RARJUNGLE

The New Forest UK National Park covered in white, fluffy snow is a truly beautiful and magical sight to see.

However, it is also a very harsh environment for the New Forest ponies, other animals and wildlife which have to try to survive in this stunning area day by day. As the temperatures drop and food is virtually non existent.

Let me share my experience of living in this beautiful landscape with you, and also try to give you an insight into what it is like for the wildlife and animals and how they cope.

What usually surprises visitors to the New Forest is that each pony, donkey, cow, pig or very rarely sheep you see grazing on your visit, is actually owned by someone. These owners are called Commoners and they have an ancient right bestowed on them, from their property, called “Commoners Rights”.

For a yearly fee they can put their animals out on the New Forest to graze. In the summer they can get round and healthy, but in the winter they may barely make it through to the following spring. The Commoners are responsible for the welfare of their animals and must ensure they are well and get enough to eat at all times.

This is very hard to achieve when snow is on the ground and food is very scarce.

At no time could the New Forest be described as a winter wonderland for the New Forest animals.

Here are just a few dangers they face every day:

* Starvation – to keep warm they must constantly graze and eat whatever they can find
* Death by cold – if they get too wet or too low by not getting enough food they may collapse and die
* Death by car etc on the New Forest roads – many die each year
* Death by ignorance – it’s illegal to feed the New Forest ponies – why? They may die from cholic or choke to death if you try to feed them – they only need the vegetation of the New Forest – not a sandwich please!
* Death by litter – all animals are curious and usually greedy – if you leave your picnic behind and don’t take your rubbish home, the New Forest ponies etc will eat it, plastic and all and die in agony!

This sounds a tale of gloom and doom, but it isn’t, on the whole. All the New Forest ponies I have seen since Christmas have been fed with quantities of hay by their diligent Commoner owners and have been munching their way through many expensive bales of hay each day, in various locations on the New Forest.

The New Forest pony breed is extremely tough and sturdy. They are mild mannered and that is why they make lovely first ponies for children.

How they adapt to a harsh winter of snow:

* Insulation – their coats are made up of various layers which provide different types of insulation – providing they don’t get too wet and then too cold
* Using their bottoms to face the storm! – it really is true because I have seen it many times. When a blizzard or hailstorm is coming the ponies will always turn so their behinds get the full blast of the storm. They do this so that the bad weather hits their backsides and travels along their (hopefully) rounded tums and along to their front – but misses their heads and more vulnerable bits! – amazing adaptation or what?
* Feeding – they are constantly eating: grass, heather, bracken and gorse and anything green they can find. To see them eat gorse is quite unique – have you ever touched gorse? It is like razor blades. They delicately use their tongues to make it flatter and less thorny before giving it a very tentative chew! Ouch.
* Shelter – gorse has another really great use and that is why you see it, and smell it, with its coconut scent, all over the New Forest. The ponies use it as a field shelter and all huddle in the great clumps away from the penetrating wind and rain and today – snow!

I hope you have enjoyed this insight into living in the New Forest UK National Park during the harsh, snow bound winter. There are lots of photos for you to see on my New Forest travel site – you will get an idea of just how bad this snow was for the New Forest.

I think you will agree that NO WAY is it a winter wonderland for the New Forest ponies and other animals and wildlife who have to survive in it.

I live in the beautiful New Forest – a UK National Park. New forest ponies, donkeys, cows and even pigs run about freely outside my door.

I love living in this unique place and want to share my love with others through my New Forest tales and experiences. All the photos on my site are my own – warts and all. They may not win any prizes but if you see one you know it is real!

Brisbane is the capital city of Queensland and is counted among the most beautiful state capitals of Australia. Considered as the third most popular destination for international tourist after Sydney and Melbourne, tourism is a major contributor in Brisbane’s economy. This glitzy city plays host to some amazing parklands like South Bank Parklands and Roma Street Parkland along with famous tourist attractions like Portside Wharf, Mount Coot-tha, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and many more. Moreover, with easy availability of cheap car rental at Brisbane airport, you can never be far from fun in this city.

