It’s World Octopus Day! Here Are eight awesome octopodes
Hooray—it’s world octopus day. Today we celebrate the excellent eight-legged creatures that grace our oceans, and occasionally even venture out of the water. (Even Aristotle knew: “the only cephalopod to go out on to dry land is the octopus.”) What other animal has three hearts, a brain-like set of nerves in each leg and blue blood? What other 50-pound beast could fit through a two-inch hole?
Paul Watson: “In Costa Rica, all sharks have been placed on death row”
Watson took to Facebook on Tuesday to respond to a story published by ICR News, and condemn the government of Costa Rica as a “disgrace to the international conservation community.”
Costa Rica says it will not protect any shark species of “commercial interest”
In a move that is being condemned by numerous conservation groups, the government of Costa Rican president, Luis Guillermo Solis has promised the commercial fishing sector that it will “not propose or support” the inclusion of shark species with commercial value to be protected in Costa Rican waters – or anywhere, for that matter – regardless if such species are threatened or endangered.
Survivors unlikely as death toll hits 131 in Guatemala City mudslide
Authorities in Guatemala say there is little hope of finding any more survivors from last Thursday’s landslide which swept down on to a town near the capital.
Is the Arenal Volcano waking from its slumber?
Visitors and residents near the Arenal Volcano have reported seeing plumes of “smoke” rising from the volcano in recent days, sparking fear – or better, hope on the part of area tourism entrepreneurs – that Arenal might be waking from the state of slumber it entered in 2010.
Construction of Nicaragua Canal postponed after details of environmental study made public
The delay comes after the Britain-based ERM consulting company that performed the project’s environmental impact assessment said several issues should be further researched before the project proceeds. Those issues include seismic risks to the locks and whether there is sufficient water to fill the 175-mile canal.
Millions in Central America, Africa, Asia face hunger due to record El Niño: Oxfam
Millions of the world’s poorest people in Southern Africa, Asia and Central America will face hunger this year and next due to a powerful El Niño, according to the international aid charity Oxfam.
4.6 temblor strikes Quepos; strong shaking reported in Central Valley (updated)
The quake, which struck at 11:51 a.m. on Thursday, caused significant shaking in some areas of the San Jose metro area and the central Pacific coast, according to reports being received by ICR News.
