Latest news with #Masai
Toronto Star
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
Toronto Zoo's endangered Masai giraffe expecting third calf
The Toronto Zoo made a Mother's Day announcement saying that staff are looking forward to a new four-legged friend as Mstari, a Masai giraffe, is expecting another calf. The announcement was made on the zoo's social media accounts in connection with the holiday and said Mstari is approximately six months into her 13- to 16-month-long pregnancy. She is expected to give birth around late winter or early spring 2026.
Toronto Star
12-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
Details of the girls swarming case are coming to light + Rethinking Toronto's condo-selling structure
Good morning. This is the Monday, May 12 edition of First Up, the Star's daily morning digest. Sign up to get it earlier each day, in your inbox. Talk about a Mother's Day announcement! The Toronto Zoo shared that Mstari, an endangered Masai giraffe, is expecting her third calf. Here's how long a giraffe pregnancy typically lasts. And here's the latest on newly revealed details in the girls swarming case, why a developer says Toronto needs to sell condos like other cities do, and how difficult it is to get a spot at Ontario's newest medical school. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW DON'T MISS What happened behind the scenes after Kenneth Lee's swarming death A secret confession. Strip searches. Here's what the Star can now report about the case. Final girl facing trial in swarming death of Kenneth Lee pleads guilty How the death of Kenneth Lee and the girl swarm case has uncovered troubling questions about routine strip searches of kids in detention This developer says Toronto needs to follow other cities' lead on condos In other cities, developers sell units after they're built. Should Toronto do that, too? The Condo Catch: How investors have wreaked havoc on Toronto's condo market This condo investor is being sued for $860,000 for failing to close. He's one of dozens facing lawsuits as default rates soar These historic Toronto apartments have been vacant since a sinkhole, fire and sewage forced out tenants. Can it be brought back to life? TMU has one of the toughest medical schools to get into Earning a spot in TMU's inaugural MD class is no easy feat. Here's what it takes. TMU president says diversity targets for medical school were 'aspirational,' not a quota WHAT ELSE The Lula Lounge is seen on Dundas Street West near Dufferin St.. Richard Lautens Toronto Star A woman left this nightclub in an ambulance after an allergic reaction. Here's what the Advocate learned. A 'Brazen' killing at a restaurant near Toronto shines a light on Hells Angels' changing business model. A Toronto cop's misconduct case over 'offensive' Facebook posts has ended without a hearing. Toronto's only clothing-optional beach will get a wider berth from motorized boats and jet skis. Pope Leo XIV called for peace in Ukraine and Gaza in his Mother's Day blessing. Donald Trump defended the prospect of Qatar gifting him a plane to use as Air Force One. For Air Miles CEO Shawn Stewart, the loyalty card's resurrection is a simple tale of redemption. Here's a Canadian filmmaker's take on how Trump's tariffs will affect the thriving film industry. Here's how AI helps push Candy Crush players through its most difficult puzzles. Should you keep the toilet lid up or down? Experts plunge into the debate here. POV The Maple Leafs didn't just lose two games in Florida, they let the Panthers rediscover their game. CLOSE UP Ayami Sato celebrates after recording a strikeout in the second inning. Ayami Sato, a 35-year-old Japanese pitcher, is widely considered to be the best female pitcher in the world. Steve Russell Toronto Star DOMINICO FIELD: Ayami Sato celebrates after recording a strikeout in the second inning. The 35-year-old Japanese pitcher made her debut with the Intercounty Baseball League's Toronto Maple Leafs yesterday afternoon. Hayden Godfrey has more on the herstoric day. Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at firstup@ I will see you back here tomorrow. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Baby on the way for Toronto Zoo's Masai giraffe
The Toronto Zoo is celebrating Mother's Day by preparing for a new arrival, as Mstari, an 11 year old Masai giraffe, is expecting a calf. Mstari is six months into her pregnancy, which typically lasts between 13 to 16 months, and is doing well so far, the zoo said in a news release Sunday. Based on her previous pregnancies, the zoo said it expects the birth to happen between late winter to early spring 2026. WATCH | Sunday's announcement is Mstari's 3rd pregnancy, zookeeper says: The father is Kiko, a 12 year old giraffe. Their pairing was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Masai Giraffe Species Survival Plan, which is a co-operative breeding program among accredited zoos, the news release said. Mstari was born at the Toronto Zoo and lives with Kiko in the same paddock, zookeeper Amy Gerditschke said. Sunday's announcement marks Mstari's third pregnancy. One of Mstari's daughters went to the Calgary Zoo last fall and is set to participate in the same breeding program, she said. Masai giraffes are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, according to the Toronto Zoo's website. They are considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation and Nature. They typically live between 20 to 25 years, Gerditschke said. Fewer than 35,000 Masai giraffes survive in the wild, and the species has declined by more than 50 per cent in the last 30 years, according to Sunday's news release. Illegal hunting and habitat loss are their primary threats.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Grand opening of The Wilds' Hellbender RV Campground scheduled for May 30
