The unique bird and reptile species that make the Galapagos Islands a treasure for scientists and tourists must be preserved, Ecuadorean authorities say and that means the rats must die, millions of them.

A helicopter is to begin dropping nearly 22 tons of specially designed poison bait on an island Thursday, launching the second phase of a campaign to clear out by 2020 non-native rodents from the archipelago that helped inspire Charles Darwins theory of evolution.

The invasive Norway and black rats, introduced by whalers and buccaneers beginning in the 17th century, feed on the eggs and hatchlings of the islands native species, which include giant tortoises, lava lizards, snakes, hawks and iguanas. Rats also have depleted plants on which native species feed.

The rats have critically endangered bird species on the 19-island cluster 1,000 kilometres from Ecuadors coast.

Its one of the worst problems the Galapagos have. (Rats) reproduce every three months and eat everything, said Juan Carlos Gonzalez, a specialist with the Nature Conservancy involved in the Phase II eradication operation on Pinzon island and the islet of Plaza Sur.

Phase I of the anti-rat campaign began in January, 2011, on Rabida island and about a dozen islets, which like Pinzon and Plaza Sur are also uninhabited by humans.

The goal is to kill off all non-native rodents, beginning with the Galapagos smaller islands, without endangering other wildlife. The islands where humans reside, Isabela and Santa Cruz, will come last.

Previous efforts to eradicate invasive species have removed goats, cats, burros and pigs from various islands.

Pinzon is about 1,812 hectares in area, while Plaza Sur encompasses just 9.6 hectares.

This is a very expensive but totally necessary war, said Mr. Gonzalez.

Continued here:

Galapagos Islands park staff begin extermination of millions of rats

The unique bird and reptile species that make the Galapagos Islands a treasure for scientists and tourists must be preserved, Ecuadorean authorities say and that means the rats must die, millions of them.

A helicopter is to begin dropping nearly 22 tons of specially designed poison bait on an island Thursday, launching the second phase of a campaign to clear out by 2020 non-native rodents from the archipelago that helped inspire Charles Darwins theory of evolution.

The invasive Norway and black rats, introduced by whalers and buccaneers beginning in the 17th century, feed on the eggs and hatchlings of the islands native species, which include giant tortoises, lava lizards, snakes, hawks and iguanas. Rats also have depleted plants on which native species feed.

The rats have critically endangered bird species on the 19-island cluster 1,000 kilometres from Ecuadors coast.

Its one of the worst problems the Galapagos have. (Rats) reproduce every three months and eat everything, said Juan Carlos Gonzalez, a specialist with the Nature Conservancy involved in the Phase II eradication operation on Pinzon island and the islet of Plaza Sur.

Phase I of the anti-rat campaign began in January, 2011, on Rabida island and about a dozen islets, which like Pinzon and Plaza Sur are also uninhabited by humans.

The goal is to kill off all non-native rodents, beginning with the Galapagos smaller islands, without endangering other wildlife. The islands where humans reside, Isabela and Santa Cruz, will come last.

Previous efforts to eradicate invasive species have removed goats, cats, burros and pigs from various islands.

Pinzon is about 1,812 hectares in area, while Plaza Sur encompasses just 9.6 hectares.

This is a very expensive but totally necessary war, said Mr. Gonzalez.

Go here to see the original:

Galapagos Islands park staff begin extermination of non-native rats

China Aerospace Science & Industry Corp., the nations biggest maker of non-military drones, expects to double unmanned aerial vehicles sales next year as sovereignty disputes spur government orders.

The country intends to increase monitoring at sea amid a row with Japan about the ownership of islands in the East China Sea, Huang Xingdong, deputy head of CASICs drone-making arm, said in a Nov. 13 interview at the Zhuhai airshow. The state- owned company signed an agreement to supply an undisclosed number of drones to an oceanic agency at the expo.

The government is attaching greater importance to ocean intelligence gathering as the islands disputes heat up, Huang said. He declined to give an exact sales forecast. The company also makes missiles and parts for Chinas space program.

Aviation Industry Corp. of China, the nations largest aerospace company, separately debuted the armed Wing Loong UAV at the show, as China translates economic growth into increasing military might. The country, the biggest spender on defense after the U.S., began sailing its first aircraft carrier this year and its working on more sophisticated fighter jets, naval vessels and cyberwarfare technology

CASIC showcased six civilian and military drones at the Zhuhai show, and unveiled a new brand name, Hiwing, which means Sea Hawker in Chinese. Its UAVs can fly as fast as 700 kilometers per hour (435 miles per hour) and carry as much as 130 kilograms (287 pounds).

