#World Farm Animals Day

[rabbitcruiser]

World Farm Animals Day

Created in memory of Gandhi, who advocated respecting all animals, National Farm Animal Day is about the crucial and often mistreated farm creatures.

Farm animals are delightfully cute, especially baby farm animals with their squeaks and squeals, running and playing. Even more than that, farm animals also play an important role in modern society. Take some time to appreciate them this World Farm Animals Day!

History of National World Farm Animals Day

Established in memory of Mahatma Gandhi, who believed in treating all living beings with respect, World Farm Animals Day was founded to highlight the poor conditions suffered by some farm animals, and promote awareness in the hope something may be done to improve the lives of these innocent creatures. The first World Farm Animals Day was celebrated in 1983 as part of an international movement for the rights of farm animals.

Sometimes also called the World Day for Farmed Animals (WDFA), this day aims to raise awareness for and commemorate the 65 billion land animals who are raised for food every year. Since most people believe that animals should not be harmed unnecessarily, this day seeks to bring together those who are passionate about farm animal welfare and working to make changes!

How to Celebrate World Farm Animals Day

Show some love and attention to these often overlooked creatures by celebrating World Farm Animals Day. Get involved with the day in a variety of creative ways, including some of these ideas:

Celebrate World Farm Animals Day with Children

Although World Farm Animals Day has an important, and somewhat sad, origin in the sense that it was created to raise awareness of suffering, it can be celebrated in different ways, particularly with children.

Taking children for a visit to a farm is a great way to teach them about farm animals, and it may also be a good chance to instill in them the message of treating animals with respect. Teachers might want to take an opportunity on World Farm Animals Day to create lessons around the different farm animals, how they contribute and why they are important in the world today. From preschoolers to older children, this day offers a perfect opportunity to grow a generation of responsible humans who treat all creatures well!

Change Some Eating Habits

World Farm Animals Day is actually a great day for a person to make a commitment to try to incorporate fewer animal products in their diet. Perhaps it’s not realistic to immediately become a vegan and cut out all animal products. However, it might be a good time to commit to taking one day a week for the family to prepare meals without meat. Or perhaps this is a good time to make the switch from dairy milk (which many humans really don’t process well anyway!) to drinking plant-based milk such as oat, soy, almond or another alternative.

In addition, taking care about where animal products are sourced from can make a huge difference. For instance, commit to purchasing cage-free eggs, farm raised chickens or responsibly sourced seafood.

Support an Animal Charity

Another great way to celebrate is by donating to an animal protection charity that works to promote the welfare of animals, including those on farms. Take a look at some of these non-profit organizations that are dedicated to animals, and perhaps look into making a financial gift or even volunteering throughout the year:

Farm Sanctuary. This charity offers many ways for folks to get involved, including becoming members of the Friends of Hilda Club, named after the first rescue animal to benefit from Farm Sanctuary.

Faunalytics. Don’t let saying the name be intimidating, because this organization works to collect and share data, research and knowledge that is vital in understanding how to better care for farm animals and limit industrial animal farming.

Human Farming Association. This campaign against factory farming aims to stand up to big business, speaking on behalf of the animals who cannot speak for themselves.

Source

[jiacast]

World Farm Animals Day

A Day in the Life of Bella the Cow

Bella, a cow, wakes up early in the morning, enjoying the cool breeze and soft hay. She is ready for milking, and she walks to the barn where Farmer Joe is waiting. The rhythmic process comforts her. Bella then moves to the pasture, where the sun rises and the grass is dewy. Other cows graze and laze in the sunshine, while Bella enjoys the peaceful quiet.

By midday, the sun is high, and Bella takes a break from grazing to rest under the shade of a big oak tree. She observes birds chirping and Farmer Joe's dog Max barking at the chickens. In the afternoon, she spends time near a small pond, enjoying the cool breeze and watching ducks glide across the pond.

As evening approaches, the skies turn pink and orange, painting the farm in beautiful colors. Bella returns to the barn, ready for another round of milking. She lets out a contented moo as Farmer Joe greets her with a smile. She settles back into her cozy stall, nibbling on fresh hay before closing her eyes.

