74 Most Exotic and Amazing Animal Species

Some of the strangest, most amazing and most threatened species in the world. Some of these animals may appear harmless but are all too deadly while others …
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Encore! 10 Extinct Lifeforms Worth Resurrecting

[ By Steve in Animals & Habitats & Nature & Ecosystems & Science & Research. ]

Gone before their time? These 10 extinct species are certainly gone but they’re not forgotten, and they may not even be gone for good if biological technology continues to advance. Could we bring them back? Should we even try? If the answer to the former is “yes”, then the question of the latter is moot.

Woolly Mammoth

(images via: BBC, Loyal K.N.G and Real Simple)

Great herds of Woolly Mammoths roamed over huge swathes of the northern hemisphere for tens of thousands of years, and you’d better believe they left their mark – among other things – on the frozen tundra. It’s impossible to calculate the beneficial effect of dropped dung by the megaton year after year, millennium after millennium, on the arctic environment but we can assume those vast, empty plains would be much more fertile after our shaggy pals resume dumping much more fertilizer.

(image via: DesignerAnimals2011)

Mammoths haven’t been extinct for too long, geologically speaking, with the last dwarf population on Siberia’s isolated Wrangel Island finally biting the permafrost around 1650 BC. Speaking of permafrost, hundreds of mammoths remain preserved to an astonishing, er, degree in what’s been called “nature’s freezer”, and their DNA is perhaps the least degraded of any ancient extinct creature.

Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger)

(images via: Rainforest Info, Haunted America Tours and Retrieverman’s Weblog)

Plagues of introduced invasive rabbits, starving kangaroo herds needing to be culled – if only Australia had a native apex predator that could naturally curb animal population booms… oh wait, they did, but it’s extinct.

(images via: Convict Creations and University of Melbourne)

Though the Thylacine (or Tasmanian Tiger) hasn’t roamed Australia itself for thousands of years, the species managed a last stand on the island of Tasmania along with its relative, the Tasmanian Devil. Pressure from humans (Europeans, not the native aborigines) led to the last Tasmanian Tiger dying in captivity at the Hobart Zoo in September of 1936.

(image via: Australian Government)

Sightings of what are said to be wild thylacines are reported every so often these days but more solid evidence such as hair, scat or even footprints haven’t been forthcoming. The world’s museums contain a number of thylacine remnants, however, including stuffed specimens and pups preserved in formaldehyde. Experiments to ascertain the existence of viable thylacine DNA are ongoing and it’s likely the complete Tasmanian Tiger genome will be sequenced in the very near future.

American Chestnut Tree

(images via: Shady Rest and Mother Nature Network)

A century ago, huge stands of American Chestnut trees made up as much as 25 percent of forested lands in the eastern United States. From Maine to Mississippi, as many as 3 billion Chestnut trees standing up to 45 meters (150ft) tall and as much as 3 meters (10ft) wide provided food, shelter and pollen to an ecosystem much more diverse than today’s. In 1904, however, an accidentally introduced, airborne chestnut blight was noticed in trees at New York’s Bronx Zoo. The fungus spread rapidly and within a few short decades the American Chestnut tree was functionally extinct.

(image via: Treehugger)

American Chestnuts are not “extinct” in the pure sense of the word. Less than 100 mature trees survive in its former range, and trees planted in western North America by 19th century pioneers and settlers have thrived without being infected by chestnut blight. Efforts are underway to impart immunity to American Chestnut trees, ironically from the related Chinese Chestnut trees that have naturally evolved resistance to the fungus.

Dunkleosteus

(images via: Club des Monstres, Satori Smiles and Esoriano)

380 million years ago our primitive vertebrate ancestors were taking their first tentative steps onto dry land. What would compel these early proto-amphibians to leave the warm confines of earth’s primeval oceans? Dunkleosteus, perhaps. Measuring up to 10 meters (33ft) in length, weighing roughly three and a half tons and possessed of the strongest bite of any creature EVAR, this so-called “hypercarnivore” conducted a 20 million year reign of terror without stopping for a lunch break. Actually, the 20 million years WAS its lunch break.

(image via: Taburin)

Times have changed since then, and Dunkleosteus is no longer the terror of the sea… it’s no longer, period. Maybe it’s due for a revival, however. The warming oceans are rapidly being depleted of fish by the descendents of Dunkleosteus’ former prey and fisherman are finding their nets clogged with humongous jellyfish instead. If a reconstituted population of “Dunkies” could be induced to chow down on the jumbo jellyfish, what would the result be? Less jumbo jellyfish and more gigantic fish to feed those hungry hungry humans. Sounds like a plan!

Aurochs

(images via: The Sixth Extinction, Andrew Isles and Telegraph UK)

Domestic cattle provide beef for our dinner tables but at what cost? Overused antibiotics and veterinary growth hormones like BSE are contaminating groundwater supplies, while standardization of beef cattle may lead to a depleted gene pool vulnerability to new diseases. One possible solution is to get back to basics by bringing back Bos Primigenius, also known as the Aurochs.

(images via: Canadian Content, Andrew Isles and Ertai’s Lament)

This ill-tempered ancestor to today’s cattle breeds, holdover from the Eurasian Ice Age megafauna, and star of many magnificent paleolithic cave paintings thrived in isolated areas of central Europe up until the late Middle Ages. The last recognized purebred Aurochs died in Poland, in 1627.

(image via: Dididumm)

As the Aurochs is an ancestral species with living descendants, it should be possible to “backbreed” and eventually produce an animal very close to the ancient Aurochs. In fact, the brother Heinz and Lutz Heck began back-breeding experiments in the 1920s that resulted in today’s Heck Cattle. Approximately 2,000 Heck Cattle now exist and biologists are continuing efforts to increase the size of the cattle to match that of the formidable Aurochs.

Meganeura (Giant Dragonfly)

(images via: Multi.fi, Amici-in-Allegria and OSU Geology)

Ancient Earth wasn’t quite a Garden of Eden, though 300 million years ago in the Carboniferous period the land was very green indeed. The air was different as well, being generally warmer with a higher ration of oxygen. It’s the latter characteristic that allowed several species of gigantic insects to survive and thrive, including Meganeura, the Giant Dragonfly. Fossil specimens display wingspans of over 75cm (2.5ft) and its estimated the creature’s diet included small amphibians.

(image via: Animal Pictures Archive)

Reintroducing Meganeura would be problematic to say the least: today’s atmosphere likely isn’t sufficiently oxygen-rich and the creature would quickly suffocate. As to WHY Meganeura should be revived, let’s recall that today’s dragonflies are potent predators of mosquitoes. Considering the damage done by mosquito-borne diseases and the fact that these illnesses are spreading, I’m willing to give Meganeura a shot at squishing the skeeters.

Smilodon (Saber-Toothed Cat)

(images via: Amazing Data, Science Blogs and Pathfinders)

Smilodon existed from about 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago, and in its heyday was the most deadly predator North and South America had seen since T Rex. The species’ most terrifying member had to have been Smilodon Populator, which translates from Latin to “Smilodon the Devastator”. Standing 4 feet (1.22m) high at the shoulder and weighing up to half a ton or 470kg, this resident of eastern Brazil sported signature “saber” canine teeth a foot (30cm) long and ate… well, pretty much anything it wanted.

(image via: AVPH)

We may see the extinction of wild tigers in our lifetimes and lions are in decline as well. Shouldn’t we concentrate our efforts on conserving these existing species, you ask? We should and we are – and their populations are still shrinking. Bringing back saber-toothed cats, on a very limited basis, might serve as a swan song to the planet’s most majestic felines. If it doesn’t work out, well, we’ve still got the La Brea tar pits.

Steller’s Sea Cow

(images via: Seapics, Hancock House and Exposea)

Steller’s Sea Cows once peacefully browsed kelp beds in the western Pacific ocean. Said to be completely tame and showing no fear of humans whatsoever, these relatives of Dugongs and Manatees were toothless having flat plates of bone instead of a regular dentition. The placid creatures were also huge: adults grew up to 9 meters (30 ft) in length and weighed up to 10 tons.

