Thirty-five wild animals which had been caught in Ho Chi Minh City were returned to the wild on Wednesday.
The Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department cooperated with the management board of the Lang Sen Wetland Reserve in neighboring Long An Province to release the animals.
The 35 animals included pythons, giant Asian pond turtles, yellow-headed temple turtles, Mekong snail-eating turtles, and golden thread turtles.
They had earlier been voluntarily handed over to the Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department.
A 63-kilogram python is released into the Lang Sen Wetland Reserve in Long An Province, a neighbor of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Supplied
Among the released animals was a 63-kilogram 4.5-meter-long python which had been handed over in February by Dang Dinh Quoc, a 55-year-old a resident of Hoc Mon District.
Quoc said he bought the python in 2000 when it was as big as his little finger and had raised it for 23 years.
It was the largest python that the Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department had received from local residents in the past 10 years.
Turtles are set free at the Lang Sen Wetland Reserve in Long An Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Supplied
The animals were released after being cared for by the Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department last Thursday also joined hands with the management board of the Phuoc Binh National Park in Ninh Thuan Province, south-central Vietnam to free 28 wild animals, including Javan pangolins, long-tailed monkeys, rhesus macaques, pig-tailed macaques, stump-tailed macaques, elongated tortoises, and Asian box turtles.
All of them had been handed over by residents and organizations to the Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department.
Two Javan pangolins are released to the Phuoc Binh National Park in Ninh Thuan Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: Supplied
In her former career as a counsellor she’d valued the therapeutic effect of painting, but it was when her husband became unwell 12 years ago that she decided to try it herself.
“There were six weeks when I couldn’t go anywhere,” she says.
Now Diane, along with other talented artists in Dannevirke, will be participating in a regional exhibition at Square Edge in Palmerston North.
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The Combined Communities exhibition will run until June 22.
This piece, called threesome, will be at the exhibition at Square Edge.
Diane is not only contributing her art to the exhibition, she also recently created a piece for the ceremony to name a kiwi chick which was presented to the Polish ambassador at the May 26 event.
Diane created this piece for the naming of the kiwi chick.
She chose to link the two, painting a kiwi on a totara post, including barbed wire to symbolise the struggle through the Second World War.
For Diane, art takes her into the creative side of the brain, but sometimes that means she becomes totally focused on her work to the exclusion of all else.
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One of her pieces, she says, took her 155 hours to do – a piece depicting a scene in Cornwall, England, which included some very fine details.
After 12 years, she still has a passion for what she does and it has come with some good successes.
Diane finds much of her inspiration in nature.
“It’s a place where you can sit quietly, contemplate and process [things].”
The exhibition in Palmerston North is being run for the first time, as artistic director Karen Seccombe was determined to kick something off for the Manawatū-Tararua region to help the local clubs which were currently struggling.
“It’s encouraging and supporting [clubs] to ensure that the arts survive.”
May 31—To see the 14 insects, birds and animals created with Lego bricks and placed amid the hostas, blooming rhododendrons, fragrant lilacs and other plants and flowers at Holden Arboretum in Kirtland is to quickly become convinced that they’re art indeed.
Look closely, and it’s no surprise to learn that the large butterfly perched among the flowering columbines in the Holden Butterfly Garden took 400 hours to build from 60,000 Legos. Double-takes come en route to the wildflower garden when the “Rototiller” seemingly left behind actually is another creation from Legos. Look closely to see its tires and treads realistically made from the familiar plastic bricks.
A huge green “Praying Mantis,” an “American Bald Eagle” next to a tree with peeling bark, and a pair of baby ducklings following mama to water are whimsical and full of life, defying the plastic-brick medium in which they were created.
They’re all part of Sean Kenney’s “Nature Connects,” an outdoor sculpture exhibit residing amidst the blooming of spring along easily walkable paths in the Arboretum gardens between Corning Visitor Center and Corning Lake. The exhibit will remain in place through Sept. 4.
