- Tuesday, December 1, 2009
A Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) dog sniffs part of the ivory and wildlife animal skin that he helped seize from poachers around the country during a news briefing at KWS headquarters in Nairobi. Wildlife officials here Monday displayed more than half a tonne of recently-seized ivory, reflecting a rise in poaching they said was prompted by the controversial sale of stockpiled tusks last year.
NAIROBI (AFP) - – Wildlife officials here Monday displayed more than half a tonne of recently-seized ivory, reflecting a rise in poaching they said was prompted by the controversial sale of stockpiled tusks last year.
The seizures in Kenya were part of what officials said was the largest-ever anti-poaching operation in East Africa, involving authorities in six states.
"Tons of illegal ivory have been seized and hundreds of people arrested in the largest-to-date international operation targeting wildlife crime across Eastern Africa," the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said.
KWS official Patrick Omondi said the seizures showed an increase in poaching in Kenya and elsewhere, and highlighted a clear link with the UN-authorised one-off sale of more than 100 tonnes of stockpiled ivory by four southern African countries in 2008.
"We've seen an increase in poaching in the country and one of the factors is the sale," said Omondi.
"Kenya opposed it on the grounds it would stimulate illegal killing," Omondi said.
An official from Interpol's wildlife crime unit said: "The argument was that if we sold those stockpiles it would satisfy demand and put an end to poaching.
"That argument was false. When that ivory was sold, poaching was stimulated," the official said.
Interpol and other regional and international organisations were involved in the seizure operations that also included Burundi, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
Detailed results from those countries have not yet been released.
The 568 kilos (1,252 pounds) put on display by Kenyan authorities in Nairobi on Monday was in addition to 532 kilos seized in the initial phase of the operation some three months ago.
The wildlife service's security chief, Peter Leitoro, claimed the seizures were a serious blow to poachers who were increasingly sophisticated and dangerous.
"We have seen the criminals getting more organised. In the past the charcters you were dealing with had bows and arrows. Today they are individuals with firearms," he told reporters.
The wildlife service used sniffer dogs to detect much of the ivory on display.
The ivory trade was banned in 1989 because poachers were wiping out elephant populations.
Kenya's elephant population shrank from 160,000 in 1973 to one tenth of that by the time the ban was introduced.
The ban on the international trade in ivory, the establishment of the KWS and anti-poaching measures have enabled the population to climb back up to some 35,000 currently.
The controversial UN-approved auction in October last year involved Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe and was conducted under the supervision of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Lucky’s Bob
I see him lying there on his side- frozen and unmoving. So very different from the Lucky I used to know. There is a deathly silence within the small animal clinic on East Coast Road. Even the normally cheerful vines and general shrubbery around the cottage, fail to bring cheer on this particular evening. Bob is nowhere to be found. He has disappeared- I am told that he has gone to the temple in Bukit Merah to pray for Lucky. But I know that the reason he has gone, is to escape from the hideous yet ultimate fact-Lucky is no more. Fiona’s sobs from within, echoed through the clinic’s waiting area and the surgery and recuperation room behind. I put my arm around her, but I can offer no comfort. The pain that one experiences on losing a loved one-human or animal-is intense. The wound is almost physical in nature. It runs deep, take time to heal and always leaves a scar.
Fiona’s tears flow unhindered. She bares her heart-her feelings for Lucky even as she is surrounded by us- mere strangers. For where there is loss, the presence of a stranger does not matter. The heart aches anyhow-irrespective of the ambient environment. I move over to the other side of the table and see the little collie-mix lying peacefully, eyes half closed, jaw shut tight, his wisps of brown and white hair moving in the breeze. The monsoon season has arrived in Singapore, and it has been raining all day. There has been a definite chill in the air-so uncharacteristic of the Singapore heat and humidity. But the shivers I feel running up and down my spine cannot be attributed to the deviation from tropical climate. It is the chill brought on by death. More so, the cold that hits you, with the sudden death of someone close to you.
Fiona keeps running her hand through his soft hair and over his round little head. Anshul dada stands aside in humble silence as Sushil fondles Lucky’s tail- that soft fluff of a tail so used to furious wagging accompanied with enthusiastic barking. Well almost barking. Lucky didn’t have a voice box when Bob rescued him. He was an abandoned dog (he had some skin issues, which Bob cured completely as time went by) and his voice box had been surgically removed-we believe it was done by his previous owners who may have found his barking too much to take. I never ever heard Lucky bark, but by George! He would try his best. We used to sit in our balcony and watch the kids go crazy in the grass or at the poolside. And Lucky would be there- going round and round in crazy circles with the kids- wheezing away to glory, trying his best to bark. I remember we could never help smiling to ourselves, watching the kids get so accustomed to Lucky’s mirth and zest for life. He was their pal and now he is gone.
I stroke his head and touch his teeny black nose. His nose is rubbery to the touch, but still wet and cold, just like it used to be when he was alive. Such a shy fellow he was, with us adults. He used to be so scared of committing himself to us totally, but we kept trying. What used to strike us most was his absolute devotion to Bob. Wherever Bob went, Lucky would be somewhere at his feet. Bob never needed a leash for him.
I hold Lucky’s paws and feel the 13-year old pads on his paws. In a flash I recollect the first time Bob brought him to our house, after he had rescued him, almost a year back. Lucky was sick, recovering from some skin and stomach issues, but Bob was taking good care of him, just like he does for all his other animals. Bob had said, “I can’t keep him with me, I have so many cats-I’ll try and find him a home soon.” That “soon” never came and Lucky became Bob’s own. The two were inseparable.
When Lucky got sick the last time and had to be sent in for a massive 5-hr surgery (vets found cancerous masses in his intestine, in his pancreas and stones in his gall bladder and kidney), Bob, Sushil, Fiona and I stood near the elevator talking about Lucky. We talked about what a wonderful dog he was and Fiona regaled us with stories of Lucky’s insane jealous streak and how she had been sleeping on the sofa lately coz Lucky would monopolize her side of the bed and refuse to give it up! “Sometimes, we mock hug and Lucky brings the house down with his growling and wheeze-barking!” Bob said. He had just been to the Gurudwara praying for Lucky’s speedy recovery from the surgery and had come to know from one of the priests that Lucky would be re-incarnated as a human in his next life. Such was Bob’s love for a dog, who had made a solid place in his heart. We kept boosting his morale, but the tough guy is such a softie, we could see him breaking down. I remember a poignant thing he said one day to us. I said, “Lucky is really ‘lucky’ to have found you Bob, you have given him such a good life.” To this Bob replied, “I’m the lucky one-what he has given me is priceless.”
Lucky began recuperating well from the surgery, but after frolicking for a couple of days, he developed a high temperature. His tired 13-year old body couldn’t handle it and he finally left his mortal cage this evening.
As I sit here and watch Sushil and Fiona mourning his insensate body, Bob prays hard in the temple for Lucky’s peaceful journey upwards. The tears well up in my eyes and a lump grows in my throat- I realize just how special this dog was and how many lives he touched ever so briefly and ever so deeply. The transportation is here and Lucky will be moved to the main hospital tonight, where he will be cremated with all dignity. Tomorrow his ashes will be handed over to the two humans who doted on him and will always feel his absence. As Fiona kisses Lucky goodbye and Sushil pays his last respects, I turn to look at him one last time. "Finally peaceful"-is what comes to mind. I stroke his head, kiss him goodbye and steer Fiona out of the room into an empty night.
As far as I can tell, Lucky and Bob were not just dog and master, they were two souls, instantly attracted to each other and acknowledged by both. There was a joy in their togetherness, which I see in Sushil and Kishmish. I have very rarely come across that kind of bonding between an animal and a human. But I’m sure there are plenty of such beautiful animal-human relationships in the world-happy in their own little lives.
I do know one thing. Lucky wasn’t Bob’s dog. Bob was Lucky’s human. He had wrapped Bob around his tiny little paws and in that one short year, he loved Bob for a lifetime. Lucky’s Bob. Bob's Lucky. Lucky Lucky Bob. Lucky Lucky "Lucky".
------Shreyasi Majumdar.
Fiona’s tears flow unhindered. She bares her heart-her feelings for Lucky even as she is surrounded by us- mere strangers. For where there is loss, the presence of a stranger does not matter. The heart aches anyhow-irrespective of the ambient environment. I move over to the other side of the table and see the little collie-mix lying peacefully, eyes half closed, jaw shut tight, his wisps of brown and white hair moving in the breeze. The monsoon season has arrived in Singapore, and it has been raining all day. There has been a definite chill in the air-so uncharacteristic of the Singapore heat and humidity. But the shivers I feel running up and down my spine cannot be attributed to the deviation from tropical climate. It is the chill brought on by death. More so, the cold that hits you, with the sudden death of someone close to you.
Fiona keeps running her hand through his soft hair and over his round little head. Anshul dada stands aside in humble silence as Sushil fondles Lucky’s tail- that soft fluff of a tail so used to furious wagging accompanied with enthusiastic barking. Well almost barking. Lucky didn’t have a voice box when Bob rescued him. He was an abandoned dog (he had some skin issues, which Bob cured completely as time went by) and his voice box had been surgically removed-we believe it was done by his previous owners who may have found his barking too much to take. I never ever heard Lucky bark, but by George! He would try his best. We used to sit in our balcony and watch the kids go crazy in the grass or at the poolside. And Lucky would be there- going round and round in crazy circles with the kids- wheezing away to glory, trying his best to bark. I remember we could never help smiling to ourselves, watching the kids get so accustomed to Lucky’s mirth and zest for life. He was their pal and now he is gone.
I stroke his head and touch his teeny black nose. His nose is rubbery to the touch, but still wet and cold, just like it used to be when he was alive. Such a shy fellow he was, with us adults. He used to be so scared of committing himself to us totally, but we kept trying. What used to strike us most was his absolute devotion to Bob. Wherever Bob went, Lucky would be somewhere at his feet. Bob never needed a leash for him.
I hold Lucky’s paws and feel the 13-year old pads on his paws. In a flash I recollect the first time Bob brought him to our house, after he had rescued him, almost a year back. Lucky was sick, recovering from some skin and stomach issues, but Bob was taking good care of him, just like he does for all his other animals. Bob had said, “I can’t keep him with me, I have so many cats-I’ll try and find him a home soon.” That “soon” never came and Lucky became Bob’s own. The two were inseparable.
When Lucky got sick the last time and had to be sent in for a massive 5-hr surgery (vets found cancerous masses in his intestine, in his pancreas and stones in his gall bladder and kidney), Bob, Sushil, Fiona and I stood near the elevator talking about Lucky. We talked about what a wonderful dog he was and Fiona regaled us with stories of Lucky’s insane jealous streak and how she had been sleeping on the sofa lately coz Lucky would monopolize her side of the bed and refuse to give it up! “Sometimes, we mock hug and Lucky brings the house down with his growling and wheeze-barking!” Bob said. He had just been to the Gurudwara praying for Lucky’s speedy recovery from the surgery and had come to know from one of the priests that Lucky would be re-incarnated as a human in his next life. Such was Bob’s love for a dog, who had made a solid place in his heart. We kept boosting his morale, but the tough guy is such a softie, we could see him breaking down. I remember a poignant thing he said one day to us. I said, “Lucky is really ‘lucky’ to have found you Bob, you have given him such a good life.” To this Bob replied, “I’m the lucky one-what he has given me is priceless.”
