Interesting Facts About The Mountain Gorilla

Did you know: The fully adult male mountain gorilla is twice as large as the female.

Did you know: The gorilla is shy and retiring rather than ferocious and treacherous. It usually seeks no trouble unless harassed but will valiantly defend its family group if threatened.

Did you know: Mountain gorillas have a slow rate of reproduction. Females give birth for the first time at about age 10 and will have more offspring every three or four years.

Did you know: The most serious threat to gorillas is habitat loss.

Did you know: The gorilla's only known enemies are leopards and humans. Crocodiles are potentially dangerous to lowland gorillas. In western Africa, gorillas are commonly hunted for meat or in retaliation for crop raiding, but in eastern Africa they have been the victims of snares and traps set for antelope and other animals. Poachers have also destroyed entire family groups in their attempts to capture infant gorillas for zoos, while others are killed to sell their heads and hands as trophies.

Did you know: Gorillas are susceptible to various parasites and diseases, especially to pneumonia during the long, cold wet seasons.

Did you know: Gorillas rarely attack humans. But in an encounter a person should stay still and refrain from staring or pointing at the gorilla.

Source: Out To Africa

Interesting Facts About Elephants

Did you know: The African elephant and the Asian elephant are the only two surviving species of what was in prehistoric times a diverse and populous group of large mammals.

Did you know: The African elephant is the largest living land mammal.

Did you know: Both male and female African elephants have tusks, although only males in the Asiatic species have them.

Did you know: The African elephant's ears are over twice as large as the Asian elephant's and have a different shape, often described as similar to a map of Africa.

Did you know: The sole of the elephant's foot is covered with a thick, cushion-like padding that helps sustain weight, prevents slipping and deadens sound.

Did you know: Elephants are very social, frequently touching and caressing one another and entwining their trunks.

Did you know: Elephants demonstrate concern for members of their families they take care of weak or injured members and appear to grieve over a dead companion.

Did you know: Females mature at about 11 years and stay in the group, while the males, which mature between 12 and 15, are usually expelled from the maternal herd.

Did you know: Sometimes it is difficult for the layman to distinguish between male and female elephants as the male has no scrotum (the testes are internal), and both the male and the female have loose folds of skin between the hind legs. Unlike other herbivores, the female has her two teats on her chest between her front legs.

Did you know: Of all its specialized features, the muscular trunk is the most remarkable it serves as a nose, a hand, an extra foot, a signaling device and a tool for gathering food, siphoning water, dusting, digging and a variety of other functions. Not only does the long trunk permit the elephant to reach as high as 23 feet, but it can also perform movements as delicate as picking berries or caressing a companion. It is capable, too, of powerful twisting and coiling movements used for tearing down trees or fighting. The trunk of the African elephant has two finger-like structures at its tip, as opposed to just one on the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus).

Source: Out Of Africa

Have You Ever Wondered How Old Your Cat Is In Relation To People Years?

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Cat Saves Young Boy From A Dog Attack With Flying Karate Kick

A four-year-old boy has confirmed his faithful cat a hero after she leapt to his rescue when a dog bit him and pulled him off his bike…

Jeremy Triantafilo was playing in the drive of his California home on Tuesday when the dog attacked him, viciously biting into his leg and dragging him from his bike onto the tarmac, only for Tara to fly in, throw herself at the dog and chase it off down the street moments later.

This scene was caught on CCTV and spread like wildfire around the internet attracting over 5 million views on YouTube in just a few days. 

(read more...)

Rare White Animals

Animals are beautiful, but there’s something extra special about the creatures shown below.

Fore more images go to www.reshareworthy.com 

Snowflake The Gorilla

Claude The Alligator

Lion

Moose

Vulture

IFAW 'Say NO To Ivory Trade'

The Bird That Is Known As One Of Nature's True Polyglots

image credit - wikipedia

As its scientific name (Mimus polyglottos) suggests, the Northern Mockingbird is one of nature’s true polyglots (polyglottos means “many-tongued”). It imitates not only birds but, it can also imitate dog barks, frog calls, sounds of machinery, whistles, and bells. It is capable of learning sounds quickly, integrating them onto its own song. So diverse is its repertoire, that no two songs are the same. Mimicry is crucial for sexual selection – the larger the male’s repertoire, the greater is its attractiveness to females.

The Northern Mockingbird has pale grey upperparts, dull whitish grey underparts, and a long tail. Its dark wings have two white wing-bars and large white patches which, together with the white tail sides, are clearly visible in flight. Males and females look alike, though only males sing. The Northern Mockingbird is an omnivore, its diet consists of arthropods, earthworms, fruits, seeds, berries, and seldom, lizards.

