Home/Posts Tagged ‘animals’
Posts Tagged ‘animals’
Animals, Weird Stuff, May 21st, 2012,
People love to gawk at exotic animals in zoos, aquariums and wildlife parks. Some self-important individuals even like to collect tigers, pythons and monkeys so they can show them off to friends or impress strangers. Remember the private animal collector in Ohio who released his collection of 56 exotic animals – including tigers, bears, lions and a baboon – and then killed himself? The police ended up killing nearly all the animals. That was an extreme example of what can go wrong, but honest mistakes also happen with results ranging from tragic to amusing. An escaped penguin swimming in Tokyo…
Tags: animals, escaped, exotic, penguin, Tokyo
Conservation, Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Mar 10th, 2012,
Species: African wild ass (Equus africanus) Status: Critically Endangered (CR) Interesting Fact: The African wild ass is the ancestor of the domestic donkey! An extremely hardy species, the African wild ass exists in scattered populations in northern Africa. In its desert habitat, it can sustain water loss of up to 30% of its body weight, though it usually remains within 30 kilometres of a water source. While the African wild ass may seek out shade in the hottest part of the day, in early morning and late evening it is more active, and seeks out grasses and herbs on which to…
Tags: african wild ass, animals, ARKive, donkeys, endangered species, Equus africanus
Conservation, Videos & Documentaries, Nov 5th, 2011,
The 3-year old daughter of the owners of a zoo in Queensland, Australia has some new unusual playmates: two cute cuddly little African lion cubs. Both cubs were born at the zoo, but one’s mother wasn’t producing enough milk to feed it, so the Robinson family took in the little cub, along with another cub to keep it company, and are looking after the two little lions in their home. The little girl’s father is quoted in an APP report: African lions are now threatened in the wild, with only about 25,000 remaining. These little cubs will one day…
Tags: African, animals, australia, lion cub, little girl, Robinson, zoo
Conservation, Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Oct 22nd, 2011,
Species: Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) Status: Critically Endangered (CR) Interesting Fact: The Mediterranean monk seal appeared on one of the first ever coins, around 500 BC! The Mediterranean monk seal is so named because its brown or greyish coat is said to resemble a monk’s robes. This shy creature is active during the day and forages mainly in shallow coastal waters, where it feeds on a variety of fish, squid and octopus. It takes up to six years to reach sexual maturity, after which, the Mediterranean monk seal will mate underwater before giving birth on secluded cave beaches. Newborn…
Tags: animal extinction, animals, ARKive.org, endangered species, Mediterranean monk seal, oceans, protecting animals
Climate Change, Wildlife & Flora, Sep 19th, 2011,
According to scientists, sea ice levels in the Arctic have been on the decline for decades and that decline looks to be speeding up. A new study from the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Colorado measures this year’s Arctic sea ice levels at their second lowest since records began back in 1979. The record low was in 2007 and made more extreme by unusually low cloud cover and strong winds brining warm air into the region. Less ice in the summer means increased challenges for Arctic animals as they struggle to adapt to these new conditions. For example,…
Tags: animals, arctic, sea ice, walrus
Politics, Wildlife & Flora, Jun 29th, 2011,
In May we ran a couple of posts on how Britons overwhelmingly support a ban on circus animals, yet the UK’s Conservative-led government was against any such ban. The Tory-Lib Dem coalition government, led by Prime Minister David Cameron (an avid hunter) instead proposed a licensing scheme for circuses. However, members of British parliament, including key Conservatives, have stood up to pressure from the Prime Minister and voted to ban wild animals in UK circuses. Though the motion voted on does not in itself enact a ban, but rather directs the government to do so, it is being hailed as…
Tags: animals, ban, Cameron, circus, Conservative, Mark Pritchard, MP, UK, vote, wild
Politics, Wildlife & Flora, May 16th, 2011,
Despite 70% of the British public supporting a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses, the UK government has failed to enact such a ban, opting for stiffer regulations instead. The circus animal debate heated up last month when undercover footage was released of an elephant in a British circus being beaten with a pitchfork. One the one side are animal welfare groups and most UK voters. On the other stand circus owners who reap great financial benefit from training, parading and often abusing exotic animals, including keeping them in inadequate conditions. From BBC News: In 2009, the…
Tags: animals, ban, circus, elephant, government, UK, wild
