OUM EL BOUAGHI: Around 300 pink flamingo chicks were rescued by volunteers in eastern Algeria after the salt lake where they hatched dried up following years of high temperatures and drought.
Thousands of flamingos migrate each year to nest in Lake Tinsilt, located around 450 kilometers (about 280 miles) southeast of the capital Algiers.
It is one of the largest wetlands in the country, with an area of more than 20 square kilometers.
“Barely a month ago there was water here,” volunteer Mourad Ajroud told AFP on Friday, pointing to what is now a vast expanse of cracked earth littered with the carcasses of dead birds.
The disappearance of the lake, which locals and Algerian media attribute to high temperatures and a years-long drought, has driven the adult flamingos away.
They left behind their unhatched eggs and defenseless chicks, dozens of which have died from hunger, thirst, poaching and wolf attacks.
A group of volunteers provided their cars and trucks to transfer 283 pink flamingos about 50 kilometers away to Lake Mahidiya, about 50 kilometers away.
The wetland near Ain Mlila remains flush thanks to a steady flow of water from nearby rivers and lakes.
The rescue operation was initiated by local amateur photographer Tarek Kawajlia, who documents the wildlife in his area, and noticed the decrease in the size of the lake and the flight of birds.
The volunteers carry out “morning and evening patrols to follow the chicks until they recover and are able to fly, so that they can return next year to the sabkha (marsh) and life can resume its normal course,” Kawajlia told AFP.
Ajroud, 53, said the group was not able to save all the birds.
“We couldn’t transport them all,” he said sadly, as another volunteer takes an injured bird to a veterinary clinic.
A few hours after the chicks were released at their new habitat, some adult birds joined them.
“The operation was successful and the parents found their little ones in a magnificent scene,” Kawajlia said in a comment on one of his photos posted to Facebook.
Lake Tinsilt is one of the around 50 bodies of water in Algeria declared wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar international environment treaty to protect wetlands.
Last year, about a hundred pink flamingos died at Lake Telamine in western Algeria’s Oran province due to wastewater pollution, according to environmental activists.
Baby flamingos saved from drought-decimated lake in Algeria
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Baby flamingos saved from drought-decimated lake in Algeria
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Rarely sighted Blanford’s fox caught on camera during UAE wildlife-mapping initiative
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- The fox — strictly nocturnal and rarely caught on camera — was in Fujairah and was mapped as part of the Notice Nature initiative
ABU DHABI: The Blanford’s fox is the latest species to be captured on camera during a wildlife-mapping initiative in the UAE, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported on Friday.
The fox — strictly nocturnal and rarely caught on camera — was in Fujairah and was mapped as part of the Notice Nature initiative, a collaboration between Emirates Nature-WWF, the Fujairah Environment Authority, and Mashreq Bank launched last year.
The initiative uses infrared motion-sensor cameras, which offer a non-intrusive way to monitor wildlife, especially shy species like the Blanford’s fox, and provide an insight into the state of biodiversity in the area and the effectiveness of designating protected areas to wildlife conservation.
While the Blanford’s fox is rated as being of “least concern” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s threat-of-extinction list, it is classified as vulnerable on the National UAE Red List and the Arabia Regional Red List.
Vulnerable species are those whose populations have decreased significantly across the region, making them likely to be classified as endangered in the near future if current challenges persisted.
Andrew Gardner, associate director of biodiversity conservation at Emirates Nature-WWF said in a statement: “We are excited to capture such clear images of the rare and secretive Blanford’s fox. These animals are very rarely seen and so each record gives new information on the distribution of the species and its status.
He continued: “We are confident that we will be able to collect more records of Blanford’s fox and other rare species, such as the Arabian tahr and caracal, in the UAE mountains. This is incredibly valuable scientific information, that feeds into the conservation management of these species.”
Mina Al-Ghurari, group head of marketing and corporate communication at Mashreq, said the sighting showed the importance and effectiveness of local conservation efforts.
