Latest news with #WorldWildlifeFund
Sydney Morning Herald
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘She doesn't want to upset people - I probably do': Bella Freud on sister Esther
Fashion designer Bella Freud, 64, and her novelist sister Esther Freud, 62, are daughters of artist Lucian Freud and great-granddaughters to Sigmund. They were raised by their mother in the UK and Morocco. Esther: Even as a child, Bella had a lot of power. She was bright and capable and often angry, but she had such charisma. She would create situations that felt very daring and exciting. When she was nine, she became a passionate, paid-up member of the World Wildlife Fund. She found an old pram and we went from door to door for donations. I was about seven, and a neighbour reported she'd seen me straining to push this enormous, junk-filled vehicle up the road, with Bella sitting on top. When my mother asked about it, I thought, 'No, no: they don't understand. She allowed me to push her.' That's how powerful she was. Loading Interestingly, I don't think I was ever the subject of her anger. And she also had this enormous capacity for lighting up life; she was incredibly beguiling. Even now, I can say things to her that I can't say to anyone else. I can exaggerate my feelings with her, try things out on her. It's almost like a twin relationship, in that way: this alliance right at the centre of our lives. Sometimes, I think, 'Oh, I'll try not to talk to Bella about this', but I always crack. There just isn't anyone else who can unwrap life for me like her. I have mined my childhood for 35 years [as a fiction writer; her latest novel, My Sister and Other Lovers, is out now.] Some of it is very close to Bella and me, but she's like our father. I once wrote a character clearly based on him, and he said, 'For a horrible moment, I thought he was me, then I remembered, 'Oh no, I don't wear a watch.' ' Bella just says, 'It's fiction', and gives me her blessing. This last book, she said: 'Be sharper, harsher, clearer. Don't worry about hurting my feelings.' It was fabulous. 'I can exaggerate my feelings with Bella, try things out on her. It's almost like a twin relationship, in that way.' Esther Freud Just very recently, she's started her own writing: these beautiful little Sunday stories on Instagram. It's been so illuminating for me. As a child, I was caught between her and my mother – both very strong, fiery, outspoken – always just hoping things would settle down. Now I realise she was unhappy. She had a difficult relationship with our mother; she found the itinerant life we were leading, which actually rather suited me, extremely painful and difficult. It was like clear water, clear air, to finally understand that. And she seems so at peace and happy now; more compassionate for the past, for herself, for our family. I've always been so proud of her. When she first started to design clothes back in the '90s, she'd have these incredible catwalk shows with Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Susie Bick [now Cave]. I've never been brilliant at clothes: I once tried on this lovely, soft, brushed-cotton brown shirt with her and she just said, 'Never, ever buy something unless it really suits you.' I said, 'But it's so comfortable!' and she just looked at me with this look – she lowers her eyes, then raises them – and said, 'Stop it.' Now she gives me things, utterly beautiful things. Some of them I've honestly worn for 25 years.
The Age
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
‘She doesn't want to upset people - I probably do': Bella Freud on sister Esther
Fashion designer Bella Freud, 64, and her novelist sister Esther Freud, 62, are daughters of artist Lucian Freud and great-granddaughters to Sigmund. They were raised by their mother in the UK and Morocco. Esther: Even as a child, Bella had a lot of power. She was bright and capable and often angry, but she had such charisma. She would create situations that felt very daring and exciting. When she was nine, she became a passionate, paid-up member of the World Wildlife Fund. She found an old pram and we went from door to door for donations. I was about seven, and a neighbour reported she'd seen me straining to push this enormous, junk-filled vehicle up the road, with Bella sitting on top. When my mother asked about it, I thought, 'No, no: they don't understand. She allowed me to push her.' That's how powerful she was. Loading Interestingly, I don't think I was ever the subject of her anger. And she also had this enormous capacity for lighting up life; she was incredibly beguiling. Even now, I can say things to her that I can't say to anyone else. I can exaggerate my feelings with her, try things out on her. It's almost like a twin relationship, in that way: this alliance right at the centre of our lives. Sometimes, I think, 'Oh, I'll try not to talk to Bella about this', but I always crack. There just isn't anyone else who can unwrap life for me like her. I have mined my childhood for 35 years [as a fiction writer; her latest novel, My Sister and Other Lovers, is out now.] Some of it is very close to Bella and me, but she's like our father. I once wrote a character clearly based on him, and he said, 'For a horrible moment, I thought he was me, then I remembered, 'Oh no, I don't wear a watch.' ' Bella just says, 'It's fiction', and gives me her blessing. This last book, she said: 'Be sharper, harsher, clearer. Don't worry about hurting my feelings.' It was fabulous. 