21 Januari 2014

Tragic end for the little elephant who got lost

This is the dramatic moment a lion single-handedly kills a young African elephant after riding on its back until it collapses to the ground.

The elephant, thought to be around three to four years old, was caught alone as it drank from a watering hole.

Rare footage shows the young male attempt to scare the predator away by mock charging - before quickly turning on its heels.

On the run: A young African elephant flees for its life after being targeted by a lion while it was drinking at a watering hole in the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe
On the run: A young African elephant flees for its life after being targeted by a lion while it was drinking at a watering hole in the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe


The lion pounces on the back of the elephant
The lion digs its claws in as it prepares to jump on its back
Caught: The lion pounces on the back of the elephant, thought to be around three or four years old, as it closes in for the kill


Losing the fight for life: The lion rides on the back of the elephant until it tires so much it has no option but to drop to the dusty floor
Losing the fight for life: The lion rides on the back of the elephant until it tires so much it has no option but to drop to the dusty floor


Nowhere to left to run: As the elephant came to a standstill, the lion jumped in the air and twisted - which brought the elephant down to the ground
Nowhere to left to run: As the elephant came to a standstill, the lion jumped in the air and twisted - which brought the elephant down to the ground 
  

However, the lion easily caught up and leapt on its back - riding it until it tired and dropped to the floor.

The clip was caught on camera by Heidi and Kurt Haas in the Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.
 
Kurt, 67, from Switzerland, said: 'The lion tried to unbalance the elephant to bring it down, but in vain.

'Then he tried to slow its pace down by hanging on to the back. As the elephant came to a standstill the lion jumped in the air and twisted - which brought the elephant down to the ground. 

Taken down: The chase was caught on camera by Heidi and Kurt Haas, who said the kill took around 40 minutes from start to finish
Taken down: The chase was caught on camera by Heidi and Kurt Haas, who said the kill took around 40 minutes from start to finish


Nature at its most brutal: Mr Haas said there was no sign of larger elephants nearby during the 40 minutes it took for the lions to finish the kill
Nature at its most brutal: Mr Haas said there was no sign of larger elephants nearby during the 40 minutes it took for the lions to finish the kill

'I'm sure this is a technique which has been practiced for many years.
'Then the lion's brother came to help but only to hold the elephant so his brother could deliver the lethal bites. 

'The whole thing took about 30-40 minutes before the lions - which included another female and a cub - could then begin to eat.'

Prey: It is believed the young elephant became separated from the herd after being driven to the watering hole by extreme thirst
Prey: It is believed the young elephant became separated from the herd after being driven to the watering hole by extreme thirst


Back-up support: The lion's brother arrives to help but only to hold the elephant so his sibling can deliver the lethal bites
Back-up support: The lion's brother arrives to help but only to hold the elephant so his sibling can deliver the lethal bites


It is not clear if the young elephant was part of a larger herd or living on its own.

Mr Haas said there was no sign of larger elephants nearby during the 40 minutes it took for the lions to finish the kill.

He believes the young elephant was driven to the watering hole by extreme thirst and may have become separated during the frantic search for water.

Dinner time: The lions sink their teeth into the elephant after forcing it to collapse on the floor during the hunt
Dinner time: The lions sink their teeth into the elephant after forcing it to collapse on the floor during the hunt


Hunted: The young elephant had attempted to scare the lion away by mock charging but when that failed he quickly turning on its heels and ran
Hunted: The young elephant had attempted to scare the lion away by mock charging but when that failed he quickly turning on its heels and ran

Mixed emotions: Mr Hass said it was a privilege to witness the kill 'with the eye of the film-maker and with the watery eye of an elephant lover'
Mixed emotions: Mr Hass said it was a privilege to witness the kill 'with the eye of the film-maker and with the watery eye of an elephant lover'

He added: 'It is sad but a natural experience of nature.

'It was a privilege to see it with the eye of the film-maker and with the watery eye of an elephant lover. 

'For us it's a unique experience that we will never forget.'

