from Flickr, by Sara Kayed
from Cats all wet
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
You learn something new every day
The photo above is a Jenny Haniver.
That's not the name of a person, it's the carcass of a ray or a skate which has been modified and subsequently dried, resulting in a grotesque preserved specimen. [wiki]
One suggestion for the origin of the term was "jeune d'Anvers" (French for Antwerp is Anvers), that is "young girl of Antwerp." British sailors "cockneyed" this description into the personal name "Jenny Hanvers."
For centuries, sailors sat on the Antwerp docks and carved these "mermaids" out of dried cuttlefish. They then preserved them further with a coat of varnish. They supported themselves by selling their artistic creations to working sailors as well as to tourists visiting the docks.
Jenny Hanivers have been created to look like devils, angels and dragons.
It is possible that Jenny Hanivers were the source of some tales of dragons during the Middle Ages, and they affirmed people's belief in dragons. Jenny Hanivers may also have started the legends of Mermaids.
(via Cynical-C)
At Susology, the story of an artist currently creating Jenny Hanivers.
Photo credit: Awkward Conversations post on "Rogue Taxidermy: The Jenny Haniver".
Any dog can bite but most don't
Dog bites happen, but they don't happen often, and many bites are preventable.
That message, delivered Thursday at a forum in Denver, was gleaned from data taken in Colorado over a year-long period.
The Coalition for Living Safely With Dogs, made up of Colorado veterinarians, animal-control officers, animal-care professionals and others presented the data at the group's second annual forum.
"The data shows that any dog can bite but most don't," said Nick Fisher, a coalition member.
The dog-bite surveys were taken from July 2007 to July 2008 and covered 17 "districts" in Colorado.
The coalition study tallied 2,060 bites. That's about 1 bite for every 350 dogs, less than one-third of one percent.
Of the 2,060 bites, Labrador retrievers made up the biggest percentage on the bite list.
Labs accounted for 13.3 percent of the reported bites; pit bulls, 8.4 percent; German shepherds, 7.8 percent; Rottweilers, 3.9 percent; and Chows, 3.5 percent.
Source
Funky fish found - the frogfish
A funky, psychedelic fish that bounces on the ocean floor like a rubber ball has been classified as a new species, a scientific journal reported. The frogfish — which has a swirl of tan and peach zebra stripes that extend from its aqua eyes to its tail — was initially discovered by scuba diving instructors working for a tour operator a year ago in shallow waters off Ambon island in eastern Indonesia.
Each time the fish strike the seabed, they push off with their fins and expel water from tiny gill openings to jet themselves forward. That, and an off-centered tail, causes them to bounce around in a bizarre, chaotic manner.
Photo credit: David Hall
Source
Marilyn and her dogs
Marilyn Monroe at the beach with her dog Ruffles in 1947.
Photo: Associated Press
MM plays with her Chihuahua on May 17, 1950.
Image: Earl Leaf
Also on May 17, 1950
Image: Earl Leaf
MM and Arthur Miller with Miller's dog Hugo, during a playful moment at Miller's summer home on June 25th, 1956.
Image: © Bettmann/CORBIS
Here's another photo of Hugo with MM and Miller.
Image: © Bettmann/CORBIS
When Marilyn and Arthur split up, Arthur retained possession of Hugo.
Maf was a little white French poodle who was given to MM in New York by Frank Sinatra. Sinatra had purchased the dog from Natalie Wood’s mother.
Marilyn named the dog “Maf” because of Frank Sinatra’s alleged mafia connections. lnterestingly, to spite Arthur Miller, Marilyn used to let Maf sleep on an expensive white coat that Miller had presented her.
When Marilyn returned to live in Hollywood, she had Maf flown back to be with her.
Following her death, Maf was inherited by Frank Sinatra’s secretary, Gloria Lovell.
(via u2r2h blog)
Thursday, February 26, 2009
On the subject of penguins
Looks like the inauguration, doesn't it?
This amazing photo was taken on South Georgia Island. The photographer says, "This is not the largest colony of king penguins on South Georgia but there were over a hundred thousand breeding pairs in this location. The brown spots are not open spaces but chicks that have not fledged."
from Flickr, by chuck12600
Take a look at it in the largest size: 3200 x 2135. Better yet, set it as your desktop wallpaper.
As cute as a sock monkey?
Might be cuter than a sock monkey ...
