Fun Facts about Dragonfly

Dragonflies are common insects with compound eyes, two transparent wings, 6 legs, and long body. They are harmless insect, since they don’t bite or sting humans. These insects are one of the best flying animals, because they can fly at fast speeds and they can propel themselves in six directions; upward, downward, forward, back, and side to side.

They lay their eggs on water (even the dirtiest water) since their larvae (nymphs) are aquatic. Dragonflies spend most of their life in the larvae stage, about 3 years. Then, after the metamorphosis phase, dragonflies get their wings; however they only live for a few weeks.

Dragonfly "Nymphs"

Usually, we watch dragonflies flying gracefully around, however what do dragonflies eat? Dragonflies are agile predators to other insects, such as mosquitoes, flies, bees, ands, and sometimes butterflies. A fun fact here – A dragonfly can eat equal to its own weight in about 30 minutes. Dragonflies’ larvae are even dangerous predator, with the size of 18-49 mm; they could eat tadpoles and little fishes

Dragonfly symbolize some meanings in the world, here are some of dragonfly symbolism:

• Maturity and a Depth of character
  The dragonfly, in almost every part of the world symbolizes change and change in the perspective of self realization; and the kind of change that has its source in mental and emotional maturity and the understanding of the deeper meaning of life.
  
  The traditional association of Dragonflies with water also gives rise to this meaning to this amazing insect. The Dragonfly’s scurrying flight across water represents an act of going beyond what’s on the surface and looking into the deeper implications and aspects of life.

• Power and Poise
  The dragonfly’s agile flight and its ability to move in all six directions exude a sense of power and poise - something that comes only with age and maturity.
  The dragonfly can move at an amazing 45 miles an hour,  hover like a helicopter fly backwards like a hummingbird, fly straight up, down and on either side. What is mind blowing is the fact that it can do this while flapping its wings a mere 30 times a minute while mosquitoes and houseflies need to flap their wings 600 and 1000 times a minute respectively.
  
  The awe inspiring aspect is how the dragonfly accomplishes its objectives with utmost simplicity, effectiveness and well, if you look at proportions, with 20 times as much power in each of its wing strokes when compared to the other insects.  The best part is that the dragonfly does it with elegance and grace that can be compared to a veteran ballet dancer. If this is not a brazen, lazy, overkill in terms of display of raw power, what is?

• Defeat of Self Created Illusions
  The dragonfly exhibits iridescence both on its wings as well as on its body. Iridescence is the property of an object to show itself in different colors depending on the angle and polarization of light falling on it.
  
  This property is seen and believed as the end of one’s self created illusions and a clear vision into the realities of life. The magical property of iridescence is also associated with the discovery of one’s own abilities by unmasking the real self and removing the doubts one casts on his/her own sense of identity. This again indirectly means self discovery and removal of inhibitions.

• Focus on living ‘IN’ the moment
  The dragonfly normally lives most of its life as a nymph or an immature. It flies only for a fraction of its life and usually not more than a few months. This adult dragonfly does it all in these few months and leaves nothing to be desired. This style of life symbolizes and exemplifies the virtue of living IN the moment and living life to the fullest. By living in the moment you are aware of who you are, where you are, what you are doing, what you want, what you don’t and make informed choices on a moment-to-moment basis.
  
  This ability lets you live your life without regrets like the great dragonfly.

• The opening of one’s eyes
  The eyes of the dragonfly are one of the most amazing and awe inspiring sights. Given almost 80% of the insect’s brain power is dedicated to its sight and the fact that it can see in all 360 degrees around it, it symbolizes the uninhibited vision of the mind and the ability to see beyond the limitations of the human self. It also in a manner of speaking symbolizes a man/woman’s rising from materialism to be able to see beyond the mundane into the vastness that is really our Universe, and our own minds.

