Oct. 24/2018

Feature:

A Shell Game

   “While turtles might seem like the perfect pet…there are a few things to keep in mind

before buying one.

   ‘They are definitely becoming more popular as pets. Some of them are very

beautiful…But there’s no such thing as an easy pet,’ says Katrina Smith, adoptions co

coordinator for the Maryland based Mid-Atlantic Turtle & Tortoise Society.

Consider the Source

…’Look into adopting a turtle from your local turtle society before buying one.’…

   Some states, such as New Jersey, require permits for pet turtles, largely due to concerns

about already stressed out populations of native turtles, Smith says. Be sure to check local

laws before deciding what kind of turtle to adopt, Smith says.

Health & Safety

   Because many turtles carry salmonella, young children, the elderly, pregnant women, &

others should avoid contact with turtles or be extra careful to wash their hands thoroughly

after touching them…

   Dave Pauli, a senior adviser for wildlife response & policy for the Humane Society of

the United States, runs a large turtle & tortoise rescue & rehabilitation centre in Montana.

   He stresses the importance of ‘good hygiene protocol’ when taking a turtle into a home.

   The Centres for Disease Control & Prevention urge people to treat all turtles as if they

are contaminated with salmonella because they probably are.

   Wash hands thoroughly after touching turtles, their cages, or their feces, & do not touch

your face, other people, or any surface until you’ve washed your hands.

Picking the Right One

   Some turtles that start out small can grow to the size of a garbage can lid, so do your

homework when selecting a type & gender of turtle to call your own. In many species,

females grow to be much larger than their male counterparts, Smith says.

   ‘Turtles require more maintenance & space than most people generally assume,’ Pauli

says, ‘& they live for decades, so buyers should be aware that they are a pet that may out

live them.’

   Turtles also require a varied & somewhat messy diet, room to roam in an aquarium, &

strict temperature control.

Get to Know Your Turtle

   Turtles can be beautiful pets & ‘are really cool to have,’ Pauli says. ‘They’re extremely

interesting & have individual personalities…”

Katherine Roth

The Associated Press

In The Gazette, Montreal

July 27/2018

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Oct. 17/2018

Feature:

10 Amazing Flightless Birds From Around The World

“…Most of the world’s flightless birds evolved on islands with no predatory mammals over millions of years. With no land mammals to attack them, many birds became ground-dwellers. This is the case in New Zealand, before humans arrived. Instead, the predators were birds like eagles & falcons, so other birds found that camouflaged plumage, feeding at night, & staying completely still were more effective strategies than flying, to avoid being caught.

That all changed when humans arrived, bringing with them animals like rats & stoats, which wiped out numerous interesting & unusual bird species…

Here are 10 of the most amazing & beautiful flightless birds found around the world.

1.  Takahe

This bird… is a species found only in New Zealand, & for a long time was thought to be extinct, when many fossil bones were found. Thankfully, it was rediscovered in 1948 after a wide search, although only on the South Island, where it resides primarily in the Takahe Valley. Some have also been relocated to predator-free islands nearby, but it is still considered critically endangered with fewer than 300 individuals. Pairs are monogamous, mating for life which can be 12 years or more.

 

2.  Kiwi

The kiwi is a famously flightless bird & the national symbol of New Zealand. These birds have been flightless for so long that it’s hard to spot their vestigial wings under all those fluffy feathers. There are 5 species of kiwi, all native to New Zealand: 2 are classified as vulnerable, one is endangered, & one is critically endangered.

 

3.  Kakapo

The kakapo, named for the sounds it makes, is a ground-dwelling parrot, also native to New Zealand. It is in fact the world’s only flightless parrot, also the heaviest one, with its large grey beak, short legs, large feet, & short tail…Females are solely responsible for raising chicks, & it is also possibly one of the world’s longest-living birds, with a life expectancy of 95 years.

                                            

4.  Weka

The weka is a flightless bird species of the rail family, which used to be found all over New Zealand, although it is no longer so common. It is endemic to New Zealand, where four subspecies are recognized. Weka are sturdy brown birds, about the size of a chicken. As omnivores, they eat pretty much anything they can find, including insects, slugs, frogs, as well as leaves, berries, & seeds.

 

5. Cassowary

…The magnificent cassowary is native to New Guinea & Australia, & there are 3 species: the southern cassowary, the northern cassowary, & the dwarf cassowary. These birds are the second heaviest bird behind the ostrich; the claws on their toes can grow to 5 inches long, & they can run as fast as 31 miles per hour.

 6.  Ostrich

The ostrich, native to the savannah & desert regions of central & southern Africa, is indeed the heaviest living bird. Its species name is camelus, & it used to be known as the ‘camel bird’ owing to its long neck & prominent eyes, as well as its jolting walk. Just like camels, ostriches can go without water for a long time & tolerate extremely high temperatures.

