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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Alaska Airlines suspends red-carpet ceremonial fly-out of first Copper River king salmon
This May 2016 photo, published by Alaska Airlines, shows part of that year's First Fish ceremony in Seattle. (Alaska Airlines courtesy photo) Alaska Airlines has stopped rolling out the red carpet for the opening of Alaska's salmon season. The airline has paused a 15-year-old program that celebrates the Copper River salmon run, one of Alaska's earliest commercial salmon fisheries, the company confirmed by email. For more than a decade, Alaska Airlines observed the unofficial opening of Alaska's salmon season by flying a king salmon from Cordova to Seattle, where it was presented to chefs in a red carpet photo opportunity known as the First Fish event. Last year, the company switched things up with an event in Boston, instead of Seattle. This year, the company didn't publicly mark the start of the salmon season. 'I wouldn't describe it as an end — more of a pause. We've had a lot of exciting developments at Alaska Air Cargo, including the addition of new widebody cargo operations alongside our regular domestic and in-state service. Given the increased activity, we made the decision to pause this year's First Fish event,' said Tim Thompson, Alaska Airlines' public affairs manager, by email. Thompson said the company is still committed to flying out Alaska's seafood. 'Since last Friday, we've already transported over 150,000 pounds of Copper River salmon out of Cordova,' he said by email. The decision to pause the 'First Fish' event comes amid an uncertain time for Alaska's commercial king salmon fishery. While the state is forecasting better returns for pink, sockeye, coho and chum salmon, king salmon — formally called Chinook salmon — aren't faring as well. Last year, Alaska fishermen harvested 244,000 Chinook, according to figures from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. This year's harvest is expected to be only 144,000 fish, and the state has significantly restricted commercial fishing for Chinook and other species of salmon, to allow for more fish to return. This month, a conservation group filed a lawsuit as part of a campaign to urge the federal government to list Gulf of Alaska king salmon as threatened or endangered. The same group has successfully convinced many restaurants in Seattle — Alaska Airlines' home city — to remove king salmon from their menus. The Alaska seafood industry has been struggling to weather economic and environmental forces over the last several years, including low prices, high operating costs and a shrunken global market share, prompting a state legislative task force and some new actions to provide aid to the industry. Christa Hoover is the director of the Copper River/Prince William Sound Marketing Association, which promotes the region's fish on behalf of its fishermen. She said that regardless of the reason for Alaska Airlines' decision, the First Fish program will be missed as long as it's gone. 'It was a great, fun event for us to be part of, and we look forward to it every year,' she said. It built this really great excitement. And it wasn't solely focused on Copper River salmon. It was timed with ours because traditionally, we start the season off, but it was just really fun. You could feel the energy of it, and then you watch that energy kind of reverberate across the country. And it was just a really fun way to start the season, and we miss it terribly.'
South China Morning Post
18-05-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Study Buddy (Challenger): Bite marks reveal gladiator's fatal encounter with a lion
Content provided by British Council Read the following text, and answer questions 1-9 below: [1] In Rome's Colosseum and other amphitheatres in cities scattered across the sprawling ancient Roman Empire, gladiatorial spectacles were not merely human-versus-human affairs. While there are depictions of humans pitted against animals in ancient mosaics and texts, actual forensic evidence of these contests has been elusive until now. Scientists have determined that bite marks on the pelvis of a man buried in what is believed to be a cemetery for gladiators near the English city of York – known at the time as Eboracum – were made by a big cat, probably a lion. [2] The man appears to have lived during the 3rd century AD, when Eboracum was an important town and military base in the north of the Roman province of Britannia. The bite marks provide clues about his suspected demise in the arena. 'Here we can see puncture and scalloping, indicative of large dentition (teeth) piercing through the soft tissues and into the bone,' said forensic anthropologist Tim Thompson of Maynooth University in Ireland, the lead author of the study published last month in the journal PLOS One. 'We don't think this was the killing wound, as it would be possible to survive this injury, and it is in an unusual location for such a large cat. We think it indicates the dragging of an incapacitated (deprived of strength) individual,' Thompson said. [3] The discovery illustrates how gladiatorial spectacles with wild animals – often presented by emperors and other influential thinkers or leaders – were not limited to the empire's major cities and extended into its furthest-flung provinces. Researchers said this man's skeleton represents the first known direct physical evidence of human-animal combat from ancient Roman times. [4] Wild animals used in such spectacles included elephants, hippos, rhinos, crocodiles, giraffes, ostriches, bulls, bears, lions, tigers and leopards. For instance, in 2022, archaeologists announced the discovery of the bones of bears and big cats at the Colosseum. 