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sciencespies · 4 years

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What the Rhythm of a Maned Wolf's Heart Reveals

https://sciencespies.com/nature/what-the-rhythm-of-a-maned-wolfs-heart-reveals/

What the Rhythm of a Maned Wolf's Heart Reveals

Smithsonian Voices National Zoo

What the Rhythm of a Maned Wolf’s Heart Reveals

September 8th, 2020, 10:09AM / BY

Ashley Goetz

(Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute)

Spindly legs and thick, red fur have earned them the nickname “foxes on stilts,” but maned wolves are neither fox nor wolf. These charismatic canids are a unique species (the only members of the genus Chrysocyon) and are found solely in South America’s savannas, where Brazilian researcher Rosana Nogueira de Moraes has studied them for nearly 15 years.

In 2015, Moraes came across a study of wild black bears that used heart sensors to reveal what observation couldn’t — that the bears had a hidden stress response to drones flying overhead. She wondered what the same technology might reveal about maned wolves. Two years later, she helped launch the Rhythm of Life Project, a maned wolf heart rate monitoring study at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. Moraes shares the latest on the Rhythm of Life Project and what researchers have learned.

Why is it important to protect maned wolves?

Maned wolves are a “keystone” species because they provide critical ecosystem services. They keep pest populations under control by hunting small rodents, and they help disperse the seeds of native plants. Maned wolf poop can be full of the seeds of a tomato-like wild fruit that they love to eat. The fruit, called the wolf apple, is even named after them. Maned wolves are also great ambassadors for the conservation of the Brazilian Cerrado, one of the most threatened savanna biomes in the world.

What do you hope to learn by monitoring their heart rates?

Maned wolves are very secretive and shy animals, so they are good candidates to help us answer some important questions. How well do animals hide their “emotions?” Is behavior a good indicator of an animal’s internal response? And how does their heart respond to human presence or changes in the environment?

Heart rate is a result of the balance of activity in the autonomic nervous system — the part of the nervous system that automatically controls body functions, like blood flow and digestion. When an animal is excited or stressed, the system increases its heart rate to prepare for a fight-or-flight response. If an animal is calm, its heart beats much slower. So, by tracking heart rate, we can identify if situations have a positive or negative impact.

VIDEO: Maned wolf Hope stops to stretch in her yard, with a relaxed heart rate of 57 beats per minute.

It becomes even more powerful when combined with other tools — like a daily report from animal care staff, a measurement of stress hormones from fecal (poop) samples, or a genetics report on the kind of microorganisms present in a maned wolf’s gut. These tools can inform us about levels of stress, but heart monitors can help us pinpoint the moment when stress occurs and find the cause.

How do you monitor a maned wolf’s heart?

We use heart monitors that were made for humans by Medtronic Inc, who donated the devices used for this project. The monitors weigh only 2.4 grams, and we place them under a maned wolf’s skin, over the heart area. The process is like injecting a dog with a microchip, but because the monitor is larger than a microchip, we need to make a small cut and then close it afterward with stitches. The monitor continuously senses each heartbeat or, more precisely, the electric current that comes from the heart when it beats. It records the average heart rate every 2 minutes and can last up to three years.

The heart rate monitors that we use for our maned wolves are the same monitors used for humans with heart problems. (Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute)

To read the data, we use a special computer and a handheld device that connects with the heart monitor via radio. The monitors are also equipped with a remote transmission system that can send data to a computer whenever a maned wolf rests near one of our “antennas,” which are set up near their dens.

How many maned wolves are you monitoring?

We care for 13 maned wolves at SCBI, and so far, we have monitored six of them — three males and three females. This is the first study of its kind for maned wolves, and we’ve collected more than 2.5 million points of heart rate data! Heart rates increased in response to people, restraint, loud noises (like lawn mowers) and social interactions with other wolves. Often, heart rates spiked in response to a negative experience, like being startled by the presence of a neighboring wolf in the middle of the night. They also increased when an animal was positively excited, like when a couple approached each other during the breeding season.

VIDEO: Maned wolf Caido reacted to a neighboring wolf barking in the middle of the night, and his heart rate spiked to 118 beats per minute.

How can you tell if stress is positive or negative?

A good example in humans would be the body response of two different people riding a roller coaster. While one person could be very excited, the other could be extremely scared, or even sick, during the ride. Both people might have similar spikes in heart rate, but the stress would only be positive for the person with positive emotions. Since maned wolves can’t tell us how they feel, we use their behaviors, hormone measurements, and the magnitude of their heart rate increases to tell us when their stress is positive or negative. Some wolves like the presence of a familiar human and get excited when that person visits. We call that positive stress. Others might show a similar heart rate but a totally different behavior, such as avoiding the visitor, which is negative stress.

Has anything that you have learned so far surprised you?

I was fascinated by the wide range of heart rates, and the extremes that the maned wolf’s heart can reach. The heart rate ranges we found were very different from what was previously known. When maned wolves are asleep or resting, their heart rates can drop below 30 beats per minute. But they can have a 10-fold increase, reaching up to 330 beats per minute, when they are stressed. Those extremes normally last for just a few seconds.

I’m also amazed and genuinely happy to see how technology can help us learn so much about ourselves and about animals. The footage that we capture with our trail cameras at SCBI can be inspiring, enjoyable and even poetic at times. So, it’s fascinating to also capture what is happening inside an animal while they freely move and live their lives.

For example, we have videos of a maned wolf couple fighting across the fence when they were first introduced for the breeding season. In later images, the same pair is very playful and moving around together, as if “in love.” And the best part is that the heart monitors were capturing the changes in heart rate for all those moments!

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VIDEO: Maned wolves Echo and Layla play together in their habitat at SCBI. In this moment, Echo’s heart rate was around 143 beats per minute, and Layla’s was about 136. They were positively excited.

How has heart rate monitoring helped support the care of maned wolves at SCBI?

Maned wolves are solitary animals, so living as a family group (parents and pups) might be stressful depending on the group’s size and how long they are together. Heart rate monitoring helped us identify that one of our male wolves was stressed while living with a female and their four pups — and confirmed that moving him to a new area solved the problem. We can also work with animal care staff to test if maned wolves respond positively to novel forms of enrichment.

VIDEO: Enrichment takes many forms. Sometimes, it’s a simple pile of leaves to pounce in. Maned wolf Fin’s heart rate increased to 158 beats per minute as he played with leaves and a stick in his yard one night.

The core of this project is the heart. As humans, we can understand that heart rate tells us a lot about our emotions and how we feel in each life situation. Since we don’t speak the “language” of animals, we need projects like this to better understand how they perceive their environments, so we can use that information to help them thrive.

How can this data support the conservation of maned wolves in the wild?

