Remains of extinct Falklands’ wolf, 'Warrah', discovered by 13-year old
A natural history enthusiast since he was just three, now aged13, Dale Evans a native Falkland Islander has made a remarkable and significant scientific discovery.
In January while home at Spring Point Farm, West Falklands he found parts of a Warrah – the Falklands wolf – a species that has been extinct for more than 130 years.
The Islands’ only land mammal and its origin is something of an enigma. Only six complete specimens are known to exist and all these were collected in the 1800s. But Dale unearthed bones from the now extinct Warrah that could lead to new information about the Islands’ only native land mammal.
Falklands’s Museum staff and UK experts alike are thrilled with the discovery of the ‘Evans Warrah’.
Dale told the story of the incredible discovery in the family’s Spring Point Farm to the Penguin News.
“I knew if there was a jawbone there must be more so I went back the next day. I knew where it was but didn’t know how to get there, so (brother) Niall showed me the way...It was boggy so I scanned the area from the bank and thought if I looked on the surface I’d see more – the bones were black against the white sand. By the time Niall caught up I had seen a bit of the skull sticking out of the ground.
As I went towards it I saw the teeth and the cranium. I walked up to it and gently put my hands underneath the sand and lifted it out.
The ground was relatively soft with a crust. I took it to the bank where I examined it. By then I was really excited. Niall was there with me and later he found a bit of hard palate (of a second specimen) and the back of a skull and I found the other bit of it, which I gave to him because they belonged together. I went back to the site a few times. By the skull I found another bit of jaw, and that is close to where I found a baby tooth”.
Back in Stanley after the holidays Dale told his experience to one of his teachers who immediately took him and the skull to the local Museum’s taxidermist, Steve Massam.
“Steve got really excited because it was obviously of some age. He compared it to photos of a warrah skull he had seen in Holland”.
Dale went back searching in the holidays (Easter and half term) and found loads more bones – warrah bones and potential prey species – fish bones, squid beaks, penguin and goose bones and small bird bone.
“Eventually Steve and I went to the vet’s to eliminate it from being a dog. He didn’t think it was a dog”.
Things really begun moving when Steve had to travel to England and there was an opportunity to get the specimen identified safely.
The waiting was perilous! But finally an email confirmed the news: effectively the bones belong to the long extinct Warrah.
The name Warrah is simply a corruption of the term aguará which means ‘fox’ in Guaraní, one of the prevailing indigenous languages in South America.
“There is no doubt that this is a scientific find of some magnitude” said Leona Roberts, Falklands’ Museum Curator Leona Roberts.
“This is the only known Warrah specimen that seems to have been a natural fatality, rather than having been collected by naturalists. The bones and the site might well shed new light on what we know about these fascinating animals.”
Since being told of the discovery of the bones, the Museum has been seeking advice and guidance from contacts at British museums and organisations and the next step will be to try and establish the age of these specimens, probably through AMS radiocarbon dating. If the bones are as old as they appear to be, that can only add to the importance of the find. (PN/MP)
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search for the lost malvinus, another myth gone west.
Don't go there, I've pointed this out before. I've even had claims that the Falkland Islands broke off South America and drifted against continental drift. Science and facts are just not acceptable, for proof denies faith.
Please my friend, don´t buy that crap that your goverment sell you time after time to eliminate any link between Malvinas & the continent for political reasons.
Malvinas is part of what is called “antilles of the south” and there is a geological connection (like an imaginary line) beetwen the southern part of the continent- Malvinas-Georgias-Sandwich- and antartica peninsula.
you forgot Spain
Forget science, mere emotion will suffice, notice no attempt to refute the science, just an ad hominem attack.
I didn't think it was contested that while the earth was one continent(pangea) The islands “stuck” on to africa.
So what part of south america do your experts think the islands came from?
See
Taylor, G.K. & Shaw, J. 1989. “The Falkland Islands: New paleomagnetic data and their origin as a displaced terrane from Southern Africa.” In: Deep structure and past kinematics of accreted terranes, ed. J.W. Hillhouse, (AGU Monograph 50), 59-72.
For real science.
malvinas and other south atklantic islands were formed by emerging andean structures.
Can the presence of these gold nuggets suggest that at least a good number of the South Sea islands were rather a part of W. Africa and not of South America?
And the Falklands/Malvinas foxes are not at all extinct. Some used to happily thrive in the Leg. Ass ;-)
What in the world are u smoking or drinking?
