Where the Buffalo may roam…
Posted by msterilinn on May 6, 2008
When I think of the American plains, I imagine the sweet grasses blowing in the wind, and the wild Buffalo roaming with their herds. The Buffalo are most Sacred to my people. They were placed here for some very good reasons, as they spread the seeds and fertilized the land. Once they provided food and materials for shelter and clothing for the peoples of this land. It is amazing to imagine how brilliantly the Creator of this world set things in motion so very long ago. From the tiniest microbe to the mightiest predator. Each living creature having a purpose, and given the chance to evolve in a natural way. To think that the beings who believe themselves most intelligent cannot see the widsom behind this, and are the ones destroying the balance so painstakingly created to maintain Life on this Earth. Such folly can be credited to a foolish, yet supposed intelligent race, when we should be providing good stewardship in caring for the environment. Nature knows how to do her job… why is it so hard to do ours?
Alas, it tears at my heart when I try to find good news to pass along to my readers. I mean, shouldn’t there be a Balance of as much good as bad? I know the saying goes ‘it is always darkest before the dawn’, yet must so much be destroyed before the Balance can be restored? Our songs and traditions speak of such a Beautiful and Bountiful land, yet when we look around, where has the bounty gone? And what are we doing to all the Beautiful places? What legacy are we truly leaving our children and future generations? Wow… I am feeling depressed about this walk, and that is not good. I am usually so optimistic in feeling I can make a difference, and days like this cause me to feel so helpless and small in the scheme of things. How can one small being such as myself even hope to make a dent in this daunting task?
Well then, I suppose I must pass along the news which prompted my sadness in this moment…
For years, BioGems Defenders have fought to halt the U.S. government’s systematic capture and killing of Yellowstone’s bison — better known as American buffalo — as they roam beyond the boundaries of the park in search of food during the harsh winter months. But this year the rate of slaughter has reached unprecedented proportions with more than 1,400 buffalo dead — fully 30 percent of the buffalo population. In response, the NRDC Action Fund, our partner organization, is mobilizing a massive outcry to stop the killing.
» Tell the National Park Service to stop the slaughter of Yellowstone’s wild buffalo.
I would like to think we can make a difference if we put our minds to it and work together. I truly would like to spread some good news in letting people know there is a safe, bountiful and beautiful place in which the remaining Buffalo may roam and grow plentiful once again.
Let us honor Penguin Moms this Mothers Day
Posted by msterilinn on Apr 30, 2008
My experiences as a mother, and compassionate human being sharing this Earth with so many wondrous creatures, has served to give me a greater perspective of all it entails to be a parent in a world full of unexpected events and moments of crisis. I feel quite strongly the bond we all share in these struggles, whether it be with my fellow humans or those beings of a different nature. We are all part of the same web, all things being connected, and therefor we carry equal shares in responsibility of helping to keep the great Balance.
As Mother’s Day approaches, penguin moms and families are facing a meltdown. You can help support our work to save these beloved birds — and their families — by adopting a penguin today.
Penguins may sing and dance in the movies, but — in the real world — times are tough. Rising temperatures are destroying vital penguin habitat and depriving them of crucial food sources, such as the shrimp-like krill. Many penguins can’t find enough food to feed their chicks.
Already, penguin populations have decreased by nearly 80 percent in some areas.
Adopt a penguin, a penguin family, or a Penguin Mom & Chick for your favorite “Moms” this Mother’s Day. It’s a great gift and you’ll be helping to save these precious creatures at the same time!
With your Penguin Mom & Chick gift adoption, those special ‘moms’ in your life will receive a soft and cuddly 11″ Tall, Penguin Mom & Chick Plushes, a framed personalized Certificate of Adoption and penguin photo, a penguin fact sheet, chock full of information about these feathered friends, and a Kids Wildlife Activity Book.
More importantly, your penguin gift adoption for Mom will help support our efforts to address global warming, pass legislation to help animals adapt to a changing climate, and our education and mobilization efforts to protect these wonderful animals.
Adopt a penguin or another imperiled animal by 7AM eastern on May 5th for FREE shipping in time for Mother’s Day.