A map of the Arboretum’s core area, available at the entry gate, shows where the sculptures can be found, inspiring a scavenger hunt by those who visit.
Apollo’s Fire performing ‘Fiddler’s of Dublin’ in Avon, Kirtland
A search for Lego sculptures can be done on foot or even by golf cart, taking the visitor to and through many constantly changing plant collections, including the display garden, hedge garden, wildflower garden, Norweb Tree Allee, Gardner Lakeside Terrace, Lotus Pond, Paine Rhododendron and Discovery Garden.
The creatures, many much-larger-than-life-size, are reinforced, mounted and glued to preserve their integrity through the summer. Each is firmly attached to a below-the-surface disc of steel out of sight and covered with mulch but surrounded by a low fence to prevent enthusiastic viewers from sitting or climbing on them. Each was assembled in parts by Kenney and a team of artists at a professional art studio in Brooklyn, New York, and then crated and shipped before being installed by Atlanta-based Imagine Exhibitions and artists who helped create them with Kenney.
They’re made with regular Legos, available everywhere, although Kenney is the only one in the world permitted to buy the building toys in quantity. He doesn’t work for Lego, but he’s had a long relationship with the company.
After gathering photos and drawings of each subject he’s visualized, Kenney uses graph paper to plan out the shape and size of his creations, but every project starts with old-fashioned Lego block building at his desk.
It’s something the 46-year-old artist has done since he was a boy growing up in New York City, when he was a self-described “Lego maniac,” playing exclusively with Legos.
He’s been a professional sculptor with Legos since 2005, touring with exhibits since 2012 across the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, China, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. He lives with his family in Amsterdam, and his exhibits have been seen and appreciated by millions.
To begin or end a visit to “Nature Connects,” stop in at the Corning Visitor Center to build and display a Lego creation of your own. Share on Instagram and tag with the Holden Arboretum handle, @holden_arb.
The Holden Arboretum, 9550 Sperry Road in Kirtland, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays and until to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays in June, July and August. Members also have access on Mondays. Admission is $20. Admission is $12 for seniors on Tuesdays. Memberships begin at $25 a year. Members also get free admission to Cleveland Botanical Garden. Visit Holdenfg.org for details.
More Lego fun
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus has begun its annual mini Lego competition, with submissions due by June 4.
According to a news release from the attraction, located in Easton Town Center, kids 5 through 12 build a Lego animal, vehicle or plant and submit a photo of their original creation at LEGOLANDiscoveryCenter.com.
The winner represents Ohio in the virtual competition to gain the title of North America’s Mini Master Model Builder.
(c)2023 The News-Herald (Willoughby, Ohio) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
L.C. Singh, the 74-year-old Founder of global consulting and services company Nihilent, is an avid photographer. “By training I am an engineer but I have always had a lot of respect for the right side of the brain,” he smiles, adding that he got interested in photography nearly 15 years ago. “I am fascinated with nature and how it is able to hide engineering. Sophisticated models covered beautifully. So it is my fascination with nature that led to photography,” he says.
Singh only shoots nature—landscapes, birds and wildlife —with his Nikon Z9. “I don’t like shooting human beings,” he says. The Nihilent Founder has always used Nikon products and currently has lenses from 12mm to 1,200 mm. “I also use nearly 18 different pieces of software to process the pictures. After all, it is said that you don’t take pictures, you make pictures,” says Singh.
“The camera is unbiased. It just clicks pictures, but doesn’t necessarily create emphasis where I want it to. So when you make pictures, the focus is on controlling the eyes of the viewer,” he adds.
Singh who likes to study ontology and epistemology, loves shooting at national parks such as Ranthambore, Pench, Tadoba etc., but his favourite is the Kruger National Park in South Africa and he goes there at least once a year.