As night falls, the farm quiets, with distant chirps of crickets and the occasional hoot of an owl. Bella is full and happy, drifting off to sleep, ready to wake up and do it all over again tomorrow.

[is-the-owl-video-cute]

So anyway you repeatedly say we only feel corn husks and similar inedible parts to cattle but Never add a source to back it up. Having worked on farms I’m afraid for the most part the feeds I’ve seen have been parts entirely edible to humans. And like fuck man 5% of all grown soy is fed to humans or however the stat goes, do you really think the remaining 95% is inedible? really?

Anyway yeah I’m asking for a source here cause I don’t want to add this on to months old post

Ingredients such as “grain by-products” are referring to the husks, stalks, and other “green” parts of the plant that we humans don’t actually have the digestive capabilities to eat. The breakdown of most livestock feeds looks like the above when you actually take a look at it.

Different cattle feed, similar ingredients. Still primarily things that, and I have to stress this, you cannot eat. This one is slightly higher in quality and does indeed have actual grain products included. Some of those are edible to humans. Some are not. Generally cattle are fed cattle cubes with supplemental mineral licks and hay. Some also supplement with whole corn, but I can gladly assure you that corn is not in short supply and even if all the corn sold to animal feed was donated to the poor, you can’t actually live off of corn because there’s very little nutrition in it. Hence why in both human and animal food it’s typically seen as a filler ingredient. Keeps the mouth busy with a meal without making your stomach feel full and you end up eating more without feeling satisfied.

Soybeans are really only often used in feed for pigs because they’re a great source of protein for these animals. I would state that soy is also a terrible option to use as an emergency food for humans in need because while, yes, it is indeed a healthy bean, it’s also one of the top eight foods that humans are frequently allergic or intolerant towards. I’d also ask you for whether your 5% of all grown soy statistic is referring to the beans or the entire plant because yeah the beans are the edible part. The rest of the plant isn't especially healthy for humans to eat. I would say the beans are around 5% of a mature soy plant sure.

[tigressaofkanjis]

Transformers: Lost World - All Leaders + Their Weaknesses

Classes: 

Miner – Can dig in the ground for deep planted materials and break Energon 

Farm Skill – Digs soil and can overturn used spots. Can craft and break down materials.

Gatherer – Can hold excess supplies and materials and can retrieve items for you out in the field 

Farm Skill – Taking ready crops and organizing them, feeding animals 

Infiltrator – Can cut down trees, vines, and ice for materials or to unblock paths. Can climb cliffs and to higher areas. 

Farm Skill - Tidying up the farm, animal stalls and the Transformer stables, keeping the area and its inhabitants mess-free and happy, and can also plant seeds.  The more Transformers and animals you have, the easier it is for your farm to become disheveled, and all your Companions will grow upset over time. 

Scout – Can sense nearby hotspots of energy and alert to items in the wild 

Farm Skill – Retrieves water for crops or animals in their station 

Wrecker – Can demolish rocks and heavy-duty minerals, unblocking paths as well. Can climb cliffs and to higher areas. 

Farm Skill – Crafting or breaking down materials for crafting is their best use though they can also dig soil and patrol the farm’s boundaries for extra tidiness 

Healer – Can heal any Transformer you take with you as well as yourself to a degree 

Farm Skill – Tendering to planted crops or animals, keeps them healthy when you are away 

Combatant – The best for fighting other Transformers to subdue and tame them as well as great warriors for challenges and battles. Can climb cliffs and to higher areas. 

Farm Skill – Transformers can get bored, but their favorite pastime is friendly battle. Keeping a Combatant to maintain hobby stations will keep your friends happy. 

Leader – Jack of all trades, can do almost everything on and off the farm. Certain leaders lack one skill compared to other leaders though so be mindful where you place them. 

Farm Skill – Practically everything. 

All Leader Class Transformers have to be fought to tame. And once acquired, they can perform any job the others can...except one. Depending on the Leader, their skills vary.

