Latest news with #Gibbon
Daily Record
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
900 year old carved stone head found on Scottish island in 'find of a lifetime'
The artefact is now being preserved along with other finds from the dig and will be cleaned and eventually put on public display An archaeology student has uncovered what could be a 900-year-old carved sandstone head on the Orkney island of Rousay, in what experts are calling a 'find of a lifetime'. Katie Joss, an undergraduate from the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) Archaeology Institute, made the remarkable discovery at Skaill Farm during an excavation of a large wall foundation. As she removed a slab, the intricately carved head tumbled into her hands. 'It was quite a shock,' Joss told the BBC. 'We were removing a slab when the head came rolling out at us and as we turned it around we saw a face looking back at us. It was really exciting.' The object is believed to be crafted from rich red sandstone, complete with yellow inclusions, and is thought to have originated from the island of Eday. According to archaeologists, the stone appears similar to other material used in the nearby St Mary's old parish church. Dr Sarah Jane Gibbon, co-director of the Skaill Farm excavation and part of the UHI Archaeology Institute, expressed her surprise at the detail and craftsmanship of the carving. 'This is such an exciting find,' she said. 'Over the years excavating at Skaill and The Wirk, the nearby hall tower, we have found several interesting moulded pieces of red sandstone but nothing like this!' She described the head as being carved to be viewed from the front at a slight angle, allowing the viewer to appreciate the finely detailed locks of hair on the top of the head. 'The eyes appear closed as there is nothing to indicate pupils,' she said. 'The slight smile and asymmetric eyebrows express real character.' Although the head is largely intact, its nose is broken off. Dr Gibbon said it remains unclear whether the damage was intentional. 'Could this have been done deliberately as an act of iconoclasm or was this accidental?' she wondered. 'It's odd that no other part of the head is damaged.' The style of the eyes has been loosely compared to early phases of the stonework found in St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, though Gibbon noted she 'could find no comparison for the serene expression' captured in the carving. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The artefact is now being preserved along with other finds from the dig and will be cleaned and eventually put on public display. The Skaill excavation is now in its tenth year and is located directly over what was once a prominent Norse settlement. The name Skaill comes from the Old Norse word 'skáli', meaning 'hall', and the site is believed to have belonged to the powerful 12th-century Viking chieftain, Sigurd of Westness. The discovery adds to a growing collection of artefacts linked to the Norse occupation of Rousay and may offer further insights into life and artistry in medieval Orkney.
Perth Now
7 days ago
- General
- Perth Now
Perth Zoo's gibbon seen for first time since loss of newborn
Jermei — Perth Zoo's white-cheeked Gibbon — has ventured outside for the first time since her heartbreaking pregnancy loss. On a cold, wet Wednesday morning, one of Perth Zoo's rarest animals soared through the air for the first time in three weeks. Bounding along with daughter Lulani and mate Kayak, white-cheeked gibbon Jermei seemed to embrace the freedom that had been taken from her since tragedy struck. Last month, the 22-year-old primate lost what would have been her sixth child shortly after birth. Gynaecological experts performed a caesarean to give the baby the best chance at surviving; and while the infant had a faint heartbeat on delivery, it died shortly after. And because of the surgery, it also meant a fragile Jermei had to stay inside away from the familiarity of her family. Jermei explores the new gibbon exhibit at Perth Zoo with mate, Kayak. Credit: Ian Munro / The West Australian, Ian Munro Primate keeper Nene Haggar said Jermei's time recovering had proven difficult as she wanted to be with her two fellow resident gibbons. But she said there was a risk the primate pair could inadvertently unpick stitches during grooming, so they were slowly reintroduced under the Zoo team's watchful eyes. 'We actually had to keep her separated, and she did not enjoy that at all. She found it really challenging,' Ms Haggar said. 'When you've had a C-section, they do ask for you to be very inactive and just to sit and rest — that's quite difficult with gibbons. Naturally, they're just curious, and they want to play and they want to move around. 'Because Jermei is making really good progress in recovery, we did want to see how she'd go having the full access to her whole space.' Jermei explores the new Gibbon exhibit at Perth Zoo for her first today. Ian Munro Credit: Ian Munro / The West Australian And so, finally, on Wednesday, she was able to explore the Zoo's new open gibbon exhibit for the first time, roaming through the enclosure and dangling from ropes before sitting pensively on the ground as if pausing to wonder what had happened over the last month. Jermei has had five successful pregnancies, with her six-year-old youngest daughter Lulani still living with her. She has previously had reproductive hardships, including a stillbirth a last year, and Ms Haggar said this year was likely Jermei's last in the breeding program. 'This would have been her last opportunity, and then, because she has had complications and challenges, we just decided that it would be best just to let her live her life and relax now,' she said The white-cheeked gibbon is critically endangered, and one of the rarest primates in the world, with Perth Zoo residents part of a global breeding program to grow numbers. So far, 11 white-cheeked gibbons have been born in the past 35 years.