The company sold several dozen UAVs in the past few years, with prices ranging from less than 1 million yuan ($160,000) to about 10 million yuan, Huang said. The local non-military UAV market may eventually grow to as big as several billion yuan a year, he said. He didnt give an estimate for defense sales.

The China drone market is not big, but its starting an upward cycle, Huang said. The company also announced an order from a government surveying agency at the show.

The dispute over East China Sea islands caused Chinas relations with Japan to reach their lowest since at least 2005 in September. Demonstrators marched in cities across China and attacked Japanese businesses after Japans government bought the islands from a private owner.

Xi Jinping yesterday replaced Hu Jintao as the head of Chinas Communist Party and as chairman of the partys Central Military Commission. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda plans to dissolve parliament today, triggering elections that polls indicate will be won by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who advocates a tougher stance in the territorial dispute.

To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story: Jasmine Wang in Hong Kong at jwang513@bloomberg.net

Here is the original post:

China Drone Maker Expects to Double Sales on Islands Dispute

QUITO, Ecuador - The unique bird and reptile species that make the Galapagos Islands a treasure for scientists and tourists must be preserved, Ecuadorean authorities say -- and that means the rats must die, hundreds of millions of them.

A helicopter is to begin dropping nearly 22 tons of specially designed poison bait on an island Thursday, launching the second phase of a campaign to clear out by 2020 non-native rodents from the archipelago that helped inspire Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

The invasive Norway and black rats, introduced by whalers and buccaneers beginning in the 17th century, feed on the eggs and hatchlings of the islands' native species, which include giant tortoises, lava lizards, snakes, hawks and iguanas. Rats also have depleted plants on which native species feed.

The rats have critically endangered bird species on the 19-island cluster 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) from Ecuador's coast.

"It's one of the worst problems the Galapagos have. (Rats) reproduce every three months and eat everything," said Juan Carlos Gonzalez, a specialist with the Nature Conservancy involved in the Phase II eradication operation on Pinzon island and the islet of Plaza Sur.

Phase I of the anti-rat campaign began in January 2011 on Rabida island and about a dozen islets, which like Pinzon and Plaza Sur are also uninhabited by humans.

The goal is to kill off all nonnative rodents, beginning with the Galapagos' smaller islands, without endangering other wildlife. The islands where humans reside, Isabela and Santa Cruz, will come last.

Previous efforts to eradicate invasive species have removed goats, cats, burros and pigs from various islands.

Pinzon is about seven square miles (1,812 hectares) in area, while Plaza Sur encompasses just 24 acres (9.6 hectares).

"This is a very expensive but totally necessary war," said Gonzalez.

See original here:

Galapagos Islands rat kill targets 180M

The unique bird and reptile species that make the Galapagos Islands a treasure for scientists and tourists must be preserved, Ecuadorean authorities say - and that means the rats must die, hundreds of millions of them.

Read the original:

Officials set to kill 180 million rats on Galapagos Islands

Kind of a superficial study. The island of Niihau, just off of Kauai is far more significant than all the others put together. It has been owned by the Robinson family since before I lived on Lanai about 60 years ago. It has been preserved so that the native hawaiians still speak the original language and keep the same lifestyle.

I do not think the people from Lanai are overjoyed by the sale from Dole Pineapple ownership to the present owner. Nobody will be able to own their own house. They live a delicate balance of needing enough work to exist and the new property values that may endanger their future. Life on Lanai is a very fascinating topic from the viewpoint of a Social Anthropoligist.

See the original post here:

8 islands that are owned by billionaires

Phase I of the anti-rat campaign began in January 2011 on Rabida island and about a dozen islets, which like Pinzon and Plaza Sur are also uninhabited by humans.

The goal is to kill off all non-native rodents, beginning with the Galapagos' smaller islands, without endangering other wildlife. The islands where humans reside, Isabela and Santa Cruz, will come last.

Previous efforts to eradicate invasive species have removed goats, cats, burros and pigs from various islands.

Pinzon is about seven square miles (1,812 hectares) in area, while Plaza Sur encompasses just 24 acres (9.6 hectares).

"This is a very expensive but totally necessary war," said Gonzalez.

The rat infestation has now reached one per square foot (about 10 per square meter) on Pinzon, where an estimated 180 million rodents reside.

The director of conservation for the Galapagos National Park Service, Danny Rueda, called the raticide the largest ever in South America.