(image via: It’s Nature)

Discovered and named in 1741, Steller’s Sea Cow became extinct in 1768 – it took us a mere 27 years to wipe out a species that took countless millennia to evolve. Somehow that just doesn’t seem fair. These big boys (and girls) deserve another chance and if biology can find some way to reconstitute them as a species, it should be done.

Lepidodendron (Giant Club Moss)

(images via: BBC, Carl’s Corner and WN.com)

Soaring 30 meters (100ft) high with massive trunks over a meter (3.3ft) in diameter, the Giant Club Moss was the undisputed giant of the Carboniferous forest. Packed several thousand to the acre, great stands of Lepidodendron rose and fell quickly: it’s estimated these early trees only lived 10 to 15 years. We owe our huge reserves of coal to the fallen forests of the Carboniferous, which coincidentally owes its name to the very beds of coal it produced.

(image via: Science Buzz)

Restoring Lepidodendron could be a tremendous boost to our energy resources. Not to produce coal – that would take millions of years – but instead as biofuel. Giant Club Moss forests could be re-established on marginal wetlands and swampy areas not used for farming; their fast growth and rapid turnover allowing for bountious harvests every decade. What’s more, Earth’s ancient Coal Forests helped sequester enormous amounts of carbon, reducing atmospheric CO2 and boosting oxygen levels… the revived Giant Dragonflies are gonna love it!

Neanderthal Man

(images via: Big Ideas Blog, The Independent and Esquire)

“Flintstones, meet the Flintstones…” and some day, maybe we will! The complete Neanderthal genome was successfully sequenced in 2009 and subsequent analysis indicates between 1 and 4 percent of the genes of non-African modern humans is of Neanderthal origin. Neanderthal Man may be extinct as a distinct species, however he (and she) lives on within us. Looking for a “cave man”? Try looking in the mirror.

(image via: Feminine Beauty)

Since “breeding back” isn’t a realistic option where people are concerned, possibilities of resurrecting Neanderthals revolve around preserved DNA. The last true Neanderthals walked the Earth approximately 25,000 to 30,000 years ago and such DNA which has been found is greatly degraded. It will depend on advanced gene sequencing technology available sometime in the near future whether Neanderthal DNA can be repaired sufficiently to be viable… and the next step would be finding a willing surrogate mother for little Pebbles or Bam-Bam.

(image via: Disclose TV)

In the late, great George Carlin’s epic riff on Saving The Planet, GC not only reminds us that 99.9% of all the species that ever lived are now extinct (“We didn’t kill them all”), he also points out that interfering with this natural process is just another example of arrogant human meddling. Maybe so, but we’re meddlers by nature who like to put things right if we possibly can. “Haven’t we done enough?”, Carlin asks. Indeed we have, but to quote another wise old sage (Curly from City Slickers), “the day ain’t done yet.” My guess is, neither are we.

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Fall of the Century: Stunning Pics of Dry Niagara Falls

For six incredible months in 1969, the American side of the powerful Niagara Falls was dammed up…and the water temporarily stopped flowing.
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Hot Licks: The World’s 10 Most Amazing Anteaters

October 11, 2011 by admin · View Comments 

[ By Steve in 7 Wonders Series & Animals & Habitats & Nature & Ecosystems. ]

Anteaters, while outwardly bizarre looking, are prime examples of Nature’s creatures evolving over millions of years to best utilize a distinct source of nutrition. In fact, these 10 “termite terminators” have perfected the art of ant-eating to such a fine degree they can eat little else, which isn’t a bad thing at all considering ants form up to 25% of Earth’s total animal biomass.

Giant Anteater

(images via: CrocRoger, RWP Zoo and ART.com)

Giant Anteaters aren’t really “giant” though they’re by far the largest of the four main species of the suborder Vermilingua (Latin for “worm tongue”). Native to South and Central America, the Giant Anteater’s body is about the size of an average German Shepherd dog – add in its long, bushy tail and you’re looking at a total length of up to 7 feet or 2.1 meters.

Toothless but possessed of wickedly sharp claws on its front feet, Giant Anteaters can consume roughly 30,000 ants and/or termites daily by slurping them up with its sticky 2ft (61cm) long tongue. They have few natural predators but are vulnerable to cougars, jaguars… and transport trucks.

(image via: Ocean Beach Bulletin)

Giant Anteaters bear one offspring at a time and the babies look much like the adults but in miniature. A baby Giant Anteater will spend most of its first year clinging to its mother’s back, presumably flicking up any stray ants she happens to miss.

Silky Anteater

(images via: Olympic Animal Sanctuary, Minden Pictures and NatGeo and ART.com)

The Silky or Pygmy Anteater is also found in South and Central America but in more heavily forested areas compared to its Giant cousin. It’s also much smaller, weighing less than a pound and only growing up to 17.7 inches (about 450mm) in length.

(images via: Kvitters and Cheezburger Network)

The nocturnally active Silky Anteater is rarely seen, though zoologists do not consider it to be a threatened species. THat may change as the more isolated and impenetrable reaches of the upper Amazon become, er, less isolated and more penetrable.

(image via: The Field Museum Library)

If the image above appears somewhat odd, consider that it’s taken from a hand-colored lantern slide dating back to 1928 when the Crane Pacific Expedition was exploring the forests and offshore islands of Panama. Not the “Two-Toed” Anteater’s partially prehensile tail coiled around the tree branch, allowing it to rear up to an upright defensive position.

Northern Tamandua

(images via: Arenas Delmar, Arkive and Focus on Nature Tours)

The Northern Tamandua can be found from southern Mexico down to the Pacific coastal forests of Ecuador and Peru.

(image via: Reptile Forums UK)

With its long and sticky tongue, complete lack of teeth and a mainly hairless prehensile tail, the Northern Tamandua is perfectly adapted for living in jungle forests teeming with ants and other insects.

(images via: Fiona Reid and Qwiki)

A smallish creature that can grow up to 50 inches (130cm) long including its tail, the Northern Tamandua has off-white to pale yellow fur with a contrasting “sweater vest” patch of deep black – it’s the Mister Rogers of anteaters!

Southern Tamandua

(images via: Alapi973, Arkive, The Nature Animals and Holy Cuteness)

The Southern Tamandua, also known as the Collared Anteater or Lesser Anteater, is found over a wide range of South America including the whole of Brazil. Like most other anteaters it has no teeth, but is equipped with sharp claws that make short work of ant and termite nests it sniffs out in rainforest trees. The Southern Tamandua will supplement its diet with bees on occasion. Bees, my God.

(image via: Living With Anteaters)

Lately it seems anteaters like the Southern Tamandua have appeared on the radar of hipsters looking for exotic pets. Perhaps they haven’t heard that anteaters like these are able to spray an exceptionally foul-smelling mist from their anal glands. Besides that, does Whole Foods even stock Purina Anteater Chow?

Giant Armadillo

(images via: The Existence of Our Natural Environment)

The Giant Armadillo may not be a pure, classic, capital-A “Anteater” as such, though the major portion of its diet consists of ants, grubs, and especially termites whose nests it digs deep into with tough, dedicated claws. Weighing up to 70 pounds (over 30kg), the Giant Armadillo is the largest member of the Armadillo family and though its range covers much of South America, it’s considered to be a vulnerable species.

(image via: Bush Warriors)

So you think Giant Armadillos are obscure? Don’t tell this guy, he just might “obscure” you into next week. Seriously though, you’ve really gotta dig (pun intended) Giant Armadillos to devote this much time, money, skin & pain.

(images via: Animal Wildlife and All About Wildlife)

The Los Ocarros zoo park in Villavicencio, Colombia, features Giant Armadillos and acts as an educational resource for those interested in preserving this unusual creature. Humans are its only predators and although the Giant Armadillo is an insectivore for the most part, ranchers consider it a pest.

Pink Fairy Armadillo

(images via: FactZoo, Convivial Crafter and DeviantArt/LobaFeroz)

The Pink Fairy Armadillo doesn’t look like your average armadillo… or most anything else for that matter. This smallest of the armadillos is just 3.5 to 4.5 inches (90–115 mm) long, and spends most of its time underground “swimming” through loose, sandy soil.