Lucky began recuperating well from the surgery, but after frolicking for a couple of days, he developed a high temperature. His tired 13-year old body couldn’t handle it and he finally left his mortal cage this evening.
As I sit here and watch Sushil and Fiona mourning his insensate body, Bob prays hard in the temple for Lucky’s peaceful journey upwards. The tears well up in my eyes and a lump grows in my throat- I realize just how special this dog was and how many lives he touched ever so briefly and ever so deeply. The transportation is here and Lucky will be moved to the main hospital tonight, where he will be cremated with all dignity. Tomorrow his ashes will be handed over to the two humans who doted on him and will always feel his absence. As Fiona kisses Lucky goodbye and Sushil pays his last respects, I turn to look at him one last time. "Finally peaceful"-is what comes to mind. I stroke his head, kiss him goodbye and steer Fiona out of the room into an empty night.
As far as I can tell, Lucky and Bob were not just dog and master, they were two souls, instantly attracted to each other and acknowledged by both. There was a joy in their togetherness, which I see in Sushil and Kishmish. I have very rarely come across that kind of bonding between an animal and a human. But I’m sure there are plenty of such beautiful animal-human relationships in the world-happy in their own little lives.
I do know one thing. Lucky wasn’t Bob’s dog. Bob was Lucky’s human. He had wrapped Bob around his tiny little paws and in that one short year, he loved Bob for a lifetime. Lucky’s Bob. Bob's Lucky. Lucky Lucky Bob. Lucky Lucky "Lucky".
------Shreyasi Majumdar.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Wild in the Cage
I dont yet know whether it is a He or a She.So let me call it simply that - It. It came to me one afternoon one month back, at 3 PM, scrawggly, dehydrated and miniscule.Hardly had any feather on its body. A Security guard from the neighbouring building with a wide grin that kids have when they visit a zoo for the first time, rang my bell. When I opened the door, here he was, with that grin, holding a squawky fledgling in his palms.Before I could say Zap he had pushed it onto my hands.He said he found it in the middle of the road and decided to bring him to me, where he heard all animals come when they have nowhere to go. ( Why people think my home is a sanctuary, I have no idea) .
So in it came.Fro its yellow long beak I knew it to be a Mynah baby. And from my past experience in the hospital I knew it wouldnt make it without its mother.But I had to give it a try. So I measured it from beak to tail, weighed it counted its feathers-it was easy, he had only a few. Then I made a call to our Surgeon. He told me to feed him water with tomato juice with a syringe since he was obviuosly de hyrdrated and make a paste of mixed grain flour and start hand feeding it if he survived the next few hours. Which I was very doubtful about.
But Providence had some other plans for us and the It- after a drink from the syringe simply lifted its head and sqwaked a strong sqwak. Next came the paste food every 2 hours, with new plumage growing all over.Then came the solid food and a new name from my husband-he named him Pahlwan, a satire for its lean body. His abrupt tries to fly and crash land graduated to long flights from one room to the other.He is succesfully demolishing all the spiders and insects in my home which have had made it a safe haven for themselves for all these years. I ignore it thing NATURE!! He has shown a distinct will to survive, he has distinct preferences for food and habits.I knew all animals have a character of their own, but didnt know a bird of this size also did.Surprisingly, he has befriended our pet cat Maurani who we had feared would make mince meat out of him.Not that she likes him much, but now she simply tolerates him when he sits on her back and pecks her, even she knows the Never-say-Die attitude of the bird is something to reckon with.
Now Pahlwan has been checked by 2 eminent surgeons and given a clean chit to be set free in a months time. Every morning he is placed on the bedroom window sill to get accustomed to the outside, the cries and flights of passing birds and of course predators.Every morning we hope he will respond to the calls of other mynahs and at least try to fly away. He does respond, with different types of sounds, and then he turns inward and flies onto the safest places he has known since he openbed his eyes, our shoulders.
The Wilkdlife Dept has been duly intimated of the presence of this So-called wildlife in our home.Endeavours to help him take his flight back home will be on,from our side. Only he has to decide whether he will fly outwards to a risky natural life or inwards into our homes and heart where he already is.And a sickening apprehension of emptyness and void this 7 inch bird with his lively approach to life will leave in us, if he ever does leave us to find his own place in Nature where he belongs.
----- Shakuntala Majumdar (smitten with pahlwan)
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Baby elephant dies at Tata zoo
JAYESH THAKER
Jamshedpur, Oct. 9: When everyone at Tata zoo had lost hope of his survival, Raja had pulled through. But when they thought the worst was over, he bade adieu.
The injured elephant calf, rescued from Rajabasa forest in Ghatshila and recuperating at Tata Steel Zoological Park in Jamshedpur, breathed his last around 1.30am last night at the park’s clinic. It was buried on the zoo premises this morning.
According to the post-mortem report, the three-week-old calf fondly named Raja by the zoo staff, succumbed to internal chest and intestine injuries.
Veterinary doctor of the zoo, M. Palit, who conducted the autopsy in the presence of forest officials, told The Telegraph that Raja was also suffering from a fresh bout of diarrhoea. However, zoo director Bipul Chakravarty said that it appeared that more than injuries, psychological trauma played a crucial role in the baby elephant’s death.
“We think Raja died because of mental trauma than physical injuries. Elephants are very sensitive and cannot stay without their mothers for long. Raja got estranged from his family and could not cope with the pain. We tried our best to save it but failed,” Chakravarty added.
He further said that the calf must have suffered from complications after its birth. “This could have led its family to abandon it as normally calves are not left to fend for themselves.
Separation proved dear for Raja as he sustained injuries after accidentally falling off a hill in the forest. He was very weak when brought to us. But then he started recovering,” Chakravarty said. “However, he had reduced food intake in the past couple of days. He was on saline drip,” he added.
Zoo employees said the animal was okay till last evening. “He strolled inside the small clinic but suddenly fell ill and never looked up again. He lay on the hay and began slapping his trunk before trumpeting for one last time,” a zoo worker said.
Jamshedpur, Oct. 9: When everyone at Tata zoo had lost hope of his survival, Raja had pulled through. But when they thought the worst was over, he bade adieu.
The injured elephant calf, rescued from Rajabasa forest in Ghatshila and recuperating at Tata Steel Zoological Park in Jamshedpur, breathed his last around 1.30am last night at the park’s clinic. It was buried on the zoo premises this morning.
According to the post-mortem report, the three-week-old calf fondly named Raja by the zoo staff, succumbed to internal chest and intestine injuries.
Veterinary doctor of the zoo, M. Palit, who conducted the autopsy in the presence of forest officials, told The Telegraph that Raja was also suffering from a fresh bout of diarrhoea. However, zoo director Bipul Chakravarty said that it appeared that more than injuries, psychological trauma played a crucial role in the baby elephant’s death.
“We think Raja died because of mental trauma than physical injuries. Elephants are very sensitive and cannot stay without their mothers for long. Raja got estranged from his family and could not cope with the pain. We tried our best to save it but failed,” Chakravarty added.
He further said that the calf must have suffered from complications after its birth. “This could have led its family to abandon it as normally calves are not left to fend for themselves.
Separation proved dear for Raja as he sustained injuries after accidentally falling off a hill in the forest. He was very weak when brought to us. But then he started recovering,” Chakravarty said. “However, he had reduced food intake in the past couple of days. He was on saline drip,” he added.
Zoo employees said the animal was okay till last evening. “He strolled inside the small clinic but suddenly fell ill and never looked up again. He lay on the hay and began slapping his trunk before trumpeting for one last time,” a zoo worker said.
Friday, August 7, 2009
For the Love of a Hyena...........
Have you ever loved a hyena? I know this question makes me sound a little “out there” but I still think that not many people would answer “yes”. Well, I did fall in love with a hyena once and I thought the world of the fact that he loved me back. I can safely say it was one of those experiences that leave an indelible mark and if I could go back in time and do it again, I would.
It happened in the Bombay Zoo, better known as the Jijamata Udyan. I was working there with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) India, and was second in charge of the Zoo Enrichment Project. The Udyan is principally that-a big very well maintained garden. And of course animal enclosures dotting the zoo. As one would expect, the enclosures have always been an eyesore, with animals living in cramped, unclean conditions. Veterinary facilities have only just been expanded there with a hospital behind the main animal enclosure area. That is where I met him first.
I was responsible for making my rounds of the zoo every day, ensuring proper food and water for every animal there, making sure that people didn’t tease or hurt the animals in any way and at the end of the day I would go back to office and submit my report. Additionally we were also working on enrichment of the more pitiable enclosures like the leopard cage, the primate cage, the hippo, bear and alligator enclosures to name a few.
One day while making my regular rounds, I decided to go into the hospital premises to look at the sick animals there and have a chat with the veterinarians on duty. It was a rather pleasant sight to my surprise-the hospital grounds were clean and the animals well looked after and healing well. After speaking to the doctors about general wild animal health and risks, I went around on my own to “talk” to the various animals recuperating there. I met the leopards and the rabbits, the lion with the hurt paw, the obese monkey who couldn’t move, the other monkey with the food poisoning, the ducks and the flamingos, the demoiselle cranes and the porcupines.
As I was about to leave the premises I turned around the corner of a cage which I had earlier thought to be empty save for a lot of golden straw inside. Now as I looked closely, I saw a shape emerge from the straw. A big brown canine, covered with black spots all over (or were they stripes I don’t recall) and the biggest most beautiful dark eyes I have ever seen in my life. I moved closer to the cage and the hyena sauntered up to me and then looked up at me with those liquid pools. And I was a goner. If I had weak knees I would have probably crumpled to the floor in a heap.
This animal was one of the most beautiful creatures I had ever come across. Kind of seems like a contradiction doesn’t it? I mean he was a hyena. A much feared animal always related to ugliness and coarseness and meanness. He sure was coarse with the rough brown hair spilling over his forehead into his eyes. But fearsome, ugly and mean? FAR FROM IT!
It was love at first sight for both of us. From the first time I reached into his cage through the bars to stroke his fuzzy head, to the many consequent visits I made to talk to him while he leaned against the bars hoping for a stroke now and then-It was absolute magic. The memory I particularly cherish is calling out his name and watching him bound up to me-eyes lit with a fondness that comes with recognition of a long lost friend. And then he would push his snout through the bars and I would hold his face in my hands and give him a big smooch on his nose. Sigh! Heaven on earth!
