Posts tagged "extinction"

Dogs and Dogtags; Cat Grads

by Evan Jacobs (Subscribe to Evan Jacobs's posts): Nov 13th 2009 6:00PM Filed Under: Chew on This

Rounding up our favorite animal stories, photos, and videos on the web each week!

Dogs of War

People Pets interviews the creators of the new television series "No Dogs Left Behind," which documents the journey of rescued dogs from Iraq. [via People Pets]
You're Back!

As a response to Veteran's day, Mental Floss compiled a healthy list of videos depicting dogs reuniting with their soldier masters. [via Mental Floss]
Unprotected Koalas

Australia's Koala population is in danger and could be gone within thirty years. The culprit? A sexually transmitted disease. [via Telegraph.co.uk]
I Haz Diploma

Apparently many cats are quite educated and have diplomas. BuzzFeed has a list of cat professors who teach actual classes you can audit. [via BuzzFeed]
Shh!

Chig Trib has discovered that if your little yipper yips a little too much, all you need is a scalpel. [via Chicago Tribune]

Tigers Close to Extinction

by Rebecca Quimby (Subscribe to Rebecca Quimby's posts): Nov 13th 2009 9:00AM Filed Under: Exotic Pets

According to wildlife experts, tigers in the wild could become extinct in two decades. As shocking as it is, native tiger populations could be in big trouble if something isn't done soon.

While 100,000 tigers roamed in the wild in Asia and Russia 100 years ago, today there are only 3,500. Interpol reports that the illegal wildlife trade is worth more than $20 billion a year, with people killing tigers for their body parts and selling skins on the black market. Destruction of the animals' habitat has also been a factor in their dwindling numbers.

Save the Tiger Fund's Mahendra Shrestha told Reuters that a "business as usual approach in tiger conservation will doom the tiger population in the next 15 to 20 years." According to the organization's Web site, "Tigers need extensive, intact landscapes and to act as an umbrella species - by saving tigers you save other plants and animals that share their range."

For more on what you can do to help these beautiful animals, visit savethetigerfund.org.

Should We Let Pandas 'Die Out With Dignity?'

by Kirsten Taylor (Subscribe to Kirsten Taylor's posts): Sep 28th 2009 1:00PM Filed Under: Exotic Pets

Who wouldn't want to save this guy? Photo: popofatticus/Flickr

Pandas are practically the international poster child of wildlife conservation -- hello, the World Wildlife Fund even uses the iconic animal in their logo. The adorable black-and-white bears are cute, charismatic and, thanks to poaching and habitat loss, at very real risk of extinction.

Now the giant panda has become the center of a debate incited by BBC wildlife broadcaster Chris Packham. Packham is known for his nature photography and natural history books and is the host of the BBC wildlife program "Springwatch." It's his job to educate the public about nature and the environment, so it was surprising when the broadcaster didn't mince words when discussing pandas in a recent radio interview, reports the London Times.

"Here is a species that, of its own accord, has gone down an evolutionary cul-de-sac. It's not a strong species...I reckon we should pull the plug. Let them go, with a degree of dignity," Packham said on air, according to the Times.

That's just batty, says Colby Loucks, the deputy director of the conservation science program at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). True, saving pandas presents a unique challenge, since the bears focus 99 percent of their diet on bamboo. "But I don't think [pandas] went down that 'evolutionary cul-de-sac' of their own accord," Loucks told Paw Nation.

Historically, Loucks explained, bamboo forests covered a much larger area in Asia than they do today. "Humans co-opted almost all of that area for themselves," he said. After humans cut down huge amounts of bamboo forests, the pandas were left stranded in a relatively small pocket of bamboo forests in China. But that's our fault, not theirs."

Source

Follow Pawnation on Twitter Follow Pawnation on Facebook

Can't Miss Galleries

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=754150&pid=754149&uts=1269035019

http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Poodle
Miniature Poodles, like all Poodles, are excellent swimmers who originated as a water retrievers. All Poodles, Standard, Miniature and Toy are actually one breed, just different sizes. Miniature Poodles, who can be white, black, apricot or gray, are usually 15 inches or under, according to the American Kennel Club.

David McKelvey/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgmckelvey/3748491903/

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Dachshund
The Miniature Daschund, only 11 pounds or under, is not a separate classification of the Daschund -- it's just a smaller version of the Standard. The miniature dog, with its long bodies and strong sense of smell, are both hunters and lapdogs, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Schnauzer
The Miniature Schnauzer is of German descent and was originally bred to be a small farm dog. The most popular of the three Schnauzer breeds, the Miniature Schnauzer is a attentive, lively and a favorite among celebrities like Mary Tyler Moore and Bill Cosby. The strongly built miniature dog is between 12 to 14 inches, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Bull Terrier
Just like the playful Bull Terrier, the Miniature Bull Terrier, who originated in England, has a similar personality. Don't let its size fool you – the Miniature Bull Terrier is strong, energetic and audacious. Miniature Bull Terriers are between 10 to 15 inches and can be solid white or colored, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature American Eskimo Dog
The American Eskimo Dog is one of three separate categories of the American Eskimo Dog. Between 12 to 15 inches, the bright white dog is loving, protecting and sociable. Now a great companion dog, the miniature dog was once a circus dog, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Pinscher
Also known as the "Min Pin," the Miniature Pinscher is a German Breed whose ancestry includes the Daschund, Italian Greyhound and the shorthaired German Pinscher. The quick, curious dog is the perfect apartment dog. Despite its small size, the compact pooch makes a wonderful watchdog. The spirited miniature dog, about 10 inches to 12 1/2 inches, can be red, black, or chocolate with tan, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs