Animal of the Week: Albatross

Albatrosses are a group of large sea birds found around the Southern Ocean and the North Pacific. They are absent from the North Atlantic, although fossil remains show they once occurred there too. Of all the flying birds they are some of the largest with the species the Great Albatross having the widest wingspan of any living bird exceeding 340 cm (11.2 ft). All albatrosses have the great flying ability, using dynamic soaring and slope soaring to fly great distances with little exertion. They can stay in the air for hours on end without resting or even having to flap their wings.

Albatrosses are carnivores with a diet consisting mainly of fish, krill and squid. They obtain this via scavenging, surface fishing or diving. They do not migrate each year in search of food but rather radio tracking has revealed they will disperse over large areas in search of food. When it comes to water they simply live of sea water. They get rid of the salt which drips from its ‘tube-nose’, which makes it look like the bird is crying.

When it comes to breeding they will form large colonies on coastal areas. They prefer very remote islands with little human interruption and will quite happily nest amongst other species of albatross. A male-female pair will form a bond that will last for several years to life after a male has attracted her with a ritualised mating dance. The breeding process is a lengthy one as it can take a year from egg laying to fledgling. Considering they only lay one egg per breeding cycle, this is a huge investment. Depending on the species the chick will be in the air within 3-10 months.

Of the 21 species recognised by the IUCN, 19 are considered Threatened. Factors affecting their survival include feral animals such as rats and cats and over fishing declining their food stocks. However a horrific threat is caused by long line fishing. The birds are attracted by the smell of the bait but then become hooked in the lines and drown. An estimated 100,000 birds are killed this way each year. Unregulated pirate fisheries exacerbate the problem.

Organisations such as BirdLife International (www.birdlife.org and www.savethealbatross.org  are working so that relevant international agreements are implemented that will benefit both the birds and the legal fishing industry. They also work locally with fisherman to improve practices. To find out how you can help save the albatross visit http://www.rspb.org.uk/supporting/campaigns/albatross/howyoucanhelp/

Since albatrosses depend on the wind to fly and sailors depend on the wind to sail, the albatross became a good omen to sailors. The albatross features in a poem about what happened to a sailor when he killed an albatross. The poem is called 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner'.

Albatross Medicine
The albatross signifies long periods of time. The breeding and chick rearing process is a lengthy period plus these birds are renowned for their ability to soar for long periods of time. People who have been drawn to the albatross may be seen as dreamers or unfocused, drifting from one focus to the next without a strong commitment. However as they albatross patiently awaits for the right opportunity, they teach us to do the same. Be open and aware of signs and when they come you must act. Once you have found what you need, it can sustain you for a long time, even the rest of your life.

Halloween is all about pumpkins

It's Halloween and pumpkins are decorating houses as they glow in windows or fill door steps and stoops. Pumpkins are just loved by humans. Here is some of the animals at the New York Zoos doing their version of pumpkin carving.

Coca Cola to change cans from red to white

In the coming weeks Coca Cola will be changing it's iconic red cans to white. Coke is producing 1.4 billion white cans to raise awareness for the plight of polar bears. The soft drink company will also be donating $2million over the next five years to help the WWF in their work. They will also match all donation made at www.icoke.ca and advertise a SMS system where consumers can donate.

For more information check out the following blog: http://blog.wwf.ca/blog/2011/10/25/polar-bears-inspire-coca-cola-to-turn-red-cans-white-for-wwf/

WCS release camera trap images of Arctic animals

The WCS has released a set of images (below) caught by WCS scientist currently studying in Alaska. The images are from an area near the Ikpikpuk River in the National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska (NPR-A). Studies are currently be completed to see whether human-subsidized predators (Artic fox, raven and glaucous gulls) are having a greater impact on migratory birds nesting in the area. Before human presence in the area the landscape was very sparse but human construction has allowed animals such as the Arctic fox to den near buildings and ravens and their young, which are usually rare in the area to use the buildings for protection and nesting. With an increase rate of survival they are possibly able to raid more nests than in previous years.