Since the islands are so far away from Europe now your excuse is that is part of Africa?
Please stop smoking weird things and buy yourself a decent map.
Malvinas Argentinas y Sudamericanas.
Tell me, how can you settle existing differences and leave an issue unresolved?
How many times can you avoid an awkward question?
Why when faced with science and facts can you only respond with an ad hominem attack?
Indoctrinated?
Brainwashed?
Unwilling to listen?
Unwilling to accept you are wrong?
All of the above?
And by the way Argentina never actually ratified the 1958 Convention on the Law of the Continental Shelf.
They're still outside of your territorial waters and it only might ever apply to situations where the islands were uninhabited - and they have been for over 200 years, over a century before the convention you never ratified.
Rather typical Argentina claims on the basis of a convention it never actually ratified.
I just find it interesting that Argentines are so paranoid about the Falklands that they would reject scientific orthodoxy about their origins. Like they can't have an African origin, like it makes a difference to any territorial claim.
Its bizarre.
In the 21st Century, can a European power hide its colonial claim to the oil resources under the sea bed of South America by sheltering behind the 'rights' of its colonists?
Britain must go, and in the end it will have to go; the issue is one of how and when.
Have I missed anything?
“In the process which followed, which was that of the forced expulsion of the population of the Chagos from the islands, the islanders were offered no recourse to self-determination. Dispossesed of their homes and their means of livelihood, the democratic choice offered to the Chagossians was to become slum-dwellers on the Mauritius mainland. For the inconvenience of having to accommodate these refugees, the government of Maurituis was compensated with the princely sum of three million pounds.
Like the Falklanders, the Chagossians were approximately two thousand in number. Unlike the Falklanders, they were dark skinned and not of British ancestry”
On the other hand, UK cannot be considered neo-imperialist (including belligerency, rapacity, bigotry and racism) because she neved ceased to be imperialist and/or sustain warship diplomacy as a means to hold on her overseas territorial 'acquisitions'!
The Falklands are a self-governing BOT, they've been self-governing since 1985.
Their status of self-government was delayed for years by the FCO, to avoid upsetting Argentina who didn't want to see them proceed to self-governing status.
Oil permits were issued by the Falkland Islands Government.
Oil revenue goes to the Falkland Islands.
Britain has nothing to do with the licenses.
And Marco, the fact is that Argentina has never and never will own the Falklands. Its a national myth perpetuated by Peron, who saw it as a means to unite the people using a small island community as a scapegoat. Argentina has only ever accrued territory, either by conquest or threat.
It stole Patagonia from Chile by threatening a war when Chile was already engaged in struggle with Peru; not that Patagonia was Chile's anyway.
It conquered Patagonia in its own genocidal Conquest of the Desert.
It stole huge chunks of Paraguay in the War of the Triple Alliance, a war that wiped out virtually the entire male population of Paraguay.
It has stolen parts of Uruguay.
And in the 21st Century, it is still trying to claim territory based on 19th Century arguments, a perverted version of history and outight lies.
It indoctrinates its children with these same lies.
It has always invented outside enemies for itself. For much of the 19th Century that was Uruguay, then it was Chile, then it was the Mapuche of Patagonia, then Chile again with the Beagle Channel dispute, then Britain, then the Beagle Channel again and more recently Uruguay with its pulp mills.
Argentine belligerence has made it irrelevant in the Falklands, it could have shared in the oil bonanza if it ever happens. Argentina alone tore up the oil agreement, unilaterally, then it whines about “unilateral” action when we just get on with it.
If you want a BBQ, buy a ticket and bring your passport, you'll find the welcome surprising but leave the attitude at home.
Governor Mr Alan Huckle, british and former Governor of Anguilla.
The Honourable Keith Biles JP
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Keith Biles was a member of the overseas staff of a major international British bank for 25 years, living and working in many parts of the world.
He arrived in the Falkland Islands in 1995 to take up the appointment as manager of the local branch of the bank.
Falkland Islands Government Chief Executive, Dr Tim Thorogood
Timothy “Tim” Rupert Thorogood (born 15 May 1962) is the current Chief Executive of the Falkland Islands.
Thorogood was born in Barbados and spent time as a child in the Falklands, where his father worked for Cable & Wireless.
I do not say that he is right, but Argie has already made the case for right of conquest.
Go lose yourself!!
1. Our economy is at least 10 times the size of that of Argentina.
2. Empire? Yes it was the biggest and most powerful empire to have ever existed. But sadly being at the heart of two world wars and the rise of democracy in the world, the empire disappeared. But its legacy still exists to this day, the world certainty benefited from the empire.
