Tina the Elephant

Tina the Elephant from Vancouver will retire at the Elephant Sanctuary
May 31, 2003After a concerted effort by people in British Columbia and around the world, Tina will not longer be going to be retiring at Bowmanville zoo.
In the world of captivity there is seldom a happy ending for the animals that perform for our entertainment. However, in this case Tina will be going to one of the only sanctuaries in the world that can look after her well being (mentally and physically).
Tina, was almost always referred to as "the ailing Asian elephant," is now headed to a blissful place, far from bullhooks, zoos and circuses.

girrafe

Head-body length 12-15 ft.; height to horn tips 15-17 ft.; weight 1700-4200 lbs (males). Females are a foot or two shorter and a couple of hundred pounds lighter. Both sexes have horns, although the females' horns are smaller. G.c.reticulata is a bit smaller than the other subspecies. Varieties are told apart largely by pattern. Reticulated are characterized by large polygons separated by cream-colored lines rather like a large net thrown over a colored ground, hence the name "reticulated" giraffe. Color ranges from tan to deep chocolate brown, especially in old males who tend to darken as they age. Open woodland and wooded grassland throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Reticulated giraffe are confined to north-eastern Kenya, eastern Sudan and Eritrea.Highly selective browsers feeding primarily on a variety of Acacia and Combretum species. Over a hundred species may be eaten, depending on what is seasonally available.

The puma

The puma (Felis concolor) is a type of large hunting cat found in North and South America. It is also known by the regional names of cougar, mountain lion, panther, catamount, and painted cat. The term panther is more commonly associated with the black color variation of the leopard or the jaguar.Hunted almost to extinction in the United States, the puma has made a dramatic comeback with an estimated 30,000 individuals in the western United States. Pumas are gradually extending their range to the east, following creek and river beds, and have reached Missouri and Michigan. It is anticipated that they will soon expand their range over the entire eastern and southern United States. Due to urbanization in the urban-wildland intermix, pumas often come into contact with people, especially in areas with a large population of deer, their natural prey. They have also begun preying on pets, such as dogs and cats, but have rarely turned to people as a source of food.

gavial...

Class: Reptilia: Reptiles Diet: Fish
Order: Crocodilia: Crocodiles, Alligators, Gavial
Size: 7 m (23 ft)
Family: Alligatorianae: Alligators and Caimans Conservation Status: Endangered
Scientific Name: Gavialis gangeticus Habitat: large rivers
Range: Northern India

Indian gavial

The Indian gavial has an extremely long narrow snout, studded with about 100 small teeth -- ideal equipment for seizing fish and frogs underwater. Like all crocodilians, the gavial has been hunted for its skin, and it is now one of the rarest in Asia. Its hind limbs are paddle-like, and the gavial seems rarely to leave the water except to nest. The female lays her eggs at night in a pit dug in the riverbank.

LEPTOTYPHLOPIDAE

This family of snakes is composed of 50 species in two families. They are generally regarded as the most primitive snakes, having a pelvic girdle and vestiglial hind limbs. They have a single lung and oviduct and are well adapted to their burrowing life style. They feed exclusively on small invertebrates such as ant and termite larvae. Leptotyphlopids are oviparous. There are two species of this family in North America.

life

Vegetation is extremely sparse in the Takla Makan; almost the entire region is devoid of plant cover. In depressions among the sand dunes, where the groundwater lies no deeper than 10 to 15 feet from the surface, thin thickets of tamarisk, nitre bushes, and reeds may be found. The thick strata of moving sands, however, prevent the wider spread of this vegetation.

Circovirus...

It is known that both PBFD and CAA cause disruption of the tissues comprising the lymphoid system. This system (including the spleen, thymus, Bursa of Fabricius, and both gut- and bronchial-associated lymphoid tissues) houses cells that are responsible for most immune functions of the body: making antibodies, recognizing disease organisms, processing antigens, and so forth. Because CAA and PBFD viruses harm the lymphoid organs, birds having these diseases are "immunosuppressed". That is, these viruses cause a form of acquired immunodeficiency (like human AIDS). One result is that secondary infections with other viruses, bacteria and fungi are common among birds with PBFD and CAA, even when birds are vaccinated against the secondary problems. In other words, Circoviruses compromise the birds' ability to benefit from vaccination!