P.S. Remember to place your adoption by 7AM Eastern Monday, May 5th for arrival by Mother’s Day with with FREE shipping! You can also get your adoption there on time with Express shipping if you order by 7AM Eastern Tuesday, May 6th.
P.P.S. Place your order by May 5th and receive a 10 percent discount off all your animal adoptions. Simply enter discount code MOM on your order. You can also make your wildlife gift adoption over the phone at (800) 385-9712.
Yellowstone’s Buffalo need our help now!
Posted by msterilinn on Feb 26, 2008
The Buffalo Field Campaign–a campaign to protect Yellowstone’s buffalo–is currently in 1st place but is losing ground fast! If they win they will get a pledge drive done. Voting ends in less than two days. Please vote - you can vote every two minutes here : Vote for The Buffalo Field Campaign.
The Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC) is the only group working in the field, every day, to stop the slaughter and harassment of Yellowstone’s wild buffalo. Volunteers from around the world defend buffalo on their traditional winter habitat and advocate for their protection. Our daily patrols stand with the buffalo on the ground they choose to be on, and document every move made against them. Volunteers spend all day, from sunrise until sunset, watching and documenting actions taken against the buffalo. We run patrols from cars, skis and snowshoes to protect buffalo outside the park. Tactics range from video documentation to nonviolent civil disobedience. BFC enjoys incredible support and participation from the local community. Residents allow us to post signs on their property designating them as ‘Buffalo Safe Zones.’ We offer a fence repair service to mitigate damage caused by wildlife. Locals join us on our daily rounds, and many support our patrols with hot drinks and food. All of our work happens because people are willing to take a break from their usual schedules and come help. Over 3000 people from all over the country and around the world have joined us in our log cabin on Hebgen Lake to help stop the buffalo slaughter. We feed and house all our volunteers in our cabin and Gardner satellite camp. Volunteers patrol for buffalo by skis, snowshoes, or cars. Everyone communicates by a network of hand-held radios, and also carries a video camera. Our office runs outreach programs, including slide and video presentations, summer tabling in Yellowstone Park, website and e-mail updates, and national media coverage through press releases and video.
Come defend the buffalo by joining us on the front lines! We have had over 2400 volunteers from across the country and around the world join us on the front lines to help save the Yellowstone buffalo. The Buffalo Field Campaign is the only group living and working in the Yellowstone Ecosystem full time. We are on patrol all day, everyday, when buffalo are out of the park and in danger. Buffalo Field Campaign patrols defend the buffalo on their critical, native Montana habitat and document every move made against them.
Please consider becoming a The Buffalo Field Campaign Volunteer. The future of America’s last free-roaming herd depends on you!
Still fighting to Save the Wolves of Yellowstone!
Posted by msterilinn on Feb 22, 2008
This is a battle we will not back down from! Even though yesterday, as of Noon Eastern time, the Bush/Cheney Administration eliminated vital Endangered Species Act protections for hundreds of wolves in Greater Yellowstone and the Northern Rockies, we refuse to give up!
If you are wondering how you can help the fight to save these beautiful, noble and VITAL creatures, look into your situation and either donate, or let your voice be heard. Here is an example of what Defenders of Wildlife will do..
“Your donation will provide vital funding to help support our legal advocacy to stop the de-listing. It will also support the efforts of our on-the-ground staff in Idaho, Montana and across the country who are working tirelessly to save wolves and other wildlife every day by…
* Hiring range riders and paying for non lethal wolf control to reduce conflicts between wolves and ranchers;
* Motivating supporters to submit nearly half of the roughly 280,000 comments opposing the de-listing decision during the official public comment period;[1]
* Mobilizing conservationists to attend local meetings and public hearings and speak out for common-sense wolf management;
* And, much, much more.
In fact, by the time federal officials announced the de-listing, thousands of caring Defenders supporters and activists were already hard at work.
By our estimates, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received 5,000-20,000 phone calls from supporters who were outraged by the decision to allow states to kill as many as 70% [2] of the wolves in Greater Yellowstone and the Northern Rockies.
