Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Poachers kill 200 elephants in Cameroon already this year]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/19/poachers-kill-200-elephants-in-cameroon-already-this-year/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/19/poachers-kill-200-elephants-in-cameroon-already-this-year/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/19/poachers-kill-200-elephants-in-cameroon-already-this-year/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Elephants are being killed at an alarming rate in CameroonGovernment officials in Cameroon have announced that poachers have already killed more than 200 elephants in 2012, which is a startling number considering we're only about six weeks into the year. A growing demand for ivory in Asia is blamed for the massive rise in poaching, which is having devastating effects on the pachyderm population in central Africa.

On Friday, Gambo Haman, the governor of Cameroon's North region, claimed that poachers from the Sudan and Chad are illegally crossing his country's borders and hunting the elephants for their tusks. He said that the poachers are well-armed, regularly travel on horseback, and are receiving help from locals, who are often eager to see the elephants killed in order to protect their crops.

In January, the carcasses of 146 elephants were discovered in Cameroon, and so far this month, another 60 have been added to that total. It is feared that the number of animals that are actually being killed is much higher however, as not all of the bodies are discovered, particularly if they are being slain in remote regions of the country.

In response to this rise in these illegal activities, the Cameroon government has created a team of soldiers who are trained to rapidly respond to threats from poachers. That team is too small to effectively cover the entire country however, and they have often found themselves outgunned by the bandits they are pursuing. Haman said that a team of six soldiers from Chad were recently killed when they clashed with poachers in that country. The incident was a sober reminder of the dangers these soldiers face.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) have also commented on the recent rise in poaching in Cameroon. They described the situation as dire, saying that the current level of killings there is unprecedented in scale. In 2007, a census of the population of elephant herds in the country estimated that between 1000 and 5000 remained. If this level of poaching continues, there is a real possibility that there will soon be no elephants left in the entire region.

Poachers kill 200 elephants in Cameroon already this year originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 19 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We're not really sure where to start with this amazingness of this video. Could it have to do with the fact that William Thielicke built his own multi-rotor helicopter with an integrated camera? Or maybe that he's able to pilot it through the most complex of obstacles with such delicate balance? Beyond that, did you see these beautiful images captured of Cameroon? Wow.

The above video took third place at the short film festival "Vilsflimmern," and Mr. Thielicke just updated his blog with the news. Fantastic work.

Watch a hexacopter fly through Cameroon originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gading Take FIVE: Week of September 27 - October 3]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/03/gading-take-five-week-of-september-27-october-3/http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/03/gading-take-five-week-of-september-27-october-3/http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/03/gading-take-five-week-of-september-27-october-3/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Each week, when I pick out posts for Gadling's Take FIVE, I look for posts that fit together in some way. These week, I've noticed a numbers theme.

  • In David's post on America's most scenic train route, he noted that the journey between New York City and Montreal takes 11 hours and there are 90 seats left for the period between October 2 and November 11.
  • Abha found out that only 8 people in the Cameroon speak Busuu and that the human voice only travels 200 meters. You can read about this and more in her post on a website that helps you learn new languages.
  • When a man smuggles 200 canaries in 4 cages in 1 suitcase, there is trouble in international travel. Josh pointed out what that might be. Dead birds, 60 of them, for one thing.
  • Anna gave a heads up about 10 travel websites to tune into. Add Gadling, and that's 11.
  • Jerry is also in the numbers game. He spent 16 hours in China's Wild West and is writing about it in a feature series.
  • In Mexico there are 5000 condoms, 1 inflatable banana and 1 missing truck. Scott posted about why it would be a good thing if all were found.
  • And I've started watching the Amazing Race and posting recaps on that. This is season 13.

If you're counting, you'll notice 7 this week instead of 5.

Gading Take FIVE: Week of September 27 - October 3 originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Amazing raceAmazingRaceGadling Take FiveGadlingTakeFivelanguagessmugglingtrain routeTrainRoutetravelFri, 03 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Word for the Travel Wise (09/23/06)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2006/09/23/word-for-the-travel-wise-09-23-06/http://www.gadling.com/2006/09/23/word-for-the-travel-wise-09-23-06/http://www.gadling.com/2006/09/23/word-for-the-travel-wise-09-23-06/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

CameroonEveryone has a favorite musician they'd take a loan out at the bank to go see in concert if it were the last concert ever being held in some rare exotic place like Easter Island. I have a couple I would go out on a limb and do such for; the first being Björk, second Sade and the third I'll give to Les Nubians. After seeing the two Cameroonian sisters perform live in Los Angeles I was sold. Listening to a few of their songs now hoping they'll do a show somehwere nearby soon. I really don't want to do the loan at the bank thing. Smile.

