Getting in touch with nature

Recently I was thinking about how I love to live in green areas yet often don't spend enough time exploring them! So this year I have decided to find out a little more about where  I live and whats on for people to get involved in.

The Pangolin

So Saturday was World Pangolin Day, and although I was unable to write this post on the day, getting the word out about this amazing species is really important for their conservation!

So I ask, how many of you know what a pangolin looks like? Where do they live? and how endangered are they?

Wildcat and Tiger Trades Increasing

I haven't posted about nature in the news for what feels like forever but this story, just after I returned from Africa, really caught my attention.

It has been found that from a survey conducted over the past two decades, that the trade of tiger and wildcat parts from  Myanmar (Burma) into China in recent years is growing. The fact that the sale of these animals is still increasing is a dying shame because soon there really will be none of them left to sell.

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

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

The Galapagos Islands- Underwater Fun

Mum and Me

Finally getting the time to upload my underwater pictures from the most amazing trip EVER on my computer seemed to take far to long but now I finally have. Going through them has made me want to return so much more. There is NOTHING like entering the sea and playing with sea lions, watching a pacific green sea turtle glide underneath you and when you emerge to sea a marine iguana feeding on the seaweed covered rocks.

Sealion tumbling anyone?

If there is one thing I can advise to any nature lover. Go! Go to where ever it is you have dreamed of, my mum made mine come true and that was to visit the Galapagos Islands. Its the most beautiful natural beauty I have seen in my short 20 years and nothing can make you feel so close to nature as to when you are engulfed and surrounded in its beauty!

Just playing

Mother getting to grips with snorkling

The pressure isnt good down there!

SHARK alert

ITS SO CUTE!

Very Tiny Sea Lion Pup

Its a Penguin!

Marine Iguana

Just having a bite to eat

Turtle Close up! 

Me and a Sea Lion

The Galapagos Islands- Day Seven & Eight

Santa Cruz and back to Ecuador
Heading back to Ecuador meant that we had to be up at 6 am but first we went looking for pacific green sea turtles at Black Turtle Cove. It was such a magical place and so unbelievably tranquil. The turtles sleep in the red mangroves at night and leave in the morning so we got to see lots of turtles. They are so beautiful. We also got to see some Rays and blue Boobies! After returning to the boat we had to finish packing. The flight left at 10.45 back to Ecuador. The flight took 3 and a half hour as had to stop on the way before returning the Hilton. Even though I was no longer on a boat I was still rocking for another 2 days which was very bizarre. Our last night was quite relaxed, after a drink at the bar we went for a buffet dinner.

The Last Day
Banks in Equador seem to be difficult to extract money out. Instead of going to the 0'0'' point on the equator we wandered all around the markets and down little streets to the banking district where we had coffee at a lovely cafe in the sun before returning to the hotel and then leaving for the airport.

The trip truly was magical and I would love to go back some time in the future preferably when I have a diving certificate, as although the birds are beautiful, the marine life is so diverse that not getting to see it all again would be a shame!

The Galapagos Islands- Day Four, Five & Six

Sante Fa and South Plaza
Sleeping on a boat for the first time was certainly an experience and definitely hard to sleep as when we started moving i woke up. After an early breakfast and a wet landing on the beach at Sante Fa we started walking around the island. We saw a large group of Galapagos Hawks waiting to feed on a dead sealion baby which was sad but nature is nature after all. A sealion then came right up to sniff me which was crazy how small and close it was. On the walk we saw our first type of land iguanas.
Once back on the boat we went for our first snorkel! I got to see a very young sealion which i go really close to and a shark along with the huge array of fish. As we swam towards the shore we found our selves playing with a group of sealions which was so cool. We then got taken to snorkel at aonther part of the bay where we got to see a pacific green turtle sleeping at the bottom of the ocean. After topping up my tan whilst the boat moved we then arrived at South Plazas where we got to see a different type of land iguana which are remarkably different. We also got to see a tropic bird, swallow tail gull, more great frigate birds and sheerwaters. We even got to see blue footed boobies. Boobies are named from the spanish word meanig clown (another interesting fact). Plazas was definitely the most beautiful island I got to experience. It really is like a place from a movie. Once back on the boat we saw another shark and a turtle. After dinner we got to look at the stars which you have no concept of just how many there really are.

Genovesa
Genovesa is so very different to the Islands we saw yesterday. Our wet landing took us straight onto the beach where we saw a great frigate bird feeding its chick. The chicks were so fluffy. We also saw lots of red footed booby chicks. As we were sat having a talk about the wildlife nature came very close. An adult frigate bird picked a chick that wasnt its own from its nest, flew really high and just dropped the baby. The baby chick was screaming and even when it landed it was still alive as it had landed on sand. The hardest thing was that we were not aloud to put the chick back near the nest.  Its such a clear example of the selfish gene though as what the evil bird did wasn't for the best of the species, just for the own individual bird to pass on its genes. As we kept walking we then witnessed another horrible act of the smaller chick being pushed out of the nest because the parents lay 2 eggs, each a week apart and the second is just an insurance baby so the younger chick just starves to death. It's a horrible idea but as I came to realise during my trip, nature isn't actually that nice when it comes down to the nitty gritty!
We then returned to the boat for some snorkeling and got to see another turtle. Sadly the water wasn't very clear the first time we went snorkeling. Our second snorkel was a lot better as got to see fur sealions and I got to see a angel fish like the one from the book you read when your a kid!We then got to see lots of masked boobies  which look brilliant and the very allusive short eared owl. It was a very mixed day as there was alot of sadness but also alot of happiness as there were so many new born chicks!

