as their rarity made them appealing to exotic-animal collectors, despite this being illegal under the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CITES" title="CITES">CITES</a> treaty.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-pet-35" title="">[36]</a></sup> In 1999 a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Wildlife_Fund" title="World Wildlife Fund">World Wildlife Fund</a> international conservation officer, Stuart Chapman, said, "The British government has turned a blind eye for over 20 years to these overseas territories which are home to many rare and endangered species. Many of these face extinction if <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Britain</st1:place></st1:country-region> fails to honour its treaty obligations. The British Caribbean islands are extremely rich in biodiversity with many critically <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_species" title="Endangered species">endangered species</a> that are unique to the islands—yet there is virtually zero enforcement or implementation of CITES."<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-pet-35" title="">[36]</a></sup></p> <p>In May of 2008, six Blue Iguanas were found dead in the preserve within <st1:placename st="on">Queen</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placename st="on">Elizabeth</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placename st="on">II</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placename st="on">Botanic</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Park</st1:PlaceType> on <st1:place st="on">Grand Cayman</st1:place>.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-killing-36" title="">[37]</a></sup> The iguanas were apparently killed by human vandals armed with knives and two of the slaughtered animals were gravid females about to lay eggs.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-killing-36" title="">[37]</a></sup></p> <p>The wild population of Blue Iguanas had been reduced from a near island-wide distribution to a non-viable, fragmented remnant.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Burton-25" title="">[26]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-wildblue-32" title="">[33]</a></sup> By 2001, no young hatched in the unmanaged wild population were surviving to breeding age, meaning the population was functionally extinct, with only five animals remaining in the wild.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Burton-25" title="">[26]</a></sup></p> <h3><a name="Recovery_efforts"></a><span class="mw-headline">Recovery efforts</span></h3> <p>In 1990 the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Zoo_and_Aquarium_Association" title="American Zoo and Aquarium Association">American Zoo and Aquarium Association</a> (AZA) designated the genus <i>Cyclura</i> as their highest priority for conservation.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-zoorole-37" title="">[38]</a></sup> Their first project was an <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_situ" title="In situ">in situ</a></i> captive breeding program for the Blue Iguana, which at the time was the most critically endangered of all the species of <i>Cyclura</i>.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-zoorole-37" title="">[38]</a></sup></p> <p>One of the early difficulties encountered was that the captive stock of the early 1990s was found not to be pure.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-herp-13" title="">[14]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-zoorole-37" title="">[38]</a></sup> It was discovered through DNA analysis that the captive population contained a number of animals that were <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_%28biology%29" title="Hybrid (biology)">hybrids</a> with <i>C. nubila caymanensis</i>.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-herp-13" title="">[14]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-zoorole-37" title="">[38]</a></sup> The program contains only pure specimens, as these hybrids were sterilized by means of hemipenectomies and hence excluded.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Dorge-12" title="">[13]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-zoorole-37" title="">[38]</a></sup> This program was created to determine the exact genealogies of the limited gene pool of the remaining animals and DNA analysis revealed that the entire North American captive population was descended from a single pair of animals.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-zoorole-37" title="">[38]</a></sup> After five years of research two captive breeding populations were established and are managed as a single unit, with cross-breeding between the populations to promote genetic diversity.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-zoorole-37" title="">[38]</a></sup></p> <p>As a hedge against disaster striking the Blue Iguana population on Grand Cayman, an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_situ" title="Ex situ">off-island</a> captive population was established in 25 zoos in the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">USA</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-zoorole-37" title="">[38]</a></sup> A minimum of 20 founder lines represented by at least 225 individuals is being maintained by captive breeding and recorded in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studbook" title="Studbook">studbook</a> for the species by Tandora Grant of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_Zoo" title="San Diego Zoo">San Diego Zoo's</a> Center for Conservation and Research for Endangered Species (CRES).<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-BIRP0606-19" title="">[20]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-zoorole-37" title="">[38]</a></sup> The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis_Zoo" title="Indianapolis Zoo">Indianapolis Zoo</a> has had success with breeding the Blue Iguana in captivity twice since the year 2000.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-hatch-38" title="">[39]</a></sup></p> <p>In October 2006, hatchlings were released into the wild for the first time to boost the species and help bring them back from the brink of extinction.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-independent-27" title="">[28]</a></sup> Each released Blue Iguana wears a string of colored beads through its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neck" title="Neck">nuchal</a> crest for visual identification at a distance, backed up by an implanted <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microchip_implant_%28animal%29" title="Microchip implant (animal)">microchip</a> and a high-resolution photograph of its head scales.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-winker-14" title="">[15]</a></sup> (Head scale patterns are as unique among Blue Iguanas as fingerprints are among humans.)<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-winker-14" title="">[15]</a></sup></p> <p>The Blue Iguana is established in captivity, both in public and private collections.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-devosjoli-11" title="">[12]</a></sup> As there are very few pure-bred animals in private collections, private individuals have established these animals in captive breeding programs as hybrids with the Lesser Caymans Iguana (<i>C.nubila caymanensis</i>) and occasional hybrids with the Cuban Iguana (<i>C.n.nubila</i>) minimizing the demand for wild-caught specimens for the pet trade.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-devosjoli-11" title="">[12]</a></sup></p> <h4><a name="Blue_Iguana_Recovery_Programme"></a><span class="mw-headline">Blue Iguana Recovery Programme</span></h4> <p>Efforts to save the Blue Iguana are being implemented as of 2007 by the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme (BIRP) which, with local and international partners, operates under the auspices of the National Trust for the <st1:place st="on">Cayman Islands</st1:place>.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Burton-25" title="">[26]</a></sup> This program operates under a special exemption from provisions in the Animals Law of the <st1:place st="on">Cayman Islands</st1:place> which normally would make it illegal for anyone to kill, capture, or keep iguanas.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-caymannetnews-34" title="">[35]</a></sup> BIRP's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_conservation" title="Wildlife conservation">conservation</a> strategy involves generating large numbers of genetically diverse hatchlings, head-starting<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-head-39" title="">[40]</a></sup> them for two years where their chance of survival in the wild is high, and using these animals to rebuild a series of wild sub-populations in protected, managed natural areas.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-kenyon2-0" title="">[1]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-knapp-40" title="">[41]</a></sup> This is accompanied by field research, nest site protection, and monitoring of the released animals.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-alberts-29" title="">[30]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-anegada-41" title="">[42]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Nelson-42" title="">[43]</a></sup> A rapid numerical increase from a maximum possible number of founding stock is sought to minimize loss of genetic diversity caused by the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_bottleneck" title="Population bottleneck">population bottleneck</a>".<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a></sup></p> <p>Restored sub-populations are already present in two non-contiguous areas—the Salina Reserve and the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Queen</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placename st="on">Elizabeth</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placename st="on">II</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placename st="on">Botanic</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Park</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Dorge-12" title="">[13]</a></sup> Habitat protection is still vital,<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Burton-25" title="">[26]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Dorge-12" title="">[13]</a></sup> as the Salina Reserve has only 88 acres (35.61 ha) of dry shrubland, which is not enough to sustain the 1,000 Blue Iguanas that must be restored to the wild to remove this species from the Critically Endangered List.