Rescued caver charged by police

Police have charged a man who was stuck in a cave in the New South Wales Southern Highlands for two days.

Forty-seven-year-old Geoff McDonnell was caving by himself in the Wombeyan Caves last month when a rockfall trapped him in a standing position.

Authorities were contacted the next day when other cavers noticed him missing, but it took until Sunday night for him to be freed.

The rescue effort involved about 200 people from various emergency services.

Police have charged Mr McDonnell with entering or remaining in a cave without authority, risking the safety of a person in a national park and entering a closed park.

Inspector Doug Pilkington from Goulburn Police says most people who enter a cave in a national park without permission are fined, but charges were appropriate in this case.

"It was an isolated cave, well away from the main tracks," he said.

"There was always the potential for it to go seriously wrong and he took those risks regardless, so it was not appropriate to just issue him with some small infringement notices.

"It was much more appropriate to put him before a court."

He will appear in Goulburn Local Court on July 23.

Source: ABC

Speleologists and Nature Lovers Rendez-vous in Greece

Environmentally aware speleologists and nature lovers seeking adventure will have a unique rendezvous in the beautiful landscape of the northern prefecture of Drama from June 13 to 22 to attend the 2nd Balkan Speleological Reunion Camp “Balkan 2008.” 

Speleologists from 11 Balkan countries will have the opportunity to explore a number of caves in the region. 

The meeting is jointly organised by the Drama Prefecture, the Culture Ministry’s Paleo-Anthropology – Speleology Division in Northern Greece and the Hellenic Speleological Federation of Speleology with the support of the Balkan Speleological Union.

Ecotourism In Belize Is Damaging Environmentally Sensitive Sites

Mayan Ruin in Belize.
Credit: Peter Kumble

Belize is an unforgettable mix of tropical waterfalls, ancient Mayan ruins and deep limestone caves, making it one of the world’s most popular destinations for ecotourists. Peter Kumble of the University of Massachusetts Amherst is working with the government of Belize to limit the environmental impact of ecotourism on these sensitive natural wonders.

According to Kumble, one of the main things that ecotourists need to remember is how fragile these lush, tropical sites can be. “On a recent trek through underground caverns, which required swimming into the entrance, my students and I were asked to wear socks when we came out of the water,” says Kumble.

“Just the oils on our feet would have been enough to coat the rocks and prevent stalagmites and stalactites from growing on their surface.”

While this tour was led by licensed guides, many caves that are not as well managed have suffered damage to natural rock features, such as stalagmites and stalactites, as well as the theft of ancient Mayan artifacts. “The Mayans viewed the caves as a connection to the underworld, and left offerings of pottery, food and human sacrifice,” says Kumble. “In some locations it is fairly easy for a tourist to pick up a shard of pottery and take it home, not realizing that they are disturbing an important archaeological site.”

Rio-On Pools, a network of cascades and pools in the Mountain Pine Ridge region listed in the Rough Guide to Belize, has also suffered damage from overuse and minimal site maintenance. Water quality is becoming degraded as heavy rains wash sediments from dirt paths and parking lots. Poorly maintained pit toilets can also be a source of pollution. During field research over a 30 month period, Kumble observed significant erosion on trails, trash and debris left behind at many sites, and the displacement of wildlife and plants.

Like Bats, People 'Hear' Silent Objects

The song "The Sound of Silence" might hold more truth than ever imagined, suggests a new study that determined people can hear silent objects based on reflected and ambient sound.

Since blind individuals may be particularly tuned in to such sounds, the research helps explain how they can often find doorways, windows and objects without seeing or touching them. It may also lead to a better understanding of echolocation, the technique used by certain animals, like bats and dolphins, to detect reflected sound.

The study also suggests that true silence, except in artificially created environments like soundproof booths, does not exist.

"In the real world there is always some type of ambient noise," said Lawrence Rosenblum, who conducted the study with co-authors Ryan Robart and Ethan Chamberlain.