Latest news with #Lion
The South African
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The South African
Little Rangers Program ignites passion for Wildlife
The Lion & Safari Park is turning young visitors into wildlife champions with its exciting Little Rangers Adventure Club. This hands-on programme, designed for children aged 5 to 12, offers a thrilling mix of adventure, education, and conservation. It's quickly becoming a hit among South African families eager to swap screen time for real safari experiences. Just 13 kilometres from Lanseria Airport, the Lion & Safari Park invites children to step into the shoes of real rangers, according to IOL. Kids get to track animals, feed giraffes, attend lion talks, and take part in conservation activities—all in a safe and engaging setting. It's a chance to learn about South Africa's incredible wildlife up close. 'At Lion & Safari Park, we believe that a love for wildlife starts young,' says Shandor Larenty, Group Wildlife and Conservation Manager. 'We've seen how the Little Rangers programme sparks curiosity and passion in children. It's our way of nurturing the next generation of conservationists through unforgettable, hands-on experiences.' The programme runs every weekend throughout the year, making it easy for families to enjoy the great outdoors together. Each session lasts 90 minutes, from 9:00 to 10:30 am, and costs R130. To join, parents pay a one-time sign-up fee of R300, which includes a safari vest, a field guide, and the first Cub Scout badge. Children earn badges by completing fun, conservation-themed activities. These include art in the park, paw and spoor tracking, and age-appropriate bush survival skills. Each badge brings them closer to becoming a Little Game Ranger, the highest tier in the programme. Along the way, kids move through levels from Cub Scout to Safari Star, Wildlife Warrior, and finally Little Game Ranger. Each level unlocks exclusive discounts and benefits. The ultimate prize? A free birthday party at the park, complete with venue and setup, for those who reach the Little Game Ranger level. This unique reward motivates kids to learn and engage with nature actively. 'The badges and tiers give children a sense of achievement,' Larenty explains. 'They build knowledge, confidence, and excitement about wildlife and conservation. It's inspiring to see young faces light up when they earn a new badge.' The Little Rangers Adventure Club offers South African families a wonderful way to connect with nature and instil a lifelong respect for wildlife. It's a perfect blend of fun and learning, encouraging children to become true ambassadors for the environment. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
When should Detroit expect Alim McNeill and Malcolm Rodriguez to return from injuries?
Despite an overwhelming number of defensive injuries in 2024, almost all the injured players are expected to be ready for the opener on September 7 at Lambeau Field. The exceptions are Alim McNeill and Malcolm Rodriguez who had late-season ACL tears. Now that the schedule has been released, let's take a look at the specific game that we can expect to see their return. Looking at the return-to-play data of recent NFL players with late-season ACL's, we can anticipate a 10-11 month gap between live game action. Advertisement Here are some recent cases. The first date is the ACL injury, the second date is the next appearance in an NFL game, and finally the length of absence. Jameson Williams 1/10/22 ⟶ 12/4/22 = 10 months + 3 weeks Kyler Murray 12/12/22 ⟶ 11/12/23 = 11 months TJ Hockenson 12/24/23 ⟶ 11/3/24 = 10 months + 1 week Tyler Higbee 1/14/24 ⟶ 12/22/24 = 11 months + 1 week Talanoa Hufanga 11/19/23 ⟶ 9/22/24 = 10 months Kendrick Bourne 10/29/23 ⟶ 10/6/24 = 11 months + 1 week Daniel Jones 11/5/23 ⟶ 9/8/24 = 10 months Rashan Gary 11/6/22 ⟶ 9/10/23 = 10 months Von Miller 11/24/22 ⟶ 10/8/23 = 10 months + 2 weeks If there is significant associated damage (which is not suspected with McNeill or Rodriguez), the timeline can stretch beyond a year: Jack Conklin (ACL/MCL/PCL/meniscus) 9/10/23 ⟶10/13/24 = 13 months Nick Chubb (ACL/MCL/meniscus/medial capsule) 9/18/23 ⟶ 10/20/24 = 13 months For all you eternal optimists, seek inspiration from this former Lion: Adrian Peterson 12/24/11 ⟶ 9/9/12 = 8 months + 2 weeks CONCLUSION Based on recent data, a 10 to 11 month return-to-play is expected. I would expect to see McNeill and Rodriguez closer to the 11-month mark for both player and team reasons. With Rodriguez who is in the final year of his rookie contract, he will still be able to show many games of proof of recovery with a return at the 11-month mark. With McNeill who signed an extension last offseason which carries through 2028, there is no financial/contractual reason to rush a return. Advertisement For the team whose goals are firmly planted now in playoff success, a longer recovery timeline increases the chances that both players will be healthy for the end-of-season and playoffs. OUTLOOK McNeill ACL - December 15, 2024 Rodriguez ACL - November 28, 2024 Here are their target return games with an 11-month return-to-play: 1: @ GB2: vs CHI3: @ BAL4: vs CLE5: @ CIN6: @ KC7: vs TB8: Bye9: vs MIN - Malcolm Rodriguez10: @ WAS11: @ PHI - Alim McNeill12: vs. NYG13: vs GB14: vs DAL15: @ LAR16: vs PIT17: @ MIN18: @ CHI This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: When to expect injured Alim McNeill and Malcolm Rodriguez to return
