Founded in 1991, The African Rainforest Conservancy (ARC) works alongside its field partner, the Tanzania Forest Conservation Group (TFCG), to support a network of more than 200 villages in 7 mountain and coastal regions throughout Tanzania that are...
Commonly known as Parker’s Forest Tree Frog, Leptopelis parkeri (Hyperoliidae) is an Endangered species native to the Eastern Arc chain of Tanzania, whose population is severely fragmented, and is probably the prettiest of the four strikingly coloured Leptopelis from the Eastern Arc Forests.
It is a slender frog with distinctive bright red eyes. Males are up yo 43 mm and females may reach 56 mm. Males are dark gray with an irregular yellow pattern, while females are uniform olive-brown or gray. In both sexes the ventral surface is whitish and the toes and undersides of the limbs are yellow. In males the throat is white, while that of females is orange.
Male (top) and female (bottom) Parker’s Forest Treefrog, scientifically named Leptopelis parkeri (Arthroleptidae). These frogs are rather large within the genus (males reach up to 43 mm, and females are up to 56 mm), and have distinctively bright red eyes.
This species is endemic to several mountains in the Eastern Arc chain of Tanzania, and is listed as Endangered by the IUCN because its population is considered to be severely fragmented.
Commonly known as Uluguru Forest Treefrog (English), Uluguru Tree Frog (English), Vyura miti wa Msitu ya Uluguru (Swahili), or Vyura miti wa Uluguru (Swahili), this small frog is scientifically named Leptopelis uluguruensis (Hyperoliidae).
This species is endemic to several mountains in the Eastern Arc chain of Tanzania.
This frog has an indistinct tympanum. The dorsum is blue-green in some individuals and yellow-brown in others, often with light spots or rings. In males the throat is translucent blue. Pupils are vertical. The iris may be brown or silver. Toes are only about ½ webbed. Pectoral glands are not present in males [1].
Populations of this species are decreasing and it has recently changed from Vulnerable (2004) to Endangered on the IUCN Red List (2013) [2].
Commonly known as Parker’s Forest Tree Frog, Leptopelis parkeri (Hyperoliidae) is an Endangered species native to the Eastern Arc chain of Tanzania, whose population is severely fragmented, and is probably the prettiest of the four strikingly coloured Leptopelis from the Eastern Arc Forests.
It is a slender frog with distinctive bright red eyes. Males are up yo 43 mm and females may reach 56 mm. Males are dark gray with an irregular yellow pattern, while females are uniform olive-brown or gray. In both sexes the ventral surface is whitish and the toes and undersides of the limbs are yellow. In males the throat is white, while that of females is orange.
Sometimes I like to play with more dramatic processing techniques. Here I reprocessed one of my giraffe photos from Africa using split toning in Lightroom.
Also known as Vermiculated Tree Frog, Leptopelis vermiculatus (Hyperoliidae/Arthroleptidae) exhibits two color phases; the Phase A (pictured) is vivid green with fine black vermiculations, and sides marbled in black and white. The Phase B is brown with an irregular darker triangle on dorsum with apex pointing forward, a dark bar or spot between the eyes, and sides heavily marbled. All juveniles have the beautiful phase A and so do some of the males.
Endemic to several mountain ranges in the Eastern Arc chain of Tanzania, this species is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Undescribed Warty Frog of the genus Callulina found in Tanzania
The Brevicipitidae family is a group of highly rotund frogs from Africa that usually have burrowing lifestyles and a highly characteristic appearance, with a bulbous body and tiny head. They started to evolve separately from all other modern amphibians about 65 million years ago, at a time when the dinosaur abruptly became extinct. This makes them as different from all other amphibians as whales are to giraffes!
The genus Callulina, commonly known as the “warty frogs”, diverged 40 million years ago within the Brevicipitids – this intra-family split therefore occurred about 5 million years before the origin of monkeys.
For nearly 100 years since the discovery of the first warty frog (Callulina kreffti), this genus was presumed to be monotypic (containing only a single species). However, currently there are nine species described into the genus.
The nine nominal species in the genus Callulina, are almost entirely restricted to submontane and montane forest of the Eastern Arc Mountains in Tanzania and in southern Kenya, six of which are classified as Critically Endangered, and one is listed as Endangered.
The specimen pictured, found this 2014 in the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania, does not correspond to any of the described species and it could be a new species.
An extremely rare white giraffe calf was recently spotted in Tanzania’s Tarangire National Park. Scientists at the New Hampshire-based wildlife-research group Wild Nature Institute originally reported the newborn Masai giraffe calf in 2015, around the time a local tour guide named her Omo, after a popular local brand of detergent.
Omo isn’t albino; she has a genetic condition called leucism, says Derek Lee, founder of the institute. Her skin cells don’t produce pigmentation, but soft tissues, such as her dark eyes, do. Though uncommon, leucism occurs in many species, including penguins and hippos:
Trioceros werneri (Chamaeleonidae) is a medium-sized green and brown chameleon endemic to the forests of the Udzungwa and Uluguru Mountains in Tanzania’s Eastern Arc Mountain Range.
Adults can reach total lengths of 24-30 cm. Males of this species possess three annulated horns, one extending from the snout and two extending forward from in front of the eyes. In contrast, females possess only a single annulated horn on the snout.
Males are presumed to be territorial and to use their horns for combat, but the function of females’ horns is less clear. Both sexes also possess a single highly prominent fused occipital lobe.
Politics are scary. A few weeks ago I was having dinner with friends, and one of them said “In polite conversation, there are three topics you need to steer clear of: sex, religion, and politics.” Good advice. However, with the upcoming national conventions this summer, and the election in November, it is becoming difficult to leave their names out of any conversation.
One topic of discussion is how each nominee will react to climate change. Recent global events, including theParis Climate Talks and the release of UNICEF’s report on the effects of climate change on children, have brought to light the undeniable implications of climate change on the future of our planet.
Our potential nominees for President: Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, have differing views on climate change, as well as the actions that are necessary in order to protect our planet and its inhabitants.
Below is an abridged version of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump’s platforms in regard to climate change.
Does Climate Change Exist?
Donald Trump:
Donald Trump acknowledges “changing weather.” He does not, however, believe that climate change is caused by man, and has stated in an interview with the Washington Post that he is “not a big believer in man-made climate change” in March of 2016.
(Although in May 2016, he has been said to have acknowledged the existence of climate change after a recent attempt to protect his golf course from coastal erosion caused by rising sea levels.)
Hillary Clinton:
Hillary Clinton’s page on her website addresses climate change as “an urgent threat and a defining challenge of our time,” tying climate change directly to carbon emissions.
What they Hope to Achieve
Donald Trump:
Donald Trump has no proposed response to climate change. However, in a recent press release called “An America First Energy Plan,” he says that he wants to take proper regard for “rational environmental concerns,” prioritizing clean air and clean water.
Hillary Clinton:
Hillary Clinton’s goals concerning climate change are outlined on her page. They include cutting American fuel consumption by a third and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions to 30% below what they were in 2005.
What Actions They Plan to Take
Donald Trump:
Donald Trump as of the moment has no plan to combat climate change, other than his plan to “cancel the Paris Climate Agreement and stop all payments of U.S. tax dollars to U.N global warming programs.”
Recently, Republican Kevin Cramer of ND, prepared a briefing for Trump that has not yet been released. The briefing will address Trump’s views on climate change and his plans. He has revealed that the Clean Power Plan is one of the government regulations that Trump might eliminate should he be elected President, according to the New York Times.
Hillary Clinton:
Hillary Clinton’s plan to fight climate change is also explained on her website, and it includes investment in clean energy and launching a Clean Energy Challenge to further the Clean Power Plan announced by President Obama in 2015.
Whether Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton is the next President of the United States will decide the future of our country, as well as the future of our planet. Presidential decisions made with regard to the environment will exemplify how seriously the United States takes the future of the planet.
If you want to get more involved in your future, make sure you vote this November 8, because your voice counts.
If you want to get involved in protecting the planet from climate change, you can sign this petition to tell congress to invest in clean, renewable energy for the U.S.
When the dream of a 60’s hippie dressed up in 80’s gear was created, what was going on in the producer’s minds? Why couldn’t they have created another brooding, angry superhero whose parents died in a tragic accident that he must avenge? Why not make another biochemically-mutated creature who started as an underdog and fights for their rights? How did a story about 5 average teenagers saving the earth become so popular?
In many ways, Captain Planet and the Planeteers is a familiar saga in the superhero world: a teenager who gains unnatural powers and subsequently uses them for the of good is pretty average for a superhero story.
However, there is something that the Captain Planet series gave its audience that the average comic book hero never did: viewer empowerment.
The catch phrase of Captain Planet is literally “The power is yours!” Unlike any other superhero, Captain Planet encourages his viewers to take action, because unlike Batman, Superman, and Spiderman, Captain Planet fights an enemy that exists outside of a comic book.