Today's word is a French word used in Cameroon:

croire - believe

English and French are both official languages of Cameroon.

French is the third largest Romance language in the world in terms of native speakers according to the Wikipedia and is the official language of 29 countries. There are a number of places to learn French abroad which include Canada and Switzerland in addition to France. Amerispan offers immersion programs in all three of the countries and more info can be found by clicking here. Search other study abroad programs at some of these sites here: Coeur de France, Accord French Language School, and Transitions Abroad to name only a few. Swing over to My Language Exchange where you are sure to find someone willing to exchange their lingo skills for some of your own. Free online sources for learning French include France-Pub, French Assistant, and the BBC Languages.

Past French words: confiture, difficile, frottis, ma reum (mère), pensées, vélo

Word for the Travel Wise (09/23/06) originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 23 Sep 2006 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>celebritiesfrenchlanguageles nubiansLesNubianssingersSat, 23 Sep 2006 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the Day (9/22/06)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2006/09/22/photo-of-the-day-9-22-06/http://www.gadling.com/2006/09/22/photo-of-the-day-9-22-06/http://www.gadling.com/2006/09/22/photo-of-the-day-9-22-06/#commentsFiled under: ,

We're going back to localsurfer for yet another Photo of the Day.

This particular photo would be just another average nature shot if it weren't for that little lizard arm casually tossed over the edge of the bench. And, of course, the smug look on that little fella's face.

This Red Headed Agama (??) was obviously enjoying a well-earned siesta when localsurfer came across him somewhere in the wilds of Cameroon.

Photo of the Day (9/22/06) originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 22 Sep 2006 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 22 Sep 2006 12:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the Day (8/30/06)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2006/08/30/photo-of-the-day-9-30-06/http://www.gadling.com/2006/08/30/photo-of-the-day-9-30-06/http://www.gadling.com/2006/08/30/photo-of-the-day-9-30-06/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Jungle House
Something about this door feels quite inviting. Like you could walk right in and find a family of smiling faces waiting for you with food and ice-cold drinks. If you listen closely you can almost hear laughter and storytelling coming from the other side. A door like this also looks as though it might be out of Thailand or Costa Rica or some tropical place, but this so-called Jungle House is in Cameroon. Localsurfer has a whole set from Cameroon found in our Gadling Flickr pool and then some! If you'd like your photo featured then upload some now!

Photo of the Day (8/30/06) originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 30 Aug 2006 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flickrjungle houseJungleHouselocalsurfervacationWed, 30 Aug 2006 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the Day (8/14/06)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2006/08/14/photo-of-the-day-8-14-06/http://www.gadling.com/2006/08/14/photo-of-the-day-8-14-06/http://www.gadling.com/2006/08/14/photo-of-the-day-8-14-06/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Recently, on my personal site, I wrote about how my favourite part of travel wasn't seeing the famous monuments or landmarks, but rather the connections that I make with the people of the countries where I visit. I think that's why I was moved by this photo of a local Cameroon barber giving a tourist a haircut, taken by the indefatiguable localsurfer. He says, "Everywhere we go we have to have at least one photo of a barber shop. Dunno why, it's just what we do." I'm guessing it's because he values travel connections as much as I do.

If you'd like one of your travel photos to be featured in our Photo of the Day, be sure to visit our Flickr Pool, and upload your best shots there. Every day we'll pick one to be featured here on Gadling.

Photo of the Day (8/14/06) originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 14 Aug 2006 15:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 14 Aug 2006 15:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Survival International & Baka Beyond]]>http://www.gadling.com/2006/03/25/survival-international-and-baka-beyond/http://www.gadling.com/2006/03/25/survival-international-and-baka-beyond/http://www.gadling.com/2006/03/25/survival-international-and-baka-beyond/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

ietaSurvival International is an organization that has long helped tribal people defend their lives, land and determine their own futures. Together with a group of Baka musicians from the Cameroonian rainforest they are hoping to spread the word internationally about the forest dwellers who are being overlooked and persecuted by local and global organizations. The Baka's music is apart of everyday life where the villagers are often woken by women singing "Yelli" to bring animals from the forest for successful hunting. When they bathe in the river there seems to be music too. The opportunity to witness Baka Beyond during their upcoming tour in April-May is one that shouldn't be missed. Come for their intricate sounds, learn of the people, their situation and lend your hand in their struggle.

As of right now all tour dates are solely in the UK, beginning April 30 in Westonbirt. For a full tour listing click here.

Survival International & Baka Beyond originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 25 Mar 2006 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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