On the morning of the 28th of May 2016, staff at Bumi Hills Safari Lodge in Zimbabwe were surprised to discover that a bull elephant had arrived outside one of the staff houses with a severe limp. Upon closer inspection it was suspected that he had been the victim of a failed poaching attempt. He had two bullet holes through his left ear and a septic wound on his … [Read more...] about Ben The Elephant – A Poaching Survival Story
Derecho turns skies green
As storms moved across the country, people witnessed a green-tinged sky. As storms moved across the country Tuesday, people in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, witnessed a rare sight – a green-tinged sky. Meteorologists confirmed it was a “derecho” - a widespread and long-lived straight line windstorm, from a group of fast-moving severe thunderstorms. To be categorized as a … [Read more...] about Derecho turns skies green
Britannic
For Nurse Sheila Macbeth, the sixth voyage of his Majesty's Hospital Ship Britannic, on November 12, 1916, began as both a homecoming The Britannic during its stint as a hospital ship. Credit and a kind of holiday before the real work ahead. "Such a relief to find the same cabin and room-mate," wrote the unmarried, 26-year-old Scot in her diary, … [Read more...] about Britannic
Sigiriya
Sigiriya or Sinhagiri (Lion Rock Sinhala: සීගිරිය, Tamil: சிகிரியா/சிங்ககிரி, pronounced see-gi-ri-yə) is an ancient rock fortress located in the northern Matale District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is a site of historical and archaeological significance that is dominated by a massive column of granite rock approximately 180 m (590 ft) … [Read more...] about Sigiriya
Succulent smuggling: why are South Africa’s rare desert plants vanishing?
Unique species in ‘the world’s most biodiverse desert’ are at risk from a warming planet and the lucrative plant poaching trade In May 2020, 10mm of rain fell at Sendelingsdrif Rest Camp in South Africa’s most north-westerly corner. After enduring nine years of almost zero rain, Pieter van Wyk, a 32-year-old self-taught botanist who heads up the Richtersveld national park’s … [Read more...] about Succulent smuggling: why are South Africa’s rare desert plants vanishing?