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Winter-topia wrote:
Winter Dollar demands of being official Antarctic currency
Article of winter-topia #1
_____________________________________________________________

Today the winter topian goverment desided to make the winter dollar the official antarctic currency and its goes from yes and no its undecidable so we need your help! Vote on this factbook for "yes" and disvote for "no" and which ever gets 30 no votes first will be done! 30 disvotes for the countries to use what ever they want or 30 yes votes to make Winter Dollar official...

_________________________________________________________

Winter-Topian Government Office

Read dispatch

first dispatch

congrats on becoming a NS publisher :-)

Auphelia and Concrete Slab

Whrine wrote:Ummmm

This is supposed to be a politcal game....

UHHHHH

yep the issues response part is that, along with the World Assembly I suppose. :-)

Other than that it's up to you.

Saliown wrote:So how big are these chats?

Saliown wrote:I’ve noticed that this chat is usually just weird rp

The South Pacific contains 6,590 nations … so you never really know what you're gonna find. If you have some burning topic you wish to discuss, you should bring it up.

Concrete Slab and Lily pad nation

Post self-deleted by Volaworand.

Balrogus the dragon

Concrete Slab wrote:Hey bro! Who are you...?Yep!

Balrogus I'm a dragon

New animal added to RNZP:

East Sakhlin provided a herd of Saiga in January, 2019.
Saiga Antelope (saiga tatarica) is a migratory ungulate of the steppes and deserts of Central Asia and Russia. A prominent feature of the saiga is the pair of closely spaced, bloated nostrils directed downward. Other facial features include the dark markings on the cheeks and the nose, and the 7–12 cm long ears. During summer migrations, a saiga's nose helps filter out dust kicked up by the herd and cools the animal's blood. In the winter, it heats up the frigid air before it is taken to the lungs. Males possess horns which are thick and slightly translucent, wax-coloured and show 12 to 20 pronounced rings. The horn of the saiga antelope is used in traditional Chinese medicine. Demand for the horns has wiped out the population in China.
Saigas eat several species of plants, including some that are poisonous to other animals. They migrate long distances and swim across rivers, but they avoid steep or rugged areas. The mating season starts in November, when stags fight for the acceptance of females. The winner leads a herd of five to 50 females. In springtime, mothers come together in mass to give birth. Two-thirds of births are twins; the remaining third of births are single calves.
Due to poaching, habitat loss, and mass mortalities, Saiga are rated as a critically endangered species.

Royal National Zoological Park

Rothera, Volaworand

Leadership

Chair of Board of Trustees:
TBA
Minister of Enviorment:
Nyota Uhura-Kirk

Funding
£40 million
~ 50% Operating Income
~ 25% Government Grants
~ 25% Corporate Sponsorships

Capacity

Animals: 1197
Species: 144

Zoo Overview

The Royal National Zoological Park (RNZP) of Volaworand, usually called the National Zoo, is located on the outskirts of the capital in Rothera. Its mission is to "provide engaging experiences with animals and create and share knowledge to save wildlife and habitats".

The facility hosts over 1,000 animals of 143 different species. About one-third of them are endangered or threatened. The best-known residents are the Auphelian Unicorns, but the zoo is also home to birds, great apes, big cats, elephants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, aquatic animals, small mammals and many more. The zoo houses between 60 and 80 endangered species at any given time depending on research needs and recommendations from the zoo and the conservation community. The zoo was one of the first in The South Pacific to establish a scientific research program.

The National Zoo receives federal grants for 25% of the operating expenses from the Department of the Environment. Corporate sponsorships and donations fund another quarter of expenses, with the remaining half coming from income generated by operations. A new master plan for the park was introduced in 2018 to upgrade the park's exhibits and layout. The Bird House Aviary is currently being renovated and expanded. Five resaurants are on site, including Jimmy's Ice Cream Parlor, Kentucky Fried Penguin #73 Panda Overlook , and Krill Grill Café.

Open daily 8am to 9pm (10am to 5pm on public holidays).
General Admission Price ranges from £9.95 to £19.95, depending on age and events underway.
Members of Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ) allowed unlimited free park entrance and discounted or free access to most events.

Special programs and events
In partnership with Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ), a non-profit organization, the zoo holds annual fund raisers (ZooFari, Guppy Gala, and Boo at the Zoo) and free events (Sunset Serenades, Fiesta Musical). Proceeds support animal care, conservation science, education and sustainability at the National Zoo.

    Woo at the Zoo – A Valentine's Day (February 14) talk by some of the zoo's animal experts discussing the fascinating, and often quirky, world of animal dating, mating, and reproductive habits. All proceeds benefit the zoo's animal care program.

    Earth Day: Party for the Planet – Celebrating Earth Day at the National Zoo. Guests can learn simple daily actions they can take to enjoy a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.

    Easter Monday – Easter Monday has been a Rothera-area multicultural tradition for many years. There is a variety of family activities, entertainment and special opportunities to learn more about the animals. Admission is free, and this event traditionally welcomes thousands of area families.

    Zoofari – A casual evening of gourmet foods, fine wines, entertainment and dancing under the stars. Each year, thousands of attendees enjoy delicacies prepared by master chefs from 100 of the area's finest restaurants. All proceeds benefit the zoo's animal care program.

    Snore and Roar – A FONZ program that allows individuals and families to spend the night at the zoo, in sleeping bags inside tents. A late-night flashlight tour of the zoo and a two-hour exploration of an animal house or exhibit area led by a zoo keeper are part of the experience. Snore and Roar dates are offered between June and September each year.

    Brew at the Zoo – Guests can sample SPIT from a variety of microbreweries at the zoo. All proceeds benefit the zoo's animal care program.

    ZooFiesta – FONZ celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with an annual fiesta at the National Zoo. Animal demonstrations, Hispanic and Latino music, costumed dancers, traditional crafts and Latin foods are offered.

    Rock-N-Roar – An event featuring live music, food and drink, and viewings of lion and tiger enrichment.