Lost: It is not clear if the young elephant was part of a larger herd or living on its own, but no other members of its herd where anywhere to be seen
Lost: It is not clear if the young elephant was part of a larger herd or living on its own, but no other members of its herd where anywhere to be seen

Feast for the beasts: A third lion joins the feeding frenzy at the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe
Feast for the beasts: A third lion joins the feeding frenzy at the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe


Mr Hass said: 'It is sad but a natural experience of nature. For us it's a unique experience that we will never forget'
Mr Hass said: 'It is sad but a natural experience of nature. For us it's a unique experience that we will never forget'


"Buruh Paksa"


06 Januari 2014

Photographer captures incredible images of cave system

These amazing underground pictures are of an elaborate cave system in south Wales.

Caver turned photographer Joshua Bratchley, 22, took this stunning collection of images of the Dan yr Ogof cave system - including one that looks like the opening sequence to the James Bond films. 

Elsewhere giant stalactites hang from the ceiling with one meeting a stalagmite - making a tower.

The name's Bond: These stunning images were taken of the Dan yr Ogof cave system - including this which looks like the James Bond opening sequence
The name's Bond: These stunning images were taken of the Dan yr Ogof cave system - including this which looks like the James Bond opening sequence


Growth: Photographer Joshua Bratchley took these pictures of some enormous stalactites in the south Wales cave system
Growth: Photographer Joshua Bratchley took these pictures of some enormous stalactites in the south Wales cave system


Close up: The 22-year-old photographer is also a keen caver and have been exploring such systems for many years
Close up: The 22-year-old photographer is also a keen caver and have been exploring such systems for many years


Meanwhile, several deep pools can be seen - with one intrepid caver wading in up to their waist.

The photographer is a keen caver himself and only recently began to combine this with photography.

He said: 'I began to combine the two and I found that I was very passionate about capturing these sensational places in my own images.

'It often takes a lot of thought to get the right lighting since the caves are naturally pitch black so seeing good results from efforts as thoroughly rewarding.

Hidden features: A caver looks at one stalactite which has merged with a stalagmite in the cave system
Hidden features: A caver looks at one stalactite which has merged with a stalagmite in the cave system


Reach: This photograph shows the very beginnings of some tiny stalagmites, created from water and other minerals
Reach: This photograph shows the very beginnings of some tiny stalagmites, created from water and other minerals


'My favourite photo is the one in Bakerloo straight, although people have taken other similar images before, I like how in this one the steam from the silhouetted caver rises in the light.

'I'd made many trips in to the cave before but had not taken enough time to admire its beauty so I took a camera with me to capture it in my records.

'It is a stunning system.'

Exploring: One intrepid caver wades up to their chest in the freezing waters of the cave system
Exploring: One intrepid caver wades up to their chest in the freezing waters of the cave system

Expansive: The photographer says he is 'very passionate' about capturing these 'sensational' places on film
Expansive: The photographer says he is 'very passionate' about capturing these 'sensational' places on film

26 Disember 2013

Merasai suasana bekerja di dalam lombong timah




PERNAH sesekali Hindun Ramli, 46, mengadu kepada rakan-rakannya mengenai rasa tidak selesa yang dia hadapi setiap kali berada di dalam ruang yang sempit, sesak dan tertutup.

Sebagai contoh, setiap kali melangkah masuk ke lif, dadanya mula terasa berat. Ruang dalaman lif yang berbentuk seakan-akan kotak ditafsirkan Hindun sebagai sebuah sangkar.

Nafasnya seakan-akan tersangkut di kerongkong walaupun sekadar berfikir mengenainya. Apabila ditanya adakah dia mengalami klaustrafobia, Hindun gagal memberi jawapan.

Klaustrafobia ialah perasaan panik akibat ketakutan berada di tempat yang tertutup dan bimbang tidak dapat keluar dari lokasi tersebut.

Kegentaran guru di Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Isap, Kuantan, Pahang itu terhadap ruang yang sempit dan tertutup itu sekali lagi teruji apabila dia diamanahkan untuk mengetuai rombongan 40 orang pelajarnya ke lombong bijih timah kedua terbesar di dunia yang terletak di Sungai Lembing, Pahang.

Mendamaikan 

"Pada mulanya saya berasa gentar untuk masuk ke dalam lombong bijih timah tersebut. Saya terbayang betapa sempit, panas dan sesaknya keadaan di dalam lombong tersebut ditambah pula dengan terowong-terowong bawah tanah yang berselirat.

