ANIMAL CONNECTION

Archive for the ‘Wildlife’ Category

The Asian elephant is an endangered species.  I have always heard that they are very sensitive, loving and emotional animals.  When babies are separated from their moms they become extremely depressed.  I have always been told they have feelings that match the feelings that humans have.  My friend, Hanna,  is in Asia doing a documentary about them called “Elephant Nature Park“.

One elephant she told me about is Menaka.  She was rescued by the Forest Department.  Menaka was emaciated and had a bad case of gangrene when she was picked up.  She could no longer dance or even stand on her feet.  She had been housed in appalling conditions in a garage in a Gayatri Temple in Yeshwantpur.  The only water was she had access to was from a small spicket.  The 17 year old elephant had been exploited. She is in such bad shape it is assumed she will not make it.  She receives medical services at Bannerghatta, Biological Park, and animal shelter.  Unfortunately, there are 9 other elephants that are being treated as well.  They were all rescued from Temples in the area.  It is so costly to care for these animals (RS 15 K a month for food alone) that they can only stabilize the animals before sending them on.

Menaka had been born with 22 other elephants in an elephant camp.  At 3 years old she got separated from the herd and was sold to Gayatri Temple, where she has been earning revenue for the temple.  She was made to walk on tarred roads in the scorching sun damaging her health and psyche.  The captive elephants suffer from untrained and unaffectionate mahouts and lack of water resources, which is essential for bathing.  The animal can turn violent if it is subjected to unlivable living conditions.

Lek, which means “little” in Thai, is a very special lady.  The name might mean little but she has a lot of courage!  She is now touring and filming a documentary, Elephant Nature Park”.  The Indian elephant is the symbol of the Asiatic elephant.  There is an urgent need to protect the wild elephant, as well as the ones suffering in human captivity.  Lek was successful in creating an artificial forest close to a village for rescued elephants.  Today 33 elephants live a hassle-free life on the 50 acres.  The Maytag River cuts across so the elephants have a lot of water.  Currently elephants have no support from the Government in Bangkok.   Lek says there are ways to help end the conflict between humans and animals.

Currently, elephants that are captured are brought to submission so the can do hard physical work, paint for the public, give rides, etc.  Many don’t survive the process of “breaking” them.  If they do it can be a very hard life.  Elephants bring in a lot of revenue for the Asian people.

I will be posting more information once I get updates from Hanna.  Here is a link to a photo gallery.

Here is a statement Hanna sent to me:

“When you meet one in life and look into their eyes, it is so painful to think of how they are treated. They are such intelligent animals with compassion (they do weep!) and incredible memories. At Lek’s sanctuary- all of them come from a morbid past, and  though they have suffered for years at the hands of humans, they can forgive and are extremely gentle with all people who surround them. Probably because they can feel the love and a safe environment. It’s the closest to paradise they’ll get!”

Here are some facts about Asian elephants:

1. Giant herbivores, Asian elephants can tear down huge tree limbs or pick up small objects with their muscular trunks.

2. Physical Description: Asian elephants are huge gray animals inhabiting Asian tropical forests. Their gray coloration conceals them in their shady habitat. Elephants’ trunks, unique among living mammals, are versatile, enabling them to reach the ground, manipulate tiny objects or tear down huge tree limbs, squirt water over their backs or into their mouths, or blow dirt onto their backs during dust baths. Female Asian elephants usually lack visible tusks as do males in some populations, such as those in northeast India. Wide, padded feet enable them to walk quietly. Large, flappable ears help these huge animals cool off, although elephants often must retreat to the shade or water during the hottest part of the day.

3. Size: Asian elephants grow up to 21 feet long, stand up to 10 feet tall, and weigh up to 11,000 pounds. Females reach around eight and a half feet tall and weigh less than males. Despite their size, elephants are able to walk silently.

4. Geographic Distribution: Asian elephants live in large blocks of forest near water sources and grasslands, habitat that has been greatly reduced in the last half century. They inhabit India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar (Burma), Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Bangladesh, and southern China.

5. Status: The Asian elephant is listed as endangered on the World Conservation Union’s (IUCN’s) Red List of Threatened Animals.