The 42
6 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
'I never dreamt of being a Lion because that's where the legends lived'
20 YEARS AGO, Shane Byrne got a call from British and Irish Lions manager Bill Beaumont to tell him he would be part of the 2005 tour of New Zealand. But before Beaumont could even get the good news out, Byrne had hung up. Ireland hooker Byrne knew he was in the mix for the Lions squad but he had been inundated with prank calls in the days before. This is what friends are for. 'Everybody was acting the idiot,' says Byrne, who is heading to Australia this summer to captain the British and Irish Legends in their two games against the Classic Wallabies. 'All my friends have been calling pretending to be him. So I hung up, but he rang back immediately and told me in very stern terms, 'Do not hang up,' in this deep English accent.' When he established that this was the real deal, that he would be one of Clive Woodward's 2005 Lions to take on the All Blacks, Byrne was understandably ecstatic. 15 Irish players experienced the same feelings earlier this month when Andy Farrell included them in his group to face the Wallabies this summer. Being named a Lion remains the highest of honours among elite rugby players. 'It was Ian McGeechan [an assistant coach in 2005] who said it to us, 'As of this point, you are a Lion and nobody can ever take that away from you for the rest of your life.' 'I can honestly say I never dreamt of being a Lion because that's where the legends lived. You dream about playing for Ireland. 'That was a fantastic moment and really put a smile on your face, but then like everything else, you're a professional rugby player and the professionalism kicks in and what's the ambition for a Lion? You have to play in the Tests.' It proved to be an unsuccessful tour for the Lions as they were beaten 3-0 by a brilliant New Zealand team inspired by Dan Carter. Woodward, who had led England to glory at the 2003 World Cup, brought a big 44-man squad to New Zealand. He seemed determined to repeat many of the things that had brought England success but as Byrne points out, there was no long-term build-up. Byrne closes in on Doug Howlett. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO 'A failed experiment' is Byrne's view of the whole tour now. Players having their own rooms, rather than sharing, meant that the usual levels of camaraderie didn't develop, while the midweek side ended up being like a different tour altogether. Advertisement McGeechan was in charge of the 'dirt-trackers' and injected the classic Lions touring spirit into that group, while Woodward's front-liners had less fun. 'By default, that almost caused animosity within the squad,' says Byrne. 'Malcolm O'Kelly would be one of my mates and there was one stage of I would nearly say 10 days that I didn't see him. Never laid eyes on him. And we're on the same tour.' And yet, at the same time, Woodward struggled to get cohesion into the Test team, which Byrne was part of. 'He said to everybody at the very start of the tour, 'I will commit to it that everybody will have as close to equal pitch time as possible so that everybody has the opportunity to get in the Test team. 'Now, because of injuries and the way games went, that was a mistake because the Test side never played together in any shape or form, and not even close to the Test side. 'And then he reverted back to picking a lot of his '03 side, which irked the Welsh who had just won the Grand Slam and then in the second Test he flipped over to the majority of them, which failed again.' There was the infamous incident involving Brian O'Driscoll in the first Test, which was a tough outing for Byrne in a 21-3 defeat in Christchurch. Days before that first Test, the Lions coaches made panicked changes to the lineout calls, fearing that the All Blacks had broken their code. It proved disastrous as the lineout fell apart and left the Lions without a platform. Byrne, who was the starting hooker, still feels a share of the culpability. 'The lineout just completely malfunctioned because of the late change in the calls and things like that, but whatever the reason, that's my responsibility. 'I had to put my hand up straight after in the press. It just didn't work. So you go from the highest point of being a Lion to all of a sudden being in the absolute lowest low you could possibly have.' Byrne played in all three Tests in 2005. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO The All Blacks blew the Lions away 48-18 in Wellington a week later, with Byrne coming off the bench, before wrapping the series up with a 38-19 victory in Auckland as Byrne returned to the Lions starting XV. It wasn't all misery in New Zealand. Byrne enjoyed getting to know the likes of fellow front rows Graham Rowntree and Julian White, who he had battled against in Ireland's games against England. And it's that side of the game that Byrne stresses as important. He believes Farrell will get things right in that regard this summer in Australia. Indeed, the Lions gathered in London last weekend and had a night out together to kick things off. Byrne will be in Australia this summer too, partly because of his love for the sheer camaraderie that rugby involves. He will be captaining the British and Irish Legends against the Classic Wallabies in two games in Melbourne on 24 July and Sydney on 31 July. Byrne has been involved in every edition of these Legends games on the Lions tours since 2005. He featured in Australia in 2013 when around 15,000 people turned up for the game against the Classic Wallabies at the North Sydney Oval. Byrne is part of a British and Irish Legends squad that also includes Dan Biggar, Leigh Halfpenny, Mike Tindall, Alex Cuthbert, and Shane Williams. The Irish representation is completed by Mike Ross, Tom Court, Mike McCarthy, Isaac Boss, Craig Gilroy, and Jamie Hagan. The Classic Wallabies, meanwhile, have brought in big guns like George Smith, Matt Giteau, and Adam Ashley-Cooper. The only differences to professional rugby are that everyone has to be at least 34, the scrums are uncontested, and there are rolling substitutions. Other than that, there are no holds barred. 'Everybody still knows how to put themselves around the place,' says 53-year-old Byrne. 'Maybe the legs might be slowing down a little bit, but the skill set is still there. You see some amazing games and the competitive edge is still there from players. 'When you've been going around touring and you know, not training quite as hard as the main team – maybe a few after-hours alcoholic beverages – it's amazing how you slip back into it so quickly when there's a big crowd watching. And you still have the same kind of bonding thing that goes on with the Lions.' Byrne at the Ireland v England Legends game this year. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO As with the Ireland v England Legends games that take place every year, this summer's clashes in Australia will raise funds for charity. The hope is that more than 50,000 people will get involved with this Legends Series in July either by going to the games in Melbourne and Sydney or through one of the events around it. The funds will go to The Atlas Foundation, an international children's charity, and the Australian Rugby Foundation, which supports grassroots rugby programmes. Byrne promises that those who turn up for the matches won't be disappointed. 'The Classic Wallabies are putting a lot of attention into this. There's some big names being mentioned, so I think it's going to be pretty hotly contested. 'We wouldn't have it any other way. That's exactly why we love doing these things.'
Indian Express
6 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
5 special big cats found only in India
Did you know, India is the only country in the world that is home to all three prime members of the wild big cat family – the Lion, Tiger and Leopard? Besides the big names, India hosts almost 15 other big cat species, including Puma, Jaguar, Clouded Leopard, Desert Cat and so on. Here are 5 must-see big cats found in the forests of India: The national animal of India, the Royal Bengal tiger have light yellow to orange coats with strips ranging from light brown to dark in color. The average weight of a male tiger is approximately 265 kg where the average weight of female tigers is 140-165 kg. This striped cat generally has an average lifespan of 20-25 years and during their lifespan, they may travel many 100 kilometers within the forest corridors and can give birth to 2 -3 cubs. A Black Panther is a leopard only, but because of a rare mutation called melanism, they turn completely black and hence derive the unique name. Wonderful tree climbers, these big cats are extremely fast and have fantastic eyesight. This big wild cat can be found throughout the country. In total there are 7910 leopards as per the census of 2014 and a total of 12000 speculated leopards, Of which the state of Madhya Pradesh hosts a maximum number of approx 1800 leopards in India. Karnataka and Maharashtra are next in the queue. India is the only country in the world to have Asiatic Lions in their natural habitat. Lions generally live in pride ranging from 8 to 30 lions. Mostly, the female member of the pride hunt and satisfy the hunger of cubs and male lions of the pride. An adult male weighs somewhere around 180 kg as compare to 130 kg adult female members of this big cat family. The Snow Leopard is found in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. These unique creatures prefer rocky terrains and steep slopes which help them sneak up on their prey from a height. The snow leopard is smaller in size as compared to the other big cats and leopards. The standing height of snow leopard is approximately 2 ft and the average weight is between 35-55 kg.