For more information, check out the website www.wcs.org.

The Astrological Signs of Cities and Countries

Most people know their star sign, and possibly those of a few friends. Some people even know their pets' star sign (my kittens are a Capricorn and an Aquarius....just saying). However do you know the star sign of your city, or your country? And does that affect how a place's personality or culture develops. Identifying a city's star sign has been practiced since ancient Greek times. It is based on the date the city or country officially established by rule of law or was "born". Sometimes this occurs by a proclamation of Statesmen and women and prominent business leaders; sometimes it is the result of a binding resolution voted on by the citizens. It may seem a little crazy but have a look at the list and if you have a basic knowledge of each star signs characteristics then it all starts to correspond.

Aries.
Countries.-England, Germany, Poland, Palestine, Israel, Syria, Lithuania
Towns and Cities.-Leicester, Florence, Krakow, Naples, Utrecht, Marseilles, Birmingham (UK)

Taurus.
Countries.-Cyprus, Ireland, Switzerland, Capri, Rhodes, the Greek Islands
Towns and Cities.-Eastbourne, Hastings, Palermo, Lucerne, Leipzig, Dublin, St. Louis

Gemini.
Countries.-Belgium, Iceland, Sardinia, Morocco, Wales, Tunisia
Towns and Cities.- Cardiff, London, Nuremberg, Tripoli, San Francisco, Melbourne, Plymouth, Perth

Cancer.
Countries.-Holland, USA, Paraguay, Scotland, New Zealand
Towns and Cities.-Amsterdam, Manchester, Milan, New York, Stockholm, Tokyo, Venice, York

Leo.
Countries.-France, Italy, Macedonia, Romania, Sicily, Madagascar, Zanzibar
Towns and Cities.-Bath, Bristol, Bombay, Chicago, Madrid, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Rome

Virgo.
Countries.-Brazil, Greece, Switzerland, Turkey, Crete, Uruguay, West Indies
Towns and Cities.-Athens, Paris, Boston, Toulouse, Corinth, Lyons

Libra.
Countries.-Argentina, Austria, Burma, Canada, China, Japan, Siberia, Tibet
Towns and Cities.-Antwerp, Lisbon, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Johannesburg, Vienna, Nottingham

Scorpio.
Countries.-Bavaria, Norway, Morocco, Queensland, Korea
Towns and Cities.-Baltimore, Cincinnati, New Orleans, Liverpool, Newcastle, Washington DC, Queensland

Sagittarius.
Countries.-Australia, Chile, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain
Towns and Cities.-Budapest, Naples, Nottingham, Sheffield, Sunderland, Stuttgart, Toronto

Capricorn.
Countries.-Bulgaria, Mexico, Albania, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Lithuania, India
Towns and Cities.-Brandenberg, Brussels, Oxford, Ghent, Delhi, Mexico City, Port Said

Aquarius.
Countries.-Finland, Iran, Russia, Sweden, Syria, Ethiopia
Towns and Cities.-Bremen, Brighton, Hamburg, Helsinki, Moscow, Salzburg, St. Petersburg

Pisces.
Countries.-Egypt, Normandy, Portugal, Samoa
Towns and Cities.-Alexandria, Cowes, Grimsby, Jerusalem, Bournemouth, Seville, Warsaw

What's the advantage of knowing the star sign of a country or city? Just like you may be interested to know the sign of a friend or potential partner to get some clues on the personality, you can do the same for a city. You can determine whether your star sign is compatible with the city's sign and whether you will be happy travelling or living there.

Javan Rhinoceros now extinct in Vietnam

Today is a sad and shameful day in history. The WWF and the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) have today confirmed the extinction of the Javan rhinoceros in Vietnam. The last rhinoceros was found shot with it's horn removed. The focus now turns to the last remaining 40 wild Javan rhinos that live in a national park in Indonesia. To read the Press Release from WWF, click here.