The poisoned bait, developed by Bell Laboratories in the United States, is contained in light blue cubes that attract rats but are repulsive to other inhabitants of the islands. The one-centimeter-square cubes disintegrate in a week or so.

Park official Cristian Sevilla said the poison will be dropped on Pinzon and Plaza Sur through the end of November.

A total of 34 hawks from Pinzon were trapped in order to protect them from eating rodents that consume the poison, Sevilla said. They are to be released in early January.

More here:

Galapagos Islands steps up extermination of 180 million rats

November 16, 2012 - Federal Hockey League (FHL) Matt Anthony was superb between the pipes for the 1000 Islands Privateers, as he did not allow a goal in a 5-0 victory over the Danville Dashers.

Chris Greene was all over the ice for 1000 Islands, as he grabbed two goals in the win. Greene scored at 13:47 into the first period to make the score 1-0 1000 Islands and again while on the power play 9:51 into the third to make the score 4-0 1000 Islands.

The Privateers stifled Danville's power play, and did not give up a single goal while down a man. 1000 Islands was steadier on the defensive front than it has been for much of this season. The Privateers allow 2.5 goals per game. The 37 shots that 1000 Islands put on net surpassed the Privateers' average of 33.6 shots per game this season.

The Privateers additionally got points from Justin MacDonald, who also finished with two goals and one assist to lead the team in points. Michael Fransen also scored for 1000 Islands. Other players who recorded assists for 1000 Islands were Peter Campbell, who had one and Brent Tamane, Zak Ray, and Adam McAllister, who each chipped in two.

The Dashers were often in penalty trouble, totaling four minors and six majors for 48 minutes in penalty time. Danville had been averaging 28.0 minutes in penalties per game. The Dashers could not produce up to they normal offensive output. Danville averages 2.3 goals per game. The Dashers' penalty kill unit could not stop 1000 Islands' power play, which converted on two of three opportunities. Danville's defensemen bolstered the Dashers' offensive attack, as they bombarded Anthony with 20 shots. With 45 shots on target during the contest, Danville exceeded the 38.3 shots it averages per game this year.

The Dashers were led by Henry Coxe, who took eight shots.

The Privateers' Anthony stopped 45 shots out of the 45 that he faced. Josselin St Pierre made 32 saves for Danville on 37 shots.

~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~

Karasiewicz Shorty Sparks Outlaws Over Bluefins

WILLIAMSPORT - Trevor Karasiewicz started the scoring for his Outlaws with a short-handed goal, which happened to be his first goal of the season, to help lead the Outlaws to a 5-2 victory over the Cape Cod Bluefins.

Read the original here:

Anthony, 1000 Islands blank Danville, 5-0

QUITO, Ecuador The unique bird and reptile species that make the Galapagos Islands a treasure for scientists and tourists must be preserved, Ecuadorean authorities say and that means the rats must die, hundreds of millions of them.

A helicopter is to begin dropping nearly 22 tons of specially designed poison bait on an island Thursday, launching the second phase of a campaign to clear out by 2020 non-native rodents from the archipelago that helped inspire Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

The invasive Norway and black rats, introduced by whalers and buccaneers beginning in the 17th century, feed on the eggs and hatchlings of the islands' native species, which include giant tortoises, lava lizards, snakes, hawks and iguanas. Rats also have depleted plants on which native species feed.

The rats have critically endangered bird species on the 19-island cluster 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) from Ecuador's coast.

"It's one of the worst problems the Galapagos have. (Rats) reproduce every three months and eat everything," said Juan Carlos Gonzalez, a specialist with the Nature Conservancy. While his organization has no involvement in the Phase II eradication operation, on Pinzon island and the islet of Plaza Sur, he said it has no objections.

Phase I of the anti-rat campaign began in January 2011 on Rabida island and about a dozen islets, which like Pinzon and Plaza Sur are also uninhabited by humans.

The goal is to kill off all nonnative rodents, beginning with the Galapagos' smaller islands, without endangering other wildlife. The islands where humans reside, Isabela and Santa Cruz, will come last.

Previous efforts to eradicate invasive species have removed goats, cats, burros and pigs from various islands.

Pinzon is about seven square miles (1,812 hectares) in area, while Plaza Sur encompasses just 24 acres (9.6 hectares).

"This is a very expensive but totally necessary war," said Gonzalez.

See the original post here:

Aerial assault on Galapagos Islands targets 180 million rats

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) The unique bird and reptile species that make the Galapagos Islands a treasure for scientists and tourists must be preserved, Ecuadorean authorities say and that means the rats must die, hundreds of millions of them.