Only 3% of the natural habitat available for maned wolves in Brazil is inside protected areas. That means animals are also living in areas where encounters with humans, vehicles and farming machinery are common — and stress levels are higher. When sugar cane fields are harvested, for example, wolves can lose all their vegetation cover and food resources in less than 24 hours.

Having objective measurements of stress levels, and an understanding of where and how wolves move, could help us and land owners think about managing the land in ways that are more beneficial to wildlife. Our main goal is to become experts in the use of this technology, so we can apply it to the conservation of maned wolves and other endangered species in the wild. Studying the animals at SCBI has provided us with the skills we need, as well as the opportunity to overcome any obstacles in a controlled and safe environment.

What’s next for the Rhythm of Life Project?

This project is an excellent example of how much we can accomplish when we work as a team. We are physiologists, ecologists, biologists, veterinarians, animal care staff, students, donors, partners and more, all coming together to make this work possible. After a successful start, we’re expanding our scientific research at SCBI to other species, including eight scimitar-horned oryx. We proved that heart monitors can be safely used in maned wolves, and generated valuable information to compare with wild wolves. In 2021, we plan to start a field study with maned wolves in Brazil.

The Rhythm of Life Project was made possible with generous support from Medtronic.

Ashley Goetz is a web content writer at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, where she translates animal care research and conservation science into compelling stories. Ashley earned a bachelor’s degree in public communication with a minor in marine biology from American University. When she isn’t at the Zoo, she spends her time traveling, crocheting and watching reruns of “Parks and Recreation” with her two cats.

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allan0817-blog · 5 years

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The Concerto of Digital Technology and Nostalgic Surges in The Wandering Earth (2019)

During the traditional Spring Festival this year, I found everyone around me and onChinese social media were talking about a film named The Wandering Earth (2019). Released in February 2019, the film in total gained a box office of 4.66 billion RMB and remained the first in the Chinese film history until early September (Dempsey, 2019). As a Chinese disaster film, it won tremendous attention in a short period and after semester’s study when we touched upon the relationship between digital technology and film development, I thought it might be a good chance to review back on the digital affordances and nostalgic surges represented in this film, since it organically integrated both elements. I will thus make analysis over some selected screen text of the film to discuss that the digital era brings many new affordances while it also has ushered a surge of nostalgia.

Though a sci-fi film, the topic of the film is nothing new since it allows people to reconsider the fate of human being against the background where environmental threat becomes more and more imminent in the recent future. As scientists have found that the sun is rapidly aging and expanding, so that the entire solar system including the earth will be devoured within a short time. In order to save themselves, human has put forward a bold plan named ‘Wandering Earth’ which is to build tens of thousands of engines on the surface of the earth to push the earth away from the solar system to run into another habitat. As this plot suggests, the film contains many scenes of human trying to help and save themselves in the course of the race against time.

Reflecting on the success of the film, I would say its engagement with all kinds of digital technologies presented in exquisite visual language are indeed an eye opener. As the director of the film remarked on the press conference that there were in total 2,003 special effects scenes throughout the whole film with 75% of which were produced by Chinese companies (Liu, 2019). In recent years with the rise of digital technology development in China, the country became more and more confident to compete with Hollywood blockbusters that were filled with special effects. Scholars claimed that the success of this film served as a milestone in the history of Chinese sci-fi film and its treatment with the digital elements presented in the CG is unique. Indeed, the digital era has profoundly influenced the development of China, and it is no exception in Chinese film industry as it intends to further immerse in digital means to present the story. If to analyze the design of the digital asset of the film, however, it is not expressed in a very futuristic sci-fi ambience; instead, it tries to balance the sense of sci-fi and the daily life of people so that the film scenes will not be too far-fetched from reality.

For instance, the carrier in the film plays a vital role and shows up in many different shots. As a digital asset, the carrier can be regarded as an important digital role in the film. In the time when the rescue team faces with difficulty, the carrier shoulders the role to save the lives of the comrades and transport materials in urgency, and thus the carrier literally becomes a carrier of humanity and the bonding of human affection.The design and production of the carrier experiences from many versions of revision to balance its sense of futurism and its physical function to render it more practical functionality. The final look it presents in the film embraces both a touch of futuristic machinery and a sort of form that we can easily associate with tanks or armored car that are ubiquitous in modern civilization.

In the interior scene of the carrier, the design is also different from the commonplace AR elements that we can conveniently identity in Hollywood counterparts. Such design, according the visual director of the film, it to shorten the distance with the audience so that it is easier for them to believe the scenes captured in the film is something authentically happening in the daily life (Sun, 2019).

Elements such as are numerous throughout the film, and indeed digital affordances are part and parcel to the success of the film, and yet many people argue that the film is essentially a nostalgic film by situating in a future context while still heavily relying on the social traditions and practices that are commonplace in the society. Even though the film is set in the year 2075, while many details in the film still seem to inform the audience that even 50 more years will pass and human will step into a new stage of digital technology development, many habits and practices of human will still remain the same, and such practices and habits are filled with nostalgic feelings and are bonded by the intimate relationship and fate shared by humans. For instance, there is repeated line in the film, which automatically speaks when the engine of the carrier is started: “Routes are countless. Safety is foremost. With unregulated driving, your loved ones might end up in tears.” This line is exactly the same from what we can hear from the travel tips sent by the Beijing Traffic Commission today, which tries to warn people that safe driving is showing one’s responsibility towards his or her family.

There are many other details that are kept the same with modern human life experience such as the steering wheel of Western vehicles is on the right whereas it is on the left in Chinese vehicles, so that we do not see a vehicle in the film driven by people of different nationalities look very exotic or with an extremely sci-fi look that it even looks like a shape or design comes out of vacuum. Every detail is thus faithful to our experience. Moreover, in the following screenshot one can identify the annual safety check stick of the vehicle, which is normal practice in Chinese vehicles as all kinds of vehicles need to go through the annual check to ensure that its condition is qualified for running.

Interestingly enough, in the following screenshot we can see that the computer is run under the Windows system.

According to Routledge et al. (2013), nostalgia is cross-cultural, age and social groups and serve as a universal mental experience of human. With the rapid development of digital technology, it offers human with chances and opportunities to enrich their lifestyles so that the ways we access and display information through various newly appeared mediums can be very different, and yet nonetheless people still possess such nostalgic feeling in dimensional means. In a sense, the film tries to imply that nostalgia is a respect towards human experiences. All kinds of artefacts that I have listed have their respective roots in its social cultures, which are with human for hundreds of years. In the digital era, the development trend is pointing us to the future while future does not end in a land we have never seen before. Human will take their memory, experiences and love with others towards the future, while digital technology is only the momentum but not the purpose. That explains why the film starts with the astronaut’s words for his son: when you look up at the stars, you will know one of the stars is me. Human looks up at the sky for the future with their deepest nostalgic feeling kept at the bottom of their hearts.