(images via: JasonCross, The Odd Critter and Cafe Press)

The Pink Fairy Armadillo is unusual for armadillos in that its armored back plates aren’t attached to its bones along its length; only at the back end. Speaking of which, this curious creature’s posterior is also armor-plated and acts as sort of a “plug” when danger threatens and the creature dives head-first into its burrow.

(image via: Nick Baker)

So little is known about the Pink Fairy Armadillo’s lifestyle, reproduction rate and population count, the IUCN has given up trying to pinpoint its vulnerability status preferring to go with “Data Deficient”. The fact that the creatures only live in a small area of central Argentina, however, raises concerns for its future in the face of incremental habitat loss to human development.

Aardvark

(images via: ZooBorns)

The Aardvark’s name, which means “Earth Pig”, is one of the few derived from the Afrikaans language of South Africa. With their pig snouts, mule ears and pink wrinkly skin, aardvarks can seem shockingly ugly to some. Maybe some cute baby aardvark pics will change that impression… nope, not one bit, and in fact it might have made it even worse.

(images via: Zookeeper’s Journal, Crepture and YellowMagpie)

Found only in Sub-Saharan Africa, aardvarks eat termites almost exclusively leading to their being considered “formicivores”. On occasion they will eat vegetation for its water content but only the so-called “Aardvark Cucumber” will do – which is a good thing for the Aardvark Cucumber as this odd, underground-fruiting plant depends on aardvarks to spread its seeds.

(image via: Africa-Alive)

Aardvark skin is naturally a pale, yellowish-gray hue but their wrinkled hide quickly takes on the tint of the soil in their stomping grounds. You might not want to look like Pigpen from Charlie Brown but such an acquired camouflage may help aardvarks blend into their surroundings and avoid some of Africa’s more fearsome large predators.

Numbat

(images via: Ferrebeekeeper and Art for Conservation)

The Numbat or Banded Anteater is a day-active marsupial termite-eater that was once relatively common throughout Australia. Some zoologists have speculated Numbats may have an ancestral relationship with the extinct Thylacine or Tasmanian Tiger, as both species feature an unusual pattern of contrasting stripes across their lower back and rump.

(images via: Bing Day Photo and Convict Creations)

The introduction of cats, foxes and dogs led to a sharp reduction in the number of Numbats: by the 1970s less than 1,000 remained. Since then, efforts to reduce the number of foxes in particular have helped the Numbat population bounce back to around 3,000 but it is still listed as an endangered species. One reason zoologists think Numbats were able to hold out in two very small, isolated areas is that both locations feature a large number of downed hollow trees – the better to hide oneself in, methinks.

(images via: Stewart MacDonald, Ferrebeekeeper and Perth Zoo)

Numbats have evolved a long, sticky tongue that helps them eat ants and termites but their digging claws are no match for rock-hard termite mounds. They get around this deficiency by digging into the softer soil around the mounds, intercepting termite tunnels (and the termites within).

Echidna

(images via: Eucalypt Habitat, Random Nonsense and Behind the Voice Actors)

The Echidna, or Spiny Anteater, is a monotreme – along with its fellow monotreme the Platypus, the Echidna is the only mammal that lays eggs instead of bearing live young. Native to Australia and New Guinea, the name “Echidna” is derived from Greek mythology in which Echidna is described as the “Mother of all Monsters”. Take one look at an Echidna and you’ll be hard-pressed to disagree.

(images via: Donna Flannery and Digishrine)

The Echidna has made the leap into pop culture, surprising for a creature that looks like it wouldn’t leap if you shot 10,000 volts through it. “Knuckles the Echidna” first appeared in 1994, in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series, as a rival for Sonic. Knuckles doesn’t look much like an actual Echidna, however, which was likely intentional and probably for the best.

(image via: London Lakes 2002)

There are four recognized species of Echidna, with the Short-Beaked Echidna subsisting entirely on ants and termites. Their strategy in case of attack by predators is to curl up into a ball, thus exposing their pointy spines. One trivia note about Echidnas: the male has a four-headed penis. After that, there’s really not much one can say, amiright?

Pangolin

(images via: Linoob, Pixdaus/Popolov and Henceblog)

The Pangolin or Scaly Anteater is an odd-looking creature… come to think of it, are any of the aforementioned anteaters NOT odd-looking? But back to the Pangolin. This scaled mammal can be found from Southeast Asia west to the Atlantic Ocean coast of Africa, split among seven different species.

(images via: Biodiversity Explorer and Defenders of Wildlife)

While not “threatened” in the statistical sense of the term, IUCN has noted a “great decline” in many formerly abundant pangolin populations as a result of strong demand (mainly from China) for pangolin meat used for food and parts used in traditional medicines.

(images via: Arkive and IUCN)

Pangolins can grow up to 40 inches (100cm) long and their front claws are so long they have to walk on their knuckles. They use these claws to tear open ant nests and termite mounds, after which the toothless creatures employ a tongue up to 16 inches (40cm) long and just 1/4 inch (0.5cm) wide to lap up their prime nutritional resource. Pangolin scales are made of keratin – the same substance hair and fingernails are made of – and are razor-sharp at their trailing edges to discourage persistent predators.

(image via: Maison)

Previously of interest only to zoologists, anteaters have hit it off with a new, internet-savvy generation thanks to a notorious 2008 meme. Several variations of an image of an anteater reared up in a natural “come at me bro” defensive posture, most overlaid with text reading “F U, I’m An Anteater”, symbolized the backlash against the perceived flood of cute dog and (especially) cat pics captioned with LOLspeak. The more you know!

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A look at the microsocieties of ants and termites, and how they react to one another.
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Call To The Wild: 7 Amazing Animal Whisperers

September 27, 2011 by admin · View Comments 

[ By Steve in 7 Wonders Series & Animals & Habitats & Science & Research. ]

Animal Whispering may seem to be a modern method of gently communicating with animals but it’s actually a kinder, gentler form of inter-species communication with thousands of years of history to back it up. Though the 7 amazing animal whisperers profiled here aren’t the only ones using both the term and the methods, their skill, notoriety and knack for self-promotion have enabled them to be heard over the roar of the crowd.

The Dog Whisperer

(images via: The Guardian UK, GossipSauce and Tower Video)

“How can I help?”, asks Cesar Millan as soon as he walks into the room. The 42-year-old former illegal immigrant may be the most well-known of all animal whisperers, primarily due to his listeners of choice: dogs.

(images via: DogWhisperer.net, Dog Obedience Training Online and Beyond The Rhetoric)

Even with 65 million potential “patients” in the United States alone, however, it’s taken Millan’s powerful yet persuasive personality to build Dog Whispering into a 7-figure-grossing corporation dedicated to making every dog owner an unchallenged leader of the pack in his own home.

(image via: Tontin247 / Deviantart)

Cesar Millan learned how to work with animals on his grandfather’s farm in Sinaloa, Mexico, where he soon acquired the nickname El Perrero (“The Dog Boy”) for the natural way he interacted with canines. Nowadays he espouses his philosophy of dog management on his hit TV show, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan. By stressing the principles of exercise, discipline and affection (in that order), Millan teaches the owners of even the most recalcitrant dogs that they can assume and maintain a leadership role that benefits both owners and pets.

The Bird Whisperer

(images via: TheBirdWhisperer.com)

You may not have heard of Ken Globus, but the bespectacled gent who became known as the Bird Whisperer tamed thousands of antisocial avians over the past 25+ years. Ken learned how to deal with birds at his parents’ pet store in Inglewood, California, where almost all of the birds were caught in the wild. By literally throwing out the books on bird-raising and using his own innate sensitivity, he eventually established a new way of taming even the most un-handleable birds.

(image via: TheBirdWhisperer.com)

That’s Ken above, left, with filmmaker Steven Spielberg on the right holding his pet Panama Amazon parrot, Blanche.

(images via: Parrot Chronicles)

Sadly, Ken Globus passed away on September 10th, 2008, but his pioneering technique of “progressive desensitization” is being taken up by a new generation of Bird Whisperers.