A helicopter is to begin dropping nearly 22 tons of specially designed poison bait on an island Thursday, launching the second phase of a campaign to clear out by 2020 non-native rodents from the archipelago that helped inspire Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

The invasive Norway and black rats, introduced by whalers and buccaneers beginning in the 17th century, feed on the eggs and hatchlings of the islands' native species, which include giant tortoises, lava lizards, snakes, hawks and iguanas. Rats also have depleted plants on which native species feed.

The rats have critically endangered bird species on the 19-island cluster 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) from Ecuador's coast.

"It's one of the worst problems the Galapagos have. (Rats) reproduce every three months and eat everything," said Juan Carlos Gonzalez, a specialist with the Nature Conservancy involved in the Phase II eradication operation on Pinzon island and the islet of Plaza Sur.

Phase I of the anti-rat campaign began in January 2011 on Rabida island and about a dozen islets, which like Pinzon and Plaza Sur are also uninhabited by humans.

The goal is to kill off all nonnative rodents, beginning with the Galapagos' smaller islands, without endangering other wildlife. The islands where humans reside, Isabela and Santa Cruz, will come last.

Previous efforts to eradicate invasive species have removed goats, cats, burros and pigs from various islands.

Pinzon is about seven square miles (1,812 hectares) in area, while Plaza Sur encompasses just 24 acres (9.6 hectares).

"This is a very expensive but totally necessary war," said Gonzalez.

Go here to read the rest:

Rat kill in Galapagos Islands targets 180 million

GHOST watchgirls dream indias hungary girlcat ISLANDS creepy indonesia
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge --Hosea 4:6 Youtube - They Sold Their Souls For Music - DONT DIE WITHOUT JESUS CHRIST JESUS SAVES FROM HELL No matter how big your problem, JESUS can help. "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13 ...From:LuckyMythRomans623Views:0 0ratingsTime:00:33More inEntertainment

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Pineville Motel Giving You Your Own Private Island Beach Get A-way, Here in Andros!
Pineville Motel Taking u to your own private islands here in North Andros Bahamas! You Can Party all Night, fishing,dive into our fish world,play beach ball and many more activities all day! Call Eugene at the Pineville Motel 1242 329 2788 cell 557 4354From:pinevillemotelandrosViews:0 0ratingsTime:00:28More inTravel Events

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Pineville Motel Giving You Your Own Private Island Beach Get A-way, Here in Andros! - Video

AreanaVillas #39;s channel
Areana Villas offers the widest choice of holiday villas for those who wish to vacation on the northwest end of Tortola, British Virgin Islands, in the heart of the Caribbean. Areana Villas in the British Virgin Islands1-284-494-5864 Social Media: Areana Villas website areanavillas.com. Pinterest http and Twitter twitter.comFrom:AreanaVillasViews:1 0ratingsTime:00:49More inTravel Events

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Solovky Islands - Islands of Controversy
info: http://www.domuspatris.net The Solovetsky Islands, located in the Onega Bay of the White Sea, 160 kilometres from the Arctic Circle, have been the setting of the famous Russian Orthodox Solovetsky Monastery complex. It was the greatest citadel of Christianity in the Russian North before being turned into a special Soviet prison and labor camp (1921--1939), which served as a prototype for the GULAG system. Then the buildings were then transformed into a naval base. The Orthodox Church reestablished the monastery in 1992, the year when the ensemble was included into UNESCO #39;s World Heritage List. The Solovetsky Islands are now a place of memory and of prayer, they could become a fashionable tourist resort rather than a centre renowned for its profound spiritual dimension. The Solovetsky Monastery was founded in the second quarter of the 15th century by two monks, Gherman and Savvatiy (Sabbatius), from the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, the most important of Northern Russia at the time. The monastery quickly enlarged its estate and extended its producing and commercial activity, becoming an economic and political center of the White Sea. Its activity included saltworks, seafood production, trapping, fishery, mica works, ironworks, etc.. The existing stronghold and its major churches were erected in stone during the early reign of Ivan the Terrible at the behest of St. Philip of Moscow. In mid-17th century, at the time of the Schism of the Russian Church, the monks staunchly ...From:DomusPatrisViews:0 0ratingsTime:03:23More inFilm Animation

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Solovky Islands - Islands of Controversy - Video