I hear hyenas laugh, but this one used to whine. The frenzy he used to feel every time he saw me come in through the gate would culminate in a series of long whines which would also happen when I had to leave him for the day. Some days I would come in more than once and spend more than normal time with him. Of course he loved it, but it was more than therapeutic for me in a time filled with chaos and passing tribulations.
One day, my direct supervisor – in a bid to interact with him decided to feed him glucose biscuits through the bars. And zoo officials caught her in the act, subsequently banning Peta from entering zoo premises again. And that was the last time I saw him. Even if I would come back as a visitor there would be no chance to see him, since the hospital is off-limits to outsiders. In her folly to abuse her authority as a Peta employee, I had to sever contact with one of the most wonderful animals that had ever crossed my path.
I have had a lot of animal contact in my life, but this hyena has been unforgettable. I still remember his snout and his big round head, the feel of his rough hair on my hands, his obnoxious odour, his innocent grin and perpetually wagging tail, his big liquid eyes filled with absolute adoration and incomprehensible joy and his echoing whines. I remember seeing him as I turned back while walking out the gate. He was there-snout sticking out through the bars and eyes following my tread, expectantly waiting for a tomorrow that I knew would never come.
I loved my hyena. Much more than I can describe in words. In those few days I spent with him, I loved him for a lifetime. I don’t know if he still remembers me, but I know I can never forget. Never.
-----Twinky.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Monkey Herds Goats; Farmer Approves
July 28, 2009—On a farm in India, Mani the monkey uses her own mysterious methods to tend dozens of goats without any supervision or training, according to the Associated Press.
© 2009 National Geographic (AP)
Unedited Transcript
In a story reported by the AP, every morning, a worker at the Palagapandi estate in India, opens the door to the pen and lets the goats and their kids out.
But as they head to the forest to graze no human herder accompanies them.
That's because Mani, the resident monkey, shepherds the goats- numbering 75- around the plantation.
SOUNDBITE (Malayalam): Martin K, Estate Manager- "She takes out the goats for grazing and brings them back. A shepherd is usually required to accompany the goats all day long and bring them back in these hills. But because of her, manpower can be spared. She is as good as a shepherd. The only thing is that she does not speak, but otherwise carries out all responsibilities."
They say they feel confident that the goats will be safe when Mani accompanies them.
Mani is said to make a strange sound when she discovers a goat is missing or when danger lurks.
Soundbite (Malayalam): Pankajam, Estate Worker- "She makes a strange noise if she finds a goat missing. Even though such a large number of goats go out for grazing, nobody accompanies them. If Mani is with them, we are confident that she will bring back the goats safely, wherever they might go."
It has been three years since Mani came to stay at the estate.
SOUNDBITE (Tamil): Gopal, Shepherd- "No training of any kind was given to her. When we first saw her, she had wounds all over her body. We applied some medicine and set her free. But she did not leave. She preferred to be in the company of the goats and thus she gained their companionship."
She and her baby play around with the goats and their kids.
Plantations in and around Palagapandi estate grows coffee, cardamom and oranges.
And at the end of the day, Mani returns her flock to their shelter safe and sound.
© 2009 National Geographic (AP)
Unedited Transcript
In a story reported by the AP, every morning, a worker at the Palagapandi estate in India, opens the door to the pen and lets the goats and their kids out.
But as they head to the forest to graze no human herder accompanies them.
That's because Mani, the resident monkey, shepherds the goats- numbering 75- around the plantation.
SOUNDBITE (Malayalam): Martin K, Estate Manager- "She takes out the goats for grazing and brings them back. A shepherd is usually required to accompany the goats all day long and bring them back in these hills. But because of her, manpower can be spared. She is as good as a shepherd. The only thing is that she does not speak, but otherwise carries out all responsibilities."
They say they feel confident that the goats will be safe when Mani accompanies them.
Mani is said to make a strange sound when she discovers a goat is missing or when danger lurks.
Soundbite (Malayalam): Pankajam, Estate Worker- "She makes a strange noise if she finds a goat missing. Even though such a large number of goats go out for grazing, nobody accompanies them. If Mani is with them, we are confident that she will bring back the goats safely, wherever they might go."
It has been three years since Mani came to stay at the estate.
SOUNDBITE (Tamil): Gopal, Shepherd- "No training of any kind was given to her. When we first saw her, she had wounds all over her body. We applied some medicine and set her free. But she did not leave. She preferred to be in the company of the goats and thus she gained their companionship."
She and her baby play around with the goats and their kids.
Plantations in and around Palagapandi estate grows coffee, cardamom and oranges.
And at the end of the day, Mani returns her flock to their shelter safe and sound.
Giant Jellyfish Invasion May Be Imminent in Japan
Julian Ryall in Tokyo
for National Geographic News
July 29, 2009
Giant jellyfish seem poised to invade Japan, and experts are warning local fishers to brace themselves for an inundation that could wreak havoc on their industry.
Nomura's jellyfish is one of the largest jellyfish species in the world, growing up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) wide and weighing as much as 440 pounds (200 kilograms).
The giant jellyfish last swarmed western Japan in vast numbers in 2005. Their huge bodies damaged fishing nets, and their toxic stings poisoned the catch and even injured some fishers.
Now the jellyfish could be gearing up for a similar assault, say experts who recently conducted some of the first surveys of the giants' spawning grounds.
"We have reports of massive bloomings of young jellyfish near the Chinese coast, where the ecosystems of the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea are favorable for breeding," said Shin-ichi Uye, a biological oceanographer at Hiroshima University.
Efficient Jellyfish
Relatively little is known about Nomura's jellyfish, so Uye and colleagues across Japan have been studying the jellyfish in the lab to learn more about its habits and reproductive strategies.
Based on captive breeding, Uye's team has found that the jellyfish are extremely efficient at filtering tiny creatures called zooplankton out of the water.
As long as a jellyfish is healthy, it devotes all its energy to eating. Even during the spawning season, its reproductive system remains immature.
But if the jellyfish is injured or weakened, it quickly switches to producing offspring, Uye said.
Giant Jellyfish "Typhoons"
The scientists are still not sure why thousands of the creatures float across the Sea of Japan in some years but not others.
"It is possible that they have a 'rest stage' or hibernation period in their development over several years, but then their numbers shoot up given certain environmental stimuli," Uye said.
Researchers also don't know why the giant jellyfish are becoming more regular visitors to Japan's shores.
In the early 1900s large numbers of the giants were reported only every 40 years or so.
But in recent years the jellyfish have been appearing with alarming frequency: Japan experienced unusually large outbreaks almost every year between 2002 and 2007.
One contributing factor may be a decline in the number of jellyfish predators, including sea turtles and certain species of fish known to eat young jellyfish.
According to Uye, right now giant jellyfish outbreaks are like typhoons—they can't be controlled, but they can be predicted.
He and his colleagues are currently working on a system for creating accurate jellyfish forecasts, so fishers will hopefully be able to better prepare themselves.
for National Geographic News
July 29, 2009
Giant jellyfish seem poised to invade Japan, and experts are warning local fishers to brace themselves for an inundation that could wreak havoc on their industry.
Nomura's jellyfish is one of the largest jellyfish species in the world, growing up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) wide and weighing as much as 440 pounds (200 kilograms).
The giant jellyfish last swarmed western Japan in vast numbers in 2005. Their huge bodies damaged fishing nets, and their toxic stings poisoned the catch and even injured some fishers.
Now the jellyfish could be gearing up for a similar assault, say experts who recently conducted some of the first surveys of the giants' spawning grounds.
"We have reports of massive bloomings of young jellyfish near the Chinese coast, where the ecosystems of the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea are favorable for breeding," said Shin-ichi Uye, a biological oceanographer at Hiroshima University.
Efficient Jellyfish
Relatively little is known about Nomura's jellyfish, so Uye and colleagues across Japan have been studying the jellyfish in the lab to learn more about its habits and reproductive strategies.
Based on captive breeding, Uye's team has found that the jellyfish are extremely efficient at filtering tiny creatures called zooplankton out of the water.
As long as a jellyfish is healthy, it devotes all its energy to eating. Even during the spawning season, its reproductive system remains immature.
But if the jellyfish is injured or weakened, it quickly switches to producing offspring, Uye said.
Giant Jellyfish "Typhoons"
The scientists are still not sure why thousands of the creatures float across the Sea of Japan in some years but not others.
"It is possible that they have a 'rest stage' or hibernation period in their development over several years, but then their numbers shoot up given certain environmental stimuli," Uye said.
Researchers also don't know why the giant jellyfish are becoming more regular visitors to Japan's shores.
In the early 1900s large numbers of the giants were reported only every 40 years or so.
But in recent years the jellyfish have been appearing with alarming frequency: Japan experienced unusually large outbreaks almost every year between 2002 and 2007.
One contributing factor may be a decline in the number of jellyfish predators, including sea turtles and certain species of fish known to eat young jellyfish.
According to Uye, right now giant jellyfish outbreaks are like typhoons—they can't be controlled, but they can be predicted.
He and his colleagues are currently working on a system for creating accurate jellyfish forecasts, so fishers will hopefully be able to better prepare themselves.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Under the Sea...one of my all time favourites...
The seaweed is always greener
In somebody else's lake
You dream about going up there
But that is a big mistake
Just look at the world around you
Right here on the ocean floor
Such wonderful things surround you
What more is you lookin' for?
Under the sea Under the sea
Darling it's better
Down where it's wetter
Take it from me
Up on the shore they work all day
Out in the sun they slave away
While we devotin'
Full time to floatin'
Under the sea
Down here all the fish is happy
As off through the waves they roll
The fish on the land ain't happy
They sad 'cause they in their bowl
But fish in the bowl is lucky
They in for a worser fate
One day when the boss get hungry
Guess who's gon' be on the plate
Under the seaUnder the sea
Nobody beat us
Fry us and eat us
In fricassee
We what the land folks loves to cook
Under the sea we off the hook
We got no troubles
Life is the bubbles
Under the sea
Under the sea
Since life is sweet here
We got the beat here
Naturally
Even the sturgeon an' the ray
They get the urge 'n' start to play
We got the spirit
You got to hear it
Under the sea
The newt play the flute The carp play the harp
The plaice play the bass And they soundin' sharp
The bass play the brass The chub play the tub
The fluke is the duke of soul (Yeah)
The ray he can play The lings on the stringsT
he trout rockin' out The blackfish she sings
The smelt and the sprat
They know where it's at
An' oh that blowfish blow
Under the sea Under the sea
When the sardine
Begin the beguine
It's music to me
What do they got? A lot of sand
We got a hot crustacean band
Each little clam here
know how to jam here
Under the sea
Each little slug here
Cuttin' a rug here
Under the sea
Each little snail here
Know how to wail here
That's why it's hotter
Under the water
Ya we in luck here
Down in the muck here
Under the sea
------Sebastien :-)
Eating Crow increases sexual potency????
June 9, 2009—In Lithuania, eating crow isn't an exercise in public humiliation, as the English idiom suggests. Here, crow is literally eaten, and says one connoisseur, "it increases sexual potency."
