The Oldest Big Cat

P.blytheae really was beautiful

So, as I'm a huge big cat person, (little ones are nice too) I couldn't not cover the story that the oldest fossil to date of a big cat, named Panthera blytheae, has been found in the Himalayas, Tibet, of all places.
The fossil discovery changes the belief of where cats originated from,  which was thought to have been Africa but the new finding suggests that they spread from Asia instead. The fossils  found are believed to be part of a 'sister' group to the snow leopards seen today but a little smaller with some facial features differing in size.
The subfamily group Pantherinae consists of Lions, Jaguars, Tigers, Leopards including snow and clouded leopards and the findings from the fossils discovered that the subfamily diverged from Felinae earlier than expected, around 6.37 million years ago!
The fossils were found in 2010 and there was thought to be  3 individuals present,  all of different ages.

The fact that we now have a deeper understanding of the origin of big cats is exciting but if the hypothesis that they originated in Asia is true  then it seems a sad state of affairs that the place the animals developed into such beautiful, majestic and powerful creatures is the place that is likely to drive them to extinction due to the demands for their skin, bone and livelihood.

To read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24913291
http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/281/1774/20132686 - Scientific Paper

BUDS- A Snowrider Weekend in Edinburgh

Day One

If i told you that I was going to spend the majority or 2 days on a very cold hill side in Edinburgh you would probably tell me that firstly I was mad and secondly, how could that be fun? Well originally I would have thought the same but throw in 40 Leeds Snowriders, plenty of incredible racing and freestyle skills for your eyes to witness along with fun with capes, cheesecake fights and a crazy antics, you find that your weekend is up there in the best of the year!

The View from the top

Henry Racing

We set of at 1am on Friday 8th November to a very rowdy coach, after eventually falling asleep I awoke to be sat outside a dry ski slope in the wonderful Scottish city of Edinburgh. After unloading we found our selves perched at the top of a very large hill, (it would need to be large if people are skiing on it) in the full sun of a very chilly morning. The races began and we cheered and wooped all day long. We were given some amazing tshirts and red capes to wear all day, which I definitely feel will need to come out more often. As the day came to a close, Iona was in the Freestyle final in which she performed AMAZINGLY. Then followed a quick bus ride and we arrived at our hostel.

The Caledonian Backpackers has got to be the nicest Hostel I have even stayed in, from breakfast being served (included in your stay) until 12 and all the rooms feeling personal and cosy it was an absolute treat to stay there. The added bonus that it really is about 15 steps away from the main high street just adds to its brilliance. We got back and after a quick change, some snowrider antics and a long walk we and the rest of the UKs snow sports teams headed to a club by the station. A fun night was had by all and far to many shots were consumed. I have never heard a DJ ask people to repeat what he does so many times in one night either!

Beauty everywhere

Day two- Exploring Edinburgh

How very Scottish

Instead of heading straight to the slopes some of us decided to wander round. As i have never been to Edinburgh I felt like it was a great opportunity to explore! We headed down the main street and got to see the beautiful memorial set as it was Memorial Day the following day (Sunday 10th November). We then wandered into some of the Scottish shops and the temptation for buying shortbread was very real.

After meeting some others we went to find lunch up at the cafe The Elephant House, where J.K Rowling famously wrote Harry Potter but as it was a Saturday Lunch time it was ridiculously busy. Instead we found ourselves in a little cafe further down the street whos hot chocolate were to dye for and you could get a toasty and a large bowl of soup for only £6!! A real bargain.

 I then went of exploring, I firstly found a quaint little book shop which smelt amazing and I bought myself a copy of Sense and Sensibility which is nearly 100 years old! I then wandered on to the castle. Its £16 to go into the castle and if I had had more than an hour I probably would have but even a trip to stand outside is definitely worth it as the views of the city are incredibly. I then wandered back along the river. We headed back to the cold hilltop slope later that afternoon and got to witness some of the boys racing in relay and then all the amazing freestyle including the RedBull train which involved incredibly talented freestylers taking to the air one after the other with no breaks. Sounds dangerous and definitely was!

No Hands

To finish the weekend of we all went to the BUDS ball where we were given a two course meal and an awards ceremony.  The meal was delicious but there were different rules that apply. The most entertaining is that for desert you are not able to use your hands. Eating cheesecake with just your mouth isn't always as easy as it seems and we were prewarned that a cheesecake fight often break out. Well this year didn't disappoint! This was then followed with the random game of who can pick the cup of the floor which was unfortunately a draw as we got down to picking up £2 of the floor. Although we may not have won any of the competitions we definitely won which university could have the most fun, and if I'm honest that suits me just fine!