6. Habitat: Asian elephants inhabit a variety of tropical forest habitats from moist, evergreen lowland forest to dry semi-deciduous teak forests to cooler mountain forests up to 10,000 feet. They also frequent adjacent grasslands and farm areas. Their varied diet enables them to live in disturbed forests as long as they have plenty of space to move around and exploit different foods without coming into conflict with people.

7. Natural Diet: A dexterous trunk and large, rasping molars allow Asian elephants to gather and process a wide variety of vegetation, including grasses and herbs, leaves, fruit, farm crops, and bark.

8. Reproduction: Older and larger males—especially those in musth (condition of heightened testosterone levels) dominate the breeding, winning the acceptance of females in heat. Gestation takes 20 to 22 months, and usually only one calf is born. Female Asian elephants can usually breed by age 14 and usually give birth to one young every four years.

9. Life Span: In the wild, Asian elephants may live up to about 60 years but most do not live that long.

10. Behavior: Female and young male Asian elephants live in cohesive herds of related adults and their offspring. The matriarch, usually the oldest and largest female, sets the pace of the group’s activities. Herds often join with others to form large groups called clans. Males leave herds at puberty, around their 13th year, and travel alone or in bachelor groups. Elephants wander widely in search of food. Movements vary widely depending upon food availability. Asian elephants communicate via rumbles, growls, bellows, and moans. Some of these varied, low-frequency sounds may travel a mile or more.

Past/Present/Future: Asian elephants once ranged from Iraq east through Asia south of the Himalayas, into southern China and possibly south to Java. However, centuries of hunting and habitat destruction caused dramatic declines. Males are still killed for their tusks, although this happens less often today thanks to a global ivory ban, in place since 1989. Today, Asian elephants thrive mostly in large remote reserves as well as in and among human habitation. Where elephants and people inhabit the same area, conflicts often occur.

Elephants can cause great damage to crops, and they occasionally kill people. Males in musth are responsible for the majority of attacks. Elephants play important roles in the cultures and religions of countries in most of their range, which inspires support for habitat protection measures, continued studies about elephants and their conservation needs, and efforts to mitigate conflicts between elephants and people.

Information found here.

Today I got some emails I wanted to share with you.

1. Did you know that November is “Go Vegan” month?

I, honestly, was not exactly sure what vegan meant.  I hear “vegan”, “vegetarian”, raw diet”, etc.  Because of this information,  I learned a lot more about being vegan.  I was aware of Georges Laraque, the NHL player,  who went vegan this summer to bring awareness to animal rights and issues.  I also knew that Portia De Rossi and Ellen Degeneres also became vegan earlier this year.  Until now I never really investigated it.  If you would like to learn more here is one website you can check out.  Vegan month.

2. November is also, National Pet Diabetes Awareness Month.

Today 50 percent of our pets are overweight or obese, which certainly can predispose them to developing diabetes. Both dogs and cats develop the same two types of diabetes seen in humans. The greater majority of dogs develop Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus where the body simply does not produce any insulin.

Most cats, on the other hand, develop Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus. In cats the disease is due either to not producing enough insulin or an inability to utilize the insulin that is produced in the body — the same as Type 2 diabetes in humans.

Treating and caring for a diabetic pet takes a huge commitment in both time and dollars.  Initial symptoms of diabetes are excessive thirst and urination, possible sudden weight loss and frequent urinary tract infections. Lack of energy and listlessness also are on the list.

Be sure you take your pet to the vet at least once a year for a full physical.  Make sure it is, and stays, healthy!

3.  Here are some pictures a friend of mine took of some Javelina.. also known as Collared Peccary.   They are so cute I had to share them with you.  He had 14 of these critters come out from under his house a few weeks ago, with a couple of new born babies!!!
If you would like to learn more about these interesting animals just check out this link.

4.  This came from Judy Landers, one of my board members:

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we are working urgently to help stop the intense suffering of turkeys. Their situation is grave. The abuse they endure on factory farms is difficult to even imagine. Farm Sanctuary’s public awareness campaign to expose the hidden horrors of commercial turkey production, combined with our efforts to rescue and provide refuge to the victims of this cruel industry, are having an impact – opening hearts and minds and creating real change. But we need your help to expand our reach even further. Please help END the abuse.

