It's Always Sunny for a Sun Bear.

Today's Animal of the Day is the Sun Bear!

Sun bears are probably the coolest kind of bear. Mostly because they don't submit to the main stream standard of regular bears. Here's some fun facts about these awesome bears! 

-Sun bears are named for the yellow patch on their chest that resembles a rising sun (not because their native homeland is the sun. I know, it's confusing). 

-At an average of only 4-5ft long and between 60-150lbs, the sun bear is the smallest of all bears

-Sun bears are omnivores and don't really consume much large prey items 

-Sun bears live in the southern parts of china through the northeastern part of India and reaching to the southern part of Indonesia. 

-Sun bears are arboreal meaning they mostly live in trees. They have even been observed using leaves and branches to create a surface to sleep on while in trees. 

Please observe the totes adorable baby sun bear. Note the yellow patch on his chest that earned the species its name. 

So you want a pet Sun bear....

Ok so I actually could see why you would want a pet Sun Bear; they're roughly the size of a large dog and hey, they don't really eat people. So that's a bonus. Unfortunately, you shouldn't actually get a sun bear as a pet. Here's why!

Their Walk.  Sun bears walk on their hind legs. Like you know, a person. This should be a red flag because they're a bear. Walking on hind legs is not a normal bear thing to do. Not only do they walk on their hind legs, mother bears will carry their young while walking on their hind legs. I'm sorry but if I woke up and saw a tiny bear carrying an even tinier bear towards me, I'd scream my brains out and cry. 

Don't mind me, just carrying a bear.

• They're Shy. Sun bears are really timid. This means you won't be taking long disturbing bear-on-hind-legs strolls around the park, nor will you be chilling on your couch watching the latest Winnie the Pooh movie. No, your bear will most likely be watching you from dark mysterious places, lurking in the dusty corner seeking berries they will never find. Which should creep you out. 

• Their Claws. Sun bears have long sharp 4 inch claws. They're used for ripping open trees. Although they probably wouldn't use this strength to rip you apart (but really, who knows). They'd most likely use them to rip apart your couch or rip through doors spewing wood chips everywhere. And you could get a splinter and those are really inconvenient. 

• Their Tongues.  Perhaps the most imperative reason you should not own a Sun Bear is their specially designed insect honey sucking tongue. Its extremely creepy and disturbing. Just look. 

Yup.

What if he tries to lick you? Theres not enough therapy to ever recover from that. 

• You probably couldn't find one. Sadly, sun bears are very elusive, making it hard to determine the exact status of sun bears, but it is believed their numbers are not very high. Sun bears are victims of lost habitats and falling victims to the ignorance of humanity.The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) is an organization dedicated solely to helping sun bears. You can visit their website at http://www.bsbcc.org.my to learn about the different ways you can aid in the conservation of the awesome Sun Bear. 

• It's illegal. In Ohio it is illegal to own any type of bear. 

Now for your entertainment, here is a video of a baby sun bear trying to stay awake 

Never Smile at a Crocodile, Except the Saltwater Crocodile Because They're so Cool

Today's animal of the day is the Saltwater Crocodile!

Those eyes....

I absolutely love the Saltwater Crocodile. It is such a unique predator, and honestly, no other predator sends chills down my spine quite like the Saltwater Crocodile. However, my love of the Saltwater Crocodile may result in some extra pictures of this bone-chilling monster. I know everyone's dying to know why I love this reptile so here you go!

• Saltwater Crocodiles live from Eastern India to Southeast Asia to Northern Australia.
• They obviously eat meat
• These are the largest living reptiles. The average male grows to be 17ft and weighs 1,000lbs. But there are crocs out there at 23ft and 2,2000lbs. 
• As the name suggests, these crocodiles do well in the saltwater. They are excellent swimmers and have been found far out in the open ocean. But they also can live in bodies of freshwater  like swamps.
• Saltwater Crocodile hide is unfortunately very valuable, putting the species in danger. There's even farms where saltwater crocodiles are raised solely to be killed for their skin.

