Photo Of The Day: Day Of The Dead


Hope you all had a happy Halloween, and came up with some creative travel costumes (my family and I went as Matryoshkas, or Russian nesting dolls). Now that the calendar has flipped over into November, it’s a time to honor our beloved who have passed on All Saints’ Day, or as it is known in Mexico, Dia de los Muertos. Skeletons and skulls are a pretty common theme in Day of the Dead decor and art, as demonstrated by our own Pam Mandel’s Halloween costume, continuing on the scary feel of Halloween. The skulls in today’s Photo of the Day aren’t Mexican, they’re French, from the Paris catacombs, which contain the bones of millions of Parisians. The remains are made extra spooky with the company of a devil, of the stuffed toy Tasmanian sort, though I suspect he was an addition by Australian photographer BaboMike.

If you can’t make it to Mexico this year, Denver has some Day of the Dead events too.

We like being scared year-round, so add your spookiest shots to the Gadling Flickr pool for an upcoming Photo of the Day.

[Photo credit: Flickr user BaboMike]

Tasmanian Devils Being Relocated to Maria Island

Tasmania — famous for its unspoiled, snarling vistas — may soon lose its most famous snarling mascot: the Tasmanian Devil. Devil Facial Tumor Disease is sweeping through Tasmania’s devil population. It’s already killed more than 90% of adults in high density areas and it’s devastated half the population in medium-low density areas.

Now, some of the marsupials made famous by Taz are being relocated to Maria Island, a former penal colony, to avert their extinction by this contagious cancer. Advocates hope that if devils are wiped out on the Tasmanian mainland, the disease will die along with them, and the animals can then be safely reintroduced. Opponents fear the move could endanger rare birds and other animals on the island.

If you want to experience the devil virtually, check out this short video clip. How can something so cute be so creepy? If you want to see the devil in its natural habitat before it’s too late, have a look at Matthew Power’s trip report about his hike into this exotic wilderness, and see if it’s for you. Otherwise, begin planning your trip to Maria Island.