Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Another Pet Talk Radio Show- this one will make you laugh!
Various content in this one, lots of laughs! Just click here to listen!
Friday, 13 June 2008
Big Cats at Paradise Wildlife Park
On Tuesday 10th June, I had the great pleasure of attending the Big Cat Talk and Twilight Tour at Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire ( visit www.pwpark.com ).
We were extremely lucky with the weather which added to the magic of the park.
Our guides took us to one of the big cat enclosures to meet Rocky and Narnia. Rocky is a ten year old gorgeous male cat, 80% Siberian tiger with 20% Bengal tiger. Narnia is a beautiful two year old female Bengal tiger. Both of these magnificent animals were rescued from appalling conditions in French circuses. Fortunately they are now safe and clearly very good friends! As Rocky is not a pure bred Siberian tiger he has actually been castrated.
Because it is very important to provide stimulation for the animals, we watched as the keepers fed Rocky and Narnia using 'enrichment feeding' techniques. This involved hiding small pieces of food around their enclosure so that they would have to seek it out, using all their senses, to get a full meal. This way of feeding provides the cats with mental stimulation and encourages them to move about and exercise. Rocky is a bit greedy and the keepers ensure that Narnia does get a full share!
Whilst the cats were waiting to be let back into the enclosure and find their food, they were pacing up and down. This behaviour was only an indication of excitement and anticipation. This pacing is not to be confused with 'stereotypical behaviour' which is a repetitive motion causing a release of 'happy' hormones into the brain and almost a kind of sedation- animals exhibiting this are generally very bored and have not been provided with adequate stimulation in their environment.
After some time watching Rocky and Narnia find their food, we went to listen to a talk about the plight of Big Cats in the wild.
The numbers of Big Cats remaining in the wild is plummeting. The Fur Industry is the main persecutor of Big Cats. Also Big Cat bones are used in Chinese medicine to provide 'magical cures'. The demands for these products is pushing these amazing animals onto the verge of extinction.
Did you know that 'one' fur coat actually takes multiple numbers of animals to make? For example, to make one fur coat it would take 5 Snow leopards, 15 ocelots, 80 Pallas cats or 110 Geoffroys Cats- all this death in the name of fashion is completely unnecessary and morally disgusting.
The only way to ensure that these cats actually survive extinction is for zoos like Paradise Wildlife Park to focus on the pure breeding of individual species in the hope that they may one day be safely returned to the wild.
Paradise Wildlife Park works in conjunction with Wildlife Heritage Foundation ( visit www.whf.org.uk ) which is a UK based charity working hard to ensure that the big cat species of the world are protected from extinction.
All the money raised from the Twilight Tour and raffle went directly to the Wildlife Heritage Foundation.
I had an amazing evening in the beautiful Park with the wonderful animals. It is indeed a paradise there!
Remember, zoo animals are representatives of their wild relatives. Allow yourself to open your hearts to them and be inspired to make a difference and guarantee their survival. Learn what you can and help spread the word of their plight. Together we CAN make a difference and ensure survival of these magnificent creatures.'
'compassion for animals, passion for nature'
We were extremely lucky with the weather which added to the magic of the park.
Our guides took us to one of the big cat enclosures to meet Rocky and Narnia. Rocky is a ten year old gorgeous male cat, 80% Siberian tiger with 20% Bengal tiger. Narnia is a beautiful two year old female Bengal tiger. Both of these magnificent animals were rescued from appalling conditions in French circuses. Fortunately they are now safe and clearly very good friends! As Rocky is not a pure bred Siberian tiger he has actually been castrated.
Because it is very important to provide stimulation for the animals, we watched as the keepers fed Rocky and Narnia using 'enrichment feeding' techniques. This involved hiding small pieces of food around their enclosure so that they would have to seek it out, using all their senses, to get a full meal. This way of feeding provides the cats with mental stimulation and encourages them to move about and exercise. Rocky is a bit greedy and the keepers ensure that Narnia does get a full share!
Whilst the cats were waiting to be let back into the enclosure and find their food, they were pacing up and down. This behaviour was only an indication of excitement and anticipation. This pacing is not to be confused with 'stereotypical behaviour' which is a repetitive motion causing a release of 'happy' hormones into the brain and almost a kind of sedation- animals exhibiting this are generally very bored and have not been provided with adequate stimulation in their environment.
After some time watching Rocky and Narnia find their food, we went to listen to a talk about the plight of Big Cats in the wild.
The numbers of Big Cats remaining in the wild is plummeting. The Fur Industry is the main persecutor of Big Cats. Also Big Cat bones are used in Chinese medicine to provide 'magical cures'. The demands for these products is pushing these amazing animals onto the verge of extinction.
Did you know that 'one' fur coat actually takes multiple numbers of animals to make? For example, to make one fur coat it would take 5 Snow leopards, 15 ocelots, 80 Pallas cats or 110 Geoffroys Cats- all this death in the name of fashion is completely unnecessary and morally disgusting.
The only way to ensure that these cats actually survive extinction is for zoos like Paradise Wildlife Park to focus on the pure breeding of individual species in the hope that they may one day be safely returned to the wild.
Paradise Wildlife Park works in conjunction with Wildlife Heritage Foundation ( visit www.whf.org.uk ) which is a UK based charity working hard to ensure that the big cat species of the world are protected from extinction.
All the money raised from the Twilight Tour and raffle went directly to the Wildlife Heritage Foundation.
I had an amazing evening in the beautiful Park with the wonderful animals. It is indeed a paradise there!
Remember, zoo animals are representatives of their wild relatives. Allow yourself to open your hearts to them and be inspired to make a difference and guarantee their survival. Learn what you can and help spread the word of their plight. Together we CAN make a difference and ensure survival of these magnificent creatures.'
'compassion for animals, passion for nature'
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
Maun Animal Welfare Society
I've signed up to go to Botswana in August to work for the Maun Animal Welfare Society for two weeks. This is a charity aimed at developing the welfare of animals in Botswana and in particular, those of the poor. I will be working as a vet, mainly concentrating on neutering the dogs and cats there and any other surgical procedures they may require. We will also provide medical care for the animals and education for the local children about animal health and welfare.
I am waiting to find out about working visas etc and will let you know if the trip goes ahead.......
I am waiting to find out about working visas etc and will let you know if the trip goes ahead.......
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