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HUMANS AREN’T THE only species battling the bulge. New research has shown that obesity is a serious issue amongst elephants in captivity.
Around 40% of African elephants in captivity were found to be overweight, an issue which can have serious health implications. Much the same as humans, obesity in elephants can lead to heart disease, arthritis, and a shorter lifespan.
The biggest concern for elephants in captivity is the issue of infertility.
Daniella Chusyd, a Masters student involved in the study, said that zoos were integral in preserving the animals:
With elephants in the wild continually threatened by diminished habitat, ivory hunting, war and political instability, zoos may provide the last bastion for preserving the species.
According to a study by scientists at Lincoln Park Zoo in 2011, six elephants births a year are needed in the United States to keep the population steady. The average number of births is three.
The study was carried out at the University of Alabama in the Birmingham Department of Nutrition Sciences, and found that low birth rates were related to abnormal ovarian cycles associated with obesity amongst the species. Speaking on the issue, Tim Nagy, a professor at the university, said:
Low birth rate is connected to abnormal ovarian cycles in elephants and virtually all large mammals, including humans.
This is not the first time elephants have displayed human characteristics. In 2006, it was found that elephants were one of only a few species able to recognise their own appearances.
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It will only solve the cities traffic problems if the streets in the city aren’t changed in tandem with the road being built. One way streets, pedestrian only streets, wider footpaths, cycle paths, removal of parking. Galway City Council need to look at that starting now and be ready to go with changes.
More roads = more cars
@Uinseann Ó Gairbhith: It does ya. I remember when I bought my first car in 1996, it was purely to tear up and down the new stretch of dual carraigeway on the Ennis rd at the time. I wouldn’t have bothered otherwise.
Ring roads make traffic worse.
@ChronicAnxiety: Not really. Ring roads tend to get built in areas of growth. So traffic would be getting busier in these places anyway. Also, they sometimes take traffic away from other areas to make them more liveable/workable.
@Thomas O’ Donnell: eh nooooo the ring road around limerick was the making of the city
Friends of the Irish Environment seem to be prolific serial objectors. Be it cable cars, drainage projects, turf cutting, tree planting/tree felling and now ring roads.
Needs more money than Irish people are willing to pay.
Back to NIMBYism
Bit like plans for a Deep Water Port for Galway from 1851, which has never been built since. Though plans still being progressed, if you call it that, today? Also, not a solution but a white elephant and still nobody is listening!
Cost of living, rents energy :fuel food etc equals less cars in the future
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