    Autumn Conservation Festival – Visitors can talk with scientists one-on-one and learn about their research, and the tools and technology they use to understand animals and their environments. Guests can get behind-the-scenes looks at some of the endangered animals.

    Boo at the Zoo – Families with children ages 2 to 12 trick-or-treat in a safe environment and receive special treats from more than 40 treat stations. There are animal encounters, keeper talks and festive decorations. All proceeds benefit the zoo's animal care program.

    Zoolights – The National Zoo's annual winter celebration. Guests can walk through the zoo when it is covered with thousands of sparkling environmentally-friendly lights and animated exhibits, attend special keeper talks and enjoy live entertainment.

Featured Animals

Pitcairn Reed Warbler

British Pitcairn Islands provided a flock of Pitcairn Reed Warblers.
These birds are a curious, friendly species, known to eat directly from visitors hands.

Gentoo Penguin

British Falkland Islands provided a flock of gentoo penguins.
Gentoos breed on many sub-Antarctic islands. The main colonies are on the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Kerguelen Islands; smaller populations are found on Macquarie Island, Heard Islands, South Shetland Islands, and the Antarctic Peninsula. The total breeding population is estimated to be over 300,000 pairs. Gentoos breed monogamously, and infidelity is typically punished with banishment from the colony.

Pintail Duck

S Georgia and S Sandwich Islands provided a flock of Yellow-billed Pintail Ducks.
These ducks are known as the silent ducks, due to the rarity of their calls. The Zoo is home to 26 individuals.

St Helena Plover

St Helena Ascension and Tristan da Cunha provided a pair of St Helena Plovers (or Wirebird), which the only endemic land bird on the island.
The Wirebird is officially classed as ‘critically endangered’, with only 322 individuals reported in the most recent survey. The pair at the National Zoo have not mated.

Grizzly Bear

Martigues provided a pair of Bears in November 2017.
Today the Zoo is home to a family of 5 of these proud creatures.

Dove

The united nations of earth and humanity provided a pair of Doves in 2017.
Today the Zoo is home to a flock of 13 of these lovely and intelligent birds.

Unicorn

Auphelia provided a pair of Unicorns (Gina and Leslie) in 2017.
Today the pair are expecting their first foal. The Zoo's Unicam is one of the most popular webcam's in Volaworand.

Albatross

Imperialantarctica provided a flock of Albatross in September 2018.
These amazing birds, with intricate and amazing courtship rituals, are under threat due to plastics waste in the Southern Ocean.

White Sun Tiger

Hanguk-Nippon provided a pair of their White Sun Tigers in September 2018.
White tigers - a variant of the more common orange-and-black Bengal species - owe their colouring to a recessive gene and are exclusively found in zoos, with the last sighting of a white tiger in the wild in India in 1958. It was shot by a hunter.

Sara, Rescued War Dog

Volaworand's military rescued Sara from the ongoing civil war in South Pacifica Isles.
She lost both her back legs from landmines but the zoo staff rigged her with her very own set of wheels. Today Sara serves as the Park's beloved unofficial mascot, roaming the park sneaking ice cream and posing for selfies with visitors.

Red Fox

New Haudenosaunee Confederacy provided a Red Fox in October 2018.
The red fox is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the order Carnivora, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, North America and Eurasia. Our lonely resident, named The Solar System Scope or TSSS, howls mercilessly at all hours and is often poked with sticks by visiting schoolchildren. After a RMB Multiplier Crystal malfunction, TSSS was duplicated into 26 foxes of various genetics and both genders. The fox enclosure is being expanded accordingly.

Quokka

Beepee provided a mating pair of Quokka in October 2018.
The quokka, the only member of the genus Setonix, is a small macropod about the size of a domestic cat. Like other marsupials in the macropod family (such as kangaroos and wallabies), the quokka is herbivorous and mainly nocturnal.
The quokka is classified as a vulnerable species.

European Dragon

Arkesia provided this terrifying pair of Dragons in October 2018.
Thanks to the cooperation of cryptozoologists, geneticists, and zoo's worldwide, European Dragons are making a comeback from the brink of extinction.
Like all omnivores, dragons are equipped with sharp teeth for tearing meat and flat teeth for grinding plants and rocks. Although rocks hold little nutritive value, they are a necessary digestive aid because they help the hydrogen-producing bacteria in the dragon's gizzard pulverize inedible material like seeds, nuts and rodent bones. When dragons grind platinum-rich rocks into bite-sized pieces with its molars, it leaves a residue on their teeth. When the dragon expels the built-up hydrogen byproduct digestion gases, it mixes with oxygen in the air, the platinum residue acts as an ignition switch, allowing these ferocious beasts to literally burp fire, to delight of our visitors. The European Dragon is classified as a critically endangered species.

Serevo-Erinoran terror bird

Erinor provided a pair of Serevo-Erinoran Terror Birds (Titanis Erineensis) in October 2018.
These flightless, two-metre tall birds sport an enormously large, intimidating beak, are descended from Titanis walleri. Don't worry, though, kids. Serevo-Erinoran terror birds have been domesticated for thousands of years and are used as riding animals and beasts of burden. Terror Bird rides are a popular feature of our Kids Farm.

Morlock Crow

The coldwyvernian undead provided two Morlock Crows in October 2018.
The Morlock Crow is a cave dwelling species of bird in the crow family, Corvidae. Morlock Crows have a dark plumage with a reddish tint, have thermal vision, similar to a snake, and use their hardened beaks to hunt copperfish. More information on this symbiotic relationship can be found here.
Morlock Crows are classified as a vulnerable species.

Anjanath

Yansu provided four Anjanaths in October 2018.
The Anjanath is a hostile, territorial species of wyvern found in the Ancient Forest and the Wildspire Waste. Hunted by "Extinctionist Hunters" of The Yansuan Extinctionist Political Party for its valuable pelt, scale and bones, Anjanath are classified as a critically endangered species.

Red Panther

East lodge provided Red Panthers in October 2018.
Red Panthers are usually quiet, but they do communicate through vocalizations that have been described as chirps, peeps, whistles, purrs, moans, screams, growls, and hisses. Kittens are born with dark spots that soon fade away as they become adults. Red panthers is classified as an endangered species.

