August 25/2021

 

Feature:

Former UK soldier finally escapes Afghanistan with his 200 dogs & cats

"As the situation in Afghanistan becomes increasingly hostile & the deadline for evacuations draw closer, there is one man’s plight that has gone viral on the internet, as he refused to leave his animal shelter behind.

Meet Pen Farthing, the former British Royal Marine who now runs Nowzad, Afghanistan’s only dog & cat shelter.

Who is this animal lover?

Paul ‘Pen Farthing, 52, is an ex-Royal Marine commando who set up Nowzad animal shelter near Kabul after serving in the military there in 2006.

Speaking of his shelter, Farthing said that while he served & was on duty in 2006, he helped break up a fight between 2 stray dogs & following this one of the strays started following him. Farthing then named the canine Nowzad after the town they were in & that’s when the idea of the shelter came in.

Farthing is also an author of 3 books based on this experience: One Dog at a Time: Saving the strays of Helmand – An Inspiring True Story (2009), No Place Like Home: A New Beginning with the Dogs of Afghanistan (2010) & Wylie: The Brave Street Dog who Never Gave Up (2014). Farthing set up the animal shelter in 2007 & looks to reunite former servicemen & women with pets they have met while on tour. The shelter also helps to rescue stray cats & dogs & provide them with food & shelter. Getting out of Afghanistan Since the collapse of the Afghan government, Farthing has been trying to get his 200 cats & dogs evacuated along with his Afghan staff & their families. Fearing the lives of his animals & the Afghan staff, he also attempted to arrange a freedom flight in an operation dubbed 'Operation Ark'. He had chartered a $500,000 plane to land at Kabul airport for the rescue operation & also made a plea to the Taliban spokesperson on Twitter to ensure safe passage into Kabul airport. Addressing the Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen, Farthing said: 'Dear Sir; my team & my animals are stuck at airport circle. We have a flight waiting. Can you please facilitate safe passage into the airport for our convoy?'

UK's defence secretary Ben Wallace initially dismissed Operation Ark, saying it would put 'people before pets' in the rush to flee Kabul.

He later agreed to 'seek a slot' for the plane carrying out the mercy mission, but insisted the convoy would not be able to jump the queue.

Caught in the bombings

On Thursday, Farthing was caught in the chaos when 2 explosions took place at the Hamid Karzai International Airport, killing over 170 people, including 13 US troops.

Describing the ordeal, he told BBC, 'All hell broke loose at the airport circle which is where I was, which is probably about a mile from the explosions across at the Abbey Gate & we had Taliban there firing into the air...

'And as we were trying to then flee from the airport we were getting tear-gassed so we were obviously trying to drive the vehicle when we can't see anything. It was just the most horrific thing.'

The 52-year-old later stated that he was denied entry to the airport due to a change in paperwork rules...saying he 'went through hell' to reach the airport & was turned away as the US government had changed paperwork rules just 2 hours earlier.

 ...He said they were 'turned away into the chaos of those devastating explosions.'

When questioned as to why he was not escorted by the British government, Farthing said that the US controlled the Kabul airport internally, so their rules 'trumped' the British paperwork he carried.

Escape, at last!

It was reported by the Daily Mail that Farthing & his furry friends finally looked to be on their way home.

According to Farthing's wife, Kaisa Markhus, he was planning another attempt & late on Friday, he made it through the Taliban checkpoints & boarded a flight with 150 rescue cats & dogs -- but he was forced to leave his staff members behind.

Farthing flew out of Afghanistan for Tashkent in Uzbekistan with 94 dogs & 79 cats on a private jet & will later return to Britain.

Animal rights campaigner Dominic Dyer told the Mail: 'We are very pleased we’ve got him out & are very grateful to the British government for their help, & for the support of the armed forces.'"

FP Staff

firstpost.com

Aug. 28/2021

Cute Critter Pics:   Nowzad  Rescues 

nowzad.com

Raven

Raven & her siblings were born in front of a Canadian compound in Kabul...the kind people brought them into the compound... Raven & her sister, Rae were sent to Nowzad to be looked after.

Khushbakht / Iris cat also known as Princess Grumbleweed

Saved from the streets of Kabul after a horrific road traffic accident, Khushbakht meaning ‘Lucky’ only just survived. We had no choice but to completely remove both of her back legs.

Bear Cat 

Poppy formerly known as Khushbakht

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August 18/2021

 

Feature:

STATUS OF 5 BIRD SPECIES ASSESSED BY COSEWIC IN MAY

"Twice a year, the independent Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) makes recommendations that the federal government uses to consider species’ legal protections under the Species at Risk Act. Birds Canada volunteers are at the foundation of this process.

