Latest news with #NationalPark
CTV News
3 days ago
- General
- CTV News
‘I just held her hand': Hikers reflect on loss, heroism after fatal rockslide at Bow Glacier Falls
A photo taken of Jutta Hinrichs and her friend Cindy Macarthur shortly before a rockfall that took place at Bow Glacier Falls last week, killing Hinrichs and a 33-year-old man, Hamza Benhilal Nearly a week after a deadly rockslide near Bow Glacier Falls, survivors are speaking out — recounting moments of terror, extraordinary courage, and the deep grief of losing fellow hikers. Two people — Jutta Hinrichs, 70 and Hamza Benhilal, 33 — were killed in the slide on the afternoon of June 20 while hiking on the trail in Banff National Park. Thirteen others were also injured and evacuated via helicopter by search and rescue teams. Cindy Macarthur, a member of the Slow and Steady Hikers of Calgary, was eating her lunch alongside several others, just steps away from the nearby waterfall. That's when she heard a loud cracking sound and the slope above gave way without warning. 'It was so loud, like a huge branch being broken,' she recalled. 'We looked up and then all of a sudden the rocks came flying at us in pieces—like Lego—starting to fall.' Macarthur says hundreds of boulders – some of them the size of trucks – were flying right past her, one of them just narrowly missing her shoulder. 'I thought I can't do this anymore, I can't outrun these rocks. So, I tripped and fell on the ground and quickly went off to the left of the trail. I think that is what maybe saved me from getting bulldozed over.' Helping the wounded When the dust settled, she and others quickly sprang into action. Total strangers, some injured themselves, began helping the wounded — checking pulses, performing CPR, using satellite phones to reach emergency crews, and offering comfort to those who were gravely hurt. 'That's when I saw Jutta lying there, and she was unresponsive,' Macarthur recalled, her voice heavy with emotion. 'She wasn't moving, she wasn't breathing. I thought, 'I have to try to help her.' So, I just went over there and told her help was on its way. I said 'please hang in there. I'm going to be here,' and I just held her hand. I mean, if I in my final moments I would want someone to be there.' 'You're not closing your eyes!' In the chaotic moments after the rockslide, Cindy Macarthur and the hiking group rallied to help those injured, including Khaled El Gamel, who was seriously hurt. El Gamel was one of two hikers airlifted from the site in Banff National Park while another was taken by ground ambulance. Khaled El Gamel was standing near Bow Glacier Falls with his friend when the rock wall crumbled. He's recovering in hospital. His friend did not survive. Khaled El Gamel was standing near Bow Glacier Falls with his friend when the rock wall crumbled. He's recovering in hospital. His friend did not survive. The 28-year-old told CTV News earlier this week that he froze in the moment, but it was the sound of his best friend Hamza Benhilal yelling to run which saved his life. Sadly, Benhilal didn't make it and was killed in the slide. Macarthur recounted the moment in which El Gamel was found in serious pain on the trail. 'He was laying there, and I could see he was hurting bad,' Macarthur said. 'I was telling him, 'You're not closing your eyes! You're not closing your eyes!'' Her urgent voice cut through the panic as she tried to keep El Gamel conscious. 'I was holding his hand, squeezing it, just trying to keep him with us,' she explained. 'It was really important to stay connected.' Others in the group joined in, providing support while waiting for rescue. 'We were doing everything we could — talking to him, keeping him awake, giving him water and everyone came together. Even though we were all scared, we kept going.' A Go Fund Me campaign has since been set up for Benhilal to provide financial relief for his family, to cover funeral costs and repatriate him back to his home country of Morrocco. Tight-knit hiking family For Tracy Aiello, co-organizer of the Slow and Steady Hikers group and a close friend of Hinrich's, the outpouring of support and the quick response from fellow hikers were a testament to the strength and heart of Alberta's outdoor community. 'Our hikers are prepared. We check weather, gear, and experience. We turn people away if they aren't properly equipped,' Aiello explained. 'Many of us carry satellite devices like a Garmin, and we always submit a trip plan with Search and Rescue. We're like a tight-knit family, we share water, we share snacks, we share blankets, we share layers. That's what we do. 'That's what everyone did on last Thursday,' Aiello added, 'and I thank God that there was so many wonderful people out there that were so prepared.' Despite all the preparation however, nothing could have predicted what happened at Bow Glacier Falls. 