No, throughout its history Argentina has only ever accrued territory. It has created myths of lost territory but that is all they are myths. At independence it occupied a fraction of what it does now. Its population was a tiny fraction of what is now and quite ethnically different being predominantly creole. The current population is predominantly descended from late 19th Century immigration.
As to the rest of your post, that was the 19th Century, so resetting borders to some arbitrary point just because in the 20th Century your resurrected some tinpot irredentist claim to the Falkland Islands is what is utterly illogical - particularly when you have to lie and bend the truth to make such a claim.
#32 is about the only sensible thing you said.
I'll ignore Marco as I won't bother rebutting his illogical rants across multiple pages.
So some officials are immigrants, those who hold office were democratically elected. I notice you ignore those who were native born.
Like Bill Luxton for example, whose family emigrated in the 1840s. When your fascist thugs invaded in 1982, they dragged him onto a plane and threw him out of his homeland.
Now suppose we went to Argentina and repatriated anyone whose roots were shorter than that, how many people would be left? About 2.
And Argie,
I suggest you read the UNCLOS about the delineation of EEZ, it does not enable you to cobble together a claim on land that is already occupied.
Seeing as you mention UNCLOS, any chance you'll return certain islands to Uruguay that you stole in the 19th Century.
The current landmass of Argentina is 2,766,891 km2 , if we exclude the 80% that is patagonia (I'm being generous I haven't included the Chacos and Pampas) we have about 500 km? Are you telling me that some time in the past present day Argentina managed to lose 2,313,512.8 Km2??????????????
As for New Zealand, nothing could be further from the truth, the Mauri's are still there in large numbers have their tribal lands, and their language has equal status with English, Has Argentina afforded equal language status with first nation peoples?
The thing about the conquest of the desert was the fact that an entire series of cultures was wiped of the face of the planet, not many young nations can boast of such an achievement? The point we get at is that you lot bang on about “Squatters” and illegal settlers in the Falklands and ignore your own origins. Its not a viable argument and you know it!
Marco Falklander's didn't claim the islands for the motherland, it is their motherland, shall I erect that in 50 foot tall letters and paint it bright luminescence pink?
Lets recap on your history Marco, European settlers did claim what constitutes present day Argentina in the name of the motherland, Spain! Or did Argentina magically fall from the sky? And lets not forget the Pampas, Chacos and Patagonia all claimed in the name of Argentina?
So why the hissy fit when British eccentrics decided to feel at home in barren remote windswept Antarctic islands 2 days boat ride away?
Did it ever occur to you that those who wanted to move to Argentina wanted to live in Argentina and perhaps become Argentine? wholly different argument mate, and would be relevant if we were talking about sucession.
But were not we are talking about whether Argentina can legally and morally force a seperate culture, people and country who have developed over a period of 200 years in a separate geographical and administrative unit to that of Argentina to become a part of state they clearly and have continually expressed not to be a part of?
As for the race card, don't play that with me mate, it's almost like saying “some of my best friends are black”.
The truth is simple, Malvinas is in South America not Europe.
The large majority of europeans immigrants never become argentinian citizens, they never were forced too and they had the same rights like anybody else, except to claim any land of our republic to their country of origin.
About some of my friends are...
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4779479.stm
“The name Warrah is simply a corruption of the term aguará which means ‘fox’ in Guaraní”
wait how can we hide that ? the name warrah will do, and Islas Malvinas can be named after the fakland island holdings, sounds about right.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falkland_Islands_Holdings
According to the Lisbon Treaty they're part of the EU and therefore part of Europe!
Now, how close do you have to be to the South American continent to be part of South America?
Confused? Well yes ...... of course you are :-)
You say:
According to the Lisbon Treaty they're part of the EU and therefore part of Europe!
The European Union says:
There are 20 overseas countries and territories (OCTs) which are linked to Denmark, France, the Netherlands and the UK and are associated with the EU.
Their nationals are in principle EU citizens, even though the OCT's ARE NOT PART OF THE EU or directly subject to EU law...... ”
ec.europa.eu/development/geographical/regionscountries/regionscountriesocts_en.cfm
Who do you expect us to believe? :-)
Believe yourself :-)
The Falkland Islands were never part of Argentina, it didn't even exist in 1690 when John Strong claimed the islands for Britain, it didn't exist when Britain established a permanent presence in 1765, it protested vigorously when Argentina declared Vernet Governor in 1829 and it acted with great restraint in 1833 when it politely asked the Argentine garrison to depart.