The Shark Whisperer

(images via: The Bahamas Weekly, Dek-D and TCPalm)

Cristina Zenato has been referred to as “the First Lady of Shark Diving” but doesn’t Shark Whisperer sound way cooler? I mean, whispering underwater is tough enough as it is without a Great White Shark trying to horn in on the conversation… and just try finding ol’ Mac the Knife’s ear in the first place!

(images via: PunchBaby and Dek-D)

Inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame in March of 2011, Cristina Zenato has been a tireless advocate for the welfare of sharks and is the Diving Supervisor, Dive Instructor and Shark Dive professional at UNEXSO (UNderwater EXplorers SOciety) on Grand Bahama Island. Cristina has learned the delicate procedure of tonic immobility from her mentor, Ben Rose, and has used the technique to remove hooks from the mouths of oft-voracious Caribbean Reef sharks.

Here’s a quite beautiful video of Cristina Zenato making shark-play look like child’s play… and not the one starring Chucky. Prepare to be amazed:

333 Nina Salerosa, via JoeRomeiro333

(image via: Innocent Bystanders)

Not to be outdone in the shark whispering department (and in other news, there’s a shark whispering department) is Mike Rutzen, a South African diver who’s been dubbed “Sharkman” by his less-daring fellow divers. Rutzen performs tonic immobility on sharks by balancing them face-down on his palm and massaging their snouts. How he gets them into that position in the first place is another story entirely.

The Wolf Whisperer

(images via: National Geographic, WHSmith and Canine Squad)

“My, what big ears you have!”, said Little Red Riding Hood to the Big Bad Wolf. Maybe if Li’l Red had applied Shaun Ellis’ wolf whispering methodology and talked to the ears, not the hand, maybe Grandma would still be alive & kicking and the wolf wouldn’t seem quite so big and bad. Ellis, also known as The Wolfman, takes “hands-on” interaction to the highest level possible without actually becoming a member of a wolfpack… oh wait, he’s done that too.

(images via: Erin Flight’s Blog)

Quite a different way to interact with wolves is conducted at the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota, where captive wolf packs have been maintained since 1989. Wolves at the IWC are socialized to humans at a very early age and
any physical human interaction is limited to a selected group of Wolf Care staff, enabling easier veterinary checks and excellent wolf behavior viewing opportunities from the center’s glass windows.

(images via: R-ML’s Den and International Wolf Center)

IWC Wolf Curator Lori Schmidt is seen above being greeted by either Shadow or Malik, the Center’s two 11-year-old Arctic Wolves who together make up the current Retired Pack. The mission of the IWC is “teaching the world about wolves” but it’s really the wolves who do the teaching; the human staff’s task is to interpret their unique world-view. It seems that in this case, the wolves are the ones doing the “whispering”.

The Lion Whisperer

(images via: Damn Fresh Pics)

There are Cat Whisperers and then there are Big Cat Whisperers like Kevin Richardson, the Lion Whisperer.

(images via: Animal Care and Seaway Blog)

Richardson, a 32-year-old animal ranger at The Lion Park in Lanseria, just outside Johannesburg, South Africa. “I don’t use sticks, whips or chains – just patience,” explains Richardson. “It may be dangerous, but this is a passion for me, not a job.”

(image via: Damn Fresh Pics)

Richardson relies not only on 10 years of experience working with animals, but also in his previous career in physiology where he worked with patients who had undergone surgery. “I am someone they relate to,” says Richardson. “I enrich their lives. If these animals are going to be kept in a captive situation, don’t they deserve to have the best care, the best entertainment, the best lives?”

The Bear Whisperer

(images via: TheBearWhisperer.com, Denver Post and TV Rage)

Annoyed by the bear necessities in Mammoth Lakes, CA? Call Steve Searles, the Bear Whisperer. You’ll be glad you did and the bears even more so, as Searles’ quiet yet persistent persuasiveness allows wayward bruins to get back to nature with their hides (and lives) intact.

(images via: Mammoth Lakes and The Wrap)

Is Steve Searles smarter than the average bear? Find out for yourself by watching “The Bear Whisperer” on the Animal Planet network. “I have learned over the years that the biggest, baddest and meanest bear is usually in control of the others,” explains Searles. “My success is based on assuming that role and showing our bears who is boss. ‘Bear Whisperer’ will prove that we can co-exist with most wildlife if we take the time to understand how and why they behave the way they do and respect that.”

The Horse Whisperer

(images via: Boswell’s Poetry and ABC Counselling)

Though many people first heard the term “horse whisperer” through the 1998 eponymously titled 1998 film starring Robert Redford and Scarlett Johansson, so-called “horse whisperers” date back to the early 19th century. Daniel “Horse-Whisperer” Sullivan kept his methods secret but onlookers reported he would stand face to face with his equine subjects and would appear to be whispering to them.

(images via: Horseback Online and Jackson’s Hole Adventures)

What Sullivan and later followers were practicing was Natural Horsemanship, a gentle way of training horses dating back at least to the era of Classical Greece. Practitioners of natural horsemanship avoid techniques involving punishment that inculcate fear in the horse being trained. Instead, subtle body language and a system of behavioral negative reinforcement are applied, with the goal being to forge a willing partnership with the horse.

(images via: Connected Horsmanship, Dharma Haven and Lovemarks)

One of the foremost Horse Whisperers of the modern era is Monty Roberts, author of the best-selling book The Man Who Listens to Horses. Roberts first observed wild mustangs in his early teens, noting they seemed to express themselves through a discernible type of body language. His autobiography, first published in 1996, has been translated into over a dozen languages and has sold over 5 million copies worldwide. You’ll find an interesting interview with Monty Roberts here.

(images via: The Daily Raider)

Since the concept in all its many variations (“Duck Whisperer” anyone?) exploded out of pop culture’s melting pot, one wonders if Animal Whispering has jumped the shark… sorry, Christina Zenato. Though the phrase is what pays these days, the theory of natural social interaction with animals still stands on its own, er, four legs.

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8 Majestic but Critically Endangered Mammals

An astonishing 1 in 4 mammals worldwide are in critical danger (either threatened or endangered). Here are some of the particularly beautiful species that are on the list.
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Filed Under: Green Things
Tagged: animals & habitats, books, curator, diving, facebook, online, pets, photos, psychology, theory, time, women

11 Ways Technology is Helping to Save Endangered Species

September 19, 2011 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments 

[ By Steph in Animals & Habitats & Science & Research & Technology & Gadgets. ]

Unchecked human activity has destroyed animal habitats and disturbed the delicate balance of many ecosystems, reducing the populations of many species near the point of extinction. Our roads, farms, factories, pollution and poaching have caused undeniable harm to animals – now it’s time we use the fruits of our progress to help them. Here are 11 fascinating and uplifting ways in which modern technology is aiding the conservation efforts of species that are disappearing all too quickly.

Collecting Gorilla Conservation Data with GPS

(images via: wikimedia commons)

Bushmeat hunting and other threats have pushed the Cross River gorilla, which inhabits the tropical forest of the Nigeria-Cameroon border, to the brink of extinction. Fear of humans has led the remaining gorillas to steep, difficult mountain terrain, which makes it difficult for park rangers and conservationists to track them. Luckily, technology has intervened: the North Carolina Zoo and the Wildlife Conservation Society have begun using global positioning system (GPS) in order to better understand the distribution of the gorillas in relation to existing habitat and human activity in their area. FIeld trackers can now collect wildlife monitoring data with computers that collect data systematically and automatically map the terrain.

GPS Tracks Tagged Tigers

(images via: physorg.com)

GPS is also being used in a slightly different way, to directly track the movements of tagged animals. Scientists in southern Nepal have fitted an injured wild tiger, which wandered into a tourist resort and was nursed back to health, with a GPS collar. Vets and conservationists released the tiger in the remote jungles of western Nepal and will use the data from its collar to learn more about these tigers’ movements, in the hopes of protecting them from increasing threats from poachers.