“These sightings provide critical insights into the UAE’s rich biodiversity, helping us understand and protect our unique wildlife. We are proud of our collaboration with Emirates Nature-WWF, for this exclusive biodiversity and wildlife mapping system,” she said. “This data not only expands our knowledge of the UAE’s diverse ecosystems but also allows us to address the detrimental impacts of urbanization, pollution, and climate change on the country’s flora and fauna.”
New Pizza Hut concept stores in China help frugal diners save
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SHENZHEN: Fast food giant Pizza Hut is adapting to China’s sluggish economy by opening stores that offer smaller, cheaper versions of its favorites to attract cost-conscious diners, a strategy its parent Yum China is also using for other brands.
In the busy Bao An District of Shenzhen, a small lunchtime queue stood outside the recently opened Pizza Hut Wow store, which sells smaller pepperoni pizza servings for 29 yuan ($4), pastas for around 15 yuan, and a steak for 35 yuan, all priced significantly less than at traditional Pizza Hut restaurants.
“China’s catering industry is very competitive right now, but we’re trying to be innovative,” a Pizza Hut Wow spokesperson said. “This kind of store is more for individuals, like a small plate of tapas. In the past, Pizza Hut has been set up for families sharing.”
The first Pizza Hut Wow store opened in Guangzhou in May and there are now more than 100 around the country, with a target of 200 by the end of the year, Yum China said.
The company, which operates 10,931 KFC stores and 3,504 Pizza Hut stores, has also been experimenting with smaller store formats for KFC and rolling out more KCOFFEE kiosks to capitalize on a growing demand for cut-price coffee in China.
During a recent post-earnings call with analysts, Joey Wat, Yum China’s CEO, said Pizza Hut Wow and KCOFFEE “showed great future potential.”
According to independent food and beverage analyst Zhu Danpeng, large chains like Yum China-operated KFC and McDonald’s, which last year bought back a larger share of its China business, are among those best placed to win in the current low-cost environment.
“Pizza Hut is entering a price level that they didn’t cover in the past, I think it’s the right thing to do,” he said.
“The winner will be highly cost-effective, with a good service system. Its supply chain must be very mature. If you are not a big company you won’t be able to have these resources.”
Restaurant owners across China cheered the end of draconian COVID restrictions in late 2022, hoping that would lead to a bounceback in business, but more than 18 months later, job uncertainty, a slowing economy and weak consumer sentiment have hit the sector hard.
According to the Beijing Statistics Bureau, profits in the city’s catering business sector, which includes restaurants, dropped by 88 percent in the first half of 2024, compared to the same period last year. In Shanghai, revenue for the hospitality industry, which also groups restaurants, decreased by 2.6 percent year-on-year, with overall operating profit turning negative.
Last week, stalwart Taiwanese dumpling chain Din Tai Fung said it would close more than a dozen outlets in mainland China. According to catering industry news outlet Canguanju, those closures will add to more than a million food and beverage outlets shutting shop across the country in the first half of 2024.
Panic on the streets of Paris for Australian Olympic breaker ‘Raygun’
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- Experts and casual viewers alike bewildered with her unconventional routine that included mimicking a kangaroo
- Rachael Gunn had previously defended how she qualified for Paris, and reiterated it on the TV program The Project
BRISBANE: For Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, first came her polarizing performance at the Olympics, followed by her panic when she was chased through the streets of Paris.
The 37-year-old university lecturer from Sydney — her birthday was on Monday — bewildered expert and casual viewers alike in the sport of breaking with an unconventional routine that included mimicking a kangaroo.
Breaking was being contested at an Olympics for the first time. And it might be a one-and-done, not scheduled on the Olympic program for Los Angeles in 2028 or for Brisbane, Australia in 2032.
“Raygun” as she was known, was later ridiculed on social media, with some posts also questioning the Olympic qualifying process.
In a television interview for The Project on Australia’s Channel 10, she told of being chased by cameras through Paris streets and how she dealt with the very public reaction to her performance.