Ambtarayar

Valkolia provided four Ambtarayars (a non-breeding domesticated pair and one wild pair) in October 2018.
The Ambtarayar is a species of non-sentient mammal native to a moon of Tresim called Ambta. These herbivores make their homes in mud flats and feed on the leaves and fruit of Ambtan mangrove trees. They are friendly and docile by nature, with our domesticated ones offering rides in the Kids Farm. The Wild Ambtarayars are more brightly coloured More information on these unique creatures can be found here.
Ambtarayars are not classified, due to their extra-planetary origin.

Frogs

Lily pad nation provided 25 frogs of 12 species in October 2018.
Our frogs are a diverse and largely carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order Anura. Frogs have glandular skin, with secretions ranging from distasteful to toxic. Their skins varies in colour from well-camouflaged dappled brown, grey and green to vivid patterns of bright red or yellow and black to show toxicity and ward off predators. Adult frogs live in fresh water and on dry land; some species are adapted for living underground or in trees. Our variety of habitat tanks allow visitors a glimpse of the wide diversity of this wonderful animal.

Eastern Bear

East Sakhlin provided two Eastern Bears in October 2018.
The Eastern Bear (Ursus arctos collaris) is a subspecies of brown bear found on the Island of Sakhalin. The Eastern Bear's main diet is deer, fish, small animals, fruit and types of shrubs. Adults grow to between 400kg-700kg. Our couple, Boris and Catherine, are part of an international breeding programme to protect this magnificent bear.
More information on this omnivore can be found here.
Eastern Bears are classified as a critically endangered species, with only 500 in the wild and 1,000 in zoos.

Giant Panda

Techolandia provided 4 Pandas in November 2018.
P r of china provided a breeding pair in January 2019, brining the zoo's total to 6.
The giant panda has lived in bamboo forests and snowy mountain sides for several million years. It is a highly specialized animal, with unique adaptations. The panda's thick, wooly coat keeps it warm in the cool forests of its habitat. Giant pandas have large molar teeth and strong jaw muscles for crushing tough bamboo. Many people find these chunky, lumbering animals to be cute, but giant pandas can be as dangerous as any other bear.
Giant pandas have come to symbolize vulnerable species. As few as 1,864 giant pandas live in their native habitat, while another 300 pandas live in zoos and breeding centers around the world. Female pandas ovulate only once a year, in the spring. A short period of 36 to 72 hours around ovulation is the only time she is able to conceive. Our alpha panda, named Pencil Sharpeners 2 or PS2, is looking for love with a male, outdoorsy panda from China, a female, intellectual panda from southern Brazil or our wild female Panda. The social integration of the new pair from P R of China is proceeding carefully to not alarm the animals. We have high hopes that love will be in the air this spring.
The giant panda is a vulnerable species, threatened by continued habitat loss and habitat fragmentation, and by a very low birthrate, both in the wild and in captivity.

Snow Leopard

East Sakhlin provided two Snow Leopards in November 2018.
The snow leopard inhabits alpine and subalpine zones at elevations from 3,000 to 4,500 m (9,800 to 14,800 ft), ranging from Central to South Asia. In the northern ranges, it also occurs at lower elevations. Our pair, Snowflake and Blizzard, are part of an international breeding programme to protect this great cat. White snow leopards have not been seen since the 12th century, and we have high hopes that Blizzard, our male, will be able to successfully pass on his pure white coat to offspring with Snowflake, a regular spotted snow leopard.
Snow Leopards are classified as a vulnerable species, with the 2016 global population estimated at 4,678 to 8,745 mature individuals.

Vaquita Porpise

East Sakhlin provided two Vaquita in November 2018.
The vaquita is a small porpoise found only in the northern Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) in Mexico. Females grow to 140.6cm (55.4in); Males grow to 134.9cm (53.1) making these the world's smallest cetacean. Its name means "little cow" in Spanish. A dark ring around the eyes is its most striking feature, along with a proportionally large dorsal fin. The vaquita is unique among the porpoises as it is the only species of that family found in warm waters, and the size of the dorsal fin is believed to be an adaptation to that, allowing for extra body heat to dissipate.
More information on efforts to save this shy and elusive species can be found Linkhere.
Fewer than 20 of these animals remain, making the vaquita the most endangered marine mammal in the world.

Sable

East Sakhlin provided two Sables in November 2018.
The sable (Martes zibellina) is a species of marten, a small carnivorous mammal primarily inhabiting the forest environments of Russia, from the Ural Mountains throughout Siberia, and northern Mongolia, and into eastern Kazakhstan, China, North Korea and Hokkaidō, Japan. While active both day and night, they are primarily crepuscular, hunting during the hours of twilight, but become more active in the day during the mating season. Their burrow well hidden dens, and lined by grass and shed fur. Sables are omnivores, feeding mainly on small mammals (rodents, pikas, hares), but also eat birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, fruits, honey, nuts, and berries.
Currently, the species has no special conservation status.

White-tailed Deer

The unified carolinas provided a small herd of White-tailed Deer Sables in December 2018.
The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is a medium-sized deer native to North and South America. Feeding carrots to a doe is a popular activity at our Kids Farm.
The deer's coat is a reddish-brown in the spring and summer and turns to a grey-brown throughout the fall and winter. The deer can be recognized by the characteristic white underside to its tail. Males regrow their antlers every year. The number of points, the length, or thickness of the antlers is a general indication of age. Bucks shed their antlers when all females have been bred, from late December to February.
White-tailed deer are generalists and adapt to a wide variety of habitats. White-tailed deer eat large amounts of food, commonly eating legumes and foraging on other plants, including shoots, leaves, cacti, prairie forbs, acorns, fruit, corn, hay, white clover and grasses. The white-tailed deer is a ruminant, which means it has a four-chambered stomach. Each chamber has a different and specific function that allows the deer to eat a variety of different foods, digesting it at a later time in a safe area of cover. The stomach hosts a complex set of microbes that change as the deer's diet changes through the seasons. Their special stomachs allow them to eat some things humans cannot, such as mushrooms and poison ivy.
Currently, the species has no special conservation status.