Hubble Telescope Identifies Whale Sharks

(image via: wikimedia commons)

Another exciting and surprising application of space technology to animal conservation is the use of Hubble Space Telescope computer software, which is used by astrophysicists to locate stars and galaxies in outer space, to identify the unique markings on the hide of the endangered whale shark. The pattern-matching algorithm of the software can identify individuals’ markings in much the way of a fingerprint, ‘virtually tagging’ each animal without ever disturbing them.

Text Messages Protect Elephants in Kenya

(image via: wikimedia commons)

Those little chips used in some cell phones to store phone numbers and other user information are being used in Kenya to keep endangered elephants from leaving their habitats and entering human civilization, where they tend to cause damage to homes and other structures. In 2008, Save the Elephants fitted a SIM card into the collar of an elephant named Kimani, who frequently ventures into nearby farms, and set up a virtual ‘geofence’ using GPS. Any time Kimani approaches the invisible boundary, locals and conservationists are automatically warned via text message. Similar SIM collars fitted onto other elephants text the position of tagged animals to researchers, allowing them to map entire migration routes.

Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) Tags for Fish

(image via: california hatchery reform)

Four species of endangered fish are getting some high-tech help in the Upper Colorado River with the use of ‘Rifle’, a “passive integrated transponder” (PIT) system that monitors their movements. PIT tags, which are inserted into the fish in much the same way as microchips in cats and dogs, are sensed when tagged fish pass through the Price-Stubb Diversion Dam, allowing researchers to gather priceless information on the migration patterns of species like the Colorado pikeminnow.

Unmanned Planes Spot Arctic Seals

(image via: wikimedia commons)

Cameras mounted on unmanned planes that fly over the Arctic are not only capturing images of declining sea ice – they’re also marking the location of endangered seals. “Because ice is diminishing more rapidly in some areas than others, we are trying to focus on what areas and types of ice the seals need for their survival,” said Peter Boveng, leader of the Polar Ecosystems Program at NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center.

Species like bearded, ringed, spotted and ribbon seals rely on sea ice for breeding, resting and a safe haven from predators. The unmanned “Scan Eagle” aircraft is used in conjunction with image recognition software to automate the identification of seals in thousands of images gathered during flights. Such a system can drastically reduce the amount of time researchers must spend tracking the seals.

Desalination Plants Providing Water to Arabian Oryx

(images via: wikimedia commons)

Electronics firm Hitachi is helping to save the endangered Arabian Oryx with fresh water from its solar-powered desalination plants in Abu Dhabi. This beautiful animal was extinct in the wild in the late 1960s due to excessive hunting and has only recently been re-introduced to its natural habitat after successful captive breeding programs. However, it is still in danger, and finding access to fresh water is always a challenge. Hitachi’s desalination unit removes the high salt content found in desert groundwater, feeding the filtered water to waterholes in remote desert areas.

Gene Sequencing Machines Save Tasmanian Devils from Cancer

(images via: wikimedia commons)

Tasmanian devils are in danger because of a disfiguring and almost always fatal cancer called devil facial tumor disease that is spreading through the population of this species like wildfire. Scientists say the disease works like a virus, but actually spread by a whole cancerous cell that developed in a single individual several decades ago. In order to better understand this disease and what they can do to help the notoriously ferocious (yet still incredibly cute) Tasmanian devil, scientists are using gene sequencing machines to determine the genetic diversity of the animals. This technology allows researchers to look at the DNA code of the animals. Using the genetic code found from the initial two animals in the study, the research team has developed a test that costs $150 per animal, down from the $10,000 it originally cost to analyze the complete genome.

Sonogram Spots Grouper in Mangrove Roots

(images via: wikimedia commons)

The Goliath grouper, which can exceed six feet in length, is critically endangered, and scientists need to be able to identify their numbers. This is hard to do when juveniles spend almost the first decade of their lives among the tangled roots of red mangrove trees in the Atlantic Ocean. Today, thanks to sonogram technology, the Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA) is able to conduct visual underwater surveys that help evaluate the effectiveness of protective measures that have been put into place. The acoustic dual-frequency sonar camera “sees” individual fish with the use of sound waves, regardless of the limited visibility in dark, murky waters.

Websites That Raise Awareness

(images via: wildlife near you)

If everyday people were more aware of threatened species that live practically in their own backyards, would they be more aware of their interactions with those animals and how their own activity affects them? It seems likely, and websites that give animal lovers information about species in their area can definitely help. WildlifeNearYou was developed not with the intention of saving animals, but helping people find out where they can see certain types of animals in any given area. They invite users to upload photos of animals they’ve seen and document their locations. While WildlifeNearYou doesn’t focus specifically on endangered species, it – and other websites like it – has the potential to increase our awareness of the diverse natural world.

Controversial Cloning: A Last Resort?

(images via: sciencemag)

If a species is on the brink of extinction because of human activity, don’t we have an obligation to do whatever is in our power to save them? Many scientists and conservationists say yes – even if that means cloning the last remaining members of a severely endangered species like Africa’s northern white rhinos. In San Diego, a ‘Frozen Zoo’ holds the DNA of over 8,400 species stored at -280F.

Using stem cells to recreate animals without a healthy mating pair is a hotly debated topic; so far, the process has not produced optimal results and many fear that such measures will become a fall-back response to loss of habitat and other problems that cause species to become endangered in the first place.

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74 Most Exotic and Amazing Animal Species

Some of the strangest, most amazing and most threatened species in the world. Some of these animals may appear harmless but are all too deadly while others …
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Blushing Hides: 10 Amazing Pink Animals

August 23, 2011 by admin · View Comments 

[ By Steve in 7 Wonders Series & Animals & Habitats & Nature & Ecosystems. ]

Pink pigs (and people) display beauty that’s only skin deep but when pink appears as an animal’s prime pigment the results can be strikingly beautiful… they don’t call it “shocking pink” for nothing! This proud posse of puce poseurs provides proof positive pink can be a perfectly pleasing pigment. Period.

Pink Insects

(images via: Loucigaloun04, Mongabay and Dipity)

Insects can be pink owing to a number of factors but mainly two which would seem to be counteractive. Those that frequent pink flowers seek to blend in so as not to be seen by predators – or prey. Others adopt pink along with another, contrasting color to send a vivid “keep away!” signal to potential predators. Can you imagine hot pink & turquoise bees and wasps?

(image via: About.com/Insects)

Why bother with contrast when you’re a newly discovered Dragon Millipede (Desmoxytes purpurosea)? This small but serious critter has a gland that produces cyanide as a defense mechanism. You most definitely don’t want to be near this hot pink dude when he’s, er, millipede-off.

(images via: Audubonimages, Rigorous Intuition and Ohio Birds and Biodiversity)

Other insects are pink not by design but by defect, such as the pink katydid and grasshopper above. In cases of Erythrism, these creatures lack a certain pigment that (by virtue of its absence) leaves the insects with an unintended color scheme. Lobsters can suffer a similar fate but due to different pigments involved, there are no pink lobsters. Pity.

Pink Starfish

(images via: SP13001, TripAdvisor and Squidoo)

Starfish are a favorite subject of photographers thanks to their wide variation in coloration and contrast. It’s not certain what purpose vivid colors serve starfish, however. Slow-moving creatures who frequent reef environments and occasionally feast on endangered corals, starfish are often washed up on beaches where their brilliant hues quickly fade.

(image via: Bargain Florida Lots)

You’ve gotta hand it to echinoderms (who don’t actually HAVE hands), they’re definitely “stars” when it comes to showing their true colors. The hot pink starfish above somehow found its way to a southwest Florida beach without getting BP’d.

Pink Frogfish

(images via: Kapalselam, Delargy.com and DownBelow)

The world’s oceans host an abundance of pink fish and frogfish but this pink Frogfish steals the spotlight. Who can resist this finned clump of cotton candy as it scuttles along the seafloor? Don’t be fooled though, some species of frogfish have toxic spines on their heads that can deliver a painful dose of venom to the unwary.

(image via: RedBubble)

Frogfish don’t have scales and can adjust their skin coloration to match their surroundings. We’re not sure what was surrounding the bubblegum-pink frogfish above… perhaps a sunken ship’s cargo of pink bubblegum?