Animal of the Week: Raccoon

The raccoon although considered a pest by some, is one of the most adaptable mammals in the Northern Hemisphere. Although it’s primary habitat is the forests of North America, it’s versatility has enabled them to successful live in urban areas. Raccoons boast extremely dexterous front paws plus a high level of intelligence. Studies have shown that raccoons can remember solutions from tasks from three years ago. Due to accidental escapes and deliberate introductions raccoons are now also found in Europe and Japan.

Racoons were originally believe to be solitary animals but evidence exists suggesting small groups of related females and separately, unrelated males will defend a territory from intruders. In captivity raccoons have lived to up to 20 years but in the wild the average life span is only two to three years. In the wild the coyote, fisher, bobcat, red fox, and great horned owl prey upon raccoons while in urban areas humans, especially cars are their biggest danger. Good news is that the racoon is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Endangered List.

Raspberries, black cherries, beechnuts, acorns, corn, apples, and fungi are some plant materials prominent in the diet of the omnivorous raccoon. Birds such as ducks and their eggs, turtles and their eggs, mice, voles, bats, cottontails, muskrats, ground and tree squirrels, fish, snakes, and frogs are examples of raccoon prey. Invertebrates (insects, earthworms, freshwater mussels, and especially crayfish) are a major dietary component, too. The raccoon eats both the flesh of dead animals (carrion) and garbage. It was once believed that raccoons wash all their food but this is a myth. They have been observed washing food in captivity but this is now believed to be behaviour to reenact finding food in aquatic environments.

Raccoon distribution - native and introduced

Raccoons are best known for the black eye masks resembling that of a bandit or villain. This has given them a reputation for mischief both in mythology and in today’s popular belief. There are different beliefs on how the mask assists raccoons in day to day life. Some believe that the contrast between this and lighter rings around the eyes help with communication via facial posturing and expression. Another belief is that the black reduces glare, thus increasing visual ability at night.

The most important sense for raccoons is touch. They have extremely sensitive pads on their paws with almost two-thirds of the area responsible for sensory perception in the raccoon's cerebral cortex is specialized for the interpretation of tactile impulses. This is more than in any other studied animal. When it comes to vision, raccoons are believed to be colour blind or at least have a poor ability in distinguishing colours. However they seem to be great at recognising green light.

If you are having problems with raccoons, here is a helpful website http://www.raccoonfacts.net/

Native American Folk Tale
Ever wonder how raccoon got his mask? The Seneca tribe tells the following story;
A long time ago, Raccoon had no mask. It was the coldest winter ever. Raccoon had to follow people around and steal food. One night, my people lit a fire to keep them warm. It was a cold night. The fire had gone out. Raccoon quietly crept up to the longhouse. Raccoon put his nose down to sniff out the food. His nose fell on the hot ashes of the fire, which had burned out only recently. It stung horribly, and Raccoon put his nose in the snow to cool it down. Now the ashes are stuck to Raccoons face forever. The moral of the story is not to steal from people, for there are consequences.

Raccoon Medicine
Much of raccoon medicine revolves around their famous mask. Raccoons are able to disguise themselves and sneak around subtly. Do you need to do the same? Raccoon medicine can teach you how to become dexterous in the masks you wear. The raccoon holds the knowledge of how to change our faces. Raccoon holds the knowledge of transformation through masks and disguise. This knowledge can be applied to religious and ritual practices or within normal everyday life. Do you need to present a different face to people for greater success? Are you hiding your true self? Are others hiding their true self? Raccoon can help you find the answers.

Raccoon also encourages us to use this skills to benefit those less fortunate than us. Raccoon is like the good Samaritan or Robin Hood. Ensure that you are using your versatile skills for the greater good.

If a raccoon has shown up, you may see its influence for an extended time. If you are trying to make changes or endeavoring to hide changes you are making from others until you are in a better position, plan on using about a 20-week cycle. You will find it more effective.