West Australian
01-07-2025
- General
- West Australian
Perth Zoo's 11.7m new white-cheeked gibbon enclosure open to public days after tragic death of newborn
One foot carefully after another, a cheeky gibbon parades across a tightrope as he checks out his new home below. Perth Zoo's $11.7 million state-of-the-art gibbon enclosure opened on Tuesday, which takes the space into the air and tripling the space for the critically endangered apes. It means visitors can observe the acrobatics of the animals as they traverse rope pathways connected to a 14m tower overhead. Situated near Perth Zoo's entrance, the apes can now travel larger distances as the public watches from the ground below. Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn said the expanded primate enclosure would be a drawcard for families. 'Record numbers of visitors are already enjoying the new café precinct and family facilities, and now, the primate crossing adds a world-class experience,' he said. 'Watching the gibbons swing through the skies is truly remarkable to see and it's these magic moments that form core memories and help inspire the next generation into conservationists.' Perth Zoo recorded more than 900,000 visitors in the last financial year, with upgrades, funded by the State Government, also completed to improve seating, barbeque and event facilities at the zoo. The unveiling of the exhibit comes after the zoo's gibbon population was hit by tragedy over the weekend. Keepers said the Zoo's white-cheeked gibbon Jermei went into labour over the weekend, but that the baby did not survive. Gynaecological experts who normally help with human pregnancies performed a caesarean to give the baby the very best chance at surviving. Perth's Gibbon population are part of a global breeding program to help boost numbers, with the apes one of the rarest in the world and native to south east Asia.
Perth Now
01-07-2025
- General
- Perth Now
New Perth Zoo gibbon enclosure opens days after tragic death
One foot carefully after another, a cheeky gibbon parades across a tightrope as he checks out his new home below. Perth Zoo's $11.7 million state-of-the-art gibbon enclosure opened on Tuesday, which takes the space into the air and tripling the space for the critically endangered apes. It means visitors can observe the acrobatics of the animals as they traverse rope pathways connected to a 14m tower overhead. Situated near Perth Zoo's entrance, the apes can now travel larger distances as the public watches from the ground below. Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn said the expanded primate enclosure would be a drawcard for families. The enclosure is situated near Perth Zoo's entrance. Credit: Ross Swanborough / The West Australian 'Record numbers of visitors are already enjoying the new café precinct and family facilities, and now, the primate crossing adds a world-class experience,' he said. 'Watching the gibbons swing through the skies is truly remarkable to see and it's these magic moments that form core memories and help inspire the next generation into conservationists.' Perth Zoo recorded more than 900,000 visitors in the last financial year, with upgrades, funded by the State Government, also completed to improve seating, barbeque and event facilities at the zoo. Perth Zoo's $11.7 million state-of-the-art gibbon enclosure opened on Tuesday. Credit: Ross Swanborough / The West Australian The unveiling of the exhibit comes after the zoo's gibbon population was hit by tragedy over the weekend. Keepers said the Zoo's white-cheeked gibbon Jermei went into labour over the weekend, but that the baby did not survive. Gynaecological experts who normally help with human pregnancies performed a caesarean to give the baby the very best chance at surviving. Perth's Gibbon population are part of a global breeding program to help boost numbers, with the apes one of the rarest in the world and native to south east Asia.
Scoop
26-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
CRL Intensification: A Wake-Up Call For Everyday Investors
AUCKLAND, 27 July 2025 — The Auckland Property Investors Association (APIA) cautiously welcomes this week's announcement of intensified zoning around Auckland's City Rail Link (CRL) stations, calling it a 'necessary progression' in the city's infrastructure journey and urging small-scale investors to recalibrate their strategies in light of the rapidly evolving market. 'Linking housing growth to public transport is a no-brainer,' says APIA General Manager Sarina Gibbon. 'If we're going to invest $5 billion into the CRL then it makes sense to enable people to actually live around it.' The question is: Who gets to shape the next chapter of Auckland's property market? The scale and ambition of the new CRL zoning, up to 15 storeys in some areas, signals a development environment likely to favour corporate players and large capital-backed builders. 'Let's be real, we are entering a phase of urban development that most ma-and-pa investors can't keep up with. That doesn't mean they are shut out of the game (and gains), it just means that for these investors, the playbook is changing,' says Gibbon. Instead of resisting change, APIA urges small-scale investors to explore new pathways to participate: Joint ventures or other co-investment models with established and experienced developers, Build-to-rent partnerships, Prefab and modular constructer to lower costs and increase speed, Reinvestment opportunities with windfalls from zoning triggered value uplifts. 'CRL developments are high-stake plays with big risks and big price tags. They are not for the faint-hearted and certainly not for investors who are stuck with old models. But if you are willing to re-benchmark your expectations and explore co-ownership, syndication, or other shared equity models, there could still be plenty of opportunities to build wealth in these high-value pockets of Auckland.' The Association is also calling for robust and transparent implementation frameworks to ensure that private landowners are given clarity and opportunity, and that Auckland's zoning tools are not solely captured by large institutional players. 'Density done right can still deliver access and diversity,' Gibbon says. 'This isn't the death of investing oft the everyday Kiwi, it's a chance to move up the value chain if you are prepared to act smarter.'