Pink Land Iguana

(images via: Cryptomundo, Zoo Kawaii and Galapagos Conservancy)

Almost 175 years after Charles Darwin roamed their rocky shores, the Galapagos Islands are still springing surprises on biologists who’d thought they’d seen it all. Maybe now they have: a small population of large, pink land iguanas living on the slopes of the Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island.

(image via: National Geographic)

A park ranger first noticed these (actually, quite noticeable) large iguanas in 1986 but it was thought at the time they were merely a variation of the common land iguana – or, that he’d been drinking. The results of blood testing (on the iguanas, not the ranger) confirmed the Pink Iguana is a specific species and not just a great band name.

Pink & Coral Cornsnakes

(images via: Poppycorns)

Snake breeders have long striven to induce their reptilian subjects to express colors not normally found in nature. Take the Pink & Coral Cornsnakes above… not to worry, they’re not poisonous. Buyers now can choose from a wide variety of pinks and patterns to suit their needs, whatever those needs might be.

(image via: Poppycorns)

Of course, it also helps to have a colorful name, like Coral Snow Peaches, Neon Coral Roses, Starburst (as in the candy) Snow Rhapsody or Champagne Pink Minstrel.

(image via: Bite-Dose)

Naturally pink tinted snakes are unusual and most of those reported have been determined to be albinos – their pink tint is owed to their muscle tissue showing through translucent skin. The snake above, however, boasts serrated stripes of brilliant pink that are even more prominent when seen against its black base coloration. Liophidium pattoni, native to the forests of Madagascar, is new to science having only been discovered in 2010.

Pink Flamingos

(images via: MyMixFM and Shutterpoint)

Think pink and pink flamingos are probably what come to mind. Not Pink Flamingos, the 1972 cult classic film from avantgarde director John Waters and starring the notorious Divine, but we digress. Real flamingos are not actually pink, they TURN pink from ingesting water-borne bacteria and from the beta carotene in the food they eat.

(images via: TravelBlog, Luxurious Mexico and Beecy.net)

Flamingos kept in zoos are fed beta carotene supplements and shrimp in order to help them maintain their rosy plumage. Not only do zoo visitors appreciate the results, the flamingos may as well: a pale, drab flamingo has a lesser chance of hooking up with their opposite number. Is that where the cliché “in the pink” comes from?

(image via: Wikipedia)

The garish bird above isn’t a flamingo but is shown here because of its various shades of pink ranging from salmon to neon. Take away the color and it’d be pug-ugly… like most vultures. Yep, it’s a California Condor chick!

Pink-Faced Bald Uakari

(images via: National Geographic, YouSayToo and Retrieverman)

Uakaris are monkeys… monkeys from Hell!! OK, not really, they come from isolated areas of the northwest Amazon basin and just look like Skeletor’s pet. There are 4 known species of Uakari but our focus here is on the Bald Uakari. This odd-looking New World monkey has copious hair all over its body with the exception of its head – much like your average middle-aged human male.

(image via: Greg Neise)

Uakaris have no fat beneath the skin of their faces; basically they’re just skin & bones above the neck, giving their countenances a bizarre, some say “demonic” aspect.

(images via: Fun Gallery, GEO and Wikipedia)

Since the Uakari’s home ranges are located deep in the Amazon rainforest, not a whole lot is known about their lives and lifestyles. Reports have stated they live in the treetops and (thankfully) have a herbivorous diet. Uakaris sometimes travel in groups of up to 100… forget chimps, they should’ve made Rise of the Planet of the Apes with THESE guys!

Pink Dolphins

(images via: Dani.gomes61, Creepy Animals and Condé Nast Traveler)

The pink Amazon River Dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) is actually a mottled pink with gray, though it’s pinker by far than any other dolphin. They’re also thought to be intelligent and have a brain capacity 40% larger than that of humans. You didn’t see any Amazon River Dolphins at the Kardashian wedding, did you? Case closed.

(images via: Scholastic, ECDAfrica and Daily Mail UK)

The Amazon pink dolphins come by their hue naturally, which is not to be confused with a number of albino Bottlenose Dolphins that have been featured in the news recently.

Pink Hippos

(images via: ScienceRay and Have-Fun-In-The-USA.com)

Pink Hippos are rarely sighted outside of Hanna-Barbara cartoons but they do exist, and for several reasons. Most hippos are a brownish-gray color with pink undertones. They can appear even pinker on hot, sunny days when they tend to sweat: hippo sweat is pink!

(images via: AnimalFWD, OK! Magazine and National Geographic)

For a few hippos, even sweating pink isn’t enough: so-called Leucistic hippos lack the normal amount of gray pigment in their skin and, by default, tend towards a more pinkish aspect. Hippos can tolerate leucism more than other creatures as they spend a lot of time in the water and, as a bonus, secrete an oily substance that acts as a sunscreen.

Pink Elephants

(images via: Tremendous News and BBC)

Pink Elephants, no longer just a drunkard’s hallucination! Though this post has focused on naturally pink animals, albino elephants just had to be included because there’s just no ignoring the 800-lb pink elephant in the room – or in the wild. Curiously, albinism is much more common (though still rare) in Asian Elephants and the sighting of the pink baby above in Botswana’s Okavango Delta region sparked a flood of interest from zoologists and conservationists.

(images via: IOL)

“I have only come across three references to albino calves,” stated Dr Mike Chase of Elephants Without Borders, “which have occurred in Kruger National Park in South Africa.”

(images via: Geof Wilson)

Dyeing to be pink? We’ll ignore the antics of pink poodle fanciers or that wacky Brit who tinted her cat pink with food coloring to match her hair. The flock of sheep above was “dyed in the wool” to deter rustlers. Don’t tell that English chick about this, OK?

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Well Red: 10 Amazing Red Animals

Red animals are rarely retiring - their brilliant crimson, scarlet and vermillion hues dare others to notice them and often remind them to keep their distance.
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Filed Under: Green Things
Tagged: amazon, animals, animals & habitats, food, friends, madagascar, nature, ranger, skin, time, water

Eco Kitty: 12 Great Green Products for Cats

August 15, 2011 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments 

[ By Steph in Animals & Habitats. ]

Dusty clay cat litter, food based on slaughterhouse byproducts and toxic flea treatments aren’t good for your cat, your family, your home or the world at large. Choose healthier, greener cat products instead, from toys and treats to collars and carriers. These 18 eco-friendly options will keep your cat happy, healthy and high on catnip.

Kitty’s Garden of Edible Grass

(image via: only natural pet)

Are your indoor cats chewing up all of your houseplants? Indulge their instinct to chew on grass with a pot of wheatgrass, oat, rye or barley. One good choice is the SmartCat Kitty’s Garden, a kit that contains a pot, peat moss soil and organic seeds.

Recycled Cardboard Scratcher

(image via: uncommon goods)

Encourage your cats to scratch a designated object instead of your furniture. Cardboard cat scratchers come in all shapes and sizes, and are often made of recycled cardboard. Bonus: they can be tossed in the recycling bin once they’re shredded beyond recognition! This cute dog-shaped one is from Uncommon Goods.

Organic Catnip

(images via: petco)

Something about catnip makes most cats go crazy. Catnip, a perennial herb in the mint family, contains an essential oil called nepetalactone, which stimulates cats. Sprinkle organic catnip like that offered by Castor & Pollux on toys, bedding or a cardboard scratcher.

Natural, Biodegradable Cat Litter

(image via: worldsbestcatlitter.com)

Conventional clay cat litter not only tracks dust all over the place, it’s also a significant environmental problem: 2 million tons of it end up in landfills every year. Seek out a biodegradable, compostable cat litter made from renewable materials instead. One option is World’s Best Cat Litter, made of whole kernel corn.

Compostable Litter Box Liners

(image via: biobagusa.com)

Want to compost that eco-friendly cat litter? Line the litter box with a biodegradable liner like the ones made by BioBag. It couldn’t be easier to simply lift used litter out of the pan and toss the whole bag into your compost pile. Make sure you maintain a separate compost pile just for cat waste, and never use the resulting compost on food crops.