This historical city is also famous for its wild life and forest parks. Brisbane Forest Park, now known as D’Aguilar National Park, is a favourite among tourists. This huge nature reserve supports the native plants and animals, and plays a pivotal role in their survival. The Walk-About Creek Wildlife located here will offer you all necessary information regarding the Australian Wildlife, and also houses a large walk through aviary, aquariums, and enclosures for wildlife including the rare Australian nocturnal animals. A perfect place for kids and those who love nature, here you can witness a wide variety of Australian native birds, Platypus, Sugar Glider, Wallabies, Pademelons, Wombat, Yellow-bellied Glider, Spotted Quell, Brush-tailed Phascogale, Snakes, Lizards, Turtles and fishes. So, just grab a Brisbane car rental and explore the native sub tropical fauna and flora of the region.

If you want to get close to nature, then try taking a long walk in the Brisbane Forest Park, wherein boardwalks are erected to protect the walk ways to make it easy for the walkers. The most popular one is the walk to Greene’s Falls, leading through the rainforest on to the top of the waterfall. For those longing for some spectacular views while relishing the mouth-watering local delicacies, consider dining atop Mt Coot-tha. Here, you can also visit the Mt Coot-tha Lookout and Botanic Gardens, to catch a glimpse of planetarium and exotic plants. The Botanic Gardens are among the top heritage parks in Queensland and is full of amazing old trees, even dating back to 1828. If you have had enough of the nature, then you can choose from different happening places like the vivacious Fortitude Valley and Chinatown, with a host of Irish pubs, eminent nightclubs, and Al Fresco dining. To add to the fun, Brisbane offers cheap car rental to help you move around in comfort and luxury.

A collaborative study between the Cambodian Forestry Administration, Conservation International and Fauna and Flora International from 2001 to 2004 has proved that the Central Cardamom Forest has an exceptional degree of biological diversity, including many globally threatened species such as the Indochinese tiger, Asian elephant, and Siamese crocodile. The Central Cardamom Protected Forest is situated within the boundaries of three Cambodian provinces, Koh Kong, Kompong Speu, and Pursat, and covers over 400,000 hectares of land.

According to Mr. Peov Somanak, Research and Monitoring Manager of Conservation International, “Countless treasures exist in this virtually undisturbed forest, one of the only such remaining areas in mainland Southeast Asia.”.

Research Findings

The core of the research study has been to unveil the treasures of the Central Cardamom Protected Forest and how those treasures can be protected.

Asiatic Black Bears and Malayan Sun Bears, large deer, wild dogs, wild oxen, elephants, musk deer, wild pigs, mountain goats, wild cats, polecats, various kinds of tigers, wild chickens, small deer, mountainous crocodiles, and many other animals were recorded during the joint studies by using camera trapping.

According to Mr. Samanak, “These results are not complete; there are many more species not yet found, due to time and funding constraints.”.

Conservation Efforts

A number of steps have been taken by the Cambodian Government to help protect the forest’s biodiversity:

o In January 2001, the Ministry of Agriculture issued a decree to suspend all timber deals and activities in the Central Cardamom Forest.

o A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Conservation International (CI) in order to provide budgetary and technical support to the Forestry Administration for the protection of the Central Cardamom Protected Forest.

o In March 2001, the conservation program began operations with three main activities: law enforcement; research and monitoring; and community development.

o In 2002, Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen issued a sub decree declaring this area as a protected biodiversity area.

Other Research Projects

Adequate research and monitoring of individual species is also a vital component of biodiversity protection. Projects include:

Bear Research:

Established in 2006, focusing on three main activities:

1. Research in the Central Cardamom Protected Forest, South-West damrey corridor alley region, Bokor national park, Sre Pork zone, Mondulkiri province, Battambang province and other zones of importance;

2. Production of a documentary on protecting bears in Cambodia which was broadcast on the “Environment Beauty” program of Apsara TV;

3. Provision of training in schools within the Central Cardamom Forest.

Two kinds of bear species were found during this study – the Asiatic Black Bear and the Malayan Sun Bear. The greatest threats to these species were identified as cable trapping, hunting with guns and dogs and habitat damage. The Malayan Sun Bear was shown to be the more endangered of the two species.

