How To Housebreak A Dog?

Teaching a dog to ask you to go out can be easy or difficult, depending on the method you choose. Before you get the dog home, you must prepare everything in order for the process to develop the right way.

1. Buy a small basket (one for each puppy) with a small door that closes. That is where you will keep it.
2. Buy a small package of biscuits, that can be broken in small pieces, and put them in a small basket in a plastic bag.
3. You must have plenty of urine cleaning solution. In pet shops you can also find substances which contain active enzyme (bacteria)
4. Hang a small bell on the entrance door’s knob.
5. Make sure you lave a long leash so you can hold the puppy.
6. Get a walkman so you won't get bored waiting for your dog to do its stuff. Also get warm clothes, gloves and an umbrella if the case.
7. Decide on a verbal command for the dog, like “go use the pot”, and the praise after.

Next method works on almost all the puppies (five to seven weeks old) and they will learn how to go out in three or four days. However, you will need a lot of persistence if you want the method to be successful. If you follow the steps a few hours a day, and then skip a day or two, you will mess up the whole training. The age and the race may alter the learning time length. Do not try to use the paper under the dog method because that will disorientate the dog completely when you will take it outside to eliminate. You will have to start training the dog to take his needs outside, the moment the dog arrives at your house.
If you have, more than one exit doors choose only one that the dog will use to get out, a way you will know when the dog shows sings that it wants to exit. Choosing a door that is far from the place where the family spends most of the time will not do the job. You must hear the noise that the dog makes by touching the door, or the noise of the bell attached to the knob. Place the basket somewhere warm, where the dog cannot see you when it is sleep time. You can also put a towel or a small pillow inside the basket. Normally dogs dot get the sleeping place dirty, but accidents can happen a rubber toy could be the best choice for inside the basket.
After you bring the dog home put on his collar and the leash and takes it to the place where it must do the “needs”. Do not ever carry the dog to the spot, when the dog reaches the place, use the command and nothing else, no other words. Then you must wait until the elimination process happens. That may take a while. As soon as you see it happening, bend and praise the dog and reward it with a biscuit. Then wait until it repeats the process and praise the dog again. Give the dog one reward for one action and only praise.

Exercise With Your Pooch

Exercise is more fun when you have a companion along — like your dog. Join a live web chat on how to exercise with your pet on Monday, April 25, at 11 a.m. Pacific time (1 p.m. Central, 2 p.m. Eastern). Our chat guest is Jackie Epping, a public health scientist in the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Epping, who has five dogs and a cat, presented her paper “An Exercise Machine with Hair? How Dogs Can Increase Physical Activity” at the American College of Sports Medicine’s recent meeting.

We asked her if dogs can engage in some of the same endurance sports that humans do, such as running.

“It really depends on the breed and the fitness level of the dog,” Epping says. “I know people who run several miles a day with their dog, and their dog does just fine. Some breeds, such as dogs in the working group, tend to need more exercise generally. But the key is to know your particular dog’s limitations.

“As with people, it’s better to start slowly and work up to longer distances. You need to pay attention to how the dog is responding. Pay attention to signs such as the dog starting to lag behind or otherwise showing any distress or discomfort, or if you see any kind of limp.

“If you want to exercise with your dog, research the breeds,” she adds. “And don’t forget, as many as 30% of dogs in animal shelters are purebreds, so consider adopting a dog from a shelter. If you get a dog that’s a mix, your vet can probably tell you what breeds are in the dog, and then you can make a decision about exercise and duration.”

What's Platypus?

platypus

The platypus, with its duck bill and webbed feet, is a unique Australian animal. It and the echidna are the only monotremes or egg-laying mammals to be found on earth. The marsupials (mammals with pouches, e.g. kangaroos) and eutherians (placental mammals that give birth to well developed young, e.g. humans) both give birth to live young. The monotremes have lower body temperatures than other mammals and have legs which extend out, then vertically below them. These features together with their egg-laying are more like that of a lizard than a mammal.
Platypus are readily identified by their streamlinedbody, webbed feet, broad tail and characteristic muzzle or bill which is soft and pliable. An adult platypus is from 45 cm to 60 cm in length and may weigh up to 2.7 kg, with females generally smaller than males. Its usual colouration is deep brown on the back and sides of the head, body and upper surfaces of the limbs. The underside is a golden colour although silky grey is not uncommon.
They have two layers of fur a dense waterproof outercoat and a grey woolly underfur to provide much needed insulation. The fur on the broad flat tail is course and bristly. They have a smooth swimming action together with a low body profile and no visible ears, making them easily recognisable in the water. It could only be mistaken for a water rat, but these have a long thin tail with a white tip.The webbed fore-paw is used for swimming, and on land, the skin, which extends beyond the long claws, is folded back to enable the animal to walk or burrow.The webbing on the hind foot does not extend beyond the bases of the claws and this foot is used mainly for steering and to tread water. The tail acts as a powerfulrudder when swimming and also aids the animal when diving.
The male has a spur on the inner side of each hind limb, which is connected by means of a hollow groove to a poison gland. This spur is used to inflict wounds on natural enemies and other males, and may possibly play some part in mating. The poison is capable of inflicting a very painful injury to humans. Suprisingly, platypus are capable of many vocalisations including a soft growling sound when disturbed.
The male has a spur on the inner side of each hind limb, which is connected by means of a hollow groove to a poison gland. This spur is used to inflict wounds on natural enemies and other males, and may possibly play some part in mating. The poison is capable of inflicting a very painful injury to humans. Suprisingly, platypus are capable of many vocalisations including a soft growling sound when disturbed. Although platypus are strong swimmers they are not fast and prefer slow flowing streams. Platypus live in burrows that they dig on the banks of fresh water rivers, lakes or streams. Burrows are usually 4.5 to 9m in length, oval shaped and are constructed just above the water line, often obscured by vegetation.
Breeding
Platypus Breeding occurs during spring but is generally earlier in the north of Australia than in the south. Mating takes place in the water and after 12 to 14 days, between 1 and 3 eggs are laid in a nesting burrow constructed by the female. This burrow is up to 20 m long and has a nesting chamber at the end which is lined with damp plant material. The eggs are incubated between the belly and the tail of the female and hatch after 10 to 12 days. Like the echidna, the platypus lacks nipples and milk from the mammary glands oozes out through ducts at two areas on the abdomen. It is believed that the hair around these areas acts as teats that allows the young to suck the milk. By six weeks the young are furred, have their eyes open and may leave the burrow for short intervals and even enter the water. When four to five months old theyoung are weaned.
Conservation status
The platypus is wholly protected throughout Australia. Although common, it requires monitoring due to the continuing degradation of suitable water bodies caused by daming, drainage and pollution. The illegal netting of fish also causes many platypus deaths. Should the fox become established in Tasmania, the platyus could become threatened.

