Saturday, 16 February, 2019

Giraffes Facing Silent Extinction

Giraffes Facing Silent Extinction

Posted on Friday, 9 December, 2016Sunday, 20 August, 2017 by Zheluo Cai

Giraffes Facing Silent Extinction.

A drop of nearly 40% over a 30-year span according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature is substantial, considering that that is just within a generation. With the rapid loss of their African habitat and the increasingly rampant ongoing poaching, giraffes would likely be extinct in the next 50 years or so. Their ability to replace themselves seems slim as a female giraffe reproduces on average one single calf, twins are rare, with gestation periods of between 400 to 460 days. Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda seems to be where most poaching were carried out, whereas Niger’s attempt at preserving its West African subspecies has been fairly successful; rebounding from 50 animals in the 1990s to around 400 today.

Read Article Here:

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38240760

Watch - Lassa Fever in Nigeria Thursday, 7 February, 2019
Nigerian health officials have declared an outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria. Travelers to Nigeria should avoid contact with rats, especially rat urine and feces, and keep their accommodations or campsites clean.
Alert - Yellow Fever in Nigeria Monday, 28 January, 2019
A large, ongoing outbreak of yellow fever in Nigeria began in September 2017. The outbreak is now spread throughout the country. Travelers going to Nigeria should receive vaccination against yellow fever at least 10 days before travel and should take steps to prevent mosquito bites while there.

ASTRONOMY PICTURE OF THE DAY: Ghost of the Cepheus Flare. Credit & Copyright: Stephen Leshin. Spooky shapes of cosmic dust clouds seem to haunt this starry expanse, drifting through the night in the royal constellation Cepheus. They lurk at the edge of the Cepheus Flare molecular cloud complex some 1,200 light-years away. Over 2 light-years across the ghostly nebula known as vdB 141 or Sh2-136is near the centre of the field. The core of the dark cloud on the right is collapsing and is likely a binary star system in the early stages of formation.

Florida Students to Speak with NASA Astronaut Aboard International Space Station Friday, 15 February, 2019
University and high school students from Florida will have an opportunity to talk with a NASA astronaut on the International Space Station next week.
NASA Selects New Mission to Explore Origins of Universe Wednesday, 13 February, 2019
NASA has selected a new space mission that will help astronomers understand both how our universe evolved and how common are the ingredients for life in our galaxy’s planetary systems.

Yemen - Level 4: Do Not Travel Thursday, 14 February, 2019
Do not travel to Yemen due to terrorism, civil unrest, health risks, and armed conflict. Terrorist groups continue to plot and conduct attacks in Yemen. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting public sites, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities. Additionally, there is a continuing threat of kidnapping/detention by terrorists, criminal elements, […]
Burkina Faso - Level 3: Reconsider Travel Thursday, 14 February, 2019
Reconsider travel to Burkina Faso due to terrorism. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Do not travel to: The Sahel Region due to crime and terrorism. The East Region due to crime and terrorism. The Provinces of Koulpelogo, Loroum, Yatenga, Sourou, Kossi, Banwa, Kenedougou, or within 50km of the Mali border […]

Nigeria Saturday, 16 February, 2019
Summary - Presidential and National Assembly elections, due to take place in Nigeria on 16 February 2019, have been delayed a week until 23 February. The Gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections, due on 2 March, have also been delayed by a week until 9 March. You should continue to avoid rallies, public gatherings […]
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Belarus Friday, 15 February, 2019
Latest update: Summary - removal of link to information and advice page for the BATE Borisov v Arsenal match on 14 February
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WORK OF ART: Studies of the Foetus in the Womb are two-coloured annotated sketches by Leonardo da Vinci made in around 1511. Da Vinci studied human embryology with the help of anatomist Marcantonio della Torre and saw the foetus within a cadaver. The studies were initially bequeathed to Francesco Melzi. In c. 1582–90 they were bought from his heirs by Pompeo Leoni, and by 1630 they belonged to Thomas Howard, 2nd Earl of Arundel. Since 1690 the studies have been housed in the Royal Collection, United Kingdom.