Switzerland has over 60,000 kilometres of well maintained and historic walking tracks span the Swiss Alps with tracks suiting all hikers. From Mid-June to Mid-August the lush valleys and mountain fields explode into a myriad of wildflower colours. Even if you miss the fields of flowers, you will not be disappointed with what the Swiss Alps have to share with you. Your eyes will give you a hug (not literal) for indulging them in the huge variety of wildflower colours, from blue, to purple, yellow to pink, green to white and all many more shades.
Username: KisuKotha Published on 2024-11-25 05:28:38 ID NUMBER: 125685
The summit’s just there,” yells my guide, pointing over the spindly grasses clinging to the steep side of Pasochoa Volcano. I look out over the perfect pyramids of ice and stone that encircle us like the rings of a planet and silently plead with my heart to slow its beat, with my lungs to breathe more deeply.
My eyes brim with tears as my partner wraps his arms around me. “You’re a trooper,” he whispers. “And troopers don’t cry.”
“I’m not crying,” I pant into the gales of sharp, howling wind. “We’re 13,000 feet above sea level. It’s just the altitude, I swear.” I’m only half lying.
The four-day lodge-to-lodge trek through Ecuador’s Avenue of the Volcanoes was my idea. We’d hike by day and cozy up to the fireplace at night in a dreamy checkerboard of adventure and relaxation. The trail itself didn’t concern me. We’d done longer trails before; we’d even done them carrying all of our gear. It was the thought of the Andean altitude that turned my blood cold.
When trying to figure out how to use Epsom salt for plants, always remember that testing and retesting is key. So, before adding Epsom salt to your garden, it’s a good idea to test your soil’s magnesium levels. If your soil already contains adequate magnesium, adding more could be unnecessary and potentially harmful.
Tamil Nadu (/ˌtæmɪl ˈnɑːduː/; Tamil: [ˈtamiɻ ˈnaːɽɯ] ⓘ, abbr. TN) is the southernmost state of India. The tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population, Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, who speak the Tamil language—the state's official language and one of the longest surviving classical languages of the world. The capital and largest city is Chennai.
It was just over a month since forest officials seized 12 peacocks from the old city residence of a pet shop owner and slapped cases against him. Sleuths of the anti- poaching squad could not arrest him then, for violation of the Wildlife Act, 1972, by breeding the national bird in captivity. Any action against him now appears quite unlikely.
The assistant conservator of forests (surveillance cell) Kondal Rao has been sent on deputation to Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority, whereas the post of forest range officer (anti-poaching) has been lying vacant for over four months. Deputy forest range officer SK Baba Khadir Vali, who led the raid, has been shifted to forest utilisation office. That leaves only two wildlife associates (temporary posts) to enforce the Wildlife Act.
According to sources in the department, the pet shop owner, SA Sohail, who runs Fur and Feathers in Banjara Hills, also had business partnership with Nehru Zoological Park for supply of exotic birds.
Sohail has, according to officials, supplied exotic birds to the zoo and is learnt to have been breeding peacocks, including two pure white peacocks, in the cellar of his house in Mochi Colony, Kalapathar. It is also learnt that those who raided Sohail’s house had come under fire from their bosses and explanation was sought from some in the form of showcause notice. However, the principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) AV Joseph was unavailable for comments despite repeated attempts.
Officials, based on a tip off, raided Sohail’s residence on May 11 and could not arrest him since he was in Mumbai then. But cases were registered against him under section 9 and 39 of the Wildlife Act, which would get him imprisonment up to 7 years.
“Sohail has come back and is very much in Hyderabad. It is just that no one in the department is showing any interest in following up the case and arrest the offender,” pointed out an official on condition of anonymity.
The anti-poaching squad has been conducting raids and the seizure of 12 peacocks, listed as schedule-1 protected species, was certainly one of their biggest catch till date. Hunting, petting and breeding of any wildlife species listed in schedule I and II can attract imprisonment of three to seven years.
Spiti is located in the cold desert mountain region of the Himalayas. The valley is characterised by its stark landscapes, ancient monasteries, and vibrant Buddhist culture. The region is also one of the least populated places in India.
In 2009, I received an email seeking help. It said, “I’m trying to find a loving home for Dovee, a white pigeon I have in my bathtub in Pacifica, CA.” And that is how the story of Cheryl and SUPER Dovee began.
Cheryl was new to birds but a lover of animals and she was determined to help this stray King pigeon that had been hanging around a neighborhood shopping center. She had initially found him a home but he had been returned and needed another. MickaCoo Pigeon & Dove Rescue was full up and the best we could offer at the time was coaching about how to care for him and a spot on our waiting list.
Cheryl was a quick study and took wonderful care of Dovee while he waited for an opening with MickaCoo. Cheryl began volunteering with us at outreach events all over the Bay Area, helping to inspire support for these smart, gentle birds that are so under-served and overlooked. And she continued to foster Dovee until the day someone inquired about adopting him- that’s when she realized that Dovee was already home- with her, and on October 4th, 2009, Cheryl officially adopted Dovee.
I call Dovee “SUPER Dovee” not because he is so special and charismatic (which he is) nor because he looks so good in his SUPER Dovee Pigeon Pants, complete with cape (which he does) but because he brought with him Cheryl- an incredibly amazing supporter for MickaCoo. Cheryl has invested thousands of hours of her time as a volunteer these past four years and donated thousands of dollars. She has lovingly fostered more than 100 pigeons and doves in her five-star aviary and bird room. Cheryl has introduced thousands of event-goers to the plight and potential of these birds; logged thousands of miles on the road; donated nearly a ton of pigeon feed and hosted five $1K Garage Sale Fundraisers for MickaCoo. Cheryl has braved heartbreaking rescues including saving homing pigeons used for testing in a university lab and 216 Persian High Flyers abandoned in filthy sheds. Cheryl serves as the Chair of MickaCoo’s Advisory Committee and our Financial Coordinator and inspires all of us every day with her big, strong heart.
Technicolor mountains, otherworldly forests, and glow-in-the-dark beaches: These unusual places around the world prove that weird can also be wonderful.
The Secret Life of Tigers documents the family life of three tigresses and their cubs from soon after birth to adulthood. An extraordinary account if records for the first time the active role the male tiger plays as a father.