WWF is helping save the Sea Turtles of the Great Barrier Reef

Australia's Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven wonders of the natural world and the world's largest reef system. If you live in Australia or ever travel there one thing you must do there is visit the Great Barrier Reef and go scuba diving. Even if you have never been scuba diving before there are companies that will train you on the way out and then take you down accompanied by an instructor.

One of the most remarkable experiences of my life was when scuba diving in this marine wonderland when suddenly a huge turtle, about the same size as me can swimming underneath me. Obviously I was moving to slow and he had to get past! This was a magical experience I wish everyone could experience, however these turtles are at risk. They are sick and starving to death.

Queensland's floods in January this year caused a large run off of chemicals such as pesticides, sediment and large amounts of fresh water into the ocean. This alters the marine environment and the sea grasses that the turtles feed off are dying off. Furthermore a deforming virus that causes large tumorous lesions is affecting the turtles. Add the usual pollution, injuries from boats and poor fishing practices in the area and turtles have one big battle ahead of them. Nearly 1,000 turtles have been stranded, with many dead, between January and mid-September this year. This is a dramatic increase considering 538 were found for the complete 12 months of 2010. Considering six of the seven species of sea turtles in the world are found on the Reef, being the Green, Leatherback, Hawksbill, Loggerhead,Flatback and Olive Ridley, this is a vital area to protect.

WWF Australia is currently working hard to help these battlers. Local turtle hospitals are struggling to keep up with the increased numbers of turtles needing help. In some cases sick or injured turtles are simply put back in the water as no one has the resources to help them. WWF is working to supply the hospitals with more medicine and equipment.

WWF is also assisting locals to help find a cure for fibropapilloma virus (FP) after the first few turtles have died from it in recent weeks. The current focus is fitting more turtles with radio transmitters to determine exactly what causes the virus and how it spreads.

In the long term WWF will work towards reducing the 14 million tonnes of mud, pesticides and chemical fertilisers that wash into the Great Barrier Reef every year, eliminate the damaging fishing techniques such as trawl, line and net fisheries, in which thousands of turtles are caught as bycatch as well as work with local traditional owners to protect and monitor the turtles.

In the last few days WWF has formed a partnership with James Cook University who has a reputation for a strong marine veterinary program. James Cook University will assist in caring for the increased number of sick turtles and play a role in the current sea turtle research. This is just one example of how WWF forms mutually beneficial relationships to fulfil their objectives. You can also assist the WWF with their work by donating. For more information on donating visit http://support.wwf.org.au/deadly-turtle-virus-appeal.html

Sea Turtle Fact: Sea turtles lay their eggs in sand. The temperature of the sand determines the sex of the young turtles. Cooler sand produces male turtles, while warmer sand produces females.

The Best Decorated House for Halloween

Beauty comes in different forms. Much of this blog looks at the beauty found in nature. However mankind also has the ability to create great beauty. Think of your favourite song, art piece, furniture item, etc. Here is another work of art....with Halloween in less than a week, one individual has taken decorating their house front to a whole new level!

The Hunt for the Tiger Slayers video

The Wildlife Conservation Society has release a short video on the current status of the tiger poaching issue in Asia. This video gives an insight on poachers' techniques, how we are battling them and what the future holds. See how a mobile phone helps convict some alleged poachers.

What your Poop and Pee are telling you about your body

While shopping for a couple of items at a chemist in Toronto a book caught my eye called the "Beauty Detox Solution" by Kimberly Snyder. To book discusses not a quick-fix detox, but rather a way to change your way of eating. It makes sense chemically, biologically and environmentally. Kimberly tackles some popular beliefs, possibly created due to decades of effective marketing by food companies and the proof is in her results. Take a look at Kimberly, or her clients including drew Barrymore and Owen Wilson and you will see the vitality it gives you.

You can also subscribe to her newsletters from her site www.kimberlysnyder.net. Below is an helpful chart she encourages people to share. So let's talk about poop and pee...