References List

Dempsey, P. (2019). Big screen the wandering earth: The wandering earth. Engineering & Technology, 14(3), 74-75.

Liu, Y. (2019, August). Prospects of the Chinese" Imagination" Movies with Sci-Fi as a Striker. In 5th International Conference on Arts, Design and Contemporary Education (ICADCE 2019). Atlantis Press.

Routledge, C., Wildschut, T., Sedikides, C., & Juhl, J. (2013). Nostalgia as a resource for psychological health and well‐being. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 7(11), 808-818.

Sun, Y. (2019). Analysis on the Digitalization of Film Art in the New Media Age. Argos, 36(72).

Appendix

1. Image 1: Behind-the-scene of The Wandering Earth (2019). Retrieved Sep 4, 2019 from:

https://piaofang.maoyan.com/feed/news/58680

2. Image 2: The carrier.Retrieved Sep 4, 2019 from:

https://piaofang.maoyan.com/feed/news/58680

3. Image 3: The interior scene of the carrier. Retrieved Sep 4, 2019 from:

https://piaofang.maoyan.com/feed/news/58680

4. Image 4: The screen of the carrier showing the line “Routes are countless. Safety is foremost. With unregulated driving, your loved ones might end up in tears.” Retrieved Sep 4, 2019 from:

https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1627152002933927279&wfr=spider&for=pc

5. Image 5-6: The annual check stick of the vehicle. Retrieved Sep 4, 2019 from:

https://user.guancha.cn/main/content?id=84548&s=fwzxfbbt

6. Image 7: Computer run under the Windows system. Retrieved Sep 4, 2019 from:

https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1627152002933927279&wfr=spider&for=pc

7. Image 8: Students wearing blue-and-white traditional uniform. Retrieved Sep 4, 2019 from:

https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1627152002933927279&wfr=spider&for=pc

8. Image 9: Citizens playing Mahjong. Retrieved Sep 4, 2019 from:

https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1627152002933927279&wfr=spider&for=pc

9. Image 10: International staffs longing for motherland food. Retrieved Sep 4, 2019 from:

http://m.sohu.com/a/294260977_100276873/

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wheremyscalesslither · 7 years

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An Excellent Summation on Ball Pythons Myths and the call for Enrichment by Francis Cosquieri

Below is a very long, but detailed explanation of the myths of keeping ball pythons in small tubs and how enrichment directly benefits snakes and other reptiles.

[This guy wrote it in this facebook group on this post]

Mobile users, please click the tumblr source for the entire post.

Royal Pythons are not actually all THAT sedate - the idea of the "sedentary" Royal Python that spends its life in dark holes has been bandied about for a few decades because the snakes aestivate in burrows during the hottest parts of the year, and this is when they are easiest for the trappers to locate. This does not mean they spend their whole lives underground, nor does it mean they are "ambush predators" that sit and wait most of their lives - on the contrary they are surprisingly active "search hunters" that happen to do most of their hunting at night and, in the case of adult females, hunt in burrows for rodents. Males and smaller animals exhibit a completely different mode of hunting - they climb trees and target a completely different source of food. We know this from a variety of sources: "Survey of the status and management of the Royal Python (Python regius) in Ghana" lists pythons being found in trees, although points out that the species is very adaptable to the point of being semi-invasive and responds well to anthropogenic disturbance. It also mentions a specimen being found up a tree. "Food resource partitioning of a community of snakes in a swamp rainforest of south-eastern Nigeria" lists woodpeckers and warblers (both consummately arboreal species that do not spend much if any time on the ground) as among the most numerous prey retrieved from Royal Python stomach (Cisticola warblers were the single prey genus that had the highest number found in Royal Pythons during the survey). "Why do males and females of Python regius differ in parasite load" points out that males (which are more arboreal) carry different and much higher parasite loads than females, possibly as a result of the differences in habitat use. "Jebels By Moonlight" lists a first hand observation of a Royal Python hunting in a tree in Sudan. "Sexual size dimorphism and natural history traits are correlated with intersexual dietary divergence in royal pythons (python regius) from the rainforests of southeastern Nigeria" - half of the male pythons encountered over a two year period were found on trees. The diet of male pythons under a certain size had a huge percentage of birds and arboreal mammals. "Species trade and conservation: Snake trade and conservation management (Serpentes.spp.) An assessment of the impact of the pet trade on five CITES-Appendix II case studies" lists the species as being both terrestrial and tree-dwelling animals. The fact is Royal Pythons are extraordinarily adaptive snakes that can tolerate a wide variety of habitats and are not negatively affected by anthropogenic change to the same extent as many other reptiles are. They can be terrestrial AND semi-arboreal depending on the habitats they inhabit, although according to studies by authors such as Luca Luiselli they reach their highest population densities in forested areas as opposed to grassland. It is worth noting that males especially seem to have adapted to fit a different niche to the larger females to the point that diet composition is almost totally different in several studies, and includes a significant percentage of birds and arboreal mammals that are most likely being stalked and captured in trees at night. They are also picking up a completely different parasite load because of this! Within the confines of a terrarium, there is no reason whatsoever to not provide at least one or two branches for the snake to climb on. Nor is there no reason not to provide overhead lighting or UV. It is simply common sense. To quote Frances Baines from another post on the subject in this group , "Why, for example, do we have to find a 1961 book on African Reptiles (by G. S. Cansdale) to find that the Royal Python "in the wild is often encountered sunning in bright light" (quoted by Sillman, A.J., Carver, J.K. and Loew, E.R., 1999. The photoreceptors and visual pigments in the retina of a boid snake, the ball python (Python regius). Journal of Experimental Biology, 202(14), pp.1931-1938. Indeed that was my experience also with at least one specimen I found in the wild! (Another good point there - Royal Pythons see UV very well. That is not really something you would expect a nocturnal animal to do). Personally I think if people like the security and humidity of a tub for their Royals - put one with an access hole inside the vivarium and let the animal decide where it wants to be. That pretty much approximates a burrow with a constant temperature and humidity in a much drier environment. If the snakes like security and confined spaces soooooooo much, they surely would never come out, right? Having tried this myself, and having seen first hand other people's enclosures offering a choice of places to climb, correct lighting, and an enriched habitat - along with seeing how the snakes themselves respond to it - I simply cannot see how anybody thinks a sterile tub with newspaper compares,