Red Panda

Kerlodia provided five Red Pandas in December 2018.
Concrete Slab provided 500 sickly Red Pandas in January 2019. (The strongest 5 survived and frolic playfully for visitors. (One was placed with Auphelia's Puddles the puppy enclosure, and was never seen again and 494 were fed to Yansu's Anjanaths.)
The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is a mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. The red panda has reddish-brown fur, a long, shaggy tail, and a waddling gait due to its shorter front legs; it is roughly the size of a domestic cat, though with a longer body and somewhat heavier. It is arboreal, feeds mainly on bamboo, but also eats eggs, birds, and insects. It is a solitary animal, mainly active from dusk to dawn, and is largely sedentary during the day. The red panda is specialized as a bamboo feeder with strong, curved and sharp semi-retractile claws standing inward for grasping narrow tree branches, leaves, and fruit. They eat mostly bamboo, and may eat small mammals, birds, eggs, flowers, and berries. Like the giant panda, they cannot digest cellulose, so they must consume a large volume of bamboo to survive. Their diets consist of about two-thirds bamboo, but they also eat mushrooms, roots, acorns, lichens, and grasses. Occasionally, they supplement their diets with fish and insects. They do little more than eat and sleep due to their low-calorie diets.
Red Pandas are classified as endangered, with the wild population is estimated at fewer than 10,000 mature individuals.

Manimal

Poleande provided five manimals in December 2018.
Manimals are a type of small short-legged bandicoot. These rabbit-sized terrestrial marsupial omnivores eat fruits, nuts and eggs. They sleep at night in a grass-lined nests. When foraging, it uses its long nose to probe deep into the soil and then digs eagerly when it locates food. Females have 8 nipples and can produce a maximum of 5 young in one litter with an average of 2 to 3 young. Gestation lasts just 12 days—this is one of the shortest gestation periods of any mammal. Young are weaned at 55 days and emerged juveniles remain dependent upon the mother and forage with her until day 86. Given ideal conditions, females can have up to five litters per year although reproduction becomes depressed in summer and ceases altogether in times of drought.
Due to predation by foxes and cats, along with land-clearing for farming practices, the manimal is classified as a vulnerable species. The conservation of manimals in the South Pacific depends upon the success of captive breeding and reintroduction programs.


(Photo by JJ Harrison (jjharrison89@facebook.com) - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11051942)

Mochichi

Zinaland provided a herd of mochichi in December 2018.
The Mochichi is an exotic species of non-sentient bird native to Patapon games. These herbivores herd animals have long thin legs, black circular body, triangular beaks, three tail feathers and two antennae topped with white dots. Mochichi seem to sleep most of the day, retracting most of its features and lies on the ground, with only its tail feathers visible on top of a seemingly shapeless black fluff-ball. Mochichi will do a front flip before running away when startled. Despite its thin legs, it can run quite quickly. If cornered, mochichi will spit out white, seed-like projectiles.
Mochichi are not classified, due to their extra-planetary origin.

Eagle

Mryasia provided a pair of eagles in January, 2019.
Eagles are large, powerfully built birds of prey, with heavy heads, large, hooked beaks, strong, muscular legs, and powerful talons. Due to their size and power eagles are ranked at the top of the food chain as apex predators in the avian world. Their diet consists mainly of birds, lizards, fruit bats and mammals. The larger female usually lays one egg in a nest high on top of a forest tree.
Due to ongoing habitat loss, small population size, limited range and hunting in some areas, it is evaluated as an endangered species.

Saiga Antelope

East Sakhlin provided a herd of Saiga in January, 2019.
Saiga Antelope (saiga tatarica) is a migratory ungulate of the steppes and deserts of Central Asia and Russia. A prominent feature of the saiga is the pair of closely spaced, bloated nostrils directed downward. Other facial features include the dark markings on the cheeks and the nose, and the 7–12 cm long ears. During summer migrations, a saiga's nose helps filter out dust kicked up by the herd and cools the animal's blood. In the winter, it heats up the frigid air before it is taken to the lungs. Males possess horns which are thick and slightly translucent, wax-coloured and show 12 to 20 pronounced rings. The horn of the saiga antelope is used in traditional Chinese medicine. Demand for the horns has wiped out the population in China.
Saigas eat several species of plants, including some that are poisonous to other animals. They migrate long distances and swim across rivers, but they avoid steep or rugged areas. The mating season starts in November, when stags fight for the acceptance of females. The winner leads a herd of five to 50 females. In springtime, mothers come together in mass to give birth. Two-thirds of births are twins; the remaining third of births are single calves.
Due to poaching, habitat loss, and mass mortalities, Saiga are rated as a critically endangered species.


(Photo by Anna Lushchekina - https://www.saigaresourcecentre.com/picture/male-female-saigas )

Puddles the puppy

Auphelia provided Puddles the puppy in January, 2019.
The Auphelian Department of Abominations in conjunction with the Bureau of Wildlife Management provided Puddles the Puppy, which is a rather dangerous and rare breed with a penchant for taking over small nations and creating totalitarian theocratic dictatorships. These fearsome beasts are known to yip, bounce and murder any who stand in their way. Their deadliest trait: They enjoy doing stand up comedy, and like to practice on unsuspecting victims. Zoo patrons with heart conditions, pregnancy or pre-existing authoritarian tendencies are warned not to attend this exhibit.
Due to their extremely dangerous nature, this this exhibit resembles the Indominus Rex enclosure from Jurassic World, but with double the precautions and triple the wall height and thickness. Construction costs have been covered by the Auphelian Department of Diplomacy and Pizza Parties.
Despite the rarity of Puddles the Puppy, this species has not received a ICUN rating, due to the danger posed by allowing it to occupy territory.