Source:What Your Poop and Pee Mean

Good News: Record number of jaguars found in Bolivia

The Wildlife Conservation Society has announced today the findings of a new digital camera capture survey. In one of the most biologically diverse landscapes of Madidi National Park , Bolivia 19 individual jaguars have been identified. Jaguars, similar to tigers all have individual markings so one cat can be recognised from another.

A series of cameras were set up along paths within the forest as well as along rivers and streams. These 19 individuals were identified from 975 photos taken by new camera technology that replaces film cameras with digital ones. The survey also revealed an abundance of spider monkeys, white-lipped peccaries and giant otters who were captured on camera as they passed an infra-red beam.

This information proves valuable in creating effective management plans for the species rich area which is also a key tourist attraction for Bolivia. Similar surveys are planned by the WCS in more remote, surrounding areas.

Connecting with animals via the chakras

The chakras are energy points identified within the human body originally recognised in Hindu texts, featured in tantric and yogic traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. The word “chakra" comes from the Sanskrit word for "wheel" or "turning". Humans have seven major chakras located along the centre of the body from the base of the spine to the crown of the head. These subtle energy points regulate and represent our balance in different aspects of life. For an interesting test to see how balanced each chakra is click here. Chakras that are out of balance indicate an unbalanced life and there are varying techniques to obtain realignment. To find out more about balancing chakras, click here.

As humans have chakras, so do animals. They have the seven major chakras as humans which are located in similar positions. However it is also identified that they have an eighth chakra called the brachial chakra. This is located between the shoulders. This chakra governs the animal’s connection with humans. If an animal has a reluctance to be touched or is unwilling to “connect” these are signs that the chakra is unbalanced. Of course, if the animal is unwell due to medical reasons and refuses to interact or a wild animal isn’t willing to run up to you and be patted this is something other than an unbalanced brachial chakra.

If you are working with healing with animals or simply want to bond with a pet you can more visualise balancing this chakra. The colour associated with this chakra is black, or occasionally turquoise. Simply see a wheel of light spinning peacefully and growing in size in the area. When possible touch or hold your hand over the place in the body. Using black tourmaline, diamond, smoky quartz or clear quartz can strengthen the healing. 

Do humans have a similar chakra that assists with connection to animals? There doesn’t seem to be much evidence of the existence of one however there are two chakras that may be relevant. They are:

1) Ta Chui or Big Vertebra Centre in the Chinese system - is located just below the seventh cervical vertebra, where the neck joins the shoulders. This is associated with your ability to embrace others with warmth and love and when unbalanced causes stubbornness, denial and low self esteem.

2) Gai Pe is located between the fifth and sixth thoracic vertebrae, between the shoulder-blades and opposite the heart chakra. When balanced you have a feeling of freedom and a deep sense of the meaning of life and the universe and feel your will to be in harmony with the Divine Will. When unbalanced you will have hostile feelings towards the world.

Whether you tune in to an animal using one of these two chakras or the better know heart or throat chakra this technique can be an extra tool in your tool kit of working and connection with animals in your home or out in the natural world.

Animal of the Week: Cougar

The cougar, also known as the mountain lion, puma, mountain cat, catamount, mountain screamer, painter or panther, is the second largest cat in the Americas following the jaguar. It actually holds the Guinness record for the most amount of names. It has over 40 in English alone! This is probably due to it’s wide distribution. It has the widest range of all American land animals ranging from the northern Yukon in Canada to south in the Andes. Due to over hunting the cougar’s presence in the east coast of North America has been almost eliminated. However in recent years there have been sightings in Chicago, Connecticut and Quebec.

The cougar, although growing to a size of 65kgs (145lbs) is more closely related to the domestic cat than the Big Cats (lions, tigers, jaguars and leopards). It is the largest cat that can purr. Cougars have a great skill set which has ensured their survival throughout their range. They cat leap vertically over 5m (16ft), and horizontally more than 13.7m (45ft). That means they could jump over a school bus the long way. They are also the fastest animal in the Americans, capable of a top speed of 65kph (40mph). Cougars can also climb trees and swim.

