Talk2theAnimals » Mammals http://talk2theanimals.net We All Do Better When All Creatures Do Better! Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:37:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Animal of the Day Twitteresque http://talk2theanimals.net/animal-communication/animal-of-the-day-twitteresque-45-1671.htm http://talk2theanimals.net/animal-communication/animal-of-the-day-twitteresque-45-1671.htm#comments Sat, 04 Apr 2009 13:43:28 +0000 admin http://talk2theanimals.net/?p=1671

Gaur – the tiger killer

The Gaur is the largest known wild cattle on the planet – in fact they are bigger than bison, water buffalo, and the Cape buffalo.

They are found in south Asia.

There are more cases of tigers being killed by Gaurs, than of Gaurs being killed by tigers.

Threatened.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Mariana fruit bat

The Mariana Fruit Bat is only found habituating the Mariana Islands, including Guam.

Their diet consists of local fruit and nuts found in the trees.

Endangered.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Indiana bat

The Indiana Bat is hard to distinguish from other related bats due to its similarities, especially a close relative of the Indiana Bat called the “little brown bat.”

They live up to nine years in the wild, however some can live nearly double that amount of time – the record is 14 years.

Endangered.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Cape Hare

The Cape Hare is a common hare found on the continent of Africa.

They are usually brown, with large acute eyes and good vision, topped off by almost propeller shaped ears.

The Cape Hare is protected by law in several places such as the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Oman, and Bahrain.

Least Concern.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Gray bat

The Gray Bat prefers to live in caves and close to water, and can be found in the southern United States.

It is known for its long distance travel of 8 miles from where it sleeps to where it finds food.

Although their population is over a million, it was found through an extensive survey that they likely only live in eight major caves.

Endangered.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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]]> http://talk2theanimals.net/animal-communication/animal-of-the-day-twitteresque-40-1597.htm/feed 0 Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig in March http://talk2theanimals.net/adoption/adopt-a-rescued-guinea-pig-in-march-1513.htm http://talk2theanimals.net/adoption/adopt-a-rescued-guinea-pig-in-march-1513.htm#comments Sun, 08 Mar 2009 13:00:58 +0000 admin http://talk2theanimals.net/?p=1513

Here we are in March, and it is officially Adopt-a-Rescued-Guinea-Pig Month.  While you are looking to adopt (not buy) your cuddly guinea pig, here are some tips to keep in mind:

  • As with all pets, an adult should be the primary caretaker.
  • Guinea pigs need ample room; their living quarters should be at least 18 inches wide, 25 inches deep and 14 inches high.  The larger their living space, the more active they will be.
  • Aquariums do not provide adequate ventilation for guinea pigs.
  • Guinea pigs chew to wear down their growing teeth so everything in the cage must be non-toxic.
  • Use plenty of lining for the cage.
  • Plenty of high quality hay provides nesting and snacking opportunities for your guinea pig.
  • Your guinea pig will also need a gnawing log, platforms for climbing and tunnels for crawling, a food bowl and a water bottle with a sipper tube.
  • Handle your guinea pig carefully as they are disposed towards stress.
  • Introduce deep leafy green vegetables one day at a time, such as romaine lettuce, kale and collards.  Watch for any stomach upset.
  • Guinea pigs like fruit such as melon slices and apples. Be sure to remove the toxic apple seeds.
  • Because their cages double as bedding and litter box, the cages need daily cleaning.
  • Guinea pigs are social animals, so you will want at least two.  However, make sure they are compatible as well as being of the same sex.

Check with your local Humane Society to adopt your guinea pigs.  The Guinea Pig Handbook by Sharon L. Vanderlip, D.V.M. is an excellent resource on care of your new guinea pig.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Honduran white bat

This bat is one of the only two currently known species of bat that is white.

Unlike the misconception that all bats live in caves, this bat will use the leave of the large heliconia plant to form a tent.

The bats are rather small in size, measuring at just 1-2 inches in length and the weight is less than an ounce at .2 oz.

Near-threatened.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Humpback whale

An adult Humpback Whale is usually between 45-50 feet in length and can weigh up to nearly 80,000 lbs.

Males of the species sing – or communicate – through sound transmitted across vast distances; these songs will usually last up to twenty minutes and it might have a role in mating.

Humpback whales travel thousands of miles every year in their migrations, and are found in all oceans on the planet.

