On the morning of Dec. 24, 2009 during the course of routine bird surveys, 25-50 fruit bats were witnessed flying overhead.
Fruit bats are generally only active at night unless disturbed.
DFW biologists conducted a survey of a nearby roost site and found fresh foot prints, shotgun shells, and a fresh fruit bat carcass riddled with shotgun pellets, but no live fruit bats remained.
At least 222 adults and 26 juvenile fruit bats were known to inhabit this roost before the poaching incident.
This is the sixth poaching event at a fruit bat colony on Rota in the last year and a half; the previous events having occurred in June, October, and Nov. 2008 and Oct. 2009.
Maternity colonies are where fruit bats gather for breeding and infant-rearing.
Hunting at colonies kills many fruit bats at once and severely inhibits the ability of the fruit bat population to recover.
However, research has shown that if the fruit bat population is not hunted, it can begin to recover.
Rota has the last viable population of fruit bats in the southern Marianas.
The recovery of the species in this region is dependent on recovery and persistence of the population on Rota.
There has been a moratorium on hunting in the Northern Marianas since the 1990’s and in 2005 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed Mariana fruit bats in the CNMI as threatened due to an alarming decline in the fruit bat population.
The only hope for the recovery of the fruit bat population in the CNMI is for the people to become involved and support the ban on hunting.
There is still hope for the recovery of the fruit bat if the people of the CNMI work together to stop illegal hunting and trade of fruit bats in the Marianas.
Calling all mathematicians
MANGILAO (UOG) — Beginning this month, the University of Guam’s math department will offer a series of monthly contests through March. January’s problems are available online at www.uog.edu/mathematics.
The contest is open to everyone. Winners will be announced in April.
Submit your solutions to the January problems to: Math Contest c/o Division of Mathematics, WB #4, University of Guam, UOG Station, Mangilao, GU 96923; or via e-mail to [email protected] by Jan. 31. Include “Math Contest” in the subject line, and include your name, address, school, and grade in the body of the email.
For more information contact [email protected].
ETC DONATION. Pacific Micronesia Tour donates education tax credit checks to different schools every year, and Grace Christian High School is one of the recent recipients. Standing far left is Masaru Sunaga, AGM. Far right is Keiko Shimizu, manager. Standing in the center are students and Grace Christian’s School administration staff members.Contributed photo
THANK YOU! Tasi Tours & Transportation Inc. recently donated an education tax credit check to San Vicente Elementary School. Standing center, wearing white shirt is Kazusuke Fukuju, president of Tasi Tours, presenting the check to the school principal. Witnessing the event are some San Vicente students. Tasi regularly makes similar donations to other schools. Contributed photo
Kagman Friday night market
THE Kagman friday night market is looking for interested vendors to sell food, drinks, produce, fish, clothing, and crafts starting on Jan. 15.
Puengin Inetnon is Kagman’s friday night market which takes place at the Kagman Community Center every government payday, Friday, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Puengin Inetnon is a family-oriented event.
Call 256-7678 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.
NMC Bookstore buybacks
(NMC) — The Northern Marianas College Bookstore has extended its textbook buybacks time frame for the upcoming Spring 2010 semester to Jan. 8.
The bookstore will not be buying back all books that were sold in the previous semesters as newer editions may have been released.
The bookstore business hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. For a list of books that may be sold back, visit the bookstore in Building E at the college’s As Terlaje campus or call Alaysha Muna at 234-5498 ext. 1300.
Holiday recycling tips
(DEQ) — As a New Year begins, CNMI residents may find that now is a good time to start building a habit of recycling.
A large portion of waste generated during the Holiday Season could easily be sorted and recycled at the Lower Base Transfer Station (322-2745). See the list of permitted recyclables below:
• Aluminum cans, foil, & pans
• Clean glass bottles & jars
• Clean plastic bottles & jars
• Used toner cartridges
• Paper
• Cardboard
• Tires
• Books & magazines
• Electronics
• Scrap metals
• White goods
• Soft metals
• Household hazardous waste
Other tips for reducing holiday waste (Source: Environmental Protection Agency):
• Thousands of paper and plastic shopping bags end up in landfills every year. Reduce the number of bags thrown out by bringing reusable cloth bags for holiday gift shopping. Tell store clerks you don’t need a bag for small or oversized purchases.
• Turn off or unplug holiday lights during the day. Doing so will not only save energy, but will also help your lights last longer.
• Look for ways to recycle your tree instead of sending it to a landfill. Check with your community solid waste department and find out if they collect and mulch trees. Your town might be able to use chippings from mulched trees for hiking trails and beachfront erosion barriers.
Tips to consider for the next holiday season:
• Wrap gifts in recycled or reused wrapping paper or funny papers. Also remember to save or recycle used wrapping paper. Give gifts that don’t require much packaging, such as concert tickets or gift certificates.
• Send recycled-content greeting cards to reduce the amount of virgin paper used during the holidays. Remember to recycle any paper cards you receive. You can also try sending electronic greeting cards to reduce paper waste.
• To help prevent waste from cutting down and disposing of live trees, you can buy a potted tree and plant it after the holidays.
• Have a create-your-own-decorations party! Invite family and friends to create and use holiday decorations such as ornaments made from old greeting cards or cookie dough, garlands made from strung popcorn or cranberries, wreaths made from artificial greens and flowers, and potpourri made from kitchen spices such as cinnamon and cloves.
• Consider the durability of a product before you buy it as a gift. Cheaper, less durable items often wear out quickly, creating waste and costing you money.
• When buying gifts, check product labels to determine an item’s recyclability and whether it is made from recycled materials. Buying recycled encourages manufacturers to make more recycled-content products available.