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-winker-14" title="">[15]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a></sup> Additional separate sub-populations will be restored in one or more other areas.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a></sup> The overall captive population is likely to remain genetically fragmented in the long term.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a></sup> Individuals will be translocated between sub-populations to maintain gene flow so that the entire population remains a single genetic management unit.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-zoorole-37" title="">[38]</a></sup> When the wild sub-populations have reached the carrying capacity of their respective protected areas, release of head-started animals will be phased out, and they will be left to reproduce naturally.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a></sup> In addition, guided by research and monitoring, control or eradication of non-native predators will be implemented to the degree necessary to allow young Blue Iguanas to survive to maturity in sufficient numbers to maintain these sub-populations.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-zoorole-37" title="">[38]</a></sup></p> <p>Maintenance of Blue Iguanas in the wild requires active management into the indefinite future.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a></sup> To sustain this activity, a range of commercial activities generates the funding required, while an ongoing education and awareness effort ensures continued involvement and support by the local community.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-plan-17" title="">[18]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-Burton-25" title="">[26]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_note-caymannetnews-34" title="">[35]</a></sup></p> <h2><a name="References"></a><span class="mw-headline">References</span></h2> <ol start="1" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-kenyon2_0-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-kenyon2_0-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-kenyon2_0-2" title=""><b><i><sup>c</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-kenyon2_0-3" title=""><b><i><sup>d</sup></i></b></a> Kenyon, <st1:place st="on">Georgina</st1:place>. "<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4566275.stm" title="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4566275.stm">SOS call for ancient blue iguana</a>", BBC News, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005" title="2005">2005</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_23" title="May 23">05-23</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008" title="2008">2008</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_16" title="March 16">03-16</a></span>.<span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Sanchez_1-0" title="">^</a></b> Sanchez, Alejandro. <a href="http://www.kingsnake.com/westindian/metazoa10.html" title="http://www.kingsnake.com/westindian/metazoa10.html">Family Iguanidae: Iguanas and Their Kin</a>. <i>Father Sanchez's Web Site of West Indian Natural History Diapsids I: Introduction; Lizards</i>. Kingsnake.com. Retrieved on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007" title="2007">2007</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_26" title="November 26">11-26</a>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-cnnblue_2-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-cnnblue_2-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-cnnblue_2-2" title=""><b><i><sup>c</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-cnnblue_2-3" title=""><b><i><sup>d</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-cnnblue_2-4" title=""><b><i><sup>e</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-cnnblue_2-5" title=""><b><i><sup>f</sup></i></b></a> "<a href="http://www.caymannetnews.com/2005/04/824/hand.shtml" title="http://www.caymannetnews.com/2005/04/824/hand.shtml">Blue Iguanas get helping hand to recovery</a>", Cayman Net News, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005" title="2005">2005</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_26" title="April 26">04-26</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008" title="2008">2008</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_15" title="March 15">03-15</a></span>.<span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-kenyon_3-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-kenyon_3-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Kenyon, <st1:place st="on">Georgina</st1:place> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005" title="2005">2005</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_17" title="September 17">09-17</a>). "Re-enter the Dragon". </span>New Scientist</cite><cite><span style="font-style: normal;"> (2517): 42–43. Simone Coless.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Hudson_4-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Hudson_4-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Hudson_4-2" title=""><b><i><sup>c</sup></i></b></a> <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Hudson</span></cite></st1:City></st1:place><cite><span style="font-style: normal;">, Rick (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007" title="2007">2007</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_1" title="April 1">04-01</a>). "Big Lizards, Big Problems". </span>Reptiles Magazine</cite><cite><span style="font-style: normal;"> <b>15</b> (4): 54–61.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Malone_5-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Malone_5-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Malone, Catherine (2004). </span>Genetic Contributions to <st1:place st="on">Caribbean</st1:place> Iguana Conservation</cite><cite><span style="font-style: normal;">. <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:placename st="on">California</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> Press, 54–57. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780520238541">ISBN 9780520238541</a>.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-taxo_6-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-taxo_6-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-taxo_6-2" title=""><b><i><sup>c</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-taxo_6-3" title=""><b><i><sup>d</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-taxo_6-4" title=""><b><i><sup>e</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-taxo_6-5" title=""><b><i><sup>f</sup></i></b></a> <cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Burton, Frederic (2004). "<a href="http://www.caribjsci.org/aug04/40_198-203.pdf" title="http://www.caribjsci.org/aug04/40_198-203.pdf">Taxonomic Status of the Grand Cayman Blue Iguana</a>" (PDF) <b>8</b> (1): 198–203. <st1:place st="on">Caribbean</st1:place> Journal of Science.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-greenblue_7-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-greenblue_7-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> "<a href="http://www.caymannetnews.com/2006/02/1029/world.shtml" title="http://www.caymannetnews.com/2006/02/1029/world.shtml">Green and Blue a world of difference to Iguanas</a>", Cayman Net News, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006" title="2006">2006</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_14" title="February 14">02-14</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008" title="2008">2008</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_15" title="January 15">01-15</a></span>.<span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-grant_8-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-grant_8-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <cite><span style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapman_Grant" title="Chapman Grant">Grant, Chapman</a> (1940). "The Herpetology of the <st1:place st="on">Cayman Islands</st1:place>" <b>2</b>: 1–55. Bulletin Institute of Jamaican Science.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-iucn_9-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-iucn_9-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-iucn_9-2" title=""><b><i><sup>c</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-iucn_9-3" title=""><b><i><sup>d</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-iucn_9-4" title=""><b><i><sup>e</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-iucn_9-5" title=""><b><i><sup>f</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-iucn_9-6" title=""><b><i><sup>g</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-iucn_9-7" title=""><b><i><sup>h</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-iucn_9-8" title=""><b><i><sup>i</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-iucn_9-9" title=""><b><i><sup>j</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-iucn_9-10" title=""><b><i><sup>k</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-iucn_9-11" title=""><b><i><sup>l</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-iucn_9-12" title=""><b><i><sup>m</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-iucn_9-13" title=""><b><i><sup>n</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-iucn_9-14" title=""><b><i><sup>o</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-iucn_9-15" title=""><b><i><sup>p</sup></i></b></a> Burton, F.J. (2004). <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/44275/all" title="http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/44275/all"><i>Cyclura lewisi</i></a>. <i>2006 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IUCN_Red_List" title="IUCN Red List">IUCN Red List of Threatened Species</a></i>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Conservation_Union" title="World Conservation Union">IUCN</a> 2006. Retrieved on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_9" title="May 9">9 May</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006" title="2006">2006</a>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-hollingsworth_10-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-hollingsworth_10-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-hollingsworth_10-2" title=""><b><i><sup>c</sup></i></b></a> <cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Hollingsworth, Bradford D. (2004). </span>The Evolution of Iguanas an Overview and a Checklist of Species</cite><cite><span style="font-style: normal;">. <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:placename st="on">California</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> Press, 35–39. