The
Lion - A Long-Haired King
Lions have long captured the
human imagination, and many consider the wild cat
to be the king of the beasts. The profile of the male
fits the bill: large, powerful and crowned with a
majestic mane.
But reality does not always keep
up with imagination. Some studies describe male lions
as inefficient and lazy, while the females, without
the trademark mane but an equally captivating silhouette,
take charge of caring for the lion cubs and of most
of the hunting duties.
The social life of lions sets
them apart from other felines because they live in
groups, known as ''prides''.
A technical
description of the lion tells us that it is of
the Mammalia class, the Carnivoro order, Felidae family,
and genus species Panthera leo. In other words, a
meat-eating mammal. This 'Panthera leo' can measure
1.2 meters tall at the shoulder and 2.5 meters long,
and is found mostly in Africa, though a colony of
'Persian' or Asiatic
lions is found in India.
On the Internet, of course, there
is abundant
information on lions, about ways we can ensure
their survival, and about the inspiration
they have provided writers and filmmakers.
One website
points out that fossils prove lions date back at least
1.5 million years, and that there also used to be
European and American lions. Lions have had a difficult
relationship with humans, and are now a protected
species. But face other dangers, such as FIV: Feline
Immuno-Deficiency Virus.
Kingdom
of Lions
Lion
Research Center
African
Lion
African
Lions and the FIV Threat
Asiatic
Lion
Lions
of the Atlas Mountains: Recovery Project
King
of the Beasts: The Lion as Inspiration
Habituated
Felines
'Felis catus' is the scientific
name for the domestic cat, which represents the evolution
of a species whose notable achievement has been its
capacity to share a home with humans.
According to scientific
classifications, the common cat - the pet of choice
for many - is a carnivore, just like the dog, and
is a member of the family of 'felids', alongside some
prominent relatives, such as lions or cougars… which
have the adjective "feline" in common.
The presence of the cat
in civilization, its adoption as a pet,
has given rise to an entire subculture. On the Internet
we see the digital reflection of this world, with
a great number of websites dedicated to the cat, ranging
from photo galleries to recommendations for cat-care
and the raising of some 30 different breeds of cat.
It was the cat's ability
to coexist with humans that allowed it to expand its
habitat. Cats can now be found around the world, nearly
everywhere on Earth where humans live.
Research has determined
that the species is approximately 9,000 years old
and that its first relations with humans date back
more than 4,000 years to ancient Egypt, where cats
were the subject of adoration.
Cat history suffered a
dark period in the Middle Ages, when in some places
in Europe people developed legends
that identified cats as demons. But in the end, cats
won acceptance as pets and as hunters of rodents,
equipped with acute senses and exceptional agility.
Where to begin in learning more about the Felis catus?
The Internet is not a bad idea:
Museum
Exhibit: 'Cats! Wild to Mild'
Catsinfo.com
History
of Cats
Cat
Behavior
Cats
and Folklore
Yahoo!
Cats
Desertification:
Arid Lands
Desertification is one of the
world's top environmental problems. Its primary symptom
is soil degradation and its two leading causes are
climate change and human activity.
It is an ancient phenomenon.
Studies of regions that are arid today show that they
were home to rich vegetation in the past. But as the
causal factors of desertification increase, these
areas continue to expand.
Approximately one billion people
in over 100 countries currently face the threat of
desertification. And the Earth itself runs the risk
of seeing 41 percent of its landmass converted into
desert.
In Latin
America, it is already a serious problem that
affects land in most of the region's countries.
Substandard agricultural practices,
deforestation, social pressures, ignorance and even
war are considered factors that contribute to desertification,
which is aggravated by global warming - which itself
is attributed to human activities.
The social consequences of desert
expansion are serious: hunger, massive migrations,
and heavy economic losses.
The gravity of this environmental
problem has the attention of governments around the
world, evident in the fact that 170 countries were
represented at the most recent conference of the United
Nations Convention
to Combat Desertification.
Numerous international organizations
have created special divisions to take action to fight
desertification. It all begins by informing the public,
and a good place to start is on the Internet.
UN
Secretariat of the Convention to Combat Desertification
Global
Mechanism of the UNCCD
UNDP:
Office to Combat Desertification and Drought
UN
Food and Agriculture Organization: Desertification
World
Bank: About Desertification
UNDP:
Links to sites on desertification
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