5. ALSO…This Sunday night 60 Minutes will feature an unprecedented exposé on the factory farming of pigs in Australia which has been underpinned by an investigation conducted by Animals Australia.  You can learn more from this link.

6.Denmark is a big shame

The sea is stained in red and it’s not because of the climate effects of nature. It’s because of the cruelty that the human beings (civilised human) kill hundreds of the famous and intelligent Calderon dolphins. This happens every year in Faroe Island in Denmark. In this slaughter the main participants are young teens.
WHY?   To show that they are adults and mature….

In this big celebration, nothing is missing for the fun. Everyone is participating in one way or the other, killing or looking at the cruelty “supporting like a spectator”. Is it necessary to mention that the Calderon dolphin, like all the other species of dolphins, is near extinction and they get close to men to play and interact in a way of PURE friendship . They don’t die instantly; they are cut 1, 2 or 3 times with thick hooks. And at that time the dolphins produce a grim cry extremely compatible with the cry of a new born child. But he suffers and there’s no compassion till this sweet being slowly dies in its own blood.

MAKE THIS ATROCITY STOP NOW!

Lately I have seen some very interesting, educating and amazing videos about animals.  The ones I seem to like the most are ones that are filmed in the wild. We get to see animals in their own, natural, habitat.  It bothers me to think that a lot of these animals might not be here for our children, or grand children, to see.

It’s Monday so I wanted everyone to be able to start the week off with something enjoyable.  Some of these might be disturbing, but remember, you’re viewing nature.

Have a fabulous day!

There are all kinds of animals that could use your help.  Sometimes saving an animal is as simple as signing a petition.  Below are links to a number of different petitions.  Pick one, or all of them, and help animals all over the world.  Please pass our link on to other people in your database so they can do the same thing.  Thanks to everyone for all you do to make the world a better place.

1. Since 2003, Alaska‘s aerial hunting program has claimed the lives of more than 1,000 wolves. During these hunts, wolves are shot from the air or chased by airplanes to the point of exhaustion before the pilot lands the plane and a gunner shoots the animals point blank. Sign the petition below and urge Alaska Governor Sean Parnell to end the state’s irresponsible and cruel aerial wolf-killing program immediately.

Help save Wolves!

2. Bats play an essential role in healthy ecosystems and should be protected. Unfortunately, an emerging disease is killing North America’s bats. The mysterious white-nose syndrome has already claimed the lives of nearly one million bats, yet scientists still know very little about how to stop the spread of this terrible disease.

Help save our bats!

3.  Coal Is Not Clean

Indonesia’s Sumatran tiger could be the first large predator to become extinct this century, unless poaching for body parts and illegal logging in the area are stopped. Today, the total population of Sumatran tigers left in the wild is estimated to be of only 400 to 500.

The number of tigers across the world has declined by 95% in the past century, and three subspecies have become extinct, including the two others native to Indonesia – the Bali tiger and the Java tiger, which was seen in the wild as late as the 1970s. With fewer than 400 of the creatures estimated to be left in the wild, the Sumatran tiger is classified as critically endangered, the most vulnerable of all the six surviving tiger subspecies.

Tigers are hunted for skins as well as body parts such as bones, which are ground up and used as traditional medicine in some areas of Asia. Another major pressure this species face is the illegal logging by paper companies, which has eliminated more than 1.2 million acres of tiger habitat since 1998 – at least four tigers, and nine people, have been killed in the past month alone, as the shrinking of Sumatra’s already depleted forests brings an increase in attacks on farmers, hunters and illegal loggers.

Help the Tigers!

4. Global Warming is Having an Impact!

Global warming is one of the most pressing issues facing our wildlife and our planet. Scientists warn that our rising temperatures could cause 20 – 30 percent of the Earth’s plants and animals to go extinct between now and 2050. But will the Senate take action to save these species?

The news is grim: Walruses by the thousands are flocking ashore as they flee retreating sea ice, abandoning their young and risking fatal stampedes that could kill thousands. Rising temperatures have cause nesting colonies of rare ivory gulls to plummet by 80 percent in the last twenty years.

And global warming could very well doom polar bears to extinction in our lifetime. Vanishing sea ice is already causing these arctic icons to drown in their search for the sea ice they need for hunting and denning. Some are even resorting to cannibalism to survive as their quest for food becomes increasingly difficult.