Will covered in Cheesecake!

Overall the weekend was BRILLIANT. I got to meet so many amazing people, freeze my fingers of taking pictures, take part in sprints down Edinburgh's main street, carry round my purple blanket with me all day and generally have an amazing time.

If there's ever any doubt that a weekend in Edinburgh isn't  fun then you really are doing it wrong!!

Apes Have Feelings Too

Bonobos are one of the most human looking apes I feel. Scientific research has discovered emotional development similarities between children and Bonobos. This idea suggests that emotions in great apes are regulated in a human way to some extent. Tests were able to be performed to guess the response that they believed if human type emotions were present would take place and in this study it was proven correct. Bonobos were found to often give body comfort to though in distress such as hugging and kissing! Now it cant get much cuter than that.

This finding will enable scientists and researchers to study how behavior and social frameworks developed as well as proving to people that these beautiful and unique apes really are just like us in far more ways than you may have ever expected.

And a question to leave you pondering, if Bonobos are that similar to us, share so much in common and even feel and comfort each other as we do, how do people not only kill them but eat them? How do we feel that this is acceptable when all they really are are slightly underdeveloped humans. Hey we were like that 3.5 million years ago too!!

To give the paper a read click the link below,
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2013/10/09/1316449110
or just a little more detail
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131014155739.htm

Lion Bones Are Not For Sale

I have read many a story about how, now, due to tigers being so far and few between that the East Asian trade, especially of course China have turned towards Lions!
In the past year the sale of Lion bones have rocketed. Now private breeders of Lions who not only sell poor Lions for hunting where they release the animals 3 days before and then track the poor creature and kill it and now selling the bones of the animals after it has been killed for up to $5000. This trade has reached a level unacceptable. There is around 5000 captive lions along with the 2000 that live in national parks in South Africa. This means Lions are a much easier target than Tigers.
South Africa are yet to place a ban on Lion bones trade which is crucial for them to be able to survive. Rhino trade has already caused the species to become extinct in many areas.
Although educating China that there pointless medicines have no healing effect but are just destroying the nature around us is the most important thing its crutial that South Africa stop the sale of Lions!
No money is worth a species so beautiful and majestic. Not one penny!!

To read more Click the links below:
http://forcechange.com/64275/protest-the-use-of-lion-bones-in-chinese-medicine/
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/boost-for-war-on-lion-bone-trade-1.1601337#.Ungf-_m-068
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/apr/16/south-africa-lion-bones-trade

Wicked

So feeling very Halloweeny after a brilliant night dressed as a Zombie Dorothy I headed to Manchester to see the INCREDIBLE theatre show of Wicked at the Palace Theatre. We had brilliant seats and as the show was starting I couldn't help but feel the buzz from all the audience as the lights started to dim.

There is no question as to whether the show was good or not, the plot of friendship, bonding and love makes it out to be a fantastic extravaganza. I was so thrilled though, that the individuals cast for main roles were so strong! Usually there is likely to be one or two which arn't quite as good as another but this show was in a league of its own. Just as I thought I figured out who I personally felt was the best it changed. The singing was phenomenal and the girl who played Elphaba,Nikki Davis-Jones could challenge Idina Menzel which is sure saying something as I never thought I would comprehend anyone being as talented with their vocal chords as she is. Glinda played by Emily Tierney was exactly what I expected her to be and with out fail, she made you laugh during her hair flicks and 'Popular', and cry a little, when they both sang 'for good'!
My only downside was I couldn't watch it on repeat or that I now have such an urge to get back on a stage whether its to dance or just have fun. Its amazing how one show can make you remember just how much something has always been part of your life.

If you ever get the opportunity to see the show of Wicked I would highly recommend it. Its a brilliant show with a very talented cast for everyone in the family. Even my Nan couldn't comment that the music and microphones were to loud! A brilliant feat on its own.

There's more Dolphins

So last week came the very excited news that a new species of dolphin has been discovered of the coast of Australia. Although the species is yet to be named it has been a decade long DNA and data analysis task for scientists to reach the point where they have finally concluded that there is not just 2 species of humpback dolphin but in fact 4 or possibly more. This idea is know as splitting where the new species have come from the two original species but are now to different to be placed together.
Over 200 tissue samples were analysed before the conclusion could be drawn but it now means that conservationists will be able to study the animals behavioural and social groups with greater knowledge and gain an understanding of whether in fact there are any differences between the individual humpback dolphin species.

The paper about the findings was published in Molecular Ecology
and if you wish to just do a little more reading follow the links below

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/10417002/New-species-of-humpback-dolphin-discovered-in-Australia.html
http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/new-species-humpback-dolphin-discovered
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14921665