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“In the majestic Mongolian landscape, where the vast grasslands meet the endless dunes, herds of horses rove. Neither tethered nor constrained by fencing, they run and graze on the arid, windswept steppes…” —Jane Palmer Wild Encounter with the Last “Man’s Messengers to the Gods” I am leaving tomorrow and will reach the fantastic land of […]
What the grieving mother orca tells us about how animals experience death For many weeks, news of a mother orca carrying her dead infant through the icy waters of the Salish Sea captured the attention of many around the world. Keeping the infant afloat as best she could, the orca, named Tahlequah, also known as […]
About the Endangered Species Act and the non-controversy over its widespread support (contrary to what we currently are ‘led’ to believe)… In short, a study published very recently found that: (a) ∼4 in 5 Americans support the ESA, whereas ∼1 in 10 oppose it; (b) support for the ESA remained stable over the past two […]
Shilpa’s Wildflower Highlights » Self-heal The Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) is a herbaceous perennial plant from the mint family, it looks a lot like mint but it does not have the minty or other aromatic fragrance. The genus name “Prunella” comes from the German word for “quinsy” (a severe sore throat caused by a tonsil abscess […]
Killing sharks, wolves and other top predators won’t solve conflicts In French Polynesia, fishing is an integral part of everyday life. The people living here fish on the flats and along the reef using nets, hooks and line, harpoons, spearguns and traditional artisanal traps. They fish for food. They are also seeing the benefits of using […]
Shilpa’s Wildflower Highlights » Buttonbush Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is an obligate wetland species found at the margins of lakes, ponds, swamps, creeks, in moist, poor drainage and standing waters. The genus name came from two Greek words, “cephalo” meaning “head” and “anthos” meaning “flower”. It is a native species to the eastern and southern United […]
Rainforest collapse in prehistoric times changed the course of evolution Over 750,000 square kilometres of Amazon rainforest have been cleared since 1970 – a fifth of the total. As a result, many of the animals that live there are threatened with extinction. But this isn’t the first time the Earth has seen its rainforests shrink. […]
Shilpa’s Wildflower Highlights » American White Waterlily This one is hard to miss, especially as they are spectacular showy flowers with sweet fragrance! American white water lily (Nymphaea odorata) or fragrant water lily is a beautiful aquatic plant, native to most states of the United States. They can be commonly found in ponds, protected areas […]
I’ve heard that a lot of companies are just a front and aren’t really about volunteering. Is that true? Yes, that is true and even more so when volunteering is about supposedly preserving species that happen to be majestic, beautiful and/or have cute babies… So you need to watch out. Here are a few tips to help you […]
Shilpa’s Wildflower Highlights » Common Milkweed Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is the most frequently encountered milkweed among 115 known species of the genus Asclepias. It’s a perennial herbaceous plant that can grow 4-6 feet tall. The name “milkweed” comes from the milk-like white secretion (sap) from every part of the plant when broken. It is […]
