Hodophile: What is it?

©Dariusz Sankowski _Pixabay

A person who has a strong urge to travel and discover new places is referred to as a hodophile. The words "path" and "lover" in the Greek words "hodos" and "phile," respectively, are where this phrase originates. A hodophile is essentially a lover of roads or routes, someone who delights in the adventure of visiting new places.

Hodophiles are frequently inquisitive and daring individuals who delight in learning about new cultures, tasting new foods, and making new friends. When traveling, they can go for off-the-beaten-path locations and take on fresh challenges.

©Ales Krivec_ Pixabay

Being a hodophile offers the chance to travel, which is one of its most alluring features. A hodophile can broaden their perspective and obtain a deeper grasp of the world by immersing themselves in various surroundings and cultures.

Hodophiles may appreciate the conveniences and familiarity of home, but they are also drawn to the thrill and unpredictability of exploring new territory. For many hodophiles, the excitement of preparation and anticipation might rival that of the trip itself.

Hodophiles love the chance to venture outside of their comfort zone and embrace the unexpected, whether they are traveling alone or in a group. They are willing to try new things and take chances in order to learn new things.

©Victoria Model_Pixabay

If you're a hodophile, you might discover that seeing the world gives you a sense of freedom and fulfillment that you won't experience anywhere else. The travel itself is frequently the biggest reward, whether it involves experiencing a busy city, hiking through stunning terrain, or simply taking in the local culture.

Therefore, if you enjoy traveling on roads and trails, don't be frightened to embrace your hodophilia and embark on your next journey. There are countless opportunities and fascinating new experiences in the world that are just waiting to be found.

"Keep Travelling Keep Living"

International Clouded Leopard Day 2022

The fourth of August is celebrated as International Clouded Leopard Day every year, which is celebrated to raise awareness about these elusive endangered species from extinction. Conservation International launched it in 2008 as part of their Save Our Species initiative. This initiative aims to protect endangered wildlife around the world. Since then, the day has grown into one of the most popular wildlife conservation days around the globe. Thousands of people take part in events ranging from zoo or aquarium exhibits of clouded leopards to school conservation education programs.

 Introduction

Clouded leopards are small wild cats found in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. Clouded Leopards occur in cold, arid, and semi-arid shrubland, alpine and subalpine areas, grasslands, and open forests, favoring steep terrain characterized by cliffs, ridges, gullies, and rocky outcrops at elevations of between 3,000 m and 5,500 m. They have a black tail tip and are well-known for their lovely markings and spotted coats. Clouded leopards are small wild cats with spots that gradually fade from white to black; they can grow to be 8 inches long (20 cm). Their coloring is typically duller than that of other big cats (such as the leopard or tiger), making them easier to spot in the wild. The blue on this clouded leopard’s face is caused by a patch pf light fur that serves as camouflage when it is resting in sunlight; however, this feature also aids in camouflage against tree bark during night hunts.

The clouded leopard has four subspecies: Indian (Bengal), Malayan (Sumatra), Sri Lankan/ Indian Oceanic, and Sumatran (Java Strait).

Clouded leopards are critically endangered, with only about 1500 left in the wild, according to estimates. They are rarely seen outside of their native range, and there are fewer than 10,000 left in the wild. Clouded leopards are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

In Nepal, this species is restricted to 300-500. Estimates say there are around 100 clouded leopards in Nepal and they were believed to be extinct in the country until 1987. Based on all studies, 32 different records of Clouded Leopard are documented from the country so far. They are found in regions between Taplejung in the east to Nawalparasi in the west, inhabiting at an altitude of up to 3500 meters above sea level. It is listed as vulnerable species by IUCN red list category. The national red list of mammals categorizes it as an endangered species. The legal status of this species in Nepal is Protected (Appendix I) under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1993 and Appendix I in CITES law. 

Clouded leopards primarily hunt small mammals such as rats and monkeys; although they are known to hunt larger prey such as deer, these same hunters will only rarely take on birds such as owls or birds with feathers (like vultures). Because they live near trees as well as beside rivers, where fruit may be available at different times of the year depending on rainfall patterns.”