While Singh is self-taught, he enjoys sharing his experience with others and conducts photography workshops. “In photography you get totally lost in the act. You don’t know where you are, what you are doing,” says Singh, adding that it has made him more focussed. “When I am shooting a flower I am not thinking about work then. Photography has the same impact on me as meditation. It gives me a connection with a different species. It’s a peaceful experience for me,” he says.
Even while shooting his subjects, Singh follows some principles. He never shoots animals in captivity or a flower from top. “You need to respect your subjects,” he signs off.
NEWARK, CA — For gardeners, visiting a botanical garden provides inspiration for home projects. John E. Clarke of Newark snapped the photo above recently at the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden — a great place for both inspiration and a leisurely stroll past scented plantings.
The five acre garden has at least 3,500 plantings featuring 189 varieties. The bushes include hybrid tea roses, floribundas, grandifloras, miniature roses, climbers, and polyanthas. The park is at Naglee and Dana Avenues in San Jose. It also has a picnic area. View a map of the garden online.
Thank you for sharing your photo, John!
If you have an awesome photo of nature, breath-taking scenery, kids caught being kids, a pet doing something funny, or something unusual you happen to catch with your camera, we’d love to feature it on Patch.
We’re looking for high-resolution images that reflect the beauty and fun that is Northern California, and that show off your unique talents.
The Grammy winner posted a cheeky snapshot of herself in nature on Instagram May 30, which showed the 43-year-old showering outside in the nude.
Pink had her hands reaching in the air while smiling for the camera and posing as water ran down her body. She drew a blue and pink star over and heart to cover her private areas.
Another vacation photo showed the “F–kin’ Perfect” singer in a see-through banana-print bikini top while reclining in an outdoor chair.
So, what reason was Pink giving fans for her freedom in the woods? “Lake weekends and a new ridiculous bathing suit,” she explained in the caption of the post. “If you haven’t showered outdoors while your husband tried to scare you every five minutes you haven’t lived!!!!! #embarassingmoms #eyerollsfordays #bananaboobies.”
Carey Hart gave his wife the stamp of approval, commenting three drool face emojis beneath the pics.
And naked, outdoor showers are just one way Pink keeps her relationship spicy: She also recently gave her hubby of 17 years a sweet shoutout on stage.
I’ve always had a soft spot for waterfalls. Who doesn’t? So when I planned a family trip to Yosemite last year, I organized my itinerary around as many of the park’s cascades as possible in late spring, because as the snow melts, the waterfalls roar.
In this distinctly non-drought 2023, though, that roar is thunderous and likely to get even more so, thanks to California’s epic snowpack. Snowmelt is sending the Merced River to flood stage and beyond, with flooding in Yosemite Valley likely through early July. So all the usual warnings — check the National Park Service site for trail and road condition updates before you go, exercise extreme caution on those slippery trails and maintain a safe distance from rivers, creeks and waterfalls — apply tenfold.
But it also means that those glorious waterfalls are going to be a spectacle for months to come. (Lucky us!) So plan your trip for late summer or early fall, when the crowds thin out. Here’s where to stay and what to do, including a few tips for those traveling with rambunctious tots.
On our last waterfall-seeking adventure, my husband and I were traveling with our then-18-month-old son, so we kept our expectations low about how much we could get done with a toddler in tow. Our goal: One big adventure each morning, followed by lunch and naptime — and then pool time and a relaxing dinner at our resort just outside the park, Rush Creek Lodge and Spa near the Big Oak Flat entrance to the park, with easy access to Hetch Hetchy. This cadence worked really well for us — something for parents and grandparents to consider if you want to experience the wonders of the park, while not ticking off your tiny dictators.
Hiking Hetch Hetchy
On our first full day at Yosemite, we tackled a challenging 5-mile hike (harder when you’rewearing a baby!) to Wapama Falls. The trail runs along the Hetch Hetchy reservoir, where the views of dazzling blue water and stunning, rugged rocks add to the adventure.