 

7.  Emu

…the emu is the second-largest living bird in the world by height after the ostrich. It is endemic to Australia where it is the largest native bird. An emu’s feathers are quite unusual: instead of the expected softness of feathers, the bird’s tail feathers are stiff, & can be rattled to scare off predators like dingoes.

 

8.  Flightless Cormorant

Shifting to South America, & the Galapagos Islands, we find the world’s only cormorant that cannot fly (in spite of those huge wings!). This is one of the rarest birds in the world, found on only 2 islands in the Galapagos. Instead of flying over the waves, the flightless cormorant uses its powerful legs & swims for fish & other marine prey close to the shore…

 

9.  Penguin

Also in the Americas, we find penguins, highly adapted for life in water…All penguin species are native to the Southern Hemisphere, & many of them live in Antarctica, but they are also found further north. Some species are found in the temperate zone, & one, the Galapagos penguin, is found near the equator.

                                   

10. Rhea

The rhea is another flightless bird native to South America, & living in the forest.  It is a ratite, meaning that it is a large flightless bird with no keel to its breastbone or sternum. This ratite is in fact the largest bird in the Americas. It makes up for not flying by running really fast, with its neck practically horizontal to the ground. Rheas like to get together in flocks of 20 to 30 birds.”

Judy M.

Jan. 13/2018

care2.com

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M.C. Oct. 19/2014

I can't believe that it's been 4 years since I last held you my sweet boy. I miss you every single day & will for the rest of my life. RIP

Oct. 10/2018

Feature:

Scientists Discover a Mega-Colony of Adelie Penguins in Antarctica  

“Huge ‘mega-colonies’ of Adélie penguins have been discovered near the Antarctic peninsula, offering more hope for the region’s penguin population.

Previous scientific surveys showed a significant decline in Adélie penguins, the most common species found on the Antarctic Peninsula…

WWF notes that, while Adélie penguin populations have increased in some areas, their numbers have declined by 65% in other regions. The quest to understand these losses led scientists to examine satellite data of the remote region. And in 2014, researchers found evidence of penguins in an unexpected area: the Danger Islands in the Weddell Sea.

…researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Oxford University & several institutions mounted an expedition to reach the remote Danger Islands. As detailed in the journal ‘Scientific Reports,’ the scientists discovered several colonies of penguins – 1.5 million birds, to be exact.

Co-researcher Tom Hart of the University of Oxford explained: 

This was an incredible experience, finding & counting so many penguins. The size of these colonies makes them regionally important & makes the case for expanding the proposed Weddell Sea Marine Protected Area (MPA) to include the Danger Islands. More than that, I think it highlights the need for better protection of the west Antarctic Peninsula, where we are seeing declines.

The researchers then revisited satellite data dating back to the 1950s. They found that the colonies appear to have been stable for several decades, suggesting that this is a longstanding breeding ground for the birds.

By using drones to take images of individual nesting sites & then stitching them together to form a patchwork map, the researchers were able to tally up total numbers & determine where the penguins congregate. This data provides a benchmark for tracking future population changes & birth distribution…

MARINE PROTECTED AREAS ARE VITAL FOR CONSERVATION

In 2016, an area off Antarctica was designated as a marine protected area. This 598,000 square-mile region in the Ross Sea was given the green-light by the international Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. This area holds immense value for scientific research & biodiversity.

This recent study makes the case for extending that protected area to include the Danger Islands, ensuring a future for the Adélie penguins.”

Steve Williams

March 6/2018

care2.com

                                 

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Oct. 3/2018

Feature

Mexico's Wild Jaguar Population Is on the Rise

“Just 8 years ago, Mexico’s jaguar population barely reached 4,000. Fortunately, some promising news came out recently about these big cats. According to The Second National Jaguar Census 2016-2018, Mexico’s jaguar population has risen up to 4,800, a 20% increase since 2010.

A consortium of 16 institutions & 25 academic groups teamed up to conduct the census. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Telmex Telcel Foundation, & the Jaguar Alliance collaborated with other researchers to install& monitor 396 remotely activated cameras triggered by sensors that detect the animals’ movements & numbers.

The increase in population is due in part to a conservation program launched in 2005 overseen by the country’s national park service & headed by Gerardo Ceballos of the Ecology Institute at the National Autonomous University of Mexico…

…currently, the government of Mexico seeks to create a tri-national protection area for jaguars in the southern jungle regions of Guatemala & Belize. In addition, a UN agreement signed by 14 Latin American countries in March 2018 will also foster the survival & regional conservation of jaguars through to 2030.

The jaguar, the largest feline in the Americas, can weigh up to 100 kilos (220 pounds), though the ones found in Mexico rarely weigh more than 60 kilos (132 pounds). The black-spotted jaguars live in 18 countries throughout North & South America with 90% living in the Amazon. Around 64,000 jaguars still live in the wild, but still remain on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s list of ‘near-threatened’ species.

Although the jaguar remains on the list of endangered species, the recent census shows promise of restoring the jaguar population in Mexico & surrounding areas…”

Allison Michelle Dienstman

Sept. 14/2018

www.goodnet.org

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