'Jutta was a beautiful soul,' Aiello said through tears. Jutta Hinrichs of Calgary Jutta Hinrichs was killed in a rock slide at Banff National Park's Bow Glacier on June 19, 2025. (Supplied) 'She was supposed to be on my hike this Saturday. We celebrated birthdays together, I remember laughing with her like little kids on the playground at Bow Valley Campground on one of those days — she wore a tiara and went down the slide. Her smile will never leave me." Hinrichs had recently returned from a bucket-list trip to South America, where she hiked the world famous Machu Pichu among wildlife and high trails in Peru. It was a dream fulfilled. 'She was so happy telling us about it on the hike,' Macarthur recalled. 'I'm at peace knowing she achieved one of her life's missions.' Remembering Jutta A memorial walk is planned for Thursday, July 3, at Calgary's Weaselhead Flats, where friends, fellow hikers, and community members will honour Riedel's life. 'There will be a book to sign, photos to share,' Aiello said. 'And we'll walk together in nature — just like Jutta would've wanted.' 'When you spend six to eight hours on a trail with someone, you see them in their truest form. That's how I knew Jutta — joyful, caring, and full of life.' The free hike will start at 6:30 pm to facilitate members after work transportation. 'We hope this brings heart healing to some and/or an opportunity to walk and talk it out to others,' reads the event's description on the website. 'Therefore we welcome you to walk quietly in camaraderie with others or visit and chat. Your needs will be respected either way.' Bow Glacier Falls Trail remains closed Parks Canada confirmed the tragic rockfall was the result of a natural geotechnical process. 'Geotechnical assessments indicate that this tragic rockfall was the result of a natural process common in mountain areas,' Parks Canada said in a statement. 'Events of this size are extremely rare and, sadly, this event appears to have been neither preventable nor predictable.' While Banff National Park, Bow Lake, and the route to the Alpine Club of Canada's Bow Hut remain open, the Bow Glacier Falls trail is closed until further notice. A map of the closure area can be found here: Parks Canada Closure Map A helicopter is shown close to the scene of a rock slide near Bow Glacier Falls north of Lake Louise, Alta. in Banff National Park on Thursday, June 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal A helicopter is shown close to the scene of a rock slide near Bow Glacier Falls north of Lake Louise, Alta. in Banff National Park on Thursday, June 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal 'Safety is our top priority,' Parks Canada said. 'We will take time to consider all options before making decisions related to the reopening of this backcountry area.' Parks Canada encourages visitors to take precautions when hiking in areas prone to rockfall: Plan for short rests behind rock bluffs or faces, and longer rests near ridgelines. Cross gullies quickly and avoid lingering in them. Wear a helmet, which can be rented from local outfitters. Until further notice, no new permits or reservations will be issued for the Bow Glacier Falls area.
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Arrowhead…Remembering India's Iconic Crocodile-Hunting Tigress
Indian wildlife photographer Sachin Rai still remembers tigress 'Arrowhead' pouncing on a crocodile and tearing away its leathery flesh with her teeth. Rai had been photographing the iconic tigress in western Rajasthan state's Ranthambore National Park since she was a cub, according to BBC. Last week, Arrowhead, also known as T-84, died at the age of 11 near a stretch of lakes in the scenic park, the very territory she had gloriously ruled over in her prime. Her death, caused by an illness, was mourned by hundreds of wildlife enthusiasts, photographers and tour guides who had flocked to the park to get a glimpse of her. Arrowhead's legendary status comes partly from her lineage; she is the daughter of Krishna and granddaughter of Machli - majestic tigresses who, once upon a time, dominated vast home ranges in Ranthambore with ferocity. They were also skilled crocodile-killers, known to incapacitate the massive creatures by crushing their skulls in their powerful jaws. Rai said that Arrowhead - named such by another wildlife photographer after the distinct arrow-shaped stripes on her cheek - took to killing crocodiles after her health began failing her. 'But even though she was weak and frail, the crocodiles were no match for her,' Rai said. Her kills earned her the nickname 'crocodile-hunter' by her fans, he added. In fact, she killed a crocodile just days before her death. Though graceful and fierce, Arrowhead had a difficult life, Rai said. Arrowhead gave birth to four litters in her lifetime, but not all of her children survived. She grew weak after developing a tumor and park officials would have to bring her food when she couldn't hunt for days. However, this was stopped after some of her cubs attacked and killed people.
