#Protect Wildlife

[thepastisalreadywritten]

By Brian Melley, AP News

13 January 2024

LONDON (AP) — An unlikely refugee from the war in Ukraine — a rare Asiatic black bear — arrived at his new home in Scotland on Friday and quickly took to a meal of cucumbers and watermelon.

The 12-year-old Yampil was named for a village in the Donetsk region where he was one of the few survivors found by Ukrainian troops in the remains of a bombed-out private zoo.

Yampil, who had previously been called Borya, was discovered by soldiers who recaptured the devastated city of Lyman during the Kharkiv counteroffensive in the fall of 2022, said Yegor Yakovlev of Save Wild, who was among the first of many people who led the bear to a new life.

The bear was found in a menagerie that had long been abandoned by its owners.

Almost all the other animals had died of hunger, thirst or were struck by bullets or shrapnel and some were eaten by Russian troops.

Yampil narrowly missed the same fate, suffering a concussion from a projectile that landed nearby.

“The bear miraculously survived,” said Yakovlev, also director of the White Rock Bear Shelter, where the bear recovered.

“Our fighters did not know what to do with him, so they started looking for rescue.”

What followed was an odyssey that your average bear rarely makes, as he was moved to Kyiv for veterinary care and rehab, then shipped to a zoo in Poland, then to an animal rescue in Belgium, where he spent the past seven months, before landing in the United Kingdom.

Brian Curran, owner of Five Sisters Zoo in West Calder, Scotland, said his heart broke when he learned of the plight of the threatened Asiatic black bear.

“He was in terrible condition; five more days and they wouldn’t have been able to save him,” Curran said. “We were just so amazed he was still alive and well.”

The bear was skinny but not malnourished when he was found, said Frederik Thoelen, a biologist at the Nature Help Center in Belgium.

He now is estimated to weigh a healthy 440 pounds (200 kilograms), Thoelen said.

The nature center in Belgium, which usually treats injured wildlife and returns them to their natural settings, has taken several animals rescued from the war in Ukraine, including a wolf, a caracal cat and four lions, though those animals had not experienced the ordeal Yampil endured.

It was remarkable how calm Yampil was when he arrived in Belgium, Thoelen said.

The bear was trained in the past two weeks to move from his enclosure to the crate that would transport him across Belgium to Calais, France, then across the English Channel on a ferry to Scotland.

Pastries from a local bakery were used for good measure to lure him Thursday into the cage, where he was sedated for the journey.

“We want to use the food that he likes most, and for most bears — and for people also — it’s sweet, unhealthy foods,” Thoelen said.

Thoelen had a sense of the bear’s weight as he drove the crate to the port.

“Every time when we had a red light or a traffic jam, when the bear moved a little bit, you could feel the van moving also,” he said.

“You could feel it was a heavy animal in the back of the car.”

Yampil arrived at the zoo about 15 miles (25 kilometers) west of Edinburgh and immediately made himself at home.

He feasted on cukes — said to be his favorite food — and melon, said Adam Welsh, who works at Five Sisters.

The Asiatic black bear is listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species as vulnerable to extinction in the wild, where it can be found in central and southern Asia, Russia, and Japan.

It’s known for the distinctive white crescent patch on its chest that gives it the nickname moon bear. It can live for up to 30 years in zoos.

It’s not clear if the bear will go into hibernation. The winter has been warmer than usual but colder days are on the horizon.

The zoo has other bears, but Yampil is the only Asian bear and unique in other ways.

“We’ve had circus bears, for example, that have been rescued,” Welsh said.

“We’ve had bears rescued from places like roadside restaurants where they’ve been used as kind of roadside attractions and been kept in subpar conditions. But this is the first time that we’ve worked with an animal that’s been rescued from a war zone.”

