The Rare Saola: ...usually die in captivity :(

I'm one of those people who use AIM and still manages to deal with it's front page, separate pop windows each time I log in. Originally, I had planned to turn off this little tick, but soon found myself browsing some of it's interesting news and facts and fun tid-bits (a reason why I love Yahoo front page over a personalized Google homepage)

Anyways, I read this article on the Saola aka The Spindlehorn...a species first "officially" discovered in 1992 and now has proved to be one of the most rare animals. Needless to say---> definitely on the endangered species list.

With only a few hundred remaining between it's Vietnam and Laos territory, to see one in all its glory would be amazing to say the least. And apparently deadly.

A local village sighted one and couldn't resist their urge to capture it. It's not clear rather the animal would have been set free or a shrine might have developed over time to worship it...or maybe the villagers were hoping to make some tourist money off it. What is known that after only a few days in captivity...the animal died.

The carcass will be studied in order to obtain a better understanding of the animal and perhaps one day be able to raise some in captivity so the species does not go completely extinct. With so few numbers, I feel a little disheartened by this story, just thought I'd share. Here's the link to the one I read...but perhaps you found another?

The Smuggling: 95 Boa constrictors break "free" out of luggage bag!

yes, you read the title correctly!! Officials say that on August 26th, Keng Liang "Anson" Wong, 52, attempted to smuggle 95 Boa constrictors (hardcore snakes!) and a few other species of snakes and a turtle through Kuala Lumpur International airport.

His plight ended early when his luggage burst open on the conveyor belt and all the animals came tumbling out. Ironically, Wong was arrested almost a decade ago for the SAME crime and sentenced to almost 6 years in jail for smuggling wildlife in the U.S. between 1996 and 1998.

Why do we allow these things to happen? Shouldn't there be some sort of an alarm or colorful sticker on these people's passports that say "hey, I once tried to smuggle wildlife, you should probably check my baggage carefully!! K,thanks."

And even more ridiculous is that he is only being charged for the boa constrictor snakes smuggling because the others are not on the endangered species list!!

WHAT?!? Now, we must wait until a species population ranks so low that it makes the human bottom list before we care? Cynical and egotistical things we are.

READ IT!!

The Infuriatingt!!: WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!

So I have a tumblr...and through this tumblr I reblog pictures, videos, and other sporadically random things I come by. It's not really a diary, but a sweep of visual memories that make an impression.

Anyways, today I saw (on my tumblr) someone blogged this photo:



And I thought...hm...what is she doing and why is she wanted by police? You can't really tell from the photo here..




Well...what she's doing is throwing new born, live puppies into the river...!!






WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!?! seriously. Apparently her identity is now known because news travels fast in this high tech world...and authorities have asked that people do not take any direct actions or make any personal threats to this woman...because the circumstances are unknown.

While all that is true and sound...what REAL excuse can one throw out regarding chucking live puppies into a river?!?!? I don't understand. I don't understand these things at all. I don't understand people at all.

Not only do you have this girl who's throwing puppies into a river...you have the person VIDEO TAPING a girl throwing puppies into the river...WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU TOO RECORDING MYSTERY PERSON?!?

These kinds of things make me think that there is no way for us to reverse all the damage we've done.

here's the video if you'd like to watch...but you've been warned, it's brutal. and stupid. and I hope she %#$#@^*%.......gets what she deserves.