"Bagaimanapun, saya beranikan diri untuk melawan rasa gentar. Saya pimpin tangan salah seorang pelajar dan kami sama-sama menaiki kereta api khas yang disediakan untuk membawa pengunjung dari mulut terowong hingga ke dalam. Tidak sampai beberapa minit, perasaan gentar bertukar kagum," selorohnya sambil berkata, dia kini tidak lagi mengalami klaustrafobia.


SELAIN terowong, Jambatan Sungai Lembing juga merupakan tarikan utama kepada pengunjung.


Sebaik sahaja pengunjung tiba di hujung landasan sejauh kira-kira 80 meter itu, segala tanggapan negatif mengenai keadaan lombong yang kononnya daif dan menyeramkan itu ternyata tidak benar. Bahkan, mereka disambut hawa dingin di dalam lombong berkedalaman kira-kira 900 meter ke dalam perut bumi.

Dinding dan lantai lombong berkenaan yang dahulunya dipenuhi dengan bijih ibarat diukir dengan mesin berteknologi tinggi bagi membentuk laluan seakan-akan terowong bersaiz kira-kira dua meter persegi. Sekali pandang, pengunjung berasa seolah-olah dikelilingi oleh arca-arca batu yang indah.

"Segala yang saya bayangkan tidak benar sama sekali, suasana di dalam terowong tersebut yang kelam, sejuk dan sunyi begitu mendamaikan. Saya terasa seperti berada di dalam sebuah bilik yang berhawa dingin.

"Saya berasa kagum melihat ruang di dalam lombong berkenaan yang berbeza dari segi saiz. Ada yang sebesar padang bola dan ada juga yang terlalu kecil sehingga seseorang itu perlu merangkak untuk melaluinya," ujar wanita berkenaan menceritakan pengalaman yang diperolehnya daripada para petugas di lombong berkenaan.

Walaupun sudah hampir 26 tahun memberhentikan operasi, terowong sepanjang 1.5 kilometer itu bukan sahaja terjaga rapi, malah telah dibaik pulih bagi memberi keselesaan kepada pengunjung yang ingin merasai suasana bekerja di dalam lombong bijih timah.

Dengungan enjin

Ratusan mentol yang mengeluarkan cahaya berwarna oren dipasang di sepanjang terowong bagi memberi sedikit pencahayaan. Mentol tersebut menyerupai tona warna obor yang pernah digunakan untuk menerangi terowong sejauh lapan kilometer itu.

Sesekali, terdengar dengungan enjin kereta api pengangkut bijih yang dijadikan kereta api transit bagi membawa pengunjung ke dalam lombong. Walaupun hanya sekadar replika, ia sudah cukup untuk membawa pengunjung merasai suasana zaman kegemilangan lombong terbabit sekitar tahun 1940-an hingga 1950-an.

PENGUNJUNG akan dibawa ke dalam Terowong Sungai Lembing dengan menggunakan replika kereta api pengangkut bijih.


Muhammad Amri Mohd Zaki, 25, berkata, salah satu kepuasan yang dikecapinya sepanjang setahun berkerja sebagai pekerja am di lombong berkenaan ialah melihat keterujaan wajah pengunjung apabila diberitahu mengenai sejarah dan latar belakang lombong yang berusia kira-kira 150 tahun itu.

Mula diteroka secara komersial sekitar tahun 1920-an, Sungai Lembing yang dahulunya merupakan kawasan penempatan masyarakat British berubah wajah menjadi salah sebuah lokasi perlombongan bijih timah terbesar di dunia di bawah usaha sebuah syarikat British iaitu Pahang Consolidated Company Limited (PCCL).

Ketika itu, tiada teknologi moden digunakan dalam proses melombong bijih timah sebaliknya, para pekerja terpaksa menggunakan gerudi dan bahan letupan untuk memecahkan bongkah-bongkah batu pada dinding terowong.

Selepas dipecahkan kepada ketulan-ketulan kecil, batuan berisi timah itu kemudiannya dihantar menggunakan sebuah lokomotif berkuasa bateri ke kilang berhampiran untuk diproses.

Timah mentah

Dalam tempoh 100 tahun, lombong bijih timah Sungai Lembing ditadbir pihak pengurusan PCCL, lombong ini telah mengeluarkan kira-kira 13 juta tan metrik bijih timah kasar yang boleh menghasilkan 150,000 tan metrik timah dengan nilai sebanyak hampir RM2 bilion.