Help the Polar Bear!

5. Ten species are in critical need of protection

From black, red and gag grouper that make up the popular fish sandwich to the Warsaw grouper, a gentle giant that can grow nearly eight feet long and weigh up to 440 pounds. Additionally, red snapper populations have plummeted to just 3 percent of 1945 levels, and although they can live up to 54 years, few are older than 10.

Regional fishery managers are currently working on important changes to fishing rules that would strengthen limits on the numbers of fish caught annually, prohibit fishing in some areas of the ocean where imperiled fish live and limit certain kinds of fishing so populations have time to replenish themselves.

Help Save Fish!

6. Prevent the Deaths of Thousands of Sea Turtles

Untargeted or discarded catch from commercial fisheries, also known as bycatch, is an enormous problem throughout the world. Trawl fisheries indiscriminately catch everything in their path, including sea turtles!
The National Marine Fisheries Service recognized this problem in 2007 and issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Although this was a first step to get in the water requirements to protect turtles from trawl nets, more than two years later a satisfactory rule has yet to be proposed! Even with this rule, however, trawls in the waters off New England and the Mid-Atlantic States will continue to catch sea turtles for many years.

Sea turtles have been swimming in the world’s oceans for more than 100 million years. While they have been able to survive many challenges over the years, sea turtles are not equipped to withstand the threat humans pose.

Help the Sea Turtle!

7. Help Feed Animals in Shelters

Did you know there is a link you can go to each day and with one click give .6 bowls of food to an animal shelter? Check out this link.

If you can remember, do it everyday.  It will help so many animals!

Thanks again for helping any and all animals that matter to you.  If there are other organizations or sites you would like to promote, please let us know.

Grieve, humans do it…..what about animals?  There are countless examples showing the connections animals and humans have in this world.  I wrote about chimps, monkeys and apes last week.  Here is another real life example of animals showing emotions, like grief.  Humans are not the only “beings” with emotions.  This article came from National Geographic.  Please read and enjoy.  We welcome any comments and stories you want to share.

The November issue of National Geographic Magazine features a moving photograph of chimpanzees watching the burial of one of their own. Since it was published, the picture and story have gone viral, turning up on websites and TV shows and in newspapers around the world. For readers who’d like to know more, here’s what I learned as I interviewed the photographer, Monica Szczupider.

On September 23, 2008, Dorothy, a female chimpanzee in her late 40s, died of congestive heart failure. A maternal and beloved figure, Dorothy spent eight years at Cameroon’s Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center, which houses and rehabilitates chimps victimized by habitat loss and the illegal African bushmeat trade.

After a hunter killed her mother, Dorothy was sold as a “mascot” to an amusement park in Cameroon. For the next 25 years, she was tethered to the ground by a chain around her neck, taunted, teased, and taught to drink beer and smoke cigarettes for sport. In May 2000, Dorothy–obese from poor diet and lack of exercise–was rescued and relocated along with ten other primates. As her health improved, her deep kindness surfaced. She mothered an orphaned chimp named Bouboule and became a close friend to many others, including Jacky, the group’s alpha male, and Nama, another amusement-park refugee.

Szczupider, who had been a volunteer at the center, told me: “Her presence, and loss, was palpable, and resonated throughout the group. The management at Sanaga-Yong opted to let Dorothy’s chimpanzee family witness her burial, so that perhaps they would understand, in their own capacity, that Dorothy would not return. Some chimps displayed aggression while others barked in frustration, but perhaps the most stunning reaction was a recurring, almost tangible silence. If one knows chimpanzees, then one knows that [they] are not [usually] silent creatures.”

The Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center was founded in 1999 by veterinarian Sheri Speede (pictured at right, cradling Dorothy’s head; at left is center employee Assou Felix). Operated by IDA-Africa, an NGO, it’s home to 62 chimps who reside in spacious, forested enclosures.

Szczupider had submitted the photograph to “Your Shot,” a magazine feature that encourages readers to send in pictures they have taken. The best are published on the website and in the magazine.

Susan Welchman, the Geographic photo editor who sifts through reader-contributed shots looking for winners, was drawn to the candor of the image. “It caught my eye because you just don’t see that much emotion–human emotion–with animals,” she says. “It couldn’t have been posed or faked; there’s no way to make an animal look or act like that. It’s just so real and true, so pure.”

