World Animal Week 2008

Yesterday marked the first day of World Animal Week 2008. World Animal Week is an annual event that runs from 4 October until 10 October. It is designed to raise awareness on animal cruelty, and if people support it, it could make a massive difference to the way animals are treated daily.

If it gets spread around enough, governments might want to help out in the fight against the mistreatment of animals worldwide. One thing you can do this World Animal Week is sign this fantastic online petition. You could also spread the word and change the world.

This week, think about the animals who suffer dreadfully every day. Raise awareness. Thank you.

Their Life is Live

If you live in the United Kingdom, or can access BBC1 and live in a different country, you might like to watch Big Cat Live later today. This is another version of Big Cat Diaries & Big Cat Week, that have been running since 1996. It will run daily for eight episodes, up until next Sunday and comes live from the Masai Mara in Kenya. It will feature daily reports on lions, leopards & cheetahs, so you can see them in their day-to-day lives.

If you want to watch it, tune into BBC1 at 18:10 BST (British Summer Time) today.

A Rhinoceros Return

The Black Rhino was poached terribly in the 1980s. In the decade before that, there were 20,000 of them living in the wild of Kenya. But that number has reduced to just 500.

But something great has happened. For the first time in more than 25 years, captive Black Rhinos have become wild Black Rhinos. It is a landmark in African wildlife conservation.

They were bred as part of a wildlife program to increase the population, and it has been so successful that it is the right time for this to happen.

As well as poaching, the numbers decreased because of habitat loss. I hope that these rhinos are able to thrive. It may take some time, but this is a step forward.

Wildlife and You: October 2008

I haven't done one of these in a while, so sorry if it isn't that good.

Anyway, October is a busy month in the northern hemisphere. Red Deer males in Europe will start their annual rut in a week or two. The most notable places are the island of Britain, especially Scotland, and central Europe. Scandinavia & the Baltics are also good places to see this, among others.

Elsewhere in the northern hemisphere, many swan & geese species will start to arrive in countries such as Holland, the United Kingdom, Germany & Ireland from the arctic to spend the Winter there at the end of the month.

In the southern hemisphere, native species will start to give birth, and some migrating birds may arrive from Europe & North America.

If you take any photos this month, I would love for you to upload them to an image hosting website and send me the link(s) via the comment sections, along with the name you want me to use to credit you. I will probably take some so you can enjoy the British Autumn (or Fall if that's what you call it) from your home, or wherever you read this. Thanks in advance.

Creatures of Coral

A mass of new species have been discovered in the Coral Sea Islands, an overseas territory of Australia. The creatures all live around the Lizard & Heron islands.

Those areas are quite popular with scuba divers, which is surprising that they haven't been found before. The new species of coral and crustaceans help a survey to record every living thing in the ocean.

The biggest discoveries include new species of Taniads (above) and Bristle Worms. Taniads can have claws as long as their bodies!

Dr. Ron O'Dor, a chief scientist, said, "Amazingly colourful corals and fishes on reefs have long dazzled divers, but our eyes are just opening to the astonishing richness of other life forms in these habitats."

I think this is brilliant news. Let's hope we have these creatures forever.

A Craze of Cute

Sugar Gliders are the new pet craze in the United Kingdom. However, this is not a good thing as many people aren't skilled enough to look after them.

The mammals originate from Australia & the island of New Guinea. They need to be fed live insects, are nocturnal and need to be with another Sugar Glider. The marsupials can become blind from bright light and deaf from radios & televisions. Also, most British homes aren't damp or hot enough for them to survive.

Siân Bailey breeds the creatures, but admits they are a lot harder to keep than average pets.

The RSPCA has released this warning. I hope that no Sugar Glider gets mistreated and that the RSPCA don't have to do too many rescues.

Four

Hello! Two days ago, it was Smudgie's birthday. If you don't know who Smudgie is, he's my pet rabbit. Anyway, as a treat for you after me not updating this for ages, I am showing you some photos I took that day.

His birthday card

Smudgie reading his card (well, after reading it)

Smudgie opening his prezzie

Having a clean

Going back to open it

Almost there!

It's a tent!

Smudgie checking out his tent

Resting

There you go. I hope you enjoyed looking at them.