Wapama Falls spills under a footbridge and over boulders before cascading into the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park. (Getty images)
Wildflowers—and the butterflies they attract—add an extra dimension of beauty. Even our baby was impressed. “Wow!” he shouted every half hour or so, as we passed a burst of flowers, a colorful cluster of butterflies or one of the many glimpses of the waterfall.
A word of warning: Pedestrian bridges at the top of the trail take you within splashing distance of the powerful cascade. It’s extremely tempting to cross and experience that, but the water is icy and powerful, the bridge slippery and treacherous, and a fall here can be fatal. Save this experience for another year, when conditions are not so dangerous.
When the water flow is low, hiking out on the footbridges below Wapama Falls at Yosemite’s Hetch Hetchy Reservoir can be fun. But when the waterfall turns into a thunderous cascade, best heed the warning signs and enjoy the spectacle from afar. (Getty Images) Warning sign due to Wapama Falls flowing over the footbridge and creating hazardous conditions for crossing; Hetch Hetchy Reservoir area, Yosemite National Park, California
A few tips: Wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, as the trail is mostly exposed. There is no potable water on the trail, so you’ll want to pack at least one liter of water per person.
Hiking with a baby or toddler? The first half-mile or so of the hike is so flat and smooth, you can use a stroller. Once the trail grows rocky and steep, just park the stroller on the side of the trail, out of the way, so it’s not a hindrance for others. If your experience is anything like ours, just about every hiker you pass will delight that they found the baby that belongs to the stroller and comment on the fact that it is still there.
We encountered plenty of friendly hikers like these, but this trail is considered one ofYosemite’s less crowded waterfall hikes, and there were many times when it felt like it was just us, the rocks and the water.
Biking the Valley
Later in the week, we ventured out on two wheels to explore Yosemite Valley, where you’ll find the more famous landmarks you probably know from Ansel Adams photos. Getting around via bike is the best way to see them all without spending precious time waiting for the shuttle bus or stuck in traffic, which is formidable through the summer (and delightfully absent in the fall).
The 12-mile bike trail is a completely flat, circular loop, so it’s very hard to get lost (thiscoming from someone who gets lost in her own neighborhood). If you’re not up for all 12 miles,you can take on a shorter segment, of course. We rented bikes — and a bike trailer for our little one — at Curry Village. (We packed a baby carrier, too, because the distance from the bicycle parking areas to some of these sites is a hike.)
Yosemite Falls is reflected in a meadow which is beginning to flood in Yosemite Valley, as warming temperatures have increased snowpack runoff, on April 28, 2023. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Our family’s favorite stopping point was Lower Yosemite Falls, where a fork in the road gives you two viewing options. The main viewing area takes you close enough to feel the mist wafting from the rushing water. It’s crowded, though, and the trails are slippery. Head for the “fall view” path instead for a less crowded experience a bit further away. The perspective helped us appreciate the cascades’ scale and for a few moments, we had the spot all to ourselves — just us, the towering rock face and a splashy spectacle.
If You Go
Yosemite National Park: Find details on the park, road and trail conditions and accommodations at www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm. This year’s extraordinary snow and rainfall have impacted everything from campsites to highways to Half Dome cables. Highway 120, for example, which connects the Big Oak Flat entrance and Yosemite Valley, is scheduled to reopen in mid-June. A 7-day park pass is $35 per vehicle.
Bike rentals: Three Yosemite venues offer bicycle rentals, including Curry Village, Yosemite Village and Yosemite Valley Lodge, for $30 for a half day and $40 for a full day. Rental bikes with an attached trailer ($55/$75) are also available. Find details at www.travelyosemite.com/things-to-do/biking/.
Rush Creek Lodge and Spa: Rooms start at $228 during the off season and $500 during summer/peak season. Find the lodge at 34001 Highway 120 in Groveland; www.rushcreeklodge.com.
Eddie Game, lead scientist and director of conservation at The Nature Conservancy, recently shared the incredible success story of the Ord River Regeneration Reserve (ORRR) in northwestern Australia.