35. Grimlock - While he excels in combat and most chores, Grimlock is a very weak Healer type. He doesn't do well in trimming crops to maintain health and providing direct care for creatures.

36. Predaking - He cannot be a Scout. Finding items aren't exactly what he cares to do but using water on crops and to replenish animal's water buckets is very hard with half his abilities relying on fire.

50. Ramhorn - Ramhorn has immense difficulties with being an Infiltrator. He has neither the patience or the specialty to deal with vines and trees as well as cleaning up messes. He would rather make messes than clean them.

51. Ravage - Stubborn-headed, yes, but his size does limit him to what he can do. Ravage cannot be a Wrecker class as giant obstacles are a bit too strong for him. He also is better at rearranging crafted items than actually dealing with them.

85. Optimus Prime - Excels in everything except being a Miner. He doesn't have the strongest knowledge of unearthing materials nor digging plots for crops.

86. Megatron - Megatron may be the head honcho of the Decepticons but he isn't going to do everything. Megatron has quite the difficulties with being an Infiltrator. He doesn't deal with mediocre blocked paths nor dealing with a messy camp. He'll leave those chores for other bots.

94. Elita One - Elita has no patience for being a Healer. She sent bots to the infirmary during the war; that's the only relationship she has in terms of medical and natural care.

100. Ultra Magnus - High and mighty Ultra has a lack of association with being a Scout as he isn't the best at tracking things nor retrieving water.

101. Motormaster - He boasts a lot but sucks at being a direct Combatant unless he's cornered. And he doesn't care for seeing to keeping his peers happy in friendly battle.

115. Sky Garry - Good Garry is a star example of a bot except as a Miner. He prefers the sky, hence his name, rather than sticking to the ground and certainly digging in it.

116. Slipstream - Her intelligence rivals many and she finds that while in no sense weak, she doesn't deal with obstacles a Wrecker would. She's also not a great craftsman, preferring to draw up the schematics than physically do them.

134. Tidal Wave - A great behemoth of a Transformer, he is a terrible Scout. A little too big to recognize materials and hidden things from his height, he'll leave the watering and seeking tasks to bots better suited for it.

135. Omega Supreme - The sentinel of Iacon, Omega is a kind soul deep down and surprisingly doesn't like to be a Combatant. He would rather farm than harm. He can also do his chores faster, covering the maximum amount of ground work than most others.

136. Astrotrain - The dark train is an irate fellow who despises being a lackey often times so getting him to be an Infiltrator is most difficult. If he can't crush it underfoot, he doesn't care about doing it.

141. Tarn - He doesn't much care for keeping animals much so it's best not to entrust him with feeding them as a Gatherer. He also doesn't care about collecting supplies out in the wild. If you want your stuff, it's more or less up to you to get them.

166. Nemesis Prime - Nemesis (no, not the ship) is spiteful and won't respond to being a Healer. If they aren't dying, there's no need to fix them. Enough said.

173. Dai Atlas - While he is a good Councilmember, Dai Atlas doesn't do well as a Wrecker. He prefers to fix things than break them. He had no problems with animals though.

175. Sentinel Prime - The cocky Prime has one weakness and that is being a Miner. Grunt work more like to him. He will take out large obstacles, but he won't touch honest ground work.

176. Star Saber - He excels in being a strong Autobot but he is not great at being a Gatherer. It's not that he's forgetful or ignorant, he just isn't used to having to gather supplies and feed animals. Maybe he will want to learn someday.

186. Galvatron - The follower of Unicron holds not a lot of regard for life, especially organic life. So, his weakest point is the chores of a Healer. One day, he may come off his high horse and tend to the animals and crops properly but until then, don't leave them unattended in his care please.

187. Prima - A sweet soul throughout, Prima is a natural caring bot but he is not good at being a Scout. He has a million and one things on his mind, tracking items and keeping water for your animals and crops aren't exactly high on his priorities list.

188. Vector Prime - Vector is a lover, not a fighter. He will not indulge himself or others in battle as a Combatant unless in an emergency. Ironically, he has quite the power behind his attacks. he just doesn't utilize them.

