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