This instructable will walk you through the step by step creation of a Sock Penguin. This project was completed for a Grade 1 (6 year old kids) class that has been studying penguins.
Please note that no penguins were harmed in the creation of this project, however, some socks were severely damaged in the prototyping stage. Please do not use socks that still contain feet.
Note that hot glue guns can burn you. They're called "hot" for a reason. Do not let 6 year olds operate hot glue guns. Adult supervision is required. Also, do not let 6 year olds operate heavy machinery. It's just a bad plan.
(via Penguins!)
Bored? Go wake up your cat
Chris "Petey" Peterson at "Something Awful" had a dastardly idea. Assuming that your cat is sleeping right now, and which cat isn't, grab a camera and go wake that cat up. Go, right now! Take a picture of that darling little (pissed off) face and post it.
Quite a few people have responded and sent Chris their photos. Here's a couple:
Ok, I have to admit - I too, have been know to interfere with my cats' napping pleasure.
I took this picture of Grace when I caught her napping in Ava's chair which Grace thinks should now be called Grace's chair.
The next photo is of Bandit. I have an extensive collection of shots of him sleeping. He's always sleeping, except when he runs through the house doing his "here comes a herd of elephants" sound effects.
Next, Smoke. He had the fluffiest, fuzziest belly, and the sweetest personality until he scratched the hell out of my daughter-in-law's arm one day. He left us one day on a neighborhood safari and never came back.
Here's a bonus shot: waking up two cats at once! Buddy always loved to sleep on top of Coco. They're both gone from us now, but fondly remembered.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Good to know: Some people still have money
Despite the grim economic environment, the art market let out a collective sigh of relief Feb. 23 as Christie's in Paris successfully auctioned $266.7 million worth of Impressionist and modern artworks collected by the late designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Berge. The sale of nearly 700 works, estimated to bring in up to $425 million, continues through Wednesday.
A German Silver-Gilt Cup Formed as a Hunting Bear
Maker's mark of Leonhard Umbach
Augsburg, 1585-1590
Height: 6 7/8 in.; Weight: 13.70 oz.
Estimate: €80,000 to €120,000 (approx. $103,000 - $155,000)
Francois Pompon (1855-1933)
Boston Terrier or 'Toy'
Model created in 1930, cast circa 1965-1970
Black patinated bronze
Portrays Madame Georges Menier's dog, 'Toy'
11 3/4 in. x 13 1/4 in. x 5 7/8 in.
Estimate: €15,000 to €20,000 (approx. $19,000 - $26,000)
Source
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Brave, loving, or stupid?
Read the story in the Daily Mail about British park ranger Alex Larenty who regularly treats eight year old lion Jamu to a foot massage and a hug.
(The shots were taken at The Lion Park, near Johannesburg, South Africa, just weeks before a man who broke into the reserve was mauled and killed.)
Monday, February 23, 2009
The quest to ave Right whales
At least 32 new right whale calves -- more than ever recorded -- have been observed this season off the coasts of Georgia and Florida, where the whales migrate to give birth between late November and March. Only about 400 members of the species exist, and the massive mammal is thought to be the most endangered of all the large whales.
Each birth is seen as a miracle of sorts -- a potential key to the survival of a species that has been through many tough years.
Right whales were named by their hunters who once said they were the "right whale" to kill. When they were harpooned, the chubby whales floated to the surface of the water. That made them both profitable and easy to hunt.
Every morning during calving season, volunteers armed with binoculars and whale-related handouts troll up and down the Florida coast -- climbing to balconies and zipping up elevators to the top floors of high-rise condos and retirement communities -- to look for whales.
Source
Unbelievably cute
Only 28-days old, brother and sister Zanzibar and Nairobi are already a huge hit with visitors to Taronga Zoo, in Sydney.
They are the latest additions to the site's meerkat manor - and are the first pups to be born there for nine years.
more
Cute or not? Gentoo penguin chick
This little cutie was born on Dec. 12 at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Need a laugh?
The Chuckle Buddies love to have fun. Marlin the Monkey & Paul the Pooch will explode with uncontrollable laughter when you pass by them while rolling around on the floor. Their laugh is so infectious that you won't be able to help yourself from having a smile on your face.
Get Your Chuckle Buddies for $19.95 each
(via Nerd Approved)
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Photography by Gary Parker
When attempting to describe Gary Parker’s unique brand of photography forget words.