 Threats

Today, there are approximately 10,000 clouded leopards left in their natural habitat; however, this number has decreased by nearly half since 1980, when there were 20 times more than today’s figures show. Poaching is the primary cause of this decline because their valuable fur and meat sell at high prices on both sides of the border between Nepal and India, where they coexist (and sometimes fight over territory). Furthermore, their habitat is under threat from deforestation caused by logging operations and agricultural development projects. There is limited information on its status and distribution, 

 On International Clouded Leopard Day there are many ways you can participate.

• You can observe a clouded leopard up close by visiting your local zoo or wildlife center on International Clouded Leopard Day. These elusive creatures are rare and endangered, but you might be able to spot one at an animal park near you.
• Make a financial contribution to an organization that aids in clouded leopard conservation. Many organizations around the world are working hard to save these incredible animals from extinction-and you can help them in a variety of ways!
• Volunteer at your local wildlife center (or other organization) by assisting with animal care or clouded leopard research projects. You’ll have a good time, too!
• If you live near a zoo, consider volunteering there as well. Zoo staff frequently require extra help during busy times such as holidays or special events; this could be an ideal opportunity for some behind-the-scenes work experience while also helping endangered animals!
• Share what you know on various social platforms to reach a large audience.
• Supporting sustainable tourism will also be beneficial, as you will be able to make a difference while having fun. For example, you could plant trees, raise awareness of the clouded leopard in your community, or support local wildlife sanctuaries.

 Some interesting facts on Clouded Leopard

• ·     Clouded leopards have the longest tail-to-body size ratio of any cat.
• ·     For the skull size, they have the longest canine teeth of any cat.
• ·    They are one of the few cats that can fully rotate their ankles which allows them to descend trees head first, rather than scrambling down backward.

 
International Clouded Leopard Day is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of this incredible species and what we can do to protect it. We hope this article has inspired you to plan a celebration for International Clouded Leopard Day on August 4, 2022! 

 

International Tiger Day 2022

Background 

Global Tiger Day often referred to as International Tiger Day, is a yearly celebration that takes place on July 29. This day formally started after the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in 2010. The purpose of the event is to promote tiger conservation initiatives and increase public awareness of the declining wild tiger population. It is observed in numerous tiger range nations around the world, including China, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Russia. Every year, a variety of activities are held to mark the anniversary. Examples of these include educational occasions, awareness drives, and fundraising initiatives. It's a big problem that the number of wild tigers is declining. 3,890 tigers were thought to still be living in the wild as of 2016. Compared to the estimated 100,000 tigers that were thought to be free-ranging in the 1900s, this is a considerable decline. Loss of habitat, hunting, and poaching are all contributing to the extinction of tigers. Tigers can be protected by people in a number of ways. 

Why are tigers important? 

There are several reasons why tigers are important. As a keystone species, they are first and foremost significant to the ecosystems in which they thrive. In order to prevent overgrazing and guarantee that other animals in the ecosystem have access to sufficient food, tigers help to regulate the number of animals that serve as their prey. Numerous cultures around the world place a high value on tigers. In Asian civilizations, tigers are typically viewed as emblems of power, strength, and luck. They are appreciated for both their beauty and hunting prowess. 

Threats Human conflict, illicit hunting, habitat degradation, and fragmentation pose the greatest threat to tigers. They are being hunted for their body parts and fur, and humans are ruining their habitats. They are one of the most endangered creatures on the globe as a result.

What can you do to help save tigers? 

The purpose of International Tiger Day is to increase public awareness of the vulnerability of wild tigers. People can take a number of actions to protect tigers. Supporting groups that strive to safeguard tigers and their habitat is one thing. Another strategy is to choose your products carefully. Still being marketed illegally are several items including furniture and traditional remedies that contain tiger parts. By avoiding buying them, you can lessen the demand for these goods. By being aware of them and making the decision not to buy them, you can contribute to lowering the demand for these goods. By educating people about the value of tigers and what they can do to conserve them, you can also contribute to their survival. You may, for instance, share posts and stories on tigers on social media. You can also let your family and friends know how important it is to protect these animals. Finally, you can educate people on the value of protecting tigers and their natural environment.

Conclusion

Last but not least, International Tiger Day is a day to celebrate these amazing animals and spread awareness of the problems they encounter. By contributing to conservation initiatives and speaking out against tiger poaching and habitat degradation on this day, we can all do our part to assist tigers. By educating people about tigers and their situation, we seek to motivate them to adopt protective measures. 