© 2009 National Geographic (AP)
Unedited Transcript
Despite their intelligence and function as scavengers, crows are rarely popular birds.
The large black birds with a noisy squawk have traditionally held the role of evil-doer or thief in fable and fairy-tales.
In Lithuania, crow has been part of a traditional diet throughout the centuries mostly eaten during times of hardship.
The meal of crow remained widespread in Lithuania into the 20th Century but almost died out during Soviet occupation. Now it is making a comeback.
SOUNDBITE (Lithuanian) Andrius Gudzinskas, Hunter: "We are hunting young crows because we need them for our feast, which is a century-old tradition. I support this tradition and will keep doing it (shooting crows). The birds are not bad - they do good but they also do harm. Their number can only be regulated by hunting."
Hunts for the black colored birds, which has several species nearly world-wide, last several days, and involve driving hundreds of kilometers in search of crow flocks.
Back home, the birds are plucked and then the crow meat is prepared in cooking oil at a high temperature and served with vegetables.
SOUNDBITE (Lithuanian) Vanda Mikalauskiene, Cook: "We boil it for about an hour because it's game meat and it's tough. Usually a chicken is boiled for 15-20 minutes but this is a wild bird."
The hunters claim the younger birds are better. Here they are considered delicacies, said by some to taste like quail.
SOUNDBITE (Lithuanian) Dalia Keriene, Kalnaberze Resident: "This is a great dish, crow meat is very tasty and good for men because it increases sexual potency. Try it and you'll see."
With its reputation as a scavenger, which includes dining from piles of garbage, some fear disease from eating crow. But a local medic explains that after being cooked at the right temperature the crow meat is absolutely safe to eat.
SOUNDBITE (Lithuanian) Kristina Mikolaitiene, Medic: "Crows are cooked in boiling oil with a temperature of 190 degrees Celsius so that all bacteria die and there is no danger for health."
In the village of Kalnaberze, residents gathered for a recent feast to devour the crow meat.
SOUNDBITE (Lithuanian) Jorune Liutkiene, Kalnaberze Resident: "I've been taking part in this feast for three years. I like it. When tried it for the first time I was a little bit scared but then I understood that it's tasty."
While eating crow is an English idiom that might refer to admission of a humiliating mistake, in Lithuania, it could be part of a re-emerging tradition.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Marine Mammal News - Greenland Plans To Target Humpback Whales (WDCS International)
Greenland is planning to make a request to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to kill 10 humpback whales a year, starting in 2010. WDCS believes that the proposed hunt is unjustified and should be opposed by member governments of the IWC.
You can help us save the lives of these humpback whales by sending a protest e-mail today to European Union member governments urging them to reject the request.
Greenland will request this new quota under the IWCs category of Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling – non-commercial hunts intended to meet the cultural and subsistence needs of indigenous people who have a longstanding reliance on whale products. But Greenland’s hunters do not need to kill more whales for their subsistence – they actually have a surplus, and sell whole whales from their current quota of 212 minke and 19 fin whales a year to corporate wholesalers that sell frozen and vacuum packed whale meat and blubber through supermarkets all over Greenland, including to visitors and tourists.
On top of the whale hunts, Greenland’s hunters kill another 4,000 dolphins, porpoises and small whales every year, but not a single gram of meat from these animals is taken into account by the IWC when it evaluates whether Greenlands needs are being met by its existing whaling quota, or if it needs more whales.
WDCS believes this is wrong and we are demanding a long overdue reform of Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling to prevent these kinds of abuses. These humpbacks need our help now. Please help us now by calling on members of the European Union to vote against Greenland’s request to the IWC meeting this June to kill humpback whales. Thank you for your support.
Amazing Animal Story 3
German Shepherd Saves Owner From Death By Seizure
Dog Calls 911
Buddy, a german shepherd, specially trained in Michigan to call 911 saved his owner's life when the man had a seizure.A recording of the 911 call, the 911 operator heard Buddy whimpering and barking. The dispatcher,
"Hello, this is 911. Hello ... Can you hear me? Is there somebody there you can give the phone to?," dispatcher, Chris Trott asked.
Police were sent to owner, Stalnaker's home. After about three minutes, Buddy can be heard barking loudly inside Stalnaker's home when officers arrived.
Scottsdale police Sgt. Mark Clark said Stalnaker spent two days in a hospital recovering from the seizure. "It's pretty incredible," Clark said. "Even the veteran dispatchers hadn't ever heard of anything like this."
Clark said that police are dispatched whenever 911 is called, but Stalnaker's address was flagged in Scottsdale's, AZ system with a notification that a trained assistance dog with the ability to call 911 lives there with his owner.
Stalnaker adopted Buddy at 8 weeks of age from Wayland, Michigan-based Paws with a Cause, which trains assistance dogs to get the phone if Stalnaker ever began to have seizure symptoms.
Buddy, at the time of the 911 call was 18 months old and able press programmed buttons until a 911 operator is on the line. This is not the first time that Buddy has made lifesaving calls on behalf of Stalnaker. Buddy has made two other 911 calls when Stalnaker was having seizures.
Stalnaker's seizures are the result of a head injury he suffered about 10 years ago during a military training exercise.
Amazing animal story 2
Lab Mix Sacrifices Himself To Gator
Dog Sacrifices Himself To Save His Owner From An Alligator
Cindy Hernandez's was playing fetch with her lab-chow mix dog Bob at her dock in Tampa, Florida when she decided to take a dip and cool off from the hot summer day.Hernandez says she knew she was in trouble the instant she saw the gator: "I heard a sound. It sounded like a boat cutting through the water. And I looked back toward my left, and this alligator literally was out of the water. His body was just above the water. He was moving so fast, he was cutting the water, making a sound. The only thing I could think of was to try to distract him. So I started smacking the water and I started screaming. And he just kept coming. And he wouldn't stop."
This is when Bob dropped his toy and came up behind me, he got right in front of me, just before the gator got to me. The alligator took Bob down right in front of me and rolled over one time, it happened that fast. Hernandez says it literally only took a few seconds and Bob was gone but he had saved her life.
Hernandez said, "I got out of the water, got on to the dock and just watched the water waiting for Bob to surface. The gator came up about five minutes later right at the exact spot he went down, with Bob in his mouth, and he just stared at me."
Hernandez says she called the gator patrol and when they actually went out after the gator if came after them. They threw a line in, and had the gator within 15 minutes. Authorities put the gator down thereafter.
Hernandez says she'll never swim there again: "My life has been changed. This was my paradise, my sanctuary, that's all changed."
From Doggy heaven...with love!
Dear Twinky Didi,
I didn't want to waste my time writing to you about mundane things, since ever since i got here I have been pretty much busy romping around in beautiful green fields with other friends- and mind you- they are not just dogs, I have actually been playing with cats too... Surprised? Considering how I used to hate them back home? But here its different. Firstly, for a change, there are no humans around, neither to suffocate us with extra love, nor to kick us and hit us without reason. Secondly, this place has rolling hills and fields, absolutely THE PLACE for us dogs to sprint over. Thirdly, and most surprisingly, I haven't felt hungry or thirsty ever since I have been here, so no sniffing around the smelly garbage bins for food, or waiting days on end for someone to throw us a fungated bread. This is an Uber cool place as you would call it.
Coming back to why I am writing to you, just got to know that you have been filling up your facebook spaces with thoughts about me. Hey Didi, as nice of you as it is, let me tell you exactly what I feel. NOTHING. Not Anymore.
I remember you carrying me and Coffee and Chindi in your arms when we were tiny. I remember mom feeding us in the garage, on and off. I used to wonder why she doesn't feed us everyday. Now I know, she wanted us to be able to sustain ourselves in her absence. Its a different matter that she still outlives me, she must be devastated.
Then I of course remember the dog van which came and took us 3 away for a week. Someone mentioned sterilization, but frankly speaking, it didn't make sense. Till date I don't know why I went to that pound, and what happened to us after we went there. Only that after we came back, there were vague memories of something, but we couldn't make ourselves to understand what that was.We continued living under the building, guarding it day and night from all the robbers, yes, I am positive 90% of those who visited came with sinister motives.
Till the 2nd of June, I never had any enemy as such, excepting Budhdha baba, mom's favorite, just because he has a stump for a tail.I hated him, I hated the sight of him. Has anyone ever seen me baring my fangs to anyone excepting him? He was a threat to my alpha position, otherwise who would be worried about the old man? He doesn't even have all his teeth, did you notice?
I loved going to Mom's hospital in the ambulance. Everytime Shriram driver was here, I made sure I jumped in and waited for him to take me. Especially because of Mrs. Irani. Thats why I made sure I got into a dog fight and grew a beautifully maggotted foul smelling wound on my neck. I knew Mom would fall into the trap, and she did. She called the ambulance and took me to the hospital. I also made sure I resisted the medication, as much as I could, to be able to make my stay longer there. I loved the cold milk and biscuits in the morning, the Royal Canin lunch and dinner, and I loved the way my cage would be cleaned day and night - Royal.I found out that Mrs. Irani is a sucker for whimpers, so I developed a whimper and she would carry me around in her lap whole day. Anyway this is between you and me, don't snitch.That Dr. Kiran Shelar was too good, so he cured me and sent me back, but I outsmarted him and came back two more times with maggot wounds. Later, I tried, but Dad kept treating me on the road itself and the wound healed completely. Thats a Dogs life for you.
But I knew I would outsmart Dr. Kiran Shelar someday. I just didn't know how.
As I told you, I remember nothing. Till the night of 2nd June. I was sleeping soundly. I didn't know what hit me. I ran from my building towards Krishna, but I couldn't see anything properly, and something kept hitting me again and again. In fact, the first thought that crossed my mind was - Dr. Shelar here I come- and this time lets see how fast you can get me home.
I remember nothing much after that. Only that I took my favorite ride to the hospital in my favorite ambulance. In between Mom and dad stopped at a Police station, a lot of police men came out and touched me. Boy! Did I feel important. I slept for 5 days, so I heard. In between I vaguely remember attaining my goal- I got Mrs. Irani to stick by me for all those 5 days and nights, and I got Dr. Shelar in the middle of the night at 1 AM to treat me for whatever had happened to me. Who cared, I was in my favorite hospital. Someone called Mamta gave me delicious laddus, she said it was from Shirdi and would make me well enough to go home fast. I knew that was a trick and decided not to eat anything anymore- they were all planning to send me home fast. You can never believe humans. Dad and mom were by my side, though I couldn't see them, and I even got to go to Dr. Chariar. I must have done something seriously wrong this time - I was happy, mostly because I fooled Dr. Shelar by sitting up, drinking soup, eating rotis and changing sides on my own. He was all ready to write my discharge certificate, but then I got him there. I fooled him and he had to write some other certificate - I hear it was called Death Certificate. Why the heck did he write a Death Certificate. I am so alive here, well, there are somethings even he doesn't know, and I am not going to tell him.
