One being I didn’t expect to see today! The PNHM rehabilitated and releases spotted hyenas, who are near-threatened globally and endangered locally. The two they have on campus now were found as pups and unfortunately cannot be released to to early human socialization.
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60% of the West Bank is home to 90% of remaining hyena habitat. Palestine used to have over 130 land mammals but 20 of the larger species have become extinct. Urbanization as well as climate change and poaching have drastically decreased populations.
View from the rooftop of Palestine Natural History Museum.
The PNHM usually hosts 6 or 7 volunteers but due to increasing Israel violence has declined to only 3 (not including myself, as I am here for only a few days). Their website or Wikipedia page will do a better job of summarizing their research, collections, and legacy than I could but as I sit in the sun beside a young olive tree I feel compelled to write about how moved I am also by the ethos of how they do their work.
Their operations are nearly 0 waste which requires a lot of intention and creativity in a country without a recycling plant.
The hyaena gets meat and bone scraps of course while vegetarian waste is composted. Pits from olives are collected in a cup by the sink to be planted later.
There is a funnel and long hose outside the window of the fourth floor kitchen where grey water is poured down and collected in a holding tank. This water is then used to water the surrounding gardens.
Some fruits and vegetables are grown on the property and leftovers, however small, are stored in the fridge to eat later. Plastic scraps are saved to use for crafts with kids or for use in the garden. For example, milk cartons are cut into squares to label plants with and plastic bags are used to cover newly grafted tree branches.
I walked from the museum to visit checkpoint 300 where I heard there might be tension as people tried to get to the mosque. Strangely there were a crowd outside but everyone told me it was closed. I talked to one man in particular for a while about how a government does not represent its people. He said he was glad I was here to witness everything going on as an American. After a while I had to leave because I didn’t want to cry in front of those who have to live in this brutality in a way I never will. My heart has been broken wide open in the best and worst way.
Sunrise looking over Bethlehem. At night you can see the lights of Jordan in the distance.