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Happy New Year – 2015!

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I would like to thank everyone who has dropped by this page over the past year. Hopefully, you have enjoyed reading my posts – maybe I was able to teach you something. Who knows? But I wanted to say “Thanks” and wish you and everyone you love a very happy new year! Be safe out there!!

Personally, I have nothing planned for this New Year’s Eve (unless I get a call from an awesome organization about a job *fingerscrossed* – in which case I will be celebrating). But my dedication to you, dear reader, has been with me to the last! That is why I spent this morning fixing all my dead videos!! WOOT!!

So, enjoy the time with your loved ones; be sure to love yourself in the coming year as well as your pet, neighbor, neighbor’s pet and, hell, even your co-workers!! Spread the love!!

happy-new-year-2015-920739

Africa’s (Actually the World’s) Deadliest Animal Shows Compassion

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If you were to ask a group of people what they thought Africa’s deadliest animal was – not including insects – you will probably get a diverse group of answers from reptiles like the Puff Adder, Crocodiles and the Black Mamba to mammals like Lions, Elephants and Rhinos.  But not many people know that the actual culprit is the Hippopotamus. According to statistics provided by the African Wildlife Foundation hippos kill nearly 3,000 people every year. hippo-rps-600Hippopotami (Hippopotamus amphibious) are known to be aggressive and unpredictable while exhibiting fear of nothing.  They have been known to attack and kill crocodiles.  One report from 2009 was featured on the Telegraph’s web site.  A 1974 issue of Science Digest featured an article entitled “The Dangerous Hippo” by George and Lory Frame that stated:

            “Nearly all of the famous African explorers and hunters–Livingstone, Stanley, Burton, Selous, Speke, DuChaillu–had boating mishaps with hippos. All considered the hippo to be a wantonly malicious beast. Not long ago Spencer Tyron, a white hunter, was killed while hunting near the shores of Lake Rukwa, Tanzania. A bull hippo turned over the dugout canoe from which Tyron was shooting, and bit off his head and shoulders.”

Now add in the following facts:  they can run faster than you (18 mph) and can weigh up to 3 ½ tons (7,000 pounds or 3,175.15 kilograms). Crocodylus_niloticus_in_Lake_Chamo_02A Nile crocodile on average can reach 13 – 16 feet in length and weight 0.45 ton (900 pounds, 410 kilograms).  However, it is considered “not uncommon” for crocs to reach 20 feet and 1 ton (2,000 pounds, 900 kilograms) but was seen more in the 40s and 50s prior to severe hunting.  The Nile crocodile (Crocodyus porosus) is second only to the Saltwater Croc in size and aggression.  The crocodile is considered to be a more opportunistic animal than the hippo and carry a death toll of up to 200 a year. Wildebeest-Blue-2The gnu, or wildebeest, is an antelope that can weigh between 0.32 ton (639 pounds, 290 kilograms) for males and 0.29 ton (573 pounds, 260 kilograms) for females.  Males reach a height 150 cm (4.9 feet) at the shoulder and females stand about 120 cm (3.9 feet).  The yearly death toll they cause is minimal to nonexistent (mostly stupid people keeping them as pets or freak accidents). So what can happen when you put all three together?  Something amazing. The Daily Mail reported on March 11th about a rarely seen event.  While on safari in the Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya in 2011, photographer Vadim Onishchenko was able to capture on film a group of hippos (known as a bloat) rescue and protect a gnu from a crocodile.  One of the largest hippos is even seen nudging the gnu to encourage it to move out of the water.  Onishchenko said:

            “It was an incredible moment, the hippo actually tried to push it out of the water and then guarded the gnu to prevent the crocs getting close. . . . Even our safari guide was stunned by the hippos behaviour, he said he had never seen anything like it before.”

One of Onishchenko's photos.

One of Onishchenko’s photos.

Onishchenko filmed the scene for more than two hours.  And if you watch the video below at about 45 seconds in, you can see one of the hippos stomp on the crocodile in order to get it to let go of the wildebeest. The wildebeest did make it ashore with Onishchenko saying:

            “We saw the gnu escape the water but it stood there for quite a while as I think it was in shock. When we left the animal was still ashore and seemed uninjured but we had to leave as it was getting dark.”