I remember nothing else, excepting that 2 days back lots of other animals visited me and showed me the way to this place. I waited for a while, hovering around, then saw mom rushing into the hospital and crying. Thats when I decided to scoot, I knew she would take me home, because I was feeling fine and healthy and there is no saying when Dr. Shelar would come and write a fitness certificate.I don't trust him, he seems to be curing all the animals and not sparing a thought about whether they want to stay back or not.
Didi, don't worry. I am much happier here than in Gangotri. I have met a beautiful girl called Cleo here, she is older to me, but that wont stop me, its in fashion nowadays, isn't it? She knows a lot about you and mom, but she speaks mostly about Dad. I think I can work my way to her on this basis. My only worry here is that old Mastu from our building. He has regained his health and his youth here, blah! And Cleo seems to be in his favour a lot. I will try to woo her though.
Please check whether Chindi and Coffee accompanies Dad till our main gate when he is going to office. It is very important, since he sometimes goes early in the morning and there are obnoxious dogs around. I used to make sure he is safely out of the gates. I had trained Coffee and Chindi, but you know how they are, wont budge if someone is not after them.
And don't worry about me. I don't hurt, and I don't thirst. And I don't remember. Anything, excepting vagulely about you, mom and dad, and that fellow Sushil, who made us stand in a line took our photos. I don't have any memories. Theres a beautiful light here, that makes you forget everything.
Thats what matters. I am fine Didi, don't cry for me.
(Thank you for writing this for me ma...on behalf of coco...really cheered me up though there was a late night bout of crying too...)
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
For Mum...:-)
Cat Owner's Prayer.....
Because I'm only human,
Because I'm only human,
It's sometimes hard to be
The wise, all-knowing creature
That my cat expects of me.
And so I pray for special help
And so I pray for special help
To somehow understand
The subtle implications
Of each proud meowed command.
Oh, let me not forget that chairs
Were put on earth to shred;
And what I like to call a lap
Is actually a bed.
I know it's really lots to ask
But please, oh please, take pity;
And though I'm only human,
Make me worthy of my kitty!
------Author Unknown
A Dog's Prayer
* Treat me kindly, my beloved master, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.* Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I should lick your hand between the blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me do.
* Speak to me often, for your voice is the world’s sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footsteps falls upon my waiting ear.* When it is cold and wet, please take me inside, for I am now a domesticated animal, no longer used to bitter elements. And I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth.
* Though had you no home, I would rather follow you through ice and snow than rest upon the softest pillow in the warmest home in all the land, for you are my god and I am your devoted worshiper.
* Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for although I should not reproach you were it dry, I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.
* Feed me clean food, that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side, and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life should your life be in danger.
* And, beloved master, should the great Master see fit to deprive me of my health or sight, do not turn me away from you. Rather hold me gently in your arms as skilled hands grant me the merciful boon of eternal rest - and I will leave you knowing with the last breath I drew, my fate was ever safest in your hands.
~Beth Norman Harris
A Pocketful of Love
A Pocketful of Love From Chicken Soup for the Soul: Woman to Woman
"Dogs are miracles with paws" - Attributed to Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy
DebbieLynn never set out to be a fashion model, it just kind of happened. Although she had other interests she wanted to pursue, it was hard to walk away from the success she'd achieved modeling. The exciting lifestyle meant Deb traveled constantly, which left little time for other interests. She'd thought about taking the gamble, quitting and trying something new, but told herself she'd model just one more year. For more years than she could count, it had been, "Just one more year."
Everything changed the day Deb returned from an overseas modeling job and caught a taxi at the airport. Instead of delivering her home, the drunken cabbie stole her career and health in a horrible car accident that Deb barely survived. Suddenly, the "one more year" of modeling wasn't an option. Deb was left with a kaleidoscope of disabling health problems, some caused by side effects of the drugs meant to keep her alive. She had no choice―- this time, Deb had to start over, from scratch.
Although she'd had dogs as a child and had wanted a dog for a long time, her travel schedule kept her from adopting a pet for many years. Finding the perfect canine companion was now the first thing on Deb's wish list. Not just any dog would do, though. The scleroderma racking her body left her skin so fragile, a tiny bump could tear it and cause bleeding. On top of that, secondary hemophilia kept cuts from coagulating, and Deb could die if the bleeding wasn't stopped in time. Doctors who feared a large dog could accidentally hurt her warned Deb that two and a half pounds was the top weight limit she could tolerate. With her lung capacity so severely diminished, shedding was also a problem.
Nevertheless, Deb was determined to have her dream dog. It took her eighteen months to find the perfect two-pound Yorkshire terrier, whom she named Cosette. Her puppy had special needs of her own―- because of her tiny size, Cosette couldn't digest commercial dog foods and required a special vegetarian diet. Deb was happy to do whatever it took to keep her new companion healthy and happy.
They'd been together only a few weeks, and Cosette was only five months old when the pocket-size puppy began "acting weird." Cosette ran up to Deb, gently pawed her leg in an odd way, and squeaked a peculiar sound Deb had never heard before. The dog wouldn't stop―- she repeated the behavior time and again. What was wrong? Deb worried the pup had gone nuts. Didn't Deb already have enough to deal with―- what if the pup she'd fallen in love with had emotional problems? Deb knew she could manage the homemade diet, but could she handle something worse?
It never occurred to Deb that Cosette was trying to tell her something, until the doctor saw them together. During a house call, Deb's doctor witnessed one of Cosette's strange episodes. Other patients of his had dogs who alerted them to health conditions, so he immediately recognized that the puppy somehow "knew" in advance Deb would suffer a health crisis. Sure enough, seven minutes later one of Deb's dangerous migraines began.
Deb was amazed! She had heard about this ability and knew dogs couldn't be trained to have it; they either "know" or they don't, and it's the bond between the pet and person that makes it happen. She'd never considered having a service animal, but Cosette had taken matters into her own paws. The pup's ability offered a freedom Deb never expected, and allowed her to take medicine and prevent the headaches that not only were painful, but also could cause bleeding and kill her.
The doctor told Deb that her puppy should get additional training and certification so Cosette could go with her everywhere. The Delta Society, a national group that certifies therapy dogs, recommended a trainer. It took only four months for the little dog, with her inborn service-dog instincts, to be certified.
Deb had also suffered hearing loss from the accident, making it difficult for her to hear buzzer-type sounds like the doorbell, the telephone, and the washer and dryer, so Cosette learned to alert her to any of these. She also was taught to tell Deb when something or someone approached from her peripheral blind spots.
But Cosette figured out ways to help Deb that not even the trainer anticipated. Cosette's acute sense of smell allows her to alert Deb to tiny cuts that Deb doesn't even know have happened. First, she pushes and pushes against Deb's ankles to make her get down to the dog's level. Then Cosette puts her tongue against the cut, finds a position that gives her good traction, then applies pressure. Deb says that the tiny dog can make herself feel like a lead weight. A treatment lasts for twenty to forty minutes―- or until the bleeding stops, and somehow, Cosette knows when it has been long enough. Without Cosette's skillful attentions, Deb would need to spend all day at the emergency room.
Another serious health problem Deb faces are her heart irregularities. She's often not aware that her breathing has become shallower until she blacks out. Now when Deb's heart skips a beat, Cosette warns her so she can take medicine in time to ward off the problem. When Deb sleeps, sometimes her heart stops altogether, until Cosette leaps into action―- literally, by jumping on Deb's chest. That almost always gets the heart going again, but if it doesn't start right away, Cosette even knows to dial 911!
Cosette was trained to dial 911 on any push-button telephone by tapping out the individual three numbers, so she can call for help anywhere, anytime, even from a cell phone when they're away from home. Deb leaves phones in their home always within paw-reach. Cosette has called 911 and saved Deb's life more than thirty times during their years together.
The little dog who saves her life also helps Deb make a living. Cosette inspired Deb to create three Web sites that cater to pet lovers. Cosette's Private Collection is a line of all-natural, botanical grooming products for dogs. Cosette's Choice includes organic biscuits, nutritional supplements for dogs with special nutritional needs (like Cosette herself), and includes a Biscuit-of-the-Month Club. The third, Cosette's Closet, leverages Deb's experience and taste from the world of fashion modeling to provide a specialty line of canine clothing, including doggy bridesmaid gowns, sundresses and tuxedos. Cosette, of course, has her own closetful of designer doggy togs.
Cosette wears her special outfits when she accompanies Deb to restaurants. On her last birthday, Cosette enjoyed eating rice and beans at her favorite Mexican dining spot and greeting the restaurant manager, a member of her "fan club," who insisted on singing "Happy Birthday" to the special dog.
Her biggest fan, though, is DebbieLynn. The former model―- now successful entrepreneur―- never knew she could become so attached to a dog, yet her tiny companion and service dog has become everything to her. And Deb knows the feeling is mutual; she is amazed at the depth of Cosette's love for her. Today they live for each other.
"Dogs are miracles with paws" - Attributed to Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy
DebbieLynn never set out to be a fashion model, it just kind of happened. Although she had other interests she wanted to pursue, it was hard to walk away from the success she'd achieved modeling. The exciting lifestyle meant Deb traveled constantly, which left little time for other interests. She'd thought about taking the gamble, quitting and trying something new, but told herself she'd model just one more year. For more years than she could count, it had been, "Just one more year."
Everything changed the day Deb returned from an overseas modeling job and caught a taxi at the airport. Instead of delivering her home, the drunken cabbie stole her career and health in a horrible car accident that Deb barely survived. Suddenly, the "one more year" of modeling wasn't an option. Deb was left with a kaleidoscope of disabling health problems, some caused by side effects of the drugs meant to keep her alive. She had no choice―- this time, Deb had to start over, from scratch.
Although she'd had dogs as a child and had wanted a dog for a long time, her travel schedule kept her from adopting a pet for many years. Finding the perfect canine companion was now the first thing on Deb's wish list. Not just any dog would do, though. The scleroderma racking her body left her skin so fragile, a tiny bump could tear it and cause bleeding. On top of that, secondary hemophilia kept cuts from coagulating, and Deb could die if the bleeding wasn't stopped in time. Doctors who feared a large dog could accidentally hurt her warned Deb that two and a half pounds was the top weight limit she could tolerate. With her lung capacity so severely diminished, shedding was also a problem.
Nevertheless, Deb was determined to have her dream dog. It took her eighteen months to find the perfect two-pound Yorkshire terrier, whom she named Cosette. Her puppy had special needs of her own―- because of her tiny size, Cosette couldn't digest commercial dog foods and required a special vegetarian diet. Deb was happy to do whatever it took to keep her new companion healthy and happy.
They'd been together only a few weeks, and Cosette was only five months old when the pocket-size puppy began "acting weird." Cosette ran up to Deb, gently pawed her leg in an odd way, and squeaked a peculiar sound Deb had never heard before. The dog wouldn't stop―- she repeated the behavior time and again. What was wrong? Deb worried the pup had gone nuts. Didn't Deb already have enough to deal with―- what if the pup she'd fallen in love with had emotional problems? Deb knew she could manage the homemade diet, but could she handle something worse?
