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When you learn Spanish in Peru, you can't spend all your time in the classroom. The Andes Mountains, the Amazon Rainforest, and the Pacific Ocean are all begging to be explored. By taking trips to these varied regions, you will be able to experience the many faces of Peru, as each region has its own distinct culture, cuisine, scenery, and wildlife.

Luckily, the government protects many of the country's amazing resources. In fact, in 1993, the constitution actually recognized the diverse ecosystem and natural resources. The government has declared that certain areas in the country are special for their natural or historical cultural heritage. There are eight national parks, and eight national reservations in Peru, in addition to a variety of national sanctuaries, national forests, and reserved zones. When an area is designated as a national park, this means that people cannot build on it and all of the plant life is protected.

As far as animals go, Peru also offers amazing diversity. There are over 1800 types of birds, 500 types of mammals and 300 reptile species. Of course, there is also sea life in the Pacific Ocean including flounder, anchovies, tuna, and shellfish as well as whales and sharks.

Unfortunately, about 100 types of mammals in Peru are considered endangered or threatened including the Spectacled Bear and Woolly Monkey. However, even as existing species are struggling, best reptile resources online  new ones such as the Spiny Rat are still being discovered.

If you love birdwatching, there is a great deal to see when you are not busy attending your Spanish classes in Peru. The country is renowned for its large bird population, and it has the second highest amount of any country. There are more than 1800 types of birds, and new species are still being found. In fact, over the last 30 years, there have been 42 new species added.

The country's national bird, the Andean Cock-of-the-rock has beautiful orange or scarlet plumage and is about 12x12; inches long. It mostly lives in streams and ravines throughout Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. Reptiles and amphibians are also plentiful. There are about 300 species of reptiles, including anacondas and caimans, and about 380 species of frogs including monkey frogs and tree frogs.

So where should you head to see all of this wildlife when you are not in your Spanish classes in Peru? Bahuaja-Sonene National Park in southeastern Peru is one of the country's most popular destinations for wildlife viewing. Encircled by rivers, this lovely national park contains diverse ecosystems such as tropical forests, tropical foothills, and dwarf forests. There are about 20,000 plant species and 600 bird species.

Another recommended place to visit is Colca Canyon, which is in southern Peru as well. This area gets a lot of tourists, and there are about 160,000 annual visitors. Only 100 miles from Arequipa, Colca Canyon makes a good weekend trip. Arequipa is the second most populated city in Peru. Amazingly, Colca Canyon is about twice as deep as the Grand Canyon! You will also found that fascinating people live in the Colca Valley as the towns were founded in the times of Spanish colonials. A great many ancestral traditions remain.

If you decide to learn Spanish in Peru, you will find that spending time in this country offers many benefits outside of just learning the language. Be sure to bring along a good camera, as the wildlife in the region will provide you with beautiful photographs to show to your friends and family when you return home.

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best reptile resources online2

While a great many folks will get their gecko from a pet store of sorts, an increasingly popular alternative is to try to find a leopard gecko breeder near you. As you likely know, it can be tough to gauge what you're buying at a run-of-the-mill pet store. These stores are populated often with lower-paid employees who have little choice but to sell the inventory that has come in.

When you buy at a pet store, you may never know whether your gecko came straight out of the wild from the wild mountain sloes of central Asia or whether it came from the breeder around the corner from you. A wild gecko might have difficulty adapting, whereas the bred gecko is used to captivity. Moreover, the bred gecko could possibly be purchased directly from the breeder at a lower price, without padding the pocket of the middleman pet store.

Aside from money, purchasing from leopard gecko breeders helps you ensure both solid genetics and a healthy disposition. The leopard gecko breeders deal with their animals first-hand every day of the week. They are able to relay information about the age, disposition, and health of each animal. If you just consider age, for example, wouldn't it be nice to know that your leopard gecko is just a year old rather than 12? After all, if they live about 20 years, there's a big difference. But it could be tough to discern the age of wild-caught gecko with certainty.