'Predatory animals – above all big cats but also sometimes other animals, for example bears – were pitted as combatants against specialist gladiators, known as venatores,' said study co-author John Pearce, a Roman archaeologist at King's College London. [5] Pearce said that large and aggressive animals were pitted against each other – a bull and bear, for example – and often chained together. Simulated hunts were also staged in arenas, with humans against animals and animals against other animals. Animals were sometimes used as a means of execution for captives and criminals, where the victim was bound or defenceless, Pearce said. [6] Gladiators were typically enslaved people, prisoners of war, criminals and volunteers. 'A popular reputation – as expressed in fan graffiti at Pompeii – money and the possibility of being freed as a successful arena star were incentives and rewards for gladiators,' Pearce said. More than 80 human skeletons, mostly well-built younger men, have been excavated at the cemetery. Many had healed and unhealed injuries consistent with gladiatorial combat and had been decapitated, perhaps by losing a bout. Source: Reuters, April 23 Questions 1. In paragraph 1, the discovery of bite marks on a man's pelvis is significant because it … A. confirms the existence of big cats in ancient Britain. B. provides evidence that gladiators were sometimes buried with the animals they fought. C. offers concrete proof of a type of gladiatorial contest previously known mainly through art and writing. D. none of the above 2. According to paragraph 2, what characteristics of the bite marks on the man's pelvis suggest that a large animal inflicted the bite? 3. Based on paragraph 2, the bite marks on the pelvis suggest … A. the lion attacked and killed the gladiator with a bite to that region. B. the gladiator sustained the injury before fighting the lion. C. the lion was partially immobilised when it attempted to drag the gladiator. D. none of the above 4. Where does the phrase 'further-flung provinces' in paragraph 3 refer to? 5. In paragraph 4, what does the phrase 'above all big cats' suggest about the use of these animals against venatores? 6. Based on paragraph 5, describe two traits of the animals chosen to fight against other animals. 7. According to paragraph 5, which of the following can be inferred about the 'simulated hunts' staged in arenas? A. They exclusively featured unarmed humans facing large predatory animals. B. They involved both human-versus-animal and animal-versus-animal confrontations. C. They usually resulted in the death of all the animals involved. D. They were mainly used to train venatores for gladiatorial combat. 8. Find a term in paragraph 6 that refers to people bought by others and forced to obey and work for them. 9. What do the excavated skeletons in paragraph 6 suggest about the nature of gladiatorial combat? An ancient Roman mosaic of a lion on display at the Bardo National Museum in Tunis, Tunisia, Photo: Reuters Answers 1. C 2. The puncture and scalloping of the bite marks indicate large dentition (teeth) piercing through soft tissues and into the bone, suggesting a large animal. 3. D 4. places such as Eboracum (accept all similar answers) 5. Big cats were frequently used in combat against venatores. (accept all similar answers) 6. They were large and aggressive. 7. B 8. enslaved person 9. Gladiatorial combat is violent and leads to major injuries and death. (accept all reasonable answers)
New York Post
05-05-2025
- Science
- New York Post
Archaeologists uncover proof of brutal gladiator-lion clash in shocking tourist destination
Archaeologists recently discovered proof of a gladiatorial fight with a lion in an unexpected tourist destination. York, a city in northern England known for its breathtaking medieval architecture, welcomes millions of visitors annually – but its history goes much further back than the Middle Ages. The area was inhabited by the ancient Romans, who founded the city in 71 A.D. and named it Eboracum. Until now, archaeologists weren't sure that gladiatorial fights with lions took place outside of Italy – and didn't have much evidence of these battles, other than Roman art depicting the fights. The recent findings, publicized in the journal PLOS One, analyze a puncture wound that was found on the pelvis of a gladiator buried in a York cemetery. The gladiator lived during the 3rd century A.D. and was between 26 and 35 years old at the time of his death. Analyzing the man's wound, researchers found that the bite mark was made by a big cat, most likely a lion. 'Skeletal evidence associated with gladiatorial combat is rare, with most evidence deriving from written or visual sources,' the article states. 'A single skeleton from a Roman cemetery outside of York where gladiators arguably were buried presented with unusual lesions.' 