There Are Three Species Of Philippine Deer

There are three species of Philippine deer: Visayan spotted deer, Calamian hog deer and Philippine brown deer (Cervus marianus). Only the Visayan spotted deer and the Calamian hog deer are presently threatened. Few heads of Visayan spotted deers are still found in the remaining forests of Negros and Panay islands. They were previously reported in Cebu, Guimaras and Masbate Islands but excessive hunting and deforestation lead to their extinction in these places. The Visayan spotted deer is a small, attractive animal measuring about 80 cm tall at the shoulder. Their characteristic white spots remain throughout their life.

The Visayan spotted deers are the most endangered deer in the world. They are listed in the Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), which means that trade of Visayan spotted deeris strictly regulated by law. It is believed that there only about 200 heads of Visayan spotted deer in the wild today. It is seriously threatened with extinction unless illegal hunting and rampant degradation of their habitat are stopped. Conservation measures that have been adopted included the International Philippine Spotted Deer Conservation Program a joint venture between the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the French Parc Zoologique et Botanique De La Ville De Mulhouse (PZBM) (Oliver, 1996). There were two components of the program: establishment of a new national park in Panay and the setting up of captive breeding and rescue centers.

The Philippine Wildlife Loan Agreement (PLWA) signed in 1987 by DENR and Mulhouse Zoo implemented these. Under this agreement West Berlin Zoological Society would provide financial assistance for faunal survey and preliminary management plan for the proposed Panay Mountains National Park. In 1990, the captive breeding component of the Philippine Spotted Deer Conservation Project was realized with the launching of the Philippine Spotted Deer Captive Program. Mulhouse Zoo and the Zoological Society of San Diego funded the project. Two breeding and rescue centers were initially established, one in Bitu Farm, Iloilo specifically for spotted deers of Panay origin and the other one in Siliman University, Negros Occidental for spotted deers of Negros origin. A third breeding center was later on put up in Bacolod, Negros Occidental.

The ultimate aim of the breeding centers was to establish a "world herd" ofVisayan spotted deers. The initial population inthese centers was composed of Visayan spotted deers donated by private persons who keep these animals as pets and also those caught from the wild. In 1995, DENR and Melbourne Zoo signed an agreement to establish a Philippine spotted deer Conservation Center for Panay Island population of the deer. This agreement was enlarged in 1998 to include the White Oak Conservation Center in Florida. Under this agreement, Melbourne Zoo, which provides financial support to the program, will receive a group of Philippine spotted deer in 2000 to start a regional Australasian zoo program. Incidentally, the Negros Forest and Ecological Foundation, Inc. (NFEFI) reported the birth of the first captive bred spotted deerfawn on November 20, 1996 at its Conservation Center in Bacolod. Research on basic nutritional requirements and reproductive physiology of the Philippine spotted deer should be encouraged to complement various conservation measures.Blood values, blood clotting time, respiratory rate, pulse rate and temperature important in disease diagnosis should be established in this species. Maala and Saguibo (1997) who examined the cuticular patterns of the hairs of Calamian deer, Visayan spotted deer and mouse deer by means of scanning electron microscopy claimed that it is possible to distinguish the Visayan spotted deer from the Calamian deer through the cuticular patterns of their hairs.

Tapir Habitat

Distantly related to the horse and rhinoceros, tapirs have lived on earth for about 35 million years. During that time they have hardly changed at all in appearance. There are four species. One of these lives in the forests of Malaysia and Sumatra, the other three in Central and South America. Tapirs once roamed Europe and North America too, but became extinct there long ago. About the size of a shetland pony, the tapir is a rather odd looking animal. Not only has it a long and flexible snout like a short trunk, but it has four toes on each of its fore feet and only three toes on the hind feet!

