Freitag, 23. November 2012

T-Day Treat for Axhi and Jim...

Gestern war Thanksgiving Day in Amerika, für Jim und Axhi, 2 Grizzly Bären im Brookfield Zoo gab es deshalb etwas Besonderes. Die beiden Bärenbrüder wurden 1995 als Waisen gerettet, kamen erst nach Angoon/Angoon Alaska und leben nun in der "Great Wilderness Exhibit" im Brookfield Zoo.-

Jim, a 17-year-old grizzly bear at Brookfield Zoo seems to be enjoying his own turkey this Thanksgiving Day. Jim, and his brother Axhi, were orphaned in 1995 and were rescued through a cooperative effort among the zoo, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and residents of Angoon, Alaska. The two grizzly bears can be seen at Brookfield Zoo's Great Bear Wilderness exhibit.

Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving Day in the US...

Source:

- Brookfield Zoo's bears enjoy T-day turkey/ ABC Photos 22.11.2012

All photos: Brookfield Zoo

Sonntag, 18. November 2012

Sonntagsausflug....Bears & Boats

Young Grizzly seen at Katmai National Park in Alaska

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Heute ist Sonntag und deshalb beschäftigen wir uns heute mal mit Bootsausflügen. Nicht nur in Alaska gibt es Grizzly Bären, die wie oben Lust auf eine Bootspartie haben. Auch Sergey Gorshkow traf einen in Russland, doch es sieht ganz danach aus, als ob er seinen Ausflug verschieben musste.-

Today is Sunday and what better thing to do than a boat ride? Not only in Alaska there are grizzly bears with a liking for outings like this. Sergey Gorshkow met one too in Kurile Lake in Russia, but it looks as if this one had to postpone his boat trip... .

Photo: Sergey Gorshkow

Kurile Lake, in Kamchatka, Russia

This fishing camp is brown bear territory and and dogs live there in the summer to guard territory.Bears like to investigate the boats. They used to be made from rubber but that was changed after bears would pop them with their razor sharp claws. The bears are the boss here and there is constant conflict with the guard dogs.

Russia has the largest brown bear population in the world, and the grizzly is one of the most widespread, well-known and popular animals in the country. With more than 100,000 brown bears in existence, Russia has as many brown bears as the rest of the other countries combined. Five subspecies of brown bear are found throughout Russia, with the European Region north-west of Russia, Kamchatka peninsula and the coastal regions of the Pacific having the highest density of these animals.
(source)

Five subspecies of brown bear are found throughout Russia, with the European Region north-west of Russia, Kamchatka peninsula and the coastal regions of the Pacific having the highest density of these animals.
The Grizzly bear is not a vicious animal and prefers in the main to stay out of the way of humans, but when an attack occurs it can be lethal, as bears are so huge and their claws so sharp.
While many dogs will instinctively harass, or at least annoy, grizzly bears they come across, the size of this one might have put off many. But it looks as though these two have no fear at all.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2175443/Huge-grizzly-bear-swims-lake-looking-food-scared-pint-sized-dogs-Russia.html#ixzz2CXkkwBu9
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With more than 100,000 brown bears in existence, Russia has as many brown bears as the rest of the other countries combined.
Five subspecies of brown bear are found throughout Russia, with the European Region north-west of Russia, Kamchatka peninsula and the coastal regions of the Pacific having the highest density of these animals.
The Grizzly bear is not a vicious animal and prefers in the main to stay out of the way of humans, but when an attack occurs it can be lethal, as bears are so huge and their claws so sharp.
While many dogs will instinctively harass, or at least annoy, grizzly bears they come across, the size of this one might have put off many. But it looks as though these two have no fear at all. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2175443/Huge-grizzly-bear-swims-lake-looking-food-scared-pint-sized-dogs-Russia.html
19 juli

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Would you bear-lieve it? Huge grizzly swims across a lake looking for food only to be scared off by two pint-sized guard dogs http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2175443/Huge-grizzly-bear-swims-lake-looking-food-scared-pint-sized-dogs-Russia.html

Freitag, 9. November 2012

Congrats, Mrs. President!!!

"Die USA haben gewählt und entschieden, dass Barack Obama weitere vier Jahre der Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten sein wird. Ein Ergebnis, das die meisten Europäer begrüßen, auch deshalb, weil er den Klimaschutz als ein wichtiges Ziel in seinem Wahlkampf herausstellte und das obwohl dieses Thema für viele Amerikaner in der Wirtschaftskrise und bei hoher Arbeitslosigkeit keinen so hohen Stellenwert hat. Also ist dieses Wahlergebnis auch für die Eisbären eine gute Nachricht.