CUMBERLAND — The Wilds is officially open for summer and will celebrate the grand opening of its Hellbender RV Campground on May 30, offering a new way for visitors to experience the conservation center. The 75-acre campground includes 47 full-service RV sites, 26 primitive camping spots, hiking and biking trails, a playground, camp store and dog park, according to an announcement. Named after the eastern hellbender, North America's largest amphibian and an endangered species in Ohio, the campground aims to highlight the importance of protecting natural waterways and local wildlife. The Wilds, located on nearly 10,000 acres of reclaimed surface mining land, is an award-winning destination known for its conservation efforts and immersive experiences. It is home to more than 30 rare and endangered species, including takin, Père David's deer, greater one-horned rhinos, southern white rhinos and Masai giraffes. The Wilds' Hellbender RV Campground is being built at intersection of Zion Ridge Road and Ohio 146, with 47 full-service RV spots and 26 primitive camping sites. "Now that the snow and ice is off the ground, at least for a little bit, they're wrapping up the utility connections to each of the lots," said Dr. Joe Smith, vice president and director of The Wilds. A variety of daily tours Visitors can explore The Wilds through various daily tours, such as the Open-Air Safari Tour and the Wildside Tour. Specialty tours include the Zipline Safari Tour, Fishing Safari, Horseback Safari, Sunset Tour and Birding at The Wilds experience. For those looking to extend their stay, The Wilds offers several overnight accommodations, including the adults-only Nomad Ridge yurts, family-friendly Cabins at Straker Lake, a lodge and the WildNights at the Outpost camping experience. The Hellbender RV Campground is expected to welcome an estimated 35,000 visitors annually, providing a boost to local tourism and economic growth. Reservations are available through The Wilds' website. "The Wilds has always been a place where conservation and adventure come together, and we are incredibly excited to open the Hellbender RV Campground this season," Dr. Joe Smith, vice president of The Wilds, said in the announcement. "This new experience will provide our guests with even more opportunities to connect with nature while celebrating a remarkable Ohio species whose resilience mirrors the mission of The Wilds. Whether you're camping under the stars, exploring our pastures, or learning about our conservation work, there is truly something for everyone.' The Wilds is open year-round, with a full line of tour options running from May through October and specialty tours available from November through April. For more information about tours, conservation initiatives, events and educational opportunities, visit This story was created by Jane Imbody, jimbody@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at or share your thoughts at with our News Automation and AI team. This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Hellbender RV Campground at The Wilds scheduled to open May 30
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
As biodiversity threats mount, Forest Rights Act gives India the edge
In many parts of the world, conservation laws and policies are becoming more exclusionary. They are disenfranchising local communities and indigenous people, disregarding their rights and role in conservation, and allowing the state as well as private interests to exploit resources. Conservation science and its legal frameworks are rooted in colonial ideas, and define nature as 'pristine' and untouched by humans. When wielding this approach — often called the fortress model — exclusive spaces called 'protected areas' are created, where conservation is implemented with centralised state control, criminalising indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) as encroachers. Researchers have found that the fortress conservation model has displaced 10 to 20 million people around the world by separating their lives, livelihoods, and cultures from landscapes cordoned off as protected areas. While global conservation legislation is fairly recent, the role of IPLCs like the Masai and Ogiek in Kenya, the Batwa in Uganda, the Ashaninka in Peru, and Adivasis in India is well-documented. Most of the world's biodiverse regions are in places where these communities have traditionally lived and governed. This is no coincidence: IPLCs have been custodians of local biodiversity, protecting it against being exploited and nurturing it while being nurtured in return. In turn, laws that secure IPLCs' tenure and recognise their rights can strengthen traditional governance systems used to sustainably manage their lands. Conservation with laws In the prevailing global scenario, laws are crucial to facilitate conservation. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is the largest international legal instrument from which many conservation- and biodiversity-related multilateral treaties and legal frameworks have emerged. First presented at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, 196 countries are party to the CBD today, with their national legal frameworks being guided by the CBD-framework. The CBD's main objectives are conservation, sustainable use, and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits of biodiversity, including landscapes, species, and genetic resources. India, one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries, is a signatory to the CBD and has a rich history of community-led environmental protection and conservation campaigns. It enacted the Biological Diversity Act (BDA) in 2002 to implement the objectives of the CBD. The Act provides for a three-tier institutional system: the National Biodiversity Authority is at the Centre and the State Biodiversity Boards and the Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) operate at the local level, to promote the conservation of local plants, animals, and habitats including documenting biodiversity-related traditional knowledge. While attempts have been made to include communities in conservation through programmes such as Joint Forest Management, broader forest and resource laws have historically denied Adivasi and other traditional communities their access to forests and criminalised their rights, leading to large-scale dispossession. India formalised the protected-area model under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and Project Tiger in 1973. As of February 2025, the country has already notified 1,134 protected areas with 58 tiger reserves. Experts have recorded at least six lakh people displaced in this manner as a result. Then, in 2006, Parliament passed the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, or FRA, in a critical turning point in Indian legislation. The FRA linked the recognition of the rights of forest dwellers and Adivasis with the governance, management, and conservation of forests, natural resources, and biodiversity. To achieve this, the Act provides a framework for democratic, decentralised governance and management by vesting institutional authority to village-level gram sabhas. IPLCs and conservation At present, many international legislative institutions are recognising the crucial role indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) play