Cambodia’s ‘Jungle Woman’ Rochom P’ngieng Flees Back to Wild

And thanks to Dave Koenig for sending me this. I have homo sapien on my list already. but seeing this woman in the wild might be more authentic!

http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/cambodias-jungle-woman-rochom-pngieng-flees-back-to-wild/19496441

Lion Count in Gir on the up

Thanks to Steve Anyon-Smith for sending me this

Jon

Lion count in Gir forest up by 52
Express News Service Tags : Gir forest, Narendra Modi Posted: Mon May 03 2010, 01:44 hrs Ahmedabad:

The Gir forest, the last surviving home of Asiatic lions in the subcontinent, has finally brought some cheer to wildlife conservationists. According to the 2010 lion population estimate, there are 411 lions, an increase of 52 over the last count in 2005.
The announcement was made by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in Gandhinagar on Sunday.
Also heartening is the presence of lions now found outside the Gir National Park and Sanctuary in the four districts of Amreli, Bhavnagar, Porbandar and Junagadh, in what is now called the Bruhud (Greater) Gir region.
Latest estimate shows an increase in the numbers of adult females lions as compared to males; there are 162 female lions and 97 male lions.
While Savarkundla, Liliya and adjoining areas of Amreli and Bhavnagar districts have shown a total 43 Asiatic Lions, the coastal areas near Una, Kodinar, Sutrapada and Chhara had around 21 Asiatic Lions. Of the total, 76 Asiatic Lions have been reported in the newer areas, 21 females and 26 males.

Hairy Babirusas

Darren Naish of the Tetrapod Zoology blog has great posts if you have an interest in taxonomy, bizarre animals (extinct and living) and evolutionary biology.

Check out this recent post on hairy babirusas, apparently a different species. There are lots of posts on babirusa evolution and taxonomy on Tetrapod Zoology  if this sort of thing is of interest.

New Trip Report – The Low Countries (Holland, Belgium and Germany)

Holland, Belgium and Germany 2010: Mark Hows, 1 week & 22 mammals including Mouflon and Beech Marten.

New Trip Report – Estonia

Phil Telfer just sent me this trip report from Estonia. I am going to try and go myself soon – It sounds like a nice spot.

Estonia 2010: Phil Telfer, 1 week & 10 species including Eurasian Flying Squirrel, Brown Bears, Raccoon Dogs and Striped Field Mouse.

Jon

New Trip Reports – Argentina & the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica

Trevor Hardaker has added two new trip reports to his site, with some good mammals and great photos.

The Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica 2010: Trevor Hardaker, 2.5 weeks & 16 species including Crabeater, Weddell and Leopard Seals, Sei Whales and Peale’s and Hourglass Dolphins.

Argentina 2009-10: Trevor Hardaker, 2 weeks & 14 species including Patagonian Mara.

New mammals from New Guinea

Including the world’s smallest wallaby species

Newly Discovered: The ‘Pinocchio’ of Frogs, a Gargoyle-Faced Gecko, and the World’s Smallest Wallaby
ScienceDaily (May 18, 2010) — A scientific expedition to a pristine wilderness once dubbed “The Lost World” by Western media has revealed a stunning diversity of spectacular species, many of which are believed to be new to science, Conservation International (CI) and the National Geographic Society announced, during a week that will mark the 2010 International Day for Biological Diversity.

Syria – quick visit to the Tallila Reserve

I was in Syria a couple of weeks ago and spent a few hours in the Tallila reserve, which was home to Sand Cats at least in 2007. Didn’t see a Sand Cat, but a brief report is here

http://www.mammalwatching.com/Palearctic/palearctsyria.html

Jon

Orcas split into several species

The following link describes the results of a long intensive study by NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center team, led by Bob Pitman.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/04/genetic-sequencing-splits-the-orca-family.php

Africa – West Coast Voyage

David Bishop sent me this brief – but interesting – account of a month long voyage up the west coat of Africa. He was mainly birding but saw a few nice mammals as you might expect, including a Cusimanse and some Sei Whales.

” I’m just in England for a few days before heading back to Australia. This after 35 days on an expedition ship travelling up the entire west coast of Africa. Unfortunately such a trip is rather superficial in its land ventures but I was thrilled to see a couple of Cusimanse in forest in Sierre Leone as I waited for the non-appearance of a Picathartes. Given the amount of time at sea it is perhaps not unsurprising that we had some very good sea mammal sighting including: a pod of very close Short-finned Pilot Whales; several Sei Whales – gosh they are enormous when seen up close; and much to my astonishment a Sperm Whale with its gigantic and distinctive block-like head sticking out of the water. Lots of dolphins but mostly Atlantic Bottle-nosed plus a few Spinners. But as you know cetaceans can be very tough to ID. A morning in Monrovia, Liberia was not exactly riveting, however, several thousand Straw-coloured Bats erupting from there roost in the middle of this city was quite a sight and probably the most memorable thing I saw in that country. But boy I would love to get into some of those extensive forests.”

Jon