Malayan tapir
lives in densely forested areas of south-east Asia, from Burma to Malaysia and Sumatra. It differs from the South American species in its greyish black and white body markings. Seen in a zoo, this tapir's colouring might seem to be rather conspicuous, but in its natural surroundings deep in a humid jungle, the black and white markings help the animal to blend perfectly with its moonlight dappled background. This species spends much of its time in the water and it is an excellent swimmer.

Mountain Tapir or Woolly tapir
which lives in the Andes of Colombia, Peru and Ecuador at altitudes of up to 12,000 ft. They occur in isolated regions of the Andes and their numbers are becoming smaller day by day. Unfortunately, this species has suffered as a result of heavy exploitation of its habitat by man. It has also been hunted either as a source of food or by those who capture live animals for export to zoos.

Brazilian Tapir or South American Tapir
Brazilia Tapir, Central and South American Tapir is nearly always found close to water as, like other tapirs, it is a good swimmer. This blackish-brown species is also fast and sure-footed on land, however, even over the roughest terrain. It is a low land species and lives in marshy forests in parts of Columbia and Venezuela and southward to Brazil and Paraguay. It is the most common of the American tapirs, although it too is suffering from the exploitation of its natural habitat by humans.
Tapir Habits
Tapirs are shy, inoffensive animals, living in habitats varying from tropical rainforest to deciduous forest, from sea level to heights of at least 3350 metres. They are found close to water, in marshes, mangrove swamps, lakes and rivers. They are excellent swimmers and are said to be able to dive and walk along the river floor.
They also enjoy mud baths, the mud keeping the tapirs cool in the steamy heat of the forest. Solitary by nature, no more than two or three tapirs are ever seen together. The tapir is a nocturnal animal, spending much of its time feeding on water plants and browsing on twigs, leaves, grasses and fallen fruit. The compact streamlined shape of the tapir's body is ideal for pushing through the dense undergrowth of theforest floor.
The tapirs main natural predators are the big cats, the jaguar in South and Central America and the tiger and leopard in Malaya. A tapir cornered by a big cat can put up a good fight, and often manages to escape if it can get into water. Baird's tapir and the Brazilian tapir both have short, bristly manes stretching along the back of the neck, helping to protect the most vulnerable part of the body from the deadly bite of the jaguar. Bears sometimes prey on Mountain tapirs and caymans (a type of alligator) will attack young tapirs in the water.
Breeding
Tapirs have no fixed breeding season. After a gestation period of about 390 days, a single baby is born (twins are rare). The baby can follow its mother within minutes of being born and all new-born tapirs have a reddish-brown coat dappled with white spots and stripes. This pattern helps to provide the young one with excellent camouflage. Whenever there is danger lurking nearby, the baby 'freezes' and becomes part of its background. These coat markings last until the baby is about six months old, and then fade as the young tapir grows its adult coat. The youngster will remain with its mother for up to twelve months and then goes off on its own.
Tapirs have always been a source of food for the natives of the forest, but over-hunting by outsiders has drastically reduced their numbers in some areas. Probably the tapir's most serious problem is the everincreasing destruction of its forest habitat. All four species of tapir have declined over recent years. These strange but appealing animals need full protection if they are going to survive in the wild. Efforts are being made to give them that protection, by creating forest reserves - but nobody can be certain that action has been taken in time to save the tapir, and its forest habitat, from extinction.

The Hoary Fox Is A Slender Animal

The hoary fox is a slender animal with a relatively short, pointed muzzle, and large ears. Pelage colour is variable: the upper body regions are pale grey, whereas the underparts are generally buff yellow to chestnut including the neck, chest and patch behind the ears. The anterior part of the neck is buff white, but the underside of the lower jaw is dark, almost black, as is both the tail base and tail tip; a dark spot on dorsal surface of tail base variably present. Near melanic forms have been described (Cabrera 1931; Vieira 1946; Cabrera and Yepes 1960; J. Dalponte pers. obs.).

Similar species Crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous): sympatric throughout the geographical range of the hoary fox; more robust, larger (4.5–8.5kg), and has coarse bristly pelage; colour variation is substantial within and between populations, ranging from dark grey/black (e.g., Amazonia, central Brazil) to grey/yellow rufous (e.g., Ceará, north-east Brazil), with or without a dark dorsal line along the body to tail tip (specimens of the lighter colour type could be confused with the hoary fox); footpad (and footprint) differentiation of the two species is possible by the experienced field worker (Becker and Dalponte 1991). Pampas fox (P. gymnocercus): possibly sympatric with the hoary fox in southern São Paulo state; more robust and larger (4–6kg); pelage colour and body proportions are similar. Sechuran fox (P. sechurae): not sympatric, occurring in north-west Peru and south-west Ecuador; similar size (4–5kg), and pelage colour, but lacks the dark stripe along the dorsal line of the tail.

Habitat

Occurs in open cerrado habitats, but readily adapts to insect-rich livestock pastures and areas of agriculture(soybean, rice, corn, eucalyptus plantation). Rarely observed in densely wooded cerrado, floodplains, dry orgallery forests.