Video of Total Eclipse in Sidney Australia
Video of Total Eclipse in Sidney Australia SYDNEY mdash; From boats bobbing on the Great Barrier Reef, to hot air balloons hovering over the rainforest, and the hilltops and beaches in between, tens of thousands of scientists, tourists and amateur astronomers watched as the sun, moon and Earth aligned and plunged northern Australia into darkness during a total solar eclipse Wednesday. Stubborn clouds that many feared would ruin the view parted -- somewhat -- in north Queensland, defying forecasts of a total eclipse-viewing bust and relieving spectators who had fanned out to glimpse the celestial phenomenon. "Immediately before, I was thinking, `Are we gonna see this? #39; And we just had a fantastic display -- it was just beautiful," said Terry Cuttle of the Astronomical Association of Queensland, who has seen a dozen total solar eclipses over the years. "And right after it finished, the clouds came back again. It really adds to the drama of it." Spectators whooped and clapped with delight as the moon passed between the sun and Earth, leaving a slice of the continent #39;s northeast in sudden darkness. Starting just after dawn, the eclipse cast its 150-kilometer (95-mile) shadow in Australia #39;s Northern Territory, crossed the northeast tip of the country and was swooping east across the South Pacific, where no islands are in its direct path. A partial eclipse was visible from east Indonesia, the eastern half of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and southern parts of Chile and ...From:5portsCenterViews:0 0ratingsTime:01:34More inNews Politics

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Video of Total Eclipse in Sidney Australia - Video

World ShootOut 2012 Video Clip Category Nominee - Yoav Nevo from Israel
Yoav Nevo #39;s video was a nominee at the World ShootOut 2012 Video Clip category! This is the second year in a row that the World ShootOut competition takes place worldwide. This year, the World ShootOut hosted 276 amateur and professional photographers from 22 different countries across the world, competing each other for some very worthy prizes. Almost 3000 images were submitted to the competition, ranging from those that captured the calm lakes of the Nordic countries to others that showcase the exotic secrets hidden in Alaska and dramatic images of the great white shark in the Gulf of Mexico. World ShootOut 2012 has the honor to be driven by Fish Fins in Palau, MV Febrina in Papua New Guinea, Rocio Del Mar at the Soccorro Islands, Subal, the Israeli Diving Authority, Loloata Resort in Papua New Guinea, BS Kinetics, Big Blue Divers in Seychelles, Air Seychelles, Sealife, Subgear, the Cyprus Tourism Organization, DAA, Walindi Plantation Resort in Papua New Guinea, MARES, Avalon in Cuba, WildDive, Lissenung Island Resort in Papua New Guinea, Seven Seas in Egypt, DiveRoss, Suunto and Manta Ray Bay in Yap.From:EpsonRedSeaViews:0 0ratingsTime:03:29More inEntertainment

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World ShootOut 2012 Video Clip Category Nominee - Yoav Nevo from Israel - Video

John Gollop - Guernsey Politician Documentary
Short documentary giving a brief insight into the life of popular Guernsey politician John Gollop. Filmed during 2009 in Guernsey and Alderney in the Channel Islands. Creative Technologies Award 2009: Best DocumentaryFrom:renderyardViews:0 0ratingsTime:16:20More inFilm Animation

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John Gollop - Guernsey Politician Documentary - Video

An Interview with Dr Antonia Galms Truyols
An Interview with Dr Antonia Galms Truyols, head of the Epidemiology Service for the Balearic Islands. Dr Galms talks about the important work carried out by the Service, and about the overall importance of Public Health in and to society. She also touches on the future of Public Health.From:Jonathan McFarlandViews:0 0ratingsTime:10:51More inScience Technology

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An Interview with Dr Antonia Galmés Truyols - Video

Travel The World With Top Travel Europe. #39;C #39;
The #39;C #39; stands for Caribbean, Top Travel Europe presents the most beautiful places in the Caribbean. Enjoy the Beachboys- Kokomo whilst dreaming away on these beautiful islands and waters.... created by TTE Websolutions Top Travel Europe and TTE Websolutions don #39;t own any of the pictures or the music in this videoFrom:biancaj74Views:0 0ratingsTime:03:37More inTravel Events

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Travel The World With Top Travel Europe. 'C' - Video

Nassau Bahamas at Sunset 5:20 PM
This what it looks like at 5:20PM, Sunset in Nassau Bahamas and pretty much all across the islands. The video was recorded on Tuesday November 13, 2012 at 5:20 PM on Cable Beach at Sandy Port Nassau Bahamas.From:WeddingsBahamasViews:2 0ratingsTime:01:02More inPeople Blogs

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Nassau Bahamas at Sunset 5:20 PM - Video