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780520238541">ISBN 9780520238541</a>.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-devosjoli_11-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-devosjoli_11-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-devosjoli_11-2" title=""><b><i><sup>c</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-devosjoli_11-3" title=""><b><i><sup>d</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-devosjoli_11-4" title=""><b><i><sup>e</sup></i></b></a> <cite><span style="font-style: normal;">De Vosjoli, Phillipe; David Blair (1992). </span>The Green Iguana Manual</cite><cite><span style="font-style: normal;">. <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Escondido</st1:City>, <st1:state st="on">California</st1:State></st1:place>: Advanced Vivarium Systems. ISBN 74886904040.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Dorge_12-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Dorge_12-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Dorge_12-2" title=""><b><i><sup>c</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Dorge_12-3" title=""><b><i><sup>d</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Dorge_12-4" title=""><b><i><sup>e</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Dorge_12-5" title=""><b><i><sup>f</sup></i></b></a> <cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Dorge, Ray (1996). "A Tour of the <st1:place st="on">Grand Cayman</st1:place> Blue Iguana Captive-Breeding Facility". </span>Reptiles: Guide to Keeping Reptiles and Amphibians</cite><cite><span style="font-style: normal;"> <b>4</b> (9): 32–42.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-herp_13-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-herp_13-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-herp_13-2" title=""><b><i><sup>c</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-herp_13-3" title=""><b><i><sup>d</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-herp_13-4" title=""><b><i><sup>e</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-herp_13-5" title=""><b><i><sup>f</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-herp_13-6" title=""><b><i><sup>g</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-herp_13-7" title=""><b><i><sup>h</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-herp_13-8" title=""><b><i><sup>i</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-herp_13-9" title=""><b><i><sup>j</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-herp_13-10" title=""><b><i><sup>k</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-herp_13-11" title=""><b><i><sup>l</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-herp_13-12" title=""><b><i><sup>m</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-herp_13-13" title=""><b><i><sup>n</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-herp_13-14" title=""><b><i><sup>o</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-herp_13-15" title=""><b><i><sup>p</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-herp_13-16" title=""><b><i><sup>q</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-herp_13-17" title=""><b><i><sup>r</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-herp_13-18" title=""><b><i><sup>s</sup></i></b></a> <cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Blair, David (1991). "<a href="http://images.cyclura.com/download/pdf/WestIndianRockIguanas.PDF" title="http://images.cyclura.com/download/pdf/WestIndianRockIguanas.PDF">West Indian Iguanas of the Genus Cyclura: Their Current Status in the Wild, Conservation Priorities and Efforts to Breed Them in Captivity</a>" (PDF) <b>SE</b> (6): 55–56. <st1:place st="on">Northern California</st1:place> Herpetological Society.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-winker_14-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-winker_14-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-winker_14-2" title=""><b><i><sup>c</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-winker_14-3" title=""><b><i><sup>d</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-winker_14-4" title=""><b><i><sup>e</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-winker_14-5" title=""><b><i><sup>f</sup></i></b></a> Winker, Carol. "<a href="http://www.caycompass.com/cgi-bin/CFPnews.cgi?ID=1019861" title="http://www.caycompass.com/cgi-bin/CFPnews.cgi?ID=1019861">Iguanas get royal attention</a>", Caymanian Compass, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007" title="2007">2007</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_8" title="February 8">02-08</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008" title="2008">2008</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_15" title="March 15">03-15</a></span>.<span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Color_15-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Color_15-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Color_15-2" title=""><b><i><sup>c</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Color_15-3" title=""><b><i><sup>d</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Color_15-4" title=""><b><i><sup>e</sup></i></b></a> <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Burton</span></cite></st1:City></st1:place><cite><span style="font-style: normal;">, Fred (2004). "Color and Pattern in <st1:place st="on">Grand Cayman</st1:place> Blue Iguanas". </span>Iguana Journal of the International Iguana Society</cite><cite><span style="font-style: normal;"> <b>11</b> (3): 148–151.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Brames_16-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Brames_16-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Brames_16-2" title=""><b><i><sup>c</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Brames_16-3" title=""><b><i><sup>d</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Brames_16-4" title=""><b><i><sup>e</sup></i></b></a> <cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Brames, Henry (2007). "Aspects of Light and Reptile Immunity". </span>Iguana: Conservation, Natural History, and Husbandry of Reptiles</cite><cite><span style="font-style: normal;"> <b>14</b> (1): 19–23. International Reptile Conservation Foundation.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-2" title=""><b><i><sup>c</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-3" title=""><b><i><sup>d</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-4" title=""><b><i><sup>e</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-5" title=""><b><i><sup>f</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-6" title=""><b><i><sup>g</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-7" title=""><b><i><sup>h</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-8" title=""><b><i><sup>i</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-9" title=""><b><i><sup>j</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-10" title=""><b><i><sup>k</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-11" title=""><b><i><sup>l</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-12" title=""><b><i><sup>m</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-13" title=""><b><i><sup>n</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-14" title=""><b><i><sup>o</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-15" title=""><b><i><sup>p</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-16" title=""><b><i><sup>q</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-17" title=""><b><i><sup>r</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-18" title=""><b><i><sup>s</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-19" title=""><b><i><sup>t</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-20" title=""><b><i><sup>u</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-21" title=""><b><i><sup>v</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-22" title=""><b><i><sup>w</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-plan_17-23" title=""><b><i><sup>x</sup></i></b></a> <cite>Alberts, Allison (2001), <a href="http://www.blueiguana.ky/download/BlueRecovery12.pdf" title="http://www.blueiguana.ky/download/BlueRecovery12.pdf">“Species Recovery Plan 2001 - 2006 for the Grand Cayman Blue Iguana, Cyclura nubila lewisi”</a>, <a href="http://www.blueiguana.ky/" title="http://www.blueiguana.ky/">The Grand Cayman Blue Iguana - Species Recovery Plan 2001 – 2006</a>, Grand Cayman: Blue Iguana Recovery Program, pp. 29</cite><span class="printonly"><i>, <<a href="http://www.blueiguana.ky/download/BlueRecovery12.pdf" title="http://www.blueiguana.ky/download/BlueRecovery12.pdf">http://www.blueiguana.ky/download/BlueRecovery12.pdf</a>></i></span><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-salina_18-0" title="">^</a></b> <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Burton</span></cite></st1:place></st1:City><cite><span style="font-style: normal;">, Frederic (2005). "<a href="http://www.blueiguana.ky/download/BIT-V3No4M.pdf" title="http://www.blueiguana.ky/download/BIT-V3No4M.pdf">Salina Blues Update</a>" (PDF) <b>3</b> (4): 5. Quarterly Update on Blue Iguana Recovery Project.