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Vested interests killed new national park - SNP should be ashamed
One of the key characteristics of the debate over the Park was inaccurate information in the media, which was distributed to residents via mail-drops. We noticed a similarity to the campaign against the deposit return scheme, another one of Action to Protect Rural Scotland's key areas of work, which was also subject to a campaign to discredit it. These tactics have, once again, proved extremely effective, and the plans for a new National Park in Galloway have been axed. A detailed look at the consultation analysis confirms that the anti-campaign had an insidious impact on the outcome. The Government made the decision to scrap the Park, despite their knowledge that most of the arguments being used against the National Park had no basis in evidence, whereas the arguments used in support were generally evidence–based. Read more Worse than this, the Scottish Government used the consultation process as a numbers game, something that consultations are not designed to do. Consultations are used to gather information about complex policy proposals, and, in this case, a proposal with a number of options: for the area that Park would cover, powers of the Park, governance arrangements, among other things. This consultation, though, has been used as a de facto referendum by the Scottish Government in their decision making, as evidenced by the Cabinet Secretary emphasising the exact numbers from the consultation response, despite the NatureScot report cautioning against the approach in their report. This problem was compounded by the Scottish Government failing to weigh any of the answers according to whether their objections to a National Park had a basis in fact. NatureScot reported that the core of the opposition was based on concerns over the potential negative impact of the Park but then said. 'We would note that many of these issues raised in the responses to the consultation are not supported by strong evidence of how existing National Parks in Scotland operate, or more detailed consideration of how a National Park could be tailored to Southwest Scotland to address these concerns.' In their detailed analysis of the reasons that respondents gave for being 'for' or 'against' the proposed Park, NatureScot assessed that 10 out of the 12 perceived drawbacks were not backed up by evidence, and two were uncertain. Campaigners worried about the impact of the Park on the region's economy (Image: free) These two are both about the impact of future wind development, which is classed as uncertain due to the Government signalling an intention to change policy in new National Parks. On the other hand, of the ten perceived benefits of National Parks in the consultation responses, 8 were judged to have strong or good evidence, and one a medium evidence base. It seems like a significant proportion of the people responding to the consultation have been persuaded by incorrect information. The Scottish Government, for whom supporting existing and new National Parks, is stated policy, failed to correct this tidal wave of inaccurate information before it had totally swamped all discussions of the National Park in Galloway. This left three voluntary organisations: Galloway National Park Association, the Scottish Campaign for National Parks (SCNP) and ourselves with the impossible task of trying to get the evidence-base out there, with our tiny resources (SCNP and APRS share one day a week of funded officer time dedicated to National Parks, GNPA have none). That the Government allowed misinformation to take hold, and then, to make things worse, converted the consultation into a de facto referendum, is totally at variance with the way in which Government policy should be consulted on and delivered. NatureScot themselves, in their reports, counselled against treating the consultation as a numbers game saying, among other things, 'treating these results as definitive is problematic' and 'Nor was the survey designed to be a simple poll. Our experience with the aftermath of the cancellation of the Deposit Return Scheme suggests that the Scottish Government will find that cancelling the new National Park will not draw a line under the issue. The deposit return scheme was cancelled, rather than going ahead without glass, which they could have done under the terms of the Internal Markets Act. This turned out to be the start of a whole new set of problems. It led to a loss of £8 million due to the bankruptcy of Circularity Scotland, being sued by Biffa for £200 million, and now they are having to implement a deposit return scheme without glass three years after it could have happened, while setting up all the structures once again, but burdened by a lack of trust from business resulting from the U-turn. Read more Similarly this will not be the end of the pressures from the anti-park campaign. Those who opposed the new National Park: the