  

  Whatcha Doin'?

  

  Check out this Croc caught in a wave

  So you want a Pet Saltwater Crocodile...
  Ok, No one should actually want a Pet Saltwater Crocodile. If you've seen any of the pictures or really read any of the facts, wanting one pretty much signs your ticket to a mental institution. But just in case you do, I'm going to help save you some money on the mental hospital front and tell you why you shouldn't want a Saltwater Crocodile 
  
  
  • They will kill you. Whether you die from a predatory attack or from a territorial attack, this modern day dino will be the end of you. They're large and deemed the most aggressive of all the crocodiles and alligators. They are short-tempered and mean. You will not be cuddling or riding your crocodile, you will most likely end up pointlessly running for your life from it. 
  • They may eat you. Saltwater Crocodiles are opportunistic feeders, this means they'll eat anything they have the opportunity to eat. Based on their size, people are basically the perfect prey item for a saltwater croc. Just in case you think, "Pfft, why would a Saltwater Croc eat a Person, that's so weird and unlikely" Well, here's some pictures of a Saltwater Crocodile eating some weird and unusual things. 

  

  Here's a Saltwater Crocodile eating a goat or a deer, I can't really tell, but still seems like a weird choice for a crocodile

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  Here's a Saltwater Crocodile eating a Bull Shark. Yes, the Bull shark, who hast the highest level of testosterone in the animal kingdom.

  

  Here's a Saltwater Crocodile eating a Chainsaw. I think this one speaks for itself. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  • You'll need two People insane enough to want a Saltwater Crocodile.  On average, a Saltwater Crocodile reaches age 70, however there are some that have grown as old as 100. Your crocodile will outlive you. Either you'll have to find someone else stupid enough to want a saltwater crocodile, or yours will return to the wild to survive, terrorizing countless women, children, and neighborhoods along the way. 
  • It's illegal. The Ohio Exotic Animal ban prohibits all Crocodiles.
  
  So that's the Saltwater Crocodile for you! 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Zebra-tastic!

Today's animal of the day is the Zebra!

 

• They live in the Savannas and grasslands of Africa
• Each Zebra's stripes are unique like a fingerprint. 
•  Zebras are related to horses, but they do run slower then horses. They run up to 35mph and have a strong endurance, which helps them avoid predators. 
• Zebras are social animals and live in herds that can have up to 1,000 members. They'll even mix herds with other animals like the antelope for better protection.  However, members of the same family will remain close. 
• Scientists are uncertain why Zebras have those stripes, but one theory is that predators can't make out an individual zebra in a herd to kill when they all blend together with their stripe pattern.  

 So you want a Pet Zebra...
Although their color is quite intriguing and they look like a horse, a Zebra would not make a good pet so let's discuss why!

• They're thirsty. Zebras in the wild base their movements on the location of water because they're so dependent on it. Typically, they drink from a watering hole. Do you really want to invest in a watering hole? Also, do you really want an animal that wants to be around water so much? If that's your goal, let me recommend the much cheaper option of a goldfish. 
• They'll be lonely. Zebras are social animals among their herds. They form bonds with their families. If one Zebra is attacked by a predator, the zebra's family will form a circle around the injured zebra to protect it from further injury. Unless you want to accommodate an entire Zebra family, you will have a sad, resentful zebra on your hands.  
• No one has a pet Zebra. Since they are so similar to horses, people have tried to domesticate zebras. However, there are hardly any successful attempts. Unlike horses, a zebra's tempermant is too unpredictable to tame. Successfully. 
• It's questionably legal.  Zebras aren't technically illegal to own, but in Ohio exotic animals are a touchy subject so its best to just avoid the Zebra. 

So that's the Zebra for you! And for you entertainment here's a video of what it would be like if Zebras were really fat

Burmese Pythons are Pretty Cool.