    Be alert! Be accountable!

Ant mimic Jumping Spider

Araneae; Salticidae; Salticinae; Myrmarachnini

Ant-mimic Spider Common Name: Ant-mimic Jumping Spider Scientific Name: Salticidae (Family) Size: 10mm Location: Dam side, Pokhara, Nepal Spotting mimic spiders are very hard and I had my first look at a mimic spider inside dense jungle at Rautahat. Fairly small and certainly got the mimicry dialed it certainly had its purposed stated out. The reason behind the mimicry is both as a defense against the ants and also to get to the larva of the ants.

WORLD SNAKE DAY 2022

World Snake Day, held every year on July 16, aims to increase awareness. Not all of them are as scary or poisonous as we believe them to be. These fascinating reptiles are often not given the recognition they deserve just because of the bad reputation they have earned over the years.

On this occasion, we’ve tried to disseminate information regarding snakes, particularly in Nepal, and some conservation measures that we can do from our individual level.

Reptiles are one of the widely diverse vertebrates on the earth. There are more than 3000 species of snakes on the planet. Currently, there are more than 10,000 species of reptiles and 2700 subspecies within those species; the Reptile Database records currently stand at 11690 species and 2198 subspecies (reptile-database.org, 2022) of which only 754 are venomous (Uetz et al. 2020, Shupe 2013). In Nepal, there are 123 species of reptiles (Schleich and Kastle 2002). Shah and Tiwari (2004) have recorded 90 species of serpent whilst reptile-database.org (accessed on July 2022) has listed 91 species.

 Monocled cobra, Parsa National Park ©sanejprasadsuwal

There is a wide range of vertical and horizontal distribution of snakes based on topography and climate. They can be found in grassland, cultivated land, and forest areas. The snakes can be found everywhere except in Antarctica, Iceland, Ireland, Greenland, and New Zealand (nationalgeographic.com accessed in 2022)

The Snakes of Nepal are divided into 5 families of which Typholopidae and Pythonidae are non-venomous while Elapidae and Viperidae are venomous, and Colubridae have one venomous species Rhabdophis subminiatus (Shah and Tiwari, 2004) and few are weakly venomous and more species are non-venomous. The most giant poisonous and non-poisonous snakes of Nepal, which grow more than 5 meters, are King Cobra and Python respectively. The smallest snakes of Nepal are Blind snakes which hardly reach 10cm.  

There are two snake species endemic to Nepal Xenochrophis piscator schnurenbergerii Checkered keelback and Trimeresurus Karanshahi Karan’s pit viper. The Asiatic rock python species is protected under the Department of National Park and Wildlife (DNPWC) Act 1973, the government of Nepal, and 5 species have been recommended for legal protection under the Red Data Book of Nepal (1995) including Eryx conicus, Elachistodon westermanni, Xenochrophis Flavipunctatus schnurenbergerii and Ophiohagus Hannah which are also included in the different threat categories of IUCN and CITES. There are roughly a hundred snake species listed by the IUCN Red List as endangered, typically due to habitat loss from development.

People in Nepal view snakes negatively, and most cannot distinguish between poisonous and non-poisonous! As a result, snakes are killed at sight irrespective of their nature and ecological values. The field of Herpetology (the science of amphibians and reptiles) in Nepal however, has received less priority. Thus, a great opportunity awaits further study in this field (Thapa, S 2007).

What is the significance of World Snake Day?

• ·          It highlights how critical snakes are to the ecosystem.
• ·         The program helps to change the attitudes of people towards snakes in a positive manner.
• goog_1219771923·       It promotes the preservation of snake species since their population is declining due to climate change, habitat loss, illegal killing, and trade.

How we can celebrate World Snake Day 2022

• 1.   Visit the Zoo or online portals. We can visit the nearest zoo or different online portals or social media and check out the varieties of snakes that exist in your areas or regions. This might be quite educational.
• 2.  Raise awareness about non-venomous snake species. Most people think snakes are all harmful which is not true. The myths can be dispelled by posting or sharing presentations on social media or at workshops.
• 3.   Media outreach program. We can make some documentaries or audiovisual.

Some fun facts about snakes

1.      1. Snakes don’t have any eyelids and sleep with their eyes open.