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-BIRP0606_19-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-BIRP0606_19-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-BIRP0606_19-2" title=""><b><i><sup>c</sup></i></b></a> <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Burton</span></cite></st1:City></st1:place><cite><span style="font-style: normal;">, Fred (2006). "Blue Iguana Recovery Program". </span>Iguana Journal of the International Iguana Society</cite><cite><span style="font-style: normal;"> <b>13</b> (2): 117.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Hazard_20-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Hazard_20-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Hazard_20-2" title=""><b><i><sup>c</sup></i></b></a> <cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Hazard, Lisa C. (2004). </span>Sodium and Potassium Secretion by Iguana Salt Glands</cite><cite><span style="font-style: normal;">. <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:placename st="on">California</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> Press, 84–85. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780520238541">ISBN 9780520238541</a>.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Colette_21-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Colette_21-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Adams, Colette (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004" title="2004">2004</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_1" title="September 1">09-01</a>). "Requiem for Godzilla". </span>Iguana: Journal of the International Iguana Society</cite><cite><span style="font-style: normal;"> <b>11</b> (3): 168–172.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-godzilla_22-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-godzilla_22-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-godzilla_22-2" title=""><b><i><sup>c</sup></i></b></a> <cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Adams, Colette (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004" title="2004">2004</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_26" title="May 26">05-26</a>). "<a href="http://www.iucn-isg.org/newsletters/pdf/ISG_News_7%281%29.pdf" title="http://www.iucn-isg.org/newsletters/pdf/ISG_News_7(1).pdf">Obituary</a>" (PDF). </span>Iguana Specialist Group Newsletter</cite><cite><span style="font-style: normal;"> <b>7</b> (1): 2.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-iverson_23-0" title="">^</a></b> <cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Iverson, John (2004). </span>Factors Affecting Long-Term Growth of the Allen Cays Rock Iguana in the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bahamas</st1:place></st1:country-region></cite><cite><span style="font-style: normal;">. <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:placename st="on">California</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> Press, 184. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780520238541">ISBN 9780520238541</a>.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Blair_24-0" title="">^</a></b> <cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Blair, David (1983). "Dragons of the Cayman: Rock Iguanas Cling to their <st1:place st="on">Islands</st1:place>". </span>Oceans Magazine</cite><cite><span style="font-style: normal;"> <b>16</b> (1): 31–33.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Burton_25-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Burton_25-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Burton_25-2" title=""><b><i><sup>c</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Burton_25-3" title=""><b><i><sup>d</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Burton_25-4" title=""><b><i><sup>e</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Burton_25-5" title=""><b><i><sup>f</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Burton_25-6" title=""><b><i><sup>g</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Burton_25-7" title=""><b><i><sup>h</sup></i></b></a> <cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Burton, Frederic (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007" title="2007">2007</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_1" title="April 1">04-01</a>). "How to Save a Species:<st1:place st="on">Grand Cayman</st1:place> Blues". </span>Reptiles Magazine</cite><cite><span style="font-style: normal;"> <b>15</b> (4): 60.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-wissman_26-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-wissman_26-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Wissman, Margaret (1995). "In Search of the <st1:place st="on">Grand Cayman</st1:place> Blue Rock Iguana". </span>Reptiles</cite><cite><span style="font-style: normal;"> <b>3</b> (2): 56–57.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-independent_27-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-independent_27-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-independent_27-2" title=""><b><i><sup>c</sup></i></b></a> "<a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20061026/ai_n16803494" title="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20061026/ai_n16803494">Hatchlings revive rarest lizard on earth</a>", London Independent, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006" title="2006">2006</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_6" title="October 6">10-06</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008" title="2008">2008</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_15" title="March 15">03-15</a></span>.<span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-natgeog_28-0" title="">^</a></b> "<a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/05/080506-blue-iguanas.html" title="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/05/080506-blue-iguanas.html">Rare Blue Iguanas Found Butchered</a>", National Geographic, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008" title="2008">2008</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_6" title="May 6">05-06</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008" title="2008">2008</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_8" title="May 8">05-08</a></span>.<span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-alberts_29-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-alberts_29-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-alberts_29-2" title=""><b><i><sup>c</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-alberts_29-3" title=""><b><i><sup>d</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-alberts_29-4" title=""><b><i><sup>e</sup></i></b></a> <cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Alberts, Allison (2004). </span>Testing the Utility of Headstarting as a Conservation Strategy for West Indian Iguanas</cite><cite><span style="font-style: normal;">. <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:placename st="on">California</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> Press, 210. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780520238541">ISBN 9780520238541</a>.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Derr_30-0" title="">^</a></b> Derr, Mark. "In Caribbean, Endangered Iguanas Get Their Day", <i>New York Times Science Section</i>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000" title="2000">2000</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_10" title="October 10">10-10</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008" title="2008">2008</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_15" title="March 15">03-15</a></span>.<span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-bbc1_31-0" title="">^</a></b> "<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6083816.stm" title="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6083816.stm">Breeding Success for Rare Lizards</a>", BBC News/Science Nature, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006" title="2006">2006</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_27" title="October 27">10-27</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008" title="2008">2008</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_15" title="March 15">03-15</a></span>.<span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-wildblue_32-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-wildblue_32-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> Mani, Bina (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002" title="2002">2002</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_17" title="July 17">07-17</a>). <a href="http://www.blueiguana.ky/zzzwildblue.htm" title="http://www.blueiguana.ky/zzzwildblue.htm">Wild Blue Iguanas plummeting towards extinction</a>. Blue Iguana Recovery Program. Retrieved on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007" title="2007">2007</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_9" title="July 9">07-09</a>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-seidel_33-0" title="">^</a></b> <cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Seidel, M (1994). </span>Amphibians and reptiles (exclusive of marine turtles) of the <st1:place st="on">Cayman Islands</st1:place></cite><cite><span style="font-style: normal;">. The <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Netherlands</st1:place></st1:country-region>: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 434. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780792324621">ISBN 9780792324621</a>.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-caymannetnews_34-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-caymannetnews_34-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-caymannetnews_34-2" title=""><b><i><sup>c</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-caymannetnews_34-3" title=""><b><i><sup>d</sup></i></b></a> "<a href="http://www.caymannetnews.com/archivelist.php?news_id=1111&pageaction=showdetail&news_id=1111&arcyear=2007&arcmonth=8&arcday=09" title="http://www.caymannetnews.com/archivelist.php?news_id=1111&pageaction=showdetail&news_id=1111&arcyear=2007&arcmonth=8&arcday=09">Campaign on to Save Blue Iguanas</a>", Cayman Net News, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007" title="2007">2007</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_10" title="August 10">08-10</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008" title="2008">2008</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_29" title="March 29">03-29</a></span>.