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Last update - 16:10 15/05/2008 Just how many animals actually traveled on Noah's Ark? By Reuters Advertisement Government officials trying to protect the modern world's wildlife gather in Bonn from May 19-30 for a meeting of the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity, to examine progress towards a goal set in 2002 of slowing biodiversity loss by 2010. Most experts say the target is slipping out of reach. Even so, wider research means finds of new species such as a legless lizard in Brazil or a Tanzanian shrew are testing biblical scholars' calculations on how Noah squeezed all animals aboard the Ark. "It's of course physically impossible," James Edwards, executive director of the Encyclopedia of Life, said of the biblical account. The Encylopedia is cataloguing all identified species, 1.8 million so far, in a free online service (http://www.eol.org/). "There are expectations of 8 to 50 million more species out there that we haven't identified yet," Edwards said. Other experts' estimates of the numbers range up to 100 million. But the newly found species do not compensate for extinctions. Sigmar Gabriel, environment minister for the U.N. conference host Germany, said last week that the loss of species threatened food supplies for billions of people. He cited marine life, saying that if nothing was done there would be no commercial fishing by 2050. Extinctions of recent decades include Australia's southern gastric brooding frog -- the females could shut off their stomach juices to raise young in their stomachs, a trick that could have held clues for curing human ulcers. Believers in the Bible note that the Ark described in the Book of Genesis was a giant ship by ancient standards about 140 meters (460 ft.) long -- far from the tiny vessel depicted in many children's books with giraffes' heads sticking out the top. In the biblical account, Noah safeguarded life on the planet after God, upset by the wickedness and violence of mankind, sent a devastating flood. "Everything on earth will perish," God said, according to the Bible. All creatures Noah only took along land creatures and birds, not plants or fish that make up a large part of the world's total species. "We're talking about something plausible here," said David Menton, an associate professor emeritus of anatomy at Washington University who works for Answers in Genesis, founder of a controversial Creation Museum in Kentucky. The museum, which opened last year, depicts the Bible's first book, Genesis, as literal truth. Its exhibits have been welcomed by those who believe that God created the heavens and the Earth in six days about 6,000 years ago. Menton reckoned that Noah probably only had to take aboard about 16,000 creatures and said that most projected species discoveries are of tiny organisms. "And we can leave out all organisms known to survive extensive flooding -- such as insects and worms," he said. Even though creationists reject evolution, Menton said Noah may have taken along pairs to represent closely related "kinds" of animals such as dogs, wolves, coyotes and dingos, or just one pair for cows and buffaloes or tigers and lions. He said Noah might have saved space by bringing along juveniles, including dinosaurs such as T-Rex or giant sauropods that could grow up to 30 meters (98 ft.) long. Creationists believe that dinosaurs co-existed with humans. The dimensions of the wooden Ark, given in cubits in the Book of Genesis, imply it was about 140 meters long, 23 wide and 13.5 high. It had three levels, meaning a total deck space of just short of 10,000 square meters (107,600 sq. ft.). "The cargo capacity of such a ship would be impressive for those times and could be as large as 30,000 tons," said Dragos Rauta, an expert at the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO). Even so, the vessel would struggle to comply with modern marine transport guidelines, even with a few thousand creatures. Noah and his family took along at least two of every type of animal and bird, and food for all on a voyage that lasted for months. The Bible also says that "clean" animals, or those deemed fit for eating such as cattle, sheep and goats, were taken in sevens. Bjorn Clausen, managing director of Danish livestock shipping experts Corral Line AS, said large cows need at least 2 square meters each when held in pens for half a dozen animals. "For animals like tigers, I'm not an expert but I'd say if you sail you'd need at least 4 square meters for a single tiger," he said. What with other big animals such as kangaroos and rhinoceroses, the Ark would have quickly filled up. Hot and cold And zebras, penguins, vultures, pandas and antelope all need very different temperatures, food and habitats. "Noah would have to be a very skilled heating and ventilation engineer ... to have polar bears and iguanas on the same boat," said Jesse Ausubel, chairman of the Encylopedia of Life at Rockefeller University in New York City. "I'm not sure about the volume but ... they wouldn't all want the same conditions in their cabins," he said. The 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, a study by more than 1,300 scientists, estimated the number of identified species at 1.7-2 million with the final total likely to be between 5 and 30 million. Of