Begin with this: picture what an exuberant 8 year old boy might do with a camera if he had 25 years of experience winning awards in advertising and photojournalism, could light anything and could read the minds of dogs and go figure, EVEN CATS!
Gary is so busy taking photographs, he actually needs 2 websites to show them
all off.
But Gary Parker Photography, which seems to be his main site, is also crammed full of pet photography, like this:
Gary Parker Photography also showcases Gary's pro bono work with Little People of America (LPA). His photos encompass the #1 dwarfism photography website in the world, a site which has positively impacted the lives of many Little People families worldwide, as well as many of average stature who have found the portraits a source of inspiration, education and delight.
Look: 
Please note:
All photographs are the exclusive property of Parker Photographic productions, Inc. – and are protected by US international copyright laws. These photos may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, stored, manipulated, projected or used in any way without the expressed permission of Gary Parker. If you wish to use any of these photographs please contact ary@garyparker.com.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Now here's a real "wildlife" photographer
What would you do if you saw a wild otter holding a video camera?
Take a picture, of course!
Professional photographer Enrique Aguirre took this photo of an otter holding a video camera while on a tour of Elkhorn Slough aboard the Elkhorn Slough Safari Boat out of Moss Landing on Feb. 3. The otter apparently found the camera at the bottom of the ocean.
Do you think the otter will post on YouTube soon?
Photo Credit: Enrique Aguirre
Source
Hello, beautiful!
Meet Inuk, upclose and personal.
Inuk is the Mystic Aquarium's male Beluga whale. He is an amazing creature who shows a great deal of curiosity and intelligence. When the crowds are thin at the Aquarium and there are only a few people in front of the glass he will sometimes stay and watch those people closely. Especially children who are more calm.
Some people ask if whales have ears at the aquarium...here you can see the small opening behind the eye, that's Inuk's ear.
Status: Vulnerable, growing risk; mostly from pollution of native waters but also hunting.
IUCN Redlist: Vulnerable
Cook Inlet Alaska Population: Critically Endangered.
CITES: Appendix 2
Photo & text: eclectic echoes
(via benhästen)
Oh, Oogie
When he was just a puppy, Oogy was living in a hell on earth. He was tied to a stake and used as bait for pit bulls in a dogfighting ring. He'd been thrown in a cage and left to die, and the police raided the facility. He was brought to Ardmore Animal Hospital, and they saved him.
Dr. Bianco, a veterinarian, says Oogy was still a puppy when he first treated the dog's severe damage. He basically had the side of his face ripped off, his jaw was crushed, his skull was damaged. He's lucky to be alive.
Larry Levin and his twin boys were at the vet to drop off their cat when Oogy walked down the hall…and right into their hearts. "He looked like part of him had melted," Larry says. "But he just covered us with kisses. It's like he didn't know that anything bad had happened to him—he was just full of love. He jumped in our arms."
When Larry found out the dog didn't belong to anyone, he asked Dr. Bianco if he could adopt him. "I couldn't believe my good luck," Larry says. "That's how I felt about this dog right from the start."
Source
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
I'll stick to Coke, thanks
Hindu scientists have devised a new drink made from cow urine.
The drink has been devised by the Cow Protection Department of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Rather coyly, they've called it 'gau jai,' the Sanskrit for 'cow water' and say it is in the final stages of development.
Om Prakash, the head of the department, said: "Don't worry, it won't smell like urine and will be tasty too."
Good to know.
Source
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
It had to come to this
I just found the funniest pet site:
Pets who want to kill themselves
They've rounded up those cute (and sometimes awful) photos of animals in ridiculous costumes and bizarre poses and provided some appropriate comments.
Like this one:
"FLUFFY READ THE INSTRUCTIONS TWICE BEFORE DECIDING TO CLASSIFY HERSELF AS A ‘DELICATE COTTON’. "
Miss Celania digs worms
Miss Cellania finds the most interesting stuff, both at Mental Floss and her own website.
I think she outdid herself with this post: 6 Really Weird Worms.
Here's a truly weird one:
The Terriswalkeris terraereginae, or giant blue earthworm, is an Australian worm. In a land where an animal has to be pretty weird to be even noticed, the giant earthworm is not only a lovely shade of Prussian Blue, it also can grow up to two meters long!