<span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-pet_35-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-pet_35-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> Tickell, Oliver. "<st1:country-region st="on">UK</st1:country-region> allowing illicit trade in endangered species'", The (<st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">London</st1:place></st1:City>) Independent, 1999.<span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-killing_36-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-killing_36-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> Kenyon, <st1:place st="on">Georgina</st1:place>. "<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7388256.stm" title="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7388256.stm">Probe into giant iguana slaughter</a>", BBC, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008" title="2008">2008</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_7" title="May 7">05-07</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008" title="2008">2008</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_11" title="May 11">05-11</a></span>.<span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-zoorole_37-0" title=""><b><i><sup>a</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-zoorole_37-1" title=""><b><i><sup>b</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-zoorole_37-2" title=""><b><i><sup>c</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-zoorole_37-3" title=""><b><i><sup>d</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-zoorole_37-4" title=""><b><i><sup>e</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-zoorole_37-5" title=""><b><i><sup>f</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-zoorole_37-6" title=""><b><i><sup>g</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-zoorole_37-7" title=""><b><i><sup>h</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-zoorole_37-8" title=""><b><i><sup>i</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-zoorole_37-9" title=""><b><i><sup>j</sup></i></b></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-zoorole_37-10" title=""><b><i><sup>k</sup></i></b></a> <cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Hudson, Richard D. (2004). </span>The Role of Zoos in the Conservation of West Indian Iguanas</cite><cite><span style="font-style: normal;">. <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:placename st="on">California</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> Press, 274–289. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780520238541">ISBN 9780520238541</a>.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-hatch_38-0" title="">^</a></b> <a href="http://www.aza.org/Publications/2002/06/June2002SigEfforts.pdf" title="http://www.aza.org/Publications/2002/06/June2002SigEfforts.pdf">Iguanas Hatch in Indianapolis</a> (PDF). <i>Significant Efforts in Conservation</i> 39. Association of Zoos and Aquariums (2002). Retrieved on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007" title="2007">2007</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_4" title="October 4">10-04</a>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-head_39-0" title="">^</a></b> <b>Head-starting</b> means raising the animals in captivity from the time they hatch until they are big enough not to fall prey to feral cats and rodents, thereby offsetting the juvenile mortality rate.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-knapp_40-0" title="">^</a></b> <cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Knapp, Charles R. (2004). </span>Translocation Strategies as a Conservation Tool for West Indian Iguanas</cite><cite><span style="font-style: normal;">. <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:placename st="on">California</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> Press, 199–209. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780520238541">ISBN 9780520238541</a>.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-anegada_41-0" title="">^</a></b> <cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Hudson, Rick (2005). "<a href="http://www.iucn-isg.org/newsletters/pdf/ISG_Bklt_8%281%29.pdf" title="http://www.iucn-isg.org/newsletters/pdf/ISG_Bklt_8(1).pdf">Anegada Iguanas Released</a>" (PDF) <b>8</b> (1): 2–4. International Iguana Foundation.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana#cite_ref-Nelson_42-0" title="">^</a></b> <cite><span style="font-style: normal;">Nelson, Robert (Fall 2001). "<a href="http://www.enviro-navair.navy.mil/currents/fall2001/Currents%20Fall%202001-web.pdf" title="http://www.enviro-navair.navy.mil/currents/fall2001/Currents%20Fall%202001-web.pdf">A Safe Haven for Wildlife: Naval Base Guantanamo Bay Provides Sanctuary for Iguana</a>" (PDF). </span>Currents: Navy Environmental News</cite><cite><span style="font-style: normal;">.</span></cite><span class="z3988"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li></ol> <h2><a name="External_links"></a><span class="mw-headline">External links</span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikispecies" title="Wikispecies">Wikispecies</a> has information related to: </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><a href="http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cyclura_lewisi" title="wikispecies:Cyclura_lewisi">Cyclura lewisi</a></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Wikimedia Commons has media related to: </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cyclura_lewisi" title="commons:Cyclura_lewisi">Cyclura lewisi</a></i></b></p> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://www.caymanislands.co.uk/cayman_sounds/podcast/BlueIguanaPodcast.mp3" title="http://www.caymanislands.co.uk/cayman_sounds/podcast/BlueIguanaPodcast.mp3">Podcast of an interview with Fred Burton, Director of the Blue Iguana Recovery Program</a></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://www.blueiguana.ky/" title="http://www.blueiguana.ky">Blue Iguana Recovery Program (B.I.R.P.)</a></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://www.ircf.org/" title="http://www.ircf.org">International Reptile Conservation Foundation</a></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://www.nationaltrust.org.ky/" title="http://www.nationaltrust.org.ky">the National Trust for the Cayman Islands, the B.I.R.P's parent organization</a></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://www.iguanafoundation.org/" title="http://www.iguanafoundation.org">International Iguana Foundation</a></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="display: none;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Featured_articles" title="This is a featured article. 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Click here for more information."" style="'width:10.5pt;height:10.5pt'" button="t"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\arunava\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image003.png" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/60/LinkFA-star.png"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/arunava/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image004.gif" alt="Featured article" shapes="_x0000_i1026" border="0" height="14" width="14" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Retrieved from "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Iguana</a>"</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Categories" title="Special:Categories">Categories</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Critically_endangered_species" title="Category:Critically endangered species">Critically endangered species</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Iguanidae" title="Category:Iguanidae">Iguanidae</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Cyclura" title="Category:Cyclura">Cyclura</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Fauna_of_the_Cayman_Islands" title="Category:Fauna of the Cayman Islands">Fauna of the Cayman Islands</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">This page was last modified on 23 June 2008, at 12:07.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">All text is available under the terms of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_GNU_Free_Documentation_License" title="Wikipedia:Text of the GNU Free Documentation License">GNU Free Documentation License</a>. 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MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF5g1k-AYzI/AAAAAAAAAGk/l5-lEt7y9BY/s320/GreenPeace+8.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF5g1rFkcBI/AAAAAAAAAGs/5iGs9w4sins/s1600-h/GreenPeace+9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214711893757030418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF5g1rFkcBI/AAAAAAAAAGs/5iGs9w4sins/s320/GreenPeace+9.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF5g1qcGk7I/AAAAAAAAAG0/UCYNglAKTvQ/s1600-h/GreenPeace+10.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214711893583106994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF5g1qcGk7I/AAAAAAAAAG0/UCYNglAKTvQ/s320/GreenPeace+10.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF5ghMR7QRI/AAAAAAAAAGE/7sj1HPR0e1o/s1600-h/GreenPeace+5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214711541889974546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF5ghMR7QRI/AAAAAAAAAGE/7sj1HPR0e1o/s320/GreenPeace+5.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF5ghGmajwI/AAAAAAAAAGM/wARSz0SGWOM/s1600-h/GreenPeace+6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214711540365299458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF5ghGmajwI/AAAAAAAAAGM/wARSz0SGWOM/s320/GreenPeace+6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF5ghb7yfFI/AAAAAAAAAGU/BRf91G-417c/s1600-h/GreenPeace+7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214711546092092498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF5ghb7yfFI/AAAAAAAAAGU/BRf91G-417c/s320/GreenPeace+7.