If you find some leopard gecko breeders near you, this gives you yourself a great chance to screen the animals. best reptile resources online  For instance, you can examine the critter to see if it shows signs that are either a sign of health or a sign of distress. You might see evidence of paralysis, inflammation or actual sores, or some mucus in the nose or mouth. Alternately, you might just observe that the breathing seems pressures. Or the animal could be lethargic. These are warning signs that all is not necessarily well.

On the flip side, this gives you a great chance to verify the health of the animal too. See, you can for vibrant eyes. Also, as opposed to mucus-filled membranes, look to see that the mouth and nose are clear. If the animal is active, this is always a good sign. You might also observe the tail, as a fat tail shows that leopard gecko breeders are giving them ample diet. These geckos store fat in their tail. Just as you examine the eyes for brilliance, you'll want to see if the skin is bright as well. These signs help you discern that the animal is healthy and likely to display a good appetite and thrive once taken home.

In addition to health, visiting leopard gecko breeders lets you check out the character of the animal and the character of the breeder. You want one that is social and fine with being held. It's always possible that some leopard gecko breeders are doing it more for the money than the love of the animal. If so, they may not handle them sufficiently. Plus, you can see if they are adept at distinguishing the sex of the animals. If they handle them frequently and give optimal care, they will know the different genders, as this drives the care they provide. Boys and girls get slightly different care. If they aren't comfortable "talking about sex," then they likely can't tell the difference and aren't providing tailored care.

If you run into trouble find leopard gecko breeders in your area, you might try a pet shot or, specifically, a reptile show that comes to town. More and more of these are conducted these days. Here at these functions, you'll find the most devoted hobbyists and reptile lovers. If you find other leopard gecko enthusiasts, you might just have landed a contact that will be a great resource in the future.

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"It tastes like chicken" is one of the most popular cliché-type phrases used, abused and misused when someone tries to describe a non traditional, unfamiliar piece of meat such as alligator, snake or crocodile to someone who has never tasted it, yet according to several people that I've spoken to who have actually tasted reptile meat, these creepy crawlers really do taste like chicken. But how would one describe the taste of Fox, Black Bear and Llama? How "exotic" are you willing to go when it comes to trying different types of meats; Would you order Lion, Porcupine, Bat or Hyena if it was on the menu? A veritable buffet of Moose Jerky, Yak patties, grilled Snake kabobs; Caribou Tenderloin and Kangaroo Steak are just some of the weird foods being featured in restaurants and supermarkets around the world.

A developing culinary movement and palate-changing experience sweeping the meat industry is the marketing of exotic meats. Even if you are already an avid carnivore, you may be surprised when you walk into a local eatery and find animals normally found at the zoo and in the jungle featured on the menu, available for purchase on line or for sale at your neighborhood grocers, gourmet or specialty butcher shops. In the past, best reptile resources online  most exotic meats were not part of American culture and cuisine but gone are the days when cows, pigs, chickens and turkeys were the only sources for meat.

From appetizers to entrees, exotic meats have become all the rage around the world, not only for their rich flavor but also as healthy alternatives to traditional meats since most exotic meats are lower in fat, cholesterol and calories. According to Christian Griffin, founder, owner and operator of Exotic Meat Sales in San Diego, California, "In a world that is now trying to be more 'green' people are turning to a healthier food solution which is why exotic meat sales are continuing to grow exponentially. Exoticmeatsales.com has a variety of customers ranging from health conscious consumers to white tablecloth restaurants offering a twist to the average plate. Restaurants are starting to cook with exotic game as a means to draw-in a more health conscious dieter. As the world tries to become more environmentally friendly people are finding other resources for their dietary needs".