landed interests, farmers, forestry companies and huge power companies will be emboldened by this win. They won't be stop with taking down a Galloway National Park. The Government has to face up to the fact that anything that clearly benefits the environment but potentially reduces profits for vested interests attracts a powerful anti-lobby. This is no different from public health in areas such as tobacco, alcohol and processed food. Any government supposedly committed to stopping and reversing biodiversity loss needs to stand firm on positive change. Civil society, also, should be alert to the tactics that have been used to bring down the Galloway National Park. If the Scottish Government can't muster the energy to get a policy with such cross-party support, as a National Park over the line, how will we make the far more challenging changes we will need to stave off the nature and climate emergencies? Dr Kat Jones is the Director of Action to Protect Rural Scotland (APRS) which has been campaigning for more national parks for Scotland since 2013
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Rare photo captures extraordinary moment in the sea: 'Beautiful'
At first glance, it looks like a drifting ribbon of jelly. But look closer, and you'll see something extraordinary — a translucent spiral floating just below the surface, dotted with hundreds of thousands of tiny pink embryos. This surreal sight, recently captured by rangers from the National Park of American Samoa, is believed to be a floating egg mass laid by a diamondback squid (Thysanoteuthis rhombus) — a large, deep-sea species rarely seen in the act of reproduction. "Each tiny pink dot is a developing embryo," the National Park wrote in its post. "A rare and beautiful reminder of the ocean's wonders." The remarkable images caught the attention of marine experts in Australia, who confirmed the species and shed light on just how unique these sightings are, even in tropical waters. While these photos were taken in Polynesian waters, diamondback squid are also found in Australia. "This large-sized oceanic squid — over 20 kilograms when mature — is distributed globally in tropical and subtropical zones," Dr Wen-Sung Chung, a marine scientist at the University of Queensland, told Yahoo News Australia. "It attracts fisheries interest in several East Asian countries due to its high market price." Dr Chung confirmed the gelatinous ribbon was the egg mass of the diamondback squid, adding that several oceanic squid species produce similar floating structures. "These large, jelly-like egg masses can contain hundreds of thousands of eggs," he said. Incredible photos capture rare moment off Aussie coast Veteran diver devastated over grim Great Barrier Reef report Incredible event 'triggered by full moon' off famous coast "Most hatchlings are only one to two millimetres long and are known as paralarvae, which drift with the current. I haven't seen its egg mass on the Oz coast yet," he added, "but I have indeed seen them repeatedly in Taiwan." Dr Mandy Beasley, from the National Marine Science Centre at Southern Cross University, said the sighting is consistent with the known behaviour of the species. "This oceanic species does occur in Australian waters and is known to have floating egg masses that have been observed also in the Philippines," she told Yahoo. Dr John Healy, curator of malacology at the Queensland Museum, said the egg mass pictured in Samoa is "well over a metre in length" and likely attracted the nearby fish shown in the images. "They may be trying to eat some of the eggs or simply be curious about the mass," he told Yahoo. "The species occurs circumglobally, mainly in tropical and subtropical waters, and certainly in Australian waters — but mostly in pairs or as individuals," he said. "The Queensland Museum has a specimen on display that was fished off the beach at the northern end of Moreton Island in 2010 and donated to our collection." Though the diamondback squid is commercially fished in Japan and parts of Southeast Asia, it's not targeted in Australia. Still, experts say sightings like this — even overseas — help shed light on the mysterious deep-sea lives of oceanic squid and the fragile, fleeting structures they leave behind. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Irish Times
21-06-2025
- General
- Irish Times
How yellow rattle can inject new life into Ireland's green spaces
