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This peacock dance in the Tharu Cultural show was to die for. I am in the Tharu Cultural Show in Chitwan, Nepal. About six or seven traditional Tharu dances are performed, like the Danda nach (stick dance), Mor nach (peacock dance) and the Ago nach (fire dance). This is the Mor Nach or Peacock dance. Sadly, it was difficult to get a good shot as everyone seemed to be jumping up to get a better shot, caring two hoots for the people behind them.The lights had been dimmed considerably due to which the still shot (see previous picture) did not turn out well. Fortunately this video fared better. The Culture Group drawn from the Tharu Tribe in Chitwan performs every night on stage at this place. This hour long performance (usually between 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM) is an almost mandatory part of the Chitwan National Park safari package offered by virtually every resort in Sauraha. The Hall is a simple affair with an approximate seating capacity of 250 people. Seating is strictly on first-cum-first-served basis- sadly I got only a seat at extreme left in the seventh or eight row despite getting there nearly 45 min early. As for the Tharu cultural show, the groups showcase various song and dance sequences which are traditionally performed by the Tharu community during important occasions such as harvest, marriage, death, etc. There appears to be strict separation of the sexes in the Tharu tribe as is apparent from the separate performances of men and women groups. (there are a couple of mixed dances too though). The women dances feature them singing together in high pitched shrill voices. One of their items where they use small ruler length sticks is reminiscent of the Daandiya performed during Navratri all over India, but particularly in Gujarat. The men of the group perform with sticks to the accompaniment of a rhythmic beats of the Dholak (a percussion instrument typical to the Indian sub-continent). The peacock dance and fire dance are performed by individual performers and the former is a particularly popular with children. (Sauraha, Chitwan, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)
Photo taken in Azraq Wetland Reserve, Jordan
تم التقاط هذه الصورة في محمية الأزرق المائية، الأردن
www.rscn.org.jo/orgsite/RSCN/HelpingNature/ProtectedAreas...
This majestic tusker appears in the photos of many travelers in their blogs from the Chitwan National Park. This magnificent beast is one of the captive animals used for the famous Chitwan jungle safari on elephant back. Fortunately, with more and more ethical tourists opting out of the elephant safari (constant riding by humans permanently damages the elephant's back), jeep safaris are offered now as well, which is the one I took the following day. The Chitwan National Park is home to 68 mammal species. like the One Horn Rhino, tiger, leopard, sloth bear (Chitwan is considered to have the highest population density of sloth bears with an estimated 200 to 250 individuals.) and various species of deer. Smooth-coated otters inhabit the numerous creeks and rivulets in the park. Bengal foxes, spotted linsangs (a type of tree dwelling mammal) and honey badgers roam the jungle for prey. Striped hyenas prevail on the southern slopes of the Churia Hills. Sadly, we did not spot any of them- barring the Rhino, and of course these captive elephants- on the two days I was there. During a camera trapping survey in 2011, wild dogs were recorded in the southern and western parts of the park, as well as golden jackals, fishing cats, jungle cats, leopard cats, large and small Indian civets, Asian palm civets, crab-eating mongooses and yellow-throated martens. From time to time wild elephant bulls find their way from Valmiki National Park into the valleys of the park, apparently in search of elephant cows willing to mate. (this is what I just stated above) Apart from numerous wild boars and gaur (wild bison), also sambar deer, red muntjac (mouse deer), hog deer and herds of chital inhabit the park. Four-horned antelopes reside predominantly in the hills. Rhesus monkeys, hanuman langurs, Indian pangolins, Indian porcupines, several species of flying squirrels, black-naped hares and endangered hispid hares are also present. In 2006 they recorded 543 species of birds in the Chitwan National Park, (Sauraha, Chitwan, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)
This is a photo of one of the many waterfalls on the Sand River. This one you have to walk up a trail to get to from Highway 17. The river is located in Lake Superior Provincial Park.
The schooner Philos anchored in Pauline Cove at Herschel Island, Yukon on her Northwest Passage transit. The British Mountains of Ivvavik National Park on the horizon. 24 August 2012. Cameron Eckert.
