THE HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO THE GALAXY - Live On Stage, In Philadelphia

Just like to promote a new stage version of Douglas Adams' "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", which is playing in Philadelphia until the end of March.

British comedy at its best! Curio Theatre brings Douglas Adams' modern classic radio script to life with mixed media fun and frolics. Combining original storyboard illustrations created by Nonthaporn and Ray Saunders, over 200 sound effects, and five live actors reading multiple characters, this production promises to be a unique theatrical experience!

It's playing at The Calvary Center (February 16 to March 4) and The Walnut Street Theatre Studio Five (March 8 to 26).

I have my tickets for this small production, and it should make for a different evening's entertainment. Looking forward to it!

BAIJI DOLPHINS - China builds 22 new state-level nature reserves

ChinaView.cn with an article on the latest statement from SEPA (State Environmental Protection Administration)

China announced Thursday a list of 22 new nature reserves under state protection, bringing the total number of such reserves nationwide to 265, covering 9.6 percent of the country's land territory.
[...]
For instance, the Wulushan nature reserve in northern Shanxi Province is home to an endangered species of pheasant, while the fresh water dolphin nature reserve in Tongling City of eastern Anhui Province covers the section of the Yangtze River mostly frequented by the endangered white-flag dolphins.

AMAZONIAN MANATEES - The Manatee Project in Itamaracá, Pernambuco

Here's a rare article on the endangered manatee, from Brazilmax.com.

The Manatee Project (Projeto Peixe Boi) began in 1980 with an initiative by the Federal Government of Brazil to preserve this marine mammal in Brazil, the greatest concentration of which is found at Barra de Mamanguape, in the state of Paraíba. The discovery of this strategic point on the Brazilian coast came after a long survey to identify the remaining population of these animals. And thus that beautiful estuary was the site of the first base station for the project.

Full story at The Manatee Project in Itamaracá, Pernambuco

KAKAPO PARROTS - A New Breeding Season at Whenua Hou

Belated update (sorry) from the Kakapo Recovery Programme, and the new breeding season for our feathered friends.

January 21 2006
So far 14 of the 22 adult male kakapo on Whenua Hou are booming. Despite it being a rough spell of weather over the past few weeks most of these boys still seem to be going hard out in their bowls. We haven't had any matings that we know of but it is still a little early yet. Last summer's first mating wasn't until early February. The rimu fruiting (this is thought to trigger the females to breed) is predicted to be similar to last summer when we had 4 new kakapo chicks.

DODOS - 'Flock of Dodos' movie looks at evolution circus

CNET News with an article on the movie "Flock of Dodos" which pecks holes in the evolution debate.

There's nothing like evolution to get an audience riled up, scientist and filmmaker Randy Olson has discovered.

His film, "Flock of Dodos: The Evolution-Intelligent Design Circus", is the latest on the debate over intelligent design and evolution. Interviewing Harvard scientists, intelligent design advocates and even his 82-year-old mother (a voice of reason who thinks evolution should be taught in science classes and intelligent design taught in philosophy classes), Olson lets both sides speak, and pokes holes in the arguments of both.

FOURTH DOUGLAS ADAMS MEMORIAL LECTURE

"Is the Human an Endangered Species?" by Professor Robert Winston

Thursday 23 March 2006, the Royal Geographic Society, London SW7

Save the Rhino International and the Environmental Investigation Agency are co-hosting the Fourth Douglas Adams Memorial Lecture with a talk by Professor Robert Winston, on Thursday 23 March at the Royal Geographic Society in London SW7. In this talk, he will combine some of the apparently threatening aspects of technology and the trust, or lack of it, in science.

Lord Winston is one of the country’s best-known scientists. As Professor of Fertility Studies at Imperial College, University of London, and Director of NHS Research and Development and Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Hammersmith Hospital, he has made advances in fertility medicine and been a leading voice in the debate on genetic engineering. His television series, including Your Life in Their Hands, Making Babies, The Human Body and The Human Mind and have made him a household name across Britain. He became a life peer in 1995.