Conservation status

Threats The principal biome where hoary foxes occur is the cerrado which is being destroyed at a rate of 3% each year, largely in the interests of agriculture (livestock and soybean) (MMA-BRASIL 1998). It appears that hoary foxes adapt to livestock pasture rich in termites and dung beetles. Breeding hoary foxes are found in deforested wooded areas (J. Dalponte pers. obs.), thus it is possible that deforestation may not have a negative impact on the species. Areas of high human population density are unlikely to be suitable. There are no population estimates available.

Kangaroos Are Social Animals

Kangaroo are the largest mammal marsupials and they belong to the Marcropodidae family. Marsupials are animals that carry their young up to a certain age in a pouch. Examples of marsupials besides kangaroos are koalas, wombats, and opossums. Some marsupials have their pouch on their back; whereas kangaroos have their pouches in the front. The name of the family to which they belong comes from macropods, which means large or big foot. Kangaroos are to be found mainly in Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea.

There are around 63 species of kangaroos and they vary in size as well as in the type of habitat in which they live. Depending on the specie, kangaroos can live in forests, woodlands, grasslands, plains, rocky hills, and even deserts. When people talk about kangaroos, they are usually referring to one of four types. There is the Red Kangaroo, which is the largest of the species and usually the male kangaroo could weigh up to 200 pounds and his height can reach over 7 feet. The other three species are the Eastern Grey Kangaroo, the Western Grey Kangaroo, and the Antilopine Kangaroo. There are other much small species that live in tress and can hop from branch to branch. The ones that are of smaller size are as small as a rabbit. Some examples of smaller kangaroos are tree and rat kangaroos. Kangaroos are herbivores and each species eats based on the habitat in which they live. Some eat shrubs, others graze, and others eat roots and fungi.

 Kangaroos have often been described as strange animals as they have heads like deer but without the antlers, can stand up straight like humans, and are able to hop like frogs. Kangaroos move only but hopping and they are the only animal of that size that travel and move in such a way. They, like emus, are unable to move backwards or go in reverse. Kangaroos have very strong and powerful hind legs, which they use to hop or defend themselves by kicking their enemies and predators. They also have long tails, which they use for balance when they are hopping. Kangaroos can hop at a speed of 40 miles per hour. They also have very good hearing and can move their ears all around to make sure that they are able to hear sounds from all directions.

Kangaroo are social animals that travel in groups called ‘mobs’ that may range from 3 kangaroos up to 100. The male kangaroo is called a buck, boomer, or an old man. The female kangaroo is called a doe or a flyer. A baby kangaroo is called a joey.

Female kangaroo give birth to one baby at a time. The gestation time, which means the time that a female kangaroo is pregnant is around 30 days. Newborns usually weigh around 0.03 ounces, and as soon as they are born crawl up into the mother’s pouch in which they stay for around 9 months or longer. A female kangaroo can have up to three children at a time. They can have one that just got out of the pouch, one that is in the pouch, and one that is in the womb. However, since female kangaroos do not carry their babies for very long in the womb, female kangaroos have the ability to pause the pregnancy to make sure that the newborn kangaroo does not come out before the one in the pouch has grown and developed. In the female pouch, there are 4 teats. Each teat provides different milk for the different stage of growth.

Dressing Up Your Pet Dog!

More and more, people in some circles are including their pets and perhaps yours in the milestone events of their lives. From weddings to birthdays to holiday parties, pets are becoming more accepted as guests. Are you and your dog invited to a pet friendly soirée? Maybe you should consider dressing up your dog to commemorate the special occasion.

The first thing to consider when deciding whether or not to dress your dog for a specific event, is whether or not that was something its host had in mind. Often the invitation will make mention of appropriate attire, even for your dog. For example, concerning a pet friendly wedding, the invitation may suggest that human dress is formal, as well as, for our doggie dates. Perhaps an invitation to a Christmas party will suggest semi-formal attire for the humans, but clothing optional for invited furry friends. In which case, the decision is up to you. And an invitation for a summer barbecue may suggest that human dress is casual and that our pets should attend “au natural”. To be on the safe side, if there is not a mention of doggie attire, check with the host before you invest in a new outfit for your pup.

Different occasions will have different wardrobe requirements. For example, when attending a wedding with your pet, there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, don’t dress your girls in white, just as you would not dress in white, white is for the bride only. Secondly, whether it is an outdoor wedding, or an indoor event, you may want to consider putting doggie pants (aka dog diapers) under your pet’s attire, to lessen the chance of accidental staining during potty breaks. And finally, make sure the outfit is comfortable and fits your pet properly. If she is tripping over her dress with every step, you may end up carrying her the entire day, or worse yet, having to shed the dress altogether.

For a less formal event, such as a birthday party in the middle of the day, less formal clothing would be appropriate. For the girls, a more simply designed dress, with less flair doesn’t mean she won’t be gorgeous. For the gentlemen, a simple vest or nice sweater, depending on the climate, would work well. And even if the host suggests “au natural” attire for invited dogs, you can still dress her up with a pretty pink bow, or have him don a bandana. Dressing up dogs for the special occasions in our life can make the memories for all in attendance that much more vibrant, not to mention all of the adorable pictures that will probably be taken.