The Northern Mockingbird is known for its intelligence, in a paper published in 2009, researchers found that mockingbirds were able to recall an individual human who, earlier in the study, had approached and threatened the mockingbirds' nest. Researchers had one participant stand near a mockingbird nest and touch it, while others avoided the nest. Later, the mockingbirds recognized the intruder and exhibited defensive behavior, while ignoring the other individuals. (wikipedia)

The Northern Mockingbird is the only mockingbird commonly found in North America. This bird is mainly a permanent resident, but northern birds may move south during harsh weather. This species has rarely been observed in Europe.

The World’s Hairiest Rhino May Soon Become Extinct

 image credit - wikipedia

The Sumatran rhino is the smallest of the world’s five living rhinoceros species and the only rhino in Asia with two horns. Although smaller than other rhinos, it is undoubtedly a large, prehistoric looking animal. Unfortunately this unique animal is also classified as one of the most endangered rhinoceros species.

Sumatran rhinos are generally solitary and secretive creatures that feed on leaves, twigs, fruit, and shrubs. The rhinos are most often found near water, and spend much of the day wallowing in the mud, which dries onto the skin. This is cooling and also protects its delicate surface areas from flies and other biting insects. At night the rhinos browse on twigs, leaves, fruits, also felling saplings for tender shoots.

The reason why Sumatran rhinos are critically endangered is due to habitat loss and primarily illegal poaching. Those that survive are small, scattered and under threat from poaching for the traditional medicine trade. Hunting for its horns is a major threat to this species. Sumatran rhinoceros populations are now so small that breeding is rare. International trade in the Sumatran rhinoceros is banned under its listing on Appendix I of CITES, and the species is lawfully protected in all countries where it takes place. Captive breeding of Sumatran rhinos has only in recent times shown any success. International efforts to prevent poaching are believed to be the best hope for the future of this unique and rare mammal.

When will the Humans understand that if things keep on going the way they are, the world's last hairy rhinoceros may soon become extinct!

The Spectacular Wilson’s Bird-of-Paradise

 image credit - wikipedia

The Wilson's Bird-of-paradise (Cicinnurus respublica), is a very small, up to about 16 cm, passerine bird of the Paradisaeidae family.

The spectacular male Wilson’s Bird-of-Paradise has a bare blue crown with criss-crossing lines on it. The turquoise blue of its head is said to be so vivid that it is clearly visible at night. It has a yellow mantle on its neck, a crimson back, a mixture of blackish-brown/crimson wings, emerald green breast, a light green mouth, and bright blue feet. Its short tail is black and it has two spiraling tail feathers. The female is much less ornately adorned than the male - a brownish bird with a bare blue crown and black head. The female also lacks the spiral tail feathers. Immature males are very similar in appearance to the female. However, the inconspicuous behavior of this species means that it is more easily located by its calls.

The male chooses a display ground, usually a small clearing in dense forest, which he must tidy, by removing leaves and litter. The emerald green breast-shield is thrust forward, and the spiral tail feathers flicked during the display.

An Indonesian endemic, the Wilson's Bird-of-paradise is distributed to the hill and lowland rainforests of Waigeo and Batanta Islands off northern West Papua (formerly Irian Jaya), Indonesia. The diet consists mainly of fruits and also some small insects.

Due to ongoing habitat loss, limited range and exploitation, the Wilson's Bird-of-paradise is evaluated as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.

The Amazing Animal Shadow Art - Try It Yourself

Learn how to do "Amazing Animal Shadow Art" with your hands, so that yo can entertain yourself and others around you, the next time the power goes out! Have Fun...

The Hero Dogs Of 9/11 - We Are Forever In Their Debts

More than a decade after the horrifying terrorist attacks of 9/11, U.S continues to honor those who helped put their nation back together. Included in this brave bunch are the four-legged warriors who never abandoned the sides of the courageous firefighters, policemen and search-and-rescue teams that were on the scene during that difficult time. Take a few minutes of your day to reflect on the canine heroes of 9/11. (read more...)

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Weird Looking Sea Creatures

An alert Angler-fish swims in the dark, cool waters nearby the Norway’s Lofoten Islands. The fish has shapeless skin and a distinctive face but is best recognized for its method of feeding itself. While traveling the seafloor, the fish makes use of a built-in rod with a tempting filament “lure” that catches the attention of small fish. 