References:

Ulio. (2009). Some facts about Dragonflies. Retrieved from http://www.stumblerz.com/some-facts-about-dragonflies/

Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. (2010) Dragonfly. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonfly

Butterfly&NatureStore. (2006). The Meaning of a Dragonfly: What Does a Dragonfly Symbolize? Retrieved from http://www.dragonfly-site.com/meaning-symbolize.html

Baiji, the freshwater dolphin.

Qiqi, the only captive Yang tze River dolphin, also called Baiji, which died in the Centre in July 2002. 

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cetacea
Family: Lipotidae
Genus: Lipotes
Species: Vexillifer

Status: Critically Endangered

Baiji is a freshwater dolphin that can be found only in Yangtze River, China. It was called “Goddess of the Yangtze” in China. Baiji has lived in Yangtze River for 20 million years, the fossil records that the dolphin first appeared 25 million years ago and then migrated from Pacific Ocean to Yangtze River 20 million years ago.

Nowadays, the Baiji dolphin is fighting for its survival, since there are less than 100 Baijis remaining. 4 years ago, conservation experts were unable to locate any Baiji during the expedition and they thought that Baiji were extinct. However, in 2007 Baiji existence was confirmed when a video from local institution captured of one.


The decreasing number of Baiji caused by ship traffic, pollution, human land uses, unsustainable fishing and lack of conservation measures. Illegal hunting of the baiji also one of the main cause of the decreasing number of Baiji, since its meat and its body parts are used in traditional medicines. Another main cause is the Dam that was built on the Yangtze River called The Three Gorges Dam. This dam will produce further stress on the baiji population, because the dam blocks the baiji from swimming upstream. 


IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Status:

1970's: Indeterminate

1980's - 1994:Endangered

1996 - 2004:Critically Endangered

2006:Critically Endangered

Population Estimates:

Before 1900: 3000 - 5000

1980: 400

1985-6: 300

1993: 150 - 240

1995: Probably fewer than 100

2003: Maybe no more than a few tens of individuals

2006: Recent informed guesses range from "there may be only a few dozen" to "there are very likely less than a hundred"

Since the 1970s, China government outlawed deliberate killing, restricted fishing, and established nature reserves. In 1978, the Chinese Academy of Science established the "Freshwater Dolphin Research Centre" in order to recover the species of Baiji, however only few Baiji captured and survived more than a few months. 

In December 1996, the first Chinese aquatic species protection was founded. It has raised about 10,000 USD to fund cell preservation and to maintain the Baiji facilities. 4 years before this conservation founded, five protected areas of the Yangtze have been designated as Baiji reserves. However, these 5 reserves only cover 350 kilometers, about 1/3 of the Baijis range, leaving the rest unprotected.

In 2001, the Chinese government approved a Conservation Action Plan for Cetaceans of the Yangtze River, unfortunately there was only little money available in China to aid the conservation. Efforts to save the mammals proved to be too little too late. The chief executive of the Baiji.org Foundation said, "The strategy of the Chinese Government was a good one, but we didn't have time to put it into action."

Trivia: 

• The Baiji weighs 135-230 kg. Its length is up to 2.5 meters in females and 2.3 meters in males
• The Baiji only occurs in freshwater rivers and lakes, since it favors in an area with sandbars such as Yangtze River.
• It takes 6 years to mature for females, 4 years for males
• Baiji was estimated to have lived 24 years
• Live in small groups of 3-4 animals, which may come together to make up a social unit of 9-16 dolphins

References: 

- World Wildlife Fund (2007, September 1). Baiji Dolphin Previously Thought Extinct Spotted In The Yangtze River. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 14, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070831123429.htm

- National Marine Fisheries Service (2007). Chinese River Dolphin / Baiji / Yangtze River Dolphin. Retrivied November 9, 2010, from http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/cetaceans/chineseriverdolphin.htm#more

- Enhancement Endangered animals of the world. (2006, June 4). Animal Info – Baiji. Retrivied November 9, 2010, from http://www.animalinfo.org/species/cetacean/lipovexi.htm

- Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. (2010, November 12). Baiji. Retrivied November 12, 2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_River_Dolphin