There are actually no specific papers regarding enrichment studies in Royal Pythons that I am aware of, however there ARE very convincing ones for a wide range of other snakes including Jamaican Boas and Burmese Pythons that are fairly categoric on the effect enrichment has on these animals. As a result, there is actually quite a lot of evidence that it DOES matter if a snake uses everything in its enclosure and is given an enriched environment as opposed to a sterile one.... there is simply NO way to refute the accumulated body of evidence on that score whatsoever. Whatsmore, the notion that "there is no way of telling whether the snake is happier/ acting differently" or that "the snake won't act naturally" is quite mistaken - reptiles provide a unique opportunity to investigate the influence of experience and the environment on behaviour. Their very morphology and dependence on real variables such as temperature link them to both physical forces and the spatial configuration of their environment and thus, they may be particularly responsive to environmental manipulations via enrichment. Most importantly, they are precocial and typically do not live in social groups thus eliminating this confounding variable in enrichment studies. What this means is that it is actually very easy to study behavioural changes and preferences in these animals and there have been quite a few studies presented that attempt to do just that by behaviourally testing snakes housed in enriched and standard conditions. I can list some very good papers here that are well worth checking out for those that are not sure whether there really is a difference for reptiles kept in enriched enclosures, many of them available for free on this page: Environmental Enrichment Alters the Behavioral Profile of Ratsnakes (Elaphe) Lynn M. Almli and Gordon M. Burghardt Habitat Manipulation in Hunting Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Species) Pitman B and Clarke R. Some Observations on Snakes Riot Takatsuki, Psychological Institute, Keijo Imperial University. The importance of enrichment for advancing amphibian welfare and conservation goals: A review of a neglected topic Christopher J. Michaels , J. Roger Downie, and Roisin Campbell-Palmer Using student-centred research to evidence- base exhibition of reptiles and amphibians: three species-specific case studies Rose, Nash, Ferguson et al. Experiments of Odor Enrichments Affect Behavior of Species of Snakes Mao Jie Zuo Zhili Yang Xiaoyi Cheng Jian Xie Yi (Chengdu Zoo & Chengdu Wildlife Research Institute,Chengdu,610081,China) Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 391 - 398 A Critical Review of Zoo-based Olfactory Enrichment Does Enrichment Improve Reptile Welfare? Leopard Geckos (Eublepharis macularius) respond to Five Kinds of Environmental Enrichment Bashaw, Gibson et al. The physiological and behavioural impacts of and preference for an enriched environment in the eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) Beth C. Casea,*, Gregory A. Lewbarta, Phillip D. Doerrb An Assessment of Environmental Enrichment on Morphology and Behavior of Yearling Rat Snakes (Elaphe obsoleta). ***8220; Almli, Lynn M., 2004. Master***8217;s Thesis, University of Tennessee Corticosterone suppresses immune activity in territorial Galápagos marine iguanas during reproduction. Berger, S. et al., 2005. Hormones and Behavior, Environmental enrichment and cognitive complexity in reptiles and amphibians: Concepts, review, and implications for captive populations. Burghardt, G. M., 2013. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Problem of reptile play: Environmental enrichment and play behavior in a captive Nile soft-shelled turtle, Trionyx triunguis. Burghardt, G. M., Ward, B. & Rosscoe, R., 1996. , Zoo Biology Personality Traits Are Expressed in Bullfrog Tadpoles during Open-Field Trials. Carlson, B. E. & Langkilde, T., 2013. Journal of Herpetology Visual discrimination and reversal learning in rough-necked monitor lizards (Varanus rudicollis).. Gaalema, D. E., 2011. Journal of Comparative Psychology Using Operant Conditioning and Desensitization to Facilitate Veterinary Care with Captive Reptiles. Hellmuth, H., Augustine, L., Watkins, B. & Hope, K., 2012. Exotic Animal Practice Spatial learning of an escape task by young corn snakes, Elaphe guttata guttata, Holtzman, Harris et al, 1999. Animal Behaviour Vol. 57, Issue 1 From slither to hither: Orientation and spatial learning in snakes. Holtzman, D. A., 1999. Integrative Biology Investigatory behavior in snakes, II: Cage cleaning and the induction of defecation in snakes Chiszar, Wellborn et al, 1980. Animal Learning and Behaviour, Vol 8. Issue 3 Spatial learning of an escape task by young corn snakes,Elaphe guttata guttata. Holtzman, D. A., Harris, T. W., Aranguren, G. & Bostock, E., 1999. Animal Behaviour Environmental Enrichment for Dendrobatid Frogs. Hurme, K. et al., 2003. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science Operant conditioning in the indigo snake. Kleinginna Jr., P. R., 1970. Psychonomic Science Zoo-Academic Collaborations: Physiological and Psychological Needs of Reptiles and Amphibians. Kreger, M. D., 1993. Herptologica Behavioural flexibility and problem-solving in a tropical lizard. Leal, M. & Powell, B. J., 2011.Biology Letters Experimental evaluation of environmental enrichment of sea turtles. Therrien, C. L., Gaster, L., Cunningham-Smith, P. & Manire, C. A., Zoo Biology 2007 An experimental test of the link between foraging, habitat selection and thermoregulation in black rat snakes Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta G Blouin-Demers, Journal of Animal Ecology 2001 Assessing environmental enrichment for juvenile Jamaican boas Epicrates subflavus Stejneger, 1901 Dodo, Journal of the Jersey Wildlife and Preservation Trust 1996 Investigatory behavior inthe plains garter snake (Thamnophis radix) and several additional species Chiszar, Carter et al, 1976. Animal Learning and Behaviour, Vol 4, Issue 3 Each of these studies (and there are many more, this is really just a sampling) presents a different example of how experimental procedure can be used to infer preference and the effects of enrichment among reptiles and amphibians. In short, there may be no paper specifically on the effects of enrichment on Royal Pythons (YET) but to expect that because of this the evidence for it is inconsequential would be a gross misunderstanding and misapplication of the evidence provided above (some of which concerns other pythons and boas). One more point to make to wrap up this post - many will state that "breeding" in tubs is evidence that they are adequate. In fact there is recent evidence presented that long-term stressful environments can encourage breeding in snakes (biologically this is a sound strategy - in an inhospitable environment, producing as many offspring as possible so that there is a greater chance at least some will survive is a common reproductive strategy!). So the idea that people having successes breeding this hardiest of pet snakes, which is known to be so adaptive as to be semi-invasive in parts of the world, is not really that strong evidence at all.

#enrichment #tiny tubs #tiny tub discourse #ball python myths

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hedgehogsofasgard · 7 years

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How to tame your hedgehog

African pygmy hedgehogs are becoming more popular as pets and with this rises the question on how to handle them. A quick glance at hedgehog fora and Facebook groups shows threads and posts titled “my hedgehog doesn’t like me” or “my hedgehog hates me”, “anti-social hedgehog”, “very angry hedgehog” and so on.