See more photos

Historically the most common pattern in heterosexual couples is an older man with a younger woman, however the converse (older woman/younger man) has increased significantly in many countries.  Factors leading into a search for a significantly younger or older individual with whom to share an intimate relationship can vary wildly. The common perception is that younger mates serve the purpose of a “trophy” or object of status, while older mates are perceived to have greater resources, wisdom, or sexual knowledge.  Older women can bring an exciting new dimension to relationships.

How are cougars and woman similar?  Check out the new show, “Cougar Town” with Courtney Cox.  Is this who she is?  Is this what people think of women from Florida?  A woman who is 35+, sexually cunning, that prefers to hunt rather than be hunted and is non-committal, choosing to move from mate to mate without ever settling down are called  cougars.

The animal seems to be invisible.  Studies have shown that cougars are typically solitary, spending most of their lives in well-defined home ranges that vary in size according to a cat’s gender, the season, habitat quality, and prey availability. Generally, male territories are larger than those of females, with females often sharing overlapping ranges. Cougars mark the boundaries of their territories with olfactory signposts, or scrapes, specifically by building and urinating on piles of dirt, pine needles, and leaves.

The omnipresent but rarely seen cougar is not only the most widely distributed New World cat, but definitely the one with the most names. Depending on geographic region, it is called the puma, mountain lion, red tiger, deercat, mountain devil, king cat, Mexican lion, panther, mountain screamer, silver lion, catamount, even sneak cat.

Found from the Canadian Yukon to the tip of South America, from sea level to fourteen thousand feet or more, these adaptable cats have the greatest distribution of any terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere.

Although they cannot roar, cougars have been known to chirp, peep, even whistle. Kittens make a series of short, high-pitched peeps when frightened and adults sometimes produce low, hunting whistles before a chase. The name, screamer, refers to the blood-curdling mating calls produced by a female cougar in estrus.

Cougars are efficient day and night active predators built to leap, climb trees, sprint, and ambush. Cougars have excellent vision, hearing, and olfaction and use these senses to detect and stalk their prey. Long hind limbs in proportion to fore limbs are an adaptation for jumping and easier movement through steep canyons and ravines. Big, padded paws help the cougar navigate through variable terrain and grapple their next meal. Inch-and-a-half-long canines in concert with sheathed claws make them armed and deadly. When prey is detected, the eyes and ears of the cougar fix on the site until the source of motion is determined. With their long tail used for balance, these athletic felines can make incredible leaps in pursuit of prey or to silently disappear into the underbrush.

Although cougars prefer to eat deer and elk, their generalist diet can include everything from mouse to moose, including grasshoppers.

Many cougars are shot on sight by unhappy ranchers in southern Arizona, and Texas where they allow unrestrained cougar killing. In Utah, interest in the sport of cougar hunting is increasing, as reflected by the growing number of pursuit permits being issued each year.  While states with cougar populations allow the controlled seasonal hunting of cougars as game animals, California is the only state that, so far, has won a hard-fought battle to eliminate sport hunting for cougar altogether

I’m not really sure how the woman and the animal were tied together but it seems to me that the cougar is a very diverse animal that can adapt to almost any situation, as most woman do…..it has nothing to do with age.

A friend of mine, Bob Pelham, took these wonderful pictures of the Golden Eagle in New Mexico.  I wanted to know more about this power and gorgeous looking bird.  This is what I found…..

This is North America’s largest bird of prey and the national bird of Mexico. They are dark brown, with lighter golden-brown plumage on their heads and necks. They are extremely swift, and can dive upon their quarry at speeds of more than 150 miles (241 kilometers) per hour.

Basic facts: They are carnivores, live an average of 30 years, 33-38 inches in size with a wingspan 6-8 feet.  They weight from 6-15 pounds.

Golden eagles use their speed and sharp talons to snatch up rabbits, marmots, and ground squirrels. They also eat carrion, reptiles, birds, fish, and smaller fare such as large insects. They have even been known to attack full grown deer, sheep and other farm animals. In the 1950’s ranchers killed as many as 20,000 of these birds for fear that they would prey on their livestock, but studies showed that the animal’s impact was minimal. Today, golden eagles have been protected by law since 1963.