in biodiversity conservation. Indeed, IPLCs have been campaigning to have their rights recognised at international meetings of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (the climate COP) and of the CBD. Since 1992, the CBD has urged countries to 'respect, preserve and maintain knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity' through Article 8(j).Many protocols, working groups and subcommittees have been set up over the years to realise the Article's vision — to ensure governments recognise IPLC rights — but progress has been slow. In 2007, the UN passed its Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to address the discrimination IPLCs face throughout the world and to emphasise their right to 'maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures and traditions'. The Indian constitution India voted in favour of this Declaration in 2007 yet the government has refrained from using the term and concept of 'indigenous peoples' in its own laws, claiming all Indians are indigenous. However, the Indian constitution recognises Scheduled Tribe groups and provides an advanced framework to recognise and protect their rights. The Constitution also includes provisions related to Scheduled and Tribal Areas with Articles 244 and 244A. The 2011 Census reported that Adivasis numbered around 104 million, then 8.6% of the Indian population- effectively the world's largest population of indigenous people in a single country. Over the years, the government has also advanced this constitutional framework by enacting parliamentary legislations, including the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas), or PESA, Act 1996 and the FRA 2006. In fact, the FRA is arguably one of the most advanced legal frameworks in the world: it legally recognises the relationships between tenure security, rights of forest dependent communities, and biodiversity conservation and creates democratic mechanisms to strengthen these bonds. The Act also recognises that adivasis and other traditional forest dwellers, have suffered historical injustice. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), which CBD signatories adopted at their COP-15 summit in 2022 in Canada, seeks to integrate and ensure equitable representation of IPLCs and their traditional knowledge in the implementation of the framework. The KMGBF envisions a world living in harmony with nature with a list of 23 targets to achieve it. An important one is titled '30 by 30', i.e. countries committing to bring 30% of the world's land and marine areas under their protection by 2030. The targets also mention consultation and inclusion of IPLCs, their cultural practices, and their traditional knowledge. The FRA on the other hand adopts a more nuanced approach to conserving biodiversity. Of the 13 kinds of rights recognised under the Act, two are especially important in the present context: 'right of access to biodiversity and community right to intellectual property and traditional knowledge related to biodiversity and cultural diversity', and 'right to protect, regenerate or conserve or manage any community forest resource which they have been traditionally protecting and conserving for sustainable use'. The situation in 2025 In November, the CBD's COP-16 summit established a permanent subsidiary body for IPLCs and also adopted a program of work on Article 8(j).This body made the CBD the only UN Convention with a dedicated platform to implement the rights of IPLCs. India also came up with a list of 23 targets under its updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAPs) that it aims to achieve by 2030. While these targets include protecting the rights of local communities and conserving biodiversity, the plan itself banks on existing institutional frameworks. Even though updated NBSAPs emphasise a paradigm shift towards a bottoms-up governance approach — as in the FRA — it excessively favours State forest departments and State-led conservation measures over decentralised approaches. The implementation of the updated NBSAPs rely significantly on the BMCs (which have yet to become fully functional). It's not clear how the NBSAPs will build synergy between the different governance approaches. Thus, for all these international victories, the struggle for the rights of IPLCs in conservation approaches is far from over. The premise of the '30 by 30' agenda itself jeopardises these rights because it promotes the idea that simply expanding protected areas will arrest biodiversity loss. Beyond protected areas The KMGBF makes provisions to move beyond protected areas through its 'other effective area-based conservation measures' (OECMs). India plans to notify the OECM guidelines soon. Some experts have expressed optimism that this is an opportunity to involve communities in conservation. Each OECM is to be identified by four features: shouldn't already be a protected area; is already governed and managed by governments, private entities or IPLCs; makes sustainable efforts to conserve biodiversity; and protects ecosystem functions as well as cultural, socio-economic, etc. values. But without proper checks and legal recognition of rights, OECMs can become tools of exploitation — just the way the CBD and the BDA are designed to 'monetise' nature in a way that accrues benefits to IPLCs yet renders biodiversity and traditional knowledge vulnerable to being exploited for corporate interests. It therefore behooves the BDA framework to strengthen the existing FRA framework. Indeed, the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs stressed in its response to the draft Biodiversity Rules 2024 (dated April 10, 2024): that instead of creating new mechanisms to manage resources and biodiversity, the government should combine them with the gram-sabha-led community forest resource management systems under FRA. It also asks that before declaring any biodiversity heritage sites, the government must ensure it has completed the process of settling forest dwellers rights under the FRA and received the prior informed consent of respective gram sabhas. Research estimates that FRA has the potential to protect at least 4 crore ha of forest land, including existing protected areas. To enable it to do so without also dispossessing the stewards of this land, other laws and policies must comply with the FRA. Aditi Vajpeyi is an independent researcher who examines forest and natural resource conflicts and governance issues and policies. Prakriti Mukerjee is a PhD scholar studying the Biological Diversity Act and global conservation legislations.