It never occurred to Deb that Cosette was trying to tell her something, until the doctor saw them together. During a house call, Deb's doctor witnessed one of Cosette's strange episodes. Other patients of his had dogs who alerted them to health conditions, so he immediately recognized that the puppy somehow "knew" in advance Deb would suffer a health crisis. Sure enough, seven minutes later one of Deb's dangerous migraines began.
Deb was amazed! She had heard about this ability and knew dogs couldn't be trained to have it; they either "know" or they don't, and it's the bond between the pet and person that makes it happen. She'd never considered having a service animal, but Cosette had taken matters into her own paws. The pup's ability offered a freedom Deb never expected, and allowed her to take medicine and prevent the headaches that not only were painful, but also could cause bleeding and kill her.
The doctor told Deb that her puppy should get additional training and certification so Cosette could go with her everywhere. The Delta Society, a national group that certifies therapy dogs, recommended a trainer. It took only four months for the little dog, with her inborn service-dog instincts, to be certified.
Deb had also suffered hearing loss from the accident, making it difficult for her to hear buzzer-type sounds like the doorbell, the telephone, and the washer and dryer, so Cosette learned to alert her to any of these. She also was taught to tell Deb when something or someone approached from her peripheral blind spots.
But Cosette figured out ways to help Deb that not even the trainer anticipated. Cosette's acute sense of smell allows her to alert Deb to tiny cuts that Deb doesn't even know have happened. First, she pushes and pushes against Deb's ankles to make her get down to the dog's level. Then Cosette puts her tongue against the cut, finds a position that gives her good traction, then applies pressure. Deb says that the tiny dog can make herself feel like a lead weight. A treatment lasts for twenty to forty minutes―- or until the bleeding stops, and somehow, Cosette knows when it has been long enough. Without Cosette's skillful attentions, Deb would need to spend all day at the emergency room.
Another serious health problem Deb faces are her heart irregularities. She's often not aware that her breathing has become shallower until she blacks out. Now when Deb's heart skips a beat, Cosette warns her so she can take medicine in time to ward off the problem. When Deb sleeps, sometimes her heart stops altogether, until Cosette leaps into action―- literally, by jumping on Deb's chest. That almost always gets the heart going again, but if it doesn't start right away, Cosette even knows to dial 911!
Cosette was trained to dial 911 on any push-button telephone by tapping out the individual three numbers, so she can call for help anywhere, anytime, even from a cell phone when they're away from home. Deb leaves phones in their home always within paw-reach. Cosette has called 911 and saved Deb's life more than thirty times during their years together.
The little dog who saves her life also helps Deb make a living. Cosette inspired Deb to create three Web sites that cater to pet lovers. Cosette's Private Collection is a line of all-natural, botanical grooming products for dogs. Cosette's Choice includes organic biscuits, nutritional supplements for dogs with special nutritional needs (like Cosette herself), and includes a Biscuit-of-the-Month Club. The third, Cosette's Closet, leverages Deb's experience and taste from the world of fashion modeling to provide a specialty line of canine clothing, including doggy bridesmaid gowns, sundresses and tuxedos. Cosette, of course, has her own closetful of designer doggy togs.
Cosette wears her special outfits when she accompanies Deb to restaurants. On her last birthday, Cosette enjoyed eating rice and beans at her favorite Mexican dining spot and greeting the restaurant manager, a member of her "fan club," who insisted on singing "Happy Birthday" to the special dog.
Her biggest fan, though, is DebbieLynn. The former model―- now successful entrepreneur―- never knew she could become so attached to a dog, yet her tiny companion and service dog has become everything to her. And Deb knows the feeling is mutual; she is amazed at the depth of Cosette's love for her. Today they live for each other.
Sometimes The Answer Is No.
Dear Blog,
I prayed...like I have rarely prayed before...Ever since I first started speaking to God, the bottom line of my prayer has always been “Thy will be done”. I would ask for whatever I wanted but would always end with that statement removing myself from the ego consciousness and merging my will with HIS. This time it was different.
This time I wanted my COCO to live...to survive the ordeal he had been through, firstly because I didn’t want him to die an untimely death as a consequence of the actions of a bunch of hooligans and secondly because I wanted to laugh in their faces and make a statement...that their actions couldn’t harm my little one.
He showed signs of recovery, he sat up, ate, drank water, wagged his tail showed my parents recognition...and then suddenly before the critical 72 hr period was up, his condition turned for the worse. His body became rigid again, his fever sky rocketed and he kept screaming into the night...apparently the horrific pain came back.
He stayed this way for a while before he slipped into a coma. And all this while I was only praying for his life...No underlying “Thy will be done” statement. Finally after 24 hours I realized I was just holding on to him and he was hanging on only because I was not ready to let go...because I kept praying for his life....because I would not let God do HIS will.
So day before yesterday I finally sat down and spoke to GOD like I used to. I told Him that as much as I would love COCO romping around happy and healthy again, I would not want to be the cause of his pain. And no matter what happens, I cannot question GOD’s reasons. And I sealed the conversation with “Your will be done.”
I was at a conference the whole day at the Shangri La and was caught up in the arcane world of business professionals. I finally managed to break away for a bit and slipped into the restroom to call Ma. And she informed me that Coco had passed on an hour or so earlier.
I hung up and stood there in the majestically decorated restroom. I was surrounded by beauty but my heart was empty save for a few mixed emotions running helter skelter. I was crying inside knowing that I would never see my Coco’s physical form again, but I was relieved that he was in no pain. I was filled with fury at those boys who took Coco from me but at the same time I was revelling in the fact that God had been on the other side conversing with me all along, and when I finally agreed to let go, God agreed to take him.
I am sure I will grieve Coco for a long time now. More than my other animals because he died as a result of an unnecessary cruel act...something unforgiveable in the human species since we have been given the power to discern right from wrong. Sure Orcas play with their quarry before killing them; sure cats do the same and kill their prey without wanting to eat them. But they do not have the discriminating volition that has been so benevolently granted to us.
I have had anger welling up in me ever since I heard of the atrocious act and I have cursed like I have never done before. But amidst my fury, my friend of yesteryears reminded me of the grace of God and her understanding words touched me to my very core. I asked for her permission to publish her thoughts and here is an excerpt of what she said,
“As for those perpertrators, for each and every act of injustice done, they will have to be answerable to God. Though all of us feel pure rage right now, the time will surely come for their judgment as well. Forgive them for they do not know what they do. It is very painful. But true that all of us have to leave one day, all marked in His time. May God's will be done. For His plans are not ours, and He does all for our own good. I just pray that we continue to do good and find strength in the Lord.”
I have listened to her and am slowly resolving the anger inside of me. I know it will take time. But I have faith that God will help me forgive.
Coco was cremated yesterday. I wish to erase the memories of him in pain. I only wish to remember him as the sprightly boy that he was...abounding in joy and selfless love.
I prayed like never before and then I prayed like I used to. I am always looking to God for answers. And He has shown me that He always answers my prayers. Always. Only for reasons that are His alone, and for reasons that I am too spiritually unevolved yet to understand, sometimes the answer is No.
I love you Coco. Goodbye.
........In Memorium of our beloved Coco
Twinky
I prayed...like I have rarely prayed before...Ever since I first started speaking to God, the bottom line of my prayer has always been “Thy will be done”. I would ask for whatever I wanted but would always end with that statement removing myself from the ego consciousness and merging my will with HIS. This time it was different.
This time I wanted my COCO to live...to survive the ordeal he had been through, firstly because I didn’t want him to die an untimely death as a consequence of the actions of a bunch of hooligans and secondly because I wanted to laugh in their faces and make a statement...that their actions couldn’t harm my little one.
He showed signs of recovery, he sat up, ate, drank water, wagged his tail showed my parents recognition...and then suddenly before the critical 72 hr period was up, his condition turned for the worse. His body became rigid again, his fever sky rocketed and he kept screaming into the night...apparently the horrific pain came back.
He stayed this way for a while before he slipped into a coma. And all this while I was only praying for his life...No underlying “Thy will be done” statement. Finally after 24 hours I realized I was just holding on to him and he was hanging on only because I was not ready to let go...because I kept praying for his life....because I would not let God do HIS will.
So day before yesterday I finally sat down and spoke to GOD like I used to. I told Him that as much as I would love COCO romping around happy and healthy again, I would not want to be the cause of his pain. And no matter what happens, I cannot question GOD’s reasons. And I sealed the conversation with “Your will be done.”
I was at a conference the whole day at the Shangri La and was caught up in the arcane world of business professionals. I finally managed to break away for a bit and slipped into the restroom to call Ma. And she informed me that Coco had passed on an hour or so earlier.
I hung up and stood there in the majestically decorated restroom. I was surrounded by beauty but my heart was empty save for a few mixed emotions running helter skelter. I was crying inside knowing that I would never see my Coco’s physical form again, but I was relieved that he was in no pain. I was filled with fury at those boys who took Coco from me but at the same time I was revelling in the fact that God had been on the other side conversing with me all along, and when I finally agreed to let go, God agreed to take him.
I am sure I will grieve Coco for a long time now. More than my other animals because he died as a result of an unnecessary cruel act...something unforgiveable in the human species since we have been given the power to discern right from wrong. Sure Orcas play with their quarry before killing them; sure cats do the same and kill their prey without wanting to eat them. But they do not have the discriminating volition that has been so benevolently granted to us.
I have had anger welling up in me ever since I heard of the atrocious act and I have cursed like I have never done before. But amidst my fury, my friend of yesteryears reminded me of the grace of God and her understanding words touched me to my very core. I asked for her permission to publish her thoughts and here is an excerpt of what she said,
“As for those perpertrators, for each and every act of injustice done, they will have to be answerable to God. Though all of us feel pure rage right now, the time will surely come for their judgment as well. Forgive them for they do not know what they do. It is very painful. But true that all of us have to leave one day, all marked in His time. May God's will be done. For His plans are not ours, and He does all for our own good. I just pray that we continue to do good and find strength in the Lord.”
I have listened to her and am slowly resolving the anger inside of me. I know it will take time. But I have faith that God will help me forgive.
Coco was cremated yesterday. I wish to erase the memories of him in pain. I only wish to remember him as the sprightly boy that he was...abounding in joy and selfless love.
I prayed like never before and then I prayed like I used to. I am always looking to God for answers. And He has shown me that He always answers my prayers. Always. Only for reasons that are His alone, and for reasons that I am too spiritually unevolved yet to understand, sometimes the answer is No.
I love you Coco. Goodbye.
........In Memorium of our beloved Coco
Twinky
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Ordeal Continues....