'Citizen Science observers across the continent are fundamentally important in determining population trends for many species', commented Richard Elliot, 'we couldn’t do this without you.'

There are 7 COSEWIC status categories: Extinct, Extirpated (no longer exists in the wild in Canada, but still exists elsewhere), Endangered, Threatened, Special Concern, Data Deficient (meaning not enough information is available to assess the species), & Not at Risk. In May 2021, 26 species or discrete populations of wildlife were assessed, including 5 birds. This batch includes the usual indications of grave concern, but also room for a little cautious optimism.

The dainty, diminutive Ross’s Gull, with its soft pink, grey, & powder-white adult plumage, is among the most beautiful of seabirds. It is a rare treat to see one, & unfortunately, the likelihood of that happening in Canada is lessening. COSEWIC assessed Ross’s Gull as Endangered, 2 categories higher than 25 years ago. Fewer than 20 individuals are now known to breed in Canada, & no chicks have fledged in 14 years from Canada’s only known colony in the High Arctic. Canadian Low Arctic nest sites have been abandoned since the species was last assessed (as Threatened) in 2007. Major threats include chick mortality caused by Arctic Terns, & contamination from airborne toxic chemicals... Almost all of the global population of Ross’s Gull breeds in northeast Siberia, & at the global level, the species is assessed by BirdLife International as Least Concern: a silver lining, &, it is possible that small numbers may occur undetected in the Canadian High Arctic.

Short-eared Owl is one of the world’s most widespread owls. Active day & night, this nomadic, ground-nesting species breeds in open habitats in all Canadian provinces & territories...  New population estimates derived from Breeding Bird Atlas data suggest that the Canadian population is approximately 31,000 mature individuals, which is only about 10% of previous estimates.  A decline of more than 30% over the past 3 generations is inferred from data from the Breeding Bird Survey & Christmas Bird Counts.  It is consequently designated Threatened; previous assessments in 1994 & 2008 categorized it as Special Concern.  Continuing declines are projected due to ongoing loss of nesting & wintering habitat from crop conversion, agricultural intensification, urbanization, & invasive plants, &, in low Arctic habitats, climate-driven increases in shrub growth will further reduce prey availability & increase predation risk.

The fruit-eating, woodland–dwelling Band-tailed Pigeon of southwestern British Columbia still qualifies as Special Concern, as it did in 2008. However, Canadian birds are losing breeding habitat to forest harvest & urbanization, with the Breeding Bird Survey showing a continuing long-term decline of 11% in 3 generations. Species-specific surveys at sites where these birds congregate to consume mineral-rich water or soil suggest localized declines of about 40% in 3 generations. Most Canadian birds winter in the western United States where they are exposed to habitat loss, hunting, & a prevalent, parasite-caused disease. So the Band-tailed Pigeon may soon qualify for Threatened unless these threats can be mitigated.

Encouraging news concerns a public favourite, & one of the world’s most widespread birds, the Barn Swallow. Readers will be pleased to learn that the substantial decline over 2 decades (starting in the late 1980s) prompting its designation as Threatened in 2008 has stabilized over the past 10 years. Ongoing declines in some provinces are offset by a substantial increase in Saskatchewan, warranting its re-designation as Special Concern. Although the Canadian population remains large, estimated at 6.4 million mature birds, it may once again become Threatened if threats continue or worsen.

The striking Ferruginous Hawk is the only bird of prey confined to the grasslands of the North American Great Plains. Population trends in the Canadian range of southern Alberta, Saskatchewan, & far southwest Manitoba have been stable or even slightly increasing over the past 3 generations, prompting a reclassification from Threatened to Special Concern. This hawk’s history of classification has seen it bounce between Threatened & Special Concern since initial designation as Threatened in 1980. This latest designation recognizes that the species may become Threatened again in the absence of effective management of ongoing loss of foraging & nesting habitats from threats such as displacement by energy production, increased competition, disturbance at nest sites, & persecution of prey."

By Pete Davidson, Senior Conservation Advisor, Birds Canada & COSEWIC Birds Specialist Sub-Committee Member; & Dr. Richard D. Elliot & Dr. Marcel H. Gahbauer, Co-Chairs of COSEWIC Birds Specialist Sub-Committee

June 25/2021

birdscanada.org

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August 11/2021

 

Feature:

5 Fascinating Facts About Your Cat's Teeth

"Cats are interesting creatures. They have big personalities, they love a good laser pointer chase, & they can't get enough catnip...But did you know that what's inside of their mouths is as interesting as their character traits?