Golden eagle pair up so they can maintain territories as large as 60 square miles. They are monogamous and may remain with their mate for several years or possibly for life. Golden eagles nest in high places including cliffs, trees, or human structures such as telephone poles. They build huge nests and may return to that nest for several breeding years. Females lay from one to four eggs, and both parents incubate them for 40 to 45 days. Typically, one or two young survive the first three months of life.

These majestic birds can be found from Mexico through much of western North America as far north as Alaska.  You can find them in the east but it’s rare. Golden eagles are also found in Asia, northern Africa, and Europe.

Some golden eagles migrate, others do not—depending on the conditions of their geographic location. Alaskan and Canadian eagles typically fly south in the fall, for example, while birds that live in the western continental U.S. tend to remain in their ranges year-round.

When you see a monkey at the zoo or one on TV there is an irresistible longing to have one of your own.   We even grew up with monkeys like “Curious George”.  I think I’m dating myself.  Without exception, baby monkeys are cute, cuddly, and intelligent.  They also develop strong bonds to their surrogate parent. This goes for the smallest of marmosets to the largest of the apes – the first 6-8 months are delightful – but very messy.

Then one day you realize, the honeymoon is over, reality kicks in.  These “kids” never grow up and it’s like having a special needs child for the rest of your life.  That can be very challenging, ask any parent of a child like this.  It’s a huge commitment!  There are professionals who have the ability to maintain a 30-40 year relationship with a monkey or ape.  Most of us don’t know how to do it properly, or safely, and find it too difficult to keep it up for so many years.

Your monkey may be loving with you, but fly into a jealous rage with other members of your family. You will have to stay homebound most of the time. Your friendships will have to be with like-minded individuals. The majority of your neighbors will consider you the quirky, eccentric neighbor, if these animals are even allowed.  City, County, State and Federal officials will not be favorably disposed toward you.

Monkeys are not “bad pets” or “good pets” that oversimplifies the issue.  It’s the monkey-human interaction that usually becomes the problem. There are many challenges of monkey ownership which include adequate supervision, health care, habitat and environmental enrichment.  Actually, all of these things are important to any type of animal ownership.  For many people, once the mystique of having a monkey has worn off, the animal ages, becoming more demanding, people will spend less time and care less about the animal. Many people are like that with the cute puppy, kitten or baby ferret.  It becomes part of “life” and these animals sometimes are put on the back burner.

Primates are not domesticated animals. They are destructive, messy, possessive, and possess all the basic emotions of human beings but without the inhibitions we have. Because of this, they can be quite dangerous to you, other family members and guests. They are exceedingly fun loving as well as destructive and messy. There are also many legal issues in keeping pet monkeys; the number of laws and regulations regarding their ownership is ever growing.

There are very few veterinarians who will care for monkeys when they get ill or who will perform annual health checkups. These checkups need to include tuberculosis testing, possibly viral testing, vaccinations and blood examinations. Most of its teeth will eventually be extracted to prevent injury to you or other monkeys. Neutering the monkey will not change its disposition. Proper caging is challenging and bulky. Monkeys are masters at escape so the cost to house them properly can be expensive.  Government-approved, indoor-outdoor cages for medium size primates cost hundreds of dollars – thousands of dollars if a professional contractor builds it.

People who purchase monkey as pets tend to feed them the foods they eat themselves. Monkeys that live off generalized human table scraps inevitably do poorly and do not live very long.  All animals should be fed the proper diet. Just because something on the bag or can says, “dog food” or “cat food” doesn’t mean it’s the proper ingredients for that animal.  Animal owners should do research to see what that animal eats in the wild then find store bought food that has the same ingredients on the bag.  A side note: the best treat for any animal is their normal food fed to them out of your hand.  Humans are the ones that developed the “treat”.  Most treats are not good for animals.