Today's animal of the Day is the Burmese Python!

Sssso I bet you're Sssuper Ssstoked to Ssstart learning about this Burmese Python Ssso here you go!

• The Burmese Python lives in Southeast Asia in the jungles and marshes. 
• They're awesome swimmers and can hold their breath for 30 minutes
• They eat birds and small carnivores. They can swallow their prey whole due to the stretchy ligaments in their jaw.
• Instead of killing their prey with venom, they bite their prey and wrap their body around it until the prey suffocates to death. 
• They have poor eye sight, but they have heat sensors

What a frightening double threat

 So you want a pet Burmese Python...
Well actually, that's not an uncommon thing, to have a pet Burmese Python. They're not a bad pet to have if they are cared for properly by someone who knows what they're doing. However, for the majority of the population, it's not a good idea, and let's discuss why!

• They're HUGE. They are one of the largest snakes in the world. They can grow up to 23ft long, weight up to 200lbs, and they can be as wide as a telephone pole. So let's list what problems come with that, they'll need a big cage with a lot of room, the bigger they are the more food they need, also, the bigger they are, the larger the prey they can consume. 
• Where's the love? Although Burmese pythons are considered quite docile for a snake, you can't just handle it whenever you want to. Its recommended that you have an extra person (or persons depending on size) when handling the python, and when feeding the python. Also, you can't handle them for awhile after they've fed (possibly a day or more) so they don't throw up their food. This means that when you're home alone crying about your solitude, even your giant pet snake can't cuddle with you until the brutal sting of solitude simmers away.
• You'll get hooked. If you slip up while handling a tempered snake, you'll most likely get bit. But with the Burmese Python's bite you're in for a treat! Their fangs are hook shaped which is designed to hold their prey in place while they slowly strangle it to death. Imagine that painful struggle freeing your hand, or any other part it has managed to grab, from the angry grasp of your python. 
• They have eyes bigger than their stomach. Pythons have literally exploded after eating a meal too big for them. Although they usually focus on a diet adequate for their size like rodents, the bigger ones have eaten goats and deers. The Burmese Python, as well as other constricting snakes, have killed small children and even teenagers. 
• It's Illegal. In the state of Ohio, you can not own a snake that is over 12 feet long without a tedious permit that is hard to obtain. Even then, the rules and regulations for owning the snake are pretty strict, it'd be hard to maintain unless you are a snake professional.

*Special Note: Although I joke around about owning a Burmese Python, it's a serious issue. In Florida, owners of Burmese Pythons thought they could handle the responsibility but later realized they couldn't. Their solution? Releasing the snake into the wild. With the unique swampy and everglade habitats of Florida, these pythons are able to survive and reproduce well. This is called an invasive species. Introducing a new species to an already established and effective ecosystem poses several serious issues. For starters, a species like the Burmese Python challenges the other Apex predators, like the American Crocodile, creating unbalance in the ecosystem (A video of this can be seen below). Second, the people of the area are not adapted to these foreign species causing innocent animals to die. All in all, it's best to not attempt to handle animals that belong in their natural habitats for the wild. It can not only keep people safe, it also can keep the animal safe.

Giant Panda-demic!

Today's animal of the Day is the Giant Panda!

So here's some fun facts about this awesome bear.

• Giant Pandas live only in remote mountainous regions in central China, since there's high bamboo forests, which the pandas like since they're cold and wet.
• They eat mostly bamboo, however, they have been known to eat insects and small rodents on occasion. 
• They are awesome climbers, they'll even climb 13,000 feet in order to eat during the summer time. 
• Giants Pandas have 5-month long pregnancies. They give birth to 1-2 completely white babies, who will develop its black spots later in life. They cubs are also blind. 
• In the wild, Giant Pandas are elusive animals and there's only about 1,000 left

When eating Bamboo, the Giant Panda sits upright like a person. How adorable is that?