Bohemian Switzerland - Bohemian Switzerland is the czech part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains in northern Bohemia. The landscape of this region has for centuries fascinated geologists, sport climbers and the romantic souls of artists. Most of the nature reserve is blanketed by forest. The canyon of river Kamenice near Jetrichovice is mill with a long history. The first information of Dolsky mill dates back to1515. Mill played in the famous fairytale - The princess of pride.
Die Böhmische Schweiz liegt im Nordwesten von Tschechien. Diese Landschaft ist voll von geheimen Orten mit einer sehr interessanten Geschichte. Die Region wird auch sächsisch-böhmische Schweiz genannt, denn geologisch ist die sächsisch-tschechische Grenzregion einheitlich und den meisten Besuchern unter dem oft als synonym verwendeten Begriff Elbsandsteingebirge bekannt.
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An isolated house in Hingol National Park Area
Fact Sheet:
Geographical Location:
25*30'N-65*30'E
Physical Location:
Makran coast, Baluchistan province. Approximately 190 km west of Karachi
Total Area:
610, 043 hectares
Date Established:
1988 and 1997 (includes Dhrun Wildlife Sanctuary)
Best Time to Visit:
Mid October to November and December to mid March
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Description
Hingol National Park (HNP) – the largest National Park in Pakistan covers about 610,043 It and lies on the Makran coast approximately 190 kilometers (km) from Karachi. The area was declared reserved in 1988 for the first time. The park area includes parts of the three districts of Balochistan; Lasbela, Gawader and Owaran, and contains a variety of topographical features and vegetation. Large tracts of the HNP are covered with drift sand and can be classified as coastal semi desert. HNP includes the estuary of the Hingol river which supports a significant diversity of bird and fish species.
Wildlife:
In addition to a variety of bird species, Hingol is also known to support threatened invertebrates. The park is reported to be an excellent habitat to wild animals including over 3,000 ibexes, and 1500 Urials and more than 1,200 Chinkara, besides number of resident and migratory birds. The Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis undulata), Dalmatian and Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) are regular visitors to the area.
The River Hingol has been nurturing crocodiles for centuries. The Marsh Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and Green Marine Turtles (Cheloniamydas), endemic and threatened species of fish, such as the Mahasheer occur and schools of Plumbeous Dolphins (Sousa plumbea) are known from close in-shore areas.
Mammals:
The park has a relative high diversity of species for this type of desert environment. However, the population of a number of species is critically low including for Wolf, Leopard, Hyena, and possibly of Caracal and Honey Badger. Populations of Chinkara are common in the Harian Valley and the Northern Plains but vulnerable. The most recent sightings of wolf are from a few years back and no recent sightings have been obtained to confirm the survival of the Desert Wolf in the park. The population is either critically low or the last individuals have been recently killed.
The status of the following species needs to be studied in more detail to assess their survival changes, their current distribution within the park and the population densities: Urial, Chinkara, Desert Wolf, Leopard, Caracal, Hyena, Wild Boar, Honey Badger.
The park has large populations of Ibex, although population like those of many other species were decimated during the long period of extreme drought (1998-2004). Porcupine is abundant in many locations both in the lowland valley and the Mountain plateaux. It is reportedly increasing in numbers in several areas. The main reason is likely the local loss of predators such as Leopard, Hyena and Desert Wolf. Cape Hare is numerous in many valleys and flood plain areas, and so are their main predators the Foxes and Jackal. Certain rodent species in particular Mouse like Hamster and Indian Gerbil may be quite common.
Birds:
The total number of species thus far listed for Hingol National Park is 185 (Nov 2006). The Species Diversity of the Park is relatively high for a desert area due to the large variety of habitats including sea, sea coast, estuaries and mudflats, riverine habitat and mountains up to 1580 m. The highest number of species is found at the seacoast, the estuary and along the Hingol River and main tributaries the Nal, Parken, Arra and Babro-Mari River. Some 45% or almost nearly half of all species are related to water including the seacoast, the estuary, and the Hingol River areas. The major groups among these are the seagull and terns, the pelicans, flamingos, herons and egrets, the plovers and lapwings and the stints, sandpipers, godwits, shanks, coots, curlews, king fishers, Osprey, etc..
Only a small number or about 10 % are typically related to the desert areas. Bird diversity is typically low in the tree-poor and degraded broad valleys and the desert areas with very limited water sources. The typical desert related bird groups include the Wheat-ears, Common Babblers, Larks, Sand Grouses, Partridges, the Houbara Bustard, some Shrikes and Buntings.