I wish federal officials could hear from each and every one of the thousands and thousands who tried to call and tell them how much they care about these wolves. But I want you to know that we are committed to making sure that your voices are heard on this important issue. And, together, we will win this fight!!”
All of Earths creatures are Sacred. Please take a few moments to visit a recent post Wolves and Trees… the Balance of Nature and see for yourself the vital relation between Wolves and the surrounding ecosystem.
**Note -
[1] E-Rulemaking Research Group, University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University
[2] State wolf plans have been modified to require that minimum populations of 150 wolves be maintained, not 100 as had been the case before.
Our Birth Totems
Posted by msterilinn on Feb 12, 2008
Here is a quick look at our Birth Totems. I shall be putting together some more material about our totems, in more depth, in the near future. Our Earth Medicine is what connects us to the Earth. In essence, these connections are an important part of the Balance. This is another reason why it is so important to remember our roles as stewards of this beautiful planet, and take good care of those in the Animal Nation, as they are a part of us.
The Twelve Birth times are represented by totems, each one an animal that expresses the Qualities inherent that birth time. Earth Medicine associates an animal totem to each birth time (the two sets) of dates below the animal reflect the difference in season between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. These Animals help connect you to the powers and abilities that they represent.
Falcon :
21 March ~ 19 April (N.H.) ~ 22 September ~ 22 October (S.H.)
Falcons are full of initiative, but often rush in to make decisions that they may later regret. Lively and extroverted, they have enthusiasm for new experiences but can sometimes lack persistence.
Beaver :
20 April ~ 20 May (N.H.) ~ 23 October ~ 22 November (S.H.)
Practical and Steady, Beavers have a capacity for perserverence. Good Homekeepers, they are warm and affectionate, but need Harmony and Peace to avoid becoming irritable. They have a keen aesthetic sense.
Deer :
21 May ~ 20 June (N.H.) ~ 23 November ~ 21 December (S.H.)
Deer are willing to sacrifice the old for the new. They loathe routine, thriving on variety and challenges. They have a practical wild side, often leaping from one situation or relationship into another without reflection.
Wood Pecker :
21 June ~ 21 July (N.H.) ~ 22 December ~ 19 January ( S.H.)
Emotional and Sensitive, Woodpeackers are warm to those close to them, and are willing to sacrifice their needs for those of their loved ones. They have lively imaginations but can be worriers.
Salmon :
22 July ~ 21 August (N.H.) ~ 20 January ~ 18 February (S.H.)
Enthusiastic and self-confident, Salmon people enjoy running things, They are uncomprimising and forceful, and can sometimes seem alittle arogant or self-important. They are easily hurt by neglect.
Brown Bear :
22 August ~ 20 September (N.H.) ~ 19 February ~ 20 March (S.H.)
Brown Bears are hard working, Practical, and self-reliant. They do not like change, preferring to stick with what is familiar. They have a flair for fixing things, are good natured, and make good friends.
Crow :
22 September ~ 22 October (N.H.) ~ 21 March ~ 19 April (S.H.)
Crows dislike solitude and feel most comfortable in company. Although usually good - natured and pleasant they can be strongly influenced by negative atmospheres, becoming gloomy and prickly.
Snake :
23 October ~ 22 November (N.H.) ~ 20 April ~ 20 May (S.H.)
Snakes are Mysterious, and secretive, Hiding their feelings beneath a cool exterior. Adaptable, determined and imaginative, they are capable of bouncing back from tough situations encountered in life.
Owl :
23 November ~ 23 December (N.H.) ~ 21 May ~ 20 June (S.H.)
Owls need freedom of expression. They are Lively, Self-Reliant, and have an eye for detail. Inquisitive and Adaptable, They have a tendency to over - extend themselves. Owls are often physically couragous.
Goose :
22 December ~ 19 January (N.H.) ~ 21 June ~ 21 July (S.H.)
Goose people are far - sited idealists who are willing to explore the unknown. They approach life with enthusiasm, determined to fulfill their dreams. They are perfectionists, and can appear unduly serious.