Circovirus

A new disease concern for pigeon fanciers is being recognized with increasing frequency. With reports of infected flocks in northern and southern California, Canada, and Australia, it now appears that Pigeon Circovirus may become a major problem among mixed-aged flocks. This is an example of a disease that has been around for at least a decade, but that went unrecognized until recently. 1.
Circoviruses are a newly described group that includes Pigeon Circovirus, Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) and Chicken Anemia Agent (CAA). Detailed laboratory studies confirm that these viruses are similar to one another (they share some portions of their DNA), but there is no known cross-over of disease agents from one group of birds to another. PBFD is certainly the best known of the three, affecting more than 35 species of "hookbills" (parrots, macaws, cockatoos, and their allies). This disease results in characteristic abnormalities in feather growth, beak lesions and long-term loss of body condition.

Elephant

Their groups, or clans, are made up of mothers with their young offspring and grown daughters. Elephants can give birth anytime during the year, even during the dry season. African elephants have larger ears than Indian elephants. They use their large ears to fan themselves and to drive away flies. Both male and female elephants have large tusks. They use their tusks to dig for water during the dry season.

Birmingham...

In the wild, bald eagles take part in an aerial copulation ritual in which both birds freefall with clutched talons. The Zoo’s birds managed to overcome difficulties flying to produce fertile eggs. Only 285 bald eagles live in captivity in the 211 accredited zoos in North America. Of the records available at the time of this release, the Birmingham chicks are the only bald eaglets to hatch at these institutions this year.

ELEPHANT

HIPPOPOTAMUS prefer living in swamps, lakes and ponds which are bordered by pastures. They are never found far from the water and spend most of the day cooling off in it. In fact, they might spend up to half of their lives floating around in lakes, rivers and ponds. In the evenings hippos munch on short grasses. They can eat up to 88 pounds of grass each day! Each hippo pool is defended by one male.ELEPHANT: They live in rain forests, montane forests, the forested savanna and sub desert areas.

BIRMINGHAM ZOO

The Birmingham Zoo’s pair of nesting bald eagles hatched a pair of eggs April 29. The first two weeks after hatching are the most critical for the survival of eaglets. In 2004, two eaglets hatched, but only one survived. The hatching is especially rare for a number of reasons.

Evoluthion...

In broad terms the position of the family Felidae within the traditional classification system is well established, but the more detailed structuring of phylogenetic relationships of the felid species is much less certain. Modern methods of molecular study have bought to light many relationships which in the past have been hard to support using the more traditional methods of morphological and behavioural study. Today the need to establish true and specific relationships between the members of the family Felidae is of utmost importance. To sustain the worlds populations of wildcat species, biologists, zoologists and conservationist must have a clear understanding of the genetic links and relationships in order to help manage breeding programmes and conservation efforts.

Evoluthion

For many years zoologists and taxonomists have argued the point as to exact classification of the feline species. In looking at the phylogony, which is the study of the evolutionary development and history of a species, modern wild cat ancestry can be traced back well over 2 million years. From fossil remains of the various species of big cat - lion, tiger, leopard and jaguar - it has been possible to piece together an overview of the various relationships between today's cat species. A common, but distant ancestry leave all wild cat species with fundamental similarities. However through evolutionary adaptation, marked differences now distinguish one species from another - those built for speed over land and others built for agility in the tree tops - those who hunt by day and those who are nocturnal in pursuit of their prey.

echidna

Brush Turkey - This bird is brightly coloured with a jet black body, a bright fold of yellow under it's cheeks and a red head. They live in the rainforest near scrubby creeks. They eat insects and worms.