As this last year of the so called "noughties" winds down, I would like to share with you a remarkable video, and two stories, of wildlife conservation amid human enterprise, that straddle some of the gamut of conflicting emotions experienced by those involved in any kind of biodiversity conservation during this dismal decade. That entire gamut, of course, ranges from the absolute pit of despair over what we are doing to other lifeforms on this Earth, all the way up to cautious (but ever so skeptical) optimism that maybe, just maybe, we aren't entirely screwed after all, and there may yet be hope for us all.
Let's start with the video, shall we? Of the remarkable human presence in Yosemite National Park in California:
People in Yosemite: A TimeLapse Study from Steven M. Bumgardner on Vimeo.
You can read my thoughts on the video here.
Next, how about a bit of a downer first? If you've been to San Francisco, you may be familiar with the Sea Lions that have made one of the Piers (#39) on that city's famous Fisherman's Wharf their home ever since the 1989 earthquake in the region.
Well, this autumn the numbers of these beasts roosting at and around Pier 39 reached an all time high. But as of last week, they've all (but a sickly handful), rather abruptly disappeared! A fisherman and his dog may have been involved in triggering the exodus. Or they could be chasing herring. Or simply saying "So long, and thanks for all the fish", which would probably be the most worrisome option. Want to know more? Here you go!
Let me leave you then with the feel-good story of how migratory Greylag Geese have found a welcoming home among villagers from one of the poorest regions of India! Click on the photo for the full story:
That ought to give you a lift as you step into the new year, eh? (Besides, of course for you fans, England's thrashing of South Africa at cricket of the Test-ing variety this week!)
Here's wishing you all a fulfilling 2010!
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instead of the long, thrilling trips I took with the money—to Bangkok, Istanbul, Cape Town. Devaluing my
body, you say? It sure didn't feel like that in first class.