gorilla

Ecotour Takes Adventurers On A Tour To Meet Gorillas

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Green

Observing gorillas in their natural habitat takes a bit of doing. Terra Incognita Ecotours, an adventure travel company that specializes in wildlife-focused ecotours, is offering an once-in-a-lifetime journey to Rwanda's wilderness, the home of the endangered mountain gorilla. The ecotour also helps to support the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project.

The 10-day trip takes travelers near Rwanda's Virunga Volcanoes, for an adventure that includes tracking the mountain gorillas twice. Other highlights include visiting the grave of famed primatologist Dian Fossey and meeting Dr. Mike Cranfield, a veterinarian from the Mountain Gorilla Veterinarian project who will explain the threats facing these animals and why they need to be protected. Other highlights include seeing a variety of birds, elephant, hippo, giraffe, spotted hyena, buffalo, and crocodiles in Akagera National Park and staying in the newly refurbished Virunga Lodge. A donation will be made to the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project on behalf of each participant. The tour is available November 26- December 5, 2010; March 4-13, 2011 and May 27-June 5, 2011. Cost per person is $6,649, Group size is limited to 16 participants; single supplement is $1,000; international airfare is not included.

Tags: africa, ecotourism, ecotours, gorilla, mountain gorillas, rwanda, travel

Spectacular Stuffed Animals for Holiday Giving

by Deb West (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Children

It can be the moment that every parent, or doting grandparent, dreads. You ask that special child in your life what they want for Christmas, Hanukkah or their birthday and they look at you with utter seriousness and say a gorilla. They of course want a real one.

Maybe they fancy a giraffe or a polar bear, and you bemoan all those hours that you insisted they watch nature shows instead of cartoons. While their friends will be satisfied with SpongeBob or Dora themed plastic toys, your little angel wants an entire ecosystem of animals in their bedroom. The worst part about it is that they honestly believe that you can fulfill their wishes.

Now with the help of Piutre, who manufactures elegant, lifelike, and some life-sized stuffed animals, you can give that special someone the next best thing. Each animal is sewn, shaped and finished entirely by hand in Italy. Originally designed by Riccardo Chiavetta, a master toy artisan, these stuffed animals are made to resemble as much as possible their real life counter parts. For example a sitting polar bear measures 71" inches high and horses and ponies range from 79" inches to 53" inches in height. An artist is responsible for each individual piece from start to finish and this careful attention detail includes lifelike noses and eyes on all of the creatures. The collection is incredibly diverse featuring cats, dogs (over 40 different breeds), farm animals, all sorts of bears and wild animals.

The prices are as high as the quality and the larger life size animals tend to be in the low to mid five figure range with some species going for much more as the 79" Indian Elephant would set you back $8,500. Puppies and kittens are priced at less eye popping levels in and around the $100 mark.

So when that little girl in your life looks you in the eye and requests a pony, there is a way to say yes.

Gallery: Spectacular Stuffed Animals