Baby Boom For Uganda's Endangered Mountain Gorillas

Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is experiencing an unprecedented baby boom in its mountain gorilla population after seven infants were born so far this year, compared to two in the whole of 2019, according to officials.

Five of the baby gorillas were born in just six weeks from July 22 to August 31, Bashir Hangi, a spokesman for the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), told CNN Thursday.

Hangi said there was no clear reason as to why there had been a sudden spate of births, but ruled out any effect of coronavirus lockdown measures because gorillas have a gestation period of about nine months.

To read more on this story, click here: Baby Boom For Uganda's Endangered Mountain Gorillas

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Parrots Can Be Amazing Companion Animals, But Do They Really Make Good Pets?

It is estimated that there are 11 million birds living as pets within the United States. Parrots are now thought to be the fourth most common household animal after dogs, cats, and fish. So do they make good pets? You may be surprised to learn that for many Americans the answer is no.

Parrots can be amazing companion animals. They are highly trainable, they can be cuddly and affectionate, and if treated correctly they will form very strong bonds with their care takers. The flip side is that they are such social and intelligent animals that they demand a huge amount of attention and mental stimulation in order to thrive. 

Many people eventually find that they can’t give enough time and energy to

Lorikeet

their pets, especially in the long run when the joy of a new pet begins to ware thin. To make matters worse, many parrots can be aggressive, especially once they become sexually mature. A parrot bite is not a fun thing to endure.

If you want to get a parrot of your own, there are several things you should consider before purchasing. Read through the 5 following questions and answer them honestly to your self to see if a parrot is the right fit for you.

1. Can I afford a parrot?

If you get a small parrot the cost can be fairly cheep. A budgie Parakeet will only cost you about $20 in the US and a decent sized cage for the bird probably won’t cost over $50. Larger and less common parrots demand a higher price. You should expect to pay anywhere between $400 and $10,000 for a larger parrot and then you will need to spend about the same on a cage.

Once you get the parrot you will need to spend more money on food, replacement toys, replacement perches, veterinary care and other continual costs. The price for the average small bird (parakeet or love bird) will cost between $315 – $500 a year to keep alive and well. A large parrot like a Macaw will cost about $650 – $1,275.

Are you honestly willing to spend that kind of money on a pet? If not, I suggest you look for a different kind of pet.

2. Do I have time to take proper care of a parrot?

The average parrot needs 2 – 6 hours of direct interaction outside the cage from you or one of your family members every day in order to maintain mental health. Remember that depending on the species, your parrot could live to be 80 years old or more.

Can you consistently dedicate that kind of time to your parrot in the long run?

When you go on vacation you will need to leave your parrot with someone who is also willing to give your bird all the special attention he needs. Even then, things may not work out. 

Sun Conure

One alternative to one on one interaction is to build a large aviary and get several parrots that will interact with each other. Keep in mind that these birds may bond strictly to each other and can become aggressive to people unless they are constantly socialized to humans. Parrot that live together in groups can also become aggressive to one another. Make sure you know what you’re doing before creating a multi-parrot aviary.

Parrots also need enrichment exercises to stimulate their minds. 

Tip – Make as many friends with other parrot owners as you can! This way you can take turns watching each other’s birds when needed and you can share tips on how to better care for your parrots.

3. Do I have the patience to be a parrot keeper?

Parrots have all sorts of strange behaviors that can be very annoying. Sun Conures are great parrots, they are playful, loving, loyal, beautiful, and easy to train but they come with a voice so loud that the entire block knows when one gets upset. Sun Conures are so loud that they can easily get you evicted from your apartment and because of this they often end up in bird rescue shelters after their owners decide they just can’t stand the noise.

Quaker Parrot

Other species of parrot have different problems. The Quaker Parrot, for example, becomes extremely territorial of his cage during breeding season and the Lorikeets have a way of shooting their poop all the way across the room when relieving them selves after a meal. 

Parrots are wild animals and don’t naturally know how to behave appropriately around humans or inside of houses. You are the one the decided to take them from their natural habitats and place them in your home, it is your responsibility to put up with the problems that are bound to arise as a result of this decision.

With careful training and loving patience, your bird can be taught many house manners and can become a wonderful member of your family but this takes time and lots of hard work. Are you truly up for it?

4. Can I handle getting bitten by my parrot?

Even the nicest birds will have a moment where they feel threatened or mistreated and will decide to attack.

Parrots tend to get most aggressive during breeding season (breeding season varies from species to species) and a parrot that used to be perfectly tame can suddenly seem to go crazy. This of course is true of virtually all pets but the signs of aggression are particularly hard to see with birds. An attack can seem to come out of nowhere from a bird who is usually very loving.  As a result, people tend to develop phobias of their own parrots after just one incident.

No matter how sweet and wonderful your bird may be, no matter how good of a bird owner you think you are, You will get bitten…and it will hurt! 

If you own a small parrot this may mean a simple little puncture wound. If you own a mid sized or large parrot, stitches (or worse) may be needed.

At the Knoxville Zoo they have all sorts of dangerous animals in their bird show: hawks, owls, a vulture, a crane, and a giant African Ground-Hornbill but the one bird that has sent the most staff members to the hospital is their Scarlett Macaw – one of their only birds that can legally kept as a household pet. He bit one trainer on the mouth and tore her lip open so far that plastic surgery was needed in order to properly heal the wound. She was a pro bird handler working with an animal she saw every day. If it can happen to her under the best of circumstances, it can happen to anyone.