189. Micronus Prime - If it can't be levitated, he doesn't deal with it. Micronus will care for all life but has no regard for heavy-duty tasks or things that require patience like crafting. So, you won't find him as a Wrecker anytime soon.

190. Solus Prime - Solus is the best craftsman in the galaxy. Maybe that's a little dramatic but she is the creator of many artifacts and relics you may find. But she is not the best Infiltrator. She makes messes but she has trouble keeping her own station clear much less your camp, and slicing through little annoyances is not what her talent calls for.

191. Liege Maximo - Liege has many things, including a Glitch-Mouse up his aft, but he doesn't deal with being a Miner. He has far too many other chores he would prefer than digging around for useless things.

192. Megatronus Prime - The angry Prime is not good at being a Healer though he may try. Despite his dark nature, he doesn't always act as he looks, but he understands that taking general care of animals and crops are just not in the cards for him.

193. Quintus Prime - Quintus is a terrible Combatant. He can create and destroy but physical fighting he lacks solely because he's not used to it. Fighting Unicron was one thing, other Transformers the same size and possibly with the same level of powers is quite different.

194. Amalgamous Prime - With a horrible sense of perception among all his quirks, Amalgamous doesn't like being a Scout. Getting him to find your car keys would somehow leave your house burning down. He's just not good at it.

195. Alchemist Prime - As a natural soothsayer of the barkeeping world, Alchemist adores animals but his greatest weakness is actually being a Gatherer. he can talk for days but can be easily distracted and forget that while everything needs a drink, they also need to eat.

196. Nexus Prime - Nexus doesn't like to be responsible for others' idiotic decisions so naturally, he makes a terrible Healer. He will fight but he won't aid you as you die. That's a you problem.

197. Onyx Prime - The Beastmaster of the Predacon race understands and loves creatures great and small, but he is not the best Wrecker. He would rather let those more capable with brute strength made for it go ahead and do what they need to. He'll keep with the animals and crops.

198. Alpha Trion - Alpha Trion is a master librarian but he is not the strongest Combatant in the field. He would rather read and take care of life than fight it. While not a pacifist per say, he's definitely not someone you would take into battle a lot.

199. Unicron - The dark god holds a deep hatred for many things, but he lacks most as a Healer. His blood with siphon life in direct exposure, so how would he even begin to help them even if he wanted to?

200. Primus - A sacred soul and the leader of Cybertron overall, Primus is the bearer of life itself. While not heavily responsible for organic existence, they are a valiant and benevolent kindred breed. But if Primus were to be not as good as others in one specific field, they are a bit perplexed by the skill of being a Miner. Digging is not something they have had a lot of practice with given their normal size.

[dandyshucks]

also here's a couple photos from the other day bc 1) REAL LIFE SHEEP (lii mwatoon 🐑) !!!!, and 2) this little goat kid fell asleep in my arms 😭😭💗💗💗 aen pchi shev.... aen pchi biibii.... kwaayesh pchi... katawashishin.... :') sniffles !!!

[animemascotarchive]

Today’s anime mascot of the day is…!

Zabuton from Farming Life in Another World!

[maidoftheday]

Today’s Maid of the Day: Ann from Farming Life in Another World

[malachitezmeyka]

I actually survived 100 days in my Minecraft world and didn't die once lmao

[anime-of-the-day]

Anime of the day: Isekai Nonbiri Nouka

Alt title: Farming Life in Another World

Released: 2023

Hiraku spent the last years of his life in a hospital bed, suffering from a fatal disease, till he passed away. Then he is reincarnated in a different universe where he can live as he pleases. He is given a kind of an all-in-one farming tool that he can convert into whatever practical tool he desires. He intends to create and cultivate everything from scratch in his new home hidden deep in the forest.

[admiralgiggles]

Nature’s President

Happy World Photography Day!!!

[rabbitcruiser]

World Farm Animals Day

Created in memory of Gandhi, who advocated respecting all animals, National Farm Animal Day is about the crucial and often mistreated farm creatures.