'I can exaggerate my feelings with Bella, try things out on her. It's almost like a twin relationship, in that way.' Esther Freud Just very recently, she's started her own writing: these beautiful little Sunday stories on Instagram. It's been so illuminating for me. As a child, I was caught between her and my mother – both very strong, fiery, outspoken – always just hoping things would settle down. Now I realise she was unhappy. She had a difficult relationship with our mother; she found the itinerant life we were leading, which actually rather suited me, extremely painful and difficult. It was like clear water, clear air, to finally understand that. And she seems so at peace and happy now; more compassionate for the past, for herself, for our family. I've always been so proud of her. When she first started to design clothes back in the '90s, she'd have these incredible catwalk shows with Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Susie Bick [now Cave]. I've never been brilliant at clothes: I once tried on this lovely, soft, brushed-cotton brown shirt with her and she just said, 'Never, ever buy something unless it really suits you.' I said, 'But it's so comfortable!' and she just looked at me with this look – she lowers her eyes, then raises them – and said, 'Stop it.' Now she gives me things, utterly beautiful things. Some of them I've honestly worn for 25 years.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers thrilled after confirming return of 'hidden dragon' that's incredibly hard to spot: 'Several individuals were observed'
The aptly named hidden dragon lizard from Australia is somewhat of a challenge to spot in photos shared by the Miami Herald, thanks to its coloring and texture. It's no surprise that sightings of the Ctenophorus aurita — as it's called in biology books — are extremely rare in the wild. The Herald reported that only four were seen before 2011, when they started making more cameos in the Outback. Tissue samples from "suspected sightings" in remote northwestern Australia have recently confirmed its expanded presence, tripling its range. It's a "significant insight into the distribution and ecology," researchers wrote in a study published in the Australian Journal of Taxonomy, per the Herald. The experts added that the lizard "easily eludes detection." Fortunately, the sporadic sightings are likely not an indication of demise. The lizards are simply hard to find. The 1.5-inch creatures recoil their limbs, resembling a pebble, to hide. They have a blunt head, a short tail, and a rough texture. The hidden dragon was discovered in 1979, living in about 19,000 square miles of terrain. There were 60 spotted on the continent's Kimberley region from 2011 to 2023, the Herald reported. Often, sightings of rarely seen animals are promising breakthroughs for endangered species, like the Spanish marbled duck in Europe and Darwin's frogs in Chile. The World Wildlife Fund said that habitat loss is the biggest threat to species as housing developments, roads, pipelines, and water use continue to deplete resources. Wildfires, a risk NASA reported is increasing as Earth overheats, are also incinerating entire ecosystems. Technology such as trail cameras and bioacoustic listening devices is helping biologists gauge animal health. Footage of rare Asian black bears and other critters continues to give researchers hope about the effectiveness of conservation efforts. You can help experts by counting birds for Audubon's Christmas Bird Count. A tally of the type of species you spot at your backyard feeder helps to determine population health. Creating a natural-based yard and landscaping plan can help provide habitat for vital pollinators that are also suffering. About 35% of the world's food supply relies on them, as noted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Agriculture Department. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Getting started is easy. Simply ditch the costly yard sprays and let natural flower and grass species grow. You can save hundreds of dollars a year on water and pesticide expenses with a more durable, planet-friendly yard. As for the hidden dragon, it seems to be doing OK in Australia's brutal, rocky landscapes. If you ever find yourself Down Under searching for the creature, expect a challenge, according to testimony from experts who have seen them before, per the Herald. "Several individuals were observed running a short distance before crouching and pulling their limbs into their body to expertly mimic a pebble," researchers said in the study. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Daily Mail
27-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Moment out-of-control elephants turn on their handlers and trample crowd at Indian festival