The lecture is in aid of Save the Rhino International and the Environmental Investigation Agency, two charities supported by Douglas Adams. Douglas developed his deep-seated interest in wildlife conservation during a 1985 visit to Madagascar, which eventually resulted in a book (Last Chance to See) about the plight of species facing extinction. Douglas Adams died unexpectedly in 2001 at the age of 49. These Memorial Lectures continue to explore the themes in which Douglas was so interested.

For more details on this event go to this Save The Rhino Events page.
You can purchase tickets online @ £10.00

For details on Save the Rhino: www.savetherhino.org
For details on EIA : www.eia-international.org

RHINO CLIMB KILIMANJARO 2006

Please support James Thrift as he climbs Mount Kilimanjaro, in memory of his brother Douglas Adams, to raise much needed funds for Save the Rhino.

www.rhinoclimb2006.com

To see the mountain he has to climb, and if you have Google Earth installed, here's the mountain for you in all its glory - Google Earth - Kilimanjaro. Use the Tilt and Rotate buttons to get a good look! If you don't have it, here's the Google Earth installation page.

Here's James' latest message...

Hi all

It's now just two weeks till the off for Rhino Climb Kilimanjaro 2006, and all the final preparations are in full swing.

Thankfully the recent spate of cold weather has enabled daily early morning treks to check out how well my kit will function, not to mention how well I will function. One benefit of living atop a large hill is that you don't have far to go to get plenty of uphill training, so I can normally get a good 1000ft under my belt before breakfast.

One cause for concern was the apparent reluctance of my nose to allow the passage of air at anything below -5ºC, a real problem when you're at 19,340 feet and -20ºC, but fingers crossed, I've got it sorted. High points have been the arrival of a fleece sleeping bag liner, you gotta get one of those, as well as the sudden realisation that I can at last march incessantly uphill for hours without losing the will to live.

Visit www.rhinoclimb2006.com to find out more about this trip, why I'm doing it, and most importantly how you can sponsor me.

A huge thank you to all those have given their support so far in getting this once in a lifetime trip off the ground, I won't promise you all a postcard from the summit, but the wonders of modern technology may get you a picture the minute I get there!

Best wishes

James

KAKAPO PARROTS - Overseas help for endangered parrot

Here's TVNZ with news on a conservationist who's flying in to help with the parrot's infertitlity problems. http://tvnz.co.nz/

New Zealand conservationists are flying in help from overseas in an effort to save the endangered Kakapo.

The birds have become increasingly infertile but it is hoped a foreign expert can inject new life into the breeding programme.

Endangered Birds Specialist Dr Juan Blanco has flown half way across the world to help solve the fertility problems of its only flightless parrot.

Blanco's expertise is as rare as the birds he works with. The artificial insemination of endangered birds.

HDTV UK - Second series of "Final Chance To Save"

Brief note to mention that HDTV UK informs us that Sky One has commissioned a second series of the rip-off TV series "Final Chance To Save", filmed in High Definition.

The first series was also shot in HD and is also likely to be shown on the channel.

KOMODO DRAGONS - Video

And courtesy of Google Video, here's a nice close up of a Komodo Dragon.

AYE-AYE LEMURS - Video

Courtesy of the YouTube site, here's a marvellous video of an Aye-Aye lemur in Twig-Technology action! Cool!

MOUNTAIN GORILLAS - Video

Another YouTube video here, with footage from a Mountain Gorilla trek.

KAKAPO PARROTS - Waitangi Day

Here's the New Zealand Herald with an article on New Zealand's Waitangi Day celebrations.

The big South Island tribe Ngai Tahu will celebrate Waitangi Day at the country's southernmost runanga, in Awarua, Bluff.

Festivities will feature dignitaries including Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres and Health Minister Pete Hodgson, but they are likely to be upstaged by two rare and shy natives - a one-year-old kakapo chick named Kumi and a 13-year-old takahe called Robin.

Ngai Tahu spokesman Phil Tumaturoa said the birds' visit signified a 'celebration of culture and heritage and the good relationship shared by Ngai Tahu and the Department of Conservation as a representative of the Crown'.