Rewild The World

TED Talks are one of my favorite places to learn about new exciting topics and developments in Technology, Entertainment, Design (or TED), Business, Science and Global Issues. I constantly find myself inspired by these remarkable speakers and the ideas, problems and solutions they present.

Recently TED posted a talk by George Monbiot from a global talk this past July entitled "For More Wonder, Rewild the World". Here is the talk:

http://www.ted.com/talks/george_monbiot_for_more_wonder_rewild_the_world.html

Interesting quotes from the talk:
"And it was only when I stumbled across an unfamiliar word that I began to understand what I was looking for.

"So the wolves, small in number, transformed not just the ecosystem of the Yellowstone National Park, this huge area of land, but also its physical geography."

"Why shouldn't all of us have a Serengeti on our doorsteps?"

Rewilding is the mass restoration of ecosystems. Or a second definition, rewilding of human life not in opposition to civilization but have access to richer, wilder lives of adventure because of rewilded habitats. I'm picturing a less lonely and non post-apocalyptic version of "I Am Legend". Doesn't that sound like a utopia? Is a Serengeti on our doorsteps really that farfetched?

Temperatures, climates and environments similar to now in the West hosted a variety of fauna and megafauna not seen here today. Elephants, rhinoceros and lions grazing the streets of Britain. Climate hasn't chased away these animals but pressure from humans has. Now in keeping with wolves and whales example, perhaps he's suggesting reintroducing megafauna to Western society trinkle down effect may include human population decrease thus resulting in more smaller fauna and flora increases, which in turn increases megafauna populations.

Okay, so I don't exactly see a wildlife park in the middle of the American suburbs, at least in my lifetime. But it sure if fun to think about. And I do agree with his parting words, "In motivating people to love and defend the natural world, an ounce of hope is worth a ton of despair." 

Amazing Animal Profile: Octopus

Many of you may know Octopus as calamari, yet it's talents far exceed a seafood dish. The octopus has several defense mechanisms including, expulsion of ink, deimatic behavior (any pattern of threatening of startling behavior such as suddenly displaying eyespots), ability to jet quickly through the water, ability to hide and camouflage. Check out the octopus blending into the algae! I would never have guessed it was there!

Octopus weigh on average 110 pounds (50kg) and measure 16 feet (5 meters) from the tip of one arm to the tip of the opposite arm. One was recorded at an astonishing 600 pounds (272kg) and measured 30 feet (9.1 meters).  If an octopus looses an arm, it is capable of growing it back.

There are 300 species of octopus. The octopus lives in all of the world's oceans, but most commonly found in tropical and temperate waters. The common octopus is considered to be the most intelligent of all invertebrates. Giant Pacific Octopus are also very intelligent, they can mimick other creatures, open jars and solve mazes in labs.

Octopi can live as little as 6 months, but the average life span is 3-5 years. Reproduction is the main cause of death. Males live only a few months after mating and females die shortly after their eggs hatch. Female octopus fail to eat in the month following the hatch of their eggs, eventually dying of starvation.

For an incredible, short video on octopus camouflage and more miraculous under the sea visuals, watch this TED talk here.