Rare Cheetahs Photographed

One of the first camera-trap photos of cheetahs in Algeria. The images were snapped as part of the first systematic camera trap survey across the central Sahara. 

Another of the first camera-trap photos of cheetahs in Algeria. The images were snapped as part of the first systematic camera trap survey across the central Sahara.

Four Saharan cheetahs have been photographed as part of the first systematic camera-trap survey across the central Sahara. 

The four big cats — a subspecies of cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki) — were roaming in Algeria and identified via spot patterns unique to each individual, as part of a survey covering an area of 2,800 square kilometres (1,081 square miles). 

"The Saharan cheetah is critically endangered, yet virtually nothing is known about the population, so this new evidence, and the ongoing research work, is hugely significant," said Sarah Durant, Zoological Society of London (ZSL) senior research fellow. 

The Northwest African cheetah is found over the Sahara desert and savannas of North and West Africa, respectively, including Algeria, Niger, Mali, Benin, Burkina-Faso and Togo. The populations are very fragmented and small, with the biggest thought to be found in Algeria. The ongoing surveys in the region will also work with the local Tuareg pastoralist community to find out more about the ecology of the cheetah and identify threats to it.  

The survey was conducted by researchers from ZSL, the Office du Parc National de l’Ahaggar (OPNA), and the Université de Béjaïa, with support from the Wildlife Conservation Society and Panthera.

Farid Belbachir, who is implementing the field survey, said: "This is an incredibly rare and elusive subspecies of cheetah, and current population estimates, which stand at less than 250 mature individuals, are based on guesswork. This study is helping us to turn a corner in our understanding, providing us with information about population numbers, movement and ecology."

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Underrated Predators

Dolphin
Using sonar location to find their prey, a dolphin pod will work cooperatively to herd fish into a tight ball before taking turns swooping through the mass to eat as many fish as possible. Some dolphin subspecies even drive fish into shallow water where they are unable to escape, and some will use their tails to stun their prey. These underrated predators should be acknowledged for their ability to work as a team and their devastatingly effective hunting methods. 


Short-tailed shrew

Like many rodents, this shrew has to eat at least the equivalent of its own body weight every day due to its rapid metabolism. What makes this worthy of our list of underrated predators is the fact that, unlike most mammals, the short-tailed shrew is poisonous. Only four or five inches long, and weighing around half to one ounce, the neurotoxin they produce is powerful enough to subdue prey much larger than itself, such as frogs and mice. They’re armed with 32 razor-sharp teeth, noses that are filled with olfactory receptors that allow them to smell prey, and dense whiskers to aid in tactile detection. Rodents are usually seen as prey rather than predators, but this tiny animal works to redress that balance. 


Harpy eagle

Amazingly, despite being the strongest eagle in the world, this is a bird far less famous than many of its cousins. This underrated predator grows to about three-and-a-half-feet tall, with a wingspan that's twice as long. The harpy eagle has talons that are up to five inches long, longer than the claws of a full-grown grizzly bear. It can lift prey up to three-quarters its own body weight, including monkeys, sloths and other tree-dwelling mammals, as well as other birds such as macaws. The harpy eagle benefits from excellent eyesight, being able to spot an inch-long object from distances greater than 200 yards.


Army ants

Most of us will have heard of these insects, but we probably don’t appreciate just how formidable they really are. There are several different species of army ant, but the ones from the Amazon are the most powerful. The soldier ants can grow to half an inch long, with powerful jaws half their length. They move as a single predatory force across the jungle floor, one million blind ants attacking anything unable to get out of their way, including insects, frogs, lizards and other animals vastly bigger than themselves, making tens of thousand of kills a day.  