Youths beat up stray dog at Mira Road
4 Jun 2009, 0410 hrs IST, Sandhya Nair & Prathmesh Kher , TNN
MUMBAI: A stray dog, named Coke by residents of Gangotri building at Jangid Complex in Mira Road, was beaten up allegedly by miscreants who had come
to smoke marijuana on the premises on Tuesday night. Coke sustained multiple spinal fractures and is battling for its life at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) hospital in Thane. The dog was sleeping on the road outside the building around 11.40 pm when seven boys walked up to him and started hitting him with bamboo sticks. The security guards protested but the boys threatened them, said Shakuntala Majumdar, a resident. By the time the building chairman arrived, the boys fled on their two-wheelers. Coke was taken to the SPCA hospital on Ghodbunder Road and Majumdar filed a complaint with the Kashimira police. Doctors said it would take at least 72 hours to determine whether the dog would survive. The stray has also lost vision in its left eye. According to the residents, the boys attacked the dog as it would bark at them every time they came to the compound to smoke grass. Cops, say residents, have picked up trouble-makers, but the menace continues.
4 Jun 2009, 0410 hrs IST, Sandhya Nair & Prathmesh Kher , TNN
MUMBAI: A stray dog, named Coke by residents of Gangotri building at Jangid Complex in Mira Road, was beaten up allegedly by miscreants who had come
to smoke marijuana on the premises on Tuesday night. Coke sustained multiple spinal fractures and is battling for its life at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) hospital in Thane. The dog was sleeping on the road outside the building around 11.40 pm when seven boys walked up to him and started hitting him with bamboo sticks. The security guards protested but the boys threatened them, said Shakuntala Majumdar, a resident. By the time the building chairman arrived, the boys fled on their two-wheelers. Coke was taken to the SPCA hospital on Ghodbunder Road and Majumdar filed a complaint with the Kashimira police. Doctors said it would take at least 72 hours to determine whether the dog would survive. The stray has also lost vision in its left eye. According to the residents, the boys attacked the dog as it would bark at them every time they came to the compound to smoke grass. Cops, say residents, have picked up trouble-makers, but the menace continues.
Coco’s ordeal
Dear blog,I should have talked to you yesterday, but I was distraught, so I made do with crying at home when I was alone. What else could I do? I couldn’t make sense of what had happened, why it had happened and how anyone could do something like this. Coco is a good dog, he didn’t deserve this. I wasn’t even there to protect him when those fiends beat him up brutally. I was not there to take action too, make sure justice was done. What is the point of me living in this beautiful manicured country when I can’t be there for my own animals?
Coco and Coffee have been resident dogs in the building where Ive spent half my life in Jangid Complex, Mira Road. I have been witnessing their galloping exuberance and gentle joyfulness for as long as I can remember. Coffee is this big lumbering girl with floppy paws while Coco is a smaller version of Coffee, but much naughtier.
Both have been much adored by a majority of the residents and they have never ever given anyone any cause for complaint. In fact they are two of the best guard dogs the building has had. At least theyve got more guts than the idiotic, lazy security guards we have always had. They wouldn’t hesitate to bring the whole building down if a stranger so much as stepped close to the place. Suffice it to say with these two, the building was always safe.
Night before last, a group of 3-4 adolescent boys paid a visit to the garden behind our building where Coco must have been strolling around. The boys were charas doped and whether in that state or not I do not know, three of them pounced on Coco for no apparent reason and held his legs in place while the fourth (identified as an AMJED something) inflicted several blows on Coco with a heavy piece of wood. Coco managed to escape once but they ran after him and repeated the same thing again and again, till Coco’s body was twisted in pain and his spine bent from the multiple blows. Hearing the commotion people ran down from their houses, when these boys fled the scene and somehow got possible witnesses to shut up about it.
Coco was rushed to the hospital on grounds of possible spinal fractures and has been under observation ever since. X-rays show severe concussions in several regions of his spinal cord, he has been micro bleeding into his chest cavity, has high fever and has temporarily lost vision in one eye. Painkillers and concussion depressants seem to be working albeit slowly.
I keep having visions of this sweet naughty playful little fellow jumping on me whenever I was near him and never wanting to get off me. I keep think of the wet lickies he used to bestow on my unsuspecting hand as I walked around. And of course how he LOVES to frolic with Coffee...his best friend.
I am inherently a very spiritual person and I know that human beings have been given a free will with which they make their choices and thereby set their karmic wheels in motion. But animals are subject to mass world karma, not having free will of their own, so Ive been told. Why then is the animal kingdom subject to so much suffering for no fault of the individual animals themselves? And the bigger question is how can a human being bring himself to commit such atrocity with such seeming cold heartedness?
I have witnessed so much of animal cruelty in my life of 25 years, but I have always made it a point to forgive the perpetrator and hope for a better future. But yesterday I found myself unwilling to restrain myself from cursing those four young men. I know God has his plans and therefore I feel a little guilty about cursing them, but I also felt a certain relief when I did. When I put out into the universe thoughts of ravaging pain, paralysis and suffering for these young men, I realized that it was the only thing I could do to exact revenge, to action justice for what they had done to my defenceless friend.
I don’t know if Coco will survive this ordeal. Even if he does, I don’t know if he will ever be able to move normally again. And I am sure this trauma has scarred him emotionally forever. In a way it’s a good thing. He will stay away from the real “animals” that inhabit this world.
I pray to God that I am someday capable of forgiving these satanic actions. I hope that I can. For now, I can only pray for Coco...my darling little Coco.
............Devastated, Twinky.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Dog Diary vs Cat diary...brilliant!!!! (sourced from somewhere on the internet)
The Dog's Diary
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Dinner! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!
The Cat's Diary
Day 983 of My Captivity
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.
The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates my capabilities. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Bastards!
There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.
Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow, but at the top of the stairs.
I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released, and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird must be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now ...Sunday, May 17, 2009
Doggone menace (Times of India)
16 May 2009, 0000 hrs IST, BRINDLE
Woof! I'm Brindle, the street dog who adopted Bunnylady and Jugfellow some years ago. The reason I'm writing this is because Jugfellow is too upset
to write his column himself. Why? Because, once again, some misguided residents of the National Media Centre, the cooperative housing society near Gurgaon where we live, have started off on the so-called 'stray dog menace'. This happens with unfailing regularity, not just in the NMC but also in that macrocosm of the NMC that we call India. From Kochi to Kolkata, Bagdogra to Bangalore, someone or the other will bring up the stray dog menace, causing a whole lot of innocent, perfectly harmless street dogs to be rounded up and, more often than not, put to death in the most inhumane and cruel manner. People never seem to understand that the Indian street dog (please don't call us strays) are hardy, intelligent, affectionate creatures, often much more so that their pedigreed, imported counterparts, who have been viciously inbred by exploitative breeders. Street dogs have to be all these things in order to survive. Far from harming people, they are - when properly vaccinated against rabies and other diseases - man's best pals, to coin a phrase. They act as excellent guards for the neighbourhood, alerting everyone to the intrusion of strangers by barking. Yet people keep on wanting to get rid of them. Not realising that nature abhors a vacuum and if you get rid of one lot of street dogs, another lot will inevitably take their place. There is no such thing as a 'stray dog menace'. There is only a 'stray human menace'. Who is it that has strayed from the straight and narrow of God's plan (and please don't tell me that God is dog spelt backwards, because if i've heard that once i've heard it for the umpteenth time)? Is it dogs, who live together amicably in the casteless, creedless democracy of doggydom, who have strayed? Or is it humans, with their caste conflicts and their religious wars, their whites and their blacks, their Hindus and Muslims and Sikhs and Christians, their Maoists and their monarchists, their Indias and their Pakistans, their terrorists and their victims, who are the real strays? And the real menace. Not only to each other, but to all of the rest of creation as well. It wasn't dogs who created 9/11, and 26/11, and al-Qaeda, and the Sri Lankan civil war, and the Taliban, and not one but two world wars. All these are human creations. And what wondrous creations. Can you imagine a dog creative enough to devise 65,000 nuclear warheads capable of killing every living creature on this planet a hundred times over? No. Only humans are creative enough to have done that. Though they have yet to prove themselves creative and clever enough to find a cure for the common cold. Or AIDS, or cancer, or a score of other killer diseases. Humans have been too busy doing other things. Like polluting the planet and destroying its environment. The world's forest cover has been thinned from 7.6 billion hectares in the pre-industrial age to 2.8 billion hectares. And that's fast disappearing. Between 1700 and 1900, thanks to human activity, more than 20,000 species of plants, 593 species of birds, over 400 species of animals and 209 species of amphibians became extinct. Today, humans wipe out one species every day on an average. Tell me about the 'stray dog menace'. Unlike humans, who think the universe and everything in it was created only for their benefit to do with as they will, we dogs believe in the co-fraternity of all living things. And that includes cats. Cats? Oh, lor, what have Bunnylady and Jugfellow done? They've let Himal into the place. And Himal is a cat! Who insists on literally rubbing shoulders with me. Yuck. So, while there's no such thing as a stray dog menace, if you were to talk about a stray cat menace, you might get me to agree. Or maybe not. For the basic dharma that doggydom teaches is to live and let live. Which means cats too. Where's that damn Himal gone to...? http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/
Woof! I'm Brindle, the street dog who adopted Bunnylady and Jugfellow some years ago. The reason I'm writing this is because Jugfellow is too upset
to write his column himself. Why? Because, once again, some misguided residents of the National Media Centre, the cooperative housing society near Gurgaon where we live, have started off on the so-called 'stray dog menace'. This happens with unfailing regularity, not just in the NMC but also in that macrocosm of the NMC that we call India. From Kochi to Kolkata, Bagdogra to Bangalore, someone or the other will bring up the stray dog menace, causing a whole lot of innocent, perfectly harmless street dogs to be rounded up and, more often than not, put to death in the most inhumane and cruel manner. People never seem to understand that the Indian street dog (please don't call us strays) are hardy, intelligent, affectionate creatures, often much more so that their pedigreed, imported counterparts, who have been viciously inbred by exploitative breeders. Street dogs have to be all these things in order to survive. Far from harming people, they are - when properly vaccinated against rabies and other diseases - man's best pals, to coin a phrase. They act as excellent guards for the neighbourhood, alerting everyone to the intrusion of strangers by barking. Yet people keep on wanting to get rid of them. Not realising that nature abhors a vacuum and if you get rid of one lot of street dogs, another lot will inevitably take their place. There is no such thing as a 'stray dog menace'. There is only a 'stray human menace'. Who is it that has strayed from the straight and narrow of God's plan (and please don't tell me that God is dog spelt backwards, because if i've heard that once i've heard it for the umpteenth time)? Is it dogs, who live together amicably in the casteless, creedless democracy of doggydom, who have strayed? Or is it humans, with their caste conflicts and their religious wars, their whites and their blacks, their Hindus and Muslims and Sikhs and Christians, their Maoists and their monarchists, their Indias and their Pakistans, their terrorists and their victims, who are the real strays? And the real menace. Not only to each other, but to all of the rest of creation as well. It wasn't dogs who created 9/11, and 26/11, and al-Qaeda, and the Sri Lankan civil war, and the Taliban, and not one but two world wars. All these are human creations. And what wondrous creations. Can you imagine a dog creative enough to devise 65,000 nuclear warheads capable of killing every living creature on this planet a hundred times over? No. Only humans are creative enough to have done that. Though they have yet to prove themselves creative and clever enough to find a cure for the common cold. Or AIDS, or cancer, or a score of other killer diseases. Humans have been too busy doing other things. Like polluting the planet and destroying its environment. The world's forest cover has been thinned from 7.6 billion hectares in the pre-industrial age to 2.8 billion hectares. And that's fast disappearing. Between 1700 and 1900, thanks to human activity, more than 20,000 species of plants, 593 species of birds, over 400 species of animals and 209 species of amphibians became extinct. Today, humans wipe out one species every day on an average. Tell me about the 'stray dog menace'. Unlike humans, who think the universe and everything in it was created only for their benefit to do with as they will, we dogs believe in the co-fraternity of all living things. And that includes cats. Cats? Oh, lor, what have Bunnylady and Jugfellow done? They've let Himal into the place. And Himal is a cat! Who insists on literally rubbing shoulders with me. Yuck. So, while there's no such thing as a stray dog menace, if you were to talk about a stray cat menace, you might get me to agree. Or maybe not. For the basic dharma that doggydom teaches is to live and let live. Which means cats too. Where's that damn Himal gone to...? http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/
Urban Thai Monkeys Get Help (National Geographic News)
Nearly a thousand long-tailed macaques live in Lopburi, near Bangkok, Thailand. Volunteers care for the monkeys when they are sick or injured.© 2009 National Geographic (AP)
Unedited Transcription
It's estimated that more than a thousand long tailed macaques live in the town of Lopburi, near Bangkok.
