Wild about African painted dogs?

Lycaon pictus – one of my favorite species.  Large saucer-shaped ears, long legs, tri-colored coats, and an amazing social structure that includes caring for their sick and injured pack members.

Human-wildlife interactions are increasing globally, and painted dogs are one of many species affected by human disturbance.  Research is underway to determine the extent of human disturbance on this species, as well as the effects on painted dog growth and behavior.

Check out the painted dog project page!

The photo below is courtesy of ARKive – you can find additional photos on their website!

Say It With Flowers

A friend is working on a project that involves the many ways flowers can brighten our lives, so I thought I would share in the hopes that it brightens someone else’s life as well…enjoy!

Color Your Life With Flowers Blog

Color Your Life With Flowers Facebook

 

Calling all artists and writers!

Looking forward to posting an update soon, but in the meantime, here is an opportunity for others to submit their creative pieces…

http://wholeterrain.com/2016/06/announcing-volume-24-about-time-call-for-submissions/

Do animals need closure?

A friend and I were recently discussing the deaths of our pets (no, our conversations are not normally that depressing!).  We compared the reactions of the animals left behind and agreed that each demonstrated what we considered to be grief (howling and not eating for days, wandering around the yard as though lost, etc.).  I know, attributing thoughts and feelings to nonhuman animals can be a stretch for some, but it doesn’t seem that far-fetched to me.  Books such as those written by Marc Bekoff and Carl Safina explore the subject.

What brought me to write this post was not only the conversation with my friend, but also a recent visit to a conservation center.  A wolf had lost its mate and had been howling for days.  This brought to mind a memory from a zookeeper I had spoken with a few years ago.  Two painted dog sisters were housed at a facility and one sister passed away.  The keeper sadly described how the remaining sister “hoo” called constantly (for those who are unfamiliar with what a painted dog’s hoo call is, it is a vocalization they use to find other pack members when they are lost).  Wolves and painted dogs are among the many social animals that have strong bonds with their pack members.  They literally count on each other for survival, so how can we assume they feel nothing when a pack member dies?

photo courtesy of:  http://www.whitewolfpack.com/2016/03/heartbreaking-moment-when-pack-of.html

This got me wondering, and I know it may sound absurd to many, but do animals need closure too?  If the wolf and painted dog who were left behind had been able to view and/or sniff the body of their mate/sister, would it have allowed them to “move on,” so to speak, sooner?

As a veterinary technician, I saw my share of euthanasia, and it never got easier.  Pets left behind at home had their human counterparts as a distraction, however, the same cannot be said for captive pack animals that are left alone to “wonder” where their companions have gone.  As I am unsure of the protocol when it comes to the death of captive animals, I am simply curious to know if a small action on our part, such as allowing the remaining living animals to see their pack member’s body, is currently performed anywhere, or if it would have any impact on grieving behavior?

photo courtesy of:  http://www.arkive.org/african-wild-dog/lycaon-pictus/image-G118859.html

Does anyone have any experience with this type of situation?

 

Conservation and Poetry?

When last I left you, I had asked for thoughts on how to combine science and art.  Well, I recently received one answer in the form of poetry.  There is a project called conservation haiku  that has what I think is a fun, interesting way of reaching people.  You can check out their web page or follow the authors and/or #conservationhaiku on twitter.

Of course, I had to try my hand at writing a haiku after reading about the project.  Below are my first ever attempts, and no surprise, they are about predators/carnivores!  Okay, so being a professional haiku creator may not be my calling, but I had to give it a try : )

Happy New Year to all!

 

 

Efficient hunters

with patchwork coats and strong bonds,

Humans, disease, snares…

 

Fierce defender, yet

tough battle against humans

and habitat loss

Wolverine photo courtesy of arkive.org – all others by author

 

 

Pardon my absence…

How I have missed both reading blogs and writing my own.  My recent overwhelming schedule has put a slight damper on some of my favorite activities, but I couldn’t help myself and had to touch base.  I have missed connecting with others – both in person and online.