Honey badger

With a name like this, you would be forgiven for thinking this is a fairly cute little animal. In reality, the honey badger is one of the most ferocious animals on the planet, and pound for pound it's probably the most fearless. Standing around a foot tall, the honey badger’s diet includes almost anything it can catch, including cobra, black mamba, and even jackals and small crocodiles. It has extremely sharp teeth, and fore claws that are up to two inches long, helping make it an adept climber and allowing it to raid beehives for the nutritious larvae inside. This underrated predator is so fearless that it will continue eating while being attacked by a swarm of angry African bees.


Chameleon

When people think of predatory reptiles, thoughts inevitably turn to crocodiles, Komodo dragons and monitor lizards, but few would credit the chameleon for its deadly hunting prowess. A highly specialized group of lizards, these underrated predators benefit from stereoscopic eyes that enable them to see a full 360 degrees and to focus on two different points at once. They can even see ultraviolet light. Once they’ve located their prey, their tongue (three times their own body length) extends to hit its prey in about 30 thousandths of a second, stunning the insect and pulling it back to be crushed by the chameleon’s jaws.  


White-mustached Portia 

No list of predators would be complete without an arachnid, and this little spider gets our vote. This spider is small, about the size of a thumbnail, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in intelligence. Believed by scientists to be the most intelligent spider in the world, this underrated predator hunts other spiders and actually works out a strategy for attacking its prey. By arachnid standards it has exceptional eyesight, and it will use trial-and-error tactics to see how to attack a spider it has never encountered before.


African hunting dog

Much less famous than wolves and other canine predators, the African hunting dog is a remarkable animal, being successful in as much as 94% of its hunts. They hunt in large packs of up to 40 animals, relentlessly pursuing and ultimately exhausting their prey before they all move in for the kill. Their numbers allow them to work as a relay team, taking turns chasing their prey before dropping back and allowing another dog to do the work. Perhaps even more remarkable is that these underrated predators will return to feed injured or sick pack members, displaying a tender social side as well as a relentless hunting instinct.


Fossa

Of all the animals on this list, we know the least about the fossa. A predatory mammal unique to Madagascar, an adult is about two-and-a-half-feet long with a tail of similar length. This helps them move with agility through the trees, allowing them to catch lemurs and other animals. Extremely strong for its size, the fossa is also an aggressive hunter, drawing comparisons with mongoose for its bravery. They seem to hunt at all times of the day, which suggests they are also opportunistic predators, although their actual diet remains shrouded in mystery. Given that it weighs less than a cocker spaniel, its role as top predator on Madagascar coupled with its low profile means it ranks as one of the most underrated predators in the world.  


Domestic cat

We are all aware of the incredible diversity and hunting abilities of wild cat species, from the formidable tiger to the streamlined cheetah. But no wild cat is on record as being responsible for wiping out at least six entire species. The domestic cat is seen as a docile and gentle creature, but in the right environment it's more lethal than its wild counterparts, with great eyesight, hearing, agility, and razor-sharp claws. No other animal has had such a devastating impact on the natural world as this top underrated predator

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Amazing Photos From Greenland, Where Unfortunately Ice Runs Away By Hundreds Of Billions Of Tons A Year

Ice sculptures constructed from the spare core samples by the scientists working on the North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling project.


The ice samples, which the researchers analyze for clues to the temperature and concentration of greenhouse gases of the ancient atmosphere, are collected using this drill.



The visiting group of scientists, journalists and Danish environmental officials land at NEEM, the North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling project. NEEM had arranged for the visitors to examine their research, which focuses on the climatic conditions which shaped the warm geologic period before the earth's last Ice Age, an important clue in understanding global warming. The camp is located approximately 600 miles north of the Arctic Circle.


The scientists are drilling deep into the ice, which is 1.5 miles thick, the accumulation of 130,000 years of snow. These researchers are taking ice near the surface, which can help them analyze the last few hundred years of climatic history.




The main drill, which will excavate the deepest ice cores, is being built in this underground site.




The tour also included a visit to the coastal town of Ilulissat, home to one of the most productive glaciers in the world. A tour of Disko Bay, outside the town, revealed massive icebergs floating in the water, the product of accelerated melting.