Many other species use the desert area also including many birds of prey, insect eating birds such as Bee-eaters, Hoopoes, and seed eaters such as Pigeons and Doves, and birds with a more varied diet such as White-eared Bulbuls, Sparrows and the Brown-headed Raven and Shrikes.
The remainder of the birds some 45% consists of birds of prey (Eagles, Vultures, Hawks, Buzzards, Falcons), pigeons, owls, nightyars, woodpeckers, rollers, swallows, martins, wagtails, chats, robins, warblers, white-throats, flycatchers, sunbird, drongo, mynas, sparrows, buntings.
Bird biomass is low, except at the estuary and mudflats and tidal river where large groups of Pelicans, Flamingos, Waders (Plovers, Stints, Sandpipers, Shanks), Seagulls, Terns, and Ducks like to congregate.
Some bird species profit from the influence of cultivation, in particular culture following species such as House Sparrows, Silverbells, White-eared Bulbuls, Buntings, Common Babblers, White throats and Brown-headed Raven. The water harvesting systems result in agricultural areas with high trees of Kand Prosopis glandiflora, Kikar Acacia nilotica, and Ber Zizyphus mauritiana. In particular Ziziphus mauritiana attracts fruit-seed eating birds such as White-eared Bulbul, Lesser White-throats, House Sparrows and others. They also provide nesting sites for many bird species. Blossoms and fruits of trees such as Salvadora spp. and Capparis decidua, usually attract several bird species, including the Purple Sunbirds Nectarinia asiatica. These trees are however scarce and may have much decreased in numbers through cutting for construction wood and fuel wood.
The fields with ripening grains such as millet attract many seed eating birds including rock pigeons, doves, buntings, sparrows and others.
Several species find either their eastern limit or their western limit in the Hingol and surroundings. A typical example is the Brown-headed Raven.
The Brown-headed Raven Corvus rufficollis is a restricted range species. It is limited to the southern areas of Balochistan, Iran up to Oman and Egypt. The eastern limits of its total range are at the east boundary of the park, while a few individuals wandering up to Liari and the estuary of the Porali River. They occur all over the park beyond its northern boundaries.
Groups of some 4 –20 or more birds are found along each river and in each major valley. The Aghore group is the largest with more than 20 individuals. The total number of groups resident in the Park is estimated at 10-20 only.
A rare bird noted as limited range species with breeding in Balochistan coastal zone is the Sooty Falcon. It is regularly seen in Hingol and a group of 17 were sighted at Machi / Sangal mountain ridge and may be breeding in Hingol
At least half of the species listed for the park are migratory birds. The Park is part of the “Asian Flyway” used by birds from Siberia and Central Asia to migrate to the flood plains, lakes and sea coastal areas of Pakistan, India up to Bangladesh. Some birds migrate to East Africa crossing the Arabian Sea. A small number of birds show altitudinal migration over shorter distances. They come down from the higher altitudes within Pakistan to migrate to non-snow covered and warmer areas (e.g., Orphean Whitethroat). The number of species and number of individuals is therefore much higher in the winter period. Most species can be noted when migratory species pass through during the arrival-passage time in autumn (Aug-Nov) and their return in spring (Feb-May). A small number of species stay the whole winter in the park area, notably some Egrets and Herons. A very small number migrates from south east to northwest in summer times.
The largest concentrations of migratory birds can be found at the Hingol estuary and lower Hingol River plains. Several birds of Prey pass through the coastal area during the wintertime. A two day survey in Jan. 2006, listed 150 Great White Pelicans, 40 Spot-billed and 50 Dalmatian Pelicans, 18 Great Cormorants, 400 Little Cormorants, 75 Western Reef Egrets, 200 Little Egrets, a few Intermediate, Great Egrets and Purple Heron, and 32 Grey Heron, 16 Black Ibis, and 200 Spoonbils. Ducks were limited to Eurasian Wigeon (800), Gadwall (150), Common Teal (600), and Northern Shoveler (200), the total number of shorebirds-waders amounted to 16 out of 40 species including amongst others Great Stone Plover (2), Whimbrel (60) and Eurasian Curlew (35). The Gull-Terns were represented with 12 out of 20 species with high numbers of Herring Gull (2000), and Black-headed Gull (1400).
