Wikipedia:Main Page history/2013 May 5

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From today's featured article

Elephants are large mammals found in sub-Saharan Africa, and South and Southeast Asia. Traditionally, two species are recognised, the African elephant (pictured) and the Asian elephant, although some evidence suggests that African bush elephants and African forest elephants are separate species. The largest living terrestrial animals, male African elephants can reach a height of 4 m (13 ft) and weigh 7,000 kg (15,000 lb). Distinctive features include the trunk, used for many purposes, and tusks, which serve as tools and weapons. Females (or "cows") tend to live in family groups; males (or "bulls") leave their family groups when they reach puberty, and may live alone or with other males. Adult bulls mostly interact with family groups when looking for a mate. Elephants can live up to 70 years in the wild, and their intelligence has been compared to primates and cetaceans. African elephants are classed as vulnerable, while the Asian elephant is classed as endangered. Elephants are threatened by poaching for the ivory trade, habitat destruction and conflicts with local people. They are highly recognisable and have been featured in art, folklore, religion, literature and popular culture. (Full article...)

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Did you know...

From Wikipedia's newest content:

... that, late in life, architect Sidney Gambier-Parry lived in the old rectory of St Michael's Church, Duntisbourne Rouse (pictured), while he restored the church?

... that BirdLife International considers it unusual for the Grauer's Swamp Warbler and White-winged Swamp Warbler species to live together at the Rugezi Marsh in Rwanda?

... that Pierowall has an Iron Age dry-stone Atlantic roundhouse?

... that minuscule 897, 922 and 1187 contain the spurious biblical text of Pericope Adulterae but are marked as doubtful?

... that Bård Finne scored four goals when SK Brann won 14–0 in the 2013 Norwegian Football Cup?

... that the 1959 ascent of Mir Samir was the "first ascent of a great peak in Afghanistan"?

... that a guard rail around the Vlah Church is made of captured Ottoman rifle barrels?

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Today's articles for improvement

Fine art – Restaurant – Compass (drafting)

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In the news

Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands

Harvard researchers unveil the smallest flying robot ever created, with a wingspan of 3 centimeters (1.2 in).

Indian national Sarabjit Singh, imprisoned in Pakistan for espionage, dies after being attacked by fellow inmates on death row.

Following the planned abdication of his mother Beatrix, Willem-Alexander (pictured) becomes King of the Netherlands.

The European Union passes a two-year ban on neonicotinoid insecticides, which are suspected to be the primary cause of colony collapse disorder.

The Herschel Space Observatory, a far-infrared space telescope, ends its mission after running out of liquid helium coolant.

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On this day...

May 5: Pascha (Eastern Christianity, 2013); Liberation Day in Denmark, Ethiopia, and the Netherlands; Children's Day in Japan and South Korea; Cinco de Mayo in Mexico and the United States

1860 – Led by Italian general Giuseppe Garibaldi (pictured), the volunteer Expedition of the Thousand set sail from Genoa on a campaign to conquer the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

1904 – Pitcher Cy Young of the Boston Americans threw the first perfect game in the modern era of professional baseball.

1940 – World War II: A squad of 250 Norwegian volunteers in Hegra Fortress finally surrendered to a vastly superior Nazi force after a 25-day siege.

1961 – Project Mercury: Aboard the American spacecraft Freedom 7, Alan Shepard made a sub-orbital flight, becoming the second person to travel into outer space.

1980 – The British Special Air Service stormed the Iranian Embassy in London, six days after Iranian Arab separatists had seized it.

More anniversaries: May 4 – May 5 – May 6

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Today's featured picture

Pachira aquatica is a tropical wetland tree found in the swamps of Central and South America. The fruit, a nut, is edible and can measure up to 12 inches (300 mm) in length and 2.5 inches (64 mm) in diameter.

Photo: Lycaon

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