The olm, a blind salamander, is believed to live for up to 100 years and only reproduces once or twice every decade. A female in the Postojna Cave Park, visited by million of visitors a year, has laid 50 to 60 eggs and some are now showing signs of movement. The scientists keep the cave at 9 degrees Celsius so as to prolong the growth of the olms, and provide themselves with a chance to study and observe the the strange creature in the same cave it has lived in for millions of years. According to Dusan Jelic of the Zoological Society of London there is not a lot of data pertaining to this group of animals so this experiment is very significant.
Jonathan Webb, a Science reporter at BBC News, wrote this article to inform the public about an interesting species which has not been studied as much as it should. This article and the study of a strange creature relates to the side shows/freak shows which emerged in the late 19th century as a form of entertainment. These shows attracted many viewers just as the olms are doing in their cave. Another topic this relates to his Teddy Roosevelt's conservation efforts in the early 20th century, because these Slovenian scientists are set on keeping the olms eggs alive in their growth to further study and the species population.
Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35668069
I like your analysis to the entertainment industry. It does remind me a lot of the attention that the circus or Vaudeville got during the Progressive Era.
ReplyDeleteJasmine Rodriguez Period 4
I love salamanders
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