This is the horrifying moment a panicked elephant tramples a crowd of festival-goers in India. The male elephant was part of an 18 animal strong procession for the Rath Yatra celebrations through Khadia, an area in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, when it appears to have become spooked. The colourfully dressed creature seems to be looking for a way out from the busy streets when he storms away from its handlers and charges towards a crowd pressed up against some railings. Several terrified people get caught under the elephant's feet and the collapsing railing as the huge animal bulldozes through, waving its tusks. Dozens rush to help the squashed festival-goers once the creature makes its way further down the street, two more elephants in tow. RK Sahu, Superintendent of the Kamla Nehru Zoological Garden told The Times of India: 'Following protocol, the elephant was immediately given a tranquiliser injection. 'Two female elephants were used to gently herd him away from the crowd, in line with our standard safety strategy.' The Indian outlet reported that no one was injured and the alarmed crowd was able to be brought back under control. They added that the elephant was the only male in the procession and will not be re-joining the troop. Around 100 people in India are killed each year by elephants, though the number can be as high as 300, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Rath Yatra is an annual festival which sees a procession make its way through the streets to celebrate three Hindu deities. Chariots are traditionally used as well as elephants and decorated trucks make up the 14 kilometre long procession. Two years ago, a person died during the festival after the balcony they were standing on collapsed. More than 20 people were standing on the veranda watching the procession when Mehul Panchal was killed from the fall. Among the injured were three children. In 2022, Maya Murmu, 70, was trampled to death by an elephant when she was out collecting water in Raipal village, Eastern India when the escaped elephant came out of nowhere. She later died in hospital of her injuries, Rasgovindpur police station inspector Lopamudra Nayak said. Then that evening the elephant returned as the 70-year-old's body lay on top of her funeral pyre. It took her body down, trampled her again, threw her around and went off into the night, according to the Press Trust of India. The elephant is believed to have travelled from the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary in the state of Jharkhand, 200km away from Raipal in Odisha state, Mayurbhanj district. According to local reports, the Independent said, the second trampling happened while Ms Murmu's family were performing last rites. It is now known if anyone else was harmed but the family did go ahead with the ceremony after the elephant left. The year before that, a 30-year-old man was filmed running for his life after a wild elephant charged at him in Assam, north-eastern India. After tripping and falling in the paddy field, the man lies helplessly on the ground as the charging elephant closes the gap between them. The man tries to get back up again, but within moments the pachyderm is upon him, goring him with its tusks and trampling him with a frightening ferocity. Meanwhile, onlookers record the brutal encounter on their phones in terror. The injured man was rushed to safety while the forest officials chased the jumbo back towards the forest cover. India Today reported the man was 'severely injured' although still alive.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Trail cameras capture first-of-its-kind image of predator making meal of small creature in national park: 'Extremely significant'
A trail camera captured a unique image of a rare big cat, which has conservationists purring with excitement about its implications. As Mongabay reported, a camera set up in Dehing Patkai National Park in Assam, northeast India, captured footage of a clouded leopard carrying a Bengal slow loris by the nape of its neck. Given their nocturnal habits and elusive nature, it's rare to ever see either creature in the wild. Ranjith Ram, one of the park's officials, told the outlet that "only one or two people in my patrol party have reported seeing clouded leopards. So, the fact that a single camera trap image captures both these animals is extremely significant." With just around 10,000 cats remaining in the wild in Southeast Asia, the clouded leopard is one of the smaller big cats, tipping the scales at a little over 50 pounds. Unlike other big cats, they cannot roar, and unlike small cats, they don't purr. This quiet feline still leaves a big impression as it can punch well above its modest weight thanks to powerful legs and exceptionally large canine teeth. The clouded leopard's lengthy gnashers are equivalent to a tiger's, a feline ten times larger, per Global Conservation. Like other big cats in the area, clouded leopards are threatened by habitat destruction and poaching. As the World Wildlife Fund notes, their pelts are widely sold by unscrupulous traders attempting to pass them off as tiger pelts, and they are believed to have already become extinct in China and Taiwan. The images underline the vital importance of trail cameras in forming effective conservation strategies. They aid researchers in keeping tabs on some of the rarest species on Earth without intruding on their habitats. The cameras are also helpful in generating public interest in climate issues, as it's a lot more productive to center conversations around positive developments. As a paper on the images noted, the pictures captured by the trail camera have helped fill in the scholarly gaps in the leopard's dietary habits: "This photographic record fills in the information gap on the prey preference of the clouded leopard in its Indian distribution range." Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