Rogue Pups

The above image was made by myself (albeit quickly).

The RSPCA has found out some shocking truths. Rogue traders (no, not the band) are selling ill puppies.

To undergo this operation, the charity bought six puppies from one of these dodgy dealers. They looked after them well. Two became sick. One of those died. That one is in the above picture.

Last year alone, the RSPCA received 700 calls about sick canine pets that became ill soon after they gave it a home.

Mark Evans, from the RSPCA warned, "The RSPCA believes that many are likely to have been exposed to disease and may become seriously ill, or even die, within days or weeks of entering their new home."

He also advised people to only get one from well-known places and always see the one you want to buy with its mother.

I am shocked at the behaviour of some people. I hope they get shut down, and that any puppies they have are treated well and have a good life.

Please comment.

Thank you.

The Stuff of Nightmares

The creature pictured above has recently been discovered in the gardens of Caerphilly & Cardiff. It's called a Ghost Slug.

Unlike other British slugs, this one is white instead of brown or black, doesn't have any eyes, lives underground and eats worms instead of plants. In fact, it eats worms by sucking them up.

The scientific name for this unusual invertebrate is Selenochlamys ysbryda, with the latter of the two words coming from ysbryd, Welsh for ghost.

Although this is a new species, it is similar to other slugs found in the countries of Turkey & Georgia. The Ghost Slug isn't a native species to the U.K.; the most likely explanation of their existence here is that of being brought over in plant pots.

This is exciting news. There is another species we know now, and, even if it's not in danger of dying out, we can still find ways to help it thrive.

Please comment.

Thank you.

Mean and Seen

Oink the Water Buffalo is a victim. A victim of criminal damage.

His hay has been set on fire, he has been thrown at by bricks and has had washing up liquid put into his water.

He is getting old at the age of fifteen, and this is certainly not helping him. He was rescued and lives in the county of Derbyshire, where the attacks have taken place.

They are worse during the school holidays, which is not good news for Oink seeing as the six week long Summer holidays are only a week and a half away.

But fear not. CCTV is being installed to protect the mammal, and the police will find it easier to catch the thugs. Local groups are also raising support for new fencing around the enclosure of the Water Buffalo.

I find it shocking and disturbing that anyone would do this. I hope the new ideas work well.

Please comment.

Thank you.

Fat Vets and Pets

The PDSA has released a warning about the rising number of obese pets in Scotland. Of course, the rest of the U.K. and other countries have it too, but these are not as severe.

This isn't the first time an animal charity has raised this problem. The RSPCA has done so many an occasion.

The issue has been highlighted because, even though only three out of ten dogs are overweight, seven out of ten at their Scottish clinics are.

This is serious as the rotund animal in question generally will have a shorter lifespan than others of the same species.

The main cause is over-feeding. I'm not sure about a lot of pet foods, but they usually have guidelines for how much you should feed your loving creature. If everyone tries to follow these, and makes sure that plenty of exercise is given, everyone will be happy.

Please comment.

Thank you.

The First Year

The above image was made by myself and is copyright © Animalz 2008

So, one year ago today, this site was created. The above image is the new banner, replacing the previous one that ruled Animalz for eleven months. Expect it to grace Animalz for the foreseeable future. All of the photos were taken by myself.

I don't really know what else to say, except that the revamp is on this site is just about finished. All we have left now is my post quantity, which will hopefully be at least one every three days.

Please comment. Thank you.

150th Post!

The above image was made by myself and is copyright © Animalz 2008.

As we approach one year, I have finally managed 150 posts. I may not be doing anything special for this 'special' post, but I have created an image (not a very good one, but it'll do), and that image is a taster of what is to come after the revamp. Every fifty posts, I will create another image using any animal-related photos since the last 'special' post (with the exception of birthday posts). The penguin photo was actually taken before this site was created, if you wanted to know.

The next post will be on Monday, Animalz's birthday, and the revamp on this site will officially commence!

I hope you enjoy the next fifty posts!

Please comment. Thank you.

Revamp

I've done it again.

Fear not, though. As we approach Animalz's first birthday, a revamp is coming.

This site is first on my priority list. It is however, third on my quantity list (these are out of four), meaning I can tell you what changes you can expect.