The cougar's range

The cougar is a apex predator, helping maintain populations of other species in it’s habitat. In various regions, it must compete with other predators, such as the larger jaguar, brown bears, grey wolves and in Florida the American alligator. Yellowstone National Park completed a fascinating study of inter-predator relationships and found that brown or American black bears visited 24% of cougar kills in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, successfully seizing just 10% of carcasses. When it comes confrontations with the grey wolf, the outcome depends on numbers. A pack of grey wolves has been witnessed killing a cougar and her kittens, while a cougar can easily kill as solo grey wolf. In the southern portion of its range, the cougar and jaguar share overlapping territory. The jaguar tends to take larger prey and the cougar smaller where they overlap, reducing the cougar's size in these areas.

Cougars utilise the stalk-and-ambush method to hunt a variety of animals from insects to large ungulates (hoofed animal). Depending on their range cougars will catch animals such as big-horned sheep, elk, deer, elk, moose, armadillos, capybaras as well as livestock. Studies of cougar hunting suggest they will kill a large ungulate about every two weeks. This increases to about once every three days when a mother has cubs. The cougar will drag the catch to it’s favoured spot where it is hidden and revisited it over several days to eat.

One of the two cougars at Toronto Zoo

Fortunately the cougar is considered of Least Concern on the IUCN endangered list. It is listed as CITES I forbidding the export of live animals or parts. Cougars are protected in Canada and much of South American however regulated hunting is still permitted in the USA.

Cougar Medicine
Due to it’s power and grace the cougar appears in mythology and beliefs throughout the Americas. The sky and thunder god of the Inca, Viracocha, is associated with the cougar. In North America, to the Apache and Walapai of Arizona, the wail of the cougar was a harbinger of death. You can hear the call in the video below. Amongst the Anishinaabe the cougar or puma clan was responsible for healing and protection of the people.

The cougar or mountain lion holds similar metaphysical traits to that of it’s larger counterpart on the plains of Africa, the African Lion. The cougar stands for leadership. Cougar encourages you to take leadership of your life and the situations you are in. Do not allow someone else to dictate your destiny. Like a mother cougar, you may have developing kits looking up to you. If so, you must protect and guide them to also be great leaders.

Plan for your pets in case of bushfire

In Australia, the birds are starting to sing, flowers are emerging from their wintry sleep and baby animals hop, skip and jump through the fields....well at least the weather is getting warmer as we head into spring. Summer is just around the corner too. After living in North America for the last 14 months I am looking forward to coming back to an Australian summer. I've missed the BBQs, the beach and the 40+ degree days. However summer is not all sunshine and lollipops. With the heat comes the threat of bushfires in many parts if Australia. As the impact of draughts and global warming affect the sun burnt country more each year, we are urged to have a plan should bushfire strike.

PETA (www.peta.org), the world's largest animal rights organisation, reminds us to ensure our bushfire plans also include our pets. Here are their recommendations:

Companion Animals
• Know your destination ahead of time. Although human shelters often refuse animals, motels in the area will probably accept dogs, cats and other small animals in an emergency.
• Never leave animals unsupervised in a car. They can suffer from heatstroke, even if water is provided, and the windows are slightly open.
• Place small animals in secure carriers or keep them leashed, and ensure that they have ID tags attached to their collars in case frightening sounds and unfamiliar surroundings cause them to bolt.
• Take water and food bowls, your animals' favourite toys or blankets, a towel and enough food for at least a week.

Large Animals
• Identify or prepare a fuel-reduced, low-risk area to which they can be moved prior to the fire. Cattle are generally quite good at avoiding fire if they have room to move. In most cases, it is sufficient to move them onto a low-risk paddock if they are threatened by fire.
• If you plan on staying at the property, keep a sufficient amount of emergency feed to maintain your animals for about a week, and arrange possible off-site storage places if your place of residence is damaged and the animals have to be relocated.
• Move horses onto a paddock where they have room to move away from fires. Never deliberately let out any animals onto public roads. They run a very high risk of causing – and being injured in – traffic accidents.
• Watch out for other animals in need, including strays and animals who may have been left behind by neighbours. If you see an animal in distress and are unable to help, note the animal's condition and location, and call authorities for help as soon as possible.