Do it yourself - Cat Chaise
Go see Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories on complete instructions to make this lovely chaise for your favorite kitty.
All you need are big sheets of cardboard, a hot glue gun, markers, scissors and/or a hobby knife, and a cutting mat or other surface where you can safely cut.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Another inappropriate pet goes bad
A 200-pound chimpanzee kept as a pet attacked and seriously injured a woman visiting a Stamford, Conn., home Monday, the police said.
The chimpanzee, named Travis, who had appeared in television commercials, was shot and killed by an officer when he charged the police and cornered that officer in his cruiser, the police said.
The injured woman was hospitalized late Monday in very serious condition at Stamford Hospital. Her identity was not released.
Stamford police Capt. Richard Conklin said the woman was getting out of her car in front of her friend’s house when Travis attacked for no apparent reason.
Sandra Herold, the owner of the 15-year-old chimpanzee, wrestled with the animal as it mauled her friend, then ran inside to call 911.
“She retrieved a large butcher knife and stabbed her longtime pet numerous times in an effort to save her friend, who was really being brutally attacked,” Captain Conklin said.
More of this sad story.
Photo: Associated Press Photo of Travis in 2003
Source
It IS a mana"tee", you know
A manatee stuck in a pond at a private golf club in North Palm Beach was rescued today, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported.
The 500-pound, six-foot long male accessed the pond by traveling through a culvert system and was in the pond for a day before it was rescued. The mammal showed signs of cold-stress and appeared thin, said FWC spokeswoman Gabriella Ferraro, in a press release.
The manatee has been taken to Miami Seaquarium's manatee rehabilitation facility for a check-up.
Source
How cool is this? African wild dogs are foster moms
According to a study, published in the South African Journal of Wildlife Research, packs of African wild dogs showed a willingness to take in the orphaned pups, no questions asked.
In three different cases, a total of eleven orphaned African wild dog pups were released within view of a smaller than average wild pack. Each time, the pups were soon approached by the dominant female of that pack, and within minutes, the orphaned pups were adopted cared for and fed by the dominant female. In one case, the pups got scared and ran away from the pack, almost immediately. Yet even after such a brief introduction, the adoptive pack then began to scour the area to find the missing pups. Once reunited, the pups were greeted as if they were missing family members.
This study provides conservationists with a better understanding as to how they can use facilitated adoptions as a conservation tool in the wild.
via Oh, for the love of science!
Poor, poor kitty
This kitty is a S-T-A-R ... the star of "The Saddest Cat in the World". But the poor kitty has to put up with some awful things week to week.
These comics might seem cruel at first sight, but I sense the love underneath it all.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Product review: Fur-Zoff
I love, love, love my cats, but I do not love their fur on every piece of furniture and clothing in my home, so I avidly try any product that claims to remove pet hair. We have tried the Miracle Brush, sticky sheets, sticky rollers, the "Hair Magnet" and the "Pet Sponge." I've even purchased the Dyson Animal to vacuum up all their fur.
What Bandit's favorite chair looks like if I haven't cleaned it in a few days.
I was intrigued by Fur-Zoff when I saw their website and thought I'd give it a try.
From the pictures on the Fur-Zoff website, and from my first glance at the package, I thought this was another one of those stiff, spongy type of removal tools.
I was quite surprised when I opened the package and found that the Fur-Zoff is really a lava-type of stone --- a huge pumice stone! But nicely rounded and smoothed, so I could comfortably hold it.
My first impulse was to go scrub my heels and get rid of that winter-rough callous.
But no, let's try it on Bandit's chair, first.
Honestly, I was a little hesitant to rub this stone on my upholstery. I was a afraid that it would snag and damage the fabric. But it didn't. It also did not "pick up" the hair as I had expected.
What the Fur-Zoff does is to sweep all the hair as you brush with it. The Fur-Zoff does a nice job on a flat surface, sweeping pet hair forward as you brush, if you brush with the grain of the fabric. It was not as easy to brush crosswise, or to try to brush along the arms of the chair or in the curves and grooves.
When I was finished, there were little clumps of fur still stuck to the Fur-Zoff. They were easy to remove.
What the chair looks like after brushing with Fur-Zoff.
Fur-Zoff delivers on its promise to remove pet hair and I would recommend it for a large, flat, smooth, surface such as a bedspread, comforter, or drapes.