Of course, there are real-world parallels to the “bad guys” we see in the comics: mobsters, robbers, corrupt officials, for example. Still, nothing is more dangerous to the human race than climate change.
In the series, each villain Captain Planet comes across is in fact a physical incarnation of the damage to nature incurred by humans. Villains like Hoggish Greedly, Looten Plunder, and Sly Sludge represent over-consumption, unethical business actions, and the risks of thoughtless actions, respectively in regard to nature.
The villains that Captain Planet fights are the most terrifying, because they are real. In some way, each of them will have an effect on the life of each viewer.
But it’s not just Captain Planet who does the fighting. The series is based on a group of five teenagers: the Planeteers, who have been chosen to protect the earth by the Earth herself. Captain Planet himself only appears when the Planeteers work together to solve a problem.
Captain Planet and the Planeteers was a radically different superhero show in comparison to the typical superhero, but it somehow managed to be the second longest running cartoon series of the 1990s. Why?
Because instead of focusing on the power of the individual, it focused on the power of a team.
What does this have to do with National Best Friends day?
Best friends day is about celebrating not only someone who has decided to hang out with you despite all your flaws, it’s about celebrating the friendship you share: the living proof that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Think of any team of superheroes: The Avengers, The Justice League, and, barring the following exclusion, because they aren’t from a comic book: Harry, Hermione, and Ron. These heroes, like the Planeteers, show that success does not come when individuals use their powers separately to solve a problem (although it may do some damage control). It comes when they use their knowledge, skills, and power in conjunction with each other.
The great thing is: teams like this exist outside of comic books. The United Nations is an organization whose goal is to maintain international peace and security, promote sustainable development, protect human rights, uphold international law, and deliver humanitarian aid through the cooperation of nearly 200 countries.
On December 5, 2015, the United Nations decided to cut greenhouse gases: an accord that will be the beginning of a long process to protect our earth.
While there are real dangers outside of comic books, there are real heroes too. Through the United Nations, the world is given an immensely powerful superhero to use against the villains of greed, ignorance, and corruption. And this superhero’s power is not based on the individuals who comprise the group, but on the collaboration between them.
Large-scale action is what it will take to preserve the planet. The United Nations can take steps in the right direction, but it will be impossible to effect significant change without the support of the people they represent. In order to save the earth, we need a planet of Planeteers to take action.
What can you do to save our planet? How can you make a big change with a single voice?
Join the fight for the future by encouraging those larger powers to take action. By signing a petition, putting your name on a statement that shows you care about the future, you can be a part of a global movement that can change the world.
This link is the first step to becoming a Planeteer, to becoming a true superhero.
Range
This species is only found on the island of Zanzibar, Tanzania and in the northern forests of Kenya.
Description
The Ader’s Duiker (Cephalophus adersi) belongs to a subfamily of small to medium sized antelopes. It is the rarest and most endangered species of duiker and is about the size of a domestic cat. It is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List. There is estimated to be around 640 individuals remaining on Zanzibar and around 500 in Kenya. However, these estimates are over ten years old and populations have most likely declined since then. The Ader’s Duiker is found in a very particular habitat, preferring tall, undisturbed old growth thicket for its protection and privacy. Their bodies are small and stocky, an adaptation development for swift movement through the dense undergrowth. They are usually found traveling solo but have also been observed in pairs or trios. Their diet consists of leaves, seeds, sprouts, buds, and fruits. They will often follow a troop of Kirk’s Red Colobus monkeys, waiting for discards to drop down to the forest floor. They have been observed going long periods without drinking water, obtaining much of what the moisture they need from their diet. Ader’s Duikers appear to be largely diurnal and have very receptive hearing and smell. Secretions from their face are left behind and act as territory markings for other members of the species.
Threats and Solutions
Hunting and habitat loss pose serious threats to the survival of the Ader’s Duiker. Populations on Zanzibar and in Kenya have seen significant losses in numbers due to a long tradition of hunting in these areas. Many households that are near the range of these animals practice hunting or trapping. But perhaps the most serious threat to this animal is the loss and degradation of its habitat, primarily due to logging, which has intensified in recent years. However, both Kenya and Zanzibar have recovery plans for this species and list them under protection by law and both regions have strictly protected nature reserves that coincide with the duiker’s range. Continued research, local wildlife management programs, environmental education, and monitored hunting are all initiatives that contribute to the survival of this unique animal.
