Creature of the month: The Markhor

The Markhor (Capra falconeri) is a large species of wild goat that is found in northeastern Afghanistan, Pakistan (Gilgit-Baltistan, Hunza-Nagar Valley, northern and central Pakistan, and some parts of Jammu and Kashmir), India, southern Tajikistan and southern Uzbekistan. The species is classed by the IUCN as Endangered, as there are fewer than 2,500 mature individuals which continued to decline by an estimated 20% over 2 generations. The Markhor is the National Animal of Pakistan.The colloquial name is thought by some to be derived from the Persian word mar, meaning snake, and khor, meaning "eater", which is sometimes interpreted to either represent the species' ability to kill snakes, or as a reference to its corkscrewing horns, which are somewhat reminiscent of coiling snakes. As the folklore goes, Markhor has the ability to kill a snake and eat it. Thereafter while chewing the cud, a foam like substance comes out of its mouth which drops on ground and dries. This foam like substance is sought after by the local people who believe it is useful in extracting snake poison from snake bitten wounds.

Markhor stand 65 to 115 centimetres (26 to 45 in)

at the shoulder, 132 to 186 centimetres (52 to 73 in) in length and weigh from 32 to 110 kilograms (71 to 240 lb). The mating season takes place in winter, during

which, the males fight each other by lunging, locking horns and attempt to push each other off balance. The gestation period lasts 135–170 days, and usually result in the birth of one or two kids, though rarely three. Markhor live in flocks, usually numbering nine animals, composed of adult females and their young. Adult males are largely solitary. Their alarm call closely resembles the bleating of domestic goats. Early in the season the males and females may be found together on the open grassy patches and clear slopes among the forest. During the summer, the males remain in the forest, while the females generally climb to the highest rocky ridges above.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has classified the Markhor as an endangered species, meaning it is in danger of facing extinction in the near future if conservation efforts are not maintained. Numbers between 2,000 and 4,000 exist in the wild.

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markhor

Gadget of the month: Kingston DataTraveler 310

The King of memory sticks:

The Kingston DataTraveler 310, is the king of all memory sticks- with a whopping 256GB! But at R7 550 it might just be a tad expensive. Just don't lose it!!

Wallpaper of the month

Green Politics-Part 1

Put a stop on monoculture (Monoculture is the agricultural practice of producing or growing one single crop over a wide area) and support local biodiversity resources.

Support local food systems by encourage growing multiple species and a wide variety of crops at the same time and same place. Encourage and support the rights of local communities to shape their food systems, exercising democratic control over matters of health, safety, and welfare.

Our current intensive food systems and associated policies favor big business while directly contradicting communities and local governments promoting food systems that enhance biodiversity, community health, food security, ecosystem health, and local economics.

Say no to GM crops and support local crops that are already adapt to their natural environment which in turn support local biodiversity.

Track of da Month: Jay-Z & Kanye West Ft. Beyonce, Lift Off

"Lift Off" is the new released track off of Jay-Z and Kanye West's collaboration album "Watch The Throne.

downloadhere:http://www27.zippyshare.com/v/11430691/file.html

Quote This....

Flowers wilt. Chocolates melt. Roaches are forever!

Fantasy Premier League 2011/12

The new Barclays Premier League season kicking off this Saturday you have until 11:30am BST on the opening day to register your Fantasy Premier League team or finalise your team selection.

Enter or manage your team now: http://fantasy.premierleague.com

Chew On This:

On the planet Mercury the days are twice as long as the years. The planet takes 87.97 Earth days to orbit once around the sun, but rotates very slowly. This means that one year of daytime is followed by one year of night. From the surface, the sky looks butterscotch in colour because of a haze of dust.

Creature of the month: Yangtze River Dolphin

The Yangtze River Dolphin – This species of dolphin is found exclusively in China, and given the record expansion of China’s economic and social system, it has caused the Yangtze to become all but extinct as it has to compete for it’s habitat and limited resources of food with an enormous population.

River dolphins are the four living species of dolphin which reside in freshwater rivers andestuaries. River dolphins inhabit areas of Asia and South America. River dolphins may be white, pink, yellow, brown, gray, or black.

Farewell to the Yangtze River Dolphin-. A December 2006 survey found no members of Lipotidae (commonly known as the Yangtze River dolphin) and declared the species functionally extinct. It is believed that overfishing, damming and sub-aquatic sonar pollution (which interfered with the dolphin's sonar-based method of locating food), led to the extinction. Reuters news reported this their first record of an aquatic mammalian extinction in 50 years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_dolphin