Celebrating World Animal Day today

 

Dear Readers,

Today is World Animal Day.

Over the past century, a number of animal species have gone extinct or are on the verge of extinction. The reason in most cases is human activity that results in deforestation and other ways in which man disturbs the natural equilibrium of ecosystem.

We humans need to remember that we are also part of the ecosystem and not above it. We are all part of the same family that is Mother Nature and have a specific role to play to ensure that a healthy balance is maintained.

Let us take a pledge to remember our roots and treat our animal brethren with the respect and compassion that they richly deserve.

“All life deserves respect, dignity, and compassion. All life”

                                                                               - A.D. Williams.

Click here to read all my Nature related posts.

Image Source: Themetapicture.com

 

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Please ADOPT a Shelter Animal and help stop Animal Cruelty

Dear Readers,

Every day, thousands of animals are killed in "rescue" shelters, presumably for lack of space. Please do NOT buy your pet from a pet store or an online store. Pet stores/online stores are supported by the barbaric puppy mill industry.

Please ADOPT your pet from a rescue shelter. You will earn a loyal and loving companion forever.

Click here to know more about the No Kill Revolution. Please help make a positive change to stop Animal Cruelty.

Click here to read all my posts about Nature.

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Image Source: Animal Cruelty Exposed

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The Edge of Eden: Living with the Grizzlies

Celebrating World Elephant Day today

Elephants are gentle giants. There are 2 species of elephants surviving today: the African Elephant and the Asian Elephant.

Elephants are social beings and lead very emotional lives. Elephants live in herds, led by a matriarch. All the female elephants in the herd work together to care of their young.

Elephants, like most other species of animals, have been hunted down to near extinction. The reason is again, sheer human greed and arrogance: The tusks are used as status symbols in certain parts of the world.

Please visit The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to learn more about Elephant Conservation and how YOU can help save this magnificent species.

Elephants need our help now more than ever.

Click here to read all my Nature related posts.

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Photos were taken at Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden.

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About Me

I blog about the latest happenings in the world of Sherlock Holmes. I also review latest and classic movies and books.

I am passionate about preventing cruelty to fellow living beings. Animals and Birds are brutally killed in slaughterhouses to provide meat for human consumption. Please consider becoming vegetarian/vegan. 

To learn more, please check out these Videos exposing Animal Farming

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Millions of healthy and adoptable cats and dogs are killed in animal "shelters" every year. Many of them are "gassed" to death. This is a very painful way of dying.

Please adopt your pet from a rescue shelter. Buying your pet from a pet store only supports the barbaric puppy mill industry.

Please support the No-Kill Animal Shelters. To learn more, please visit No Kill Advocacy Center

Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) needs to be revoked ASAP. The so called “Bully” Breeds are among the most loving and affectionate of all dog breeds. BSL only serves to legally sanction the taking away and subsequent kiling of beloved family members.

To learn more about Pit Bulls, please visit this site - Don't Bully My Breed

For any inquiries, I can be reached at buddy2blogger@gmail.com.

Black Rhinoceros

Phylum : Chordata

Class : Mammalia

Order : Perissodactyla

Suborder : Ceratomorpha
Family : Rhinocerotidae

Genus : Diceros
Species: Diceros bicornis

Protection status : Critically Endangered

Diet : Herbivore 

Habitat : Woodland and scrubland

Black Rhinos are found in Central and Southern Africa. They weigh between 2090 to 2870 lbs. Their height varies from 4.7 to 5.2 ft and live up to 40 years.

Black Rhinos feed on woody plants, herbs and fruits.

The most distinguishing feature of the rhino, the 2 horns are also the leading cause for their current precarious situation. The horns are highly priced by poachers, who acquire them to sell them at exorbitant rates to certain countries/cultures that use them in traditional medicine and/or high status dagger handles.

The simple fact remains that the horns are only made of tightly packed hair-like fibers (called Keratin). There is no scientific proof for the effectiveness of rhino horns to cure illness/disease(s).

Black Rhinos are one of the many critically endangered species on our planet and need active conservation on our part.

To learn more about rhino conservation and how you can contribute to saving these magnificent animals, please visit African Wildlife Foundation and International Rhino Foundation.

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Photos were taken at Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden.

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Happy Birthday, Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall was born on this day in 1934. She has been studying chimpanzees for nearly half a century. She is one of Leakey's Angels along with Dian Fossey (Mountain Gorillas) and Birute Galdikas (Orangutans).