 So you want a pet Giant Panda...
Although they look so cute and resemble an over-sized teddy bear, having a captive Giant Panda is a bad idea, let's talk about why!

• They eat A LOT of Bamboo. Giant Panda's diets consist basically solely of Bamboo. Considering they are a Giant Panda, they have a huge appetite. They consume about 28lbs of bamboo a day. I'm not entirely sure of any local markets that sell bamboo, nevertheless 28lbs of bamboo.
• They'd make a terrible friend.  Giant Pandas spend 12 of the 24 hours of the day eating bamboo. Pretty much the only time they won't be eating bamboo is when you're sleeping, and they are too. What about your needs? What about what you want? They won't care. You're not bamboo. 
• They like to Ride Solo. Giant Pandas are solitary animals and like to be that way. They even have special smelling abilities that allow them to smell out other pandas in order to avoid them. They'll probably avoid you too. Do you really want to go through that heartbreak? 
• It's illegal. There are only 1,000 Giant Pandas left in the wild. They're an endangered species so you can't own them. It's best to leave the remaining wild pandas where they belong so conservation efforts can be made to safely save them. If you would like to symbolically adopt a Giant Panda, and help with conservation efforts you can do it here on the World Wildlife Fund website. 

Well that's the Giant Panda for you! and for your viewing pleasure, here's a video of baby pandas playing on a slide

Bat-tacular!

Today's animal of the day is the Vampire Bat!

I know you want to know about this awesome animal as much as a vampire wants to suck your blood so here ya go!

• The vampire bat is found in Central America, Mexico, and South America
• There body is 3.5 inches with a 7 inch wing span. They weigh 2oz, but after they feed their weight can double.
• As the name suggests, vampire bats drink blood. They get the blood usually from horses or cows. They usually drink for 30mins and they don't take enough blood to harm the animal. They have a heat sensor on their nose that directs them to where warm blood is flowing. In one year, a 100-bat colony can drink the blood of 25 cows.
• Vampire bats, as well as all other bats, are the only flying mammal
• Since they drink blood, the vampire bat doesn't have very many teeth. But the teeth they have are very sharp.

Check out those chompers!

 So you want a Pet Vampire Bat...
Actually, I really don't know why you would want a vampire bat, but just in case you're weird and do, Let's examine why that is a poor life choice!

• They drink blood. THEY DRINK BLOOD. You have a lot of blood. Although they primarily feed off of cattle, they have been known to drink the blood of people before. Even if you're not feeding them your own blood (we'll examine why that is also a poor choice) you're going to have to find other blood to feed them.
• They're sick. Even though they can't drink enough blood to harm their host, their bites can cause infection. So no, you can't really save money on food for your bat. 
• They're creatures of the night. Bats are nocturnal. They hunt and are active during the night when you're trying to sleep. They can also attack you while you're asleep. They're also really good at feeding, you won't even know they're there. 
• They're creepy. Bat's fly and hang upside down, everyone knows that. But, when they're hunting they crawl on all fours on the ground. It's extremely disturbing. That is how they will approach your bed while you're asleep.  Check out the video below of their weird creeper crawl

• It's basically illegal. If you were to own a bat, you have to have several permits. You also can't take it from the wild, and even if you locate one, there's pretty strict laws about transportation so it's highly likely that you couldn't even get the bat to you. This is an animal that best remain in the wild.

So there weren't any funny Vampire bat videos out there that I could locate, so here's a video of a human pretending to be a bat and scaring people in public places!

Oh Deer!

Today's Animal of the day is the White-tailed Deer!

Check out those antlers!

So you may be wondering what's so cool about a deer? Well I'll tell you!