Otter :
20 January ~ 18 February (N.H.) ~ 22 July ~ 21 August (S.H.)
Otters are friendly, lively and perceptive. They feel inhibited by too many rules and regulations, which often make them appear eccentric. They like cleanliness and order and have original minds.
Wolf:
19 February ~ 20 March (N.H.) ~ 22 August ~ 21 September (S.H.)
Wolves are sensitive, Artisitic, and intuitive - people to whom others turn to for help. They value freedom and their own space, and are easily affected by others. They are philosophical, Trusting and Genuine.
Seals, like Children, Love to Play!
Posted by msterilinn on Jan 25, 2008
When I travel to Mother Ocean, I always look forward to possibly seeing those creatures I associate with the Seas of this planet. I truly wonder how happy they are in their environment, which the Creator has designed in such thoughtful detail. Then I become sad at times, knowing man has changed this perfect balance, and in doing so has created an environment that is not as Nature intended. Can we possibly be so selfish as to think this beautiful Earth was meant for our pleasure only? This cannot be. Even as a small child I have always loved and respected Nature. Never would I have guessed everyone did not feel this way. I am no longer so naive, yet I am still appalled at times to see how widespread the acts of carelessness and outright cruelty abounds. I will continue to look for the Beauty in this Life, and pray we find the compassion in our hearts to treasure the wonderful gifts in Nature which surround and sustain us.
“In their innocence and wisdom, in their connection to the earth and its most ancient rhythms, animals show us a way back to a home they have never left.” ~ Susan Chernak McElroy
“The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men.” ~ Leonardo da Vinci
If you would like to take a few moments out of your life to see how you can make a difference in the lives of our precious Seals, my daughter would love to guide you to a wonderful site in which Children are taking action. Kids 4 Seals is an international network of schools, students and young persons interested in OPPOSING the ANNUAL CANADIAN HARP and HOOD SEAL SLAUGHTERS that take place off the Atlantic coast of Canada each year.
If you feel like we do about all of Creation, and the Sacredness of all Life, please open your hearts to help us as we champion those unable to help themselves. They should be allowed to live and play in a safe and healthy environment, just like our own children. Our lives are short in comparison to the Life of this Planet… must we take all that is good, clean and pure, and destroy it so our future generations suffer from our folly? Or will we open our eyes and our hearts to the truth and take responsibility for our World…
Wolves in danger yet again.. we can help!
Posted by msterilinn on Jan 24, 2008
Even though wolves are meant to remain protected under the Endangered Species Act, and despite the opposition of tens of thousands of Defenders supporters, the Fish & Wildlife Service just made it much easier to kill wolves in the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Rockies region. This is totally unnaceptable! Wolves play a very important role in Nature, and all of Earths creatures are Sacred, besides.
Wildlife officials will be able to shoot, trap and kill endangered wolves — even those that wander from the safety of Yellowstone National Park and other protected areas. The states would only need to prove that wolves are a “major cause” of the inability of elk and deer to meet state management goals. Wolves could be killed even if they only have an effect on how elk herds move or behave — not just if they reduce herd numbers.
Please let your voice be heard on this outrage! Help stop this slaughter by passing along this message, and writing a message to Secretary Kempthorne as soon as possible. This is very important, as wolves may be slaughtered as soon as March. We can help save these noble creatures before it is too late.
Write to Secretary Kempthorne to express your outrage today!
Just how high can a Tiger jump?
Posted by msterilinn on Jan 10, 2008
After a recent post, I have recieved quite a few inquiries into how high a tiger can jump. If you are one of those wondering, you may find the following article interesting…
Animal Experts Debate Tiger Safety
By ADAM GOLDMAN –A tiger lurked in the tall grass at a park in India as gamekeepers tried to shoot it with a dart gun and missed. The animal suddenly sprang from the grass, sailed through the air and took a swipe at a man sitting on an elephant’s back.
The man lost three fingers.
“I could never imagine that a tiger could so effortlessly leap from the ground on to an adult elephant’s head, which is at least 12 feet above the ground,” Vivek Menon, executive director of Wildlife Trust of India, said of the 2004 attack, a video of which has been circulating on YouTube.
