Video: Parrots, The Universe and Everything (again)

Renee in Ohio has transcribed the conclusion of Douglas Adams' "Parrots, The Universe and Everything" video speech that we posted about way back in January 2005.

The full 87 minute video can be viewed at UCTV-University of California Television, and Renee's partly transcribed text can be found over at the ePluribus Media Community. I've always loved the bit about the puddle...

I mean, there's no other conclusion you can come to. And it's rather like a puddle waking up one morning--I know they don't normally do this, but allow me, I'm a science fiction writer (laughter). A puddle wakes up one morning and thinks "Well, this is a very interesting world I find myself in. It fits me very neatly. In fact, it fits me so neatly, I mean, really precise, isn't it? (Laughter) It must have been made to have me in it!" And the sun rises, and he's continuing to narrate the story about this hole being made to have him in it. The sun rises, and gradually the puddle is shrinking and shrinking and shrinking, and by the time the puddle ceases to exist, it's still thinking, it's still trapped in this idea, that the hole was there for it. And if we think that the world is here for us, we will continue to destroy it in the way in which we have been destroying it, because we think we can do no harm.

Also, check out Renee's new Douglas Adams Tribute Page on Squidoo.

Northern White Rhinos: Lulu gives birth in Budapest

A lot of baby news today it seems. Pass the cigars around....

MSNBC and other sites are reporting that Lulu, the Northern White Rhino in Budapest Zoo, has given birth to the a calf conceived by IVF. I'll be honest here, I didn't even know she was pregnant again. The first attempt resulted in failure, as we sadly reported back in August 2005.

But it would appear Lulu was successfully implanted again. It must have been very soon after the first calf died because she has been pregnant for another 16 months.

The world's first rhino conceived by artificial insemination has been born at Budapest Zoo, officials said in a statement on Wednesday.

The female baby rhino, born at 5:55 p.m. on Tuesday, weighed in at 128 lbs. "The little one seemed active and vital. An hour after being born it stood up on its own legs," the statement said.

The baby rhino has yet to be named, said zoo spokesman Zoltan Hanga, who added the zoo hoped to find a sponsor for her.

This is really terrific news.

And finally, many thanks to Mark Pritchard for his generous £50 donation to our Save The Rhino fundraiser at JustGiving. We're doing very well, and have now raised a total of £265.

Komodo Dragons: Virgin Birth produces five hatchlings!

The BBC and many other sites are reporting the remarkable hatching of five male Komodo Dragon babies from the "virgin" Flora at Chester Zoo in England. The page includes a Video report.

Flora produced a clutch of 10 eggs without mating at Chester Zoo, Cheshire, in May 2006.

Although other lizards reproduce this way, it has only recently been recognised in Komodo dragons.

The five male hatchlings are up to 18 inches (46cm) long and weigh about 4ozs (113g). Two eggs are still in incubation and three others collapsed.

More coverage at MSNBC.com.

Other reptile species reproduce asexually in a process known as parthenogenesis. But Flora’s virginal conception, and that of another Komodo dragon earlier this year at the London Zoo, are the first time it has been documented in a Komodo dragon.

The evolutionary breakthrough could have far-reaching consequences for endangered species.

Mountain Gorillas: Dian Fossey Field News and Gorilla Sounds

January's DFGFI Field News is now online with news of a HUGE gathering of Mountain Gorillas from Beetsme's and Pablo's group.

Karisoke field staff witnessed an exciting start to the New Year with an interaction between Beetsme’s and Pablo’s group – an incredible 83 gorillas all together. On Jan. 2, field staff arrived at Beetsme’s group and found silverbacks from both groups interacting together. Each silverback was in a stiff-legged strut stance – a posture used by silverbacks to display their strength.

Also, check out their Gorilla Sounds Flash application.

DFGFI brings you closer to the gorillas with our special gorilla vocalization recordings. With this fun and informative interactive flip book, you will view gorilla photos, read gorilla sound descriptions, and then hear the audio recordings of their vocalizations!

Baiji Dolphins: Wake of the Baiji - San Diego event

From the San Diego CityBEAT...

WAKE OF THE BAIJI at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps, 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, 858-534-FISH. From 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, Robert Pitman, of the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, discusses the extinction risks of the Baiji, the Yangtze River dolphin, and the Gulf of California porpoise. RSVP by calling 858-534-4109.

Baiji Dolphins: Scientists aim to save ‘EDGE’ species

MSNBC.com covers a new scientific initiative that was launched this week. The "EDGE" species plan aims to help save some of the world's most endangered animals from extinction. Although the Baiji Dolphin tops the initial list, I think it's probably a little too late for that particular cetacean.

With an initial list of 10 — including a venomous shrew-like creature, an egg-laying mammal and the world’s smallest bat — the program will give last ditch conservation aid where to date there has been little or none.

“We are focusing on EDGE species — that means they are Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered,” said Zoological Society of London scientist Jonathan Baillie.

Full story at MSNBC.com.

More information about the Edge Of Existence program can be found at www.edgeofexistence.org. It is an excellent site with some fabulous photographs and information.

The top of the list currently appears as follows...

1. Yangtze River dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer)
2. Long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus bruijni)
3. Riverine rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis)
4. Cuban solenodon (Solenodon cubanus)
5. Hispaniolan solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus)
6. Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)
7. Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)
8. Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus)
9. Northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii)
10. Sumatran rabbit (Nesolagus netscheri)
[...]
16. Aye-aye Lemur (Daubentonia madagascariensis)
[...]
84. Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis)

Another Chance To See: Upgrade in progress

I am in the process of upgrading Another Chance To See to the new version of Blogger. Please bear with me as I go through 700+ posts and and sort them with Blogger's new Label feature. This will replace the current hack that I have been using to categorize the posts. This process is sending the RSS feed a little screwy, but it should settle down in a day or two.

I've also used the Custom Domains option to make www.anotherchancetosee.com the new, easy to remember, address for the site. The old blogspot address will automatically forward to the new address, so any bookmarks or favourites will still work.