Reptiles:
The Marsh Crocodile, Olive Ridley and Green Marine Turtles, Desert Monitor lizard, Yellow Monitor lizard, and different species of lizard and chameleon.
Source:
Shot taken in HNP during a Widlife Survey of the Park:
When the cat is away, the mice will play- this bird finds the Gharial crocs no threat at all and is standing around casually in their enclosure. Of course there are no Gharials around- they are all in the water. The bird is a Red-wattled Lapwing, notes about which appeared earlier in this album. The Gharial is listed in the CITES Appendix I. In India, Gharials are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. In Nepal too, they are fully protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1973. The Gharial population is estimated to have declined from 5,000–10,000 individuals in 1946 to fewer than 250 individuals in 2006, a decline of 96–98% within three generations. Gharials were killed by fishermen, hunted for skins, trophies and indigenous medicine, and their eggs collected for consumption. (don't you agree that man is the most dangerous animal of them all?) Today, the remaining individuals form several fragmented sub-populations. Large scale extinction of Gharials have occurred due to the usual human inflicted factors of habitat loss, sand dredging activities, construction of dams etc. Indeed, mankind should be ashamed of itself. Extensive notes about the Gharials appeared earlier in this album. (see previous pictures). (Sauraha, Chitwan, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)
Skepplanda / Västra Götland / Sweden - Mossy natural forest close to Verleskogen nature reserve. The swedish foundation Naturarvet bought the Verleskogen area to protect it from logging and initiated the establishment of a nature reserve. Now a trail leads through the old growth forest with some lakes and peat bogs. The Risveden hills north of Goeteborg is home to several stands of old growth nordic forests, but logging poses a threat to this wild and ancient nature areas. naturarvet.se/
Since childhood, I have been attracted to the sea. I used to dream about what lay beneath the waves, and how it would look if all the water suddenly vanished, leaving the animals and living creatures frozen in place, letting me walk around them while they stay suspended in time and space..
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I carry that dream within me to this day, and my intention is to capture the essence of being immersed in the experience and presence of the animal or habitat I am photographing and to share their splendour, beauty and true nature. Today, the world’s oceans are in grave danger. Overfishing, pollution, climate change, acidification and more threaten the fundamental nature of the ocean, and its animals are being pushed to the edge of extinction. Sadly, the majority of humans see marine animals merely as food. As we can’t understand their voices, the higher purpose of my images is to be a voice of, and for the ocean, hoping that people can get a glimpse of who they really are; beautiful sentient individuals with feelings, personalities, complex behaviours and interesting lives that science is only starting to understand..
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I believe photography is capable of real service to humanity, promoting empathy and initiating change, so my goal is to create poetic images showing the incredible beauty of these animals, carrying the power.
of changing our perception and sparking the love and empathy that we all have inside..
... with the mornig sun! ~
Of course, it's not mine, but it is what I can see from my apartment's bathroom!
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. :¬)
Vriesea gigantea Gaudich. (Bromeliaceae, Poales). Agradecimentos a Elton M.C. Leme pela determinação da espécie. I acknowledge Elton M.C. Leme for species ID. Agradezco a Elton M.C. Leme por la identificación de la especie.
A flock of mostly juvenile Pectoral Sandpipers at Simpson Point, Herschel Island, Yukon. 14 August 2016.
Our two guides for the Phi Phi islands tour. They appeared to be going steady, like bf-gf so I took this picture of them. The guy sadly had this foul habit of having the odd smoke, so in the course of my joking with them I kept telling the girl good luck to both of you but make sure you make him stop smoking. In the end the boy told me, while getting off the boat after the tour- next time you come no smoking etc. Well, thank goodness for that! We have made a long-ish halt here at Maya Bay- where the 1999 Hollywood movie The Beach was shot. While most of the others were in the water swimming, I was having fun joking with my two guides, taking pictures of them and later sharing them with the lady on AirDrop, as she was using an iPhone as well. Detailed notes about Maya Bay and the Phi Phi Islands National Park appeared earlier in this album. (see previous pictures). (Phuket, Thailand, Oct/ Nov. 2019)