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Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
First ever 'polka-dotted' zebra foal spotted in Kenya: Is this a new species?
Nature never fails to surprise us with its endless variety, and sometimes, something very rare is discovered that comes as a surprise that even seasoned wildlife experts do a double-take. In Kenya's Maasai Mara National Reserve, a zebra foal was spotted with polka dots and not the usual stripes. While the Zebras are known to have distinctive and iconic black-and-white striped coats, which also help the animals in adapting to forests, sometimes, things as natural as this also get skipped by nature. The unusual markings on this young zebra is a glimpse into the world of genetic variation and pigment disorders in animals. While similar cases have come up in other parts of Africa, this is the first documented sighting of such a zebra in the Maasai Mara. The rare foal who has been nicknamed 'Tira' has not only amazed tourists but also drawn attention from scientists eager to understand what causes such an unusual shift in coat pattern. The extraordinary foal was first spotted in September 2017 by Antony Tira, a respected Maasai tour guide and photographer with Matira Bush Camp. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tecno Pova Curve 5G | Outcurve Everyone TECNO Mobile Buy Now Undo As reported by Daily Nation, Tira was stunned by what he saw. 'At first, I thought it was a zebra that had been captured and painted or marked for purposes of [researching] migration,' he said. 'I was confused when I first saw it.' Upon closer look, he realised the zebra had a pigment disorder and captured the moment on camera. The photos were shared on Matira Bush Camp's Facebook page and quickly went viral, sparking a rush of visitors eager to see the rare animal. Photographer Frank Liu was one of the lucky few to spot Tira the very next day. 'At first glance, he looked like a different species altogether,' Liu told reporters in an email. He, too, concluded the unique appearance came from a pigment condition. The foal was named 'Tira' after the Maasai guide who found him. As Frank Liu explained, 'There is a general rule within the park; whoever finds an animal of significance gets to name it.' While the media described Tira as 'pseudo-melanistic,' Professor Greg Barsh, a geneticist from HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, told Daily Nation that 'it is probably better described as 'spotted' or 'partially spotted.'' He explained that the issue isn't in melanin production, but in the melanocytes' ability to identify their location in the body. 'They don't know where they are,' Barsh said, adding that it's not a pigment problem but more like 'biological GPS' confusion.
Eyewitness News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Ugandan activist arrested in Tanzania found 'tortured' at border: rights group
KAMPALA, UGANDA - A Ugandan activist who was arrested and held "incommunicado" in Tanzania after attempting to attend a treason trial for an opposition leader has been found at the Ugandan border with "indications of torture", a rights group said Friday. Ugandan activist and journalist Agather Atuhaire was arrested earlier this week alongside her Kenyan counterpart, Boniface Mwangi, a prominent campaigner against corruption and police brutality in Kenya. Atuhaire and Mwangi were among activists who went to Tanzania to show solidarity with opposition leader Tundu Lissu at the latest hearing of his treason trial on Monday. Ugandan rights group Agora Discourse posted on X on Friday that Atuhaire had been found. READ: Kenyan lawyer for Tanzania opposition leader arrested: spokesperson "She was abandoned at the border by Tanzanian authorities," it said. Its co-founder Spire Ssentongo told AFP that "Agather is under the care of family and friends". "She was dumped at the border at night by the authorities and there are indications of torture," Ssentongo added. Police in Tanzania initially told a Tanzanian rights group that Mwangi and Atuhaire would be deported by air. But Mwangi was also found abandoned on a roadside in northern Tanzania near the Kenyan border, according to the local newspaper Daily Nation. "We were both treated worse than dogs, chained, blindfolded and underwent a very gruesome torture," Mwangi told reporters on his return to Nairobi. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said earlier this week that foreign activists would not be allowed to interfere in the country's affairs. She urged security services "not to allow ill-mannered individuals from other countries to cross the line here".