Eco-Friendly Recycled Pet Carrier

(image via: amazon.com)

Tote your kitty around in style with an eco-friendly pet carrier. The Eco-Friendly Tote by Snoozer is made of durable recycled burlap and features a large main compartment with four zippered mesh openings for ventilation as well as a large flap packet on the front for accessories.

Crunchy Treats for Dental Health

(image via: drsforstersmith.com)

Let’s face it – most pet owners don’t wrangle up the cats on a regular basis to brush their teeth. To keep up your cat’s dental health, feed them healthy, crunchy cat treats like those from Pet Greens. The texture of these treats helps control plaque; they’re also grain-free and packed with protein and nutrients.

Natural, Holistic Cat Food

(image via: petco)

Most brands of commercial cat food contain some pretty unhealthy ingredients like gluten, corn, rendered meats and animal by-products. Brands that cut out these ingredients and focus instead on natural, holistic food packed with vitamins and minerals are far better for kitty’s health. Halo Spot’s Stew is a great choice, containing wild salmon, whole egg and veggies like sweet potatoes.

Breakaway Hemp Cat Collar

(image via: only natural pet)

A natural renewable resource known for its strength and durability, hemp is one of the most eco-friendly materials available. The hemp collars by Silly Kitty feature a safety breakaway clasp to let cats break free if the collar catches on anything. Available in a range of colors, these collars are breathable and biodegradable.

Cozy Organic Bed

(image via: the premium pet)

Cats love cozy spaces, especially beds with high walls. The Organic Bumper Bed by West Paw Design is soft, comfy and available in a wide range of colors and sizes.

Stimulating Natural Toys

(image via: only natural pet)

Engage your cat’s instinct to chase small prey with a fun interactive toy like the Field Freddy’s Feather Cat Toy. This biodegradable toy is simply a wood wand, a hemp string and cork ‘feathers’ that will get your cat active, helping to prevent obesity. Naturally, you can DIY this for next to nothing.

Natural Flea Care

(image via: only natural pets)

Cats can be sensitive to many of the essential oils that are recommended to prevent fleas on dogs, leaving many cat owners uncertain about how to control these pesky pests. Only Natural Pet offers flea care kits for cats in mild, moderate and severe packages, which include items like flea combs, brewer’s yeast tablets, herbal defense shampoo and an all-in-one flea remedy made with diatomaceous earth, a mineral substance that is non-toxic to people and pets.

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Green Pet Products: 12 Eco Essentials for Dogs

Organic dog food, natural flea treatment, recycled toys and sustainable ways to deal with waste are among the 12 top eco-friendly dog products.
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Green Pet Products: 12 Eco Essentials for Dogs

August 8, 2011 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments 

[ By Steph in Animals & Habitats. ]

Kind-hearted and loyal, our dogs are faithful companions that help us enjoy the simple pleasures in life, like luxuriating in a patch of sun or wading in a cool creek. So why not protect them from pesticides and other toxins, and keep their paw prints from making too deep of an impression upon the earth? These 12 green pet products including toys, treats, collars and beds are recycled, sustainable, natural and healthy to dogs, humans and the planet.

Stainless Steel Portable Water Bottle

(images via: olive green dog)

It’s always a great idea to bring along some water for your dog when you’re out, especially if you’re engaging in physical activity like frisbee or a hike. The H2O4K9 water bottle is made of food-grade stainless steel with a polypropylene lid that doubles as a drinking bowl. The bottle holds 25 fluid ounces, is fully recyclable and free of BPA and other toxins.

Planet Dog Wood Chuck with Orbee-Tuff RecycleBall

(image via: planet dog)

Not only is this a great design to lob balls long distances for your dog to fetch, it’s also made from eco-friendly materials – and a lot more attractive than similar neon-colored plastic versions. Planet Dog’s Wood Chuck thrower is made of renewable bamboo with an ergonomic handle made of recycled cork scraps. The accompanying Orbee-Tuff RecycleBall is made of 100% recycled materials and is super-strong, holding up to even the most enthusiastic of chewers.

Eco Pick-Up Dog Waste Kit

(images via: fetchdog)

Be a responsible dog owner – always pick up after your pet when you’re taking a walk, whether it’s on a downtown street or at the park. Biodegradable bags are thought to be an even better option that reusing plastic shopping bags, because they at least have a chance of breaking down in a reasonable amount of time. The Eco-Pick Up Dog Waste Kit is just one of many similar dispensers for these bags that are compact and easy to carry – you simply clip it onto the dog’s leash.

Doggie Dooley In-Ground Waste Digester System

(image via: drs foster & smith)

At home, when you clear the yard of land mines left behind by your dog, don’t toss them in the trash. Consider an in-ground waste digester system like the Doggie Dooley. This bucket-sized container works like a septic system, using environmentally friendly enzymes and bacteria to turn dog waste into a liquid that’s absorbed by the ground.

Organic Bumper Bed by West Paw Design

(image via: green dog love)

You’re careful about purchasing bedding for yourself that’s free of toxic chemicals – extend the same care to your pooch. An organic bed is simply healthier for your pet than one that has been treated with pesticides or other harmful substances. The Organic Bumper Bed by West Paw Design is comfy and cozy, and you can customize the colors.

Freezy Pups Kit Dog Treats

(image via: only natural pet)

Make your own organic frozen dog treats using this simple kit, which consists of a tray of bone-shaped molds and a set of four flavored treat mix packets. Each packet makes 14 treat in white cheddar cheese, juicy apple, sweet potato n’ maple or chicken soup flavors. Of course, with a little imagination, you can DIY this – just use an ice tray and fresh, natural pureed foods.

Earth Dog Decorative Hemp Dog Collar

(image via: olivegreendog)

Available in solid colors and cheerful modern prints, the Earth Dog Decorative Hemp collar features a triple-layer, 100% hemp canvas construction. Choose from adjustable quick-release or martingale belt-style. These hypoallergenic collars are hand-made in the USA; matching harnesses and leashes are also available.

Ark Naturals Neem Protect Spray

(image via: vitacost)

Protect your pet from fleas and ticks naturally, and keep them smelling fresh along the way. The insect-repelling essential oils citronella and neem are far healthier for your pets and for you than common pesticides like pyrethrin. Neem oil can also help heal existing bites and soothe itching.

Recycled Doggie Tee

(image via: fromscratch)

Profess your eco-friendly inclinations with a recycled message tee for your dog. Eco tees by ‘From Scratch’ are made from 100% recycled ring-spun cotton/poly jersey reclaimed from cotton waste and plastic bottles. Design choices include ‘Treehugger’, ‘The Green Apple’, ‘Love the Planet’, ‘Paper or Plastic?’ and ‘I’m All Natural’.

New Age Pet Eco-Concepts Bunkhouse Dog House

(image via: petco)

If your pet spends a lot of time outdoors, you’ll want to get her a comfortable dog house to shelter her from the elements. The New Age Pet Eco-Concepts Bunkhouse is made of 100% recycled plastics and recycled wood products, and features a weatherproof interior and exterior. This dog house has a raised floor for ventilation, a double-wall design that provides extra insulation from harsh temperatures, and a removable roof for easy cleaning. It can be painted with any exterior latex paint to match your house.

Super-Tough Chew Toys from Planet Dog

(images via: planet dog)

Encourage your dog to chew on designated toys, not your shoes! Planet Dog rates its chew toys from 1-5 ‘chompers’ to tell you how well it will hold up to dogs with a strong urge to chew. The Slobber-Wick Squeak Bone is great for dogs that won’t do too much damage, and the Orbee-Tuff Recycle Bone, made of scraps from other products that would otherwise by discarded, are somewhere in between. Got the kind of dog that could chew through a wall if left unattended for too long? Try the Orbee-Tuff Diamond Plate Ball, which is practically impossible to destroy.

Castor & Pollux Organix Dog Food

(image via: petco)

While fresh, raw food may be the ideal choice of nourishment for dogs, many people still prefer pelletized dry food. One of the best brands available is Castor & Pollux Organix, which is made of human-grade chicken meat. Also containing fresh organic apples,  broccoli, carrots, pumpkin and pears as well as millet and quinoa, this natural organic dog food does not contain corn, wheat, soy or by-products.