“That was really wild,” she said in rare public comments since the event. “If people are chasing me, what do I do? That really did put me in a state of panic. I was nervous to be out in public. It was pretty nerve-wracking for a while.”
She apologized for the commotion, but again defended her performance and said she was thankful for support from others in the sport.
“It is really sad to hear those criticisms,” she said. “I am very sorry for the backlash that the community has experienced, but I can’t control how people react. The energy and vitriol that people had was pretty alarming.
“While I went out there and had fun, I did take it very seriously. I worked my butt off preparing for the Olympics and I gave my all, truly. I think my record speaks to that.”
She had previously defended how she qualified for Paris, and reiterated it on the TV program.
“I won the Oceania championships. It was a direct qualifier,” Gunn said. “There were nine judges, all from overseas. I knew my chances were slim as soon as I qualified,” for the Olympics.
“People didn’t understand breaking and were just angry about my performance,” she added. “The conspiracy theories were just awful and that was really upsetting. People are now attacking our reputation and our integrity — none of them were grounded in facts.”
One of the most highly-critical reactions to her performance was a sketch on American comedian Jimmy Fallon’s late-night television show.
She said she was still “not in a place to watch it.”
Otherwise, Gunn said she’s just trying to cope a month later, with some help from therapy.
“I definitely have my ups and downs, good and bad days,” she said. “It has been so amazing to see the positive response to my performance. I never thought I’d be able to connect with so many people in a positive way ... but it definitely has been tough at times. Fortunately, I got some mental health support pretty quickly.”
New Zealand’s Maori anoint new queen
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- Nga Wai hono i te po Paki is the youngest daughter of King Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII
- New Zealand’s Maori make up roughly 17 percent of the population, or about 900,000 people
NGARUAWAHIA, New Zealand: New Zealand’s Maori chiefs anointed a 27-year-old queen as their new monarch Thursday, a surprise choice hailed as a symbol of change for the country’s Indigenous community.
Nga Wai hono i te po Paki was cheered by thousands as she ascended a high-backed wooden throne during an elaborate ceremony on the country’s North Island.
She is the youngest daughter of King Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, who died on Friday after heart surgery.
After being selected by a council of chiefs, Nga Wai was ushered to the throne by a phalanx of bare-chested and tattooed men bearing ceremonial weapons -- who chanted, screamed and shouted in acclamation.
Wearing a wreath of leaves, a cloak and a whalebone necklace, she sat beside her father’s coffin as emotive rites, prayers and chants were performed.
The late king had laid in state for six days before being taken down the Waikato River on a flotilla of four war canoes each powered by more than a dozen rowers.
His funerary procession passed throngs of onlookers camped on the riverbank, before stopping at the foot of sacred Mount Taupiri.
From there, three rugby teams acted as pallbearers, shepherding his coffin up steep slopes to the summit and the final resting place of past Maori royals.
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Ceremonial, yet potent symbol of identity
The Maori monarch is a mostly ceremonial role with no legal status.
But it has enormous cultural, and sometimes political, significance as a potent symbol of Maori identity and kinship.
As the king’s only daughter and his youngest child, Queen Nga Wai was perhaps considered an outside choice to become his successor.
One of her two elder brothers had taken on many ceremonial duties during their father’s periods of ill health and had been tipped to take over.
“It is certainly a break from traditional Maori leadership appointments which tend to succeed to the eldest child, usually a male,” Maori cultural advisor Karaitiana Taiuru told AFP.
Taiuru said it was a “privilege” to witness a young Maori woman become queen, particularly given the ageing leadership and mounting challenges faced by the community.
“The Maori world has been yearning for younger leadership to guide us in the new world of AI, genetic modification, global warming and in a time of many other social changes that question and threaten us and Indigenous Peoples of New Zealand,” he said.
“These challenges require a new and younger generation to lead us.”
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New Zealand’s Maori make up roughly 17 percent of the population, or about 900,000 people.
