Cave invertebrates in Texas on endangered species act

The news items describes how 3 species of cave invertebrates in a cave in Texas have had their habitat saved, by being listed on the Endangered Species act. This is important news for caves/cavers worldwide.

Also it is relevant in our fight to  save Gunung Kanthan in Malaysia from being destroyed by Lafarge. Kanthan hill and cave are home to endemic species, in particular the trapdoor spider Liphistius kanthan. See also letters to the media.


The Texas news item can be seen on Commondreams.org , 22 Oct 2013. I've reproduced it here in case the original source goes.

Rare Cave-dwelling Creatures in Texas Hill Country Gain Protected Habitat Under Endangered Species Act

SAN ANTONIO - October 22 - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalized “critical habitat” protection today for three rare invertebrates in Comal and Hays counties, Texas. The designation protects 169 acres of habitat for the cave-dwelling animals, which include two beetles and a crustacean. The protected habitat includes subsurface areas that scientists have identified as critical to the animals’ survival.
“Protecting aquatic habitat for these tiny animals will help safeguard the special natural history of Texas for generations to come,” said Tierra Curry, a conservation biologist at the Center for Biological Diversity.
The animals — Comal Springs riffle beetles, Comal Springs dryopid beetles and Peck’s cave amphipods — were protected under the Endangered Species Act in 1997, after which the Center and allies filed a series of lawsuits to gain protected habitat for the animals, including subsurface areas.
The habitat areas set aside for the animals overlap, consisting of 39 acres of surface habitat and 139 acres of subsurface habitat for the Comal Springs dryopid beetle; 38 surface acres and 138 subsurface acres for the Peck’s cave amphipod; and 54 acres of protected surface habitat for the Comal Springs riffle beetle.

All three of the freshwater invertebrates are found nowhere in the world except four Texas springs, where they are threatened by groundwater pumping from the Edwards Aquifer.
Groups that filed suit to gain habitat protection for the species were the Center for Biological Diversity, Citizen’s Alliance for Smart Expansion and Aquifer Guardians in Urban Areas.

Chobar & Mahendra caves, Nepal

In 1987 I went to Nepal for the first time. There are not many caves in Nepal, but one of the most famous is just outside Kathmandu. This is Chobar Cave in a gorge of the same name.

Chobar village is about 9 km southwest of Kathmandu. The village overlooks the Bagmati River. The Jal Binayak temple is at the mouth of the Chobar Gorge and you can cross the Bagmati River here. The suspension bridge was made in Scotland more than 100 years ago.

There are various legends about the gorge and caves. One legend says the chasm was cut by Manjushri's sword (Manjushree).All the water from Kathmandu Valley drains through this gorge.

Chobar Gorge

The main cave is/was called Sparrow Pigeon Cave

This is a 1997 view of the entrance, and you can see a bird flying in the entrance.Since my visit, a team of French cavers mapped the caves in 2007.

At the time I was in Nepal, the only show cave was Mahendra Gupha. Mahendra Gupha is located north of Pokhara, the area is known as Batulechaur. I don't have any photos of the cave, but this is one of Mahendra Gorge

The cave was electrically lit but there were only half a dozen lights so I was glad of my torch. The cave is about 240 m long with 2 entrances. The main one has steps leading down to a wide arch. The main passage runs north-south and ends in breakdown. The cave is developed below coarse conglomerate and is horizontal. There is a stream on the left of the main passage.

In 1979 according to Gebauer the roof was covered with stalactites but none remain - they've all been sold. There are 2 small Siva linga. The 2nd entrance is small and muddy. The cave was rather disappointing.

There are some photos of Mahendra Cave here. The area is interesting geologically, as it is carbonaceous Holocene conglomerates, not real limestone!


Refs:
GEBAUER, H Daniel (1983) CAVES OF INDIA AND NEPAL, 166p.

PRICE, Liz (1988) Cave hunting in Nepal. Cerberus Spel. Soc. Vol 17, No 6, p93-94.

