Dolphin holiday
The tourism and travel group Expedia (Expedia), which is considered the largest in the world and also owns the sites Orbitz, Trivago, Hotwire, Hotels and more, has announced that it will stop marketing holidays and vacation packages around the world that include shows of dolphins and whales that live in captivity.
The move comes after criticism the group has received in recent years and the internalization of the fact that domesticated marine mammals, which are forced to "appear" in front of an audience several times a day, end up suffering greatly.
"We have recently updated our animal welfare policies," the expedition tweeted.
"Therefore, attractions and activities involving appearances and interactions with marine mammals will no longer be available on our sites."
Expedia later clarified that it will still offer tours of marine shelters that provide captive animals with natural and permanent living environments, which do not include performances, etc.
The move was welcomed by animal rights organizations.
Katherine Wise of World Animal Protection said that "this is amazing news and something we have been trying to promote since 2019. We are very glad they listened to us, as tourism companies have a huge role in marketing captive dolphin shows. It's time for other companies to follow in Expedia's footsteps."
Who needs a cell phone?
A new species of frog, apparently very rare and even endangered, has been discovered in the northern state of New South Wales in Australia.
The little frog was named Assa Wollumbin, named after a mountain in Wollumbin Park, where she was found.
It is only about 16 millimeters long, and its uniqueness is that the males usually carry the tadpoles on the sides of their bodies with the help of special pockets located above the thigh.
The tadpoles become frogs after about three months of carrying, and set out on an independent journey.
Also, these frogs tend to crawl and not jump.
The little frog was named Assa Wollumbin, Photo: Environment NSW
Researchers from the local University of Newcastle and staff from the Museum of Nature and Science in Adelaide have determined that it is a completely new type of frog, but close to another type of "pocket frog", the slightly longer Assa Darlingtoni, which also lives in the same area.
Matt Keane, New South Wales' environment minister, said his office would "formulate a conservation plan to ensure the survival of this fascinating species of frog, which has been discovered in the forests of the mountains."
Cats (and friends) around the clock
The leading streaming service Twitch, which is especially popular with gamers who stream live videos of their games and e-sports competitions, has opened a new channel dedicated to an equally beloved field on the net: videos of cute animals.
Twitch, Photo: AFP
The channel, Animals, Aquariums and Zoos, will allow viewers to stare at endearing animals 24 hours a day, and along the way, according to the developers, "raise awareness about the conservation of natural habitats, the environment and more."
A quick glance at the channel introduced us to squirrels, raccoons, owls, and of course - kittens, in live broadcasts around the clock, and very quickly we discovered that our quick glance turned into two mesmerizing hours.
You are welcome to join.