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Futuristic Eco-Kitchen Makes for Cleaner, Greener Meals

Will kitchens of the future look like this? With waste reduction tools and energy-efficient appliances built in, the Ekokook could change the way we do food.
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Filed Under: Green Things
Tagged: animals & habitats, awesome-avian, birds, dogs, facebook, green, kitchen-makes, park, recycle, recycled, usa, water

Volunteer Vacations: 13 Eco Trips Worth Working For

July 18, 2011 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments 

[ By Steph in Animals & Habitats & Geography & Travel & Nature & Ecosystems. ]

Travel to exotic locations like Kenya and Cambodia (or just within the United States) to immerse yourself in a new culture, learn valuable skills and make a difference in ecosystems and communities. Volunteer vacations let participants take a break from normal life to hand-feed kangaroos, explore archaeological finds in ancient temples, improve isolated rural areas, protect endangered species like lemurs and manatee and even study the effects of climate change in the Arctic. These 13 trips offer incredible cross-cultural experiences that will broaden your horizons and make you feel good about your contribution to the world.

Rescue Rhinos in Kenya

(images via: bobrayner)

Spend 15 days helping to bring back black rhinos from the brink of extinction with Earthwatch, gathering data on the African savannah. Opportunities to travel to Kenya for this trip arise nearly every month of the year. Volunteers will help Dr. Geoffrey Wahungu observe rhinos in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, measuring the composition and condition of the vegetation eaten by large herbivores like the rhinos as well as elephants and giraffes.

Save Sea Turtles in Costa Rica

(images via: parisminaturtles.org)

Volunteers are critical to the success of the Parismina Sea Turtle project, which works to protect endangered sea turtles, particularly during nesting season. Stay with locals, in hotels, in cabins or in camping areas; the minimal fees charged to participate vary by accommodation type. Volunteers interact directly with the turtles, count and collect eggs and watch baby turtles hatch.

Uncover the Origins of Angkor in Cambodia

(images via: dave_b_)

The stunningly intricate and mysterious temples of Angkor in Cambodia will be your playground and classroom as you help Earthwatch map the area, look for new prehistoric sites and measure and photograph excavated treasures. Fees start at $1925; volunteers stay at an inn. The next 7-14 day trips are scheduled for January and February 2012.

Work with Wallabies in Queensland, Australia

(images via: goeco.org)

The chance to hand-feed a rescued wallaby joey with a baby bottle is reason enough to join the Go Eco volunteer trip on a wildlife reserve in Marlborough, Australia. Trips are scheduled every two weeks and cost $680 including bunk beds in rustic rural lodgings and communal meals. Volunteers care for and rehabilitate the endangered Bridled Nailtail Wallaby, one of 45 existing species of kangaroo in Australia.

Garden & Get Creative in Israel

(images via: kibbutzlotan.com)

Healthy young volunteers are needed at Kibbutz Lotan in Israel to design, build and run sustainable communities. Get practical hands-on experience in natural and alternative building methods as well as gardening, and create art with recycled materials. Volunteers live in straw bale dome homes at the ‘Eco Campus’ for two weeks at a cost of $550.

Learn About Lemurs in Madagascar

(images via: belgianchocolate)

Join Azafady, a Madagascar charity, in protecting endangered lemurs on volunteer trips ranging from 2 to 10 weeks long. Each 10-week block starts in January, April, July and October every year and involves practical hands-on conservation research. The data collected is used to highlight the plight of lemurs and other threatened species in the area. Volunteers are asked to raise a minimum donation of $967 for the first two weeks of the program, with decreasing donation amounts for each two weeks thereafter.

Study Climate Change in the Arctic

(images via: noaa photo library)

Study climate change firsthand on the front line – the Arctic circle. Volunteer teams on this Arctic trip leave in September, February, June or August to collect climate change data from the forest to the tundra in northern Canada. In addition to using high-tech scientific equipment, you’ll travel on sleds pulled by snowmobiles, and even learn how to build and live in igloos. Based at the Churchill Northern Studies Center, the program is 10-11 days long and costs a minimum of $2995.

Monitor Mangroves and Manatees in Belize

(images via: blueventures.org)

Hit a biodiversity hotspot and help develop new conservation and research initiatives with Blue Ventures in Belize. This volunteer program assesses the sustainability of fishing practices and the effectiveness of existing protected areas, takes surveys of coral diversity and researches mangrove ecosystems, which are among the last safe havens for such endangered species as the West Indian Manatee and the American Saltwater Crocodile. Volunteers of all ages are welcome in expeditions that range from 3 to 12 weeks; fees depend on length of stay and whether you’re certified to dive.

Maintain Nature Trails in Montana

(images via: bmwf)

If you’d rather stay within the United States, there are plenty of volunteer vacation opportunities from coast to coast. This one, organized by the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, takes you into the wild rugged terrain of Montana to maintain trails and campsites. Volunteers, who also get the opportunity to learn new trail and backcountry skills, can choose from projects that range from long weekends to weeklong backpacking trips, from fairly easy projects to those involving strenuous hiking. Prior trail maintenance and backpacking experience is not required.

Improve Rural Romania

(images via: btcv.org)

If you’re interested in helping a human community in need, consider one of the volunteer trips organized by BTCV. In concert with Agora, a non-profit NGO, BTCV embarks on programs in needy areas of the world including Romania and Bulgaria. Volunteers will experience traditional rural life, maintaining orchards, making improvements to existing buildings and helping to construct new ones. For the first week, you’ll stay with a local family, and for the remaining four days you’ll be camping.

Care for Captive Cheetahs in Namibia

(images via: earthwatch.org)

While you might not get quite this up-close-and-personal with a cheetah on a volunteer expedition to Namibia,  you will participate in vital data collection on cheetah populations as well as wildlife surveys and livestock guard dog programs. Volunteers stay in two-person bungalows at Eland’s Joy, a working farm that serves as the headquarters of the Cheetah Conservation Fund. Trips begin nearly every month, last 15 days and require a $3,539 minimum donation.

Explore Active Volcanos in Nicaragua

(images via: javier.losa)

Explore the effects that volcanic activity has on surrounding wildlife at the edge of the Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua. You’ll get to monitor volcanic gases, take water samples and see red-hot magma and tropical species like turtles and parrots first-hand. Volunteers stay in a small hotel and enjoy local food during this seven-day trip, which costs $2595.

Marine Survey Dives in the Bahamas

(images via: livingonimpulse)

Never dived before? That’s okay! You can actually earn credit toward diving certification while diving off one of the three largest barrier reefs in the world to establish and monitor three new marine protected areas. Participants in this volunteer trip to the Bahamas first get dive training, learning how to study coral and fish underwater, and then do two survey dives a day Monday through Friday with recreational dives available on Saturdays. The program ranges from one week to three months and starts at $3,300.

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Mutt Mobility Device Keeps Fido Independent and Running

July 6, 2011 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments 

[ By Delana in Animals & Habitats & Food & Health & Technology & Gadgets. ]

Is there anything sadder than a disabled puppy dog? When dogs have problems with their spines or hind legs, they are sometimes stuck in large, cumbersome wheelchairs that don’t allow for much mobility for any terrain other than flat and even. This design would let disabled dogs move around almost as easily as they did before their mobility problems.

(images via: DesignBoom)

The Amigo is a canine wheelchair designed by Nir Shalom for “Thinking Hands,” an exhibit at Milan Design Week 2011. Its unique positioning holds the dog’s legs out behind it, allowing the dog to go up and down stairs and lie down on its own. Unlike other models of doggy wheelchairs, the Amigo strives to allow the dog a greater measure of independence.

The design is still a prototype in development, but if it is ever produced each unit will be made individually to fit the dog it is meant for. With its customized supports and comfortable padding, the Amigo would keep doggies happy while letting them get around easily. The durable rubber wheels would keep the Amigo running strong while your pup runs his heart out.

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Real-Life Prototype Fusion Reactor in … 10 Years?!

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Tagged: animal-research, animals & habitats, companion animals, design, food & health, habitats, mobility, models, pet health, reactor, technology, usborne

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