Big Black Dog syndrome - BBD

I read an article recently about many people not wanting black dogs, and the reason why is because of the "Big Black Dog" syndrome.

The phenomenon may be due to a number of factors such as fear stigma against certain breed types because of irresponsible Doberman, Pit-bull, Rottweiler, etc. owners. Black dogs are often represented as violent in films and on television. The color black is inadvertently associated with evil - this bias transfers over to animals. People are more afraid of big black dogs because it’s hard to read their expressions when you can’t see their eyes and faces very well.

The theories vary, but, unfortunately the statistics don’t. Organizations have started campaigns to educate the public about BBD syndrome. Black dogs difficult to adopt out of shelters, even if they’re friendly, well trained, and in perfect health. The wait time for big black dogs — especially males — are longer than for any other type of dog. The adoption rate is lower. The surrender rate is higher.

All I can say is that I have a big passion for any type of dog, whether it has a dark coat, unique coat or a pattern color coat. We have a sweet, lovable Rottweiler at home, and I am sure that there are many other black dogs like him out there that are just waiting for someone to come along and “take a chance” on them.

Don’t get influenced by the Big Black Dog syndrome …

The River Horse

The hippopotamus – the Greek word for river horse – was given its name because of the appearance of its head above water. The eyes, ears, and nostrils of hippos are located high on the roof of the skull. When attentively watching a trespasser, its odd little eyes filled with inquisitiveness, small, thick ears twitching back and forth, nostrils flaring, the animal does in fact bear some similarity to a horse. But the rest of the creature is pure obese, bulky and clumsy on land. However, they are capable of running faster than a human. It is estimated that their running speed varies from 30 km/h to 40 km/h, or even 50 km/h. The hippo can keep up these higher speeds for only a few hundred meters.

These creatures are capable of moving underwater with surprising ease, rising and descending at will by controlling the air in its stomach and bouncing along the beds of lakes and rivers. Adult hippos resurface to breathe every 3 to 5 minutes. The young have to breathe every two to three minutes. Although hippos are highly distributed all over Africa, there are only two species: the large common variety; and a pigmy species, found only in West Africa, which is not much bigger than a pig.

Hippos are known to be one of the most aggressive creatures in the world and are often regarded as the most ferocious animal in Africa; a hippo surprised on land will trample or bite anything between it and the water. Hippos spend most of their days dozing in the water or mud with only the top of its head exposed. At the least disturbance it will sink down to the bed of the river or pool, remaining submerged for a few minutes before rising to the surface for a rapid gulp of air. The water or mud serves to keep their body temperature down, and to keep their skin from drying out.

Hippos leave the water at night and travel inland, to graze on short grass which is their main source of food, and other vegetation on the banks. Because of their size and their habit of taking the same paths to feed, hippos can have a significant impact on the land they walk across - they divert the paths of swamps and channels which would otherwise become blocked by vegetation. In the rivers where hippos have been exterminated, masses of dead vegetation obstruct the water flow, sometimes chocking it off entirely.

Kruger National Park - South Africa

On the 26th of March 1898, Paul Kruger, the president of the Transvaal Republic, signed a proclamation establishing a sanctuary for wild life between the Sabie and Crocodile rivers in order to control hunting and protect the diminished number of animals in the park. The first national park in the world had been created by the Americans at the Yellowstone in 1872, but the Sabie Game Reserve (the original name of the Kruger National Park) was the first in Africa.

The park is considered one of the largest national parks in the world, occupying almost 20.000 km2 of the eastern Transvaal in Southern Africa. It is approximately 360 km long and has an average width of 65 km. This area contains various species of birds, plants, fish, frogs, snakes, reptiles, tortoises, numerous crocodiles and mammals. A large amount of mammals inhabits various divisions of the park. The most common animal species is the impala, and the second most common is the African Buffalo. Among other game scattered throughout the park are African Hunting Dogs, Black Rhinoceros, White Rhinoceros, Burch ell’s Zebras, Bushbucks, Cheetahs, Common Eland, Giraffes, Greater Kudus, Hippopotamus, Lions, Leopards, Spotted Hyenas, Elephants, Waterbucks, Blue Wildebeest and many others.The Kruger National Park has a subtropical climate, the summer days are usually humid and hot with temperatures often increasing to above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The dry winter season is the ideal time to visit this region for various reasons. There is not as much risk of becoming affected by malaria and the days are calmer. Viewing wildlife is more satisfying as the vegetation is sparser and animals are attracted to the waterholes to drink every morning and evening. I guess that each month has its own character though, with innumerable fascinating things to do and see.