I need one of these
Cats are not known for their ability to learn and obey the commands of their owners. That's where the Control-a-Cat Remote Control can come in handy.
Simply point at your cat, press buttons on the remote and hope for the best. With buttons for "Stop Scratching", "Show Affection", "Remain Aloof" and others, you'll be in control in no time.
It's finally your turn to make your cat do what you want.
Great idea from Think Geek
(via Laughing Squid)
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Video: Love between a cat and a deer
Set to What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
Watch video
(via four paws and whiskers)
Friday, February 13, 2009
A beautiful lady and her dog
Portrait of Billie Holiday and Mister, Downbeat(?), New York, N.Y., ca. June 1946
Portrait of Billie Holiday and Mister, Downbeat, New York, N.Y., ca. Feb. 1947
Was Billie Holiday thinking of Mister when she sang this song?
Portrait of Mister (Billie Holiday's dog), New York, N.Y., between 1946 and 1948
Photos by William P. Gottlieb, found at Photographs from the Golden Age of Jazz, because of a link through benhasten
Here's a strange one ...
It looks a little like a beaver, but doesn't have a paddle tail. It looks like a muskrat, but is way too small. Lacks the webbed feet of a nutria.
So what is it? It's a mountain beaver.
Mountain beavers, (Aplodontia rufa), are not true beavers, despite their name, and they don't always live on mountains. Mountain beavers are the world's most primitive rodent. They have survived relatively unchanged for the past 40,000 years or so, often called a "living fossil."
They are found in limited numbers in the dense underbrush of Pacific Northwest forests, ranging from Northern California to British Columbia.
They like brushy slopes and ravines, particularly those that have been logged or disturbed. And they like dampness, perhaps because their primitive kidneys don't work so well and they need to drink a lot — two-thirds of their body weight daily.
Mountain beavers have damaged an estimated 300,000 acres of commercial coniferous tree species in western Washington and Oregon. The damage period extends to about 20 years after planting. Mountain Beavers cause economic damage by clipping and topping off new seedlings, girdling trees & roots, leading to stunted growth and production losses in forestry plantations.
Found because of a mention at StrangeArk, to an article at The Seattle Times, and more from here. There is a vast amount of information here, including more photos.
Image Source
Look, matching hairdo's
One of my favorite photos from the 2009 Westminster Dog Show
Photo: Chris Mcgrath / Getty Images
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Love those hairy faces?
Nobert Soloria Bermosa has posted a great pictorial recap of hairy faced doggies at Gomestic, "Now You See, Now You Don't: Dogs Without Faces". You can hardly see their faces because they are covered with thick or long hair.
My favorite is the komondor. What's yours?
Black Wolves the Result of Interbreeding With Dogs
Biologist Tovi Anderson of Stanford University and her team compared the genes of wolves from Yellowstone National Park and the Canadian Arctic to those of domestic dogs and coyotes. They found that, in each species, the black individuals have the same mutation, which first arose about 45,000 years ago. And molecular-clock analysis showed the mutation was oldest in dogs, suggesting it originated with them and then spread to wolves and coyotes through interbreeding.
This all happened in North America, because there are no black wolves in Europe or Asia (except for an Italian population that has hybridized very recently with dogs). And wolves picked up the black-coat mutation in the distant past, perhaps 12,000-15,000 years ago, when people first crossed the Bering Land Bridge from Asia.
The black coat seems to provide an advantage to forest-dwelling wolves, meaning dogs passed on some useful genetic diversity to their wild cousins.
Source
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Dogs are good for the soul
BEFORE
AFTER
Far, far removed from the days when her image as a machine gun-toting revolutionary captivated a nation, Patricia Hearst Shaw was in more genteel surroundings Monday. She was tending to Diva at Madison Square Garden, petting her soft head on dogdom’s biggest day.
Her prize, with a champion’s name of Shann’s Legally Blonde, earned a red ribbon as Best of Opposite Sex — a male dog won the breed, and hers was judged the top female.
Shaw said the ribbon would probably decorate one of the swords that her husband collects.
Photo: Seth Wenig / AP
Her prize, with a champion’s name of Shann’s Legally Blonde, earned a red ribbon as Best of Opposite Sex — a male dog won the breed, and hers was judged the top female.
Shaw said the ribbon would probably decorate one of the swords that her husband collects.