One highlight of my absence included a trip to Winnipeg and Churchill, Manitoba where we stayed at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre.  I was excited about seeing polar bears and northern lights, and wasn’t disappointed.  Well, maybe somewhat.  Despite seeing polar bears in their environment, meeting some fantastic people, and taking my first helicopter ride, I did not get even the slightest glimpse of the northern lights.  However, I did hear how spectacular they were on the night we arrived back home.  Of course.

Polar bear

One question that has come to mind since my return, is where do I belong?  Where and how will my research be the most beneficial?  I got to be a part of a great group of scientists from all backgrounds and learned a lot.  However, despite pursuing my PhD in Environmental Science, I don’t feel as though I am strictly a scientist.  Of course, this program also covers a wide range of interests and research, so I am by no means being made to feel as though I have to be labeled, but I find myself walking a line between art and science.

I want my research to have a positive impact on the lives of animals and humans, but how can I incorporate both science and art to make that happen?  Since I love to draw, paint, research, and write, it was recently suggested that I read Edward Tufte’s books to see his approach.  While I wait for the books to arrive at my local library, does anyone else have any suggestions of how I can bridge these two fields in my research and/or resources I should check?  For those who are not familiar with me, wildlife conservation and education is my focus – with terrestrial predators such as wolves, African painted dogs, bears, etc. as my subjects of interest.

As my brief moment of leisure is now over, I must get back to work…

Til next time, happy holidays to all!

Out of (South) Africa

Both lionesses had just finished taking part in a very small meal

I recently returned from a long overdue, long awaited trip to South Africa.  Although I enjoyed driving the Garden Route from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, and how unbelievably beautiful and awesome some of the places we stayed at or traveled through were, my favorite part was the art safari.  For various reasons, I have not allowed myself to dabble in many creative projects (other than writing) for far too long.  This trip combined two of my favorite things:  animals and art!

Having never sketched live animals or used watercolor before, I was open to the challenge – and challenging it was.  Initially (okay, so it actually happened throughout the time we were there), I found myself simply watching and admiring the animals rather than trying to capture them on paper.  More often than not, the animals would move as we sketched (surprising, right?), and I would be left with circles or lines in my book that indicated the beginning of an impala or zebra. In an attempt to capture the new pose, I would sketch furiously, only to have that change too.

This frequent view gave me plenty of practice with sketching hind ends!

Although my results were certainly not picture perfect, it was an exercise in patience, art, wildlife, and humor!  You can see my first effort below – yes, those are wildebeest 🙂

My first attempt at sketching and watercolor!

We met a lot of great people throughout our trip, and I would definitely go again – both on an art safari and back to South Africa!

Suspension bridge at Storms River Mouth

A Thought About Snare Art

I know.  I said last week that I would be away and that I wouldn’t post, yet here I am.  Although I am on a different continent, I had an idea before I left.

I have been doing A LOT of reading lately – for dissertation ideas, school assignments, and my own writing projects, so I have been immersed in the worlds of carnivores and conservation.

If only it were this much fun! Huge thanks to https://crunchingsandmunchings.wordpress.com/2012/04/09/top-20-memorable-ya-library-scenes-part-i/ which is where I found Belle’s picture.  Check them out!

Although I have always been passionate about animals in and of themselves, through my education and experience, I have been taught that conservation is not solely about saving the individual animals.  It’s also about improving people’s lives, offering better choices, and practicing sustainable alternatives so that animals are not looked upon as the enemy, or a means to an end.  Everyone and everything has an intrinsic value.  As someone who is not a fan of spiders or ticks, I continuously remind myself that even they have a purpose 🙂

So what brought on this train of thought?  The piece of artwork pictured below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For those who may not know what this is, it’s one of my favorite species – an African painted dog (also called African wild dog or Cape hunting dog).  This art is made from a snare that was confiscated from the bush and that otherwise may have indiscriminately killed or injured a painted dog, or other animal, or human.  I not only like how a negative was turned into a positive, but also how the creators of this art (who are from local communities) benefit from the sale of their work.

