Madagascar bird declared extinct
GENEVA- Alien fish species and nylon nets have forced the extinction
of a water bird in Madagascar, a conservation group said on May 26.
Alaotra Grebe |
The fragile bird, known as the alaotra grebe, was finally declared
extinct 25 years after the last confirmed sighting, according to
BirdLife International.
"Obviously the suspicion that it has disappeared has been there for
some time," said Martin Fowlie, a spokesman for BirdLife, compiler of
the "Red List" of threatened bird species.
Scientists hesitated to write the bird off too soon since it lived in
a remote eastern part of the African island nation that was difficult to
survey.
"We didn't want to declare something extinct and then two years later
it pops up," said Fowlie.
There's little chance of that happening after an extensive search
last year found no sign of the alaotra grebe.
BirdLife blamed chick-eating bass fish that were introduced to Lake
Alaotra and the use of nylon fishing nets that drown the birds.
A similar fate appears to loom for the zapata rail bird, native to
the swamps of western Cuba where it is threatened by mongooses and
catfish once alien to the area.
The rail, which is now listed as critically endangered, was first
described by American ornithologist James Bond, who inspired the name of
Ian Fleming's iconic spy.
BirdLife said wetland birds in particular are coming under pressure
as their habitats become polluted and dry out.
Some bird species are recovering, however, including the azores
bullfinch and the Colombian yellow-eared parrot, both of which have
benefited from conservation measures.
Michael
Jackson impersonator in China
Four-year-old Xiao Boa in action. |
When Wang Yiming was born prematurely, doctors told his parents that
the best way to help his frail body recover physically and catch up to
his peers would be to move his limbs to music. Somehow, that has lead
Yiming to become the sensation known as Xiao Bao, or Little Treasure,
China''s youngest Michael Jackson impersonator.He's four years old!
"When he was young, we just started playing music to him and he
started moving around like this." But we didn't think that he had such a
strong feeling for music," said Bian Aiquing, Xiao Bao's mother."When he
was just a couple of months old we would let him listen to music and he
would immediately stop crying and calm down".
This physical training regimen and fascination with music has lead
Xiao Bao to become one of the top Michael Jackson impersonators in
China.He' s been on Ellen, is famous in his country, and is even
performing in Shanghaiâ's World Expo 2010, to rave reviews! As well he
should, since his parents spend $3000 a month on dance trainers,
choreographers, and tailored suits, shirts, and hats for Xiao Bao's act!
Apparently, this child is good.
Courtesy: Internet
Pen-pals
Name: U.H.B. Madushika
Priyangani Bandara
Gender: Female
Age: 16
Hobbies: Researching into
para-psychology, reading books (especially Russian literature),
meditating
Pen-pals preferred from:
Any country, except Sri Lanka (especially Muslims)
Age group: 16-20
Address: Piyagama,
Galpatha, Kalutara, Sri Lanka.
***********
Name: T.M. Nadeesha
Chathurangani
Gender: Female
Age: 17
Hobbies: Watching
television, listening to songs, reading story books, riding bicycles
Pen-pals preferred from:
Sri Lanka, India, Australia, America, England, Japan
Age group: 15-17
Address: Alapaladeniya,
Karagoda, Galle, Sri Lanka.
***********
Name: R.M. Gayani
Prarthana Rajapaksha
Gender: Female
Age: 16
School: Kekirawa Central
College
Hobbies: Reading books,
playing and singing
Pen-pals preferred from:
UK, USA, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, India
Age group: 18-25
Address: Maha Elagamuwa,
Kekirawa, Sri lanka.
***********
Name: D.K. Sanju Perera
Gender: Female
Age: 16
School: St. Anthony's
Girls' School, Colombo 3
Hobbies: Listening to
music, reading story books, playing netball, chatting and playing the
guitar
Pen-pals preferred from:
Any country, especially Sri Lanka
Age group: 14-20
Address: No: 128, Kandy
Road, Mahara, Kadawatha, Sri Lanka.
***********
Name: Chathura Anuranga
Gender: Male
Age:
17
School:
Vijitha Central College
Hobbies: Reading story
books and playing cricket
Pen-pals preferred from:
Sri Lanka, USA, France, England, Germany
Age group: 15-18
Address: "Chintha",
Wattagama South, Dikwella, Sri Lanka. |