Photo: Seth Wenig / AP
And the winner is ...
With floppy ears and a slow gait, the golden-red Sussex Spaniel, Stump, won over a giant schnauzer, a favored Brussels griffon, a Scottish deerhound named Tiger Woods, a standard poodle with 94 best-in-show victories, a Scottish terrier and a puli.
Stump, 10, is the oldest-ever winner of the 2009 133rd Westminster Kennel Club dog show at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Stump won the sporting group in 2004 but then became ill and almost died.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Save this bull
This two-week-old calf, named "Ha-chan" after the word "heart," was born at a dairy farm 40 kilometres from Tokyo.
The farmer noticed the clear, love-heart-shaped pattern on the forehead the morning after he was born. He's now a local celebrity but if no-one can give him a home he will have to be sold for meat.
An appeal has been made in Japan to save the baby "Valentine" bull born with a heart-shaped pattern on his forehead from the butcher's shop.
Source
Foster mom of the year
Lisha is a nine-year-old Labrador who has played surrogate mother to more than 30 animals including a hippo and porcupine has her paws full caring for her latest charges.
The dog's amazing ability to make friends with any animal species is documented in these wonderful family snaps taken by her owners.
Lisha with her adopted cheetah cubs, Josh and Jordan
Lisha is helping raise three one-month old tiger cubs after their own mother rejected them.
Lisha, pictured with another one of her charges, an orphaned pygmy hippo.
Source
Imagine a world without vultures
Constance Casey at Slate theorizes a world without vultures in "Vulture World".
A mysterious die-off of Asian white-backed vultures has led to a pileup of domestic animal carcasses and an increase in the population of rodents and feral dogs. It turned out that an anti-inflammatory drug—diclofenac—used on sick livestock kills vultures even in low doses. Though the Indian government is phasing out the veterinary use of the drug, the vulture population hasn't rebounded. One social consequence has been that members of the Zoroastrian Parsi community, who have used vultures to dispose of human corpses, now have to cremate their dead.
These are fascinating birds. Read more.
In honor of Valentine's Day - The kiss
Photo: AFP
Tanja Askani Photography
chughsjs61
Sergio Dionisio / Getty Images
Thomas Kirsop
(via Holy Cuteness)
floridapfe
floridapfe
LifeHouseDesign
muffyzone
Paula Bronstein / Getty Images
J-Square
TamanduaGirl
Wang Zhenwu / AP
Benoit Henry
Patrick Powers
Mark-Kay-PhotographyMonday, February 9, 2009
Leave it to China - the ultimate in animal abuse
A recent report in The New York Times describes that a dozen Asiatic black bears, malnourished and diseased from years spent on abusive bile-harvesting farms in southwest China had been rescued.
Bile-harvesting, you ask. What is bile-harvesting?
State-approved farms in Sichuan province warehouse bears where holes are cut into their abdomens so that their bile could drip out to be harvested and used in Chinese traditional medicine to cure ailments ranging from headaches to hemorrhoids.
China started allowing bear bile farming in the 1980s, saying it would protect wild Asiatic black bears by satisfying the market for bile with farmed products.
The approved means of bile collection in China is through a permanent hole put in a bear's abdomen -- a process known as the ''free drip'' method. Animals Asia says this still causes pain and the slow death of bears. But more painful methods ranging from inserting metal catheters and rubber tubes into the bears' abdomens, which have been banned by the government, are still believed to be used in China.
An estimated 7,000 bears are kept in China's 247 bile-harvesting farms, according to government estimates, but Animals Asia believes the number could be as high as 10,000.
Ironically, wild bears are still poached because wild bile is believed to be better than farmed bile.
Read more about bear bile farming at Animals Asia.
Photo: BearDen.org
Baby Chimps Given Human Love Are Smarter
Orphaned infant chimpanzees that received attentive, nurturing care from human surrogate mothers were found to be more intellectually advanced than the average human baby when both groups were compared at the age of nine months, according to a new study published in the latest issue of Developmental Psychobiology.
When the chimps were nine months old, they took an IQ test normally used to evaluate human infant development. The chimps who had received responsive care aced the test, even surpassing the scores of average human infants tested at the same age.
Source
Meet Squeaky the squirrel
Squeaky is a female eastern gray squirrel, now 8 1/2 years old. Squeaky has lived all her life with Carrie Saites - ever since Kacey, Saites' Labrador retriever, found 4-week-old Squeaky and brought her home.