Please visit her website, Jane Goodall Institute to learn more about her work.

If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to this blog by clicking here.

Image Sources: PBS Nature, Wikipedia

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TV Review: Attenborough's Life Stories - Episode # 3 - Our Fragile Planet

After covering man’s efforts to study the world around him, David takes a look at the consequences of human activities on not only the living beings that cohabit our planet but the planet itself.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) was formed in 1961 and one of their earliest conservation efforts was focused on the endangered animals in the Galapagos Islands.

The Galapagos tortoise weigh upto 250 kgs and live upto 150 years, making them the longest living animals on earth.

Click on the link below to buy your copy:

We then meet the late Lonesome George, who was the last member of his species, the Pinta tortoise.

Then the focus shifts to the Virunga Mountains, one of the last remaining strongholds of the critically endangered MountainGorillas.

Mountain Gorillas

David’s visit was shortly preceded by the brutal killing of Digit, Dian’s favorite gorilla. He witnessed first-hand Dian’s grieving for her loss. After returning to England, he took up the cause himself. Readers interested to know more about Mountain Gorillas are encouraged to read the book: Gorillas inthe Mist by Dian Fossey.

Mountain Gorillas are not the only great apes covered in this episode. David also worked with Orangutans back in the 1950s. He brought back one of the Orangutans to the London Zoo and named him “Charlie”.

We then move on to the giants of the oceans, the Blue Whales. David encountered them for the first time at the age of 76. The whaling industry has taken a heavy toll on the worldwide population of whales.

In addition to these magnificent beings, the planet is also at the receiving end of man’s activities. Earth’s climate has been undergoing some drastic changes and this affects every living being in the world.

It is high time, we human beings take active steps to ensure the survival and flourishing of our fellow beings who share our wonderful planet with us. As David states, we need concerted efforts on an international level.

David’s observations about Mountain Gorillas perhaps sums it the best:

“There is more meaning and mutual understanding in exchanging a glance with a gorilla than any other animal I know.”

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Image Source: PBS Nature

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TV Review: Attenborough's Life Stories - Episode # 2 - Understanding the Natural World

Sir David Attenborough with a Meerkat

In this episode, David Attenborough takes a closer look at how science helps us to understand the world better.

We first meet the Austrian scientist, Konrad Lorenz. Konrad was a pioneer in the field of imprinting. He studied geese and published the book “King Solomon’s Ring” in 1952.

David gets to experience firsthand the effect of imprinting in geese. The close up shots of geese flying right next to David are simply stunning. They are in my humble opinion, the best shots in this episode.

Konrad Lorenz 

The concept of imprinting also works on animals including human beings.

We also learn that animals have a well-developed set of communication signs. For example, among vervet monkeys the signal used to alert the approach of a python is different from that used for a bird of prey.

Birds have different types of courtship rituals. In some species, males make astounding physical displays to impress females. In another species, male birds collect beautiful leaves, stones and fruits.

Jane Goodall, renowned primatologist

We then meet West African chimpanzees that are renowned for their nut cracking abilities. Human beings share 98% of their DNA with Chimps. Chimpanzees are omnivores and use complex hunting technique to catch their prey.

Another interesting aspect is that Chimpanzees communities each have their own cultures, much similar to human communities.

This is another gem from the veteran naturalist. Recommended to fans of natural history.

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Image Sources: Fanpop, Time, Humanima Foundation

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Save the Mountain Gorillas

Remembering Dian Fossey (1932 - 1985)

Dian Fossey

Dian Fossey dedicated her life to saving the endangered species of Mountain Gorillas. Her conservation efforts clashed with the interests of wildlife poachers and corrupt bureaucrats. Dian was murdered on this day in 1985. Her murder still remains unsolved.

RIP Dian. You were the best!

Dian Fossey with one of her favorite Gorillas

To learn more about Dian and how you can contribute to saving this magnificent species, please visit The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International.

Image Sources: Wikipedia, Dian Fosseyas a Zoologist

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Dogs learn to drive a car in New Zealand - True story!

A charity in New Zealand is teaching rescued dogs how to drive a car.

If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to this blog by email or RSS by clicking here.

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RIP Kwashi (1982 - 2012)

Kwashi (1982-2012)

Kwashi, a Silverback Gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden passed away recently.

We had the opportunity to see Kwashi during our visit to the zoo. He appeared calm and meditative (like many of his species do).

RIP, Kwashi. You will be missed.

 

Click here for more information. Click here and here to watch our videos of Kwashi.

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