This striking fish has red lips and fins made for wandering the seafloor nearby the Galápagos Islands. The red-lipped batfish is one of various 60 species of Bat-fishes, “flattened” from life on the seafloor and adapted to stroll on modified pectoral and pelvic fins. Like other Angler-fishes, Bat-fishes also use a built-in fishing rod snout, equipped with a retractable appendage, to attract victims near to their lips.

 

A vibrantly colored clown Frog-fish boasts its stuff on a reef nearby Bali, Indonesia. Members of the Frog-fish family in general keep a much lower profile, depending on the art of camouflage—even changing colors—to maintain out of sight in their reef homes. Frog-fish show off an array of spots, stripes, warts, and other skin irregularities that allow them to try to be like neighboring plants or rocks.  

Images and Source: ocean.nationalgeographic.com

Be A Responsible Owner - Spay Or Neuter Your Pet

 

The most important thing that we can do to save unwanted pets (including puppies and kittens) from all the suffering and death that their overpopulation causes is to spay and neuter them. Spaying and neutering are routine, affordable surgeries that can prevent thousands of animals from being born, only to suffer and struggle to survive on the streets, be abused by cruel or neglectful people, or be euthanized in animal shelters for lack of a loving home. 

Consult with your veterinarian about the most appropriate time to spay or neuter your pet based upon its breed, age and physical condition, and let your family and friends know that they ought to do the same.

The Eared Pigmy Tyrant (Myiornis auricularis)

Image credit: wikipedia

One of the smallest of all Tyrant flycatchers, the Eared Pigmy Tyrant (Myiornis auricularis) weighs over less than some hummingbirds. It has a rounded grey head, and the most noticeable feature of its plumage is the large, crescent-shaped black ear patch, which gives the species its common name. It is found in the forest of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. 

Length: 

7 ~ 7.5 cm 

Weight: 5g 

Migration: 

Non-migrant 

Habitat: 

Subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest.

A Pig's Tail

 

The Humane Society of the United States has teamed up with Academy Award-winning Aardman Studios to create A Pig’s Tail, a short but compelling animated film about a pig’s perspective of factory farming. Featuring the voices of James Arnold Taylor and Catherine Taber and original music by Steven Delopoulos, the film gives a taste of how animals are treated on factory farms—and how we can help by choosing more human alternatives. 

Baby Elephant Wallows In The Mud...

A baby elephant wallows in the mud, but then found himself unable to stand up again. Heavy rain in the Masai Mara created the perfect mud hole, and the youngster wasted no time in going for a roll. However, when he tried to get to his feet again, he was simply unable to stand and kept slipping over. The moment was captured on camera by professional wildlife photographer Andy Rouse, who had been following the herd.

Picture: Andy Rouse / Rex Features

Elephant Comes To The Rescue Of One Of Its Babies

 An elephant comes to the rescue of one of its babies who is being attacked by a pack of hyenas. The elephant is seen charging at the hyenas to ward them off its offspring. These amazing pictures were captured by American photographer Jayesh Mehta in the Savuti region of the Chobe National Park in Botswana.

Picture: JAYESH MEHTA / CATERS NEWS

Kitten Cuddling Up To Canine Friend

Tiny 8-week-old tabby kitten Cindy is seen cuddling up to her canine friend, 8-year-old golden retriever Harvey, at the Lost Dogs Home in Melbourne, Australia. The pair have put the difference of their species aside to be the new furry faces of the animal shelter's latest campaign. However, judging by the close paw protective Harvey is keeping around the cute cat the pair are looking for a home together. 

Picture: David Caird/Newspix / Rex Features

The Penduline Tits

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Most species of the Penduline Tit family are found in Eurasia, Africa, and Noth America. The name “Penduline” is derived from their cute pendulous bag-shaped nests, which hang from reeds or trees, normally over water. All have short, somewhat fragile pointed bills allowing them to take insects, spiders, and small seeds.

These docile little birds are constantly active, foraging over reeds, twigs, and leaves, and keeping in contact with one another with thin, sibilant calls. Penduline Tits are generally found in pairs or small groups. Eurasian Penduline Tits may be monogamous or a single male may mate with more than one female and a female with more than one male. In other species, the large numbers of eggs in one nest, suggest that more than one female may contribute.

The Eyes Of A Wolf

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I am but a Wolf, born to be free, 

This should be clear, for all to see, 

I want nothing, but what is rightfully mine, 

Decreed as such, since the beginning of time.

I hold no anger, yet man I fear, 

For man destroys, yet sheds no tear, 

For how can I, have respect for you, 

With all the destruction, that man can do. 

A Poem By Baron Barrymore Halpenny