Santiago & Rubida
The travel to the island was incredibly choppy, alot of people seemed to be sick, somehow though I managed to sleep through some of it which I felt was a minor miracle. After breakfast we headed over to Santiago to the larva platforms which are only 130 years old. They were incredible, how the pattern of larva formed called rope into so many amazing patterns. The colours through the rock showed all the different minerals which was so beautiful. After coming back to the boat we then went snorkeling and managed to get so close to a pacific green sea turtle which was incredible, I also got to see marine iguanas when they were in the water. When we got back into the zodiac we found the penguins bobbing around, it was amazing to see real penguins in their natural habitat!
We then traveled to Rubida which had a read beach and a black lagoon but sadly there were no flamingos. The galapagos humming birds were very interesting, they like drink water out of the lid as they have learnt that people have water, not only are they cute, but also very clever! After a nice walk and some incredible views we came back to the beach and went snorkeling with sea lions. They are such gentle and playful animals to get to share the water with.
Once back on board the boat moved on again to where we are visiting on the last morning. The trip flew by and if I could, I would go back in a instant, even if that did mean I would have to spend a week experiencing no sleep and bumpy seas!

Galapagos Islands- Day One, Day Two & Day Three

Travelling
We arrived at the airport after my birthday meal as our flight was at 5.50am. The first flight took us  to Amsterdam. We then had a 10 hour flight to Ecuador and finally landed at 2.15 pm their time. 6 hours behind UK time. My bag was scarily one of the last bags to emerge on the carousel so I was getting a little on edge. We then took a taxi to the hotel which had to be one of the cheapest taxi rides ever at just $25 for nearly an hours drive!
Ecuador was nothing like I expected it to be, Its such a contrasting city of modern and old. The first night we spent in and I ordered room service as mum was unfortunately ill. I got to eat the best steak I have ever experienced though so maybe room service was a on the plus side!

Ecuador
The altitude seemed to effect me in some very weird ways. I experienced very weird dreams that were so unbelievably vivid . After breakfast we headed to the Old Town. First we visited Plaza de la Independencia where we saw the Cathedral which was relatively small and then Iglesia de la compania de Jesus. The huge amount of gold leaf was ridiculous. Apparently there was about 7 tons worth of gold present that covered all the walls in the building. Afterwards we wandered to two small squares which had hardly anything surrounding them called Plaza San Francisco and Plaza Santo Demingo.
Next we took a taxi to the cable car. The cable car has a 2.5 km ride and climbs from 3050m to 4050m! The views from the top were really good but it was unfortunately cloudy and so they weren't as clear as they can be and it make the top very cold! The cable car was definitely worth the travel though as you have no idea just how far the city spans until you are stood above it and I was in awe of just how huge it really was.

To the Islands

Awaking at 4am wasnt the easiest thing to do once your body clock is already as messed up from the travel as mine seemed to be but by 5am we were on a old mini bus that loved to rattle on the way to the airport. After two hours of waiting our plane finally took of at 8.15. First we had to stop at Guayaquil airport and then we went onto the Island of San Christobal which was the capital of the Galapagos due to it being the only island with fresh water (interesting fact for you there). Once we had arrived and our luggage had been checked we were able to enter the park and climb on the small minibus for a 10 minute drive down to the harbour where our boat was waiting for our arrival.
As soon as we arrived at the harbour you could see the vast array of wildlife. Sealions were lounging around everywhere. We finally got onto our boat and after a quick breifing and being shown our rooms we were given a lovely lunch and then taken back to the mainland so that we could explore.
Firstly we went to the Interpretation centre where we got to learn about the first people on the island (most were criminals and that's why the collonies never survived as crime was so strife, like murder). We then got to see a giant tortoise called Pepe who is a member of a breeding program and was originally a pet.
Next we went to the beach where there were hundreds of sealions just splayed out on the sand and didnt seem to have a care in the world that you were there. After walking along the pier we got our first look at marine ignuanas which I was most excited about seeing. We then had to come back on board and after food and a briefing we went to bed in our very small cabin.

Its phenomenal how much wildlife you can see in one day, so far we have seen some of Darwins finches, chatham mockingbird, frigate birds, striated heron, brown pelican, elliots storm pectrel, yellow warbler birds and of course the sealions, a tortoise and marine iguanas!