Rising Star Expedition, Johannesburg South Africa

News of a new expedition to look for human ancestor fossils in South Africa -

The Rising Star Expedition will be delving into a cave of the same name outside Johannesburg in South Africa. They will try and recover recently found fossils that are thought to be of a possibly new hominid species.

See reports  
 Rising Star Expedition launched from University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 6 Nov 2013

Excavation of Human Ancestor Fossils Begins in South African Cave in National Geographic Daily News, 6 Nov 2013.

In recent years new finds mean that the earlier thoughts on hominid/human evolution are being revised. See the Georgia hominid skull report.

You can follow the expedition progress here .


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2015 update on the finds, see my blog Homo naledi, a new species of human ancestor from South Africa .

New hominid skull from Georgia

In October 2013 it was announced that a complete hominid skull had been discovered in Georgia.

From The Guardian , 17 October:
The discovery of a complete hominid skull and other fossil remains in Dmanisi, Georgia, suggests that the earliest members of the Homo genus – currently split into half a dozen distinct species – actually belonged to a single species: Homo erectus. These early human ancestors probably just had a wide range of physical appearances, say researchers in the journal Science. The skull is 1.8m years old and has a small braincase, a long face and large teeth, a combination of features not previously seen in other early Homo fossils.

Click on the above link to see a short video.And read more on this link.


The skull, along with stone tools and animal bones have been dated at 1.8 myo. This fossil is the only intact skull ever found of a human ancestor that lived in the early Pleistocene. Bones were found from five individuals. Animal bones include those from now extinct large cats.

The bones are said to be early forms of Homo erectus, the early relative of modern humans. Now it seems that they  left Africa earlier than previously thought.

Abstract from Science 18 Oct 2013 - A Complete Skull from Dmanisi, Georgia, and the Evolutionary Biology of Early Homo .  

Logging and deforestation

I'm posting this here as it is important news.

Nasa: Malaysia sees 115% jump in deforestation

BY TASHNY SUKUMARAN

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia saw a 115% increase in deforestation during the first three months of 2013, according to a forest tracking tool developed by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) researchers.

Malaysia's figure was the highest among five countries where deforestation was detected, followed by Nepal (114%), Mexico (92%), Argentina (72%), and Madagascar (51%).

Nasa's Quarterly Indicator of Cover Change, a satellite-based tool that underpins environment watchdog Mongabay.com's Global Forest Disturbance Alert System, noted the jump earlier this month.

Christopher Potter, a senior research scientist at the Nasa Ames Research Center, told the environment watchdog that Malaysia has a deforestation hotspot on the western coastal area of Perak.

"Many areas in Sarawak have been detected with forest cover change over the past two years," Potter, told The Star Online.

Perak DAP head Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham revealed that there had been many complaints of logging in the Manjong district of Perak, including Segari and his own Parliamentary constituency of Beruas.

"The logging is carried out at odd hours in the middle of the night, which is very suspicious. However, we don't know if it's illegal. I cannot verify the legality of this timber logging, so I cannot lodge a police report," he told The Star Online.

Ngeh, who is also Sitiawan assemblyman, said that he had tried to raise the issue during the state assembly sitting, but he and other Opposition assemblymen had "hardly been given time" to ask their questions.

He said he would bring it up in Parliament.

"However, (Perak Mentri Besar) Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir has to answer this question. Is this logging legal or not?" he said.

Zambry and Perak state government exco member Dr Muhammad Amin Zakaria could not be reached for comment.

The World Bank had previously estimated that trees in Malaysia are being cut down at roughly four times the sustainable rate.

The Malaysian Nature Society expressed concern over the statistics, and promised to review the information.

"We will cross-reference with our sources on the ground... We are and remain opposed to the clearing of any natural forests in Malaysia," said MNS communications head Andrew Sebastian.

 

Read:

http://beta.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/06/21/This-is-the-default-headline.aspx

Lost Tapes, "Cave Demons"‏

Just watched (Aug 2009) one of the most ridiculous TV programmes, made by Animal Planet 2008, called Lost Tapes, "Cave Demons"

I've googled it , cos it was so bad. Found out it's based on cryptozoological creatures.