Kata anak jati Sungai Lembing itu, kebanyakan pengunjung tidak pernah melihat rupa sebenar bijih timah yang belum diproses. Justeru, apabila diberi peluang untuk melihat sendiri bahan mentah itu dalam keadaan asalnya, mereka teruja.

"Di dalam terowong ini terdapat beberapa lubang yang masih mempunyai sisa-sisa bijih timah. Jika mereka bernasib baik, mereka juga berpeluang untuk melihat bahan mineral lain yang berada di dalam lombong berkenaan contohnya emas.

"Bagaimanapun, lubang-lubang ini sentiasa dikawal rapi kerana kita mahu memelihara segala bahan mineral yang terdapat di dalamnya selama mungkin supaya generasi akan datang dapat melihatnya," ujarnya yang petah bercerita mengenai keistimewaan lombong yang menjadi salah satu lokasi pelancongan utama di daerah Kuantan itu.

Sejak penutupan lombong tersebut pada tahun 1987, ia telah diserahkan kepada kerajaan negeri Pahang sebelum dibaik pulih dan dibuka kepada pengunjung pada awal tahun ini.


PATUNG-PATUNG digunakan untuk memberi gambaran aktiviti seharian para pelombong kepada pengunjung.


Kini, setelah hampir setahun beroperasi sebagai pusat pelancongan, populariti lombong bijih timah Sungai Lembing semakin meningkat. Dalam tempoh enam bulan pertama tahun ini sahaja, seramai 32,000 pengunjung dari dalam dan luar negara telah meneroka khazanah lombong tersebut.

Menurut Penolong Pegawai Tadbir (Pelancongan), Jabatan Pembangunan Sukan dan Perlancongan, Majlis Perbandaran Kuantan, Norzatil Othman, 32, peningkatan jumlah pengunjung ke lokasi berkenaan saban hari bukan sahaja menjadikan ia lebih dikenali malah secara tidak langsung membantu meningkatkan taraf ekonomi penduduk setempat.

"Kita perhatikan semakin ramai penduduk kampung yang mengambil keputusan untuk berniaga. Daripada membuka gerai makan sehinggalah kedai menjual cenderamata.
"Bahkan, para petugas yang bekerja di lombong bijih timah tersebut kebanyakannya adalah penduduk sekitar," ujarnya ketika ditemui.

Selain lombong bijih timah, terdapat beberapa tarikan lain yang terdapat di kawasan Sungai Lembing antaranya ialah Muzium Sungai Lembing dan Jambatan Gantung Sungai Lembing.

Sebuah bengkel penghasilan sampul surat oleh golongan orang kelainan upaya (OKU) yang terletak di lokasi yang sama turut menjadi lokasi kunjungan wajib para pelancong di Sungai Lembing.

Penyeludup China gali terowong



DUA anggota pasukan keselamatan Hong Kong mengangkat keluar barang yang ditemui di dalam sebuah terowong haram di negara itu kelmarin.



BEIJING - Kumpulan penyeludup dari China menggali sebuah terowong konkrit menuju ke Hong Kong yang dilengkapi lampu, sistem pengudaraan dan landasan untuk mengangkut barang, lapor media tempatan semalam.

Menurut laporan laman web China.com.cn laluan tersembunyi dan sepanjang 40 meter itu bermula di dalam sebuah gudang di Shenzhen dan berakhir di sebuah kawasan semak di Hong Kong.

"Ia dibina secara profesional," menurut laporan berkenaan.

Hong Kong yang merupakan wilayah separa autonomi dan Shenzhen merupakan antara hab perdagangan utama di China tetapi mempunyai sistem cukai yang berbeza.

Kumpulan penyeludup yang masih tidak dikenal pasti itu membina turut memasang landasan kereta api bersama sebuah gerabak yang digunakan untuk menyeludup pelbagai barangan seperti telefon pintar dan komputer tablet.

Pembinaan terowong haram itu dianggarkan menelan belanja tiga juta yuan (490,000) dan mengambil masa selama empat bulan.