Game raised the ORRR as an example of what good people can do with damaged and degraded land.
“Last month, I shared a study that I conducted with some of Australia’s leading experts … that argues there is such a thing as uncontested land,” he wrote in a LinkedIn post. “So, what can we do with those lands?
According to Game, the Kimberly region was horribly damaged by cattle by the 1960s. A “before” photo of the area shows a wasteland with stretches of bare dirt broken only by dead trees and a few scraggly plants.
However, the after photo is a different story.
“Started in the 1960s because of concern that erosion from heavily overgrazed land would be a threat to the downstream reservoir (Lake Argyle), cattle properties were purchased to form the Ord River Regeneration Reserve (ORRR),” said Game.
According to Monument Australia, 80 members of the Department of Agriculture WA worked to fence off sections of the land so they could herd cattle and wild donkeys out of it to then reseed the area with buffelgrass, birdwood grass, and kapok bush.
“By the start of the 1980s, the ORRR was assessed as being in ‘very good condition,’ with the land once again capable of supporting sustainable grazing,” said Game. “It’s an incredible example of how we can turn degraded environments into thriving ecosystems by identifying these lands, removing the pressure to keep them in production, and valuing the ecosystem service they provide when they’re healthy.”
This outcome is hopeful for communities whose economies and environments have been damaged by the overuse of natural resources.
For example, mining for materials like lithium can devastate the surrounding area, destroying plants and wildlife. The depleted land left behind can’t support life and may be polluted. But as the ORRR shows, even severe damage can be reversed with enough time and resources.
Commenters were concerned that the land could still be at risk, with one saying, “There just isn’t a sustainable way to graze cattle in Australia.”
Game replied, “I don’t believe the ORRR has been restocked, but rather, that was the land capability assessment … I agree that Australian ecosystems would be better with no cattle.”
Recently, a friend sent me a picture she had taken of a partially albino fawn deer that was found on her lawn. My friend knew not to disturb the fawn since the doe would be nearby.
Spring is here and young wildlife will frequently be seen. When encountering young wildlife, with no mother in sight, it is often believed the animal has been abandoned. This is when some people decide to intervene. However, in most cases, these young animals have not been abandoned.
The mother is nearby but out of human sight and watching over her young from a distance. Young fawns are camouflaged, with spots, to blend in with their surroundings. This provides protection from predators. An albino or partially albino will not blend in as well and not be as well protected. A partially albino animal is known as piebald.
The word piebald originates from a combination of pie, from magpie, and bald, meaning white patch or spot. The reference is to the distinctive black-and-white plumage of the magpie. Piebald refers to the absence of mature melanin-forming cells in certain areas of the skin and hair.
It is a rare autosomal dominant disorder of melanocyte.
We humans seem to seek the unusual, such as looking for a four-leaf clover, hoping that it will bring us good luck. However, walking under a ladder, breaking a mirror or a black cat crossing our path are all considered signs of bad luck. The belief that a broken mirror brings bad luck arises from the ancient Greeks, who believed spirits lived in reflective pools of water.
The fate that awaited the Greek mythological figure Narcissus could have grown out of this belief. When Narcissus saw his reflection in the water, he fell in love. Although in the beginning, Narcissus did not realize that it was just his own reflection and fell into despair when he understood that his love could not materialize and committed suicide.
Many stories have been told of hunters shooting white deer and never being lucky enough to kill another deer during his or her remaining years of life. This superstition of shooting a white deer comes from our Native American tribes, who considered the white deer sacred and bad luck for a hunter to kill.
These white deer were often called ghost deer and were a symbol of a spirit and an omen of good luck.
Albinos are individuals that show a lack of pigmentation and thus appear white or whitish. Technically, this abnormality results from a failure of the body to produce or distribute coloring pigments to the skin, hair, or feathers. Usually, this is an inherited trait, but it can occasionally result from an accident, improper diet or even psychological shock.