'Gliográn' means 'little rattler' – a clattery, tinkling thing – and it describes well the sound rippling across a field full of yellow rattle in late summer, around August, carried best on a dry day with a light breeze. The soft rattling noise comes from the dried seeds inside their papery bladder-like pods, which shake like tiny maracas. Years ago, a tinkling field told farmers it was time to make hay; they'd listen for the sound as their cue to take out the scythe and start cutting. Finding a large field full of yellow rattle isn't easy these days – it's often considered a weed , especially by farmers on high-yield grassland systems. But just last week I stood in a gently sloping Co Meath field filled with this yellow flower, with clover growing beneath, at the new 552-acre Brú na Bóinne National Park in Dowth, in the Boyne Valley. The park, which the State bought for €11 million in 2023, isn't yet open to the public (it will take a few more years). But the process of turning the high-nutrient grasslands into spaces for nature has already begun, led by the new park manager, Maurice Eakin. Dr Eakin has one goal: to bring life back to these lands. To begin the process, he sowed yellow rattle seeds in parts of the park last November. Often called 'the meadow maker' or 'nature's lawnmower', the yellow rattle is a handsome, striking plant with slender, toothed green leaves and sunlit yellow flowers shaped like snapdragon-style tubular bells clustered at the top of its stem. Above ground, the plant is all charm – a beautiful burst of yellow flowers swaying in the fields, as if butter wouldn't melt. Underground, though, it's quite the vampire and thief. As a seedling, yellow rattle sends out roots that latch on to those of neighbouring plants, especially grasses, and siphon off their water, minerals and nutrients. This parasitic habit weakens the grasses and slows their growth, and it's particularly effective against dominant grass species such as ryegrass. (This is why many farmers understandably dislike it since ryegrass is rich in energy and protein and is fed to livestock.) READ MORE By winning a war against dominant grasses, yellow rattle opens space for less competitive wildflowers to grow, such as oxeye daisy, buttercup, sweet vernal grass and common knapweed. The result is a diverse meadow with flowers that bloom at different times through the spring and summer, offering a steady supply of nectar and pollen for insects and somewhere to shelter and breed. As the wild plant conservation charity Plantlife says, yellow rattle is the 'single most important plant you need when creating a wildflower meadow'. Although it was cold and damp when I stood in the field with Dr Eakin, the hoverflies and bumblebees were out in numbers, landing on the yellow flowers in search of sweet nectar. As they moved from plant to plant, the bees brushed against the flowers' male parts and picked up dustings of fine, powdery pollen, each grain carrying the plant's sperm cells. When the bees visited the next flower, some of that pollen rubbed off on to the female part of the plant, fertilising it and allowing it to produce seeds. Just as the yellow rattle gets up to mischief beneath the soil, some bee species get up to tricks while feeding on its nectar. This sugar-rich liquid is buried deep inside the yellow flower, favouring long-tongued bees such as the garden bee, whose tongue can reach 20mm long. Shorter-tongued bees that arrive on the flower can't reach it, but that doesn't put them off. Instead of entering through the floral opening, they land on the side of the flower where the nectar collects, bite a small hole, and drink their fill. These 'nectar robbers' bypass the flower's reproductive parts, so while they get the sweet stuff, the plant gains nothing in return apart from a dose of its own medicine from one thief to another. [ Butterflies in free fall: 'It's really alarming because it shows that something significant is happening in the wider countryside' Opens in new window ] Dr Eakin says he is delighted with how the yellow rattle transforms the field from ryegrass-dominated grassland into a richer, more diverse meadow. His aim over the next few years is to restore life to this part of Meath, and his use of yellow rattle as a key tool in this process could inspire and guide urban park managers across Ireland. Injecting life into public green spaces – transitioning from mown grass to wildflower meadows – can help reverse insect decline and create healthier, more vibrant spaces for local communities. The impact of urban meadows can be significant. A study published last year by scientists at Warsaw University found that replacing regularly mowed lawns with wildflower meadows in cities leads to a high concentration of pollinating insects, making these urban meadows as valuable as natural meadows in rural areas. The outlook for pollinators in Ireland is bleak. Our butterflies are in free fall. Recent data from the National Biodiversity Data Centre reveals staggering, catastrophic declines in their populations between 2008 and 2021: the meadow brown down 86 per cent, the ringlet down 88 per cent, the green-veined white down 87.2 per cent. Like bumblebees, butterflies are homeless and starving, with little hope of recovery unless we urgently restore wildflowers to our landscape. [ Irish wildflowers: Growing your own mini-meadow isn't always easy but the results are magical Opens in new window ] In this battle, an gliográn – the yellow rattle – could be one of our most loyal and effective allies.