In order to understand the behaviour of our pets we have to look at the animal itself. What kind of animal is the hedgehog?

First off, hedgehogs do not “hate” people, nor are they “angry”. They are physically incapable of feeling such a human emotion. When handling hedgehogs we need to be careful not to project our own emotions and feelings onto the animal; this does not help us understand the needs of our pets. Instead, we need to go back to the root of it all: the natural instincts and behaviour of the hedgehog.

African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris) became more widely available to the exotic pet trade around the late 80′s/early 90′s in the US (and a decade or more later to other parts of the world). This isn’t that long ago. We need to realize our pet hedgehogs are not fully domesticated yet - in fact, they’re basically still the same (behaviour-wise, at least) as their wild cousins. I have seen wild caught animals which were more “social” than captive bred ones, and the other way around. This is also why I chose the word tame for the title of this post. While they might be captive born, our pets are still quite wild. We cannot compare hedgehogs to animals we share an extensive, sometimes thousands of years old relationship with. But besides that, hedgehogs will most likely never become like a dog or a guinea pig simply because certain behavioural treats are not in their nature. Learning how to handle your hedgehog starts with having the right expectations of its behaviour.

Hedgehog behaviour

Hedgehogs are relatively small prey animals. They are nocturnal, spend the nights foraging for food and sleep in their burrows during the day. They are solitary animals and only come together to mate. They are not aggressive by nature but have a marvellous defence instead: thousands of sharp quills. When threatened, they roll into a tight ball and wait until the predator has left (or in rare cases, fight, but only if they’re forced to).

So what does this mean for someone who has a pet hedgehog?

1. Do not expect a similar bond as with e.g. a dog. Dogs are social animals that were bred from an animal that lives in packs. Hedgehogs are solitary. They are not social by nature. They do not need you and while they might get used to you being around, you’re mainly the Food Bringer and the Warm Thing To Sleep On but little more. There will not be much interaction. Your hedgehog will not come up to you when you call its name nor will it “love” you as its owner, simply because it can’t.

2. Being defensive prey animals, you can seem threatening to them. Balling up is an automatic response to a possible threat. This is totally normal hedgehog behaviour.

3. Since they’re nocturnal all they want to do during the day is sleep, not interact with you. And they do not interact or play the way some other mammals do. Most of the time you’re spending together will consist of the hedgehog either running around and doing stuff on its own, or sleeping on your lap.

These things are all very important in helping you understand the behaviour of your hedgehog. There are reasons your hedgehog is displaying these behaviours and if you know those reasons, you can use them to make your hedgehog feel more comfortable around you. Arguably, other than looking cute hedgehogs don’t really have much going for them when it comes to being what most people think of as a “good pet”. They are definitely not suitable for everyone, but if they’re your type of pet they can be very interesting and wonderful animals to have!

Tips on handling/taming your hedgehog

Before I start I’d like to point out that every hedgehog is different and there’s not just one right way when it comes to handling. This is how I do it, coming from my experience with captive bred and wild caught (as well as actual wild hedgehogs) and from well socialized to not socialized at all. Besides the socialization of hoglets by the breeder, character plays a major part in hedgehog behaviour. Some hedgehogs seem to be naturally social and more open towards interaction (or at least let you interact with them) while others will remain more defensive for their entire lives. The key with hedgehogs is patience. Do not expect a hedgehog to stop huffing and balling up within a week. If you just got a hedgehog it will need to get used to its new environment and owner, which takes time. How much time varies. Some will get used to you within a few weeks, others take months. “Used to you” is also relative, as this doesn’t necessarily mean your hedgehog will stop balling up or quit huffing at you entirely - that’s very unlikely, since this is normal hedgehog behaviour.

Hedgehogs have bad eyesight and rely mainly on their excellent noses. You can make use of this by giving your hedgehog an old, worn t-shirt which has your scent on it. Alternatively, if you don’t have an old shirt, you can sleep with a piece of fleece in your bed for a day or two and give that to your hedgehog. By putting this in the enclosure for the hedgehog to sleep in it will get more used to your scent.

The more you handle your hedgehog, the faster it’ll get used to handling. Don’t be afraid to handle your hedgehog; use your bare hands or a piece of fleece but no (leather) gloves, because then your hedgehog won’t be able to smell you properly. Do not reward unwanted behaviour (such as biting or extensive huffing/clicking) by putting the hedgehog back into its enclosure. Instead, enforce positive behaviour, e.g. by offering treats like live insects (I always use tongs so they do not mistake my hands for food).

Some people prefer a more “manhandling” way when handling hedgehogs, I personally don’t really like this for most hedgehogs but it’s a thin line: after all, you’re always forcing your pet to be with you when you get it out. If a hedgehog clearly shows it doesn’t like to be petted on the quills, I don’t go on petting it that way. But I don’t put it back either. Instead, I try to search for a way of handling with which this particular hedgehog is more comfortable right now. And yes, sometimes you have to do something they don’t particularly like, but be sure to reward positive behaviours - you don’t always need to reward with food, but it could also be simply “releasing pressure” (like giving them some space for themselves for a bit instead of continuously petting them, for example). Handling should be seen in a very broad sense. Some hedgehogs prefer to sleep when out while others are active explorers. Try to adjust your ways of handling accordingly. Because hedgehogs are nocturnal, some do much better when you take them out in the evening and/or when there’s dim lightning in the room.

When I have a new hedgehog which isn’t well socialized or simply has to get used to me and its new surroundings first I like to start by having it explore the (hedgehog safe) room or play area. I sit down on the ground and let the hedgehog do its own thing. If it likes to explore it can explore, if it likes to sleep it can sleep on my lap (most hedgehogs don’t like to sleep out in the open so a fleece bonding bag works great for this). In the following days I will start to move around more. First still in a sitting position, then walking around, so the hedgehog gets used to my movements and me simply being there without me really interacting with it directly. You can do this both when the hedgehog is exploring or in its cuddle bag on you lap. For many hedgehogs it’s a combination of the two, some explore time and then back to sleep (especially during the day). Depending on how much time I feel the hedgehog needs I keep repeating this for the following days or even weeks. With some, the slightest movement causes them to raise their quills. Others don’t react at all and could do fine with skipping these steps.