The main graveyard in Ilulissat, just outside the town, overlooks the icebergs of Disko Bay.


Pools of melted water slice through the Ilulissat icefjord, which is fed by the melting Sermeq Kujalleq glacier.


Greenland has lost an average of 150 billion tons of ice a year over the past four summers.


In 2004, UNESCO declared the Ilulissat icefjord a World Heritage site.



Every year, the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier surrenders around 20 billion tons of icebergs into the ocean. Most of them end up in the northern Atlantic.

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In the Footsteps of Jesus

The life of Jesus was played out in a relatively small geographical area of the world. Most of the major sites associated with Jesus' life are in Israel and the West Bank, with the few exceptions including the journey to Egypt, a healing miracle in Tyre (modern Lebanon) and his possible baptism in modern-day Jordan. But within this area, Jesus traveled a great deal, especially in the course of his three-year ministry in the region of Galilee.

Event in the Life of Jesus

The Annunciation

Nazareth was the hometown of Mary and Joseph. It was here that Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel and told she would conceive a child by the Holy Spirit. Lk 1:26-38

Associated Location

Basilica of the Annunciation  
Nazareth 
The Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth stands on the traditional site of Gabriel's announcement to Mary. In Nazareth you can also visit Mary's Well, where she may have fetched water regularly, and St. Gabriel's Orthodox Church.

Mary's Well

St. Gabriel's Orthodox Church

Birth of Jesus 

Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem, the City of David, while Mary and Joseph were there for the Roman census. Angels announced the event to nearby shepherds and Magi arrived to worship him. Lk 2:1-20; Mt 2:1-9

Associated Location

Church of the Nativity  
Bethlehem
This church in Bethlehem was originally built by Constantine over a cave associated with the manger. A star that marks the traditional site of the Nativity. The relics of the Three Magi are said to be in Cologne Cathedral.

Escape to Egypt

Joseph was warned in a dream to flee to Egypt to avoid the wrath of Herod, who heard about the birth of the "King of the Jews" from the Magi and had all young boys in Judea killed. The family stayed in Egypt until Herod died. Mt 2:13-20


Associated Location

Nile Valley
Egypt
The Holy Family is traditionally believed to have followed a route along the north of Egypt, then south along the Nile River Valley, not staying in any one place too long . There are several churches, convents, and sacred springs along the route.

Childhood

The New Testament says little about Jesus' formative years, but it does indicate that he grew up in Nazareth. He is assumed to have trained as a carpenter under Joseph and to have had a traditional Jewish upbringing. Mt 2:22-23; 21:11; Mk 1:9

Associated Location

Mary's Well  
Nazareth
In Nazareth, pilgrims can visit Mary's Well, where Mary may have drawn water and would have brought the young Jesus along, and the Church of St. Joseph, built over the site of Joseph's workshop where Jesus probably helped.

First Miracle

Jesus performed the first of many miracles at Cana, a small village near Nazareth. Invited to a wedding, Jesus helped the frantic host by turning water into wine. Jn 2:1-11

Associated Location


Franciscan Wedding Church 
Cana (Kafr Kanna) 
It is not known for certain where Cana is located, but the main tradition identifies it with the modern village of Kefr' Kenna, about 7 km northeast of Nazareth. Here there is a Franciscan "Wedding Church."

Baptism 

Jesus was baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist, on the shores of the Jordan River. Here John identified Jesus as the Lamb of God, and a dove was seen to land on Jesus as he came up out of the water. Mt 3 He later returned to the site to teach. Jn 1:40-42

Associated Location

Baptism Site 
Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan, Jordan
The site traditionally identified with Jesus' baptism is east of Jericho in Jordan. It has been extensively excavated and developed since the 1994 peace treaty and there are now many ancient ruins and modern structures to see here.