Volunteers do what they can to help them.
SOUNDBITE: (Thai) Manad Vimuktipun, Volunteer monkey caregiver. "In my opinion, monkeys are the symbol of Lopburi. If the monkeys have skin diseases or are unhealthy, it will look like people here do not take care of them."
Manad mixes parasite medicine with bread and canned milk for the monkeys, because in the summertime, many of the animals develop skin infections caused by parasites.
Manad isn't trained as a veterinarian, so he focuses on what he calls preventative medicine.
Sometimes when Manad looks the other way, the monkeys open his bag and steal leftover food.
SOUNDBITE: (French) Saluatrice Di Natale, Tourist from Brussels, Belgium. "They come close and even climb on our knees or our necks. You can take photos of the monkeys. The contact with the monkeys is really special and enjoyable. Some are gentle and others are more aggressive. Some seem afraid although they come close. It's really enjoyable."
Manad's next stop is what is known as the monkey temple.
It is one of the few places in the world where monkeys roam freely next to humans.
The monkeys know Manad well and eagerly greet him.
Nearby, a volunteer veterinarian is skillfully giving a tranquilizer injection to a critically injured monkey.
She recently found the monkey in the town centre after someone had stabbed it.
SOUNDBITE: (Thai) Juthamas Supannam, Veterinarian. "The monkey is the symbol of Lopburi Province and many have been abused and killed. If no one steps forward to take care of them, there may not be any monkeys in Lopburi in the future."
Before she can return the monkey to its community in the town, she must be sure the monkey is fully recovered.
She first cleans the animal's wound. Then she carefully removes the stitches.
With the monkey asleep, she checks its teeth and gums, eyes and ears. She also checks its hands and fingers to see it doesn't have any broken bones.
She is patiently teaching her adopted monkey to climb trees.
When her pet monkey was three months-old, a Thai tourist found him for sale in a market near the Thai-Laos border and brought him to her.
The monkey's leg was broken and she put a plaster cast on it and treated it.
The monkey's leg is now better, but he still holds it seemingly to get her attention.
Unedited Transcription
It's estimated that more than a thousand long tailed macaques live in the town of Lopburi, near Bangkok.
Volunteers do what they can to help them.
SOUNDBITE: (Thai) Manad Vimuktipun, Volunteer monkey caregiver. "In my opinion, monkeys are the symbol of Lopburi. If the monkeys have skin diseases or are unhealthy, it will look like people here do not take care of them."
Manad mixes parasite medicine with bread and canned milk for the monkeys, because in the summertime, many of the animals develop skin infections caused by parasites.
Manad isn't trained as a veterinarian, so he focuses on what he calls preventative medicine.
Sometimes when Manad looks the other way, the monkeys open his bag and steal leftover food.
SOUNDBITE: (French) Saluatrice Di Natale, Tourist from Brussels, Belgium. "They come close and even climb on our knees or our necks. You can take photos of the monkeys. The contact with the monkeys is really special and enjoyable. Some are gentle and others are more aggressive. Some seem afraid although they come close. It's really enjoyable."
Manad's next stop is what is known as the monkey temple.
It is one of the few places in the world where monkeys roam freely next to humans.
The monkeys know Manad well and eagerly greet him.
Nearby, a volunteer veterinarian is skillfully giving a tranquilizer injection to a critically injured monkey.
She recently found the monkey in the town centre after someone had stabbed it.
SOUNDBITE: (Thai) Juthamas Supannam, Veterinarian. "The monkey is the symbol of Lopburi Province and many have been abused and killed. If no one steps forward to take care of them, there may not be any monkeys in Lopburi in the future."
Before she can return the monkey to its community in the town, she must be sure the monkey is fully recovered.
She first cleans the animal's wound. Then she carefully removes the stitches.
With the monkey asleep, she checks its teeth and gums, eyes and ears. She also checks its hands and fingers to see it doesn't have any broken bones.
She is patiently teaching her adopted monkey to climb trees.
When her pet monkey was three months-old, a Thai tourist found him for sale in a market near the Thai-Laos border and brought him to her.
The monkey's leg was broken and she put a plaster cast on it and treated it.
The monkey's leg is now better, but he still holds it seemingly to get her attention.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Giant Dinosaurs Stuck Their Necks Out, Not Up? (National Geographic News)
Long-necked dinosaurs didn't graze treetops, according to new research that suggests the prehistoric animals were better off holding their necks horizontal, not upright. Lifting long necks at steep angles would have put intense pressure on sauropod hearts, requiring dramatic expenditures of energy to keep blood pumping to the brain, a new study of dinosaur circulation says.Sauropods were giant, long-necked, long-tailed, four-legged plant-eaters that lived about 200 to 66 million years ago (prehistoric time line).
Since long-necked modern animals, such as giraffes, tend to browse on leaves in tall trees, paleontologists have assumed that sauropods—whose necks could be as long as 30 feet [9 meters]—must have done the same.
But Roger Seymour, of the University of Adelaide in Australia, found that sauropods would have spent as much as 75 percent of their bodies' energy to keep their heads held high.
Most mammals use about 10 percent of their energy to circulate blood through their bodies. Giraffes use about 18 percent of their energy to keep blood moving through their long, upright necks.
"Would the increased availability of food in tall trees be worth the cost? This seems doubtful," Seymour said. "It would probably make more energetic sense for [sauropods] to feed with their necks close to horizontal."
By moving their necks side-to-side horizontally, sauropods would have been able to feed on a very large area of plant material without having to move their bodies.
That may not seem like a much of an energy-saving tactic. But in animals that may have weighed 30 to 40 tons, the energetic difference between taking a few steps and not taking a few steps may have been as huge as the animals themselves.
Expensive Treats
Still, some scientists not involved with Seymour's research argue that, in extreme cases, it may have been worth it for saurpods to spend the extra energy to lift their necks.
The bones and joints in some of these animals show that they could lift their necks between 30 and 60 degrees above horizontal, paleontologist Martin Sander, of the University of Bonn in Germany, said.
When food availability at low and medium heights became scarce, the cost of raising the head to get valuable resources may have been worth it, Sander said.
Richard Cowen, of the University of California, Davis, noted that other animals sometimes expend enormous amounts of energy on food.
Cheetahs, for example, sprint after prey, even though the big cats only make the catch one time in four. Likewise, whales use massive amounts of energy to dive deep into cold water, and migratory birds burn heaps of energy flying thousands of miles.
All of these behaviors could be viewed as incredible energy sinks, but we know they are not because the animals gain something significant in return that makes the energy expenditure worth it, Cowen explained.
"It would be reasonable for sauropods to browse occasionally with heads high, as long as the payoff was also high," Cowen said.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Gorillas Are No Dummies, Zoo Study Shows (National Geographic News)
While researchers have rigorously tested chimpanzee intelligence for years, they have paid far less attention to gorillas.That's because gorillas rarely use tools, and scientists had assumed the great apes are not as mentally astute.
But ongoing research at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago suggests otherwise.
Four years ago, scientists there attached a touch-screen computer terminal to the side of the enclosure of a female gorilla named Rollie.
As the gorilla approached, it saw the numeral one displayed on the screen. When Rollie touched the symbol, a chime sounded and the machine dispensed a frozen blueberry.
It did not take long for the gorilla to work out that pressing the number had benefits.
After a while, the computer screen presented Rollie with two symbols, the numerals one and two. Through trial and error, Rollie learned to press them in the right order to receive a blueberry.
Chimps Lagged
Last year zoo primatologist Steve Ross reported that Rollie could sequence up to seven numbers at a time, and that chimpanzees at the facility were taking twice as long to learn the sequence.
"Gorillas rarely use tools and have rarely been cognitively studied as a result. So we did not expect them to perform very well at this," Ross said.
Despite Rollie's success, Ross and his colleagues wondered whether the gorilla was just one very sharp ape, or if such intellect could be found in other gorillas.
The scientists started testing other gorillas at their facility. The youngest of the group, a five-year-old named Azizi, is also proving to be a quick study.
So far the male gorilla has only learned to sequence five numbers at a time, but has progressed as rapidly as Rollie.
In Japan similar studies are being conducted with chimpanzees, mandrills, and gibbons. None have made it past the number five.
"This is the first study demonstrating gorilla intelligence like this," said Tetsuro Matsuzawa, director of the Primate Research Institute at Kyoto University.
"I am eager to see how further research with these gorillas progresses."
Social Intolerance
The discovery raises questions about why gorillas do not use tools more often.
"We are starting to think that gorilla social intolerance blocks innovative behaviors like tool use from spreading widely through a group," said primatologist Elizabeth Lonsdorf, also at Lincoln Park Zoo.
If gorillas gathered together and studied one another—as chimpanzees do—tool use might be a lot more common, Lonsdorf noted.
Another factor could be feeding behavior. Gorillas depend heavily on easily obtained grass and herbs that require no tools for collection, while chimpanzees commonly feed on fruits and nuts which are often hard to access without tools.
"The challenge of obtaining food may be a second reason why chimpanzees invent tools and gorillas do not," Kyoto University's Matsuzawa said.
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