Can you forgive a bird after receiving a bite like that and then be willing to continue working with and loving your parrot? If your answer is no then you really need to consider a different hobby. Parrot keeping is not for you. Once a parrot owner develops a fear for their own bird, the bird will be left inside his cage all the time and will suffer. This is not good for your bird or for you.

Tip- The smaller the bird, the weaker the bite. If you have a low tolerance for pain, get a small parrot. There is no shame in this and there is an amazing selection of small parrots to choose from. You would be amazed to discover just how much personality, beauty, and charisma these small parrots really have. You don’t need to go out and buy the biggest macaw you can find.

5. Am I willing to study and learn about parrot keeping?

Most of us have never had much contact with birds before. We know how to deal with cats and dogs but as soon as we get our hands on a bird we quickly realize we have no clue what we are doing. As a result you need to be willing to study and learn.

There is a lot to learn and you are a busy person. Are you willing to make the sacrifice of time needed in order to learn about your birds needs?

The Joy of Parrot Keeping

For those of you who actually do have the money, time, patience, pain tolerance, and the desire to learn that is needed for the life long hobby of parrot keeping, the joy associated with the hobby is unlike anything else you have ever experienced. Your parrot will change your life and the way you view the world.




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Your Cat’s Pupils Can Signal What They’re Feeling

For us cat lovers, we love to try and figure out what it is that they are thinking. Our cats are not as hard to decode as we realize. Cohabitating with them and studying their body language can tell us so much about what’s going on inside that mind of theirs. We know that cats talk to us humans with their meows. And those tails? They tell us a lot, too. But did you know that your cat’s pupils tell you a lot about what they’re feeling, too?

First, knowing the structure of your cat’s eye might help. Your cat’s eyes differ greatly from ours in the way that they respond to light. Compared to a human, a cat’s eyes are much larger in comparison to their size. And these large eyes? Well, it’s what allows them to see better as they can absorb more light.

To read more on this story, click here: Your Cat’s Pupils Can Signal What They’re Feeling

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8 Scorpion Facts To Make Your Skin Crawl

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) - Scorpions become more active in Arizona once the temperature rises above 70 degrees. So you'll see more scorpions from March through October in the Phoenix area.

Outside your home, or inside the house, these creepy-crawly creatures can be found anywhere.

Here are 8 terrifying and amazing facts about scorpions. Apologies in advance for any nightmares you might have. Ready?

To read more on this story, click here: 8 Scorpion Facts To Make Your Skin Crawl




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Gary Sinise Creates New “Veterinarians for Valor” Initiative For Police And Military Dogs

Lieutenant Dan for the win! Well-known actor and director Gary Sinise, has created a wonderful initiative that was meant to bring veteran canines to the forefront on Veteran’s Day, and honor them as well for their service.

Sinise already runs an organization called the Gary Sinise Foundation which seeks to honor veterans, defenders, first responders, and all their families. In order to accomplish this, Sinise creates events, as well as shares plenty of information meant to educate and inspire others.

To read more on this story, click here:  Gary Sinise Creates New “Veterinarians for Valor” Initiative For Police And Military Dogs



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Chestnut Horses

Chestnut horses, or “red” horses vary in shade from almost honey gold, to orangey red, to copper, chocolate and almost black. The color is due to various forms and densities of the red pigment phaeomelanin. The darkest shades of chestnut are called liver chestnut.

In some breeds, especially Western breeds such as the American Quarter Horse, the term sorrel is used for light chestnut horses (see the first photo of a sorrel miniature horse on the left). Sometimes I've even seen the term sorrel used interchangeably with chestnut, with people describing darker chestnut horses as sorrel. In some countries, such as the UK, many horsey people may not even have heard of the term sorrel in connection with horses. Some chestnut horses are so light that, if they also have a flaxen mane and tail, they may look palomino. Haflinger ponies, for example, are well known for being a beautiful light chestnut with light manes and tails. It is likely that sorrel is genetically distinct from chestnut, at least in some breeds.

To read more on this story, click here: Chestnut Horses


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Why Do Cats Like To Put Their Butts In Your Face?

Petting your cat is all head scratches and cuddles until their butt ends up in your face. Don’t worry cat parents, we’ve all been there. You’re reveling in your cat’s shifting spotlight and all of a sudden, BAM! You’re confronted with an unobstructed and up-close view of your cat’s backside. It’s not the most pleasant part of your day, and yet your cat seems perfectly pleased with the revealing situation. So what’s the deal?

You can avert your eyes and hold your breath, but you also know it’s bound to happen again. Every time you get cuddly with your cat, there’s risk of that unwelcome exposure. But while you’d be more than happy to never see your cat’s butt in that much detail again, your cat has an entirely different train of thought.

To read more on this story, click here:  Why Do Cats Like To Put Their Butts In Your Face?



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3 Types of Dog Foods Sold Nationwide Recalled Over High Levels of Mold Byproduct

Sunshine Mills has issued a voluntary recall of three dog food products due to high levels of aflatoxin, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring mold by-product and can be harmful to pets if consumed in significant quantities.

Family Pet Meaty Cuts beef chicken & cheese flavors premium dog food, Heartland Farms grilled favorites beef chicken & cheese flavor, and Paws Happy Life butcher’s choice dog food have been affected by the recall announced Wednesday. The products were distributed in retail stores nationwide.

To read more on this story, click here: 3 Types of Dog Foods Sold Nationwide Recalled Over High Levels of Mold Byproduct




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