After that I start doing more “hands on” interaction, touching them more, trying to see if they mind petting on the quills or not, or the face, belly etc. Again rewarding wanted behaviour. It’s a constant search for what they really don’t like, what they tolerate, and what I think is necessary for the process. This is something you can’t just know without experience, it’s something you will have to learn and that’s completely fine! And simply being around them, having them sleep on your lap is bonding too. You might not be really doing much but the hedgehog will get used to your presence. Even if you bought a hedgehog with the intention of not handling it much (which should be fine, as long as it gets enough enrichment from its habitat) handling should be a part of hedgehog ownership. You need to be able to check for injuries, clip the nails, etc. These “medical checks” are part of my handling routine: I hold the feet, check the hedgehog all over including their teeth (if possible). Your vet will thank you for this as well! Even when I have no intention of clipping their nails I still hold their feet, not only to check them over but also to make them comfortable with me holding them, which makes for easier nail clipping.

So it all boils down to this: have lots of patience, take small steps, and don’t have expectations a hedgehog simply cannot live up to. Accept that some hedgehogs, even with extensive handling, will never be “cuddly” simply because that’s how they are. All those hedgehogs you see on the internet, the ones that are getting belly rubs and petted while looking extremely chill: these are not the majority. This is rare. And even if you see a hedgehog that tame, remember there’s a lot you’re not seeing: possibly many weeks, months or even years working towards that moment, and it still is just a few minutes out of the hedgehog’s life. They don’t show you the times the hedgehog is huffing and clicking and balling up. Don’t feel bad if yours is, be open and willing to learn about hedgehog behaviour and never stop asking questions. And most importantly, listen to your hedgehog by watching its body language, because that’s going to tell you more about your hedgehog than my posts about general hedgehog behaviour ever could!

#hedgehog #african pygmy hedgehog #hedgehog behaviour

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markscherz · 8 years

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Suggested Guidelines for Reptile Enrichment

AAZK, Enrichment Committee 2002

Note: This document is now 15 years old; I received it from the Herpdigest newsletter, and thought that it would be of interest/relevant to the herpetoculturalists on tumblr, who make up a large fraction of my followers. I present it here unaltered. Note that this is a recommendation for facilities that display reptiles, but I think it an important talking point for the herpetocultural community for ways to better improve the livelihoods of the animals they keep, particularly as tub keeping has become so widespread, especially in the US. Also this post does not necessarily reflect my own feelings on the subject; it is presented here without further comment on my part.

Reptiles in zoological institutions are often housed in areas displaying a variety of herpetological species in simulations of their diverse, natural habitats. Enrichment for reptiles may facilitate good exhibitry and husbandry, help to provide the appropriate environment for species-typical behaviors to occur and provide a level of stimulation and activity conducive to good health. The natural history of each species is important to keep in mind when developing a safe and effective enrichment program. Reptile care is highly specialized; resource materials and knowledgeable individuals should be consulted when possible and veterinary and supervisory approval sought prior to initiating enrichment that may lead to changes in animal care.

Reptiles as a group vary widely in their natural history. They are found in an array of habitats and ecological niches. They exist in the temperature extremes of the desert, the moisture of the tropical rainforest and the salinity of marine environments, to name only a few. Reptiles have adapted to each of these vastly different conditions and capitalized on the microhabitats and climatic gradations of each in order to survive. They may be aquatic, terrestrial, arboreal, or subterranean, or in many cases some combination of these depending on stage of development and time of year.

Reptiles utilize a variety of food types and feeding strategies. Species may be herbivores, insectivores, carnivores, frugivores or omnivores. Some are primarily predators while others are primarily prey; however, most are both to some extent. Therefore, placement on the food chain greatly influences a reptile’s life history strategies.

Locomotive styles include terrestrial locomotion by means of sprawling limbs, terrestrial limbless locomotion (snakes have six different recognized modes), aquatic locomotion and even aerial locomotion where species parachute or glide to their destination. Other behaviors typical of most reptiles include excavation of nests or burrows, sexual displays and territorial displays. Some of these latter behaviors may only occur in a social context, though reptiles range from gregarious crocodilians to relatively solitary chameleons.

Reptiles are ectothermic, or cold-blooded, animals. Because their body temperature is dictated by external temperature, reptiles can regulate their body temperatures through behavior. Reptile life and reproductive cycles are influenced by the availability and quantity of water. In some species the amount of moisture in the air is critical while in others, access to a pond, lake, river or estuary is essential for their health.

1) Exhibit Enrichment

Perching in most reptile enclosures is crucial in providing pathways and arboreal access for both semi and fully arboreal species. When supplied in conjunction with heat sources, perching provides an important mechanism for thermoregulation. Perches should be placed near heat sources to allow the animals to bask, with at least as many basking sites as individuals housed. Placing perches at varying distances from the heat source provides a temperature gradation that allows the animals to maintain body temperatures within a range appropriate to the species. It can also encourage locomotive behavior between sites. Providing locations that surpass the thermoptimum temperature can encourage movement in and out of that area, rather than having the animal continuously bask in the same location. Creating vertical (e.g., a rock pile, vine etc.) as well as horizontal sites can offer additional dimensions to the enclosure and stimulate climbing in some species. For example, rattlesnake species that hunt by positioning themselves above potential prey items can sometimes be stimulated to feed more often with the addition of a large, flat rock or pile of rocks on which they can rest. The emerald tree boa can develop gastrointestinal impactions and/or become obese through lack of exercise. Periodically changing the perching in its enclosure may stimulate a healthy increase in movement as the animal explores its “new”, enriched environment.

Misting, whether by hand or via an automated system, can also increase activity and assist with the shedding of skin. Water features (shallow or deep pools, water cascades etc.), where appropriate, can help make the enclosure landscape more interesting and raise the humidity level. Additions of plants, moss and soil can also help to maintain humidity and moisture.

Natural substrates such as soil, wood chips, moss, etc., can give reptiles the ability to manipulate their environments and engage in natural behaviors such as excavating a burrow or creating a nest site. Moisture, texture and temperature gradients may all play a role in the selection of a nest site. It is also important to provide the proper substrate and conditions for potentially gravid females. This can help to decrease the risk of them not depositing their eggs and becoming eggbound. Natural substrate such as bark often contains live insects, which may be discovered at a later time by a foraging animal.

Cover, an important feature for many reptilians, can be provided in ways that allow the animals to still be visible to the public. Plants can be positioned so that the leaves are both above and below the perching. Caves that are forward facing can be created using rocks and logs. These shelters help the animals feel protected while still being visible to caretakers and visitors. Providing them with more than one sheltered location across either temperature (e.g., one near a heat source and one in a cool place) or moisture gradients (e.g., one that uses moist moss, another, dry leaf litter) permits the animal to make choices while still having shelter. The addition of substrates to a cave enables the animals to modify the cave’s micro-environment by pushing substrate out or mounding it up as desired. These shelters also allow them to exist where there is less light, a welcome feature for forest floor species that may be more adapted to lower light conditions than exhibits typically provide. For some snakes the addition of a “hide box” to the enclosure promotes eating.