Farm animals are delightfully cute, especially baby farm animals with their squeaks and squeals, running and playing. Even more than that, farm animals also play an important role in modern society. Take some time to appreciate them this World Farm Animals Day!

History of National World Farm Animals Day

Established in memory of Mahatma Gandhi, who believed in treating all living beings with respect, World Farm Animals Day was founded to highlight the poor conditions suffered by some farm animals, and promote awareness in the hope something may be done to improve the lives of these innocent creatures. The first World Farm Animals Day was celebrated in 1983 as part of an international movement for the rights of farm animals.

Sometimes also called the World Day for Farmed Animals (WDFA), this day aims to raise awareness for and commemorate the 65 billion land animals who are raised for food every year. Since most people believe that animals should not be harmed unnecessarily, this day seeks to bring together those who are passionate about farm animal welfare and working to make changes!

How to Celebrate World Farm Animals Day

Show some love and attention to these often overlooked creatures by celebrating World Farm Animals Day. Get involved with the day in a variety of creative ways, including some of these ideas:

Celebrate World Farm Animals Day with Children

Although World Farm Animals Day has an important, and somewhat sad, origin in the sense that it was created to raise awareness of suffering, it can be celebrated in different ways, particularly with children.

Taking children for a visit to a farm is a great way to teach them about farm animals, and it may also be a good chance to instill in them the message of treating animals with respect. Teachers might want to take an opportunity on World Farm Animals Day to create lessons around the different farm animals, how they contribute and why they are important in the world today. From preschoolers to older children, this day offers a perfect opportunity to grow a generation of responsible humans who treat all creatures well!

Change Some Eating Habits

World Farm Animals Day is actually a great day for a person to make a commitment to try to incorporate fewer animal products in their diet. Perhaps it’s not realistic to immediately become a vegan and cut out all animal products. However, it might be a good time to commit to taking one day a week for the family to prepare meals without meat. Or perhaps this is a good time to make the switch from dairy milk (which many humans really don’t process well anyway!) to drinking plant-based milk such as oat, soy, almond or another alternative.

In addition, taking care about where animal products are sourced from can make a huge difference. For instance, commit to purchasing cage-free eggs, farm raised chickens or responsibly sourced seafood.

Support an Animal Charity

Another great way to celebrate is by donating to an animal protection charity that works to promote the welfare of animals, including those on farms. Take a look at some of these non-profit organizations that are dedicated to animals, and perhaps look into making a financial gift or even volunteering throughout the year:

Farm Sanctuary. This charity offers many ways for folks to get involved, including becoming members of the Friends of Hilda Club, named after the first rescue animal to benefit from Farm Sanctuary.

Faunalytics. Don’t let saying the name be intimidating, because this organization works to collect and share data, research and knowledge that is vital in understanding how to better care for farm animals and limit industrial animal farming.

Human Farming Association. This campaign against factory farming aims to stand up to big business, speaking on behalf of the animals who cannot speak for themselves.

Source

[minuteminun]

nintendo and gamefreak treat your pokemon consistently challenge

like either they are sapient beings similar to humans to the point they can have conversations and be considered the same or they are hunter and farmed animals with powers making them both has weird implications

[delcat177]

It's National Pig Day, apparently

The movie's on Freevee right now, and I last saw it when it was on VHS, so...close to the '99 release date. 12-14. I read the book somewhere between 8-10.

I remember them actually sliding in under the radar a bit on this one. They set it up in future tense, with the farm collapsing after many years, watched by an old and tired group of animals, with the hound whose puppies were taken narrating its demise. An offroad from the book, certainly, but as the first adaptation post-Cold-War, and as a movie diving AUDACIOUSLY for the "Family" genre, not a bad sprinkling of imagination.

Fairy tales rarely end on the screen as they do in the book. That's because fairy tales don't promise happy endings, and television sets do.

Either way, it set up for the full trial and hanging of the chickens.

Pic unrelated, it's a hard sentence to jump off of

Oh Jesus I didn't intend that pun and now I have to leave it there

Y'all celebrate National Pig Day in your way, and I'll celebrate in mine

[cheeseanonioncrisps]

Dr Doolittle-style show about a detective who can talk to animals, except instead of talking like people the animals still talk like animals, just translated into English sentences, so the plot of most episodes centres around trying to figure out what the star witness testimony actually means.