• White-Tailed Deer live from Southern Canada to South America, usually in meadows and fields with nearby forests. 
• White tail deers are herbivores, and have a stomach specially adapted to digest plants including twigs and fungus. 
• Their fur changes color with the season. In the summer they have reddish brown coats and in the winter they have greyish-brown fur. This only occurs in the adults, the fawns have a reddish-brown coat with white dots
• The bucks (males) have antlers which annually fall off in the winter. They use the antlers to fight over mates and territory. 
• Female deer have 1-3 fawns. The fawns stay with their mother for a year until she chases them off before she has her new litter.



 This adorable fawn has white spots to help it camouflage

So you want a Pet Whitetail Deer....
We all saw Bambi, and I'm pretty sure there is not a person on this Earth who would not have adopted him after his mother was shot. However that would not have been a good idea, Let's talk about why!

• They're Nocturnal. Deer like to look for food during the night time. That means they'll be up and active while you're trying to sleep. With those hooves and antlers clanging around, that can't be quiet. 
• They'll bug you. A bug called the deer tick lives on deer. This tick can infect humans with Lyme disease. That's not really pleasant.
• Deers like to run. If you've ever noticed, when a human gets close to a deer, the deer will run. Deer can run 30 mph. So being in a closed place with a creature that it likes to run from may not be a good idea. 
• It's Complicated. In Ohio, it's not illegal to own a deer, however there are a lot of rules. You have to have a license and you can't take the deer from the wild. If you manage to get the deer, there's a lot of regulations on its enclosure and strict policies for what happens if it escapes. It seems like a lot of effort. 

So that's the White-Tailed deer for you! And for some comic relief here's a video of a Beagle meeting an unusually friendly deer:  

Also, I had to post this too, although it's not directly a deer video, here's a HILARIOUS video of a Woman who seems really confused about the Deer crossing sign.

Hyena-mazing!

The animal of the day today is the Hyena! Specifically, the Spotted Hyena, the largest of the three Hyena Species.

I honestly wasn't expecting them to be this adorable.

I know you're just dying to know some fun facts about the Spotted Hyena, so here you go!

• Hyenas live in Africa. But I think everyone knew that from the Lion King. They also live through Arabia and India.
• Hyenas are scavengers, but they can take down prey of their own as well. Their diet includes lizards, birds, antelope, snakes, wildebeest, and insects
• Although Hyenas look pretty similar to dogs, they're actually more closely related to cats
• Hyenas are skilled hunters. They have good hearing and can see well at night. They hunt in clans, that contain up to 80 members, that work together to take down their prey. 
• Female Hyenas rule, literally. Female Hyenas run the clan. They're usually 3 times bigger than the males, they have more muscle, and have 3 Times as much testosterone as the Male.

  

  It's so cute I could cry

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

So you want a Pet Spotted Hyena...
Their dog like appearance may make them seem inviting, and come on, look at that hyena pup. However, that's not a good idea. Let's discuss why!

• That laugh.  Hyenas are known for their laugh. They laugh when they're excited. Not only do they cackle, they have a wide variety of sounds they make. Check out the Laugh Below.

• They seriously eat Bones.  Hyenas have extremely powerful jaws that are able to break up hooves, teeth and bones. Do you really want something that is capable of eating literally ALL of you just chilling in your house? 

•  Hyenas eat people. Not only could they consume every last part of you, they may even hunt you out. In Kenya and Tanzania, the Maasai people leave their dead for the hyenas to eat. Also, Hyenas are aggressive animals who like to hunt at night. So if your pet Hyena doesn't like you, it'll eat you while you're sleeping. With ease. 

• They will go anywhere for food. In the wild they raid food stores and crops. Imagine in your home. They'll be in the fridge all the time. You'll have to go to Kroger's every 2 days just to feed your Hyena's bottomless stomach. It's like having a teenager. Except this one may eat you if you don't feed it. 

• It's Illegal. In Ohio, you can not legally own a Hyena. There are no permits or licenses you can get. You can not privately own a Hyena in any way, shape, or form here. 