The minimum recommended size and relative dimensions of the enclosure will vary with the individual reptile species according to its preferred temperature range and habitat requirements. Mixed species exhibits ideally would be large enough to meet the standards of each species within it. In general, larger enclosures will be easier to design with more enriching features and be better able to provide temperature, moisture and light gradients. The larger space can also reduce bacteria build up, which can decrease the frequency with which the substrate needs to be changed. Furthermore, in some species, placing the animals in a larger enclosure space has caused long-term increases in activity level and behavioral repertoire.

2) Dietary Enrichment

Many enrichment options that have been successful with birds may also work with reptiles. Naturally rotten logs with insects inside or fake logs with time-released (on a random schedule) insects can elicit foraging behaviors. For some species such as chameleons, a daily variety of live insect prey items can be essential to healthy feeding on a regular basis and can therefore be extremely important to their health. For other species, live prey, if infrequently offered or offered as a novel item, can be very stimulating. For example, goldfish for turtles or anacondas, feeder fish for tentacle snakes or crocodiles and wild crickets and other insects from a pesticide free area, for lizards and turtles can promote foraging. Adding earthworms to a box or wood turtle’s substrate can also stimulate foraging behavior. Hand scattering of routine dietary insects can also be enriching if the quantities are unpredictable and fed at irregular intervals. Iguanas will readily feed on a variety of nontoxic browse plants. The branches can be arranged within the enclosure as temporary leafy perching, with the animals feeding on it for days or even weeks (if misted or maintained in water, the browse may stay fresh longer).

Rattlesnakes typically release their prey after striking with venom. The prey then wanders off to die, only to be tracked by the snake. The snake then engages in a high rate of tongue flicking and searching movements to locate and follow the prey’s trail. Tongue flicking is a behavior that will sometimes decline in captive snakes over time if novel stimuli are not presented. Live prey can stimulate an increase in this behavior, as can an a blood trail (made by dragging a dead prey item around the enclosure and then hiding it under substrate such as leaves or exhibit furniture). The scent trail of lactating mice may also be appealing to snakes, as tracking them in the wild would lead to a tasty litter of young. Varying the feeding schedule can lead to an increase in predatory behavior and therefore an overall increase in activity.

3) Novel Enrichment/Social Enrichment

Chemosensory behavior in snakes can be stimulated with the addition of a shed of another (healthy, parasite free, etc.) snake. This will typically elicit tongue flicking and olfactory investigation. Rotating animals into a conspecific’s enclosure (preferably of an opposite sex) can also stimulate these behaviors in species such as bushmasters. Creating either a group exhibit (many lizards are colonial) or a mixed species exhibit can also lead to a more interesting and socially complex environment, increasing the likelihood of territorial behaviors. In some social situations, such as with crocodilians, the addition of visual barriers can help to alleviate competition and stress at feeding times. Animals in mixed species exhibits such as aquatic turtles, terrestrial lizards, and arboreal snakes may benefit by occupying different strata which would minimize competition for space. In addition, exhibiting species from the same locale together can decrease the likelihood of deleterious pathogen transmission between species. Finally, using behavioral training to introduce animals to shift boxes, side shifts (clear tubes for snakes or an area off exhibit where the animals can be safely examined, can assist with husbandry, health and safe handling of the animals, as well as present them with a challenging and rewarding event.

4) Safety Considerations

A major consideration in reptile care and enrichment is that form is not equal to similarity. Two snakes can look superficially alike and yet come from entirely different habitats. It is the species’ natural history that should be considered in the implementation of enrichment. The natural history of the pine snake, for example, suggests that because this animal would have a large home range in the wild, it may require more stimulation, have a higher overall activity level and need a larger cage size than a species of montane rattlesnake occupying a much smaller territory. It is also important to avoid a super-stimulus effect. For example, a gila monster which is native to the desert, if given a bowl of water all the time, may sit in it to the extent that algae begins to form on the animal’s back. Something is triggered that would be appropriate in the wild, but would not necessarily shut off in captivity. Over misting can also be a problem for some species depending on the specific climate they were adapted for. Caution should be taken when supplying new water sources. Drowning in (relatively) deep, smooth-sided pools has been known to occur with reptiles that are not good swimmers or floaters. Baby turtles have drowned under dense moss in aquatic tanks. When new water bowls or pools are added to turtle or tortoise enclosures, it is important that the animals can right themselves from a “turned over” position in the water or they may drown. To test for this the animal should be placed in the water on its back and observed to ensure it can “flip” itself right side up. If the animal cannot do this the water depth should be increased until it can.

Enrichment in an enclosure can create new opportunities for escape or injury and therefore should be well planned out in advance. In addition, adequate ventilation must not be compromised by new items in the exhibit. Modifications to an existing habitat can create new hazards, such as drains trapping animals or perching placed too close to cage mesh causing skin abrasions. Observation following exhibit changes is critical to ensuring safe enrichment. The potential for an animal to experience stress as a result of changes to its environment should be considered. These stressors can create subtle problems that can be monitored by observing body conditions, obtaining regular weights etc..

The addition of substrates in a reptilian enclosure can provide opportunities for variety of behavior, including foraging and locomotion. However, with the exception of desert-dwelling reptiles and some aquatic turtles, sand is not recommended as a substrate because of the risk of gastrointestinal impaction if ingested. For the same reason, ground corn cob is also discouraged as a substrate. There is no single substrate that is acceptable across all terrestrial reptile species. Some may be too absorbent and cause a decrease in the humidity level in the exhibit, leading to animal dehydration; others may not absorb well enough and cause too great of a moisture build up. The frequency with which the substrate will need to be changed to maintain hygienic conditions will depend greatly on the type of substrate, the species housed with it and how they are maintained (e.g., how frequently are they misted, number of animals etc.). Gastrointestinal impaction, suffocation and providing a medium for pathogens are all risks associated with the addition of substrate to reptile exhibits.

Substrate can be a great asset in an enclosure; when used appropriately, the benefits of its use will, in most cases, far outweigh the risks.

Dietary enrichment often incorporates variety into the animals’ diets; however, this can be problematic, especially with snakes. Variety can create finicky eaters, leaving keepers without food options if a snake goes ‘off feed’. Live prey items (even crickets) also pose potential danger if not eaten immediately as they can bite and injure the animal being fed. This risk can be minimized by: 1) monitoring the situation and not leaving live prey in the enclosure for any length of time if the reptile seems uninterested, and 2) offering a live prey item food, for example, providing rodent blocks for mice which are offered as enrichment. Prey items may bite the predator out of their own hunger. Insect prey should be removed from the enclosure regularly as the nutritional value of the prey may diminish over time. When insect prey is collected locally it should be gathered from areas that have not been sprayed with pesticides. It is also important that browse offered is nontoxic and free of pesticides. The same caution employed in providing mammals and birds with browse should be used with reptiles.