Victim's murder was witnessed by her pet snake, whose tank was in the room. Unfortunately pet snake is incapable of describing the world around them except in terms of 'rocks' and 'meat', with their descriptions of individual forms of 'meat' focusing almost entirely on body temperature and smell.

(Solved when it turns out that their description of 'warm-cold meat with rock' was actually an attempt to describe a suspect with a prosthetic limb, which is pretty unnoticeable to a human, but looks dramatically different in infrared.)

Murder at a honey farm. Each witness managed to see about ~0.06% of the full crime, in order to get the full picture, you have to get them to swarm.

Victim was found several days after death, already crawling with maggots. Days into the investigation, protag begins a frantic search to find any surviving maggots/flies that were on the corpse, after realising that how the victim tasted would give vital information about the poison used.

Also there's at least one or two animals who actually do talk in full sentences and in terms humans can understand, and the reason behind this is never fully explained.

All cats in this universe talk in terms of 'mine/not-mine' and mainly focus on territory, mates and food, with the one exception of the main character's cat who is named Watson and knows how to use sarcasm.

All insects speak in one word sentences where everything is 'food', 'enemy' or (for hive insects) 'friend' and 'queen', with the exception of seven-spotted ladybirds specifically, who for some reason speak in full English sentences and are up to date and knowledgeable about world events. The protagonists is as concerned by the full implications of this as you are.

[kaijutegu]

Aug ABSOLUTELY deserves the praise, @ryukikit. St. Augustine Alligator Farm is one of my favorite animal facilities, hands down. It's a pretty zoo, doable in an afternoon if you kinda like crocodilians, or an all day affair if you REALLY like crocodilians. Here are my favorite things about it and why I think it's worth supporting.

1. They keep animals in interesting social groups.

Crocodilians are heavily involved parents, but most places that breed them don't have the enclosure space to let the babies stay with the parents. St. Augustine does. One of my favorite groups was their crèche of slender-snouted crocodiles. They had the parents and then a yearling cohort and a new hatchling cohort. This aligns with how these guys live in the wild- the babies stick around longer! They have the space for it, and they are very in tune with the social needs of their animals.

Very, very few zoos can keep their baby crocs with the adults and still perform maintenance and animal health checks safely. This doesn't mean these facilities are bad- it just means that they have different management practices. And frankly, a lot of these species aren't frequently bred elsewhere. Your average zoo doesn't need a setup where you can have a multiyear crèche for slender-snouted crocodiles. Some species have better success when the young are pulled early, and some zoos are better set up to raise out any offspring separately or behind the scenes. Every facility's practices are different, and this just happens to work well at St. Augustine and be really enjoyable to see as a zoo patron.

Crocodilians are exceptional parents and very protective. It's a sign of incredible animal management practices and animals that feel very comfortable with staff that St. Augustine can do this with nearly every species they breed.

2. They understand the social needs of their animals.

Some crocodilians are social. Some are solitary. Some can live happily with a member of the opposite sex but get territorial around members of the same sex. St. Augustine pays incredible attention to their social groupings to ensure that they aren't just meeting the animals' physical health needs but their social needs as well. They do continuous scientific research about social structures in crocodilians, taking blood samples to test stress hormones and observing stress behaviors to see how group dynamics change.

For example, St. Augustine is home to one of the world's largest known living saltwater crocodiles, Maximo. And his comparatively tiny mate, Sydney. During the educational presentations with these two, they point out that even their monster of a croc needs his social group- he won't eat if she's not around and he is calmer during medical checks if he can see her. These animal share a deep and special pair bond, and they make sure to talk about how the social aspect of these animals' lives is integral to their care. It's a unique aspect of the way they talk about these animals, because he IS a spectacle and he IS a sensation, but they don't talk about him like he's a mindless killing machine- they talk about him like he's a big, complex predator with social needs like any other animal. Aug is the only facility I've been to where the emotional and social needs of crocodilians is part of the education they provide guests- and speaking of education...