Auch die “Präsidentschaftswahl” des Alaska Zoos ist entschieden. Dort sah es lange so aus, als ob der Wolf Denali den Sieg davontragen würde. Doch in den letzten Tagen hat die Eisbärin Ahpun ihn überholt und am Ende deutlich mit 2129 Stimmen gegenüber 1822 Stimmen für Denali gewonnen. In den letzten Wochen hatte der Zoo einen weiteren Bewerber für das Präsidentschaftsamt des Zoos vorgestellt: Yertle, ein weißes Alpaka. Sie erhielt 605 Stimmen.

Natürlich bedankt sich auch die neue Präsidentin des Alaska Zoos bei ihren Wählern für ihre Unterstützung:

“Es war eine wilde Kampagne. Pfote an Pfote… die ganze Zeit. Es ist eine Ehre, als die erste Präsidentin der Tiere des Alaska Zoo gewählt zu werden. Ich möchte allen meinen Unterstützern danken und auch denjenigen, die für meine Gegner gestimmt. Am Ende haben wir den Auftrag des Alaskas Zoo unterstützt, die Erhaltung der Arktis, der Subarktis und der Tierarten in diesem Lebensraum voranzubringen durch Bildung, Forschung und Umweltschutz.“

Am Ende hat der Alaska Zoo durch diese Aktion über 4.500 Dollar an Spenden eingesammelt." (source)

Yertle the Alpaca candidate

"It was a wild race, but in the end, the bear made a stunning comeback for victory.
After trailing much of the election, Ahpun (ah-POON') the polar bear fended off a spirited campaign by Denali the gray wolf to be elected first "president" of the Alaska Zoo.

"It was paw to paw," said zoo development director Aileen Floyd. "Denali more often than not was on top. It was a bit of a surprise that Ahpun pulled it out."

The campaign was a fundraiser for the zoo in Anchorage. It began Sept. 5 with a press conference and photo op. Ballots were $1 and zoo patrons were encouraged to stuff the ballot boxes with dollars for their favorite animal.As late as Monday, Denali held an eight-vote lead, according to totals updated daily on the zoo website. But Ahpun surged ahead on Election Day and was named the winner with a final tally of 2,129 to 1,822 votes.

Denali's chances may have been hurt by a third candidate. The Anchorage Midtown Rotary Club sponsors Yertle, an alpaca, and made her a write-in candidate. Yertle took in 605 votes.

Ahpun, 14, has been at the zoo since she was 3 months old. She was found orphaned near Point Lay on the Chukchi Sea coast about 700 miles northwest of Anchorage. She weighs about 700 pounds but isn't the biggest bear in her own cage. She shares space with another polar bear, Louie, a male that's about 1,200 pounds.

Denali, 6, and his siblings were brought to the zoo as 2-week-old pups from a den near McGrath about 275 miles southwest of Fairbanks. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game had planned predator control for the area, a program to boost moose numbers, and Denali may have been spared death by trapping by moving to the zoo.

Inauguration Day for Madam President Ahpun, Floyd said, will be Dec. 9 at the zoo's "Christmas for the Animals" event, when patrons can bring treats for animals.

The election drew votes from outside the state and even outside the country, Floyd said."It really got the zoo out there," she said.The finally tally was $4,556 taken in. The money raised with support the zoo's operating budget."

Wo wir gerade bei Präsidenten sind, auch Bo Obama bleibt 4 weitere Jahre im Amt und, wie es aussieht, sogar unangefochten. Presseerklärungen zufolge wird es keine Einmischungen seitens kleiner Welpen geben, Bo bleibt der Kopf im Weißen Haus!-

Speaking of presidents, also Bo Obama gets 4 more years, and his position as head of the White House seems stronger than ever before. No other puppy will meddle with him during the upcoming 4 years.