Once endangered, now Least Concern.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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]]> http://talk2theanimals.net/animal-communication/animal-of-the-day-twitteresque-37-1404.htm/feed 2 Bear Baiting and Bear Dancing http://talk2theanimals.net/animal-communication/bear-baiting-and-bear-dancing-1300.htm http://talk2theanimals.net/animal-communication/bear-baiting-and-bear-dancing-1300.htm#comments Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:00:05 +0000 admin http://talk2theanimals.net/?p=1300

Posts for the Talk2theAnimals blog can be created through the most unusual of ways.  For instance, this post.  Last night as I was reading the New York Times online,  I ran across an article on President Obama and the stimulus package.  I clicked through to the article, and out of the corner of my eye I saw a dog leap at the throat of a chained bear.  It was a video made by the WSPA on bear baiting.  So much for President Obama and the stimulus package.

We All Do Better When All Creatures Do Better

To be exact, I have rewritten this post 3,246 times in my head since last night.  Even with all those rewrites, the only thing I know for certain is:

We All Do Better When All Creatures Do Better

Bear baiting is when a bear is tethered and two dogs are allowed to attack it.  In bear dancing, a bear is “dancing” to get away from the pain.   A “dancing” bear is caught as a baby, his teeth and claws are ripped out, a burning poker is forced through his nose, and then a rope is pulled through the wound. Should the mother go to protect her baby ~ as all mothers tend to do ~ she is killed.

This video shows what happens in bear baiting and bear dancing.  Here’s a write up from the WSPA on bear baiting and here’s another WSPA article on bear dancing.

Bear baiting and bear dancing exist in our world today.  That’s a fact, it can not be denied. Now that this action to a fellow creature has been brought to my consciousness (via President Obama and the stimulus package), what am I called to do about it?

As each one of you reads this post, watches the video, reads the information from the WSPA, and perhaps even does further research into this practice, what are you called to do about it?

Wouldn’t it be lovely if this behavior was stopped simply because we wanted it stopped?  Wouldn’t it be a marvelous Valentine’s Day present for bears and humans alike if this treatment stopped on 2/14/09?

Chances are that won’t happen; it’s too big, too ingrained, there are too many levels of complication to be solved in one week.

We are all connected, what affects one creature affects another creature.  All creatures have the right to a good, harmonious life.

Now we reach the heart of the problem, at least for me.  This issue is too big for me to think of it in terms of connection because I can’t conceive of doing this to another creature.  For me to even begin to find my way through this labyrinth of thought, I need to go into dualistic thinking.

Dualistic thinking is either/or-, black/white-, good/evil-thinking.  A component usually found in dualistic thinking is judgment.  Yet while I may be temporarily using dualistic thinking, I am choosing not to use judgment.  My experience has taught me there can be a fine line between observation and judgment.

We All Do Better When All Creatures Do Better

All creatures doing better extends to the people who are involved with the bear baiting and bear dancing, including those in the audiences.

From my perspective, I can neither judge nor condemn the people involved in these actions, because by judging and condemning them I move myself, my feelings, into a place of chaos, blame, shame and power-over.  When I am invested in power-over, “I’m better than you because I don’t bear bait,” I add to the already existing pool of division, exclusion and chaos.  That solves nothing, simply adds more chaos to an already chaotic situation.

I choose to act from a place of inclusion, not division; harmony, not judgment.  Bear baiting and bear dancing exist in this world AND I can address it from a place of peace.  That doesn’t mean I accept it, condone it or agree with it or can even stomach it.  It means I select to act from a place of solution.

For me, what does it mean to address bear baiting and dancing from a place of solution?  I have been told over and over again, by animals and humans, that my job is to speak for those who are not heard.  So I am writing this post.  I believe with all my heart and soul that there is a solution to this problem and there are people out there who can solve it and are already working toward an answer that benefits all, including the people involved with this.  I may not be “doing” anything to solve the problem of bear baiting and dancing, but I am changing the energy that surrounds it.

On a simpler and more basic note, I have a gypsy jazz CD which has a picture of a bear “dancing” on the liner notes.  I’m disposing of that picture.

I invite you to join me in bringing this treatment to our fellow creatures to an end.  Please leave your comments and comments.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Short-tailed chinchilla

The Short-tailed Chinchilla can be found in the Andes Mountain range of Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.

The Short-tailed Chinchilla likes to burrow down below shelter rocks, as in they prefer to burrow under the rocks to maintain a good and strong shelter and also typically inhabit particularly colder areas because of their dense fur.

Critically Endangered in South American regions, though they are being bred in captivity.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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