Squeaky maintains much of the character of a wild eastern gray squirrel.
She hides nuts throughout Saites' apartment and "chatters" when she feels threatened. She climbs and jumps from furniture and cracks open nuts with her front teeth.
When you walk into Saites and Squeaky's home, it is any critter's heaven. Playgrounds are set up for Squeaky across the apartment, and stuffed Disney animals are her playmates.
At least five types of foods are prepared in small dishes in at least two spots in the apartment. Macaroni and cheese, sunflower seeds and bread dough are soft enough for the aging squirrel to eat when Saites is at work.
Riptide Rush Gatorade is Squeaky's favorite drink, Saites says.
Source
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Cute contest: cat in box
Does your cat like boxes?
What cat doesn't?
Unica Home is running a "Cat in Box" photo contest.
Just email a photo of your cat in a box and you could win one of the cute cat playhouses pictured to the left.
The rules: cat must be alive, not drugged, not unconscious, and willing to be in their box ...
The playhouses sound great - I think my cats might like one:
"made from folded cardboard and flat packed, the cat playhouses will provide endless hours of enjoyment for your cat. help them achieve their dreams of being a pilot, fireman, or even tank commander!
cat not included. some assembly required (unless your cat is flat)"
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Wash your car, wash your dog at same time
DogPro Dog Spa, a coin-operated, self-service pet washing system is open at CarPro Auto Spa, in Stuart, FL.
The machines, which cost $10 for 10 minutes, allow dog owners to wash and blow-dry their pooches while their cars are being cleaned at the full-service car wash, which also offers self-service bays.
The dog spa service includes flea and tick treatments, pet toys and grooming products, and it will be open 24 hours.
Sounds like a fun idea!
Photo from Flickr, by TMCPetVending
Abandoned badger cub saved from freezing
Oh, how cute!
Abandoned in the snow, this five-day-old badger cub was on the brink of death.
Luckily, like most babies, she could raise enough of a racket to wake the neighbors.
A homeowner heard whimpering in the garden in Torquay, Devon and found the cub.
Nicknamed Snowdrop, she is less than a week old and fits into the palm of a hand.
She is being nursed back to health at Secret World Wildlife Rescue Centre at Highbridge in Somerset.
Source
New to the Westminster dog show in 2009
The Dogue de Bordeaux is the only newly-recognized breed eligible for competition at Westminster in 2009 and will compete in the Working Group.
Believed to have originated in France more than 600 years ago, the Dogue de Bordeaux is highly regarded for his balanced temperament and imposing presence.
The Dogue de Bordeaux, also known as the French Mastiff, Bordeaux dog, Bulldogue Francais, or most commonly among fanciers, as the DDB, is a fearless, powerful dog who excels at both guard dog work and companionship to his family.
With a head that may well be the largest in the canine world, the Bordeaux is unmistakable in appearance.
How cute is this?
(Westminster Kennel Club / February 6, 2009)
Traditional Art from India
"Syamakantha Fighting a Tiger (detail), 19th century, Calcutta"
Of Gods and Mortals Exhibit from the Peabody Essex Museum
In India, art is an integral part of daily life. The importance of paintings, sculpture, textiles and other art forms comprises two basic categories, one related to religious practices and the other to the expression of prestige and social position. This new installation of works from the Peabody Essex Museum’s collection of Indian art will feature approximately 28 pieces, principally representing the 1800’s to the present.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Back from the dead (briefly)
An extinct mountain goat that was once common in the Pyrenees briefly became the first animal to be brought back from extinction, as researchers used frozen DNA to produce a clone. But the newborn kid died within minutes of birth due to breathing difficulties.
The Pyrenean ibex, or bucardo, is a subspecies of the Spanish ibex that is believed to have died out completely in 2000. Before the death of the last known individual (a 13-year-old female known as Celia), biologists captured her and took cells from her skin and ears, which were frozen in liquid nitrogen.
An earlier cloning attempt using the skin cells failed during gestation. But the latest attempt involved the creation of 439 ibex-goat hybrid cloned embryos made by inserting the cell nuclei of the ibex’s skin cells into the egg cells of domestic goats which had their own cell nuclei removed. Of these cloned embryos, 57 were transferred into surrogate mothers and seven resulted in pregnancies, but only one goat gave birth and the newborn clone died after seven minutes as a result of lung deformities.