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF5ghQxTZoI/AAAAAAAAAGc/7_Vz14d657g/s1600-h/GreenPeace+8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214711543095322242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF5ghQxTZoI/AAAAAAAAAGc/7_Vz14d657g/s320/GreenPeace+8.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF5Q4zePabI/AAAAAAAAAF0/MbjybZlrzl0/s1600-h/GreenPeace+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214694355361556914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF5Q4zePabI/AAAAAAAAAF0/MbjybZlrzl0/s320/GreenPeace+3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF5Q5Cg2-rI/AAAAAAAAAF8/ppIxKOy5Sik/s1600-h/GreenPeace+4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214694359399070386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF5Q5Cg2-rI/AAAAAAAAAF8/ppIxKOy5Sik/s320/GreenPeace+4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF5Qea9ggVI/AAAAAAAAAFk/XrAyoewE3xI/s1600-h/GreenPeace+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214693902105215314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF5Qea9ggVI/AAAAAAAAAFk/XrAyoewE3xI/s320/GreenPeace+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF5Qev55ZjI/AAAAAAAAAFs/cIzl74jJFd4/s1600-h/GreenPeace+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214693907727214130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SF5Qev55ZjI/AAAAAAAAAFs/cIzl74jJFd4/s320/GreenPeace+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>THE WORLD'S LAST INTACT FOREST LANDSCAPES<br />(A direct Extract from Green Peace, Taken with permission purely for blog display)<br /><br />The world's remaining ancient forests are vital to the future of the planet. Forests are home to two thirds of all known species of land plants and animals. They are also home to thousands of indigenous cultures that rely on forests for food, water and the necessities of life. Forests also play a key role in regulating local and global climate. They are vital to the future of life on Earth.<br />This Greenpeace map is the first global assessment of remaining tracts of intact forest landscapes larger than 500 sq. km that are not fragmented by infrastructure, such as roads, settlements, waterways, pipelines, power lines etc. These tracts are located within the forest vegetation zone and are mostly forested but also contain swamps and other non-forested ecosystems which are without significant visible signs of human impact such as logging, burning or other forms of forest clearing.<br />There are three reasons to focus on large tracts. First, only sufficiently large areas can conserve populations of large animals in their natural state and survive natural disturbance dynamics such as fires and storms. Second, large intact areas can serve as references to better understand and manage already degraded or fragmented areas (which make up the vast majority of forest landscapes). Third, large intact areas are often comparatively cheap to conserve, as they tend to rely on remoteness as their main guarantee of protection.<br />The map identifies forest landscapes which include non-forested areas. The reason for mapping landscapes instead of individual ecosystems is that the forest is a natural mosaic of integrated ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, rivers, lakes, and other treeless areas. Separating these ecosystems would not only be difficult but also artificial.<br />This assessment is based on the most up-to-date high-resolution satellite imagery and a consistent set of global criteria which allows for the first time direct comparison of the state of forests throughout the world. The finest-scale infrastructure maps and the latest available satellite imagery (2000-2004) were used. The goal of this project was to find and record forest landscapes with a minimum of human disturbance. Two things must be stressed: the boundary of human influence is often diffuse and areas without any human disturbance no longer remain. In this study, an area was considered to be in an intact, natural state if it showed no signs of infrastructure, industrial forest harvesting during the last 30-50 years, mining, land clearing or other essential human impacts. Traces of low-intensity human disturbance (such as hunting, pollution, forest grazing) did not lead to exclusion from the intact forest landscapes.<br />This map of large intact natural forest landscapes is an important component of a general conservation strategy, but it is not in itself sufficient. Many ecosystems have already been disturbed to the point where only small fragments remain. Mapping of these remnants was outside the scope of this study but this in no way precludes their potential assessment as having high conservation values and is therefore an important task for future examinations.<br />This map was prepared by Greenpeace with the participation of the Biodiversity Conservation Center (Russia), International Socio-Ecological Union, Forest Watch Indonesia and Luonto-Liitto (Finnish Nature League). Additionally, the following publications were used as references: "The Last Intact Forest Landscapes of Northern European Russia" (Greenpeace and GFW, 2001); "Remaining Wildlands of the Northern Forests" (GFW, 2002, unreviewed draft); and "Atlas of Russia's Intact Forest Landscapes"(GFW,2002). This website (www.intactforests.org) provides detailed maps, statistics and other related information. For more general information see <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/forestmaps" target="http://www.greenpeace.org/forestmaps">www.greenpeace.org/forestmaps</a><br /><a name="subtitle1">The Natural Value of Large Intact </a>Forest Landscapes<br />Researchers recognize the special value of large natural areas for preserving all strata of biological diversity (McCloskey, Spalding, 1989, Bryant et al., 1997, Noss, 1990 etc.). Forest biodiversity largely depends on intact forest landscapes. Large animal populations (such as forest elephants, great apes, bears, wolfs, tigers, jaguars, eagles, deer etc.) especially require these intact forest landscapes for preservation. The fragmentation and loss of natural habitats is a main factor threatening plant and animal species with extinction. Also regionally or globally important ecological processes and services (such as water and air purification, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, erosion and flood control, etc.) are supported by intact forest landscapes and other intact ecosystems. All of this makes the conservation value of intact forest landscapes relatively high overall while it may differ from area to area.<br />For many factors, reserve size is vital to the success of conservation efforts. Such factors include stable populations of large animals that are especially sensitive to human impact or habitat changes, lakes and wetlands as objects of reference, and the natural dynamics of forest ecosystems associated with large-scale disturbances such as fire or wind damage. Also, the central parts of large reserves are better protected from "edge effects," which include invasion of alien species, increased human access with subsequent increase of poaching and fires, drying-out of the forest, etc. Relatively small forest fragments can exhibit increased vulnerability to threats beyond their borders.<br />It's impossible to pinpoint the minimum area required for indefinite preservation of all natural components of a forest landscape. Habitats of different sizes are needed to support a diversity of bio-components. These areas also depend on a vast variety of local conditions with best estimates utilized to approximate the needed space for intact habitat viability.<br />Certainly, the greater the area, the greater the number of organisms and natural properties that can be preserved and ultimately the greater the overall viability of the intact forest landscape. Also of note is the knowledge gap regarding spatial relationships among the components of forest ecosystems. The same is true for the mechanisms that govern the survival of particularly sensitive plant and animal species. Protecting large intact forest landscapes is therefore a matter of reasonable precaution, as it promotes the conservation of all species, both those well-studied and those yet unknown.<br />In this study, large intact areas were defined as landscapes greater than or equal to 500 km2, internally undivided by infrastructure, and with a minimum linear dimension no smaller than 10 kilometers. Such spaces are capable of maintaining most natural values and functions of a self-sustaining boreal landscape, including the following:<br />Small-scale (the falling down or death of individual trees) and large-scale (fire, insect infestations, extreme weather conditions) random disturbances<br />Self-maintaining populations of plant and animal species especially sensitive to human disturbance<br />Intact catchment basins around rivers, bogs and streams<br />Spatial patterns of ecosystems and habitats<br />Rare or extremely sensitive ecosystems, that disappear in fragmented landscapes as a result of permanent human influence<br />These dimensions sufficiently buffer most edge effects, including the collapse of the forest edge of logging sites, outbreaks of pest insects in logging debris, changes in water regime due to clearing of neighboring areas, and the effects of intensive hunting and fishing.<br /><a name="subtitle2">Criteria & Definitions</a><br />Intact Forest Landscape<br />An intact forest landscape is a territory within the forest zone which contains forest and non-forest ecosystems minimally disturbed by human economic activity, with an area of at least 500 km2 and with a minimal width (diameter of the inscribed circle) of 10 km.<br />The following objects are excluded from the intact forest landscapes:<br />Settlements (with 1 km buffer zone)<br />1 km buffer zones around infrastructure used for communication between settlements and industrial sites; or for industrial exploitation of natural resources (including motor roads, railways, navigable waterways, pipelines, trunk power transmission lines and other linear objects)<br />Agricultural lands, except small scale which are used by local communities for their needs and are not connected with the rest of the world by infrastructure<br />Territories disturbed by economic activities during the last 30-70 years (logging, mining operation sites, abandoned agricultural lands, etc.)