If you've ever looked at your cat's teeth, you may have noticed something different than you'd previously expected...so here are some fascinating facts about cat teeth that are likely to make you smile.

1.Domestic cats have 30 permanent teeth, also known as adult teeth.

When they are kittens, kittens have 26 baby teeth. This is fewer than both dogs & humans, who have 42 & 32 adult teeth, respectively. Cats get their adult teeth when they are between 11 to 24 weeks, with the different kinds coming in in various stages. For instance, they get their incisors at 11 to 16 weeks, their canines at 12 to 20 weeks, their premolars at 16 to 20 weeks, & their regular molars at 20 to 24 weeks.

2.Unlike humans, cats rarely get cavities.

This is because cats have a diet that's pretty low in sugar, their teeth are shaped differently, & they don't have the same oral bacteria as humans do. When cats do get cavities, you won't be able to see them, & your cat likely won't show that they are in pain. This is because instinctually, cats don't want to demonstrate any weakness. If they cried out in pain in the wild, a predator could come after them. But, just like human cavities, cat cavities are extremely painful.

3. Even though domestic cats mostly eat canned cat food that you provide for them, their teeth are equipped for hunting.

The teeth are specifically shaped so that cats are able to easily capture prey & tear up their flesh. There is a bleeding groove in their mouths as well. This means that when cats are eating prey, the blood bleeds around the tooth & won't choke the cats.

4. Along with hunting teeth, cats have grooming teeth, too.

The incisors, which are little teeth in the middle of the large canine teeth, can be used to nibble on their fur, which comes in handle when they are cleaning themselves.

                              

5. Cats & kittens can get severe dental & gum diseases, such as feline oral stomatitis.

This disease causes the gums to become inflamed, & causes bad breath, excessive salivating, & pain. Cats that get this disease may have a viral disease or issues with their immune system as well. Sometimes, teeth may need to be extracted in order to deal with feline oral stomatitis.

                        

Taking care of your cat’s teeth

It's always important to keep a close eye on your cat's teeth & gums. Cats need to go to the veterinarian to have their teeth cleaned at least once per year. You can regularly brush your cat's teeth— once a day is ideal—by making your cat comfortable, getting a toothbrush specifically for a cat or a finger brush, using pet toothpaste, brushing with gentle motion, & making sure to brush the back teeth as well. In addition, feeding your cat high-quality food will keep their teeth healthy.

Telling the veterinarian about any problems you encounter as soon as possible is critical. This is because when issues like gum disease, gingivitis, & tartar buildup are not treated, it can lead to fatal conditions like heart disease & organ failure. If need be, your veterinarian will at the very least deep clean your cat's teeth. The vet may even give your cat medicine or have to extract a tooth or multiple teeth.

Always check with your veterinarian before changing your pet’s diet, medication, or physical activity routines. This information is not a substitute for a vet’s opinion."

Kylie Ora Lobell  

Jan. 12/2020

cuteness.com

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August 4/2021

 

Feature:

Dangerous Looking Animals Who Are Total Sweethearts

"We evolved to take animal threats seriously. But sometimes the animal in question is a show off. Many dangerous looking animals are harmless.

#1 Basking Shark

People believe that all sharks are dangerous but this species prefers a different sort of food. They mostly feast on zooplankton & wouldn’t even be able to take a bite of a human. So despite its impressive size, it’s unlikely that this endangered ocean dweller will cause any harm.

#2 Vulture

Vultures look intimidating. They’re a huge bird with an impressive wingspan & they’re food of choice is quite unsightly to human sensibilities. Their proclivity for rotted meat along with their dangerous looking claws & beaks make them quite unpopular. But these creatures won’t be chasing you around. Chances are, if you still have a pulse, vultures will leave you well alone.

#3 Goliath Birdeater

Spiders are always candidates for people’s fears & this one really looks the part. It’s huge, hairy & there are depictions of it eating whole hummingbirds, dating as far back as the 18th century. But this reputation is undeserved as well. The Goliath Birdeater would rather be left alone & if left unprovoked, will likely never bite a human.

#4 Gharial

Gharial look a lot like crocodiles & therefore inherit their more violent cousins’ dread. But if you look closely you’ll see that the snout of this species is very thin. It’s actually not suited for eating large prey at all. The gharial’s food of choice is in the size range of frogs, fish, & insects.

#5 Giant African Millipede

Completely harmless but very weird looking, this African insect is among the largest of its kind. They clock in around 400 legs & grow to be 12 inches long. But despite their creepy appearance, they pose no danger."

brian l

8/5/2021

quizzclub.com

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