Source: Discover
Bug love
The diversity of insects on this planet is astonishing and should be a source of continual wonder for us all. It can only be hope that these incredible creatures can be left to survive and continue their species for many millennia to come. Of course they do everything we do - sometimes with much more aplomb!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Photography by Mikel Uribetxeberria
This is from the animalia collection.
Visit Mikel Uribetxeberria website
World's first commercially cloned dog
[I just wonder, how many abandoned puppies could have been saved for this amount of money?]
A Boca Raton, Florida, couple paid a California firm $155,000 to clone their beloved Labrador retriever, who died from cancer a year ago. The clone, a 10-week-old puppy dubbed Lancey, was hand-delivered to them earlier this week by Lou Hawthorne, chairman of BioArts International, a biotechnology company.
Source: CNN
What's that in your pants?
An Australian traveller raised eyebrows and the suspicions of customs officers after he was found with two live pigeons and an aubergine down his pants. (NOTE to us non-Brits: an aubergine is an eggplant.)
Customs officials said the 23-year-old man was caught at Melbourne Airport following a trip to the Middle East.
Officials searched the man after they discovered two eggs hidden in a vitamin container in his luggage.
The pigeons were found wrapped in padded envelopes and held to each of the man's legs with a pair of tights.
Officials also seized seeds in his money belt and an undeclared aubergine, but are at a loss to explain why the goods were smuggled into the country.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
10 Most Popular Guard Dogs
GoMestic has a well researched round-up of the 10 Most Popular Guard Dogs From Around the World.
German Shepherd, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler, American Pit Bull Terrier, Anatolian Shepherd or Kangal, Black Russian Terrier, American Bulldog, Bullmastiff, Kunming Wolf Dog, and Tibetan Mastiff - in general, these are large, hefty dogs who have gained an unwarranted reputation as being aggressive. Many communities are creating laws to restrict or outlaw some of these breeds. I don't think it's the fault of the animals, in most cases, it's the fault of the owners who deliberately or sometimes accidentally encourage undesirable traits in the animal.
(via Biomes Blog)
Making a splash
Most people know that it's not true that cats have a fear of water. Some cats actually like to swim.
But it is pretty rare to catch wild cats enjoying a dip.
Photographer Per Gunnar Ostby, was very fortunate to capture three female lions enjoying their swim one crisp, dawn morning on a trek near the Chobe National Park in Botswana.
Source: Daily Mail
Photos: Per Gunnar Ostby
Monday, February 2, 2009
Polar Bears on the Thames
Eden TV, a new UK-based natural history TV channel has recently begun broadcasting. To celebrate their launch, the network built a 16-foot-high sculpture of a mother polar bear and her cub stranded on an iceberg. Also meant to increase awareness about the plight of the polar bear and their dwindling habitat as a result of climate change, the sculpture was sent to float down the Thames river.
Read more ...
(via Inhabitat)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Caption this ...
Photo credit: Mehgan Murphy/Smithsonian's National Zoo
From Flickr, by Smithsonian's National Zoo
So, how about PediPaws?
Being in the "Pet Business" (i-pets.com), I've received numerous e-mails about carrying PediPaws™ in our inventory, or even worse, many spam solicitations to buy the PediPaws™. These usually lead to a website not even associated with the manufacturer, sent from an email address that isn't able to accept mail.
I'll admit it, I was curious to try PediPaws™, "the revolutionary nail trimmer for your dog or cat. The newest and fastest way to keep your pet’s nails trim rounded and smooth with no mess", but the $19.95 price tag was a little much to pay just for a test-run, and the manufacturer didn't offer to send me a free one to try. (Hint, hint.)
I was surprised and pleased to receive an e-mail from Jennifer, from Slate, informing me that as part of their occasional video series called “As Spun on TV” which tests “As Seen on TV” products, Slate had tested PediPaws™, and recorded the results in a video.
The video is fun to watch - the pets are not happy to be test subjects, to say the least, and are nowhere close to being as co-operative as the ones in the manufacturer's video.
Slate's results: Initial tests are not encouraging but testers later conclude that PediPaws works well with aging, couch-potato type pets.
Check out the video: http://www.slatev.com/player.html?id=9152426001 and visit PediPaws™ website if you're interested.
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