Wikipedia explains it well,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Tapes

Lost Tapes is a half-hour thriller mockumentary/docufiction television series which airs on Animal Planet. The program depicts fictitious footage of traumatic stories that are "inspired by the possibility that hidden creatures exist" and is centered on cryptozoological creatures (cryptids), including the Chupacabra and Bigfoot.

A pilot/a sneak preview aired on Animal Planet October 30, 2008 for Halloween, but the series officially premiered on January 6, 2009. Two episodes, each thirty minutes long, are aired back-to-back for a total running time of one hour. Animal Planet has commissioned a second season which will premiere in late 2009.

Overview

The series depicts fictional, traumatic scenarios in which cryptids attack people. Although the series is shot in a mock documentary style, it does not state that the footage is real, only that it is "inspired by the possibility that hidden creatures exist." Each episode usually ends with a character being killed by the creature in a cliffhanger ending, with the cliffhanger resolved during an epilogue.

The creatures are often only partially revealed to the audience in brief glimpses. To give a mysterious atmosphere to the show, the makers do not let the viewers see the creature in full form, analogous to the shark from Jaws. The exception is "Hellhound," in which the creature is in fact fully visible each time it appears because they use an actual Rottweiler to represent the Hellhound.

A recurring situation in the show is that the characters are usually left alone or are in a small group, in a remote area of the world. They soon encounter the creature and several stressful things occur. One of the characters is killed or injured or captured by the creature. Interrupting the action, a factoid series called "Lost Tapes: Revelations" reveals facts behind some legends. Finally, it ends on a cliffhanger with this resolved at the epilogue.

While in most episodes the cryptid is the antagonist, in others it acts as a hero or anti-hero. [not copied this section here]

Episode 7 "Cave Demons" January 27, 2009 Olitiau

On January 25, 2002, United States Marine Forces in Afghanistan experience sonar interference coming from a cave near Tora Bora, which screws up their sonar cave-mapping system. Believing it to be a jamming device built by the Taliban or Al-Queda, three U.S marines, corporals Sawyer and Wade, and sergeant Carlos Ramos, investigate the cave, using helmet cameras to record their mission, which is to find the source of the interference and destroy it. As they venture deeper into the cave they discover large amounts of bats and guano all over the cave. Corporal Wade falls into a booby trap and falls into a lower section of the cave, breaking his back. As he lies there, he spots something flying past. The others find him and he seems delirious, and mutters that what he saw looked "like a lady" (possibly a reference to how most batlike cryptids are known to have eerily feminine features). One of the remaining Marines shouts excitedly that a woman might be down there and can help them, but the other dismisses it as a hallucination. The remaining Marines quickly reach his position and decide to investigate the signal first which was close to their position. As they reach the signal, the signal disappears and reappears at Wade's position. Wade is then heard firing off his M4 carbine and screams of pain. The two Marines rush to his position only to find him dead. The two Marines leave Wade's body to find the interference. They come across "a whole nest of them", as described by one of the Marines and are attacked by an entire swarm of the creatures. It destroys their flashlights as they fire their weapons at the creatures. A rescue party is sent in after the booby trap causes the team to lose radio contact with the outside, and the rescue party only finds Ramos limping away from the cave and with a rare case of rabies. He is sent home and reunited with his wife and kids. It is theorized that the Marines' gunfire somehow killed or wounded the creatures as they left the sergeant to leave the cave alive. The bodies of Wade and Sawyer were never recovered.

Glimpse of the cryptid: There are louder than average bat screams when the Marines are attacked. Wade's helmet camera also shows him from behind, held down by a giant brownish winged creature. The cryptid appears attacking the Marines again; this time, it seemed to be hanging from the ceiling.

Fatalities caused: Two. Wade is attacked, killed, and even partially decapitated by an unknown flying creature. Sawyer's death is unknown. It's possible that the creatures themselves were killed as well.