Temptation in the Wilderness 

After his baptism, Jesus withdrew into the nearby desert to fast and pray for 40 days. The Devil tried three times to tempt Jesus to break his fast or compromise his mission.Matthew 4:1-11


Associated Location

Monastery of the Temptation 
Mount Quarntal
Mount Quarntal, just north of Jericho, is the traditional site of this event, and it is commemorated by the Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Temptation.

Calling of the Disciples

Christ's first disciples were fishermen Jesus encountered on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. He challenged them to leave their nets and become "fishers of men."Mt 5:18-22

Associated Location

Galilee Boat (Jesus Boat)
Kibbutz Ginosar, Galilee 
The Sea of Galilee and the region of Galilee is in northern Israel. A 1st-century fishing boat was recently discovered in the mud here, which may be very similar to the one Jesus used. Known as the Galilee Boat or Jesus Boat, it is on display at Kibbutz Ginosar.

Rejection in Nazareth

After his temptation in the desert, Jesus returned to Nazareth where he grew up and began to preach in the synagogues. When he said "No prophet is accepted in his hometown," the people tried to throw him off a cliff. Luke 4:14-30

Associated Location

Mount Precipice
Mount Kedumim, Nazareth
A clifftop site on Mount Kedumim near Nazareth is traditionally believed to be the site of this event and is known as Mount Precipice. There are few ruins here, but fine views.

Ministry in Galilee 

Most of Jesus' early teachings and miracles occurred around the Sea of Galilee. During this time, he made his home in Capernaum at the family home of St. Peter.

Associated Location

House of St. Peter  
Capernaum
A spaceship-like modern Franciscan church stands on the site of the House of St. Peter in Capernaum, where Jesus lived, healed a paralytic, and healed Peter's mother-in-law.

Feeding of the 5,000

On the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus multiplied just a few loaves and fishes into enough food to feed 5,000 people. Mt 15:32-39

Associated Location

Church of the Loaves and Fishes  
Tabgha
This famous miracle is commemorated by the Church of the Loaves and Fishes at Tabgha, on the northwestern shore of the Galilee. The church features 5th-century mosaics, including one of a basket of bread with two fish.

Sermon on the Mount

The most famous of Jesus' many sermons is the Sermon on the Mount, which begins with the Beatitudes ("Blessed are the meek...) Mt 5-7

Associated Location

Mount of Beatitudes  
Tabgha
According to tradition, the Sermon on the Mount occurred on a small rise at Tabgha, where now stands the octagonal Church of the Beatitudes. There are lovely views from here.

Transfiguration

"Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them." Mt 17:1-9

Associated Location

Mount Tabor
Since the 4th century, this hill rising above the Jezreel Valley has been identified as the Mount of Transfiguration. There are Franciscan and Greek Orthodox churches at the top.

Triumphal Entry

 
In what was to be the last week of his life, Jesus entered into Jerusalem on a donkey, while cheering crowds lauded him with palm fronds.


Associated Location

Palm Sunday Procession
Jerusalem
Religious processions take place in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday each year to commemorate this event.


 Raising of Lazarus
Jesus raised a man named Lazarus from the dead after he had been in the tomb four days. Jn 11:1-44

Associated Location

Tomb of Lazarus 
Bethany 
In Bethany, pilgrims can visit the Tomb of Lazarus, which has been revered from an early date. There is also a Franciscan Church of St. Lazarus that stands on the site of earlier churches.

Anointed at Bethany 

Jesus stayed at the house of Simon the Leper, where his feet were anointed with perfume by Mary. Mk 14:1-10

Associated Location

House of Simon the Leper 
Bethany
Near a modern Greek Orthodox church in Bethany are substantial ruins that belong to the Orthodox Patriarchate and are traditionally identified as the House of Simon the Leper.

Last Supper

On the night Jesus was betrayed and arrested, he shared a last meal with his disciples. It was during this meal that he instituted the Christian sacrament of the Eucharist. Mk 14:12-26;

Associated Location

Last Supper Room
Jerusalem 
The event is traditionally associated with the Last Supper Room on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. The event was most famously commemorated by Leonardo da Vinci's fresco The Last Supper, which is in a church in Milan.