<br />Artificially restored forests, tree plantations<br />Burnt lands and young tree sites adjacent to infrastructure objects (buffer zones of km)<br />The ratio of forest and non-forest ecosystems within intact forest landscapes has no restriction; the key criteria are absence of disturbed territories and infrastructure objects. Thus, intact forest landscapes can consist primarily of non-forest nature ecosystems that are minimally disturbed by human economic activity (for example, treeless swamps or mountains fully surrounded by forest).<br />It should be noted that some human impact is invisible from space (for example, small forest roads and paths or, specifically in Central African forests, the decline of populations of large mammals as a result of over-hunting). Also, smaller-scale impacts (including some selective logging) that occurred more than 30-70 years ago - depending on the region - often become invisible on satellite imagery, undistinguishable from the natural dynamics of the forest.<br />The map was based primarily on 2000-2002 Landsat images. The most recent human impacts are also not shown on it as the satellite imagery used is on average 4-5 years old. All this leads to some - albeit globally insignificant - overestimations of intact forest landscape areas despite the 1 km buffer exclusion zones. Only on local ground verifications can provide a more accurate picture in these situations.<br />Forest Zone<br />Borders of the forest zone were defined according to the "Global Percent Tree Cover at a Spatial Resolution of 500 meters" map (Hansen et al., 2003). The forest zone includes all parts of the forests with a tree cover density of 20 percent or more, if the distance between them is less than two kilometers, and all non-forest plots which are fully surrounded by forests. All forest plots generated in this way were considered to be part of the forest zone if their area was 500 km2 and more.<br />Intact Forest Landscapes. Russia © Greenpeace/Kantor<br />Intact Forest Landscapes in Amazon. Brazil © Greenpeace/Cannalonga<br /><br />This map follows the WRI map from 1997 assessing intact forest landscapes, but for the first time uses the latest satellite imagery for the global assessment. It is based on strict rules of interpretation in order to make the results globally as comparable as possible.<br />The mapping method: The method of mapping is based on a subtractive approach to identifying intact forest landscapes. All sources of information were analyzed to detect disturbed areas or infrastructure lines dividing natural landscape into separate isolated parts. All areas remaining after the identification of disturbed areas and infrastructure were classified as intact forest landscapes, so long as they met the size criteria (see definitions). This method follows the precautionary approach: unless an area is clearly identified as disturbed, according to the available sources of information, it is considered to be an intact forest area.<br />The second important aspect of the mapping method is the stepwise use of materials of different precision and accuracy.<br />Mapping algorithm: 1) the forest zone was defined and identified according to the <a href="http://glcf.umiacs.umd.edu/data/modis/" target="http://glcf.umiacs.umd.edu/data/modis/">"Global Percent Tree Cover at a Spatial Resolution of 500 meters"</a> map (Hansen et al., 2003). As this map shows a gradual transition from the forest zone to non-forest territories, the following algorithm was used to establish the linear borders of the forest zone. All parts of the forests with a treecanopy cover density of 20 percent or more were considered solid forest tracts if the distance between them is less than two kilometers. All forest plots combined in this way were considered to be the parts of the forest zone if their area was 50 thousand hectares or more. All non-forest plots within the forest zone (i.e. fully surrounded by forests) were regarded as a part of the forest zone. The borders of the forest zone were slightly changed in some areas of the world, but only in cases when they obviously did not fit with the existing vegetation maps or higher resolution imagery (this happened only in areas of open forests with tree cover of 20 to 39%).2) The best and most up-to-date topographic maps available in every region were used. According to these maps, the global forests were divided by infrastructure (with 1 km buffer zones along it) into a great number of separate sections. Each of these was regarded as a potential intact forest landscape. Questionable objects of infrastructure in these maps (for example, temporary or seasonal roads and trails) were not considered. After that, the first sorting of potential intact forest landscapes was held according to their size. This considerably decreased both the area for further analysis of satellite images and the amount of work. So, before the beginning of work with satellite images, significant territories within the most densely populated and developed parts of the forest biomes were excluded from further analysis.<br />3) LANDSAT TM (global coverage of about 1990) and LANDSAT ETM+ (global coverage of about 2000) space images were used to identify disturbed landscapes and objects of infrastructure, which were not shown in reliable topographic maps. Both sets of images were used together: LANDSAT ETM+ images made it possible to detect the most recent disturbances, while LANDSAT TM - were used for older ones, whose traces have become less evident now. This is especially important in tropical forests, where the traces of disturbances disappear much faster than in temperate and boreal forests. 1 km buffer zones around human infrastructure (roads, waterways, settlements etc) and fire scars in the vicinity of human infrastructure where excluded from intact forest landscapes, because most natural fire cycles have been significantly altered in the vicinity of human infrastructure (eg increased fire frequency).<br />Disturbances: logging roads. Congo<br />Disturbances: logging roads. Gabon<br />Disturbed areas: agriculture clearings and pastures with fire dynamics. Democratic Republic of the Congo<br />Deforested landscape with human-induced pyrogenic dynamic. Congo<br />Using satellite images in the final stage allowed for the smoothing out of differences between regions that occurred at the stage of using topographical maps (as the quality, scale and age of the maps was significantly different for different areas). If any infrastructure was not shown in topographical maps or if it was of an "unreliable" type (like a temporary road), the decision regarding its exclusion from potentially intact forest landscapes depended on how it looked in the LANDSAT image.<br />Disturbances: different types of anthropogenic disturbances in boreal forests<br />4) Borders of intact forest landscapes were refined: long (where length was greater than width) ledges with a width of 2 meters or more were eliminated. Then the final sorting of the remaining intact forest landscapes was carried out according to their size, and those of less than 50 thousand hectares were excluded.<br />Intact Forest Landscape borders, Tropical forests. Papua-New Guinea<br />Intact Forest Landscape borders, Boreal forest region. Russia<br />The result of the project is a map of the borders of intact forest landscapes within the forest zone. The information about the limits of the forest zone itself, as well as limits of closed and open forests and non-forested areas within the forest zone and within intact forest landscapes is taken from the <a href="http://glcf.umiacs.umd.edu/data/modis/" target="http://glcf.umiacs.umd.edu/data/modis/">"Global Percent Tree Cover at a Spatial Resolution of 500 meters"</a> map.<br /><a name="subtitle3">Important remarks</a><br />The World Intact Forest Landscapes map is the first global assessment of intact forest landscapes based on high-resolution satellite imagery analysis. The world map of intact forest landscapes is based on a global set of criteria and approaches, the same for all countries and continents. This can lead to the neglection of some regional differences in understanding the human role in certain types of forest landscape disturbances (like fires or hunting). Also, the world map may contain inaccuracies caused by lack of available information about local land-use practices and the state of forests in some regions of the Earth. The authors plan for the map to be periodically updated as soon as new data and more sophisticated sources of information and technologies are available. Ideally it should become a "living map", which will periodically be improved and updated to reflect the results of intact forest landscape monitoring.<br />The world map is based on the best available non-commercial space images for each region. Most of them are <a href="http://glcf.umiacs.umd.edu/index.shtml" target="http://glcf.umiacs.umd.edu/index.shtml">GLCF images of Landsat 7 1999-2002</a>. This has two important implications: first, the map does not reflect changes of intact forest landscapes that occurred during last 3-5 years, and second, the map does not reflect some types of disturbances or fragmentation of the natural landscape which cannot be detected using Landsat images (for example, local forest roads, small temporary agricultural clearings or seismic lines that are not used as roads). These disadvantages of the world map can be corrected in the process of making more detailed regional or national maps, which could be based on more recent and detailed information.<br />The world map may contain some inaccuracies caused by a lack of available information for mapping experts about local land use practices and the state of forests in each country or region of the Earth. This is an inevitable challenge for any group of experts struggling to secure the global compatibility of the mapping work. Inaccuracies can be corrected during the composition of regional and national maps, which can better take into account local knowledge and experience.<br /><br /><br />Key Findings:<br /><br />Intact Forest Landscapes identification and mapping was carried out for the whole forest zone in the area of approx. 