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Official website
http://animal.discovery.com/fantasy-creatures/cave-demon/

Giant Bat People:
Sightings of mysterious human-sized bats have been reported in all corners of the world. They are described as having black or gray fur, a monkey-like face, clawed feet and a 10-15 foot wingspan. In Brazil they are called "bat people." In Mexico, an ancient Mayan cult worshiped the "death bat." The rainforests of Java echo the cries of a bat creature called the "Athol" because of its distinct "a-hool" vocalization. In Vietnam they are known as "night flyers." These winged humanoids are generally 5 feet tall with eerie feminine features. They are known to swoop down on their victims and attack several times.

African Cave Demons:
The continent of Africa has reported many sightings of bat-like beasts. In Cameroon, it is called the "Olitiau," an immense bat creature that was seen by famed naturalist Ivan T. Sanderson in 1932 while on expedition. In Senegal, the creature is called "Guiafairo." In Ghana, the bat-like creature is called "Sasabonsam." A similar creature exists in Madagascar and is called the "Fangalabolo," and in Indonesia, tales of the "Organ-Bati" abound where the creature is said to roost in an extinct volcano and snatch children.

Cheddar Gorge

Published on The Brunei Times (http://www.bt.com.bn/en)
Go deep into the holes of Cheddar
Liz Price
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN


Sunday, March 8, 2009


MENTION the word cheddar, and most people will think of cheese.

Wherever in the world you find cheese, you will find a variety of cheddar. It has been copied the world over, but the original variety comes from an English village called Cheddar.

This village lies at the bottom of the famous Cheddar Gorge, in Somerset in southwest England. The nearest cities are Bath, Bristol and Wells. Cheddar Gorge is a well known tourist attraction and is one of the greatest natural wonders in Britain. Its towering limestone cliffs soar almost 150m above the gorge which is 4.5km long. The gorge is situated at the southern end of the Mendip Hills, which are a range of limestone hills noted for their caves; and caves are also found within Cheddar Gorge. There are underground cathedrals of stalactites and stalagmites and some are open to the public.

Cheddar Gorge is the largest gorge in the United Kingdom. A gorge is simply a canyon, thus a deep valley between cliffs often carved out by a river. A road runs through the bottom of Cheddar Gorge. On one side the cliffs are near vertical in places, on the other side there are steep grassy slopes. In winter, the sun doesn't reach the bottom of the gorge even at midday. The gorge was formed by melting floodwater during the post glacial periods over the last 1.2 million years. Water carved out the gorge, and flowed underground through the permeable limestone, creating the caves. This left the gorge dry. However, today water flows through Gough's Cave and emerges at the bottom of the gorge.

The gorge is the site of several caves; some open to the public. Goughs was discovered in 1890 and is where Britain's oldest complete human skeleton, Cheddar Man, was found in 1903. It is estimated to be 9,000 years old. In 2007 a carving of a mammoth, estimated to be 13,000 years old, was found in the cave. Cox's Cave is smaller but was discovered earlier in 1837. Gough's Cave is Britain's first authenticated cannibal site. It is estimated that human ancestors have lived here for 40,000 years, and the new Museum of Prehistory gives information about life and death in the Stone Age.

In summer, the gorge is packed with tourists, and there are traffic jams as buses and cars make their way through the narrow gorge. An open-top bus tour operates during the summer. Visitors who flock to the show caves, can enjoy a traditional cream tea in one of the many tea rooms afters. And of course there are shops selling Cheddar cheese, which is made in the lower part of the gorge. Cheddar cheese has been made since at least 1170 as there are records of King Henry II having purchased some.

Visitors can also go adventure caving in Gough's Cave. The gorge is also a mecca for rock climbers; there are about 350 officially graded climbing routes on the 27 cliffs that make up Cheddar Gorge. At the top of the gorge is Black Rock Nature Reserve, which is very popular with walkers and nature enthusiasts.

Cheddar Gorge is such a stunning place and it is easy to see why it is one of Britain's most visited tourist attractions.

The Brunei Times

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Source URL:
http://www.bt.com.bn/en/en/travel/2009/03/08/go_deep_into_the_holes_of_cheddar