Now a great deal of the dispute between Britain and Argentina can easily be explained by the way Vernet played both sides off against each other. What is stupid is a supposedly democratic Argentina continuing to push a claim that is full of lies and half-truths and continue to exploit base human instincts of prejudice against other cultures. Its naked racism, that simple.
And Think you can pick up on other people the day you can substaniate any of your outlandish claims.
For your kind info:
Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT,s) ARE NOT PART OF THE EU or directly subject to EU law...... ”
ec.europa.eu/development/geographical/regionscountries/regionscountriesocts_en.cfm
Surely the only relevant point is that the Lisbon Treaty, signed and ratified by all members of the EU, recognises the Falkland Islands as an over seas territoty of the UK. That is international recognition of sovereignty.
Can Argentina claim any international treaty recognition of it's claim?
You're better served picking him up on that, than trying to answer. He isn't interested in the answer, only picking a fight and grand standing on Argentina's claims.
Hoytred. Try this
europeangeostrategy.ideasoneurope.eu/2010/03/07/the-falklands-the-european-unions-antarctic-key/
Do you take me for an idiot, who says that the Falklanders are claiming that the Falklands are part of Europe? you per chance? No they merley say they are Falkland Islanders and British, identity is who you perceive yourself to be, not a bunch of ecnomically and democratically illiterate disguised Spaniards 400km away across the ocean! As the Wellington once said when someone called him the greatess Irish man alive “Just because a Cat is born in a stable that does not make it a horse does it?”
“The large majority of europeans immigrants never become argentinian citizens”
So 98% of Argentina comprises illegal immigrants does it then? At least we agree on something?
“They never were forced too and they had the same rights like anybody else, except to claim any land of our republic to their country of origin”
What you blethering on about boy? I never said they were forced to eejit! But they emigrated out of their own free will didn't they? That analogy would work perfectly if the Patagonian Welsh declared independence right now, but we're not talking about secession are we!!!
The real issue is about whether Argentina can legally and morally force a separate culture, people and country who have developed over a period of 200 years in a separate geographical and administrative unit to that of Argentina to become a part of state they clearly and have continually expressed not to be a part of? That's imperialism plain and simply disguised under the cloak of benevolent anti-Imperialism!
Avagarse, either you made a terryfyingly bad attempt at wit or you are a retard of unfathomable idiocy, do you think perhaps the Falklands company was named so because it was based in the Falklands?
From Wikipedia: ”The Falkland Islands Company (FIC), was incorporated in 1851 and received its Royal Charter on 10 January 1852” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falkland_Islands_Company
“Do you take me for an idiot, who says that the Falklanders are claiming that the Falklands are part of Europe?”
Well... hoytred think that Malvinas Argentinas are in Europe(may be he drunk to much alcohol?
hoytred“According to the Lisbon Treaty they're part of the EU and therefore part of Europe!”
MercoPress reported the observations of Brazil's president Lula da Silva on 24th February:
“Our attitude is one of solidarity with Argentina,” said the Brazilian president adding the question: “What is the geographical, political and economic explanation for England to be in the Malvinas?”
“What is the explanation for the United Nations never having that decision? It is not possible that Argentina is not the owner while England is, despite being 14,000 km away.”
Malvinas Argentinas and Sudamericanas!
The Falklands are occupied by people who were born there.
What possible reason could anyone have for ignoring the origin of the people living there.
Answer: They're racist fuckwits.
A far more accurate picture of these other South American countries' attitude is the fact that the British destroyers that protect the Falklands (principally its EEZ from illegal fishing vessel, but also in the very unlikely circumstances that Argentina tries anything on) always go on goodwill visits to the likes of Brazil and Chile and are welcomed with open arms (that is, the things attached to your handses, not the things that kill you!).
Justin, Finally I agree with you on something, the islands are occupied(illegally though), and about they were born there...well...
The real islanders? Malvinas is an old colony of the broke British empire
Governor Mr Alan Huckle, british and former Governor of Anguilla.
The Honourable Keith Biles JP
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Keith Biles was a member of the overseas staff of a major international British bank for 25 years, living and working in many parts of the world.
He arrived in the Falkland Islands in 1995 to take up the appointment as manager of the local branch of the bank.
