Categoría: Nature

Locals Mourn the Death of their Giant Crocodile A huge crocodile known as «Lolong» has died at the Philippine eco-tourism park he inhabited just eighteen months after being captured. The Saltwater crocodile was officially declared the largest crocodile in captivity in 2011. It was measured at 6.17 metres long and it weighed more than one thousand kilogrammes, this reptile resembled a prehistoric monster, not out of place in a dinosaur movie. The crocodile had become a significant tourist attraction and as the local mayor of the town of Bunawan, where the park was located,said: «Lolong helped put our town on the world map». Man-Eater Finally Captured by Brave Fisherman Believed responsible for the deaths of a number of local fisherman, an extensive crocodile hunt was instigated to bring this man-eater into captivity. The marshes of the Agusan del Sur province of the Philippines were searched and eventually this monster crocodile was caught in a trap, tempted by the carcase of a pig used as bait. When the crocodile was captured, pictures of the huge reptile tied to a cart and surrounded by excited villagers quickly spread around the world, this part of the Philippines had found fame and fortune thanks to this apex predator. «Lolong» was named after one of the people sent into the area to help trap the crocodile. He died of a heart-attack and as a result this monstrous crocodile was named after its last victim. Crocodile Fell Ill Three Weeks Ago The crocodile, which is thought to have been at least fifty years of age, fell ill after swallowing a piece of nylon cord about three weeks ago and it had been suffering from intestinal problems but the actual cause of death has yet to be determined. An autopsy is being carried out and the results will be published next week. The weather had been unseasonably cold and it is thought that the crocodile could have been affected by the chilly conditions. Whatever, the cause of death, the crocodile will leave much of the town in mourning as it had been a big tourist attraction bringing lots of visitors to Bunawan. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7508888

Penguins are flightless birds of the order Sphenisciformes, family Spheniscidae commonly found in the southern hemisphere. There are seventeen known species of penguins in the world, all of which are found in the southern hemisphere. Although the popular notion is that penguins are found only in cold climates, there are actually very few species of penguins found in such places as Antarctica. Some may even be found in the Galapagos Islands near the equator. Of the seventeen species of penguins, the largest is the emperor penguin whose average height is 1.1 meters or 3 feet 7 inches and weighs 35 kilos/75 pounds or more. The Little Blue penguin is the smallest penguin species and stands at only 40 cm tall or 16 inches tall. The penguin’s diet consists of fish, krill, squid and sea life caught underwater. A penguin is adaptable to both land and ocean, and its body is extremely hydrodynamic, allowing it to swim at great speeds. A penguin’s wings have evolved to become flippers. On land, however, the penguin is characterized by its upright stance and peculiar waddle. Although most people don’t have the opportunity to observe penguins in their natural habitats, some zoos and wildlife parks are home to groups of penguins in captivity. The penguin is one of the most recognizable birds in the animal kingdom. The black and white plumage, upright waddling pace, and the lack of fear towards humans have made the penguin popular all over the world. There are many references to the penguin in popular culture. The penguin has found its way into literature, films, comics, cartoons, sports mascots, computing, and even politics. If you want to know more about penguins, there are several websites dedicated to penguins. You can also visit a zoo to see penguins up close. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/268625

The serene, scenic beauty of the Sunder Bans, the largest unbroken mangrove forest in the world, a UNESCO declared World Heritage Site, cannot be explained in mere words. Only those who have set foot on its shores can testify to that. This large collection of densely forested islands is situated where the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers empty into the Bay of Bengal. A collection of hundreds of islands crisscrossed by rivers, streams and small canals, the mangrove covers over 10,000 square kms with more than 6000 square kms falling within Bangladesh’s territory and the rest in India. This is the last sanctuary that 300 to 500 of the worlds remaining 3000 or so wild tigers, call home. » The Royal Bengal Tigers» or «Swamp Tigers» as they have been so candidly named are possibly the smallest subspecies of Tiger on the planet but what they lack in size, is more than made up for in terms of aggression and fierce reputation. Even if one has traversed the Tiger terrains of India, Russia and other Asian countries, nothing will prepare you for the sunder bans. Everywhere the forest is so dense that it’s hard to see more than a few feet. Everyday the forest floods at high tide and everything becomes engulfed by the sea. This water leaves nothing but soggy, sticky mud in its wake. As if all these were not enough the ground is covered with million of mangrove roots that spring out of the earth, like pointed spikes. Now you can just imagine that in such a terrain, where one would be preoccupied in just finding their footing, unnoticed a Tiger may silently lurk, just a few feet away, savoring the meal to come. Despite living on their door step very few people have ever seen a wild Tiger and of those that have, fewer have survived to tell its tale. Although these poor people try to protect themselves as best they can, their different endeavors to earn an income from the forest resources results on average between a 100 to 250 human deaths a year from Tiger attacks. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7511787