That attack — along with other examples of explosive encounters with tigers — are stoking a debate that began after a 350-pound Siberian tiger climbed over the 12 1/2-foot wall around its pen at the San Francisco Zoo on Christmas Day and mauled three visitors, killing one.
Among the questions experts are now asking: How high can tigers jump? And have zoos and sanctuaries dangerously underestimated tigers?
That is to say: Are the walls high enough?
“We are evaluating that right now,” said Vernon Weir, director of the American Sanctuary Association, which has about 35 members, only a few of which have big cats. The ASA accredits sanctuaries and in the past recommended 12-foot fences.
Similarly, Association of Zoos & Aquariums, which accredits the nation’s zoos, may adjust its 16.4-foot wall-height recommendation for tigers once it learns fully what happened in San Francisco, spokesman Steve Feldman said.
In San Francisco, the wall was well below the AZA minimum. But several other major U.S. zoos appear to meet or exceed the standards, with high walls topped in many cases with electrified wire or pronounced overhangs to prevent tigers from pulling themselves up and over the side.
Animal experts said they aren’t aware of any hard numbers about the precise leaping ability of tigers. They said it depends on the animal and whether it has been taunted, as may have happened in the San Francisco tragedy. But Feldman said his organization’s 16.4-foot figure was based on the opinions of a group of experts.
There are well-publicized examples of tigers’ phenomenal leaping ability.
In an incident at a national park in Nepal in 1974, an enraged Bengal tiger protecting her cubs mauled a researcher who had climbed into a tree. The tiger managed to climb onto a 15-foot-high limb.
“She just went right up and she didn’t have much to hold onto. She clearly made that jump without much problem,” said Melvin Sunquist, professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Florida and an expert on tigers.
Sunquist, who published an account of the Nepal attack in his book “Tiger Moon: Tracking the Great Cats of Nepal,” said he wasn’t surprised by the news that a tiger had gotten out of its cage in San Francisco.
“I saw what a tigress can do,” he said. “If they can get a purchase on anything, they can get up there.”
Dale Miquelle, director of Wildlife Conservation Society’s program in Russia, said he has seen tigers do many unusual things, such as climbing to the top of large trees when incensed — something tigers don’t normally do.
“What animals normally do, and what they can do, are often very different things,” Miquelle said.
The AZA said it has 216 accredited members with 258 tigers among them. Only five of them were born in the wild, and tigers in captivity generally cannot jump as high as those that are in top condition from hunting in the wild.
Louis Dorfman, an animal behaviorist and chairman of the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary in Texas, oversees 24 tigers at his sanctuary, including an 11-year-old Bengal-Siberian tiger that weighs about 550 pounds and extends about 11 feet paw-to-paw when it stretches like a housecat.
Dorfman said his tigers have never tried to scale their fences, but warned: “With provocation, they’re capable of unbelievable aggression and power. These cats are a combination of strong instincts, strong emotion and no inhibition.”
Zoo visitors running back and forth can resemble prey to a tiger. Throwing objects at a tiger or dangling something can also trigger its predatory instincts.
“First and foremost, people need to be educated. We need to respect them accordingly,” said Jonathan Kraft, who runs Keepers of the Wild in Arizona, which has more than 20 tigers. In the San Francisco escape, “I would bet my reputation that the animal was taunted.”
My Love for Wolves…
Posted by msterilinn on Nov 9, 2007
Yet again, I am reminded of the cruelty and selfishness of mankind. Of course, not all of us are intentionally wicked.. some of us only create unintentional harm. Yet those of us who realize the impact we have on the natural world choose to make a change for the better. And we love to encourage others to pay attention and do the same.
I have recieved another letter concerning a creature which is beloved and admired from my point of view. The Wolf. Why is man working so hard to rid the Earth of these beautiful animals? Can we not share the land with those which were placed here by the Creator, just the same as us? Mother Earth is home to all of us, and we should step into the role as Stewards and not Destroyers.