Albinism is known to affect mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Of course, albinism occurs in humans as well. People with albinism are generally healthy, with growth and development occurring as normal.
However, humans will suffer from impaired vision, with varying degrees. While albinism is a condition that cannot be cured or treated, small things can be done to improve the quality of life for those affected.
Many animals, with albinism, lose their protective camouflage and are unable to conceal themselves from predators. Usually, the survival rate of animals with albinism in the wild is quite low.
Albinism had been documented in 304 different species of birds, with the American robin being the most prone. Total albinism occurs when a bird or animal is entirely lacking color, being pure white with pink eyes. A partial albino animal is known as piebald or calico, showing a complete or partial lack of coloring in certain body areas. An animal is not a true albino if it lacks pink eyes.
Bill Bower is a retired Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Officer. Read his blog and listen to his podcasts on the outdoors at www.onemaningreen.com.
The 2023 Erhai Forum on Global Ecological Civilization Construction is convened in southwest China’s Yunnan province on May 28, 2023. [Photo courtesy of Erhai Forum Secretariat]
The 2023 Erhai Forum on Global Ecological Civilization Construction, named after the renowned Erhai Lake in Dali city, gathered close to 400 representatives from government bodies, international organizations, businesses, academia, and media to discuss how to facilitate harmony between humanity and nature along the path to modernization.
Du Zhanyuan, a member of the Standing Committee of the 14th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee and president of China International Communications Group (CICG), emphasized that the ecology is crucial to human survival and development. He pointed out that Chinese modernization is the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature, as articulated in the report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
Du called for genuine multilateralism, expressing his hope that nations could exchange experiences and technologies concerning climate change, energy conservation, and emission reduction, so as to foster a global ecological and environmental governance system characterized by fairness, rationality and mutually beneficial cooperation.
Wang Xiangang, deputy secretary of the CPC Leadership Group of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province, spotlighted the abundant natural and ecological resources in Yunnan, as well as its improved environment, as illustrated by the local government’s efforts to rejuvenate the previously polluted Erhai Lake.
A 129-kilometer-long “ecological corridor” now encircles the lake. This project involved more than 790 hectares of ecological restoration, wetland development, and the construction of an extensive sewage pipeline network.
Sergio Cabrera, the Colombian ambassador to China, noted that biodiversity is essential to ecological conservation. He mentioned that China and Colombia both possess great biodiversity and plan to expand their exploration and cooperation in biodiversity conservation.
Hans Lambers, a fellow of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Australian Academy of Science, shared his insights on plant functional traits related to phosphorus nutrition in biodiversity hotspots. He also spoke about his cooperation with China Agricultural University.
In addition to government and academic efforts, corporations also have a role in promoting low-carbon development. Shi Jiaqi, vice president and general legal counsel of PepsiCo Greater China Region, highlighted that PepsiCo is developing a more sustainable, renewable, and inclusive food and beverage system to help address climate change.
The company aims to replenish 100% of the water it uses in manufacturing operations in water-scarce areas by 2025. Shi noted that a Beijing-based factory of PepsiCo currently uses 80% of the water consumed to replenish nearby wetland parks after treatment.
The Erhai Initiative is released at the 2023 Erhai Forum on Global Ecological Civilization Construction on May 28, 2023. [Photo courtesy of Erhai Forum Secretariat]
The Erhai Initiative was launched at the event, with a focus on building a cleaner world. The five pillars of the initiative include facilitating harmony between humanity and nature, recognizing lucid waters and lush mountains as invaluable assets, conserving mountain, water, forest, farmland, grassland, and desert ecosystems holistically, accelerating the green transition of development modes and lifestyles, and encouraging global efforts towards ecological civilization.
Co-hosted by CICG, the People’s Government of Yunnan Province, and the China Public Relations Association, the forum included five parallel forums. The themes encompassed building the ecological economy, the role of ecology in the Chinese path to modernization, enterprises’ contribution to low-carbon development, urban ecological product values, and biodiversity improvement.
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