Formosan Rock Macaques

The united chinese republic exchanged a troop of 5 formosan rock macaques in February, 2019.
The Formosan rock macaque (Macaca cyclopis), is a primate monkey endemic to the island of Taiwan. Rock macaques measure 50–60 cm and weigh 5–12 kg, generally females are smaller. Their tails are moderately long and measure 26–45 cm. This macaque is brown or gray in color. Like all other macaques, it has specialized pouch-like cheeks, allowing it to temporarily hoard its food. The gathered morsels are eaten sometime later, in safe surroundings. Rock macaques are diurnal, arboreal, and terrestrial. More often they stay in trees and less so on the ground. They rest in forest and forage in grassland. Their diet consists of fruits, tender leaves, buds, grass stems, insects, snails, and bird eggs. Our family troop enjoy interacting with park visitors, and tossing berries and pieces of bread is a regular part of any park visit.
Formosan rock macaques are hunted for their meat and for the damage they allegedly do to crops. They are also hunted for the purpose of exports for medical experimental use. Their ICUN conservation status is rated as Least Concern, the lowest possible rating, indicating it is considered a safe and stable species.

European Pine Marten

Sword of summer provided a pair of European Pine Martens, named Nakarisaune and Araluen ranger corps in February, 2019.
Pine martens, Martes martes, come from the Mustelidae family, so are related to weasels, ferrets, polecats and otters. They look similar to these species, with round ears, quite short legs and long bodies but are larger than many of their relatives - weighing about 1-2kg and 60-70cm long from nose to tail, they are about the size of a cat. Males are around a third bigger than females.
Although they are great climbers, pine martens tend to find most of their food on the ground, hunting at night and around dusk. Main food sources are birds, insects and small mammals like voles, squirrels and rabbits, but fungi, berries and eggs make a tasty meal too.
Despite facing woodland habitat loss in Britain and northern and central Europe, poisoning by predator control for other species, and hunting for their very fine fur in some areas, pine martens are evaluated as Least Concern – unlikely to become extinct in the near future.

Tox (Tiger-Fox hybrid)

Golden foxtopia provided a Tox (a Tiger-Fox hybrid) in February, 2019.
The tox is a hybrid as a result of interbreeding a silver fox and siberian tiger. The were initially bred for their fur.
Toxes are faster than a fox, good swimmers and climbers and can weigh up to 680 kgs (1500 lbs) when full grown. Toxes will mate with foxes if no mates of the Tox hybrid are available, resulting in genetic dilution of this animal. While the tox is a carnivore that will hunt most any small mammal or bird in the wild, our specimen prefers a diet of deep fried penguin KFP kitchen scraps and SPIT with either vodka or rum in it. Tossing KFP Spicy Penguin WingsTM during the tox feeding time a popular park activity and not to be missed.
Additional information on this hybrid can be found here. This animal has not received an ICUN rating.

Agouti

Ruvonia provided a pair of Agouti in August, 2019.
Agoutis are related to Guinea Pigs and have a similar appearance with a larger size and longer legs. Agoutis may grow to be up to 60 cm in length and 4 kg in weight. Most species are brown on their backs and whitish or buff on their bellies; their glossy fur glimmers in an orange colour.
They are native to rainforests, savannas and, nowadays, cultivated fields in northern and central South America. In the wild, they are shy animals and flee from humans, while in captivity may become trusting. They conceal themselves at night in hollow tree trunks or in burrows among roots. Active and graceful in their movements, their pace is either a kind of trot or a series of springs so rapid as to look like a gallop. They take readily to water, in which they swim well. When feeding, agoutis sit on their hind legs and hold food between their fore paws. They eat fallen fruit, leaves and roots, although they may sometimes climb trees to eat green fruit. They will hoard food in small, buried stores. They sometimes scavenge the eggs of ground-nesting birds and even shellfish on the seashore. They are one of the few species that can open Brazil nuts without tools, thanks to their strength and exceptionally sharp teeth.
Agoutis give birth to litters of two to four young after a gestation period of three months. Some species have two litters a year in May and October, while others breed year round. They are well developed at birth and may be up and eating within an hour. Fathers are barred from the nest while the young are very small, but the parents pair bond for the rest of their lives. They can live for as long as 20 years, a remarkably long time for a rodent. Of the 11 species of agoutis, three have stable populations, four others are decreasing and endangered, and the status of the other four species is unknown and have not received an ICUN rating.

Barbary Lion

Neo mida gals provided a pride of 5 Barbary Lions in October, 2021.
The Barbary lion is one of the largest lion sub-species. This big cat measure one metre in height at the shoulder and up to three and a half metres in length. Average weight can be up to 230 kilograms. Barbary lions were once native to North Africa, including the Atlas Mountains but are now extinct in the wild.

The last recorded Barbary lion was shot in Morocco in 1942. The only Barbary lions left in the world are now found in zoos and are part of a global and collaborative breeding programme to ensure their future survival.

Barbary lions are recorded throughout history. The Romans used Barbary lions in the Colosseum to battle with gladiators. Thousands of these cats were slaughtered during the reign of Caesar. These lions were also kept in the menagerie at the Tower of London and were offered as gifts to royal families of Morocco and Ethiopia. There are a handful of lions in zoo's that are considered partly descendants of the Barbary lion, but not full blood Barbary lions. There have been numerous sighting over the past three decades, but none of them have been genetically proven. The IUCN considers the Barbary lion extinct in the wild and in captivity.

RNZP is home to a pride of Barbary lions originating from the Alps. Siblings Liss(Female) Zeus(Male) and three rescued cubs Chaz(Male) Pana(Female) Grizz(Male) form a key part of international efforts to maintain this species.


Penguin Diplomacy

Volaworand also loans chinstrap penguins to zoo's around The South Pacific. Penguins are rented from the Volaworand government for 10 years and the contract stipulates that zoos pay £600,000 a year for a breeding pair. Any chick that is born must be returned to Volaworand after two years. Should one die because of human error, it is understood that the zoo must pay £300,000. Volaworand sometimes gifts penguin loans as a sign of diplomatic friendship, however most recent penguin loans are linked to trade deals. By year end, 38 zoos outside Volaworand are expected to have chinstrap penguins.