Puppy Power- Bo Obama with Obama, Clinton & Burmese Opposition Leader Aung San Suu Kyi in the Oval Office on September 19

Er kennt sich aus in Diplomatie, weiß sich in wichtigen Sitzungen zur Geltung zu bringen und Aufmerksamkeit zu erlangen, und exklusiven Quellen zufolge wissen wir, dass Bo Obama es sich zur obersten Priorität gemacht hat, Ahpun und ihrem Vize Denali dabei zu helfen erfolgreich im Amt zu bleiben und einflussreiche Persönlichkeiten zu treffen.-

He has learned everything about diplomacy and important meetings and due to some exclusive sources we know that Bo Obama has made it top priority to give Ahpun and her vice Denali some useful hints about how to stay in power and meet influential people.

President Ahpun one day after the election

Unterstützung aus dem Weißen Haus kann nicht schaden, denn auf dem Weg zur Erhaltung des arktischen Lebensraums und seiner Bewohner gibt es Hürden, die Ölindustrie ist eine davon, die der neuen Tierpräsidentin Ahpun im Alaska Zoo mit Sicherheit noch Kopfzerbrechen bereiten wird.

Auf die kommenden 4 Jahre sind wir sehr gespannt und wünschen allen Amtsinhabern alles Gute und viel Erfolg!-

Support from the White House could come in handy, because on the way to preserve the Arctic and its inhabitants, there are obstacles with the oil industry just one of them, which might cause some headache for the newly elected Animal President Ahpun of the Alaska Zoo.

As to the coming 4 years, we are very excited and we wish all office holders all the best and success!

Sources:

- Alaska Zoo: Ahpun gewinnt die Zoo-Präsidentschaft/ Ulli J's Eisbärblog 07.11.2012, read also here

- Polar bear beats wolf in Alaska Zoo election/Oregon Live 07.11.2012

- Ahpun the polar bear elected animal president/KTUU 08.11.2012

- Bo helps with the diplomacy/Daily Mail 14.10.2012

- Bo Obama gets 4 more years/ DogTimes 07.11.2012

Related:
- Meet Bo Obama/16.04.2009
-Happy Birthday, Mr. President/ 04.08.2011
- Alaska Zoo Geschichten/Ulli J's Blog 2012

Crocodiles - Feeling the Unfeelable

Nun ist es amtlich:Auch Krokodile sind hochsensible Tiere

Photo: Matt Hansen, My Shot

Gestern wurde ich mal wieder dank BBC auf eine interessante Studie aufmerksam gemacht.Diesmal ging es um Krokodile, und da horche ich immer auf, denn Krokodile mag ich...

"Das Maul von Krokodilen hat nicht nur furchterregende Zähne, sondern auch äußerst sensible Sinneszellen. Es sei somit noch empfindlicher als unsere Fingerspitzen, berichten amerikanische Biologen im britischen "Journal of Experimental Biology". Grundlage für dieses Feingefühl seien hunderte winziger Tasthügel.

Köpfe und Mäuler von Krokodilen und Alligatoren sind von tausenden winziger, kuppelförmiger Erhebungen bedeckt, deren Funktion bisher allerdings unklar war. Kenneth Catania und Duncan Leitch von der Vanderbilt Universität in Nashville (USA) untersuchten diese Erhebungen mit einem Rasterelektronenmikroskop und entdeckten, dass sie beweglich in einem ringförmigen weichen Graben eingebettet sind. Weitere Analysen zeigten Strukturen, wie sie für Tastorgane typisch sind. Zudem befinden sich in den Hügeln zahlreiche Nervenenden.Um zu prüfen, ob die kleinen Hügel wirklich Tastorgane sind oder, wie bisher vermutet, die Bewegung oder den Salzgehalt des Wassers melden, experimentierten die Forscher mit lebenden Nilkrokodilen. Dabei stellte sich heraus, dass bereits die Berührung einer der Erhebungen mit einem kleinen Haar eine Reaktion auslöste. "Sobald die Tiere etwas fühlen, schnappen sie zu, und das innerhalb einer Zehntelsekunde", schreibt Catania.

Die Forscher nehmen an, dass die Tiere ihren ausgereiften Tastsinn nutzen, um schnell zwischen im Wasser treibenden Pflanzenresten und Essbarem unterscheiden zu können. Und auch für andere Dinge benötigen diese Reptilien manchmal eine sehr sensible Schnauze: Krokodilmütter helfen oft ihren winzigen Kindern beim Schlüpfen, indem sie diese sanft aus dem Ei pellen."

Photo: A. Britton

Croc Jaws More Sensitive Than Human Fingertips

"They may be lethal, leathery, and literally armored to the teeth, but crocodiles and alligators, it turns out, are sensitive types. Their snouts, in fact, are even more touch-sensitive than human fingertips, a new study says.