As quoted directly from the Defenders of Wildlife webpages.. “Alaska is the only state that allows private hunters to participate in the cruel and barbaric practice of aerial gunning of wolves. Alaskan wolves can be shot from airplanes — or chased to the point of exhaustion, then shot at close range. Across large areas of Alaska, no wolf is off limits — not even pregnant females. More than six hundred wolves have been killed over the past four winters with plans to target hundreds more in the coming years and open up new areas to aerial control.”
This is not, of course, the only place where wolves are being hunted into extinction. Yet this rips into my heart at this moment, so it is what I will ask from my heart for folks to step up and take action against!
Please take a few moments to visit Defenders of Wildlife today and sign the petition. If you are not in a position to donate that is fine, yet at the least we can let those in power know we will not stand for such wanton murder of our four-legged brothers and sisters we call Wolf. Little does man know what havoc is created when the Balance is destroyed…
How long shall the Tiger inhabit the Earth?
Posted by msterilinn on Nov 2, 2007
I wish to share this post in honor of my daughter who, like her mama, is quite passionate about the creatures we share this Earth with. She has shown an avid interest in finding ways to help preserve the natural habitats of the Animal Kingdom. She too would like to help save those who are in danger of extinction and is quite distressed about how many animals and plants have already become extinct, no longer to be seen upon Mother Earth. Such a burden and sad legacy we are leaving our young ones. In thanks for her dedication and research into these beloved animals(she did the research for this post), I shall share a bit about one of the Earth’s most graceful and regal felines. Here’s for you my little Star… the Tiger.
Physical Description
The tiger is the largest cat species in the world; the largest tiger sub-species is the Siberian tiger. The approximate weight of the male is 500 pounds and the female is 300 pounds. The average length of the male tiger is 10 feet and the female 8 feet. The average height of a tiger is 3 feet. The appearance of the tiger depends to a great extent on where the animal lives. Tigers that live in cold regions are paler in colour and larger in size; their fur is long and thick. In warmer climates, tigers are smaller in size and more colourful; they have shorter, thinner fur. The fur on the tiger’s back is very thick and the stripes are pale. The colour of the Siberian tiger is yellowish-brown, while the Indian tiger is reddish-brown. The stripes on a tiger are very dark. Like all cats, tigers have sharp claws and teeth. A tiger’s canine teeth are 7.5 cm (3 in) long.
Habitat
Once tigers ranged from Java, Bali, southern Asia, eastern Turkey, to the eastern shores of Asia on the Okhotsk Sea, to the island of Sumatra, and to the west of India. Today, tigers are not found west of India or on the islands of Java and Bali. The remaining tigers are in China, Southern Asia, and Russia’s far east; these are mostly isolated habitats, and tigers are greatly reduced in numbers.
Depending on geographic locations, tigers can be found in a variety of habitats. They range from tropical forests, evergreen forests, ravines, woodlands, mangrove swamps, grasslands, savannas, and rocky country. Some other preferred habitats include dense thickets, long grass or tamarisk shrubs along river banks. Some tigers seem to take a special liking to old ruins for cover. Tigers rely on concealment for stalking and ambushing their prey; they seek areas with ample food, water and moderately dense cover. Tigers are adaptable animals; they can adapt to many different surroundings, as long as they have sufficient water, shade and food.
Food Supply
Tigers usually stalk their prey alone and at night. The maximum kill range for a tiger is 80 feet. To make a kill, the tiger leaps on the animal, biting its neck. It then takes the slain animal to some hidden spot. If it is a large animal, the tiger feeds on it for many days. During this time, the tiger does not kill again. Tigers prey on deer, moose, rabbits, birds, fish, bear, elk, lynx, hares, pigs, cattle, goats, and some smaller animals. The main food of tigers are buffalos, antelopes, and rodents.
Behavior
Tigers can move quickly and quietly. Springing with ease, tigers can cover 15 feet (4.5 meters) in one leap; they can jump long distances over obstacles and land. The tiger rarely climbs trees, but swims well. Tigers mate in April-May and October-November in India, November-February in Indochina and Sumatra, in Siberia all year round. The fertile female signals this through urine and scratches on the tree bark. In Siberia, with such vast territories, the female may go searching a male. The female is receptive just 3-7 days. The male mates for tens of time per day with the female, for several days, and bites her from the nape to stimulate her ovulation.