Maori citizens are much more likely than other New Zealanders to be unemployed, live in poverty or suffer cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes and have higher suicide rates.
Maori life expectancy is seven years less than other New Zealanders.
The Kiingitanga, or Maori King movement, was founded in 1858 to unite New Zealand’s tribes and provide a single counterpart to the colonial ruler, Britain’s Queen Victoria.
“People think Maori people are one nation -- we’re not. We’re many tribes, many iwi. We have different ways of speaking out,” said Joanne Teina, who had travelled from Auckland for the ceremony.
“The Kiingitanga was created to create unity -- among people who were fighting each other for thousands of years, before Pakeha (Europeans) came along. Now we just fight them.”
Legacy forged through respect and ‘aroha’
Queen Nga Wai is the eighth Maori monarch and the second queen.
Her grandmother, Queen Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, held the position for four decades until 2006.
The new queen studied the Maori language and customary law at New Zealand’s Waikato University. She also taught “kapa haka” performing arts to children.
To mark the anniversary of the king’s coronation in 2016, she received a traditional Maori “moko” tattoo on her chin.
King Tuheitia, a 69-year-old truck-driver-turned-royal, died on Friday, just days after heart surgery and celebrations marking the 18th anniversary of his coronation.
Tens of thousands of Indigenous citizens and “Pakeha” -- those of European ancestry -- visited to pay respects, mourn and celebrate New Zealand’s rich Maori heritage.
Among them was Auckland-based Darrio Penetito-Hemara, who told AFP the king had united “many people across Aotearoa (New Zealand) who don’t often see eye-to-eye”.
The king leaves a legacy forged “through respect, through aroha (love)”, Penetito-Hemara said.
Iranian 2.46m para volleyballer struggles to find bed big enough
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- His coach Hadi Rezaeigarkani told the Olympics.com website that the 36-year-old was planning to sleep on the floor of the Olympic Village because his bed wasn’t big enough
- Mehrzad, the second-tallest living man in the world, was diagnosed at a young age with acromegaly, a rare condition that leads to the production of excessive growth hormones
PARIS: Iran’s sitting volleyball star Morteza Mehrzad has finally found a bed big enough to accommodate his 2.46-meter (8 ft 0.85 in) frame at the Paris Paralympics.
His coach Hadi Rezaeigarkani told the Olympics.com website last Friday that the 36-year-old was planning to sleep on the floor of the Olympic Village because — unlike during the last Games in Tokyo — his bed wasn’t big enough.
“In Tokyo, they have made a special bed, but unfortunately not here,” Rezaeigarkani said. “He’s going to lie on the floor.”
Mehrzad, the second-tallest living man in the world, was diagnosed at a young age with acromegaly, a rare condition that leads to the production of excessive growth hormones.
All athletes in the village are sleeping on the same sort of eco-friendly and modulable beds used at the Tokyo Olympics, which have mattresses made from recycled plastic and bases manufactured from cardboard.
The Paris organizing committee told AFP in a statement that they had initially provided two extensions for Mehrzad at the request of the Iranian Paralympic Committee.
“A third was later requested by the Iranian Paralympic Committee which has also been supplied to them,” the statement said. “Paris 2024 is in contact with the Iranian Paralympic Committee and the athlete now has all necessary equipment for his comfort.”
Mehrzad joined Iran’s national sitting volleyball team after the coach spotted him on a reality TV show about people grappling with difficulties in their lives.
During his teenage years, he had a bicycle accident which injured his pelvis and stunted the growth of his right leg.
He won gold medals in the 2016 and 2020 Summer Paralympics and earned the Gold Ball for the world’s best player in 2019, 2021 and 2022.
The beds at the Paris and Tokyo Olympics have frequently hit headlines, with reports claiming they were “anti-sex” because they had been designed to be too flimsy to support the weight of two adults.
Many athletes have since debunked the suggestion by posting videos of themselves jumping on the beds which are sturdy enough to support the weight of several people.