Buffalo, Elk, Wild Boar and Venison have been available for years and while they are still considered "exotic," the culinary landscape for exotic meats has changed dramatically. Armadillo meat is popular in certain parts of the U.S. and Mexico and is often used as a substitute for chicken, beef and pork. Yak meat is prevalent in Tibet, Nepal and India and also in the United States and is considered a healthy alternative to red meat. If you're visiting the Outback; Kangaroo is the meat of choice; revered for its flavor and versatility and considered to be one of the best "heart-healthy" meats on the planet. "With Kangaroo now being farmed worldwide--and shown to be a leaner meat with less fat than beef-and several once-threatened species, like the American bison and crocodile, making a comeback sufficient to find their way to restaurant menus, such meats are getting positive exposure, both in restaurants and in the media", said Jerry Hopkins, best-selling author of Strange Foods and Extreme Cuisine. "There's been an increase in interest in exotic foods generally, I think, as international travel has increased, exposing new people to new cuisines. Celebrity chefs who keep trying to top each other and the popularity of such TV shows as Tony Bourdain's helped too", said Hopkins.

If you're interested in "safari"-type meats, you can get quite a variety around Africa, especially at the famous Carnivore Restaurant, known as "Africa's Greatest Eating Experience", located in Nairobi, Kenya. Allan Dixon, Group General Manager for Recreation Africa Leisure Industries, has been involved with the Carnivore for the past 15 years and was also the Executive Chef when the restaurant opened in 1993. "Joints of marinated meats are cooked on an open charcoal fire in the middle of the restaurant", said Dixon. "There is a minimum of 15 different types of meat offered during the meal. The menu is a set menu, however the guests do not help themselves as you would at a normal buffet. Carvers bring the different types of meat and carve directly on your plate; it is an 'eat as much as you like' concept and guests have the opportunity of eating and tasting more kinds of exotic meat. We serve the 'normal' types of meat, for example, beef, lamb, pork and chicken as well as a minimum of 5 "exotic" meats from Kudu, Zebra, Gemsbok, Impala, Wildebeest, Giraffe, Buffalo, Sable, Warthog, Rhino, Hippo, Elephant and Crocodile, with the most exotic being the Eland (Antelope). Venison is also popular and definitely a much healthier alternative to beef. It has virtually no fat, zero cholesterol, is very rich in vitamins and minerals and is of course free range. Guests are often surprised as to how tasty and tender Venison actually can be and the fact that Venison is much cheaper than beef makes it even more popular. I think diners are becoming more adventurous in their eating habits and Venison provides a wonderful red meat alternative to beef; it adds a new dimension to the menu and is well priced all year round. It is, however, quite a bit cheaper during the "culling/hunting" season. Venison will definitely contribute to better margins and provides an affordable option for guests. The Carnivore receives most of its meat from controlled culling programs, culling of wildlife is unfortunately necessary to ensure the survival of the species. Guests, both local and international, definitely enjoy the 'curiosity' factor".

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best reptile resources online1

The term biodiversity was coined by Walter and Rosen in 1985, which is the abbreviated word of Biological Diversity. The biosphere constitutes a vital life support system for man and its existence of human race. The newly formed state Jharkhand of India is very rich in biodiversity due to its diverse physiographic and climatic conditions. The Jharkhand state is situated between 21°58'10" to 25°18' N Latitude and 83°22' to 87°57' E Longitude. Jharkhand forms part of the Chotanagpur plateau province of the Deccan Peninsula Biogeographic Zone. As the name of the state suggests, it is having a good covering of forests (reserved forest 4,387.20 sq km, protected forest 19,184.78 sq km and unclassified forest 33.49 sq km). The forest of the state includes tropical dry deciduous, moist deciduous, dry peninsular and dry mixed deciduous forest. The forests form catchments of the three main rivers - Koel, Damodar and Subernekha. The forest covering is 23605.47 sq km, which is 29.6% of the total geographical area of the state, i.e. 79714 sq km. The landscape of the state has wild, semi-wild and cultivated habitats.