The Kruger National Park is a game reserve that will always be regarded as a prototype of the wild life sanctuaries in Africa. Comparisons with other reserves are inevitable, and some reserves will be praised as better, bigger, wilder, more varied in their animal populations, but the Kruger National Park sets a formidable standard. Other parks may, indeed have natural assets which the Kruger Park lacks, but its scenery, plants and animals, will always ensure that it has a unique place among the world’s game reserves.

CLYDE – The travelling cat that disappeared during 3 years

If only Clyde, the long-haired Himalayan cat could talk!!!
Where he had been for the past three years and how he managed to travel 2,400 miles into the Australian Outback, no one will ever know, but thanks to an identification microchip, he returned home.

At the age of one, Clyde wondered off one day and never came back home. His owner speculates that he was unintentionally taken away from his home town in Magra, 40km north of Hobart, after getting into a traveler’s vehicle. Four months ago a Nurse in Cloncurry, found Clyde wandering around the Cloncurry Hospital grounds and decided to take care of him, but she had to give him up as she was leaving town and could not take him with her. Clyde was turned over to a local veterinarian Donna Weber, who traced Clyde's owner from the identification microchip that was imbedded underneath his skin.

Four year old Clyde was reunited with his owner who was overjoyed about his return; it’s something that the family never expected to happen. All they want now is for their lovely pet to feel at home again.
What a beautiful “Cat´s Tale”…

Flower Festival in Madeira

Every year during the spring season, when the flowers are at their best, Madeira hosts its annual flower festival. This is the finest time of year to get to know the beauty that Madeira Island has to offer you and experience one of the biggest touristic attraction that takes place every year.

This event spreads a fairy tale atmosphere all over the city centre of Funchal. The visitors marvel at the spectacular flower exhibits that cover the streets, houses and shops. The street processions have floats decorated almost entirely out of flowers as well as costumed dancers to new choreography every year making their way through the city´s Street. In the past few years, another popular feature called the “Wall of Hope” was added to this event. At the Colégio Square, children build a large wall of flowers as a symbol of hope for a better and more peaceful world.

A small island full of beautiful flowers is really a beautiful sight! Have you imagined what it’s like being on such an island and letting yourself get intoxicated with nature’s floral perfumes flowing throughout the region?

Chameleon´s

Have you ever had a chameleon as a pet? Well I had one once and he lived up to the age of 3. These creatures can be found in various continents such as Europe, Asia (through much of India) and in Africa, especially Madagascar. What amazes me about chameleons is their incredible ability to change color. If they are on a leaf, their bodies turn green. If they crawl along the sandy banks of river, their bodies turn into a yellowish/sandy color. In this way chameleons can camouflage, or disguise themselves as they wait for the perfect moment to attack their prey. Their changing color also protects them from their enemies.

Many people don´t understand how chameleons change color. The truth is that the color of these changeable chameleons is not controlled by the color of the object that they are standing on; instead it is affected by the differences of light and temperature and also by the chameleon´s feelings as it moves from place to place. The chameleon´s nervous system is extremely sensitive and it reacts by changing color.

The chameleon´s eyes are cone shapes protruding from their heads covered with thick lids. There is a small hole in the lid that makes it possible for the animal to see. The eyes rotate in all directions independently of the head. Chameleons are incredibly efficient hunters although their bodies move slowly and sometimes even wobble a bit, but their tongues dart in and out with great speed. On the tip of the tongue is a disk covered with a sticky liquid. The flick of the chameleon´s tongue is so fast it can be seen only by slow motion cameras!!!