3. Their demos and presentations are extremely good.

The presentations at St. Augustine are some of the best I've ever seen, and I've seen literally hundreds of animal talks on everything from aardvarks to zebras. But as you... can probably tell from my blog content, I've spent a lot of time learning about and working with reptiles. I really enjoyed all of their presentations because they are very scientific about things and avoid sensationalism. They really want you to be fascinated by these creatures and love them- but more than anything else, they want you to respect them.

Also, they do a really good job handling their ambassadors. I really enjoyed something as simple as watching an educator tell us about snakes. Throughout the whole presentation she made sure that most of the snake's body was looped in her hand. The snake was always supported and was very calm. She gave the snake plenty of head room so that it didn't feel constricted- it was just good handling all around.

But also, the presentations made it clear how much the park cares about the animals' well-being. When they do the feeding and training presentations, they make it very clear that the animals' participation is entirely voluntary. They do things differently for their 9-foot saltie and their 16-foot saltie, because the 16-footer is so large and heavy he actually struggles walking on land sometimes. They adapt their programs and his care to ensure that he's completely comfortable- and he didn't actually participate in the whole feeding when I was watching! At no point did they try to push him into anything uncomfortable; they offered, he didn't engage, and they moved on. It was a clear expression of his boundaries, and I really appreciated how much his caretakers respected that.

4. Ethical Interactions

I've been to... a lot of tourist locations in Florida that have animals you can hold. Almost always against my will! Many of them are pretty terrible, and you don't actually learn much, if anything. But I really found that to not be the case at St. Augustine. Every single animal presentation and interaction opportunity was accompanied by education about the animal's biology, habits, and- crucially- their conservation status.

When I held a baby alligator at St. Augustine, the proctors- there were two, one to ensure I was holding the gator correctly and the other to educate- were very informative about the role alligators play in their ecosystem and their conservation history. The animals were all properly banded, and one of the two proctors was there to ensure that none of the baby alligators were uncomfortable. As soon as they started getting squirmy or tense, they were removed, unbanded, and taken to an off-exhibit area to relax. And when the babies age out of petting size, they just go in the lagoon to live with others of their species. I saw one upset alligator the entire time I was there, and he was clearly upset that his escape attempt was foiled by a keeper during my nursery tour.

Even though he's restrained in this shot, you can see that his full body and tail are supported, and the grip, while firm, is gentle. He's distressed, but after I took this picture, she put him in his enclosure and he calmed down immediately.

Sometimes when you have petting attractions with baby animals, those animals... don't have a happy ending. (See: cub petting.) But St. Augustine's program is fine- the gators are all aged out of wanting to have mom around, there's no declawing/defanging, and they're handled with care. And it's worth it, because people love what they understand. St. Augustine was integral in raising public awareness about alligators back in the 60s when they were endangered, and now they're thriving- largely in part to programs like St. Augustine getting people to care.

And speaking of getting people to care, let's talk about their research.

5. Shared Research Results

St. Augustine is also home to more species of crocodilian than anywhere else in North America- all of them, usually. (They didn't have a Tomistoma when I visited- that may have changed.)

Because of this species diversity, it's an incredible research resource. Having every species means that you can do a lot of work comparing their behaviors, their growth patterns, and more. They've been a major research site for crocodilian biology since the 1970s. Today, they're one of the key sites for studying crocodilian play and social behaviors. They actually maintain a blog where they post copies of papers that were written using their animals, meaning that you can actually see the results of the research your admission helps fund. You can see that right here: https://www.alligatorfarm.com/conservation-research/research-blog/

All of this adds up to a zoo that provides a unique experience, tons of actual education, and transparency about what its research and conservation steps actually are. St. Augustine's come a long way since its opening in 1893, and they really do want you to leave with a new respect for the animals they care for. Ultimately, if you're a fan of reptiles, you can feel good about visiting the St. Augustine Alligator Farm- their care and keeping are top of the line, they do a ton of innovative conservation research and support for conservation organizations, and you can see this animal there:

(Gharial from the front. Nothing is wrong with her that's just what they look like from the front.)