So no matter the pet friendly occasion, a formal wedding, fancy Christmas dinner, backyard barbecue, or a birthday party, dressing our dogs up for these milestones can be fun for pets, their owners, and spectators, alike. Perhaps you should look into a lavish little number for your dog’s next formal event. It couldn’t hurt.

Take Your Dog For a Walk

A modified version of the following post appears in the Be Active Your Way Blogmaintained by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I wrote it on behalf of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine to celebrate May as National Physical Activity Month.

I’ve written many blog posts recently about ideas to get American adults and kids more physically active. I think it is critical that everyone tries to achieve the standards set by the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans produced by the Department of Health and Human Services. These guidelines recommend at least 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity three times per week. Obviously strenuous exercise, such as running and other forms cardiovascular exercise, and sports are excellent ways to achieve these goals. Plus I encourage both children and adults to try to figure out ways to change their normal activities in ways that increase the activity involved.

A new study published in the March issue of The Journal of Physical Activity and Health suggests a potentially great idea for all Americans to become more active. The study, presented by Matthew J. Reeves et al., looks at whether owning a dog and walking the dog are associated with increased physical activity. They gathered data from the 2005 Michigan Behavioral Risk Factor Survey to try to determine if a relationship existed between owning a dog and physical activity.

The authors found that people who own a dog are more active overall and walk more. Dog owners who take their dogs for walks on average walk about one hour more per week than the one-third of dog owners who don’t walk their dogs. Interestingly they also found that younger Americans and the elderly walked their dogs the most and that people with large dogs (weighing over 45 pounds) walked longer than owners of smaller dogs. Finally the study seems to suggest that the benefits of owning a dog, as it pertains to physical activity, may actually be more than just the actual walking, as dog owners seem to be more physically active than non-dog owners in general.

When I heard about this study, I was not terribly surprised. I am encouraged to discuss it, as I always like to find easy ideas to stimulate physical activity. For instance, I think it is helpful to take the stairs instead of an elevator whenever possible. Also, parking at the end of the parking lot away from stores and businesses forces people to walk a little bit more with their normal activities. Owning a dog and walking it are more examples of easy changes to implement.

What this study did not address, but most dog owners will tell you, is that the benefits of having a dog are not just seen with physical activity. Most of my friends who have a dog point out the happiness that comes when their dogs greet them when they get a home from school or work. They also love taking their dogs to the park and the beach. So to everyone out there who owns a dog – get outside and walk with your four-legged friend. It just might improve your health too.

These dogs are friendly with children

American cocker spaniels make great adoptees as rescue puppies. These are agile, friendly and bold dogs that are keen to work and they are suitable both as pet dogs and as hunting dogs. These are the dogs whose aim is not to catch and bring an animal but to seek out the place where it hides. American cocker spaniels make great adoptees as rescue puppies.

The smallest member of the sporting group, the cocker should be compact and sturdy. Its gait is ground-covering, strong and effortless. The coat is silky, flat or slightly wavy, not overly long. Excessive coat can hinder the dog in the field. The head and expression are hallmarks of the breed; the expression is soft and appealing. Though seldom used for its original purpose, the cocker should still be able to spend a day in the field and should be balanced and athletic. It is true, however, that most cockers now have too much coat for field work.

This breed is known as the "merry" cocker, and the name is most fitting. It is playful, cheerful, amiable, sweet, sensitive, willing to please and responsive to its family's wishes. It is not known for retaining its hunting instincts, but it is inquisitive and will appreciate a country outing. It is equally at home in the city and will happily walk on leash for its exercise needs. Some bark a lot; some are overly submissive.

They are friendly with children, other dogs and even strangers. They are playful, tolerant and devoted animals with average intelligence and an abundance of kindness. They have a tendency to humanize and, thus, must be socialized from the very beginning. American cocker spaniels make great adoptees as rescue puppies.

African elephants and Asian elephants

When one says that an elephant is the largest land animal, one refers to the African elephant. Male African elephants grow up to the height of 12 ft to 15 ft and the female African elephants grow up to 9.8 ft tall. They are also heavier, compared to the Asiatic elephants, as African elephants weigh around 3,600 to 4,600 kg.

Though elephants are huge animals, their needs are minimal. All they need is plenty of food and water and a bit of privacy! African elephants live on the savannas and other dry woodlands. They also live in the Sahara desert, where there is scanty vegetation. You can also find African elephants in the grasslands or in dense rainforests, in countries like Congo. The other African countries where elephants are found are, Kenya, Zaire, Zimbabwe and Mauritania.

Asian elephants are smaller in size compared to African elephants. They weigh up to 500 kg and grow between 8 ft to 10 ft. Asian elephants are found in the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, dry broadleaf forest as well as tropical deciduous forest, grasslands, mountains, tropical savanna and tropical rainforests. The Asian countries like Nepal, Burma, Thailand, India etc, which have the above ecosystems are lucky to be the homes of these elephants.


Elephants are one of those species of animals that can adapt to almost any habitat. Forests, woodlands, grassy plains, savanna, swamps and deserts are some of the ecosystems where they easily survive. Research on elephant history revealed that elephant fossils were found in all continents except for Antarctica and Australia. But now, elephants live mainly in Asia and Africa. In Africa, they are found mainly in the Southern regions. Due to poaching, the number of elephants has decreased alarmingly, largely in West Africa, and in lesser proportions in North and East Africa.

