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MickeyJones
Elephant Shrew Rediscovered In Djibouti Africa After Missing For 50 Years(PICS)
A little-known mammal related to an elephant but as small as a mouse has been rediscovered in Africa after 50 years of obscurity.The last scientific record of the "lost species" of elephant shrew was in the 1970s, despite local sightings.The creature was found alive and well in Djibouti, a country in the Horn of Africa, during a scientific expedition.Elephant shrews, or sengis, are neither elephants nor shrews, but related to aardvarks, elephants and manatees.They have distinctive trunk-like noses, which they use to feast on insects.There are 20 species of sengis in the world, and the Somali sengi (Elephantulus revoilii) is one of the most mysterious, known to science only from 39 individuals collected decades ago and stored in museums. The species was previously known only from Somalia, hence its name.Steven Heritage, a research scientist at the Duke University Lemur Center in Durham, US, and a member of the expedition to the Horn of Africa in 2019, said he was thrilled to put the species "back on the radar".He told the BBC: "We were really excited and elated when we opened the first trap that had an elephant shrew in it, a Somali sengi."We did not know which species occurred in Djibouti and when we saw the diagnostic feature of a little tufted tail, we looked at each other and we knew that it was something special."The scientists had heard reports of sightings in Djibouti, and Houssein Rayaleh, a Djiboutian research ecologist and conservationist who joined the trip, believed he had seen the animal before.He said while people living in Djibouti never considered the sengis to be "lost", the new research brings the Somali sengi back into the scientific community, which is valued."For Djibouti this is an important story that highlights the great biodiversity of the country and the region and shows that there are opportunities for new science and research here," he said.Peanut butter baitThe team set more than 1,000 traps at 12 locations, baiting the traps with a concoction of peanut butter, oatmeal and yeast. They caught one of the creatures in the first trap they set in the dry, rocky landscape of Djibouti.In total, they saw 12 sengis during their expedition and obtained the first-ever photos and video of live Somali elephant shrews for scientific documentation.They did not observe any immediate threats to the species' habitat, which is inaccessible and far from farming and human developments.The abundance of the species seems similar to other elephant shrews and its range may extend beyond Somalia into Djibouti and possibly Ethiopia.The Somali sengi is one of the 25 "most wanted lost species" of the charity, Global Wildlife Conservation."Usually when we rediscover lost species, we find just one or two individuals and have to act quickly to try to prevent their imminent extinction," said Robin Moore."This is a welcome and wonderful rediscovery during a time of turmoil for our planet, and one that fills us with renewed hope for the remaining small mammal species on our most wanted list, such as the DeWinton's golden mole, a relative of the sengi, and the Ilin Island cloudrunner
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MickeyJones
Israel: 16-Year-Old Girl Gang-Raped By 30 Men In A Hotel, Sparks Outrage
Thousands protest across Israel after girl, 16, was 'gang-raped by 30 men' in a hotel as teenager claims one 'offered to send her videos of her ordeal'
Two suspects have been arrested by Israeli police since the alleged attack.
Reports allege that a group of 30 men queued outside a hotel room, taking turns.
News about the alleged attack has sparked protests in over 30 areas in Israel.
Thousands took to the streets of Tel Aviv last night as investigations continueThe alleged gang-rape of a 16-year-old girl by some 30 men in the Red Sea resort of Eilat has sparked outrage in Israel and protests across the country.Protesters gathered in several cities after media reports described how men in their 20s queued outside a hotel bedroom where the minor was, awaiting their turn to take advantage of her intoxicated state. Two suspects have been arrested according to the police after allegedly threatening to send the girl video of her ordeal. The girl, who spoke of how she is encouraged by the support she has received from the public, had first reported the alleged crime to police in Eilat last week but the case had previously gone largely unnoticed.As more information came to light, protests in the big cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on Thursday evening prompted Israel's leaders - including the President and Prime Minister - to speak out against crimes against women.However, in addition to those supporting her, the girl said she had also received abuse online. 'I feel that there are a lot of people behind me and this really strengthens me,' she said, but added 'No one knows what I went through, so how can you pass judgement and ask me questions?' according to Channel 13.'It's shocking - there's no other word for it,' said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for all the suspects to be put on trial. 'It's not only a crime against a young girl, it's a crime against humanity itself that deserves condemnation from all of us.'
