Alaska Bear Shooting Challenges National Park Gun Laws

Photo: Jean-Pierre Lavoie
The news coming from our national parks these days is increasingly centered on bear attacks. On Thursday, a 70-year-old man was killed by a grizzly while hiking in the Shoshone National Forest six miles east of Yellowstone. But it is the grisly Memorial Day weekend incident at Alaska’s Denali National Park that is testing a new national policy and renewing a debate over firearms. That’s because in addition to hikers and an angry bear, it also involved a .45-caliber pistol.

The Most Incredible Horse Race on Earth

Photo: Roberto Vicario
Imagine a horse-race that takes a year to prepare for, and which transports its observers back to medieval times. If you are looking for a gripping, exhilarating race, then look no further. The Palio, or Il Palio, is a

Tarsiers: The Cutest Endangered Primate on Earth

Photo: Kok Leng Yeo
Tangkoko National Park, Manado, Indonesia is famous for several species of flora and wildlife, including black macaques, hornbills, and other rare species of birds. However, the biggest attraction is the Tarsius Spectrum, simply known as the “Tarsius Monkey”, the smallest primate in the world, measuring a staggering five inches (12cm), and it can only be seen at night! During our last scuba dive trip to Bunaken National Park, in Sulawesi, Indonesia, we reserved the last day of our holiday to visit the nearby land attraction. We

Shark Attacks: The Cost of Cage Diving?

Photo: hermanusbackpackers
You can easily find adventure tourism companies advertising shark cage diving in South Africa. It is a regulated business, and the operators work hard to ensure the safety of each tourist. You go under water to observe sharks from the safety of a steel cage. So what is the environmental dilemma? Why should you have concerns about doing this, rather than feeling simple delight (or abject terror)? Why not simply vacation as your heart leads you?

Sylvatic Plague: The Black Death of Prairie Dogs

Photo: Just chaos
Canadian headlines lamented the discovery of a dead prairie dog in Saskatchewan's Grasslands National Park. It was a victim of plague. Could you be next?
Death of a Prairie Dog