Well I hoped you've learned some fun information about the amazing Spotted Hyena. Here's a video of a Lioness scaring a small clan of Hyenas for your viewing pleasure

 *This is the animal of the Day for December 9th, even though this was published on the 10th.

Ostriches are Pretty Cool.

Ostriches! What's not to love about a Giant bird? Nothing, that's what. The Ostrich is going to be the animal of the day. I'm not sure if there will be an animal of the day everyday, writing multiple posts a day with my college schedule may be a bit of "ostrich" but, I guess we'll see.

So here's some fun information about the Ostrich (Struthio camelus): 

• They live in Africa in the desert and savanna
• Ostriches eat plants, insects, lizards, and basically anything suitable they can find
• Ostriches do not actually bury their heads in the sand. This myth probably stems from the fact that when in danger, an ostrich will lower its head low to the ground and its plumage camouflages with the sand, giving the appearance that its head is in the ground. 
• Ostriches are the largest bird on the planet. They grow anywhere from 7-9ft and weigh between 220-350lbs. They also have the biggest eye of any land animal, which measures about 2 inches across 
• Ostriches can run really fast! Like 43 mph fast. They cover 10-16ft in a single stride. 

So you want a Pet Ostrich....

Well as cool as it would be to ride an ostrich around, they probably aren't the best pet. Let's examine Why! 

• They're really big birds and they require a really big nest for their really big eggs. Each egg weighs about the same as 2 dozen chicken eggs. Eggs are delicate and break and I doubt anyone wants to clean that mess up. Also, where are you going to put a nest big enough for a 9 foot bird? It'll just look weird even if you find a place. 
• You can't just have ONE ostrich. Ostriches live in herds with a dominant hen and an Alpha male and all that fun stuff. Unless you want a sad Ostrich, you're going to have to accommodate an entire ostrich herd. 
• They come with a "kick". Ostriches can kick with so much force it can kill a lion. If they can kick the king of the jungle to death, you won't be too much of a challenge. Not to mention at the end of their foot is a long, sharp claw. That would scratch your floor up pretty bad. 
• They'd stare at you. They have really big eyes. They also just look sorta creepy. Would you really want to wake up and just see a 9ft bird watching you with its 2 inch eyes and an expression like this: 
  
   
• It's questionably legal. In Ohio, we have some pretty strict restrictions on exotic animals. Private ownership of exotic animals is banned. Although it doesn't specifically say ostriches, I feel like that falls into the moral grey area of pet ownership. So just don't do it. 

So That's the Ostrich for you! And just to wrap everything up, here's a video of ostriches (and emus) freaking out over a Weasel ball toy 

Polar Bears aren't Getting a "Cold" Shoulder Anywhere.

It started to snow today so I figured I'd write about the best kind of snowy animal (completely unrelated to my predator bias), the Polar Bears!

Despite the unique look to this completely white bear, they're not excluded from the dangers many animals face. Polar bears have been hunted to the point where their populations could not recover; however, thanks to a treaty formed between the five "polar bear range countries", Canada, Norway, Denmark and Greenland, Russia, and the United States, polar bear populations were able to replenish to an extent. The treaty was called the "Agreement on the Conservation of the Polar Bear". Last Wednesday, December 4th, the International Polar Bear Forum got together for the 40th anniversary of this treaty.

Polar bears face multiple threats these days; hunting and climate change. According to The World Wildlife Fund, there are between 20,000-25,000 polar bears remaining on the planet. These polar bears are divided into 19 subpopulations, and of these 19 subpopulations, 8 of them are in decline.

Polar bears are another tragic victim of overhunting. Although many places that are home to polar bears have good management plans for polar bear overhunting, there are still some places that don't. The International Fund for Animal Welfare found that in the span of one month, there were 75 advertisements for buying/selling polar bear parts and derivatives.