3 Archaeologists recently discovered proof of a gladiatorial fight with a lion in an unexpected tourist destination. Hew Morrison/York Archaeology / SWNS 3 The gladiator lived during the 3rd century A.D. and was between 26 and 35 years old at the time of his death. REUTERS The piece noted, 'Investigation, including comparative work from modern zoological institutions, has demonstrated that these marks originate from large cat scavenging.' The discovery is the 'first physical evidence for human-animal gladiatorial combat from the Roman period seen anywhere in Europe,' according to the study's authors. Although researchers believe that the gladiator died in battle, they don't believe the pelvic puncture was the fatal blow. 'We don't think that this was the killing wound, as it would be possible to survive this injury, and it is in an unusual location for such a large cat,' forensic anthropologist Tim Thompson of Maynooth University said in a statement to Reuters. 'We think it indicates the dragging of an incapacitated individual.' 3 Analyzing the man's wound, researchers found that the bite mark was made by a big cat, most likely a lion. via REUTERS John Pearce, a Roman archaeologist at King's College London and a co-author of the study, told Reuters that the cat may have been starved before the fight in order to increase its aggression. 'Very speculatively, from the gladiator's perspective, perhaps an approach like a matador's would have been applied – to dodge and progressively wound, so as to extend the performance,' Pearce said. 'In this case, clearly that ended unsuccessfully, with it being likely, given the position of the bite mark, that the lion is mauling or dragging this individual on the ground,' he continued. 'At the end, when one or both were dead, there would be a burial for the gladiator and the use of the animal carcass for meat for the spectators.' The expert added that the discovery reflects the 'spectacle culture' central to Roman life. 'This new analysis gives us very concrete and specific evidence of a human-animal violent encounter, either as combat or punishment, showing that the big cats caught in North Africa were shown and fought not only in Rome or Italy but also surprisingly widely, even if we don't know how frequently,' Pearce concluded.
Fox News
05-05-2025
- Science
- Fox News
Archaeologists find proof of grisly gladiator-lion fight in unexpected tourist destination
Archaeologists recently discovered proof of a gladiatorial fight with a lion in an unexpected tourist destination. York, a city in northern England known for its breathtaking medieval architecture, welcomes millions of visitors annually – but its history goes much further back than the Middle Ages. The area was inhabited by the ancient Romans, who founded the city in 71 A.D. and named it Eboracum. Until now, archaeologists weren't sure that gladiatorial fights with lions took place outside of Italy – and didn't have much evidence of these battles, other than Roman art depicting the fights. The recent findings, publicized in the journal PLOS One, analyze a puncture wound that was found on the pelvis of a gladiator buried in a York cemetery. The gladiator lived during the 3rd century A.D. and was between 26 and 35 years old at the time of his death. Analyzing the man's wound, researchers found that the bite mark was made by a big cat, most likely a lion. "Skeletal evidence associated with gladiatorial combat is rare, with most evidence deriving from written or visual sources," the article states. The bite mark was made by a big cat, most likely a lion. "A single skeleton from a Roman cemetery outside of York where gladiators arguably were buried presented with unusual lesions." The piece noted, "Investigation, including comparative work from modern zoological institutions, has demonstrated that these marks originate from large cat scavenging." The discovery is the "first physical evidence for human-animal gladiatorial combat from the Roman period seen anywhere in Europe," according to the study's authors. Although researchers believe that the gladiator died in battle, they don't believe the pelvic puncture was the fatal blow. "We don't think that this was the killing wound, as it would be possible to survive this injury, and it is in an unusual location for such a large cat," forensic anthropologist Tim Thompson of Maynooth University said in a statement to Reuters. "We think it indicates the dragging of an incapacitated individual." John Pearce, a Roman archaeologist at King's College London and a co-author of the study, told Reuters that the cat may have been starved before the fight in order to increase its aggression. "Very speculatively, from the gladiator's perspective, perhaps an approach like a matador's would have been applied - to dodge and progressively wound, so as to extend the performance," Pearce said. "In this case, clearly that ended unsuccessfully, with it being likely, given the position of the bite mark, that the lion is mauling or dragging this individual on the ground," he continued. "At the end, when one or both were dead, there would be a burial for the gladiator and the use of the animal carcass for meat for the spectators." The expert added that the discovery reflects the "spectacle culture" central to Roman life. "This new analysis gives us very concrete and specific evidence of a human-animal violent encounter, either as combat or punishment, showing that the big cats caught in North Africa were shown and fought not only in Rome or Italy but also surprisingly widely, even if we don't know how frequently," Pearce concluded. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPReuters contributed reporting to this article.
