Imagine a flower sparking a financial frenzy. Sounds unlikely, right? Yet in the 1630s, tulips did exactly that in the Netherlands. During tulip mania, rare bulbs became luxury items traded for astonishing sums—some valued at prices comparable to a house. Why so valuable? Unusual colours and striped patterns were scarce and unpredictable, and collectors wanted the rarest varieties they could find.Desktop Version
Can you picture more than 10,800 square kilometres of protected wilderness? That"s Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. Established in 1907 as part of a growing network of protected landscapes in the Canadian Rockies, it was designated a national park in 1930. The park reflects both conservation efforts and much older Indigenous connections, including those of the Nakoda and Secwépemc peoples. Its terrain ranges from glacier-fed rivers and alpine meadows to dense conifer forests dominated by spruce and pine.Desktop Version
High above the savanna in Kenya"s Masai Mara, a leopard curls up on a tree branch, napping as the grasslands glow at sunset. On International Leopard Day, observed on 3 May, we celebrate one of the world"s most adaptable big cats. Leopards roam across Africa and parts of Asia, thriving in habitats that range from forests and mountains to open savannas. Their spotted coats are unique to each individual, like fingerprints, and their powerful climbing skills allow them to stash prey high in trees, out of reach of scavengers.Desktop Version