With climate change, the icy home of the polar bears is starting to melt. With no land, hunting becomes increasingly harder resulting in polar bears suffering from malnutrition and starvation. Furthermore, with the ice melting, that leaves the arctic waters, and land, open to industrial expansion. That's not too great for polar bears either.

At the forum in Moscow, it was decided that efforts to preserve the polar bear are going to be stepped up. Hopefully through these efforts polar bears will be saved before it's too late. Let's be honest, would the Coca-Cola logo be nearly as cool with a Penguin?

For more information on how to help save the Polar Bear check out this link
Polar Bear Information

For more information on the Trade of Polar Bear Parts view the link below
International Polar Bear Forum: Range countries must commit to a conservation strategy with teeth

For more information on the International Polar Bear Forum, check out this article from The Voice of Russia 
Moscow to Host International Polar Bear Conservation Forum

This is why I chose Conservation Biology

Cases like this are not unheard of in the animal world. Various species of animals have been known to befriend, or even adopt different species of animals. Just a quick sum up of this video, this young leopard kills a baboon and after realizes that baboon had a baby with her. The Leopard takes the baby and protects and takes care of it, ignoring her own hunger.

This selflessness is a prominent part of the animal world and unfortunately is not as common in the human world. This leopard ignored her own needs to take care of another's. Not only was she ignoring her hunger, but she was taking care of an animal that she would usually prey upon. This is a far cry from a species who has enslaved and killed members of their own species because their skin color was different. Animals don't take more than they need. Too many events in human history have grown from greed. Including the decline of many species, like the Amur leopards. Amur leopards are a victim of the illegal wildlife trade and have had their numbers declined to as few as 30 individuals.

This is why I chose to conserve animals. Animals aren't infected with the same sickness humanity has. I'm not saying that I want humanity to be wiped out, but this is why I chose to focus on helping animals as opposed to people. There are many people out there already who are selfless and are helping animals combat against human harshness, but there are still too many people out there who are encouraging the slaughter of a variety of species. Good Species like the Leopard. It's simply evil.

To find out more information about the Amur Leopard and how you can help visit the link below: 
Amur Leopard Information

The U.S Government is Taking a Stand Against Illegal Animal Trade!

What's an awesome way to tell the World the U.S hates illegal trade of animal products? Publicly crushing 6 tons of the product seems like a pretty great way to do it. 

Today, the U.S government is doing exactly that. In Denver, Colorado, 6 tons of Elephant tusk ivory that has been seized over the past 25 years in the U.S is going to be crushed. The intention is to send a message out to the world saying that the U.S does not support this horrible trade.

Wildaid, posted photos of the set-up created for the ivory crushing

Some of the ivory confiscated had already been converted into product

The machine that is going to be used to crush the ivory 

Six Tons seems like a lot right? Just last year alone, 30,000 elephants were killed. This number is horrible considering Ivory trade was banned in 1989 after elephants were being killed in masses prior due to a boom in the demand for ivory. Taking the tusks from an elephant is a sickening process. Tusk can't be seized from such a formidable animal alive, resulting in lots of bloodshed and painful deaths. Ivory isn't the only problem facing elephants. Such a large animal needs a rather large habitat. As more human expansion invades elephant lands, they're stressed to find resources to survive. Also, this has caused an increase in human-elephant conflict resulting in more elephant deaths.

Elephants are very intelligent animals. An elephant calf will remain and bond with its mother while growing up, just like us humans! 

Although most of the killing occurs in Africa, America still plays a part in this trade making this government action so critical. America is the second largest market for ivory. Of course the entire elephant tusk isn't being sold, but is altered into trinkets and souvenirs. 

Elephant tusks are sculpted and sold as souvenirs in America, causing it to be the second largest market for Ivory. 

Not buying products made from ivory, before or after the ban was placed, is a very important and helpful step in conserving elephants. Supporting alternatives to elephant ivory is also a good idea, like the Tagua Nut. Tagua nuts are virtually identical to ivory when it comes to product and the use of tagua nuts doesn't endanger a species. The website and environmentally friendly brand One World Projects creates awesome products created from Tagua nuts.

