Hermit Crabs “Sexually Excited” by Oleamide – an Additive Released by Plastics Found Under the Sea

LONDON – Oceans around the world are facing a plastic pollution crisis. But there’s one species that may be getting a little too excited about it: hermit crabs.

A chemical that is leaked from plastic dumped in the ocean is probably arousing hermit crabs, according to researchers studying the impact of climate change, plastic and other molecules in the ocean on marine species.

The team of scientists from England’s University of Hull examined 40 crabs found in the waters off the Yorkshire coast and found signs that the crustaceans may be “sexually excited” by oleamide – an additive released by plastics found under the sea.

Oleamide elevates the respiration rate of hermit crabs, which indicates excitement, researchers said, adding that the product is already considered to be a sex pheromone for some insects. “Our study shows that oleamide attracts hermit crabs,” PhD candidate Paula Schirrmacher said in a statement released Tuesday.

“Respiration rate increases significantly in response to low concentrations of oleamide, and hermit crabs show a behavioral attraction comparable to their response to a feeding stimulant,” she said.

Schirrmacher noted that oleamide has “a striking resemblance to oleic acid, a chemical released by arthropods during decomposition,” which may explain way it is mistaken for food and ingested by animals – which potentially increases their consumption of microplastics.

The new findings come as governments around the world continue to grapple with the major issue of climate change and its impact on the planet.

At a recent three-day summit in Cornwall, England, leaders from the Group of Seven gathered to discuss the growing crisis along with other pressing topics. During the June meeting, leaders pledged more-ambitious climate goals and reaffirmed their support to be carbon-neutral by 2050.

Without action, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans by 2050, a study published by the World Economic Forum in 2016 warned.

More than 8 million metric tons of plastic are dumped into the world’s oceans every year, according to the World Wildlife Fund, which estimated that at least 90 percent of birds have plastic in their stomachs and that 1 in 2 marine turtles have consumed plastic – including bags and straws.

“The problem of plastic in nature, particularly in our oceans, is a global crisis,” the organization said in 2019 as it called on people to work together to help nature become plastic-free by 2030.

This story was originally published at washingtonpost.com. Read it here. 

Photographer Captures Tiny Bird Using A Flower Petal As Her Bathtub

 “This was really a once-in-a-lifetime moment.” Rahul Singh is a wildlife photographer that has managed to a lot of amazing shots with a wide range of different animal species. These include elephants, deer, jackals, monkeys and rhinos. As beautiful as these may be, his real passion is capturing photos of colorful birds he can find nesting in his home city.

Wildlife photographer Rahul Singh has managed to a lot of amazing shots with a wide range of different animal species. These include elephants, deer, jackals, monkeys and rhinos. As beautiful as these may be, his real passion is capturing photos of colorful birds he can find nesting in his home city. This is the moment that left him stunned.

"I visited a place where there were bushes of these ornamental bananas to take photos of sunbirds sucking nectar from it." "Everything was going as usual when, suddenly, I was shocked that the crimson sunbird started taking a bath in the water stored in the banana flower petal." The red petaled flower in these photos is called the banana flower, and it collected water from the early morning drizzle in one of its petals.

The tiny crimson sunbird, which only stretches to 4 inches long made the most of the opportunity to cool down on a hot day. After filling up on nectar, the mini songbird cooled down in the petal 'bathtub'. This was a once in a lifetime moment for Rahul, in all his years of bird watching, he had never seen anything like it.

"I was literally stunned to see this unusual behavior, I kept my camera's shutter button pressed as the bird took her bath." Rahul then posted the photos onto his Instagram. He was clearly ecstatic to have been at the right place at the right time to capture this magical moment. "This was really a once-in-a-lifetime moment," said Rahul. "It's amazing how nature can surprise us." Images credit: instagram.com/rahulsinghclicks

Pet Talk: Ferrets Can Make Fine 'Pocket Pets'

 

Pets can come in all shapes and sizes. While some animal lovers may consider themselves “dog” or “cat” people, others enjoy smaller pets, also referred to as “pocket pets,” like ferrets.

