Endangered rhino born in Czech zoo

A Czech zoo has welcomed a critically endangered eastern black rhinoceros baby that has taken the name of Ukraine’s capital Kyiv in honour of that country’s resistance to invading Russian forces.

The birth in the Dvur Kralove zoo, it a rare occurrence for the facility, even if it has the most rhinos belonging to the subspecies.

“The name is another expression of our support for the Ukrainian heroes,” zoo Director Premysl Rabas said.

Kyiv’s mother Eva has been taking care of him in a best possible way, with the baby gaining 1 kilogramme (2.20 pounds) a day. It currently weighs about 50 kilogrammes (110 pounds).

Venice hotels arming guests with water guns to ward off seagulls

Hotels in Venice, Italy, are being given orange water guns to ward off the city’s seagulls, which are known to aggressively go after food and anything else they see as edible.

“They really work, they’re also coloured orange, which those birds don’t like,” Paolo Lorenzoni, director of the historic Gritti Hotel near the Grand Canal, said.

“As soon as they see the pistols, they fly away,” he said. “You don’t even need to use them, you just need to keep them on the table.”

Massive Hawaii taro root harvested

A super-sized taro root was harvested on Aina’Ahiu Farm, in Hawaii’s South Kona district and could possibly be the largest on record, the local news reported.

The US Department of Agriculture says taro plants usually weigh between one and two pounds. This one — including corm, stalk and leaves — weighed close to 100 pounds.

Clarence and Nellie Medeiros, who harvested the plant, plan to submit the specimen to the Guinness Book of World Records.

The entire taro plant can be eaten, not just the root, in a variety of Hawaiian dishes. The bottom of the plant, the huli, can be planted again after harvest and the plant will grow again.

Electric unicycle, the trend of the future?

Rick Madeira, of Fall River, rides his electric unicycle to work, saving on gas and cutting his commute time in the process.

Madeira’s Gotway Nikola Plus, with no seat or handle bars, has just place for his feet, can go 70 or 80 miles (113 or 129 kilometres) on one charge and reaches speeds of up to 40 mph (64 kph), although he rarely goes that fast.

“It literally takes me four minutes to get to work, versus about eight minutes in a vehicle,” he said.

He’s allowed to ride on the sidewalk, but usually sticks to the road, keeping to the shoulder when possible. His advice to those interested in an electric unicycle, which sell for more than $2,000: wear protective and reflective gear, and be respectful of pedestrians.

“It’s the future. In 10 or 20 years, I’m sure I won’t even have to bring it up,” he said.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 16th, 2022