Zoo Layout

National Zoo in the News
(newest stories first)

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- Volaworand Newswire


See Also: Volaworand Attractions and Tourist Activities.

Read factbook

Auphelia and Concrete Slab

The Solar System Scope wrote:Aw man...

I'm back!

Balrogus the dragon

Si-topia wrote:I'm back!

Hi there

Balrogus the dragon wrote:Balrogus I'm a dragon

Cool! I've taken down a dragon or two in my time! Mainly just Si-topia and Totally not an artificial furry....

The Solar System Scope, Si-topia, Auphelia, Volaworand, and 3 othersGreater felter, Lily pad nation, and Balrogus the dragon

Balrogus the dragon

Concrete Slab wrote:Cool! I've taken down a dragon or two in my time! Mainly just Si-topia and Totally not an artificial furry....

Oh ok

Balrogus the dragon wrote:Hi there

Hi ^-^

Concrete Slab wrote:Cool! I've taken down a dragon or two in my time! Mainly just Si-topia and Totally not an artificial furry....

*remembers and growls*
-_-

The Solar System Scope, Auphelia, Concrete Slab, and Balrogus the dragon

Balrogus the dragon

*begins burning forests*

Concrete Slab wrote:Cool! I've taken down a dragon or two in my time! Mainly just Si-topia and Totally not an artificial furry....

avoids this topic with The Solar System Scope

Meanwhile in Western fardelshufflestein

Meanwhile in Agalaesia

Meanwhile in The Filippinas

Meanwhile in Sthalrim

Meanwhile in Saxavo

Meanwhile in Zess

Meanwhile in New Haudenosaunee Confederacy

Meanwhile in Yansu

Meanwhile, in Prussian grand empire

Meanwhile, in Russian grand imperial empire

Meanwhile, in The Solar System Scope

Meanwhile in Pencil Sharpeners 2

Meanwhile in Hanaka

Meanwhile in Dank meme kingdom

Meanwhile in Nation npc 2584

Meanwhile, in Volaworand

Meanwhile, in Auphelia

Meanwhile, in Concrete Slab

Meanwhile, in Midand

Meanwhile, in Si-topia

Meanwhile, in Hanguk-Nippon

Meanwhile, in Linguiniland

Meanwhile, in New gangweed

Meanwhile, in Goverwal

Meanwhile, in Techolandia

Meanwhile, in Aidenfieeld

Meanwhile, in Jaxon

Meanwhile in Altion

Meanwhile in Us state of south carolina

Meanwhile in East lodge

Meanwhile in North prarie

Read dispatch

The Solar System Scope, Si-topia, Auphelia, Concrete Slab, and 3 othersJaxon, Lily pad nation, and Balrogus the dragon

Yeet and retreat

Si-topia wrote:I'm back!

Yay! *snuggles*

Concrete Slab wrote:Cool! I've taken down a dragon or two in my time! Mainly just Si-topia and Totally not an artificial furry....

Volaworand wrote:avoids this topic with The Solar System Scope
Meanwhile in Western fardelshufflestein

Meanwhile in Agalaesia

Meanwhile in The Filippinas

Meanwhile in Sthalrim

Meanwhile in Saxavo

Meanwhile in Zess

Meanwhile in New Haudenosaunee Confederacy

Meanwhile in Yansu

Meanwhile, in Prussian grand empire

Meanwhile, in Russian grand imperial empire

Meanwhile, in The Solar System Scope

Meanwhile in Pencil Sharpeners 2

Meanwhile in Hanaka

Meanwhile in Dank meme kingdom

Meanwhile in Nation npc 2584

Meanwhile, in Volaworand

Meanwhile, in Auphelia

Meanwhile, in Concrete Slab

Meanwhile, in Midand

Meanwhile, in Si-topia

Meanwhile, in Hanguk-Nippon

Meanwhile, in Linguiniland

Meanwhile, in New gangweed

Meanwhile, in Goverwal

Meanwhile, in Techolandia

Meanwhile, in Aidenfieeld

Meanwhile, in Jaxon

Meanwhile in Altion

Meanwhile in Us state of south carolina

Meanwhile in East lodge

Meanwhile in North prarie

Read dispatch

Grrr! >:(

Yeet and retreat wrote:hey yall

Hewwo!

Si-topia, Auphelia, Volaworand, Concrete Slab, and 1 otherBalrogus the dragon

Yeet and retreat

The Solar System Scope wrote:Yay! *snuggles*
Grrr! >:(
Hewwo!

Hey The Solar System Scope whats up?

The Solar System Scope wrote:Yay! *snuggles*

*kisses*
Missed you ^-^

Yeet and retreat

what we up too?

Yeet and retreat wrote:what we up too?

Happiness!

Yeet and retreat

Greater felter wrote:Happiness!

thats good :)

The Solar System Scope and Greater felter

Yeet and retreat wrote:hey yall

morning Y&R

*tentacles about*

*murders hundreds of innocent creatures as she biddles and boodles about*

The Solar System Scope, Volaworand, and Lily pad nation

Balrogus the dragon

Actually this doesn't suit me

Auphelia wrote:*tentacles about*

*murders hundreds of innocent creatures as she biddles and boodles about*

Auphelia, we need a International Silliness Competition to determine the Grand Poobah of Silliness.

III. MOVEMENT OF NATURAL PERSONS

    6. Within one year of the treaty ratification, and annually thereafter, the Parties shall institute an International Silliness Competition (ISC). The winner shall be granted the title of the Grand Poobah of Silliness, and perform ceremonial functions until the selection of a new Grand Poobah of Silliness.
    1. The ISC shall alternate being hosted between Auphelia and Volaworand. The inaugural host of the ISC shall be determined by a three round game of Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock after the treaty signing.