Prayer, Betrayal and Arrest

After the Last Supper, Jesus led his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane and asked them to keep watch while he prayed. They fell asleep, and then fled when Jesus was identified by Judas and arrested. Mt 26:36-56; Mk 14:32-51


Associated Location

Basilica of the Agony 
Jerusalem 
The Church of All Nations (or Basilica of the Agony) marks the place where Jesus prayed alone and in agony. The Cave of Gethsemane marks the site of the betrayal.

Trial and Condemnation by Pilate 

After being condemned by the Sanhedrin, Jesus is taken before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate for trial. At the instigation of the crowd, Jesus is sentenced to death by crucifixion. Mt 27; Mk 15

Associated Location

Chapel of the Condemnation or Citadel
Jerusalem
On the Via Dolorosa is the Chapel of the Condemnation, built over the site traditionally identified with the trial of Jesus. But a more likely historical candidate for the site is the Citadel, which was the royal palace during the time of Christ and is where Pilate would have likely resided.

Flagellation

Jesus was flogged by Roman soldiers before being led to his execution. Mt 27:27-30

Associated Location

Monastery of the Flagellation
Jerusalem
This event is commemorated in the Franciscan Monastery of the Flagellation on the Via Dolorosa, next to the Chapel of the Condemnation.

Walk to Calvary

Jesus was made to carry his own cross from the place of his condemnation to Calvary. Jn 17:19


Associated Location


Via Dolorosa 
Jerusalem
The Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem is believed to be the path Jesus took to Calvary, where he was crucified. Stations of the Cross mark various events along the way, some of which are not recorded in the New Testament.

Crucifixion 

Jesus was crucified at "a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull)" between two thieves. Afterh about three hours of suffering and mocking, Jesus "gave up his spirit." Mt 27:32-55

Associated Location


Church of the Holy Sepulchre  
Jerusalem
The site of Jesus' crucifixion is believed to be the area identified as Calvary within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. A Greek Orthodox altar stands directly over the rocky outcrop on which the cross of Christ is believed to have stood. The rock can be touched through a hole on the floor under the altar.

Burial and Resurrection 

"As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away." Mt 27:57-60


Associated Location

Church of the Holy Sepulchre or Garden Tomb
Jerusalem
The holiest site in Jerusalem, and indeed all of Christianity, is the Tomb of Christ, located within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The church was built around the tomb by Constantine. Pilgrims can see the place where Jesus' body was laid as well as a piece of the stone that was rolled away. An alternative site is the Garden Tomb outside the walls, which has less claims to authenticity but is popular especially with Protestant pilgrims.

Post-Resurrection Appearance

Jesus appeared to his disciples and others in various places and times after his resurrection. The first time was to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, who did not recognize their Lord at first. Lk 24


Associated Location

Emmaus
The site of Emmaus Nikopolis, 18 miles from Jerusalem on the road to Jaffa, has been identified as the biblical Emmaus since as early as the 3rd century. However, its authenticity is unlikely. Today there are ruins of a Byzantine-Crusader basilica and a museum on the site.

 Post-Resurrection Appearance

The third time Jesus appeared was on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, where he helped Peter and other disciples catch a netful of fish, then shared breakfast with them. 
Jn 21


Associated Location

Church of the Primacy of Peter 
Tabgha
A Franciscan chapel stands on the site of a 4th-century church just offshore near Tabgha. A large rock is revered as the place where Jesus laid out fish and bread for his disciples, and reinstated Peter with the words "Feed my sheep."

Ascension

"When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy." Lk 24:50-51; Acts 1:9-11

Associated Location

Chapel of the Ascension 
Mount of Olives, Jerusalem 
The traditional site of Jesus' ascension into heaven after his Resurrection is marked by the Chapel and Mosque of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives. The chapel includes an impression of Christ's footprint.

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