Donating to groups that support elephants such as Wildaid, who focus on ending illegal wildlife trade, or World Wildlife Fund, who focuses on elephant conservation as whole, including many other species and causes around the world is another great way to help. Currently, The World Wildlife Fund is supporting a petition for the U.S government asking them to enact a moratorium, a waiting period set by authority, on the illegal ivory trade. This would close current loopholes and help give elephants a fighting chance. It only takes a few minutes to make a difference and you can sign here: Help Save Elephants. The U.S government has taken a step today in ending Ivory trade; however, it will take a global effort from people and government in order to save this magnificent species from extinction. 

For more information on what's going on with elephants and conservation efforts, check out these links 

http://worldwildlife.org/species/elephant

http://www.wildaid.org/elephants

R.I.P Western Black Rhinos

The brutality and indifference of humankind has once again caused a casualty in the animal world.

Today, the Western Black Rhino was declared extinct.

The Western Black Rhino, now extinct may just be the first of many Rhino species to disappear

The Western Black Rhino was a subspecies of the Black Rhino. It was last spotted in 2006; however the latest report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has confirmed that the rhino is extinct.

If that's not bad enough, the Western Black Rhino might not be the last to go. The African Northern White Rhino, the Javan Rhino (as few as 35 remain), and the Sumatran Rhino (possibly as few as 100 left) are all in serious trouble.

Rhinos are poached for their horns even though this practice is illegal. The horns are then sold to be used in Asian medicine under false promises of a cure for cancer and a cure for hangovers. This is extremely stupid and this is why: To begin with, Rhino horn doesn't cure anything. Second, Rhino horn is made of a substance called Keratin. This scientificish word may sound familiar to you because it is also the same exact substance that makes up your hair and nails. Putting Rhino horn in medicine is the equivalent to chewing on your hair or finger nails, except you're paying a lot of money to do it while also driving an amazing and beautiful species to extinction.

What's really sad about this whole ordeal is the extinction of the Western Black Rhino could have been prevented. There were suggested conservation efforts, yet none of them were ever put into play. Although it's too late for the poor Western Black Rhino, it's not too late to save the other rhino species who are facing the same fate. Conservation efforts need to be encouraged and followed through with quickly in order to avoid another horrible case like this.


For more information about the Western Black Rhino and other IUCN endangered species, check out this link: 
"Western Black Rhino is officially extinct and the Northern White and Javan rhinos will follow unless something is done, conservationists warn"

For more information on these endangered rhino species plus more along with conservation information and ways to help visit this link: 

World Wildlife Fund Rhino Information

The Asian Unicorn Rediscovered

Ok well, it's not an actual unicorn, but it sorta looks like one.

On September 7th 2013, a World Wildlife Fund camera trap set up in Vietnam photographed a saola in the Central Annamite mountains. This is big news because the last confirmed sighting of this animal was in 1999.

The saola is an antelope type looking animal; however, it is related to cattle. It was discovered in 1992 and since then it has only been seen four times. Due to it's long horns, which can grow up to 50 inches, and its elusiveness, the saola was nicknamed the Asian Unicorn. Since it is so rare, there isn't much known about the animal. Their population is estimated to be anywhere from a few hundred to less than a hundred.

The biggest threat to saolas is questionably ethical wire snares set up by hunters. The sighting of the saola is great news for conservationists in the Annamite mountains because it proves that their hard work is paying off. However, the saola is still threatened with extinction.

A rare shot of the elusive saola.

For more information about the saola, conservation efforts in the Vietnamese forests, and camera trap pictures check out these links:

"Saola Rediscovered: Rare Photos of Elusive Species from Vietnam"

"Rediscovery of Saola: 'Asian Unicorn' sighted in Vietnam after 15 years"