Critter News

JULY 13, 2009

The trade in TCM {Traditional Chinese Medicine} products has also been growing at an annual rate of 10 percent, which has seriously impacted medicinal plant and animal populations, though more than half of plants and animals being used by TCM are from artificial propagation or captive breeding.

China 100

China Wildlife Tigers Endangered Species 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2013

And so, these goats ate the flora of the island: unique species of Indian paintbrush and woodland star, bushmallow and wirelettuce and morning glory. No wait, they were, but they had experienced so much genetic drift and selective pressure that they now constituted a unique breed in their own right.

Goats 159

Goats Bald Eagle Fox Feral 159

10,000 Birds

MAY 31, 2015

We call it a “mouse gradation year” I was not able to find a catchy English term for “gradation year” – it’s what happens when a certain species showing population cycles reaches a peak year. And finally, there will be Marsh Harriers everywhere breeding in grain fields instead of reeds.

Fox 163

Fox Rodents Gophers Germany 163

Animal Ethics

JUNE 7, 2016

In light of this horrible incident, is it right for the zoo to carry on a breeding program that subjects more animals to such unnatural lives? Further, did those who reacted so strongly to Harambe’s killing go home and serve meat to their children? Many sanctuaries do not permit breeding.

Los Angeles 40

Los Angeles Gorillas Zoos Non Human 40

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

Though Ron is based in Ontario his reports are eagerly anticipated by birders across the northeastern United States and eastern Canada because it takes into account a vast array of data to figure out which irruptive species might show up where. Photo illustrations by yours truly have been added. For a full version of the forecast, head here.

2014 229

2014 2015 Alaska New Hampshire 229

10,000 Birds

JUNE 4, 2020

Parasites penetrate the skin, travel through the blood vessels and finally (if you’re lucky) settle in the urinary tract where they happily breed, doing irreversible damage to it (and if you’re less lucky they might get confused and settle inside your spinal cord or even your brain). Andrew’s laconic answer was ‘No, I don’t think so.

Botswana 181

Botswana Africa 2001 Fish 181

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 5, 2011

Though some species are shedding breeding plumage and taking on more somber winter colors, they’re still often cute as button. Most likely, the seed is a of couple years old and no one else will carry it in their stores because the nut meat is not as desirable to birds (and chock full of meal moth larvae). Why is that?

Birds 165

Birds Sparrows Fox Meat 165

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

Though Ron is based in Ontario his reports are eagerly anticipated by birders across the northeastern United States and eastern Canada because it takes into account a vast array of data to figure out which irruptive species might show up where. See individual species forecasts below for details on each species. GENERAL FORECAST.

2013 161

2013 2014 Alaska Canada 161

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 20, 2012

The very first thing we notice about this large member of the Galliformes is that there is a wild version and a domestic version, and although the two are rather different, they are both given the same species name, Meleagris gallopavo. This is not entirely unknown among domestic animals, but many domesticates have no living wild version.

Turkey 198

Turkey Columbus Spain Fowl 198

Animal Person

MARCH 18, 2009

The Botai did not just herd horses for meat. Among all the animal species on this planet, humans have domesticated only a handful. Horse-drawn carriages and breeding and racing horses and using them to play polo or to schlep kids around is an insult to horses. So far I'm not seeing the mutual benefit. Let's leave them alone.

Experience 100

Experience Experiments Horses Transported 100

Animal Person

NOVEMBER 1, 2009

Of course, as a result, "ethical meat" becomes an option unless one realizes that killing when you don't need to is killing when you don't need to, no matter if it occurs in a slaughterhouse or in a mobile slaughter operation or in a backyard. We all know junk-food vegans and vegans who eat "faux meat" products every day.

Vegan 100

Vegan Factory Farm Factory Farming Slaughter 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2023

In total, there are eight species of hornbills in Borneo – the best place to see them seems to be the Kinabatagan River area (also known as Sukau). Another paper reviews information on Oriental Pied Hornbills raiding the nests of various bird species in Singapore and even pet bird cages.

Rhinoceros 124

Rhinoceros Singapore Transported Hunting 124

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2022

The one bird I did not see here, however, was the Bateleur Eagle … One highlight in the area is the Saddle-billed Stork , likely to be the tallest species in the stork family. The African Spoonbill is one of the six global spoonbill species, and the main African one (there are also some Eurasian Spoonbills in Africa).

Ostriches 147

Ostriches Parrots Birds Eggs 147

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2023

” Writing about owls means writing about roughly 250 species (I counted 245 on the 2022 Clements spreadsheet, but I might have missed a few, and we all know that each classification system is different). The chapters on courtship and breeding and roosting and migration are the longest, which isn’t surprising.

Owls 200

Owls Science Barn Owls Penguins 200

10,000 Birds

JUNE 20, 2019

The Kerkini Lake National Park is my favourite birding area in the whole of the Balkans and while I’ve been here in April and again (migration), September (migration), October (coffee break), December and January (wintering), this was my first time in the breeding season, in May. But nowadays, they, too, breed here, about 20 pairs this year.

Greece 189

Greece Pelicans Buffalo Fish 189

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2022

For this reason, the species is evaluated as Vulnerable.” The Rufous-tailed Robin used to be called Swinhoe’s Robin but apparently, somebody decided that there were already too many bird species (6, according to the HBW) named after him. The Eurasian Hobby was another notable raptor of the month.

Birds 191

Birds China Eggs Owls 191

10,000 Birds

JULY 11, 2012

People would often express surprise that I, someone that cared about wildlife conservation, would eat meat. Wildlife conservation is concerned with protecting wildlife at the level of species or perhaps population. A more problematic conflict is that fought over what to do with damaging introduced species. ” one.

Animal Rights 257

Animal Rights Rights New Zealand Animal 257

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 9, 2014

It breeds in Greenland, Iceland and Svalbard and overwinters (singly and at mountain top hot springs – if Hollywood is to be trusted) along the coasts of northern Europe. In my native Serbia, I’ve observed this species in winter only once, while here in East Anglia every site held one. Nearby Cantley Marshes were the next stop.

Geese 199

Geese Barn Owls Serbia Sheep 199

10,000 Birds

MARCH 26, 2014

If the whole thing passed you by then Mother Jones did a good piece on why zoos sometimes have to kill individuals for the good of the species. The drug that turned the White-rumped Vulture from the “most abundant large bird of prey in the world” in 1985 to a species that is critically endangered.

Lions 150

Lions Giraffes Zoos Killing 150

Animal Person

AUGUST 25, 2010

An Animal Person reader wrote me with the following question: There are many species of cichlids in Lake Victoria that are on the verge of extinction, and most are hardy and small enough to be kept in an aquarium. I intend to stick with rescuing rabbits from now on.) I'd really like to get your opinion on this.

Fish 100

Fish Rabbits Rescue Vegan 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 7, 2023

The Great Egret was in breeding plumage and courtship posture–bright lime green lores, head bending down and then snapping up, long, impossibly delicate plumes waving over its body as if possessed by independent spirits. I could see what all the fuss was about, why they were worth, literally, as much as gold. ©2023, Donna L.

Connecticut 147

Connecticut Washington Legislation Hunting 147