Pygmy cryptids

 

OK, another one. There is apparently a "pygmy" subspecies of the blue whale, which "only" reaches 24 meters in length. LOL. So apparently some kind of early warning system á la Dr Strangelove detected two previously unknown populations of said pygmies in the Indian Ocean, one around the ill-reputed Chagos Archipelago, the other in the vicinity of Oman. 

I admit this little story made me somewhat more optimistic about the prospects of cryptozoology...

Nuclear bomb detectors uncover secret population of blue whales hiding in the Indian Ocean

Peace, or just peace in our time?

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have recognized the State of Israel. According to rumour, Sudan, Oman or even Saudi Arabia might be next. The peace agreements have been brokered by the United States, more specifically by Jared Kushner, Donald  Trump's son in law. They are being hailed as a great breakthrough, at least by supporters of the Trump Administration.

Well, I'm skeptical. Don't the nations involved in this unexpected peace process have at least *something* in common? Of course they do. They are all opposed to Iran. This is simply an attempt by the United States to create a more firm anti-Iranian alliance. It comes after Trump ordered the assassination of one of Iran's top leaders, and after a series of mysterious explosions both in Iran and other Mideast nations, seemingly directed at Iranian interests.

The closer cooperation between Iran, China and Russia is another reason why the conservative Gulf monarchies have decided to move even closer to the United States. Note also the escalating "cold war" between the US and China, and a potential conflict with Russia over Belarus. 

The agreement will perhaps also give the United States increased leverage over Turkey, a NATO member which doesn't seem to know its place in the American-led pecking order.

Now, I'm not a great fan of the Iranian regime. However, in order to really be about "peace", this alliance must do something *truly* radical. Say, broker a peace agreement in Syria. How about letting the secular regime stay in power, let the refugees return, and evacuate all foreign troops and mercenaries?

That might perhaps be worth a Nobel peace prize. That, and a two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

What is happening now is simply that the marriage of convenience between Israel and the conservative Arab states is being formalized in anticipation of the next Mideast war... 

 

State of Cinderella

A review of fake stamps sold by Amazon. 

I have done some research on the web. It seems that State of Oman stamps are valid if issued before June 1972. Thus, the stamps here (beautiful as they are) are invalid issues, since they are clearly marked *August* 1972. Apparently, they were printed by Clive Feigenbaum, who also issued “stamps” for Nagaland and the almost uninhabited islet Staffa in the UK. I actually have some Staffa “stamps” myself, and they *were* used (after a fashion) from the island's only mailbox.

I never heard of Feigenbaum's Omani cinderellas before, however. The State of Oman (or Imamate of Oman) was an actual state until 1959, when the neighboring Sultanate of Muscat and Oman (with British support) conquered it and overthrew its last ruling imam. And yes, the war was about oil. The imam was nevertheless recognized as the legitimate ruler by most Arab nations until 1970-71. They also recognized the exile government's stamps. After the effective dissolution of the exile government structures, it also ceased issuing stamps.

While the stamps shown here are thus fake, some people do collect Feigenbaum's cinderellas (I did it myself during my sadly misspent childhood), so I will nevertheless give this sheet five stars!

A landfall in Oman

Oman is a nation in Arabia, just south of Saudi Arabia. Michael Gallagher has compiled an entire book about its avian fauna, complete with illustrations signed Martin Woodcock.

"Birds of Oman" is a reference work more than a field guide. The species presentations are short and succinct. That being said, the color plates are surprisingly good and even have local color (pun unintended). In fact, "Birds of Oman" could work as a coffee table book. It includes all birds you are ever likely to see in Oman, including some of "our" birds, such as grey herons, mallards, grebes, cranes, grey-lag geese... So *this* is where they go when tired of the Swedish winter and boredom!

Even rare vagrants and unconfirmed species have been included on the lush color plates, which may give the reader a slightly skewed view of the avian theatre of this distant Arabian land. But then, birds do fly. So perhaps we shouldn't complain too much about it?

I'm not sure if Oman is anyone's favorite haunt when eager to see mallards or geese, but if you really want to make a landfall, I'm sure "Birds of Oman" is the book for you.

No development please, we´re British

This book was prepared and published in the Arab sultanate of Oman by the "Office of the Government advisor for Conservation of the Environment". It features a large and exotically-looking portrait of Sultan Qaboos, Oman's long-time ruler. After winning a civil war against Communist-backed rebels in the Dhofar region, Qaboos had a scientific survey conducted of the region in question. While the foreign scientists where nominally present to study the flora and fauna of the Dhofar region, they also observed the habits of the local population and issued recommendations concerning future development.

Or lack of it.

This work has a rather "Green" or ZPG tendency. The primitive pastoralists of the Dhofar mountains are said to have lived in perfect harmony with their environment for ages. This is about to change. The sultan's administrative centres could develop into small towns, something the author sees as negative. High quality food and medical care will increase the human population. Provision of watering points for cattle has "implications" for their density and grazing impact. Concerning the administrative centres, the author (one J.B. Sale) writes: "The fact that they are offering desirable facilities not easily obtainable elsewhere, seems likely to make them centres of attraction for a semi-nomadic people". If the population increases, the locals will cut down the trees to build more huts. The cattle in Dhofar are sustainable only because they are fed with sardines during the dry season. The additional water supplies might increase the number of cattle, destroy grasslands, etc. Damage is caused by the construction of surfaced roads, the administrative centres and other building developments. Airfields are another no-no. "Technology is already causing a marked impact on the environment. As the population rises rapidly under the influence of modern health care this impact will greatly intensify". And yes, the oil reserves will soon be used up.

It seems Qaboos didn't follow the advice of the British scientists. Says Wikipedia: "In November 2010, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) listed Oman, from among 135 countries worldwide, as the nation most-improved during the preceding 40 years."

The rest of the book actually does deal with the flora and fauna of the Dhofar mountains. It contains chapters on ecology, climate and the general environment. Most of this volume is a catalogue-like survey of animal and plant specimens collected by the 1977 British expedition, complete with the inevitable scorpions (shown in black-and-white) and butterflies (in colour). The library copy I leafed through also has an insert at the back cover, a map showing Dhofar.

Never mind the scorpions

The full title of this volume is "The Journal of Oman Studies special report. The scientific results of the Oman Flora and Fauna Survey 1975". It was published by the Ministry of Information and Culture in the sultanate of Oman, and contains both a portrait and a foreword by Sultan Qaboos.

In 1975, a group of scientists working for the sultan carried out a survey of the proposed Jabal Akhdar National Park and the Jabal Aswad Tahr Reserve. Apparently, the Jabal Akhdar has a unique fauna due to a cooler climate than the rest of Arabia, and the presence of perennial water. Entirely new species or species new to the region were discovered. The book itself is essentially a description of various animal specimens collected by the expedition, where the specimens were found, discussions about the habitat, comparisons with other part of Arabia, etc.

This is not for the general reader, but rather a "catalogue" for future reference. The butterflies are illustrated on colour plates, but otherwise the photos are black-and-white. I didn't really mind: some of them show scorpions! My sympathy for the "Arab boys" who collected a Nebo hierichonticus at An Nid in Jebel Akhdar "under stones" at 2,500 feet back in 1975. There is also an extensive chapter on plants and vegetation types of the Oman mountains. My library copy of this book also includes an insert, a map of the proposed Jabal Akhdar National Park.