Amazon Tribe

Brazil Seeks to Save Isolated Amazon Tribe Threatened by Loggers
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/05/160519-Brazil-Amazon-Kawahiva-Reserve/
National Geographic
By: Scott Wallace
May 23, 2016

The Kawahiva are a tribe of hunter-gatherers that have been running from loggers and other intruders for decades. Tribal rights activists are trying to set the boundaries of Kawahiva do Rio Pardo Indigenous Territory. Dilma Rouseff and her justice minister hurriedly signed 11 executive orders for indigenous tribes in her last days in office. Of the 11, the Kawahiva are the only isolated tribe. They have been granted 4,120 square kilometers of dense forest. Loggers are finding new ways to get into the Kawahiva territory. They go in on foot or motorbikes, cut down the trees, then make a path for the trucks to come through. By the time agents arrive, the loggers are already gone. Later, a team had also detected a large area of deforested land where loggers and land speculators were setting up operations six miles away from the Kawahiva encampment. With the help of agents, the operation was shut down, but there is always the risk of them coming back.

That land is rightfully the Kawahivas. It's not like the Kawahivas took every bit of forest and tree. The loggers just seem terrible and I would never even want to talk to one. I think some agents should start putting out serious threat, like going to jail for ten years, and put up cameras to catch the people cutting them down. This is not a positive topic, and I might be able to help by making or signing a petition for serious repercussions. If people blew up the internet with this, then the tribe might get more protection. I want to go to that land and see why the trees, that are a home to the tribe, are so important, even ask the loggers. Why do the loggers need so much trees that they can't cut down their own? I think that the tribe should get more protection and the loggers should get some threats against cutting down another territories trees.

Biology

Spider Camouflages As A Leaf

This Never Before Seen Spider Looks Like a Leaf
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/11/spiders-leaves-china-camouflage/#close
National Geographic
Research by: Matjaz Kuntner
November 16, 2016

This spider found in southwestern China's Yunnan rain forest can disguise itself as a leaf. The spider is brownish green in color, with a long neck-like structure connecting its head and chest to its abdomen. This spider even has markings that resembles the veins on a leaf. The spider uses its silk to attack leaves to a tree, and then hides between the branches. Researches theorize that it's likely that they are hiding form predators or sneaking up on prey. "Its disguise is so good that it might explain why so few of these spiders have been collected. Even trained scientists have a hard time spotting them,” Kuntner said. Kuntner and a few colleagues have only found two of this spiders so far. Preliminary genetic data hinted that these two specimens might be a new species, but more work needs to be done, he said.

This article can change how much I go outside and where I go outside. It's not a very positive influence, but I do think this topic is cool. It might also change my future. This topic is so great, I want to find out more about these spiders and turn to a future science career. It inspires me because I always hear about people finding new things or gadgets, and that makes me want to find a job where I can help to find those things. Finding out more about spiders would also help finding antidotes for the poisonous ones. Knowing whether or not a spider is dangerous and where it is will help because it warns you not to go to that jungle or forest or wherever it lives. Finding out more about all these animals are awesome and makes me want to choose a different future job.

Biology