Animals, Natural disasters, Videos & Documentaries, Mar 31st, 2011,
There have been many victims of this month’s earthquake and resultant tsunami disaster in northern Japan. The loss of human life, livelihood and property is immense and the suffering continues. Less attention has been given to the countless animals – wild, domestic and livestock – who have also suffered and are still in dire need of help. The title of this post has two meanings because there are two categories of help. There are still many animals stranded in or facing terrible and dangerous conditions in the areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami. There are also many who have…
Tags: animals, disaster, dogs, earthquake, japan, rescue, tsunami
Science & Technology, Weird Stuff, Wildlife & Flora, Sep 17th, 2010,
I was recently at the national park in Białowieża, Poland where I saw a zubron, a hybrid between European Bison and domestic cattle. Like their North American counterparts, the ‘beefalo’, zubrons were first bred for hardiness and size. The hulking beasts proved to be more disease resistant, easier to care for, and due to their enormous size, provided more meat than either cattle or bison. But for whatever reason, they never really caught on. Man-made animal hybrids have a way of not flourishing. Mules – the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse – are sterile, aside from…
Tags: animals, bison, cattle, horse, hybrid, mules, New York Times, wild, zebra, zubron
Green living, Sep 8th, 2010,
A: Organic cosmetics are made from natural, plant-based ingredients from certified organic plantations. If they aren’t vegan, they still don’t contain any substances that come from dead animals, but ingredients such as honey and milk protein may be used in their composition. The amount of harsh substances like parabens and SLS that non-organic cosmetics often contain, is approved as safe, but things aren’t that simple. If you use many cosmetics one after the other, like a cleansing gel, mask, toner and then cream, the combined amount will often exceed approved, safe levels. Also, producers are not obliged to inform consumers about…
Tags: animals, certified, cosmetics, cruelty free, dioxins, mercury, natural, organic, packaging, parabens, petrochemicals, SLS, testing
Nature, Sep 1st, 2010,
I don’t get animal rights activists’ crusade against circuses. The animals are fed well and their lives are in less danger in comparison to their natural environments. They look happy while performig. An hour spent in a circus is also a rare occasion to look at wild animals. Why do some people want to ban them? A: For several reasons. Wild animals are wild, which means they should be born, live and die in the wild. Those that are used for entertainment aren’t really wild – they’re usually born in captivity; neglected, not fed properly and often tortured while being…
Tags: animals, captivity, circus, circuses, cruelty, elephants
Videos & Documentaries, Wildlife & Flora, Aug 30th, 2010,
‘The Performance’ is a disturbing, but important film about animal abuse in China’s zoos, circuses and animal parks. In conjunction with a new report by Hong Kong-based Animals Asia, ‘The Performance’ exposes the cruel treatment of animals such as black bears, big cats, monkeys and elephants for the entertainment of live audiences, who are unaware of the suffering they are supporting. The film is part of an effort to get animal welfare legislation laws – of which there are none in China – drafted and passed. Beaten throughout its life, declawed, de-toothed and kept in unsanitary conditions – this is…
Tags: abuse, animals, Asia, bears, China, Chinese, circuses, cruelty, documentary, film, monkey, park, The Performance, zoos
Videos & Documentaries, Wildlife & Flora, Aug 29th, 2010,
Illegally smuggled, abandoned and/or maltreated exotic pets get a second chance at life thanks to a unique animal hospital in Munich, Germany. Germany’s largest reptile rescue home takes in crocodiles, iguanas, snakes, turtles and more, giving them veterinary care and a suitable living environment. Many are seized in customs while being smuggled into the country as part of a global trade in exotic pets. The hospital often keeps these animals until it can find a more permanent place for them, such as a zoo. Almost 40,000 exotic animals and plants were found being smuggled in Germany last year alone. See…
Tags: animals, exotic, Germany, home, hospital, house, iguana, illegal, Munich, pet, reptile
Pollution, Science & Technology, Aug 28th, 2010,
A study in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology – aka Satan’s Bible – is providing insight into how different species react to environmental contamination. Scientists studying the effects of the 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Ukraine on local populations of insects, birds and mammals have found that species’ success in terms of adapting to and surviving radioactive contamination is based on the ability to repair damaged DNA. What we have discovered is that when we look at the species in Chernobyl, we can predict, based on their substitution rates, which ones are most vulnerable to…