Well, a new banner and posting more frequently are the things. The next post is my 150th on this site and will be made someone time this week, before the birthday in seven days time.

I hope you all enjoy the changes.

Please comment.
Thank you.

Now Spring has Sprung

The fourth series of Springwatch will air later at 20:00 BST on BBC2, for all you Brits out there and for other people who might receive the channel. Springwatch is coming live from Norfolk this year, and will be following many animal families like usual. Later on in the series they should be announcing the results of the survey to see when Spring arrived.

Catch it every Monday to Thursday at the time above for three weeks. There is also a spin-off for pre-schoolers.

Please comment.
Thank you.

The Devil's Way

They may look scary, and not appealing, but they are. To me they are, anyway.

The Tasmanian Devil, named because it looks like to a demon to some people and it only lives in the Australian state of Tasmania, is being wiped out. But for once, it isn't our fault.

They are getting cancer. The marsupials bite each other, and that is what it believed to be spreading the disease.

Tens of thousands have lost their lives since the nineties, the decade before the one we are currently in. It is feared that the mammals could be gone for good within five years. That means we'll have until 2013 at the latest to see these creatures. That's only if we don't do anything to help.

The Australian government has been trying to think of ways to help the carnivores. One way has already been put into action. The healthy animals have been moved to other parts of the country, where D.F.T.D. has not struck (that's Devil Facial Tumour Disease to you and me).

I hope the species is saved before it's too late. I would love to see one in the wild. I did visit Sydney for two days a few years back, on the way back from New Zealand, but that is miles away from Tasmania.

Please comment. Thank you.

Going, One by One

Animals are dying, one by one. The Zoological Society of London and the World Wildlife Fund tries to keep track of 1400 species, but more than one in four individual creatures are now dead.

Marine species are the worst affected. Hammerhead Shark populations are falling extremely fast, and the Baiji is feared extinct.

Pollution, farming, over-fishing & hunting are the main reasons. Not only are populations declining, one in every hundred species becomes extinct each year due to human activity.

This is being called one of the "Great Extinction Episodes" of Earth.

I hope the species recover and have a good future, however unlikely that may be.

Please comment. Thank you.

Three Years 'til Death

There is a very big danger about. Orangutans in Borneo are the victims. And this is why.

Within three years, the largest population of wild orangutans might not be on Borneo anymore. Within three years, they could all be dead.

2011 could see the end. And it's our fault.

As much as I hate to say it, we are doing this. Palm oil is a very big trade, and it comes at a very big price. The price of the rainforest.

Orangutans are endangered anyway, but this just adds to it. There are only 20,000 left in Borneo, a decline from 31,000 in 2004. It is vital that they survive.

If the government there doesn't do anything to stop this terror, the mammals will become homeless and starve to death. If they do find food, it will be the palm oil seeds, which means farmers will be poaching them.

These orangutans are entering their darkest days.

This story makes me extremely upset and extremely angry. I hope something helps them to survive.

Please comment. Thank you.

The Return of the Cull

Last week, the government of South Africa announced that a ban on elephant killing is to be lifted. It is meant to help other wildlife species in the area. I previously posted about the government thinking about this. You can read that post here.

The ban was introduced thirteen years ago, in 1995, because the numbers were falling fast. The numbers have more than doubled since then.

But it isn't all bad news. The mammals will only be killed if other ways of controlling them (such as better enclosures) don't work. Although many animal rights campaigners want the ban reintroduced.

I personally do not agree with the cull. I hope they do find way of keeping all creatures safe.

Please comment.

Thank you.

Wildlife and You: May 2008

So this is the fourth of its kind, when it should be the fifth. There may not have been an April 2008 version, but that doesn't mean I'm stopping these! So let's get started!

This month, things are meant to be getting hotter. In the later days, birds that Summer (Northern hemisphere) or Winter (Southern hemisphere) in your country might well be arriving. So keep your eyes peeled for them.

The mating season is in full swing. Many birds in the Northern hemisphere would have laid their eggs by now, with some beginning to hatch. Mammals, also, would have cubs, pups, or whatever they're called in that certain species.

If you have any photos, please send them in via the usual address. I haven't actually received any at all, unfortunately.

Nevertheless, keep spotting!

Please comment.
Thank you.