Scottish zoo welcomes black bear which survived war in Ukraine

13 January 2024

🖤🐻🤎

[carmillas-gallery]

Great Egrets were almost hunted to extinction in the late 1800s for their plumes, but the earliest laws to protect endangered birds helped the species survive. 📷 Canon 5d mark III w 100mm L

[pangeen]

“ Walk like a King “ // © Rowan Poortier

Music:  James Henny - Born In Darkness

[respect-the-locals]

When people hear the name 'hammerhead,' many people probably picture the very recognizable, Great Hammerhead. What they might be unaware of though, is that the name 'hammerhead' is used in reference for NINE distinct different species of hammerhead sharks! However, the simple chart I've shared below, only shows the head shapes of 6/9 of those species. The three that are missing are: the Scalloped Bonnethead, the Carolina Hammerhead, and the Smalleye Hammerhead. (I will reference those 3 in this post, because if I'm going to talk about 6 of them, why not just go all in and recognize them all?)

Well, what do these species look like in the wild? Glad you asked!! Let me show you! 🦈🫡❤️

1. Great Hammerhead- the biggest species of Hammerhead shark. Distinguishable by it's large dorsal fin. (Adult females: 15-18ft; Adult males: 12ft)

2. Scalloped Hammerhead- Distinguishable by two indentations on either side of the central indentation, which gives the "scalloped" look. (Adult females: 8.2-14ft; Adult males 4.9-5.9ft)

3. Smooth Hammerhead- Distinguishable by the distinctive flattened shape of the head that is laterally extended into a hammer shape, without an indentation in the middle of the front margin (typically measures 8.2-11.5ft)

4. Bonnethead Hammerhead- Distinguishable by a broad, smooth, spade-like head. (Typically measures 2.6-3ft)

5. Scalloped Bonnethead- Smallest of the hammerhead species. Distinguishable by it's mallet-shaped head, that is moderately wide and elongated lengthwise. The front margin is broadly arched, with shallow lateral and medial indentations. (Typically measures 36in.)

6. Winghead Hammerhead- Distinguishable by a pair of long, narrow, and gently swept-back blades. (Typically measures 6.2ft)

7. Scoophead Hammerhead- It is distinguished by its moderately broad, mallet-shaped head (Adult males: 35in.; Adult females 39-52in.)

8. Carolina Hammerhead- visually indistinguishable from the common scalloped hammerhead. The difference in vertebrae, 10 fewer in this species, is the defining morphological difference. (Typically measures 9.8-13.1ft)

9. Smalleye Hammerhead- Distinguishable by a mallet-shaped head that is wide and long. The leading margin forms a broad arch with indentations in the middle and on either side. The eyes, placed at the ends of the 'wings', are proportionately smaller than in other hammerheads (Typically measures 3.9-4.3ft)

UNFORTUNATELY, and quite sadly 😭, most of these species of hammerhead sharks are either Endangered OR Critically Endangered. According to NOAA fisheries, their decline is due commercial fishing and the shark fin trade (which is horrendously still happening in some countries 😭). We MUST do what we can to preserve these beautiful sharks before they disappear from our world!

[yonderoo]

Look at this majestic giant roaming through the grassland! 🌾🐘 Elephants are truly one of nature's miracles. This illustration captures an adult elephant in its prime, displaying a powerful yet serene presence. The intricate lines emphasize its enormous ears that flap like gentle wings to regulate its temperature, and its long, graceful tusks – a reminder of the strength and wisdom carried through generations. Notice the wrinkles and folds in its skin? These are not just random patterns but nature's masterpiece, helping the elephant retain moisture and stay cool under the scorching sun.

Its trunk, a marvel of nature, is not just a nose; it’s a multipurpose tool used for feeding, drinking, and even social interactions. Seemingly casual stride but every step resonates with the earth, reminding us how interconnected we are to this gentle giant's world. 🐘✨ Let's protect and cherish these extraordinary beings, ensuring they continue to inspire awe in generations to come. 🌍💚

[quinnfrankephotography]

A nice walk this morning. It was very quiet. I have a ritual going with a regular jogger where we have a quiet conversation about how wonderful the world is when the city is still sleeping and the sun is rising.

[eightypercentjack-blog]

I'm sadly a day late and had to take pictures of pictures for this but I wanted to celebrate International Vulture Awareness Day nevertheless!