2.      2. Snakes have nostrils but smell the chemicals picked up with their tongue.

3.      3. Snakes can’t chew their prey.

 

 

Celebration of National Pollinators Week 2022

National Pollinator Week is an international annual event that happened in the last full week in June, from June 20 to June 26 this year. 

Considering this fact Butterfly Watchers Nepal cordially with Nature Conservation and Study Centre (NCSC) and Bhaktapur Jaycees has organized a week-long nature hike program and a day cycling program around the forests of Bhaktapur district in partnership with Cycle connect Bhaktapur and technical support from Juju bikes, Panc bikes and Nepal Red Cross Society Navadurga Sub-chapter, Bhaktapur.

FREE EVENT ! FREE EVENT ! FREE EVENT !

Activities
Event 1: Birding and Butterfly Watching

(June 20 - 26, 2022) (6:00 am - 3:00 pm).

Location: Suryabinayak Municipality, Bhaktapur Municipality and Changu Narayan Municipality.

Event 2: Cycling (June 25, 2022) (6:40 onwards).

Cycling route: 

Bhaktapur Durbar Square - Sukuldhoka market - Dattatraya Square - Chyamhasingh - Kamalbinayak pond - Bhatkepaati chok - Muhan Pokhari - Telkot - Changu Narayan Temple - Changu Narayan Forest area - Jhaukhel - Kaasan area - Thulo Byasi gate - Bhaktapur Durbar Square. 

Note: 

All the participants have to bring their food, water, and raincoat/umbrella and bear their personal expenses by themselves.

Preregistration is required and confirmation for the hiring cycle within Thursday, June 23, 2022.

Organizers: Butterfly Watchers Nepal, Nature Conservation and Study Centre, and Bhaktapur Jaycees.

Event Partner: Cycle Connect Bhaktapur.

Technical Partners: Juju Bikes, Bhaktapur, Pancbike, and Nepal Red Cross Society Navadurga Sub-Chapter, Bhaktapur.

World wetland day is celebrated annually on 2 February. It aims to raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and the planet. The day also marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.

Nearly 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s, and we are losing wetlands three times faster than forests. Yet wetlands are critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, world economies, and more.

It is urgent that we raise national and global awareness about wetlands in order to reverse their rapid loss and encourage actions to conserve and restore them. World Wetlands Day is the ideal time to increase people's understanding of these critically important ecosystems.  

Considering the importance of the awareness campaign Bhaktapur Jaycees has conceptualized jointly organizing with Nature Conservation and Study Centre (NCSC) a cycling program with a theme of “Pedal for Conservation” and pedaling around the Bhaktapur city connecting most of the Ponds. The program was supported by Juju Bikes, Bhaktapur, Cycle Connect Bhaktapur, Panc Bikes, Kathmandu and Nepal Red Cross Society, Navadurga Sub-chapter, Bhaktapur.

The main objective of this event was to promote the understanding of the problematic issues that the world wetland has been facing and how a small act or the action of the people can assist in the conservation of Nature.

A total of 26 cyclists has participated in the cycle rally and visited 27 ponds of Bhaktapur, Nepal.

Cycle Route

Khauma, Bhaktapur durbar square area – Na: pukhu – Dudhpati – Kaaldhacha (gosaikunda) – Machafonga pukhu (Saheed smriti park) - Indrayani pond – Tourist bus park – Thulo byasi (2 Ponds) – kaasan - Ancha pukhu (Khya pukhu) – Bhaulwaau pukhu (Bholachhen) – Bekhal Pond (Mahalaxmi bus stand) – Naag pukhu – Yaatachheen pukhu (Dattatray pond) – Kwathandau pukhu (Kwathandau, near Navadurga mandir) – Muldhoka pond (near Kausi restaurant) – Lamgal pond (kamalbinayak bus park) – Kamal Binayak pond – Garud kund - Chyamasingh bus park (pond) – Jenla pond – Juju bikes -  Khancha pukhu – Golmadhi pond – Kamal pokhari, Golmadhi – Lyosin khel pond – Ga: hiti pond – Naasmana pond – Bansagopal – Tekha: pukhu – Bharbacho – Thimi bus park – Bhaajya pukhu – Rani pokhari – Siddha pokhari – Dudhpati – Na: pukhu – Khauma.