The seemingly small acts of collecting some of these illegal snares and creating art not only helps the local wildlife, but also helps the local people earn revenue which can have a positive cumulative effect.  At times, the myriad problems of the world may seem overwhelming, but I like reminders such as this that even small acts can have a bigger positive impact.

Do you have another example of this type of community conservation that you want to share, or how about a small change that made a difference for someone or something else?

 

Recharging

Summer may be winding down for some of us, but I thought this post from The Ecotone Exchange was a nice reminder to try to get out and enjoy life – without always being attached to a piece of technology.  Easier said than done sometimes I know 🙂

On a side note, I will be traveling (yay!) and will most likely be disconnected myself, so will not be posting for a couple of weeks at least.

In case the hyperlink above doesn’t work, here is the link to the post I mentioned:  http://theecotoneexchange.com/2015/07/18/power-down-to-get-charged-up/

Enjoy!

Eye to Eye: A Nature Encounter Part 3

Last week we had up close and personal encounters with gray whales.  The trip is now coming to an end…

The whales were the focus of many dinner conversations that evening as each person breathlessly narrated his/her experience, and the volume and excitement rose whenever mention was made of actually touching one of the gray whales. Our group learned that gray whales had been dubbed “devil fish” by the whalers and sailors who used to hunt and kill them, and I heard the term used by multiple people throughout dinner. We had been told many stories of how aggressive the whales were and how they would charge, and sometimes, capsize the boats (quite the opposite of what we had experienced that very same day).

Female and calf gray whale – photo courtesy of http://www.arkive.org

Looking back, one can certainly understand the whales’ actions. Although their calving grounds may be protected now, they weren’t always. (Here I use the term “protected” loosely, as even in protected waters, they are constantly surrounded by tourists and other humans both as a way to protect the species and as a source of income). These “devil fish” were fighting for their lives and the lives of their young, so their “aggressive” behavior was their only means of defense. Members of my group seemed to toss the term around as part of their newly acquired knowledge, but not once did I hear further conversation regarding the human actions that led to the defensive behavior of the whales (I know, I know, I’m being too sensitive here, but still, someone could have at least offered a little sympathy for what the whales went through right? 🙂 ).

Gray whale calf – photo courtesy of http://www.arkive.org

The interactions with the whales made me reflect about a variety of things, and questions tumbled through my head. What draws the whales to us? Are they just as curious about us as we are about them despite the horrific treatment of their ancestors? Do they leave with a new understanding of humans? How do they see us?  I began to think about their communication and social systems, and wonder what their lives are like in the sea; a world that is both foreign and familiar to us humans.  Personally, I think one reason the ocean and its inhabitants appeal is because of the magic and mystery that we have discovered, and have yet to uncover, from it. However, I also think we should remember that we are visitors and should respect our presence as such.  I like to think that we live and learn (hopefully), but some of the atrocities humankind has committed – and still commits – against ourselves and other species, floors me. I understand subsistence hunting, human safety, etc., but as humans, we seem to be prone to extreme or excessive measures. How often did we, or do we, truly hunt and kill only to survive – especially nowadays? Rather than watching and learning, we impose ourselves into and on every space we encounter. Many species have been around for literally millions of years. Isn’t there a chance that they have something to offer if we would take the time to try to understand? Each being has its own uniqueness (or intrinsic value) that should be appreciated, or at the very least, acknowledged.

Sea lion – just liked the silhouette he offered!

Once I returned home, I realized that I didn’t take nearly as many pictures as I would have liked, but perhaps these moments are not meant to be captured on film. Perhaps they are meant as a reminder to simply be and connect with what is around you.  A piece of me was slightly jealous of some of the photos taken by those with cameras that cost as much as the trip itself (okay, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration, but there was some pretty cool camera equipment!). Yes, some of those images were fantastic, but did the photographers have the opportunity to see beyond the camera lens? These types of moments are so fleeting and hard to capture, that perhaps they should just be enjoyed. While I may not have proof of the mother and calf who surfaced so close to our Zodiac that day, whenever I see or hear of a gray whale, I find myself instantly transported back to that exact moment when I was eye to eye with beings from a different world and still feel the same awestruck reaction.