As we all know, elephants are herbivores. The diet of the African elephant is similar to the diet of the Asian elephant. Asian elephants feed on bamboo as it is found abundantly, while the African elephants generally feed on fruits and shrubs. Talking about how much they can eat, well, elephants eat about 149 to 169 kg of food daily. Besides fruits and leaves, elephants can also consume tree barks, bushes, roots, grass and small plants. Tree bark is their favorite food and it is also beneficial to them as it contains calcium and roughage.

Pity the poor peacock

Pity the poor peacock. He can truss himself up in iridescent blues and greens built of billions of intricate, light-catching nanostructures in the feather barbules; he can fan his train of tail feathers that open their hundred eyes to a peahen like an adoring audience; he can coo, bob his head, and shiver so that he positively glimmers like blue bonfire in the forest; and still, the female — who isn’t even that hot — can sniff and walk away. He is the product of millions of years of sexual selection for extravagance, and possesses the most spectacular, show-stopping plumage in the world, but he is far from irresistible. Having seen plenty of peacocks in my life, nowadays I’m more intrigued by the peahens and their discerning gaze. So frustratingly fickle! So charmingly coy! It’s that pickiness that has undoubtedly driven the male to such desperate majesty.

Who hasn’t felt a little like a peacock at times, trying their best to be noticed by the object of their affection and falling short no matter what? What am I doing wrong?, I’ve asked myself. What am I missing? What could she possibly be looking for? I find myself sympathizing with the peacock and his unrequited attempts at winning love on the zoo lawn, coldly rebuffed time after time until he’ll display for any toddler in a pair of brown overalls. Because peacocks look more or less equally fantastic to us, we can’t imagine why a female chooses one and not another. Some guys just don’t have it, the biologists tell us, after a peahen takes a pass on a shimmering fountain of male grandeur. Not wanting to guess the mind of a peahen, they throw up their hands and decline to say what “it” is. That certain something that captures the peahen’s heart. That je ne sais quoi.

Well, to hell with that! Je veux savoir “quoi”! If the peacock can look like that and still get shot down in flames, unless it possesses that je ne sais quoi, I think I speak for males of all species when I say I sure as hell want to know what the “quoi” is.

The Proud National Bird symbol of The United States- Bald Eagle

The bald eagle, with its snowy-feathered (not bald) head and white tail, is the proud national bird symbol of the United States—yet the bird was nearly wiped out there. For many decades, bald eagles were hunted for sport and for the "protection" of fishing grounds. Pesticides like DDT also wreaked havoc on eagles and other birds. These chemicals collect in fish, which make up most of the eagle's diet. They weaken the bird's eggshells and severely limited their ability to reproduce. Since DDT use was heavily restricted in 1972, eagle numbers have rebounded significantly and have been aided by reintroduction programs. The result is a wildlife success story—the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has upgraded the birds from endangered to threatened.
Though their numbers have grown in much of their range, bald eagles remain most abundant in Alaska and Canada. These powerful birds of prey use their talons to fish, but they get many of their meals by scavenging carrion or stealing the kills of other animals. (Such thievery famously prompted Ben Franklin to argue against the bird's nomination as the United State's national symbol.) They live near water and favor coasts and lakes where fish are plentiful, though they will also snare and eat small mammals.
Bald eagles are believed to mate for life. A pair constructs an enormous stick nest—one of the bird-world's biggest—high above the ground and tends to a pair of eggs each year. Immature eagles are dark, and until they are about five years old, they lack the distinctive white markings that make their parents so easy to identify. Young eagles roam great distances. Florida birds have been spotted in Michigan, and California eagles have traveled all the way to Alaska.

Does a Tiger Belong at a Truck Stop? Judge Rules No

A Louisiana judge ruled this week that Tiger Truck Stop owner Michael Sandlin's 550-pound Bengal-Siberian tiger can no longer be kept at the truck stop in Gross Tete, Louisiana. Judge Michael Caldwell ruled that Sandlin's current permit to keep the cat, issued by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife Fisheries, was illegally issued, must be revoked, and can't be renewed.
The ruling by Judge Caldwell favors a motion set forth by the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) to force the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to revoke the permit that allows Sandlin to keep the tiger at the business. Since he was 11 weeks old, Tony has been a draw for gawking motorists who patronize the truck stop, buying food, gassing up and sticking around to get a picture with him.
Sandlin argues that moving Tony now would be cruel and indicates that the truck stop is neatly kept, flowers blooming outside, on a quiet road away from the interstate. Tony's cage has a grassy area, a large water tank for Tony to swim in, hanging tire and other toys — even shade and an air-conditioned den. His 3,600-square-foot cage is surrounded by a 10-foot chain link fence topped with barbed wire, set back several feet.
The ALDF contends it's dangerous holding a big tiger at a business, recalling last month's exotic wildlife

5 Tips to prevent cat hairballs

　　April 30th is Hairball Awareness Day. Why build such awareness? Turns out, hairballs aren’t just gross annoyances. They’re actually a kitty choking hazard! As the weather gets warmer, cats tend to overgroom to alleviate shedding hair, and although you think your clothes and furniture suffer the brunt, much of the hair ends up ingested. Feline-only practitioner Dr Arnold Plotnick offers a few tips on how to keep your cat healthy and hairball free.