This beautiful beast is Gomez, a gorgeous White-Backed Vulture with whom we shared 3 very 'brat' summers 😄

From deceptively adorable rescue chick to proud surveyor of his kingdom (aka the whole sanctuary) Gomez's greatest hits include:

- Walking very slowly and deliberately up wooden steps when he could have just flown

- Generally pretending he couldn't fly and needed to be bribed with treats to complete his training

- Fiercely staring down any volunteer who got too close to his beloved perch on the top of the volunteer's lapa

- Objecting to me stopping him chewing an electric cable by savaging my knee (yup it really hurt even though he was still a youngling)

- Holding both my friend and I hostage simultaneously even though one of us was in our room and one of us was in the shower block two doors down

- Turning his beak up at horse penis, despite eating anything going in the wild, so he could hold out for the good stuff

Gomez eventually realised he had bigger kingdoms to conquer and self-released once he became more and more comfortable with flying but I cherish the time we spent with that cheeky little character 😆

Vultures are fascinating, critical members of the ecosystem. They play a vital role in the natural cycle of life and greatly benefit their environments and the other creatures that share them. I would encourage anyone to learn more about nature's sassiest clean-up crew and find out what you can do to protect these beautiful birds 🥰

[xxcrypticphoboxx]

And god,

Please let the deer on the highway get some kind of heaven. Something with tall soft grass and a sweet reunion.

Let the moths in porch lights go somewhere with a thousand suns, that taste like sugar and get swallowed whole.

May the mice in oil and glue have forever dry, warm fur and full bellies.

If I am killed for simply living, let death be kinder than man.

-Author Unknown

[thepastisalreadywritten]

https://www.theherdofhope.com

🩶🐘🩶

[floridagrowngirl]

Keep your grubby hands off of our state parks‼️

[fraiserire]

Gave the woodpeckers their suet this morning, two hopped along the trunk near me where I could see them clearly and chirped at me. Once I hung it I stepped back a little and one flew to it and took some off and flew back to feed to their partner. 🥲💞

[pangeen]

" Follow the Signs " //© Ishara Mara

Music: Steve Jablonsky - Infinite White

[respect-the-locals]

This is *somewhat* similar to the bracelet I posted about yesterday, except it's completely different. The Fahlo bracelet didn't come with any shark tracking information (because they messed up and sent me a dolphin instead, which is fine but a shark would have been better). Anyways, this bracelet I bought for myself!! It was bought in 2021 at a time when I was looking for something that I could preserve some of my mother's ashes inside of. I had no idea this was what I wanted until it popped up in my feed on Instagram one day, and I knew then that it was the perfect way ❤️.

-- It's call a Legend Bracelet! As you can see by the bracelet, and as you'll see described in the second photo, "One capsule is empty - fill it with sand / earth or something meaningful. The other capsule - comes filled with sand / earth from an area in the world we are helping to protect. A reminder to stay connected to the endangered places and species around the world."

In the case of my bracelet, a piece of ghost netting fills the other side. Ghost nets are responsible for countless shark fatalities. They get tangled in the nets and drown, because they are unable to move. Majority of sharks need to be constantly moving to keep water flowing over their gills.

"Crafted from eco & vegan friendly materials. Made from the bark of cork trees."

What you DON'T see described is this,

"The process helps extend the tree’s life expectancy and increases it's CO2 absorption."

AND

"Up to 50% of profits donated to charities fighting to protecting the environment & endangered species."

My specific bracelet helps to protect the sharks!🦈 Obviously, sharks are animals I'm pretty passionate about. Follow Your Legend has partnered with the Bimini Shark Lab to "help save sharks and protect our oceans"

The COOLEST part about my bracelet is that it came along with not only a sticker, BUT ALSO information about a Tiger Shark named Dani! (Ironically Tiger Sharks are my absolute favorite species of shark. So bonus points!) Through the card provided, (and the QR code on the back) I am able to access both information about Dani herself and tracking information about her whereabouts!🦈

*Unfortunately, with this being bought in 2021, her tracker has either fallen off or something terrible has happened 😔 because there have been no current further updates on her.*

Regardless though, as sad as that may be, I'm still super happy to have bought and contributed to the efforts of Legend Bracelet! There are numerous other bracelets that support different causes/animals and I'd encourage everyone to look into them!!🙌😁