Another tip I can offer for cat owners who allow their cats outside. Every time I feed my cats I ring a bell and they come running (it's good to know I kept something from my Psychology degree...Thanks Pavlov!). Many cats after being fed in the morning, may disappear to their favourite hiding place outside until the evening. If you need to call them at 2pm because a bushfire is threatening your property, the bell may help.

We've seen in past years the devastation bushfires can cause. However having a plan for your family and your animals will ensure that all your loved ones remain safe. Be prepared and enjoy the summer!

Are my donations helping?

Often individuals wonder whether it is worth donation to an environmental organisation. Dr John DeMartini in his book titled "How to Make One Hell of a Profit and Still Get to Heaven" states donating can help to make you financially abundant. Check out from pages 29 onwards of his book by clicking here.

Organisations such as WWF rely on donations from people around the world to continue their work. If you work in the USA, some employers will match or triple your donations (more information here). To see just what work your donations are supporting, watch the video below. Should you feel inspired to donate, click here.

When I grow up I want to be an Anti-Poaching Ranger

Poaching threatens many of species of animals such as tigers, apes, rhinos and elephants in various countries throughout Africa and Asia. Animals are caught and killed for meat or for their body parts to be used for medicinal purposes which have no scientific support of being effective. In the battle against poaching many places have employed rangers to police these areas. Is there are more honourable job? These rangers are on the ground directly battling underground industries that have no regard for endangered animals survival.

Only days ago a ranger in Lobéké National Park, Cameroon was shot when he confronted a gang of poachers who had returned to collect gorillas they had shot with the intention of selling them as bushmeat. If the gorillas had been sold they would have collected a maximum of $200. Zomedel Pierre Achille was shot in the back and chest and leaves behind a wife and five children.

Poaching has been on the increase in Cameron as the penalties for trafficking A-class species such as chimpanzees, gorillas and elephants has been reduced recently. Poachers that are caught usually serve a term of only two to three months. The poachers are part of an organised crime group and utilise the knowledge of the local pygmy people who live sustainably in the forest but are bribed with whisky.

Lobéké National Park covers an area of 217,000 hectares and is currently patrolled by 22 rangers or "ecoguards". However the poachers are well armed with AK47s which can be obtained for about $100 or even a bag of cocoa. When Zomedel was shot, he and his partner Jean Fils Mamendji were up against about six men. Jean managed to escape with wounds to his arm.

Hostilities with poachers is not uncommon. On the 21st September, three rhino poachers were killed and another two arrested in a shoot off with park rangers. A 306 rifle fitted with a silencer, 18 rounds of ammunition, two knives and two bags were among the items recovered by the well prepared rangers. Had these poachers been successful they could have got around $10,000 a kilo for rhino horns.

In Asia the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is partnering with local governments to increase the amount of ecoguards on the ground. Last year they identified 42 locations where tiger protection is vital. About half these areas now have ecoguards covering regions through India, Indonesia, and Malaysia. In Indonesia alone, at least 12 tigers have been saved over the past 12 months through the increased patrolling and intelligence gathering provided by these tiger guardians. This is substantial considering only about 500 tigers remain in Indonesia.

As time goes on poachers are becoming more skilled and knowledgeable and the demand for animal parts is not alleviating. Conservationists are working with governments and policy makers to increase penalties for poaching and tackling local's attitudes towards animal parts for medicines. Meanwhile it is imperative that we support these soldiers on the ground protecting the animals we value so much. They need to always have the best training and technology to ensure every animal under their protection is safe, and be able return home to their families at night. To find out how you can support anti-poaching measures, click here.