Auphelia-Volaworand Free Trade Agreement
Signed on the 12th of October, 2018

The Governments of Auphelia and The Penguinite Kleptocracy of Volaworand, hereinafter referred to as the Parties:

STRENGTHEN ANEW the longstanding friendship between them and their peoples, and the strong economic cooperation that has developed through trade and investment;

FACILITATE trade between the Parties by preventing, identifying, and eliminating unnecessary technical barriers to trade, enhancing transparency, and promoting good regulatory practices;

ESTABLISH a clear, transparent, and predictable legal and commercial framework for business planning, that supports further expansion of trade and investment;

HAVE AGREED as follows:

  1. ESTABLISHMENT OF FREE TRADE AREA

    1. The Parties to this Agreement hereby establish a free trade area in accordance with the provisions of this Auphelia-Volaworand Free Trade Agreement.

    2. The objectives of this Agreement, as elaborated more specifically through its principles and rules, are to:

      1. liberalize and facilitate duty free trade in goods and services and expand investment between the Parties;

      2. establish a co-operative framework for strengthening the economic relations between the Parties;

      3. establish a framework conducive for a more favorable environment for their businesses and promote conditions of fair competition in the free trade area; and

      4. establish a framework of transparent rules to govern trade and investment between the Parties.

    3. Relation to other agreements:

      1. The Parties reaffirm their existing rights and obligations with respect to each other under existing the bilateral Auphelia-Volaworand Trade Agreement (AVTA) signed December 30, 2017, and multilateral agreements to which both Parties are party, including the South Pacific Regional Trade Agreement (SPaRTA).

      2. ARTICLE V, Paragraph 1 of the AVTA is superceeded by Article II, Paragraph 1 of this agreement. For clarity, the Parties affirm all other terms of the AVTA remain in force.

      3. In the event of any inconsistency between this Agreement and other agreements to which both Parties are party, the Parties shall immediately consult with each other with a view to finding a mutually satisfactory solution, taking into consideration general principles of international law.

      4. Notwithstanding paragraph b, if this Agreement explicitly contains provisions regarding such inconsistency as indicated in Paragraph 3, the provisions of this agreement shall apply until amendment of this agreement.

  2. TRADE IN GOODS

    1. Tariff Elimination
      The Parties agree to eliminate import and export duties on all landed goods, and on all articles of local production that are exported as cargo, that have originated from the other Party, except as noted below. All goods imported may be transported into any part of the nation without the payment of any additional tax, excise, or transit duty whatever, other than sales taxes or revenue duties which are levied equally on both imports and domestic products.

      1. Import and export duties of 3% shall apply to silver ore and processed silver products

    2. Import Quotas

      1. Volaworand shall implement at 30% import quota mandating the purchase by Volaworandian entities of rice, wheat, corn, rye, and barley from Auphelia. In the event that the total combined imports said grain imports fall below 30% of Volaworands total imports of these grains then the Government of Volaworand shall either

        1. offer price subsidies at the rate of 30% less the current percentage to encourage such purchases, or

        2. make a direct government purchase of said grains to increase the total portion back to 30%.

      2. Auphelia shall implement at 30% import quota mandating the purchase by Auphelian entities of water, ice and SPIT from Volaworand. In the event that the total combined imports said imports fall below 30% of Auphelia’s total imports of said products then the Government of Auphelia shall either

        1. offer price subsidies at the rate of 30% less the current percentage to encourage such purchases, or

        2. make a direct government purchase of said products to increase the total portion back to 30%.

      3. Auphelia shall implement at 20% import quota mandating the purchase by Auphelian entities of fish and whale products from Volaworand. In the event that the total combined imports said imports fall below 20% of Auphelia’s total imports of said products then the Government of Auphelia shall either

        1. offer price subsidies at the rate of 20% less the current percentage to encourage such purchases, or

        2. make a direct government purchase of said products to increase the total portion back to 20%.

      4. All parties will be released from all Article II, section 2 import quota clauses for two financial quarters in the event that one party is not able to supply the demand of the other, and;

        1. Further mandates that ambassadors representing non-compliant member nations be forced to wear silly hats, skip around, and only speak in rhyme until such quotas are restored, subject to the terms of Article V, Paragraph 4.

    3. Streamlining Customs Procedures
      For prompt customs clearance of goods traded between the Parties, each Party shall:

      1. streamline and simplify regulatory and customs requirements as much as possible,

      2. recognising that trading using electronic filing and transfer of trade-related information and electronic versions of documents such as bills of lading, invoices, letters of credit and insurance certificates, as an alternative to paper-based methods (hereinafter referred to as “paperless trading”), will significantly enhance the efficiency of trade through reduction of cost and time, shall co-operate with a view to realising and promoting paperless trading between them.

      3. make its customs procedures conform, as far as and as promptly as possible, to relevant industry standards and recommended practices accepted by both Parties.

      4. encourage co-operation between their relevant private and public entities engaging in activities related to paperless trading. Such co-operation may include the setting up and operation by such entities of facilities to provide efficient and secured flow of electronic trade-related information and electronic versions of relevant documents between enterprises of the Parties.

    4. Testing and Certification Standards
      The Parties recognize that differences in testing and certification standards especially in electrical, electronic, telecom and pharmaceutical products, can be a non-tariff barrier. Both parties agree to accord mutual recognition of test results and certification by accredited conformity assessment bodies in either country, so that exporters can have their products tested and certified by assessment bodies in their countries without having to duplicate the procedure in the importing country.

      1. Each Party shall ensure, through appropriate means such as audits, inspections or monitoring, that the registered conformity assessment bodies fulfil the criteria for designation set out in the applicable laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the other Party. When applying the criteria for designation of the conformity assessment bodies, Designating Authorities of a Party should take into account the bodies’ understanding of and experience relevant to the requirements set out in the applicable laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the other Party.

      2. Each Party may request the other Party, by indicating in writing a reasoned doubt on whether a registered conformity assessment body complies with the criteria for designation set out in the applicable laws, regulations and administrative provisions, to conduct verification of the conformity assessment body in accordance with the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of that other Party.