The state is also very rich in natural resources. Nearly 50 % of the country's minerals are located in the state - iron and coal being important among the main, but the mineral map and the forests overlap for the major minerals (Anonymous 2009). The state possesses a wide variety of wildlife. The floristic diversity includes 97 species of trees, 46 varieties of shrubs and herbs, 25 types of climbers, parasites and orchids and 17 types of grasses. The major trees of the state are Shorea robusta (Sal), Delbergia sissioo (Sesum), Madhuca indica (Mahua), Acasia nilotica (babool), Azadirachta indica (Neem), Terminalia arjuna (Arjun), bombax ceiba (Semul) and Butea monosperma (Palas). 39 species of mammals, 170 avian species, best reptile resources online  12 reptilian species including 8 snake species and 4 lizard species and about 21 insect species were reported from the forest of Jharkhand. The major mammalian fauna include tiger, leopard, sloth bear, elephant, wild boar, Indian bison, hyena, wild monkey and langur, deer and antelopes, wolf etc.

METHODOLOGY:

For the present investigation, a survey was conducted from Jamshedpur in May - June 2010 by the author with the help of Department of Forest of Jharkhand and the data were collected. The study area was divided into seven zones, viz. Udhuwa lake wildlife sanctuary (WLS), Topchanchi wildlife sanctuary, Koderma wildlife sanctuary, Hazaribagh wildlife sanctuary, Lawalong wildlife sanctuary, Simdega forest and Dalma wildlife sanctuary. The observation were made through the watch towers and data collected by actual observation as well as by gathering information from the local tribes and villagers by showing photographs of animals. The collected data were analyzed and compared to the previous data.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

The survey revealed the following animal diversity from the study areas.

In year 2000, 45 mammalian species, 205 avian species, 15 reptilian species and 45 invertebrate species were recorded, whereas in 2005, the species diversity declined as 41 mammalian species, 201 avian, 14 reptilian and 43 invertebrate species. In year 2010, the diversity found were 35 mammalian species with 168 avian and 11 reptilian species. The invertebrate species diversity showed an incline in number as 48.

From the above data, it is obvious that the species diversity of the state is continuously declining. The mammalian and avian fauna is declined gradually up to 2010, with a slight increase in 2008, might be due to conservation strategies, undertaken by the state government. As far the reptilian diversity is concerned, it has declined continuously. The insect diversity has shown a trend of increase.

Biodiversity of the state is under constant pressure due to unsustainable harvests of living resources, habitat destruction and fragmentation, impacts of pollutants, and competition with colonizing, often exotic, invasive species. The biodiversity is also having threat from various other factors like industrialization, urbanization, agricultural activities, stone quarrying, unrestricted grazing by free range cattle, mining activities, construction of railway tracks, roads, dams, other developmental activities and even ethnic customs of tribes.

Some of the reported threatened wildlife of Jharkhand are Asiatic elephant Elephas maximus (Endangered), sloth bear Melursus ursinus (Vulnerable) and Indian giant squirrel Ratufa indica (Least Concern). Races of two species of birds, green-billed malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis tristis, and pin-striped tit babbler Macronous gularis rubicapilla recorded here are isolated populations lying at the southern most edge of their distribution range in central-west India. Prominent amongst the reptiles was the Indian chameleon Chamaeleo zeylanicus which is listed in Schedule II of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.

Understanding the biodiversity profile of the area can provide data for better mining practices, mitigation plans, and suggesting biodiversity offsets for the conservation of threatened biodiversity. Habitat loss not only precipitates species extinctions, it also represents a loss of biodiversity in its own right. The dramatic loss of species and ecosystem obscure equally large and important threats to genetic diversity. Loss of genetic diversity could imperil agriculture. How much the genetic base has already eroded is hard to say, but since the 1950s the spread of modern "Green Revolution" varieties of corn, wheat, rice and other crops has rapidly squeezed out native landraces (Jharenvis 2008). The present survey suggests that there is a serious need of wildlife conservation in the state.