How to prevent hairballs in cats
1. Be diligent about grooming
Decrease the amount of hair the cat ingests by using a grooming tool like the FURminator deLuxe deShedding Tool, which can reduce shedding by 90 percent. Proactive grooming removes the excess hair that causes hairballs and is a more holistic preventive measure than giving your cat a laxative or allowing him to cough up the blockage.
2. Kitties need fiber, too
Add a little canned pumpkin to the cat’s meals once or twice a week. The fiber in the pumpkin can help move any hair clumps through the system, and your cat will love the tasty treat. Butter can have the same effect, but is high in calories, so pumpkin might be a better choice.
3. Keep your cat hydrated
Encourage the cat to drink plenty of water by placing bowls throughout the house, as the water will help flush out the hair before it has time to clump in the stomach. It is also a great general practice to keep water bowls separate from food bowls to encourage the cat to drink more water.
4. Make over the cat's menu
Several specially-formulated cat foods aid in the fight against hairballs. Always consult with a vet before making any drastic changes to a cat’s diet. Sudden food changes can sometimes upset the stomach.
5. Know the warning signs
If a hairball problem persists, ask a veterinarian to recommend a supplement to help prevent ingested hairs from clumping. Here are a few signals a cat may have an excessive hairball problem:
• Frequent dry hacking
• An overly matted coat
• Cylindrical (cigar-shaped) masses on the floor or furniture
• Lethargy or lack of interest in playing or eating
• Swollen abdomen
• Constipation

A guide to raising and breeding crickets for food

　　Crickets are a common source of food for lizards and other reptiles. However, constant trips to your local cricket supplier can be bothersome and costly. For this reason, many reptile owners choose to order crickets in bulk to keep for feeding, and even opt to breed and raise their own cricket colonies.

This option can be favorable in that it gives owners the option of 'gut loading' their crickets (that is, feeding nutritious foods to your crickets so that they may pass it on to your reptile when they feed). Crickets can also be dusted with a multi-vitamin supplement before being fed to your pet so that it may receive optimal nutrition.
A warm place to stay
To maintain and eventually breed crickets, you should start with a batch of about thirty. Keep them in a container that is ventilated, yet escape-proof. A plastic or glass container with a screen over the top is fine. Keep in mind, however, that crickets may eat through nylon screens, so choose what kind of screen you wish to use wisely. Be sure to give the crickets things to climb on and places to hide.
It's very important to keep their living space warm. This can be done with a lamp or heater. Ideally, the habitat should be kept at a temperature of 85 degrees Fahrenheit -- never under 70 or over 95 degrees. You should also provide your crickets with food and water. But be careful: crickets drown easily, so use a very shallow dish with an object to be used as an"island" in the middle. Then, use another shallow dish exclusively for food -- store bought cricket food and/or veggies can be fed from the dish.
set the scene
Once your habitat is ready, go ahead and set up a breeding dish. You will need a separate container -- a two-inch deep plastic storage container, or something similar, will do. Then, fill it up with dirt from your backyard or turf substrate bought from your local pet store. Just be sure whatever dirt you use does not have some sort of pesticide in it. Next, fill up the container with about half-an-inch of water and place it in your crickets' habitat.
C'mon, baby
In a few weeks, your crickets should have laid eggs. Sift through the dirt in the breeding dish with your finger to find eggs. They are usually laid about half an inch deep into the dirt. When you are certain the crickets have laid their eggs, remove the breeding dish and place it in a separate container from the adult crickets. It is important to keep the adult crickets separate from the baby crickets, as adult crickets tend to eat the younger insects.
growing pains
After the eggs have hatched, the baby crickets will be about the same size as the eggs. To become fully grown, you will eventually need to place them back into your main cricket habitat.
Here are a few more things to remember when keeping and breeding crickets;
Crickets chirp.They can be noisy. Though their song is pleasant for some, make sure this will not be an annoyance to you or whoever else you live with.
It is likely your crickets will escape. But fear not, a good way to round them up is by luring them into a container with heat and food.
We hope you enjoy raising and breeding your own crickets. Your reptile (and wallet) will thank you!