Many people like ferrets because they are relatively low-maintenance, similar to a cat, according to Dr. Alice Blue-McLendon, a clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

Unlike cats, ferrets are happy to spend part of their day inside of a cage, which can allow their owner to rest easy knowing that their pet is safe from harm and easily accessible in case of an emergency.

The general rule is that ferret cages should be the largest you can afford that fits in your house. Like any other animal, however, ferrets should be given plenty of time outside of their cages to run around and get exercise. Blue-McLendon said they may even play with other pets in the home, most often with cats and smaller dogs.

“All ferrets need to be allowed bigger areas to run in, whether it’s a bedroom or living room, but they should never be in a house unsupervised, because they eat all kinds of little things,” Blue-McLendon said.

“One of the things potential owners need to be aware of is that pet ferrets are really curious, so they’ll eat what we would consider foreign bodies, which means they eat things that can then get stuck in their stomach or intestines that can cause illness and death, if not dealt with,” she said.

Pet ferrets also can have an odor if they haven’t been spayed or neutered, according to Blue-McLendon.

“Pet ferrets should get spayed or neutered, and some people will get them de-scented,” Blue-McLendon said.

De-scenting is a surgery that removes some of the glands that produce odor. Pet owners should consult their veterinarian to see if this procedure is right for them.

To keep your home clean and reduce any foul smells, ferrets can be trained to use a litter box, just like pet cats.

“Ferrets naturally will go to a certain spot, so oftentimes owners will just put the litter pan in that spot to get them to use it,” Blue-McLendon said. “Some of them will inherently use a litter pan because they’re generally neat little animals.”

Blue-McLendon said the time commitment associated with having a ferret is about the same as a cat.

“You’ve got to clean their litter pan, make sure they have food and fresh water, and give them love and attention,” she said. “Be sure that you’ve spent the time to know about the general husbandry.”

Ferrets live on a simple diet, but they’ll need to have constant access to their food since they tend to eat many meals throughout the day.

“There’s a number of commercial ferret diets on the market that can be supplemented with additional treats,” Blue-McLendon said. Healthy treats for pet ferrets include bits of cooked egg or meat, like chicken.

When considering getting any new pet, Blue-McLendon believes future pet owners should do their research before making the decision.

“Before people get ferrets, just like all small mammals, they should really do their homework and consider whether they are prepared to put in the time that it takes to give their ferret exercise in their house,” Blue-McLendon said.

If a ferret is right for you and your family, they can be an inquisitive and adorable companion that provides years of pint-sized love. When it comes to choosing a pet, a ferret might not be your first thought, but one could be your first choice.

~Source~ 

From the College of Veterinary

Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University

Changchun, China: Millionaire Spent Fortune Turning Slaughterhouse Into Dog Sanctuary

We can all imagine what we’d spend our money on if we were a millionaire: cars, a nice house, etc. But one millionaire decided to be incredibly selfless, using his fortune to save the lives of thousands of dogs instead.

Wang Yan became a millionaire running a steel business in the city of Changchun, China. But all the money in the world couldn’t replace his beloved dog, who suddenly went missing years ago.

After searching everywhere for the dog, someone suggested a grim last place to check: the slaughterhouse.

The city has a large stray dog population, and many of these dogs have been captured, butchered and sold in the cruel dog meat trade.

Sadly, Wang Yan did not find his own dog in this horrible place… but what he saw there changed his life.

He knew he had to do something—and found a miraculous way to help the dogs: he bought the slaughterhouse… and converted it into a dog sanctuary!

According to Metro, he has spent a huge amount of his fortune on the project. He bought the slaughterhouse for $400,000, and funds the shelter out of his own pocket… even if it means going into debt.

“I don’t accept monetary donations, I only hope that kind-hearted people will be able to donate a few supplies to help,” Yan told Metro.

But his sacrifices have seen incredible results: as of 2015, Yan took in 2,000 dogs from the city area and helped 200 get adopted.

It’s always nice to see anyone go out of their way to help dogs, but for this man to spend so much of his own fortune to save these dogs’ lives is truly incredible. Share this inspiring story!