Can you imagine no Grizzly Bears in Yellowstone National Park?

Yellowstone National Park is the first national park in the world, created in 1872. The park spans an area of 3,468.4 square miles (8,983 km²) and is located mainly in the state of Wyoming but also extends into Montana and Idaho. It is home to some spectacular natural features such as the Old Faithful Geyser, has been home to Native Americans for 11,000 years and boasts an amazing collection of wildlife throughout. All these attract tourists from around the world every year.

One of the most spectacular animals found within Yellowstone is the grizzly bear. Unfortunately just 600 grizzly bears remaining in Greater Yellowstone and now the federal government is challenging the Greater Yellowstone Coalition's 2009 court victory that put the bears back on the Endangered Species list. Although numbers have increased in recent years, many believe that it is too early to relax the conservation of these magnificent animals. With continued pressure of further development there is a risk that grizzly habitat may become diminished.

Can you imagine travelling to Yellowstone and knowing that there are no grizzly's left. Click here to sign the petition requesting that Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar keep grizzly bears on the Endangered List and thus ensuring they are still around for your next visit to the park!                                        

Animal Testing still happens today - but you don't have to support it

Unfortunately animal testing is still happening today. Bodies such as the EPA in the USA and regulatory agencies in the European Union require chemicals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and many other products to be tested for toxicity before they go on sale to ensure no humans are affected. However many companies conduct tests on rabbits, chimpanzees, rats and cats, just to name a few. These animals are forced to eat, inhale, injected, wounded and mutilated and then dissected and killed with no consideration to their wellbeing or suffering.

In many cases there are alternatives that do not require animal testing and can more effective and less expensive. Regardless some companies continue to test animals. PETA is one organisation working towards a world where animal-testing is simply a shameful memory of the past. To read more about there efforts, click here.

You can support PETA when shopping and only purchase cruelty free products. For a database of companies that do and don't test on animals from PETA, click here. Furthermore to make life even easier for you, if you are standing at a store about to bu y a product and want to check if it's cruelty free, just grab your iPhone. Hot Frog has released an app called "Be Nice to Bunnies" that is updated with PETA's database. Click here to download the app.

Something New Zealand needs to give a sh*t about

Asia Pulp and Paper, also known as APP and based in Singapore, is one of the largest pulp and paper companies in the world. They produce paper and paper products in Indonesia, China, and India. A visit to their website http://www.asiapulppaper.com/ shows a green forest with sounds of wind blowing and birds singing with a slogan of "We support actions for economic, social and environmental sustainability". The soundtrack is quite soothing actually, I've been chilling out to it for about 45 minutes now. However looking through the rest of their site doesn't bring results as relaxing. Under the "Sustainability & CSR" section you find their sustainability reports. Interestingly the last one for Indonesia is from 2007  and they show none for China or India.

Recent Greenpeace investigations have shown APP to be involved in widespread rainforest clearance in Indonesia. Although APP deny these allegations, forensic testing of their products revealed the presence of mixed hardwood rainforest timber in some products. To see the full story of the investigation, please visit: http://www.greenpeace.org/new-zealand/en/news/blog/barbie-and-the-bog-roll-the-rainforest-connec/blog/37206/. It just so happens that APP owns a popular toilet paper brand called Cottonsoft sold at major New Zealand supermarkets including Progressives and Foodstuffs.

Greenpeace is now campaigning to have Cottonsoft taken off the shelves of the supermarket giants. Since the campaign started The Warehouse (similar to Wal-Mart in the USA) has suspended orders and Foodstuffs have ordered an independent audit of Cottonsoft's supply chain.

You can continue to help Greenpeace put pressure on the supermarkets by visiting this page: http://www.greenpeace.org/new-zealand/en/take-action/Take-action-online/Cotton-Soft/

Check out this video showing the impact of the Endangered Sumatran tigers of which less than 400 still live in these forests. Consider that even if a company is to replant trees later, the act of deforestation disrupts tigers and other wildlife's territories and general wellbeing.