If you still want a monkey or ape, you have unlimited financial resources, acreage and enthusiasm, the next thing to consider is what will happen to this poor animal if things don’t work out or if you situation changes in the next 30 – 40 years. You will age too over the 30 years or so. Things will happen in your life and when they do, who is going to take responsibility and care for this monkey? Will he/she have to endure the psychological trauma of loosing its adoptive family and moving to new or poorer facilities or being bulk-loaded in some overcrowded sanctuary? Will the police destroy the animal? Will you be sued over its actions? Will it end up in some roadside carnival? There are many, many more displaced, second, third and fourth hand monkeys in the United States than there are reputable sanctuaries that will accept them.

Monkeys are too social and intelligent animals to make good pets for the vast majority of people. Their childhood dependency and friendliness fade as they mature to adults.  That’s when they generally become aggressive and attack the ones they love with no provocation. The monkeys you see on television or out in public are juveniles, borrowed from the zoo, returned when they become unmanageable and replaced with new infants – a never ending cycle. Adults are rarely seen outside of cages. Even hand rearing an infant primate will not alter this natural change in monkey behavior but will affect the animal for the rest of its life.

Please think long and hard before taking in a monkey, ape or any animal.  Do research so you know what it really needs to live a long, happy and healthy life.  Find a veterinarian that specializes in that type of animal and has had years of training.  Pet ownership is a BIG RESPONSIBILITY!

Do you and your kids like wild animals?  There are places all around the country where you can volunteer and be around lions, tigers, bears and the list goes on.   If you don’t want to volunteer then have a fun day visiting these animals.  Most of these rescues survive by having volunteers help with the day to day care of the animals as well as donations from visitors.  The economy has hit all of the sanctuaries and rescues hard.  They don’t have any option but to feed and care for these animals every single day, regardless of the circumstances.  They barter for food and medical care as well.

Many of these organizations have petting areas where you can actually pet animals you would only see in the wild.  It is really sad when you hear the stories about these animals and where they come from.  If it were not for these rescues and sanctuaries these animals would not be alive.

I recently visited two organizations in Florida.  One is called, “Lions, Tigers and Bears”  and they are located in Arcadia.  Click here for their link. The other rescue I visited is called, “The Big Cat Habitat”.  They are located in Sarasota.  Click here for their link.

Both of these sanctuaries have very similar stories about their animals.  Many were bought by people thinking that having a wild animal as a pet was a good, and different, idea.  Most of the owners got their animals when they were very young and cute.  Once the animals got larger they were harder to care for, cost a lot to keep, and began to hurt their owners.  The animals were not intentionally aggressive, they just got big and the “cute nip on the hand” became a HARD bite.  Wild animals are still wild and have certain instincts.  Animals are very much like humans as well.  If they are not disciplined and coached properly when they are young, they will do the same things when they become adults.  Some people think that some behaviors are cute when they have a small child or animal.  Once they grow up it’s not cute anymore and they get scolded, or worse, for the behavior.  Unfortunately, they don’t know why they are scolded when it was ok a year ago.  Now it’s completely unacceptable.  MIXED MESSAGES!!

The circus, economy and other circumstances, are reasons these sanctuaries and rescues get animals.  Yesterday I heard that one man has 12 wild animals he was keeping at his home.   He can no longer afford to feed them and if someone doesn’t come and get them he will have to put them down.  He said he got them when they were very young and cute.  Now he sees how much they eat everyday and he can’t afford to keep them.  They are also getting too hard for him to manage.  There are a lot of circus and show animals that would not survive if it were not for these organizations.  Once the animals get too old to work they can’t use them anymore.  The circus can’t afford to keep them so they either find someone to take them or put them down.  It is heart wrenching to think these animals give their lives to entertain us then when they want to “retire”, like we do, it’s usually the end of the road for them.

Many of the animals these days are inbred as well.  When that happens these animals tend to have a lot of health issues.  You might see animals who have crossed eyes, pigeon toed, or just seem kind of “weird”.  Most of them have been inbred.

I am not the expert but I do know that I want to help as many animals as possible, live good lives.  If you like animals and want your children to be exposed to animals only seen in the wild, contact your local sanctuary or rescue.  It’s the experience of a lifetime.  They will learn about the animals, responsibility and meet some very interesting people in the process.

We would like you to share your experiences, pictures and stories with us.  Send us an email, make a “comment” or post about a special animal under “Animals Remembered”.

DID YOU KNOW ELEPHANTS CAN HEAR WITH THEIR FEET?  Learn More