Part of the crocodilian reptile order, alligators have some 4,000 of tiny, raised black spots, or domes, on their heads, particularly along their jaws, inside their mouths, and between their teeth. Crocodiles have a similar setup, plus a liberal sprinkling over the rest of their bodies, bringing their total to about 9,000.Scientists have known about these bumps—called integumentary sensory organs, or ISOs—for more than a century. But for a long time their purpose was a mystery.

Perhaps, some biologists suggested, the domes have a waterproofing purpose. Or maybe they detect faint electrical fields given off by prey—or salt, to alert crocs to unsafe drinking water.In 2002 an alligator study seemed to crack the mystery. Croc dots, it revealed, could detect ripples from even a single drop of water-and therefore even very weak prey movements.

Until now, though, a couple of big questions continued to intrigue scientists: How did the domes work—and just how sensitive are they?

Feeling the Unfeelable

Vanderbilt University student Duncan Leitch took it upon himself to solve the mysteries. The results of his croc research appear today in a Journal of Experimental Biology report coauthored with his advisor, biologist Ken Catania.

After taking a croc-handling course (pro tip: poke an unruly croc on the nose—especially sensitive due to those dots), Leitch ordered relatively small alligators from refuges and crocodiles from commercial breeders.Examining domes on 18 American alligators and 4 Nile crocodiles, he found that the spots contained touch receptors tuned specifically to pressure and vibration, plus a host of raw nerve endings.The domes didn't respond to salt or electricity, but they did respond to the touch of von Frey filaments—hairlike, standardized wires used to gauge sensation levels. In fact, some of the domes turned out to be so sensitive they could detect pressures too small to measure via the filaments.

"My professor and I didn't believe at first that they could be that reactive," Leitch said. "We closed our eyes and tried to tickle each other with [the filaments] on our fingertips, and neither of us could even feel it."

Later, using croc carcasses, the researchers stained the dome nerves with dye and traced them back to the brain. They turned out to be tied into a system stemming from the trigeminal nerve—associated with biting, chewing, and swallowing. Go figure.

The new croc-sensitivity study "is really valuable," said Kent Vliet, co-chair of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums' Crocodilian Advisory Group.

"This was exactly what I had hoped somebody would do with ISOs, in terms of really looking at the distribution and the electrophysiology, because that's really the way to answer these questions about function in a tiny sense organ like this."

Future studies, Leitch hopes, will map out how the bumps' sensations are represented in the reptiles' brains—and perhaps uncover why crocodiles have bumps on their whole bodies, whereas on alligators, only the snouts have domes.And, given his apparently undiminished enthusiasm, he may be just the guy to find out.

"What's interesting to me is that such a scaly animal, one that's so heavily armored, could have a sensitivity that rivals or surpasses our tactile abilities," Leitch said. "But they have all these little tactile areas that are so exquisitely sensitive—it seems really amazing."

Photo source

Sources:

- Croc Jaws More Sensitive Than Human Fingertips/National Geographic 08.11.2012
- Krokodile spüren jede Berührung/ ntv 08.11.2012

Related:
- Ein Krokodil vom Nil.....A crocodile from river Nile.../18.02.2011

Herr Ober, bitte noch mehr Nüsse!....A bear with restaurant manners

Sie heißt Huanca, ist eine 5 jährige Brillenbärin und lebt im Duisburger Zoo.-

Her name is Huanca, she is a 5 year old Spectacled Bear and lives in Duisburg Zoo in Germany.

Und wenn ihr die Nüsse ausgehen, weiß sie, auf sich aufmerksam zu machen.-

And when she is running out of nuts, she knows how to make herself understood..

Leider gab es weder Fotos vom "Ober", noch Bilder, die belegen, dass die Bestellung auch geliefert wurde.-

Unfortunately we don't see the "waiter", we just hope that he delivered promptly...)

Source:

- Hungry bear waves over zoo keeper for more food/Daily Mail 02.11.2012

Samstag, 3. November 2012

With and without pumpkin....Halloween Nachlese

Kürbishöhle mit Überraschungen im Nashville Zoo-

Pumpkin cave, surprises included
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Seen at Memphis Zoo

OK, ich gebe zu, aus dem sibirischen Zoo in Krasnoyarsk hätte ich vor allem gerne Commander Sedov mit Kürbis gesehen, aber auch Almaz lässt sich sehen....

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