It’s truly amazing when we get to cover news of people who single-handedly create something truly significant. Jadav Payeng, a man in his mid-fifties, has changed a sandbar（沙洲）in the middle of a river in Assam, India, into a huge forest. His work of the past 30 years is being recognized by tourists and film-makers, the world over.

Mulai, a Jadav is known among locals, started work on the land in 19080. A scheme was launched at that time by the social forestry department of the district, involving the planting of trees on only 200 hectares. The project was completed after 5 years and all the laborers left, except Mulai. Dedicated to the forest, he stayed on and single-handedly looked after the trees, continuing to plant more of them. Eventually, the forest expanded to 550 hectares. This is perhaps the world’s biggest forest in the middle of a river. Mulai says there’s potential to extend this even further to 1,000 hectares. Inspired, the department has planned to launch another plantation program this year.

The forest is named “Mulai Kathoni” by the local people, meaning Mulai’s forest. It is home to several thousands of varieties of trees. Bamboo alone covers about 300 hectares. And it’s not just the plants, there’s wildlife living in there too. There are about four tigers, three rhinos and more than a hundred deer, rabbits and apes. There are innumerable varieties of birds who call this place home, as well. A herd of about 100 elephants visit the place every year for six months.

Mulai lives in a small hut near the forest, with his wife, two sons and a daughter. He makes a living by selling cow and buffalo milk. I suppose people such as Mulai are an inspiration to the entire world. If one man can build a forest, it’s amazing to think what we can achieve if we work together.

A new delicious food is available in Wyoming. It is fresh and cheap — but probably a little gamey (味道强的). Last month it became legal for Wyomingites to collect roadkill that they accidentally hit themselves, or that they happened upon. In fact, other states, such as Montana, have also made the similar law.

Officials are not sure how many Wyomingites will take part in the roadkill-salvage (救助) programme. But Montana’s Fish and Wildlife Commission issues roughly 1,000 roadkill-salvage permits each year.

Although some may fear at the idea of dragging the body of a deer off the road and onto the dinner table, the law has several benefits. First, roadkill is a source of fresh meat for poor communities. State officials in Alaska distribute roadkill to charities. PETA, an animal-rights group, argues that eating roadkill is healthier and more moral than buying meat raised for killing. Second, allowing people to harvest roadkill themselves may cut down on the time the creatures spend on the road. In thinly populated states, it may take days for transport workers to collect a dead animal.

Lastly, roadkill-salvage programmes provide states with important data. Wyomingites must report the location of their find, showing officials where crashes with wildlife happen. Roadkill data may help the state figure out where to build highway overpasses or put up “wildlife crossing” warning signs.

Not everyone is licking (舔) their lips. Some are upset that people will end up eating gamey meat. “It’s really the burden of the person who chooses to collect roadkill if they eat it or not,” says Sara DiRienzo of Wyoming Game and Fish. Others worry the laws will encourage hunters to use the roadkill programme as cover for killing animals they should not.

Young soldiers, far away from home and missing their families, discover a bear cub. That’s how the story of Wojtek begins, back in 1942. He was alone in the mountains of Iran; nobody knows how he got there.

When the exhausted Polish soldiers came upon Wojtek, they were immediately struck with emotions. They had been away from their loved ones for a long time. They needed something to pick their spirits up. So, they nursed the baby bear with milk from a bottle and named him Wojtek, which means: a warrior to whom fighting brings joy.

Wojtek was officially adopted into the army. He traveled with the army to the Middle East, providing comradery and entertainment. He would wrestle with the men, chase after oranges they cast for him and follow them about like a puppy. He became their connection to humanity in a time when the light of peace seemed so far away. And, like a child, he was also playful. In the desert heat, he learned how to break into the showers and turn on the water. He could also be seen pulling trunks of empty gun shells with the men or standing at attention in formation. Wojtek was also the chief frightener of new members: He would literally bear hug them and hold them upside down for a good laugh.

Getting through the hardship of war takes something extraordinary, something unexpectedly dangerous to preserve your mental state. That’s what Wojtek did for the men who had been so long in the fog and uncertainty of World War II. A playful bear became the symbol of strength and adaptability. Thankfully, wars ended but Wojtek was not forgotten. He was shipped with a group of men to a farm in Scotland, which was a fitting place to retire for a bear with so much military experience. Wojtek was a local celebrity. Stories of him kicking a soccer ball, attending local dances and parties, and enjoying jam and honey are still told today. And to everyone who knew him, Wojtek was the one that made a difficult time a little more bearable.