Pangolin Research

This research is conducted in Thmar Baing district in Koh Kong province, Sihanouville, Keo Seima, Sen Monorom, Koh Nhek and Pich Da districts of Mondulkiri, Sandan district of Kompong Thom province, Prey Lang region of Stung Treng province and also Kratie province. The greatest threat to pangolin populations is hunting for use in traditional herbal medicines.

Cambodia is adorned with and famed for its natural resources, which the central cardamom mountain is one of the icons of Cambodia’s natural resources. Cambodia, the region and even the world would directly or indirectly benefit from such the Cambodian natural resources that have global values.

So it is a must that all Cambodian peoples, its government, international communities and all those interested to contribute, in order to preserve the Central Cardamom Mountain.

The Troodos National Forest Park is located at the centre of Cyprus, covers an area of 9337 hectares and hosts invaluable plant and animal habitats. Many villages maintaining local culture, tradition and customs can be found scattered all over the Troodos range.

The Troodos forest occupies the heart of the range and includes its highest peak, Mount Olympus, which is also the highest peak on the entire island. The area was designated a National Forest Park in 1992 in an effort to safeguard it’s rich plant and animal life and to research the values and functions of the area, be they ecological, scientific, recreational or economic.

To say that Troodos is rich in wildlife would be something of an understatement, with the area featuring 770 plant species, 12 of which are exclusive to the Park; that is, they can’t be found anywhere else in Cyprus or indeed, the world. The Park constitutes the main habitat in Cyprus for many plant species, such as the wild service tree, cotoneaster and barberry. As a result of these characteristics, Troodos is considered a botanical heaven and has been classified among the most important mountainous habitats of flora in Europe.

It’s not only plant life that brings people from all over the world to visit Troodos however; animal life in the Park is also rich and of high conservational value. The warmest seasons of the year see various reptile species appear, including the blunt-nosed viper and the Mediterranean chameleon. Several mammals can be found in the Park too. A casual visitor to the north and west parts of the Park is the rare – and scarcely seen – Cyprus mouflon, while the fox and hedgehog, which both live in the Park, have evolved to an indigenous subspecies, most likely due to the long periods of isolation in the habitats of Cyprus. Bats can also be found in large numbers in Troodos, setting up home in the old buildings and mines that are strewn across the Park.

The bats aren’t the only species enjoying the old buildings situated in the Park, however. Tourists from all over the world come to the Park, not only enjoy the wildlife but to discover 12th to 15th century churches, winemaking villages and pine forests, as well as some monasteries dating from the Byzantine period. Quaint villages offering shops and bakeries and a laid back alpine atmosphere are also just waiting to be found by travellers visiting the Park.

The New Forest National Parks very important mix of habitats plays host to a number of fantastic varieties of British wildlife. The three main habitats that the wildlife can call home are open heathland, woodlands and wetlands all of which have been affected by man over many centuries. Thankfully since 1079 the wildlife has been largely protected when it was designated a royal hunting ground by King William I.

Perhaps the most famous animal to inhabit the New Forest is the New Forest Pony who has played a big part in the Forests history. Strictly speaking though the New Forest Ponies aren’t wild, they are all privately owned yet are allowed to roam free across the open forest. The ponies we see today though are descendants of wild ponies who used to roam right across the British countryside. Hundreds of years ago these animals were domesticated and have been interbred with other horse breeds. A local myth believes that New Forest ponies are descended from Spanish Horses that survived the numerous shipwrecks during the time of the Spanish Armada.