I can guarantee the gnu did not escape unscathed (as I have some first hand experience with an alligator and he was a baby!).  But I hope his injuries heal and have no ill effects except for giving him a little extra wisdom.

Seriously?

/ cyrakitty / Leave a comment

Have you seen this?

“Peter Hansen, New Hampshire Lawmaker, Calls Women ‘Vaginas’ In Email To Colleagues”!?!

Good.  Then I don’t feel bad about referring to men as “dicks”!

What a f@%$*^&g prat!

Versatile Blogger Award

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Ok, I have been extended the honor of being nominated for a Versatile Blogger Award.  So my deepest thanks go out to Mac1949 for thinking my blog deserved the distinction.  So as a result, I am to list seven things about myself.  And as a bonus to my readers I will try to list things that are not obvious.  So here goes:

1.  I am fascinated by WWII.  Not so much the battles as the people.  I have a morbid fascination with Hitler and the Nazis.  I do not agree with their actions or mentality but I have that curiosity of poking a dead snake with a stick.  That was probably clear as mud, for which I apologize.

2.  I can pinpoint the turning point of my life and biggest regret to March of 1996.

3.  I despised school when I was growing up and I never read unless I had to (or was offered free pizza during the summer).  Even when I first started college I was not a big school person.  Now?  I love to learn and read constantly.  You can’t stop me!!

4.  My secret passion and dream job is to be either a professional nature photographer or to do photojournalism but still concentrating on my love of animals and nature.

5.  I am a mediocre cook but there have been times when I experiment and just wing it.  A lot of those times, flying by the seat of my pants, I hit on something really yummy.

6.  I am addicted to everything British and Scottish.  I love their TV shows including Qi and Hamish MacBeth.  And I adore their accents.  That is one reason why I love Douglas Henshall.

7.  I am a huge animal rights person.  I worked as a zookeeper and love exotic animals as well as domestic.

As a nominee I have also been asked to name 15 other blogs that I feel are deserving of a nomination.  My picks are (in no particular order):

1. Exotic Animal Lover: Learn about exotic animals at this blog, where Kim Edwards writes for people who have a passion for nature in the world, endangered species and more.

2.  Bucket List Publications:  This is Lesley’s blog and I am super jealous!!  She travels a lot and has adventures all over the world.  Amazing stuff.  This was previously known as Lesley’s Adventure Blog!!

3. Adventures in Nature:  Wonderful animal and nature blog by Rochelle.

4.  Texts From Last Night:  This site is hilarious.  It lists crazy texts that people send from all over the world and you can view it by area code.

5.  Olga, The Traveling Bra:  yes, you read that right.  This blog chronicles the adventures of a (rather lovely) black bra named Olga.  A delightful blog that had been inactive for a while but is back full force.

6.  World Zoo Today: This site hopes to bring zoos, aquariums, wildlife refuges, rescue centers, scientists and animal lovers together to work for animal conservation and education.

7.  ALDF Blog: Since 1979, the Animal Legal Defense Fund has been fighting to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. An awesome site to learn about current cases and campaigns.

8.  Depp!: A blog about the gloriously drool-worthy Johnny Depp.

9.  Funny Quotes and Sayings:  The title says it all.

10.  Fun And Food Blog:  This site has some amazing recipes with jaw dropping photos.  Yummy!

11.  Cat Blogosphere: An wonderful site that offers an impressive selection of daily news from cat bloggers at blogs around the web.

12.  Nora The Piano Cat:  Nora’s official blog with updates and merchandise.

13.  Fox Wood Wildlife Rescue:  They deal with more than just fox pups!  Amazing people!

14.  The Bill Hicks Foundation for Wildlife:  In memory of the late Bill Hicks – who was a profound animal lover – this Texas Foundation made up of a network of volunteers is doing their part for animal well being.  They specialize in mammals and marsupials.

15.  Romeo The Cat Animal Rescue:  A fun blog with a bit of quirk.  Plus they have been able to raise $60,000 for animals in need.  Gotta love it!!

So those are my picks.  Please, go out and spread the love!  Thank you all.