Tags: animals, chernobyl, contamination, DNA, environmental, species, Ukraine
Pollution, Wildlife & Flora, Aug 3rd, 2010,
A survey of wildlife around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Ukraine – site of the worst nuclear accident in history – has shown that biodiversity there is declining. On April 26, 1986 explosions at the Chernobyl plant sent radioactive fallout into the atmosphere, which spread over much of Europe, eventually killing thousands. 24 years later, the downwind city of Pripyat is still off limits, though some have returned there illegally to farm. The wildlife around Chernobyl has been the stuff of legends. Highly irradiated, rumors of mutated wolves and moose abound, but the reality – as usual –…
Tags: accident, animals, biodiversity, chernobyl, contamination, nuclear, Pripyat, radiation, Ukraine, wildlife
Green living, Pollution, Weird Stuff, Jul 23rd, 2010,
This week, I am covering the final segment of Green Home Improvements You Can Do for Free. So far, I have told you ways you can go green in the bathroom, kitchen, home office, lawn and garden, while doing cleaning or laundry, and other general household improvements. There’s only a small bit left to cover this week, so I’m just going to get right to it. Check out the list!: Transportation: Any time you are travelling within a reasonably short distance from your home (up to 5 miles), opt for riding your bike when you can instead of taking the…
Tags: animals, appliances, camping, cars, efficiency, energy use, Go Green, green home improvements you can do for free, home improvements, hotels, housekeeping, pets, recreation, tips, Transportation, travel
Videos & Documentaries, Wildlife & Flora, Jun 25th, 2010,
Divert yourself with the latest environmental comedy podcast from the transatlantic team of Land & Lloyd. To quote the great Bill Cosby ’and if you’re not careful you may learn something before it’s done’. Author Saci Lloyd talks to Graham Land about ticked off killer whales, genius parrots and getting in touch with your inner animal. Mix your favorite cocktail and join us, won’t you? You can stream the podcast here or click on the link to download it in MP3, AAC or Ogg Vorbis formats. Animals and Us: Cocktail time with Orca 1 and Alex the Parrot The same…
Tags: Alex, animals, comedy, killer whale, Lloyd, orca, parrot, podcast, Saci
Weird Stuff, Wildlife & Flora, Jun 22nd, 2010,
Raccoon dogs from East Asia, yellow-tailed scorpions from Italy, ringnecked parakeets from India and Australian red-necked wallabies are some of the more exotic non-native species now residing – and often thriving – in parts of the UK. Common invasive pests that folks often moan about include grey squirrels and minks from North America, which eat or outcompete some native species. No complaints about small numbers of Chinese muntjac deer, now endangered in Asia, however. Many non-natives walk the line between exotic curiosities and invasive pests, such as wallabies in Scotland and colorful parakeets in London parks. I doubt many Brits…
Tags: animals, exotic, indigenous, invasive, london, native, non-native, parakeets, Scotland, species, threat, UK, wallabies, wild, wildlife
Climate Change, Green living, Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Jun 18th, 2010,
It’s been nearly 2 months since the Gulf Coast Oil Spill started. In that time, at least 783 birds, 353 turtles and 41 mammals have died. Unfortunately, the animal death toll may rapidly increase quite soon. Many animals are fleeing their natural habitat and coming closer to shore, where waters are less polluted. Dolphins and sharks are being found in shallow waters along Florida’s beaches; crabs, fish and rays are crowding around an Alabama pier; and oil-covered birds are venturing deep into the marshes—most likely looking for a safe place to die. Marine biologist, Larry Crowder, explained: “A parallel would…
Tags: animals, birds, BP, crabs, crowding, death toll, dolphins, fish, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, habitat, mammals, mass die-offs, oil-covered, Pollution, sharks, turtles, update, wildlife
Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Jun 6th, 2010,
In northern Zimbabwe, on their border with Zambia, you’ll find Lake Kariba: the largest artificial lake and reservoir in the world. On this lake, you’ll find 102 islands, including one with the rather unsettling name of Starvation Island. For the first time in 50 years, the island is living up to its name. According to conservationists, the waters of Lake Kariba are on the rise and have submerged much of the grazing land found on Starvation Island. The island was named after so many died there during the construction of the lake’s hydroelectric dam, but it was also used as…
Tags: animals, grazing land, hungry, impalas, Lake Kariba, rescuers, rising water, Starvation Island, starving, submerged, Zimbabwe