Beberapa anggota kawalan sempadan menemui terowong itu seminggu lalu.
Terowong itu berukuran 40 meter panjang dan satu meter tinggi masih dalam pembinaan. - Agensi

05 Disember 2013

Anyone for roast rat?

Fancy a rat kebab?

It's rat hunting season in Vietnam which means skewered vermin are back on the menu at a restaurant in Dan Phuong on the outskirts of the Vietnamese captial Hanoi.
 
Rat meat has been considered a delicacy for many years in southern areas of the south Asian country, and the taste for it is spreading.

Previously only eaten regularly by the northern Red River delta and southern Mekong River delta people, the taste for rat meat is spreading.

At this time of year, when rice is harvested, farmers in the south turn to rat hunting to capture the small animals for sale in markets
 
In the southern Mekong delta, hunting is particularly productive during the flood season when rats try to escape from their flooded hearths.

One kilogram of rat meat costs around 100,000 dong, or $4 to $5.

Slaughtered rats placed on rice straw for roasting in Dan Phuong on the outskirts of Hanoi
Special ingredient: Slaughtered rats placed on rice straw for roasting in Dan Phuong on the outskirts of Hanoi


Tasty morsel: Rats cooking on an open fire in Dan Phuong on the outskirts of Vietnam's capital Hanoi
Tasty morsel: Rats cooking on an open fire in Dan Phuong on the outskirts of Vietnam's capital Hanoi

Rats, tasty rats, only 100,000 dong: A Vietnamese vendor selling slaughtered rats at a village market
Rats, tasty rats, only 100,000 dong: A Vietnamese vendor selling slaughtered rats at a village market
Rats, tasty rats, only 100,000 dong for a pair: A Vietnamese vendor disemboweling rats (left) and then selling at a village market (right)


Delicacy: One kilogram of rat meat costs around 100,000 dong, or $4 to $5
Delicacy: One kilogram of rat meat costs around 100,000 dong, or $4 to $5



Rats on sticks: the vermin are roasted until they are charred before being ready to eat
Rats on sticks: the vermin are roasted until they are charred before being ready to eat

Barbecue: Thanh, owner of a rat restaurant, roasting rats
Barbecue: Thanh, owner of a rat restaurant, roasting rats

Thanh, owner of a rat restaurant, preparing rats to be cooked in Dan Phuong
Thanh, owner of a rat restaurant, preparing rats to be cooked in Dan Phuong

Dinner's nearly ready: The rats have been skinned, washed and theey now need to be disemboweled
Dinner's nearly ready: The rats have been skinned, washed and theey now need to be disemboweled


Doing the prep: A couple who run owner of a rat restaurant slaughtering rats
Doing the prep: A couple who run owner of a rat restaurant slaughtering rats

Preparing rats to be cooked by giving them a wash before they're slaughtered
Preparing rats to be cooked by giving them a wash before they're slaughtered

About to be skinned: Eating rat is popular among both Northern Red River delta and Southern Mekong River delta people
About to be skinned: Eating rat is popular among both Northern Red River delta and Southern Mekong River delta people


A rat being pulled out of a cage at a rat restaurant in Dan Phuong on the outskirts of Hanoi
A rat being pulled out of a cage at a rat restaurant in Dan Phuong on the outskirts of Hanoi


A rat hunter carrying a bamboo cage with captured rats inside as his teammates placing rat traps in a field in Vietnam's Hoai Duc district
A rat hunter carrying a bamboo cage with captured rats inside as his teammates placing rat traps in a field in Vietnam's Hoai Duc district

Captured rats in a trap during a hunting trip in a field in the Hoai Duc district
Captured rats in a trap during a hunting trip in a field in the Hoai Duc district


Caught: A man puts a captured rat into a bamboo cage during a hunting trip
Caught: A man puts a captured rat into a bamboo cage during a hunting trip


A rat hunter looking on as a dog digs a hole during a hunting trip in a field in the Hoai Duc district on the outskirts of Hanoi
A rat hunter looking on as a dog digs a hole during a hunting trip in a field in the Hoai Duc district on the outskirts of Hanoi


Rat hunters placing traps during a hunting trip in a field in the Hoai Duc district on the outskirts of Hanoi
Rat hunters placing traps during a hunting trip in a field in the Hoai Duc district on the outskirts of Hanoi









DUIT