56,000,000 km2, which occupies 37.6% of the Earth's land surface.<br />The area of identified Intact Forest Landscapes of the world is 13,134,731 km2. Less than one fourth of the forest zone (23.4%) of the Earth forest zone (regions with average tree canopy coverage above 20%) remain as Intact Forest Landscapes. That is only 8.8% of the Earth's land surface.<br />The remainder of forest zone has been degraded, converted to plantations or fragmented to areas smaller than 500 km2 in size by roads, settlements etc. Many of these smaller areas have a high conservation value too, due to their rarity or their unique diversity of plant and animal species.<br />The vast majority of the remaining Intact Forest Landscapes of the world are made up of the boreal (taiga) forests of Russia, Canada and Alaska (43.9 %) and dense lowland tropical forests of the Amazon, Congo and South East Asia Pacific (45.7%). Some forest types like temperate broadleaf forests have less than 4% of Intact Forest Landscapes left.<br />69.3% of the world's Intact Forest Landscapes are occupied by closed forests (forest areas with more then 40% tree canopy coverage), 16.4% - open forests (tree canopy coverage 20-40%) and 14.3% - non forest ecosystems (swamps, mountain ecosystems, lakes etc.). 29.4% of the world's dense forests remain in Intact Forest Landscapes.<br />Of all countries full or partly within the forest zone, 82 have lost all of their Intact Forest Landscapes and whilst 66 countries still have Intact Forest Landscapes, for half of these it's less than 10% of their forest zone area.<br />Only fourteen countries, including Canada, Brazil, Russia, Papua New Guinea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia control 92% of the world's remaining Intact Forest Landscapes.<br />Overall, only 7.9% of all Intact Forest Landscapes lie in strictly protected areas (IUCN categories I - III) according to UNEP/IUCN World Database on Protected Areas.<br />Conservation of large Intact Forest Landscapes is a robust and cost-effective way to conserve biological diversity. The remoteness and large size of these areas provide the best guarantee of continued intactness. </div></div></div></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-45794360390722462082008-06-19T04:19:00.000-07:002008-12-08T16:48:50.324-08:00Afghan Photo Exhibition--- Life and Nothing Else---At Max Meuller Bhavan, Indiranagar, Bangalore: A Must See Event: From 13 June 2008 To 30 June 2008<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SFpBvYz9k3I/AAAAAAAAAE0/2Xuk6vUSm6k/s1600-h/3423398-STANDARD.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4nbi8xiYB-0/SFpBvYz9k3I/AAAAAAAAAE0/2Xuk6vUSm6k/s320/3423398-STANDARD.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213551801004823410" border="0" /></a><br /> <p class="MsoNormal">Those of us who take keen interest in photography will really be interested in making it to the Afghan Photo Exhibition that is being jointly organized by Max Meuller Bhavan, <st1:city st="on">Bangalore</st1:city> and French Media Embassy (AINA), <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Kabul</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></st1:place>. It is on till the 30<sup>th</sup> June 2008 open till 6:30 in the evening, Monday to Saturday at the Max Mueller Bhavan at Indiranagar in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bangalore</st1:place></st1:city>. Entry is free and is open to all.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">A picture is equal to thousand words….. Probably true for the war torn and economically seized <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></st1:place> where the meaning of life is reduced to mere earning bread for the family. The social insecurity that has gripped this country, first owing to the barbarous and unruly Talibans and then the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> aggression to suppress the Talibans has not only jeopardized the country’s external security, but also its internal security. Many have died due to internal and external warfare, daily riots between the Shias and Sunnis, increased amount of terrorism by Al Qaeda. Many children have been orphanized. The film <i style="">Kabul Express</i> itself depicts the plight of these helpless people, their daily fight in order to restore their family life against all odds undoubtedly make them the bravest people on earth. To be in the midst of battlefield in spite of being ordinary citizens, to listen to heavy artilleries flying over their head and to wait for the sun to rise next morning are all part and parcel of their daily livelihood. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Many NGOs have come forward to help these people who are struggling for social stability. One of them is AINA (French Media Embassy at <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kabul</st1:place></st1:city>). AINA gives formal training to budding Afghan artists in Media and Photography that allow these teenagers to find meaning of life in lifeless <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Some of the brilliant pictures taken by the talented youth of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> pushes home the point that the future to any country’s economic, social and political security lies in the hands of their talented youth and war only destroys these resources as it destroys the infrastructure. It’s good to see that many NGOs are coming forward. </p> <p>Most of the artists who have exhibited their photographs are in their early twenties. Some of them are Nadjibullah Zirak (Afghan Youth), Mohammad Ishaq Gulban (Religious Life), Massoud Hossaini (Not alone in <st1:city st="on">Kabul</st1:city> - Life in an orphanage), Massoud Hasan Zadah (Living Rooms), Farzana Wahidy (Family Life in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></st1:place>) and Ahmad Tamim Malik Asghar (Weddings) [Taken from <a href="http://www.goethe.de/ins/in/bag/kue/bku/en3405949v.htm">http://www.goethe.de/ins/in/bag/kue/bku/en3405949v.htm</a>]. Their themes depict the everyday struggle that the people of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> put in their everyday life.</p> <p>The most appealing of these are those of Nadjibullah Zirak and Farzana Wahidy. Nadjibullah Zirak was born in 1984 as the son of Atta Mohammad in <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Wardag</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Province</st1:placetype></st1:place>. He graduated from <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Omer-Farooq</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">High School</st1:placetype></st1:place> in 2003. He has been involved in cultural and literary activities for several years and occasionally writes literary pieces and articles on cultural topics for different publications. He got involved with photography in May 2004. [Taken from <a href="http://www.goethe.de/ins/in/bag/kue/bku/en3406138.htm">http://www.goethe.de/ins/in/bag/kue/bku/en3406138.htm</a>] His pictures bring to light the increasing unemployment in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> because of the ongoing war and the “Never say Die” attitude of Afghan youth to establish themselves clearly catches your eye. The photos visualize the hunger in their eyes. According to the author, <i style="">“</i>….. <i style="">as finding employment in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Kabul</st1:city></st1:place> is extremely difficult, more and more educated Afghan youth are taking to petty jobs like cart-pulling, book selling, selling TV and video sets. Starting such type of businesses doesn’t require a big rented building, a hand pulled cart or even a roadside will suffice.” </i>These pictures pull out the naked truth of the socio-economic instability that the current population is facing.</p> <p>Farzana Wahidy, daughter of Shir Ahmad, was born in 1984 in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kandahar</st1:place></st1:city>. She is attending the last class of <st1:placename st="on">Abul</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Qasen</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Fardosi</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">High School</st1:placetype> in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kabul</st1:place></st1:city>. She started to photograph three years ago and was trained at the French media organisation AINA in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kabul</st1:place></st1:city>. She is currently working as a freelance photographer for Agence France Presse (AFP) and a number of magazines. [Taken from <a href="http://www.goethe.de/ins/in/bag/kue/bku/en3405976.htm">http://www.goethe.de/ins/in/bag/kue/bku/en3405976.htm</a>] Her photographs are even more appealing as it describes the Afghan women. Universally women are the oppressed class and when the Afghan men are themselves oppressed, think about the conditions of Afghan women? When the Afghan men are struggling to make both ends meet, Afghan women naturally become the wrath of these Afghan men. Their condition is even more helpless and worse. In the words of one of these Afghan women, whom the author had interviewed, <i style="">“</i>….<i>My life is hard. Life means as well that parents think about the future of their children. But we are not able to do this. Life for us is meaningless and without future.” </i><span style=""> </span></p> <p>These harsh realities of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> make us aware of the hardships that these people are facing and we can only pray to God that peace returns to this neighboring country of ours sooner or later. Thus, it is a must see for all of us who keep faith in the human kind!!<span style=""> </span></p> <p><b style="">Arunava Das, Media Analyst, Media Monitoring, 19/06/2008 <o:p></o:p></b></p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937888588284398780.post-56813507711540292242008-06-13T04:30:00.000-07:002008-06-13T04:32:28.071-07:00Bird Life InternationalThis is a great search site for all of whom who loves birds or are involved in Ornithology rersearch or those who are involved in NCBS BirdingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com0