Man Leaves $5 Million for the Care of His Beloved Pet

A Nashville dog named Lulu is a newly minted millionaire. Yep, you read that right.

Her owner's last will and testament has made the 8-year-old border collie one wildly pampered pooch.

"She's a good girl," Martha Burton, Lulu's now caretaker, told CNN affiliate WTVF.

Lulu has been under the watchful eye of Burton, 88, for years already. Burton says she's kept Lulu during the frequent travels of the dog's owner. "Well, he always left the dog for me to take care of," said Burton.

Lulu's owner, 83-year-old Bill Dorris, was Burton's friend and an unmarried, successful businessman. He died late last year and left $5 million for the care of his beloved pet. "I don't really know what to think about it to tell you the truth. He just really loved the dog," Burton said.

The will specifies: "This trust is to provide for all the needs of Lulu. The dog will remain in possession of Martha Burton."

According to WTVF, the estate is currently in probate and it's not yet clear how much it's worth. The will does state, however, that Burton will simply be reimbursed for reasonable monthly expenses to care for Lulu.

It's not clear what will happen to any money left in the trust when 8-year-old Lulu someday passes away.

Burton knows there's no way she could ever spend $5 million on the canine. Not even a lifetime supply of treats and toys for Lulu could make a dent in the incredible inheritance.

She said with a smile, "Well, I'd like to try."

Lulu's late owner Dorris had a piece of property along Interstate 65 that is the site of a controversial statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest. Forrest was a Confederate general and an early leader of the Ku Klux Klan.

The statue of Forrest is widely visible from I-65. According to CNN affiliate WZTV, the contentious statue has been vandalized several times over the years. Pink paint was thrown on it in 2017 and the word "monster" was painted on the figure in October of last year. Dorris never had any of it cleaned off.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation has denied previous requests to block the view of the statue. The future of that statue will also be determined in probate court.

                                              Lulu and her now caretaker Martha Burton.

                                          Lulu plays watchdog outside of her Nashville home.

Statue of Confederate General and leader of the Ku Klux Klan, Nathan Bedford Forrest, on the property of the late Bill Dorris.

When Humans Are Victims of Violence, Their Animals Become Victims Too

Here at the shelter we are very versed in handling pets that have been the victims of abuse and neglect. Through the years we’ve seen animals that have suffered everything from cruel abandonment to outright torture.

At this moment, we are dealing with some dogs that are victims of a different sort. They are the pets of people whose lives have been snuffed out or horribly altered by violence. A drive by shooting, a murder/suicide, a domestic altercation resulting in serious injury; all leaving innocent pets homeless in their wake. It’s rather scary. It feels as though we are a facility located in some big city where these things occur with deeply disturbing regularity.

To read more on this story, click here: When Humans Are Victims of Violence, Their Animals Become Victims Too

A Mink in Utah is the First Known Case of the Coronavirus in a wild Animal

 

There is no evidence of widespread transmission among wild animals

A wild American mink in Utah has tested positive for the coronavirus — the first wild animal found to be infected with the virus, researchers say.  

The wild mink was infected with a variant of the coronavirus that was “indistinguishable” from viruses taken from nearby farmed minks, researchers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture wrote in a Dec. 13 report. That suggests that the wild mink acquired the infection from farmed animals. It’s not clear if the animal was alive or dead at the time of testing.

To read more on this story, click here: A Mink in Utah is the First Known Case of the Coronavirus in a wild Animal

The Oldest Living Panda in Human Care Just Had the Most Adorable Birthday Party

Courtesy of Ocean Park Hong Kong To celebrate An An becoming the world’s longest-living male giant panda under human care in history, the animal caretakers sent birthday wishes to him. He first sat down to enjoy his favorite bamboo shoot, yet the playful panda soon smashed and devoured the delectable cake!

A very special panda reached a milestone birthday this year.

An An, a giant panda living at Hong Kong Ocean Park in China, just turned 35 years old, making him the longest living panda currently living in captivity and the oldest male panda under human care, CNN reported.

To read more on this story, click here: The Oldest Living Panda in Human Care Just Had the Most Adorable Birthday Party