Forbes
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Peter Murphy Finds ‘Clarity in Chaos' on New Solo Album Silver Shade
Peter Murphy It took Peter Murphy over a decade to release his new album Silver Shade. But as the legendary British singer explains, his recent return with new music — his first since 2014's Lion — wasn't the result of pressure or a plan. To him, Silver Shade arrived because it was the right time. 'Some of it had been taking shape quietly for a while, fragments, ideas,' says Murphy, who is best known for his work in the pioneering and influential Goth rock band Bauhaus. 'But the full shape of it only came together when it felt right. Also, again — due to the nature of the music business — between the making of the album and the actual release date, some time passes…which is what happened with this album. The songs came in their own time, naturally.' Silver Shade, which came out on May 9, is Murphy's finest and strongest work to date since he began his solo career in 1986 after Bauhaus' initial breakup. In comparing this new record with the preceding one, the singer says: 'Lion had its own tone, raw, dense, a kind of focused burn. That was nine years ago. With Silver Shade, I was in a different place. Older, somehow clearer in my intent. I didn't want to repeat myself. This time, I wanted more space in the music, more air between the parts. It's still intense, but the intensity is quieter, more internal. So yes, the process was different with new collaborators, a different kind of energy driving it.' Like with Lion, Silver Shade was produced by Youth of Killing Joke fame, who Murphy says brought a certain discipline and unpredictability. 'He knows how to capture a moment without polishing it too much. He's not afraid to strip things back or push them forward if needed. He helped shape the record's atmosphere without getting in the way of the songs themselves.' The new record, which features guest appearances by Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor and Tool's Danny Carey and Justin Chancellor, is not a conceptual work, says Murphy. 'Each song stands on its own,' he explains, 'but when you listen to the record as a whole, there's a feeling that ties them together. A sort of emotional continuity, even though each track explores something different, they all come from the same source, naturally. There is definitely a thread, though it's not obvious in a literal sense. The songs came from a certain place, a place of tension, change and reflection. I'd say the themes are about navigating through confusion, finding clarity in chaos.' Silver Shade opens with the electrifying danceable rocker 'Swoon,' which immediately hits the listener. ''Swoon' captures that moment of intensity," Murphy says, "but it's almost detached, it has that driving beat, that hypnotic rhythm that pulls you in, but there's something off-centre about it. The song isn't built on resolution. It's the sound of something being carried away, not necessarily in control, just moving. It came from a place of urgency, a need to get something across without overthinking it. Trent really understood that feeling, so his vocals tie in perfectly.' The title of 'Hot Roy,' another pumeling and driving rocker from the new album, is a reference to a schoolyard game; the lyrics also mention David Bowie and Mick Ronson. 'The rhythm is in your face, but it's got this tension running through it, like a secret under the surface,' Murphy says. 'You can say that 'Ronno' and 'Zigger' are nods to Mick Ronson and David Bowie, though not in a literal sense. It's more about their spirit, that influence they had on all of us who came up in the era of glam rock. The names in the song are a kind of homage, but more than that, they represent an attitude, that combination of glam, rebellion, and mystery.' A trace of Bowie-esque glam rock could be heard on the rocking title song, which also features Reznor. 'One of my oldest (in a sense of time) friends and writing partner, Paul Statham, was important in 'Silver Shade,'" explains Murphy.'It sums up that idea of contrast: light and dark, clarity and confusion. It's a place where things don't fully make sense, but they're still beautiful in their own way. The production gives it a lush feel, but it's haunted by a certain melancholy. It's like standing in a space that's neither here nor there — the in-between." Murphy describes 'The Sailmaker's Charm' as the closest thing to a ballad on the new album, but it's also not a typical one. 'It has this romanticism to it, but also a kind of wariness. It's about being drawn to something or someone, but knowing that the charm could turn. It's a tug-of-war between attraction and skepticism.' Somewhat autobiographical, the hypnotic synthpop track 'The Artroom Wonder' draws from an experience in Murphy's youth when he heard a Bowie song at school. 'I was just coming out of the artroom, and I heard a piece of music which affected me deeply. I remember it to this day. It turned out to be 'Cygnet Committee' by David Bowie. This was very much in my mind when I was creating that track. The chorus is like a memory you sing out loud so it doesn't disappear.' Murphy's songs tend to feel cinematic, and the sweeping "The Meaning of My Life" is no different with its poetic lyrics and the singer's powerful delivery. "I suppose it is more expansive, more contemplative. It's asking questions that don't necessarily have answers, and that's exactly the point. We get caught up in the search, but maybe the search is the point itself. The song moves between hope and doubt." Ahead of Silver Shade's release, Murphy put out the arresting and beautiful single 'Let the Flowers Grow,' a duet with Boy George. Its creation began when Murphy came across musical fragments by George, who was also working with Youth, and decided to expand on them with the Culture Club singer. 'It's always interesting to see how these things evolve when they come into a different context. George has got such a distinct voice; there's nothing else like it. Also, we both come from that same 'outsider' space in a way. There's a natural respect because of that. The collaboration worked because there was no pretense; we just let the music happen. It was about connecting on a creative level and letting the song grow into what it needed to be.' MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 22: Peter Murphy of Bauhaus performs on stage at Fabrique Club on November ... More 22, 2018 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Sergione Infuso/Corbis via Getty Images) In a solo career now going on almost 40 years, with the occasional Bauhaus reunion sprinkled in, how does Murphy view Silver Shade in the context of his discograpby? "I don't tend to rank my own work, honestly. Each record comes from a different place and time, different life, different lens. Silver Shade isn't trying to compete with what came before. It stands on its own. 'That said, I do feel it's one of the most focused and distilled things I've done in a long while," he continues. "There's no excess. Everything's intentional. It carries the weight of experience but doesn't lean on nostalgia. It looks forward. So, if someone said it's among the strongest in the catalog, I'd understand that. But as always, that is for listeners and fans to decide.'