[art]

Creator Spotlight: @themetalhiro

Hi, I’m Metal! I’m a freelance artist from good ol’ New Jersey. My favorite things to work with are a lot of bright colors, exaggerated poses, and candid scenarios. I try to farm sensible chuckles whenever I can, so I’m also big into comics. I love making them about my life, and the media I’m into, and one day I’d like to publish my own series!  Thank you to everyone who has gotten me this far!!

Check out Metal's interview below!

Did you originally have a background in art? If not, how did you start?

I guess so! It’s funny, I don’t remember a single time in my life that I wasn’t drawing as a hobby… somewhere in middle school (a little late, I know.) I put the pieces together that animated movies were made by artists, and that it wasn’t just for fun, they were paid to do it. The moment I discovered people could be paid to make art, I decided I would do that, too. Now I’m here!

How has your style developed over the years?

I think the best way to answer this would be with an example! Over the last few years, I have made more of an effort to draw more intentionally, which sounds silly. Now, I put more thought into my poses and step out of my comfort zone with shape language and composition. I had a phase where I drew everyone with a huge, perfectly circular head and no nose. That definitely did not lend much variety...

Which 3 famous artists (dead or alive) would you invite to your dinner party?

Ack! I’m so terrible at history! I’d love to give a well-thought-out answer about fine artists of old, but I don't think we’d have much in common… Most artists I admire and who have driven me forward creatively are the people behind comics I’ve read. Andrew Hussie, Bryan Lee O’Malley, Eiichiro Oda... these guys have inspired me greatly and had a heavy influence in developing my art style and sense of humor. I’d love to ask them questions about their processes and upcoming projects. I think it would make for an entertaining night!

Over the years as an artist, what were your biggest inspirations behind your creativity?

Outside of pure aesthetics like searing bright colors, layered clothing, and loud noises…. the best and most inspiring moments in my life were those surrounded by friends and loved ones! I cherish the hell out of memories of hanging around in fun locations, trying weird food together, and impromptu midnight walks... so I try my best to capture that atmosphere and my own memories in my work when I can, even if I’m imposing fictional characters on top of them. That’s always the core of it.

What is a medium that you have always been intrigued by but would never use yourself?

I would never permanently refuse a medium, but every time I pick up clay, I’m like a baby using its hands for the first time. Absolutely dreadful. If one day I could make and paint a figurine like the ones I admire in videos, that would be awesome... But for now, I’m not counting on it.

How do you want to evolve as a creator?

I’ve had an absolute blast drawing fanart over the years, and it’s certainly played a massive role in my growth as an artist. But my dream has always been to publish my own stories for y'all to enjoy! I have lots of worlds I want to introduce to you before I’m old and gray. I want to get faster, work harder, and get better at drawing interesting settings so I can get the wheels turning as soon as possible. I also want to stop avoiding the color blue like a coward.

What do you wish you knew when you first started out creating art that you know now?

Pay your taxes quarterly. Tablets will break at the exact moment you need them most, so have a spare. Wear your blue light glasses. You’re going to need to wear a brace on every joint on the right side of your body. It can be lonely sitting at your desk all day. The car on the side of the road that costs $1000 cash….. don’t trust it!!!

Who on Tumblr inspires you and why?

@cranity—They use absolutely beautiful colors and weighty line work. Everything looks so sharp and clean! I wanna put it all up on my wall!

@vewn—Their ability to crank out quality short films and illustrations packed with detail is incredible. The off-kilter perspective they use really sells disorientation and catches your attention like nothing else.

@nelnal—They have absolutely banger character designs again and again, I can’t believe one person’s mind can come up with so many creative ideas!

@jinx88kc—They have a beautiful and recognizable style, and the way they incorporate animation into their illustrations sometimes is SO cool!

Thanks for stopping by, Metal! For more of Metal’s work, follow their Tumblr, @themetalhiro! If you haven't seen their Meet the Artist piece, be sure to check it out here!