Observer
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Observer
Tanzania has released activist, says Kenya FM
NAIROBI: Kenya's foreign minister said on Thursday that Tanzanian authorities had released a prominent activist, who rights groups said had been 'held incommunicado' since Monday in the East African country. Boniface Mwangi was among activists who travelled to economic capital Dar es Salaam to show solidarity with opposition leader Tundu Lissu during his court appearance over charges of treason. However, Mwangi was detained on Monday with Amnesty International saying he had been 'held incommunicado by military officers'. On Thursday Kenyan Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi said that the activist had been released by Tanzanian authorities. 'We have been engaged diplomatically and that is how it is done,' he said, without giving further details. Local outlet Daily Nation, citing his family, reported Mwangi had been deported by road and abandoned in the coastal town of Ukunda, north of the Tanzanian border. He was taken to hospital to be examined. — AFP
eNCA
22-05-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
Kenya FM says Tanzania has released activist
Kenya's foreign minister told AFP on Thursday that Tanzanian authorities had released a prominent activist, who rights groups said had been "held incommunicado" since Monday in the East African country. Boniface Mwangi was among activists who travelled to economic capital Dar es Salaam to show solidarity with opposition leader Tundu Lissu during his court appearance over charges of treason. However, Mwangi was detained on Monday with Amnesty International saying he had been "held incommunicado by military officers". On Thursday Kenyan Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi told AFP the activist had been released by Tanzanian authorities. "We have been engaged diplomatically and that is how it is done," he said, without giving further details. Local outlet Daily Nation, citing his family, reported Mwangi had been deported by road and abandoned in the coastal town of Ukunda, north of the Tanzanian border. He was taken to hospital to be examined. There had been a growing outcry in Kenya over his detention. Some 20 NGOs had called on the government to press for his "immediate and unconditional release", as his wife, Njeri, condemned officials' "deafening silence". Mwangi was detained alongside Ugandan activist Agatha Atuhaire, but AFP was unable to determine if she had also been released. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said earlier this week foreign activists would not be allowed to interfere in the country's affairs. He urged security services "not to allow ill-mannered individuals from other countries to cross the line here". AFP | Raphael AMBASU In Uganda, opposition leader Kizza Besigye is also on trial for treason after having been kidnapped in Kenya and taken across the border.
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Conclave mystery as African cardinal claims he 'hasn't been invited' to join voting for new Pope - while Vatican insists his non-attendance is due to 'poor health'
The conclave to elect a new Pope has been hit by a controversy after an African cardinal claimed he 'hadn't been invited'. Cardinal John Njue, 79, is eligible to join the other 133 cardinals, from 70 countries, who are gathering in the Vatican for the start of the secretive process which begins this afternoon in the Sistine Chapel. But in an interview the Kenyan clergyman suggested dark forces were at work in a scenario that could have come straight out of Ralph Fiennes papal blockbuster Conclave. Speaking to Kenyan newspaper Daily Nation cardinal Njue said:' Those who go there for the election are usually sent official invites, and that has not happened on my part. 'The fact is that I have not been invited. I don't know why I've been excluded, if I'm not there it's not because I am in poor health.' Italian media immediately jumped on his comments and said it had 'sparked mystery and intrigue'. Cardinal Njue, who is Archbishop of Nairobi, has been at the forefront of preparations for the conclave after he and another African cardinal had their 'official ages' revised by the Vatican. Earlier this month the Vatican updated its directory to say that Cardinal Njue was born in 1946 – changing it from 1944 – making him eligible to vote in the conclave. While cardinal Philippe Quedraogo had his date of birth listed initially as January 1945 making him too old as the cut off is 80 for the conclave but it was then revised to December 1945 meaning he could vote. In a statement Cardinal Njue's diocese in Nairobi appeared to contradict him as they insisted he was 'unable to take part because of ill health' adding 'let us pray for his good health'. Cardinal Njue was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict in 2007 and is seen as a conservative, strong on family values and traditional Church teachings and not cut from the same cloth as the more liberal Pope Francis. A Vatican spokesperson insisted that cardinal Njue had 'been invited but was not attending because of poor health'. One commentator said:' It's a intriguing situation – the cardinal claims he isn't ill and the Vatican says he is – who is telling the truth ? Does someone not want him at the conclave?' Cardinals will gather this morning at 10am local time for a mass inside St Peter's Basilica led by cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, before heading off to the Sistine Chapel this afternoon for the first vote to decide who will succeed Pope Francis who died last month aged 88. Once at the Chapel the master of papal liturgical ceremonies, Archbishop Diego Ravelli, will shout out in Latin 'Extra omnes,' 'all out,' and anyone not eligible to vote leaves, the doors close, and the process will begin. On Tuesday the 133 cardinals who are eligible to vote gathered at the Santa Marta guest house in the Vatican where they will stay for the duration of the conclave cut off from the outside world. They will not have access to any electronic communication and the Sistine Chapel has also been swept for bugs to ensure no one can listen in as the cardinals debate who should lead the Catholic Church. The telephone signal will also be jammed from 3pm so that no one can contact them as they debate under the hallowed, frescoed ceiling of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, 'guided only by God and the Holy Spirit' as to who should be Pope. The first votes will be cast this evening, and the world will know the outcome when smoke is seen coming from the roof of the Sistine Chapel – white smoke means a Pope has been chosen while black means the jury is still out. The winner is whoever gets two thirds of the votes, and tonight's first smoke is expected to be black while some Italian. Media is speculating a decision could come as early as Thursday night. To get the colour of the smoke the ballot papers are burnt and chemicals are added and there are two votes in the morning and two in the afternoon with the cardinals returning to Santa Marta in between for meals. Wine is allowed but spirits are banned and the favourite at the moment is said to be Pietro Parolin, Pope Francis number two and Vatican Secretary of State, who is said to have around 50 cardinals backing him. In the last Conclave to elect Pope Francis, cardinals took two days, and it was the same length of time for Pope Benedict. The shortest Conclave was ten hours while the longest was just under three years in 1294.