Life Cycle and Young
Young tigers or cubs are born from 100 to 112 days after parents have mated. Usually tiger cubs are born between February and May after a gestational period of three and a half months. The cubs weigh under three pounds at birth and are striped. The cubs’ eyes open in 15 to 16 days. a litter consists of 1 to 4 cubs, occasionally up to 6, but only 2 to 3 will survive. The mother is responsible for defending her cubs, while the father hunts for food. Tiger cubs are weaned at 4 to 6 months, but depend on their mother for food and protection for another 2 years; the new males entering a female tiger’s territory may kill her her cubs. Cubs learn how to kill at 16 months, and they are on their own at 2 to 3 years. The white ear spots help the mother tigers and cubs to keep track of each other in dim forests at night. The life spand of tigers is maximum 15 to 16 years. In zoos, tigers may live to be 20 years old, but they seldom live to be this old in the wild.
Enemies and Endangerment
The tiger has few enemies; besides humans, they are large buffaloes, elephants and bears. Its defence against other animals that may attack are its large claws and very powerful teeth. Tigers are excellent swimmers and climbers, which saves them from floods and other disasters, as well as protect them from their enemies. The tiger is a very cautious animal; it doesn’t like to hunt elephants or larger animals than itself, unless it is very hungry, or if its cubs or itself were attacked.
The main predator of the tiger is humankind. They have been trapped, poisoned and hunted heavily by humans not only to eliminate threats to livestock, but also for sport, trophies, skins, and sources of traditional medical products. Superstition has surrounded tigers for centuries; their body parts are used in Asian medicines. Necklets of tiger claws are thought to protect a child from “the evil eye”; tiger whiskers are considered either a dreadful poison (in Malaysia), a powerful aphrodisiac (in Indonesia), or an aid to childbirth (in India and Pakistan); the bones, fat, liver and penis of a tiger are prized as medicines.
Humans have also altered the natural habitats of tigers by their destruction and encroachment on the tigers’ feeding range; humans are destroying their habitats by cutting down trees, moving into their preferred locations, polluting the water and air, and hunting their prey.
The tiger population of the Indian subcontinent has suffered a serious decline in the last 50 years. It is estimated that only 200 tigers survived in Nepal, and only 4,000 in India, up from 2,000 in the 1970s. In the 1990s, poaching has escalated in China and Korea, in spite of the Chinese ban on tiger products in 1993. At one point in the 1970s, tigers’ numbers had dropped to 4,000 compared to 100,000 in the early 1900s. Today, the world tiger population still only numbers about 5,000 to 7,000 animals. An intense effort is under way to save the endangered tigers. Unfortunately, tigers are still illegally hunted for their fur, bones and other parts to supply markets in China and Taiwan. Tigers have been hunted to near extinction by poachers, and all subspecies have been declared endangered.
Learn more and be pro-active in helping these lovely animals by visiting…
Help save endangered Polar Bears!
Posted by msterilinn on Apr 5, 2007
Global warming is pushing polar bears to the brink of extinction. If we don’t do something right now, they could disappear forever.
For more than 30 years, the Endangered Species Act has prevented the extinction of animals like bald eagles, grizzly bears, and manatees. Now our polar bears need the Act’s protection, and it’s up to us to ensure that they get it.
Already, more than 61,000 Defenders supporters have sent messages urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect polar bears under the Endangered Species Act. But an industry front group has launched a last-minute campaign opposing efforts to protect polar bears, and we need your help to beat them!
Tomorrow, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an authoritative U.N. network of 2,000 scientists and more than 100 governments, is expected to release its widely anticipated report detailing the effects of global warming.
It’s not a pretty picture: rising temperatures are melting sea ice. Without sea ice, polar bears must resort to more and more desperate means as they struggle to survive.
Some have drowned. Others have starved to death. And some have even resorted to cannibalism — a behavior unseen among America’s polar bears until recently.
Birth and survival rates have plummeted in the last 15 years, and bears are moving inland where they are more likely to come in conflict with humans.
Tell your friends Today!