The owners of the ponies are known as commoners and all have the right to graze their animals on open forest land, a right that has existed since William the Conqueror. The ponies are looked out for by the owners and the Agisters who are employees of the New Forest Verderes. Each year during late summer all the ponies are rounded up and accounted for, they are then auctioned allowing commoners to buy and sell if they so wish.

Another animal which is synonymous with the New Forest is the deer, the animal responsible for the forest being designated a Royal Hunting Ground back in 1079. With in the forest there are five different species of deer, though of the five only two are British natives. British deer found in the forest are the red deer and the roe deer. The other three species are the fallow deer, sika deer and muntjac deer. The sika and muntjac are very rarely seen in the forest and are only located in a few small pockets making spotting them quite difficult.

The red deer of the forest are also quite allusive with just around 100 animals. The famous British deer are thought to be the largest deer in the UK and are most commonly found amongst the highlands of Scotland and Southern England. Even id you don’t manage to spot a red deer keep your ears open as you might be able to hear their distinctive loud bellow.

The most common deer in the New Forest is the fallow deer which can be easily identified by its ‘Bambi’ markings during the summer months. Although the fallow deer are shy there are enough of them throughout the forest to make spotting them quite likely on a typical forest walk.

Roe deer are also quite common though the fact that they are smaller in size makes them more difficult to spot amongst the undergrowth.

If you haven’t had the chance to visit Mexico before, you could be wonder just what some of the activities are. What about the jungle? Does exploring the jungle sound like fun? It you believe that exploring Mexican jungles sounds like a thrilling and fun activity then you’re not alone. Jungle tours are at present a well-tended secret in Mexico, for the main part. they are swiftly starting to increase in renown. One of many reasons why jungle tours are starting to become popular is due to the way in which the tours are being carried out. In most Mexican jungles the terrain makes it hard or impossible for led tours to occur from a bus or a vehicle. Hiking or biking is sometimes threatening or not possible. If you’re curious about lining up a Mexican jungle tour, you will find that most tours are referred to as ATV jungle tours. The all terrain autos are what make most jungle tours exciting and fun.

If you’re fascinated by scheduling an ATV jungle tour, you must find a tour guide or company. ATV rentals are available, but you are suggested against touring the jungles on your own. Professional ATV tour guides not only know where to look in the jungle for exciting journeys, but they also know the way to protect you.

To find an individual or company that makes a speciality of ATV jungle tours, you can contact your travel agent or do the study yourself. While researching ATV jungle tours, it’s likely that you’ll come up with a number of tour firms. When picking a tour guide, it is suggested that you identify the site of each tour and then compare it with your intended Mexico destination. ATV jungle tour guides are well-liked, but they can be found only in limited areas. If you’re keen on scheduling an ATV jungle tour, you could have to be ready to travel to the planned tour site.

If you’re holidaying in or round the Cancun area, you could be able to schedule an ATV tour with Jungle Jim’s ATV excitement. According to their site, this ATV tour was ranked as the best ATV tour in the area for 2 years. Cozumel Tours offer ATV jungle tours in and round the Mezcalitos area. Cozumel Tours and Jungle Jim’s ATV journey are just 2 the various ATV tours that may be found in Mexico. If these tours don’t service your area, you are inspired to keep on looking. ATV jungle tours are favored in Mexico, but they don’t seem to be the sole tours that you can participate in while holidaying in Mexico. Many travellers find it exciting to ride an ATV along the coast or other in Mexican destinations. If you’re enthusiastic about scheduling an ATV tour, whether or not that tour is of the jungle or beach, you are encouraged to figure out whether reservations will be required. The necessity for reservations regularly is dependent on the tour company which you’re counting on engaging in business with. As formerly discussed, you may either research or book your own ATV jungle tour reservations on your own or can do so with the help of a travel agent. When picking reservations, you may wish to be looking for tour packages.

These packages may include a large range of Mexico tours, as well as ATV jungle tours. Many times, you could be able to schedule an ATV tour, hiking tour, or snorkeling journey all one weekend and for one low-price. Maybe , the surprising and unknown is what draws so many to Mexico.