the named species, the biggest group by far, numbering around 1 million, are insects, centipedes and millipedes. Other big groups include plants, vertebrates -- such as humans or whales -- and molluscs. Mammals alone total more than 5,000 species -- a few live in the sea, like whales. In a line taken by creationists to argue that insects survived outside the Ark, Genesis says "everything on dry land that had the breath of life in its nostrils died" in the flood. Related articles: What's the blessing for seeing an elephant in a dream? Environment chief: New clean energy site would harm rare species Don't splash through this puddle Bookmark to del.icio.us   Jet error Israeli warplanes come close to shooting down Tony Blair's plane. Rehab (live) Report: Singer Amy Winehouse is to undergo drug rehab in Israel.   1.   scientists shouldn`t bother debating with creationnists 11:45  |  pete 15/05/08   2.   Fact or fiction 12:17  |  maoriboy 15/05/08   3.   @#1 why not - it`s fun 12:20  |  Max 15/05/08   4.   A space ship. 12:47  |  Anton 15/05/08   5.   Missing the boat 12:52  |  chelemer 15/05/08   6.   RE;#1 Pete- The ironic thing is that there is no debate here. 12:57  |  Bartley Kulp 15/05/08   7.   #2 Maori boy 13:22  |  Rab Burns 15/05/08   8.   #2 Every fiction has to be based on some facts 13:24  |  Hastaroth 15/05/08   9.   The Hard Part 13:35  |  Mark Lincoln 15/05/08   10.   This is the most ridiculous article I have ever 13:53  |  Aphemia 15/05/08   11.   News or just Anti-Religion? 14:11  |  Micah 15/05/08   12.   noahs ark passangers 14:35  |  chaim 15/05/08   13.   and how long was Piniochios nose 14:48  |  SJ 15/05/08   14.   "Moses from Atlantis"..makes some sense. 14:49  |  Stephen. 15/05/08   15.   "Kind" Not "Species" 15:07  |  UD 15/05/08   16.   Obviously, the Bible refers to a regional flood 15:10  |  Haldrik 15/05/08   17.   What? Noah`s Ark a work of fiction? 15:12  |  Clickfool 15/05/08   18.   Well, good! 15:25  |  Haldrik 15/05/08   19.   Noah`s Floating Garden 16:31  |  Rabbit 15/05/08   20.   Cleaning the Poop 16:42  |  dun 15/05/08   21.   That sinking feeling 16:44  |  Float 15/05/08   22.   # 6 bartley 16:55  |  Axel 15/05/08   23.   What creationists have to do with old good Noah? 17:10  |  17 15/05/08   24.   Tardis 17:19  |  Ilan 15/05/08   25.   they don`t mention... 17:43  |  Tziril Esther 15/05/08   26.   Do you have vital statistics for Sant Claus, too? 17:55  |  fossil 15/05/08   27.   outsider 18:02  |  Di 15/05/08   28.   Noah`s Ark:Some of the Truth 18:19  |  David Battistoni 15/05/08   29.   Ancient myth isnt history, but archeologists can extrapolate info 18:33  |  Haldrik 15/05/08   30.   Battistoni 18:36  |  Haldrik 15/05/08   31.   # 28 david 18:51  |  Axel 15/05/08   32.   and who realy cares about this ancient hebrew mythologie 18:54  |  noah 15/05/08   33.   I think 18:57  |  Axel 15/05/08   34.   Myth is more valuable than some people realize 22:02  |  Haldrik 15/05/08   35.   noah 22:29  |  tim 15/05/08   36.   when I was a child 00:01  |  Axel 16/05/08   37.   noah`s ark 00:58  |  jack l 16/05/08   38.   Noah`s Ark: A Feasibility Study. 05:36  |  UD 16/05/08   39.   noahs ark 08:20  |  gary s 16/05/08   40.   # 35 jack 11:52  |  Axel 16/05/08   41.   Evolution must be true 17:36  |  Carl 16/05/08   42.   Evolution must be true part 2 17:37  |  Carl 16/05/08   43.   Its so embarassing when Christians "dont believe in evolution" 00:50  |  Joe 17/05/08   44.   Noah was a conservationalist 20:29  |  Mark Barnes 21/05/08   45.   Noah`s Ark 22:00  |  Bill Silverman 23/05/08   46.   animals on the ark 05:09  |  Dr. John G. Leslie 24/05/08   47.   ANIMALS ON NOAH`S ARK 05:12  |  Vernon A. Raaflaub 24/05/08

Read & React Bradley Burston: The Palestinians' time is running out Responses: 272 West backs Lebanese gov't capitulation to Hezbollah Responses: 142 Obama promises 'unshakable commitment' to Israel if elected Responses: 166 Iran reportedly irate over Israel-Syria peace talks Responses: 136 McCain rejects pastor's support after 'God sent Hitler' jibe Responses: 82 Rosner's Domain Rosner's Guests: can "decisive victory" against guerilla achieved? Blame the Israel Lobby for Clinton's loss? (WTR) Poll: Peace between Israel & Syria? Should American Jews Embrace Living Double Lives? Why Obama needs Florida Jews? (WTR) More Headlines 20:10 Iran reportedly irate over Israel-Syria peace talks 03:19 Israeli warplanes almost shoot down Tony Blair's plane 02:39 UN: No. of roadblocks in W. Bank up 7 percent from last Sept. 20:57 Syria hesitant to let IAEA inspect alleged nuke site hit by IAF 03:52 Clinton 'regrets' Kennedy assassination reference in defending her candidacy 03:38 Report: Singer Amy Winehouse to undergo drug rehab in Israel 22:08 'Israeli Big Lebowski' captures top student prize at Cannes 04:08 In a sign of changing times, Israeli and PA officers meet to talk security 12:52 Olmert questioned for second time; Talansky to testify Tuesday 20:11 Secret Holocaust hero has reputation restored in new books, film 20:10 Olmert: Not sure how long I'll be PM, but won't give up peace talks 16:55 Palestinians: IDF kills 5 in Gaza; soldier hurt by anti-tank missile Previous Editions Select Day 23 may 22 may 21 may 20 may 19 may 18 may 16 may 15 may 14 may 13 may 12 may 11 may

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