Yomiuri Shimbun
03-05-2025
- Science
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Bite Marks Reveal Gladiator's Fatal Encounter with Lion in Roman Britain
Reuters An ancient Roman mosaic, depicting a scene in which a specialist gladiator called a venator confronts a lion, is seen at the Bardo National Museum in Tunis in December 2011. In Rome's Colosseum and other amphitheaters in cities scattered across the sprawling ancient Roman Empire, gladiatorial spectacles were not merely human-versus-human affairs. Gladiators also were pitted against animals. While there are depictions of these contests in ancient mosaics and texts, actual forensic evidence has been elusive, until now. Scientists have determined that bite marks on the pelvis of a man buried in what is believed to be a cemetery for gladiators near the English city of York, known at the time as Eboracum, were made by a big cat, probably a lion. The man, estimated to be 26 to 35 years old at the time of death, appears to have lived during the 3rd century, when Eboracum was an important town and military base in the north of the Roman province of Britannia. The bite marks provide clues as to his suspected demise in the arena. 'Here we can see puncture and scalloping, indicative of large dentition piercing through the soft tissues and into the bone,' said forensic anthropologist Tim Thompson of Maynooth University in Ireland, lead author of the study published on April 23 in the journal PLOS One. 'We don't think that this was the killing wound, as it would be possible to survive this injury, and it is in an unusual location for such a large cat. We think it indicates the dragging of an incapacitated individual,' Thompson said. The discovery illustrates how gladiatorial spectacles, often presented by emperors and other luminaries, that included wild animals were not limited to the empire's major cities but extended into its furthest-flung provinces. This man's skeleton represents the first known direct physical evidence of human-animal combat from ancient Roman times, the researchers said. Wild animals used in such spectacles included elephants, hippos, rhinos, crocodiles, giraffes, ostriches, bulls, bears, lions, tigers and leopards, among others. For instance, archaeologists in 2022 announced the discovery of the bones of bears and big cats at the Colosseum. Thompson et al., 2025, PLOS One / Handout via Reuters A puncture injury caused by the bite of a large cat, believed to have been a lion, is seen on the pelvis of a man believed to have been a gladiator during ancient Roman times who was buried in a cemetery near York, England, in this photo released on April 23. 'Predatory animals — above all big cats but also sometimes other animals, for example bears — were pitted as combatants against specialist gladiators, known as venatores,' said study coauthor John Pearce, a Roman archaeologist at King's College London. Large and aggressive animals also were pitted against each other — a bull and bear, for instance — and often chained together, Pearce said. Simulated hunts were staged in arenas as well, with humans against animals and animals against other animals, Pearce said. Animals sometimes were used as agents of execution for captives and criminals — known in Latin as damnatio ad bestias — in which the victim was bound or defenseless, Pearce said. A violent death Pearce described what may have occurred during the final moments of the man in York. The gladiator may have donned combined protective and theatrical costume. The animal may have been starved to encourage ferocity. 'Very speculatively, from the gladiator's perspective, perhaps an approach like a matador's would have been applied — to dodge and progressively wound, so as to extend the performance,' Pearce said. 'In this case, clearly that ended unsuccessfully, with it being likely, given the position of the bite mark, that the lion is mauling or dragging this individual on the ground. At the end, when one or both were dead, there would be a burial for the gladiator and the use of the animal carcass for meat for the spectators,' Pearce said. Gladiators typically were slaves, prisoners of war, criminals and volunteers. 'For successful gladiators, a popular reputation as expressed in fan graffiti at Pompeii, likely money and the possibility of being freed if a successful arena star were the incentives and rewards,' Pearce said. The York gladiator's remains show evidence of spinal abnormalities perhaps caused by overloading to his back, as well as dental diseases. He had been decapitated, likely as a coup de grace after injury and defeat in the arena. He was buried alongside two other men, their bodies overlaid with horse bones. There are remnants of some of Eboracum's buildings and city walls, though no amphitheater has yet been identified. Eighty-two human skeletons, mostly well-built younger men, have been excavated at the cemetery. Many had healed and unhealed injuries consistent with gladiatorial combat and had been decapitated, perhaps as losers in arena bouts. 'This is a reminder of the spectacle culture central to Roman public life,' Pearce said. 'This new analysis gives us very concrete and specific evidence of a human-animal violent encounter, either as combat or punishment, showing that the big cats caught in North Africa were shown and fought not only in Rome or Italy but also surprisingly widely, even if we don't know how frequently,' Pearce said.