      3. Each Party may, upon request, participate as an observer in the verification of conformity assessment bodies conducted by the Designating Authorities of the other Party, with the prior consent of such conformity assessment bodies, in order to maintain a continuing understanding of that other Party’s procedures for verification.

      4. The Parties shall exchange information on methods, including accreditation systems, used to designate the conformity assessment bodies and to ensure that the registered conformity assessment bodies fulfill the criteria for designation.

      5. Each Party should encourage its registered conformity assessment bodies to co-operate and consult with the conformity assessment bodies of the other Party.

      6. The Parties agree to share all relevant information with each other in the event of product Health and Safety advisories and recalls.

  3. MOVEMENT OF NATURAL PERSONS

    1. Each Party shall set out regulations allowing short-term business visitors of the other Party and intra-corporate transferees of the other Party and streamline existing procedures for existing classes of travelers between their nations.

    2. The Parties agree to the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income earned by their citzens in the other nation and shall exchange reporting of income and taxation paid by such citizens of the other party earned in their respective nations.

    3. Each Party shall allow the opening of a Tourism Office in the capital of the other Party, for the purposes of facilitating tourist visits to their nation.

    4. Parties shall, subject to reasonable regulation, provide emergency consular assistance to the citizens of the other Party in any nations where only one party has consular offices.

    5. No part of this agreement shall prevent a Party from applying measures to regulate the entry of natural persons of the other Party into, or their temporary stay in, its territory, including those measures necessary to protect the integrity of, and to ensure the orderly movement of natural persons across its borders, provided that such measures are not applied in such a manner as to nullify or impair the benefits accruing to the other Party under the terms of a specific commitment.

    6. Within one year of the treaty ratification, and annually thereafter, the Parties shall institute an International Silliness Competition (ISC). The winner shall be granted the title of the Grand Poobah of Silliness, and perform ceremonial functions until the selection of a new Grand Poobah of Silliness.

      1. The ISC shall alternate being hosted between Auphelia and Volaworand. The inaugural host of the ISC shall be determined by a three round game of Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock after the treaty signing.

  4. LISCENCING OR CERTIFICATION OF PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

    1. A Party may recognize the education or experience obtained, requirements met, or licenses or certifications granted in the territory of the other Party for the purposes of the fulfillment, in whole or in part, of its standards or criteria for the authorization, licensing or certification of natural persons with professional qualifications.

    2. Recognition referred to in paragraph 1 above, which may be achieved through harmonization or otherwise, may be based upon an agreement or arrangement between the Parties or may be accorded unilaterally.

    3. Where a Party recognizes, by agreement or arrangement or unilaterally, the education or experience obtained, requirements met or licenses or certifications granted in the territory of a non-Party, the Party shall accord the other Party an adequate opportunity to demonstrate that the education or experience obtained, requirements met or licenses or certifications granted in the territory of the other Party should also be recognized.

  5. DISPUTES BETWEEN CONTRACTING PARTIES

    1. Disputes between the Contracting Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement should, if possible, be settled through the diplomatic channel.

    2. If a dispute between the Contracting Parties cannot thus be settled, it shall upon the request of either Contracting Party be submitted to an arbitral tribunal.

    3. Such an arbitral tribunal shall be constituted for each individual case in the following way. Within one month of the receipt of the request for arbitration, each Contracting Party shall appoint one member of the tribunal. Those two members shall then select a national of a third State who on approval by the two Contracting Parties shall be appointed Chair of the tribunal. The Chair shall be appointed within one month from the date of appointment of the other two members

    4. All parties present during meetings of the arbitral tribunal shall be required to perform silly walks, speak in rhyme and wear silly hats.

      1. Allowed hats include, but are not limited to hennins, conical wide brimmed witches hat, fez, feathered bycoket or chapel à bec, dunce hat, phrygian cap, elaborate fascinators, or any style of tinfoil, colored foam or lampshade.

      2. All silly walks must be accompanied by sound effects of greater or equal silliness.

      3. In the event a walk or hat is not deemed silly enough by the opposing nation, the offending ambassador must be paraded in front of the Grand Poobah of Silliness. If the Grand Poobah deems the walk or hat not silly enough, the offender must serve for one month as a court jester for the leader of the other Party for a period not exceeding one month.

    5. The arbitral tribunal shall reach its decision by a majority of votes. Such decision shall be binding on both Contracting Parties. Each Contracting Party shall bear the cost of its own member of the tribunal and of its representation in the arbitral proceedings; the cost of the Chairman and the remaining costs shall be borne in equal parts by the Contracting Parties. The tribunal may, however, in its decision direct that a higher proportion of costs shall be borne by one of the two Contracting Parties, and this award shall be binding on both Contracting Parties. The tribunal shall determine its own procedure.

  6. FINAL TERMS

    1. At the desire of either party, and on fourteen days notice given in writing, this Treaty, together with any regulations of trade hereunto annexed, or those that may be hereafter introduced, shall be subject to revision by Commissioners appointed on both sides for this purpose, who will be empowered to decide and insert therein, such amendments as experience shall prove to be desirable and unanimously agreeable to both parties. Agreements become effective when both nations agree in writing and then update their fact book entries or dispatches. If agreement has not been reached at the end of fourteen days the original terms remain in force.

    2. A nation may withdraw from this treaty on one months notice given in writing. Citizens of other treaty party nations who are living or traveling in the withdrawing nation during this period shall be allowed to depart the nation without hindrance. The Treaty will remain in force during the notice period.

    3. If a Nation departs the South Pacific region or ceases to exist on nationstates.net it will be deemed to have withdrawn. Any successor nation will not have an automatic right to resume this Treaty.

    4. This Treaty shall go into effect on the 13th of October 2018. This Treaty is executed in duplicate, each copy being written in English, both versions having the same meaning and intention, and posted on each nations fact book or dispatches on nationstates.net.



See Also: Ratified Treaties Of Volaworand
Read dispatch

otherwise our whole dispute resolution mechanism could fall apart!

Balrogus the dragon wrote:Actually this doesn't suit me

maybe ur a floofy dragon?

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