Falkland Islands Government Chief Executive, Dr Tim Thorogood
Timothy “Tim” Rupert Thorogood (born 15 May 1962) is the current Chief Executive of the Falkland Islands.
Thorogood was born in Barbados and spent time as a child in the Falklands, where his father worked for Cable & Wireless.
Not to mention that a former gov. official was born in Argentina, very nice lady though.
I would recommend - since you lot seem to like it so much - wikipediaing “British Constitutional Monarchy”, as a start off point...
Wait, hang on...! I seem to remember posting this before...I must be turning into an ignorant Argentine!!
Like we have said, on countless occasions. It's a ceremonial placement. Canada, Austrailia and New Zeland also have one.
You are a former Spanish colony that achieved independence through violent revolution.
The Falklands are a former colony, with devolved Government, that choses to retain a relationship with the home country, largely it has to be said because of the aggressive neighbour on its doorstep who's already invaded once.
You keep bringing up that some officials are emigres, so what, they chose to live there. They are elected by the people and one of them used to be a lady born in Argentina. Notably she wanted no truck with Argentina, nor do the Argentine expats living in the Falklands.
Do you actually have any original thought?
The question:
How can one settle ones' existing differences and leave an issue unresolved?
We'll take the continued deafening silence as acknowledgement of you inability to face the awful truth you've been lied to.
“Kelpers”
Pure naked racism. The classic fascist ploy. Well the Nazis did find a refuge in Argentina. Pathetic isn't it, simply pathetic.
The Governor and Chief Executive do NOT have a vote in our Elected Govt. The Governor does not even presde during most sessions - he may officially “open” them and make a speech - just the same as the Queen does to Parliament in UK - he then leaves and the Speaker then prsides and keeps good democratcic order(I expect you have the equivalent to him as well in your Chamber?). But also he has NO vote.
The Chief Executive is the Civil Sevice Head - he runs the civil service and day to day Govt and sits in many planning and advisory bodies - but and he runs the administration to the wishes and rules of our elected members - not his.
As for the past genocide in Patagonia, triple alliance wars and also some pretty shady british affairs in the past I agree - all we are saying is that Argentina also has a dirty murky past as well if you look hard enough!
We are concerned more with today - like the IJC when it ruled the other week that Kosovo also has the right of democratic self determination- over - that of claimed territorial integrity. Hey - Kosovo has only been going for 10 years or so it gets that right from the IJC - we have been here for 177 - no problems our side.
Sorry a couple of spelling errors before - the word is presides!
As for the support of all these S American countries - yup - that is why they call us “Falkland Islands” I guess on all trade documents is it?
You must realise surely that even if relations improved,no Argentine Airline would ever fly here - because to do so it would have to deal proffessionally with and sort all the paperwork with who? - NOT London - but the Falkland Islands Dept of Civil Aviation - and since Arg says our Govt does not exist - there would be a problem! You see WE govern OUR Islands
They are governed by the falklands island government.
Not even the Queen can boast of such power and authority!
But I don't have to bow to any old lady nor Governor from Anguilla or the town of Stanley.
They are governed by the falklands island government, whom they vote for. There is no bowing.
and who are the pirats and illegal aliens ?
well here is just ones of them and this is his story.
www.fsa.gov.uk/pubs/final/darwin_clifton.pdf
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_Falkland_Islanders
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falkland_Islands_Holdings
There is no country called fakland only a company, now I have to ask all my ignorant british subjects, what came first the chicken or the egg ? I heard the name fakland was invented after malouines from the french name to Islas Malvinas, and this is is why you are all confuced, and they are not a separate ethnic group they are british subjects, according to their own made up constitution they are subjected to the queens dictatorship, it's in the first 5 line of said constitution.
stating that the queens “orders as follows”
www.falklands.gov.fk/assembly/documents/The%20Falkland%20Islands%20Constitution%20Order%202008.pdf
Dear God, the state of education in 4th world territories!!
Marcos - still waiting for your answer to me - but I guess you just simply dont even want to try and understand the difference between and elected president and a Monarch in a democracy. Basically an elected president runs their country inconjunction with their cabinet or similar- a Monarch in a democracy signs the laws and can offer advice but they do NOT make them nor can they refuse to accept them - the laws and Govt comes from the elected primeminister and cabinet. It is just DIFFERENT - but in no way is it any less democratic.
And an honest question to you, do you like that?
The ONLY time he can take power and intervene on behalf of UK is if our elected Govt suddenely got very corrupt and undemocratic and ignored public calls to correct itself.
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