NEW Bear Shows

　　Polar Bear: Spy on the Ice

A new generation of spy cams takes us closer than ever before to one of nature's largest predators: the polar bear. In Polar Bear: Spy on the Ice, we share their lives as they roam across shifting sea ice, negotiate glaciers, swim between ice flows and hunt for prey.
Blonde vs. Bear: Breaking Point
Bear protector Ann Bryant faces an emotionally charged start to her summer campaign to save the black bears of Lake Tahoe. She has her hands full when a mother bear charges a tree surgeon, a bear terrifies a tourist and a young bear is accused of breaking into a home. As the situation escalates, Ann is pushed to the breaking point in her fight to protect her beloved Tahoe bears.
Blonde vs. Bear: Crime & Punishment
It's mid-summer and Ann Bryant's battle to protect Lake Tahoe's black bears rages on. Hungry bears are breaking into houses and Ann must stop them before someone gets hurt. A series of emergency calls puts Ann on the trail of a mother bear and her three cubs who break into a vacation home, unruly young bears looking for food and big bears attracted by trash. Ann must unleash her unique brand of tough love if she's to save these bears from death.
Blonde vs. Bear: Breakdown
As the tourist season reaches its climax in Lake Tahoe, Ann Bryant of the BEAR League is hit with a crisis that could jeopardize the future of her bears and put her own life in danger. A notorious black bear's crime spree starts to endanger lives, forcing the authorities to issue a "shoot to kill" order. And Ann takes a dangerous risk to stop a 300-pound bear climbing onto a motel roof in a busy tourist town. Will protecting bears take its toll on Ann?
The Bear Whisperer: Big, Bad & Bold
Bear season has arrived in Mammoth Lakes, as huge male black bears rumble into town. Steve Searles, "The Bear Whisperer," deals with a bear who has to be evicted from an inappropriate sleeping spot, and a badly wounded bear whose injuries force Steve to make a heart-wrenching decision.
The Bear Whisperer: You Bad Bear!
One bear ends up making a scene at a local outdoor mall filled with people, while another breaks into a home. When Steve tries an aversive conditioning technique, it backfires. Finally, one bear's life hangs in the balance after a horrifying situation.
The Bear Whisperer: Breaking and Entering
A bear named Blondie goes on a rampage breaking into trash bins, cars and even houses in search of food. "Bear Whisperer" Steve Searles attempts to teach her that bad behavior will be punished, but when Blondie goes too far, a "shoot to kill" order is issued.
Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom: Panda Makers
In China, a rescue operation is underway. Using top-notch science and procedures, a team of vets is breeding panda cubs in captivity. If successful, the cubs will be released into the wild and the giant panda may be pulled from the brink of extinction.
Natural World: Pandamania
Premiering Thursday, August 4, at 9PM e/p
A devastating earthquake has destroyed China's largest conservation center for the giant panda. Now, instead of focusing on repopulating the dwindling species, the race is on to relocate the existing captive-bred pandas to a new home.

Friends of Animals rescues 34 dogs from area home

　The energy at the Friends of Animals (FOA) shelter this week was palpable as the already-crowded humane facility took in 34 dogs that shelter employees said appeared to have been part of either a “puppy mill” operation or hoarding situation at an area house.

　　According to Friends of Animals Board Chair Linda Towne, the FOA was alerted by area law enforcement officials last Friday of an overpopulation of dogs at a home in the area. Upon further investigation, 34 Yorkies, Miniature Pinschers and Dachshunds were found to be living in crowded, squalid conditions. Towne said 15 of the dogs were in the house and the rest were outside in two pens filled with feces.

　　“There was a small tool shed-type structure no bigger than a bathroom that was filled with cages piled up on top of each other up to the ceiling,” said Towne. “That must be where the dogs were kept at night.”

　　She said the lone water dish found in the outdoor pens was “totally filthy.”

　　Staff and volunteers transported the dogs back to the shelter, and for the next two days it took many helping hands to assess the dogs for health issues, bathe and groom them, trim their nails and begin working with their socialization. They were also given the necessary vaccinations.
　　“They were all very matted and dirty and it was a big job,” said Beth Wendroth, medical coordinator for the shelter. “We can’t thank Kennelz and Bitz [Pet Boarding and Grooming of Moose Lake] enough for offering their assistance in helping to clean up and groom the dogs.”

　　One of the dogs did not survive, and four or five of the others have severe dental issues. Towne said the FOA is hoping to start an “Angel Fund” to assist with dental care for these special needs dogs so they, too, can be adopted into loving homes.

　　Some of the other rescued dogs exhibited signs of various skin conditions from the unsanitary surroundings in which they were kept, but Wendroth said all conditions appear to be treatable. The majority of the dogs, which Wendroth said range from approximately 4 months to 5 years old, are in good condition and surprisingly affable considering the overcrowded conditions in which they were raised.
　　She said that adoption applications are now being taken for the dogs, adding that they all appear to be purebreds. Each will require a neutering contract as part of their adoption agreement.
　　The investigation into the case continues, and no further details have been released at this time.

Fantastic Animals Nature Photography

　　Most of us take for granted the wildlife photos that we see on books, magazines or even on television. The truth is, there is much more involved in shooting wildlife images than just going out on a whim and photographing a few animals you encounter. Fast shutter speeds are necessary for most wildlife shots to keep away from distorted images from the animal’s movement. Many wild animals are very fast, particularly those little ones. Also, it’s not required to shoot the whole animal on all your shots, you can give attention to on parts of the head, much like a human portrait. Below are some of the finest animal photography that you can find online.

　　
　　
　　
　　

Awesome Funny Animals Photos

All animals are also heterozygous, meaning they must ingest other organisms for sustenance. You will really appreciate the photographers of these photoshoot, some people love them and take them home as their pet, although the most popular pets are dogs, cats and some people also love to have some as their pet. It’s really interesting and amazing experience to have them, let’s have a look on these beautiful funny animals pictures.


　　

　　

　　

　　

　　

　　

They Are So Beautiful

　　Animals are a major group of mostly multi cellular, eukaryote organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and independently. All animals are also heterozygous, meaning they must ingest other organisms for sustenance. It’s really interesting and amazing experience to have them, let’s have a look on these beautiful animals pictures.