Keepers should always be careful when working around and handling reptiles as even non- venomous species can have septic bites and anticoagulants in their saliva. Some people develop skin rashes from even garter snake bites as a result of a mild reaction to the snake’s saliva. Reptiles frequently carry salmonella in addition to many other transmissible pathogens that pose a risk to both humans and other reptile species. This should always be a consideration when exchanging sheds, increasing the number of conspecifics in an enclosure or forming a mixed species exhibit. When mixed species exhibits are created, care should be taken to select species that will tolerate one another well without predation, aggression, an unhealthy amount of social stress or undue dietary competition.

The implementation of new enrichment involves a number of considerations to ensure the health and well being of the animals involved. Consultations with those experienced in reptile husbandry and researching appropriate sources PRIOR to the implementation of enrichment can help prevent mistakes and greatly improve the lives of the animals.

The following are examples of enrichment that may be appropriate for reptiles, as well as an overview of safety issues that should be considered in the implementation of enrichment.

5) Exhibit Enrichment

• Perching: to allow for basking sites with temperature gradations, provide arboreal access, create vertical sites (rock piles, hanging vines), encourage climbing; changing of perching can stimulate activity and maintain a healthy environment.

• Misting (hand or automated).

• Water features: shallow pools, deep pools, water cascades, etc.

• Natural substrate: soil, wood chip, moss, leaf litter, orchid bark, sand, etc.

• Cover: plants, forward facing caves made from logs or rocks, hide boxes (feeding snakes).

• Increased enclosure size to add complexity, facilitate temperature and moisture gradations, and increase activity and behavioral repertoire of the animals.

Dietary Enrichment

• Naturally rotten logs with insects.

• Insect dispensers e.g., fake log with timed release insects on a random schedule.

• Variety of insect prey.

• Novel live prey: goldfish, feeder fish, insects.

• Scattering of routine dietary insects in unpredictable quantities and intervals.

• Varied feeding schedule of prey items.

• Scent trails: blood trails, lactating mouse odors/trails.

• Nontoxic browse (e.g., escallonia, willow) for herbivorous reptiles. -Can also be used as temporary perching while they feed.

5a) Novel Enrichment/Social Enrichment

• Snake sheds.

• Rotation of animals into conspecifics’ enclosure.

• Animals housed in natural social groupings.

• Mixed species exhibits with appropriate species.

• Visual barriers to reduce social stress and feeding competition.

• Behavioral training to introduce animals to shift boxes, tubes and squeeze chutes.

5b) Safety Considerations

• Form does not equal similarity; the natural history of each individual species should be considered.

• The super-stimulus effect should be avoided, e.g. water at all times to desert animals can cause problems.

• Over misting in some species can cause health problems.

• The potential of animals drowning in deep (relative to the species), smooth sided pools should be minimized.

• Substrate, if used improperly, can cause impaction, suffocation or be media for pathogens.

• Sand should be avoided as a substrate for most non-desert species; corn cob can cause problems if ingested.

• Dietary variety in snakes can create finicky eaters.

• Live prey items can bite and injure the animal being fed.

• Browse should be checked for pesticides and other chemicals.

• Mixed species exhibits should be designed to avoid species preying on exhibit mates, aggression, social stress and dietary competition.

• Keeper safety: even non-venomous reptiles can have septic bites and anticoagulants in their saliva. Care should be taken when working around them and handling them.

• Transmissible pathogens such as salmonella pose a risk to humans and other reptiles

Reptile enrichment guidelines compiled by Cheryl Frederick, Keeper, Woodland Park Zoological GardensAAZK National Enrichment CommitteeContributors: Paul Cowell, Keeper, Woodland Park Zoological Gardens, Dana Payne, Senior Keeper, Woodland Park Zoological Gardens Mike Teller, Lead Keeper, Woodland Park Zoological Gardens

Reviewed by:Dr. Darin Collins, Veterinarian, Woodland Park Zoological GardensJoe Martinez, Program Director and Former President New England Herpetological Society Frank Slavens, Reptile Curator, Woodland Park Zoological Gardens

#herpetoculture #reptiles #animals #snakes #lizards #long post #tl;dr #wall of text

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csrgood · 4 years

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More Children to Connect with Gardening This Spring through Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and KidsGardening Support

Now more than ever, children and families across the country need the positive experiences that gardening provides. To support this, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation is bringing the powerful benefits of gardening to 10 million children across the United States by 2023. In keeping with this goal, 175 nonprofit organizations will receive funding this spring to create or enhance youth garden programs, as part of ScottsMiracle-Gro’s annual Gro More Good Grassroots Grants with KidsGardening.

“There has never been a more important time in the history of this program for kids to experience the connection that gardening brings to a sense of family, to freshly grown food and to outdoor play. During a time with unprecedented school closures and wide-spread social distancing measures in place across the country, gardening is a chance to share in the joy that growing brings,” said Jim King, president of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation. “We know each of these grantees is on the front lines in their communities, doing critical work to connect kids to healthy food. It’s our responsibility to support their important work.”

Throughout our nation’s history, gardening has supported families and communities in times of need, the most recognizable of which may be the victory garden movement during World War I. During that time, millions of Americans gardened at home or within their community to support the war efforts, secure their own food supply and grow something beneficial during stressful times. Not unlike the victory garden movement, communities are gardening this spring to ensure children and families have access to fresh food and experience the therapeutic nature of growing during difficult, uncertain times.

"We are growing strong,” said Elizabeth Dry of Promise Community Gardens in Dallas, Texas. “We are also practicing physical distancing, as we are sharing more food than ever during this time of critical need. This funding will help us tremendously."

Recognizing the need parents may have now for additional home-learning resources, ScottsMiracle-Gro is also sharing its Gro More Good Learning Activities, a set of 72 hands-on lessons to get kids learning outside. Based on early childhood best practices, the activities were developed around the four seasons of a garden with the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center. These free lessons are available on ScottsMiracle-Gro’s website.

The Grassroots Grants and Learning Activities are part of ScottsMiracle-Gro’s larger Gro More Good initiative, which aims to bring the life-enhancing benefits of gardens and greenspaces to 10 million children by 2023. As part of Gro More Good, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation is partnering with leading nonprofit organizations, such as KidsGardening, to get more kids outside and connected to the positive benefits of outdoor play and gardening, such as increased consumption of fresh food and more physical activity.

The 2020 Gro More Good Grassroots Grants support local community garden and greenspace projects that directly engage youth. Some highlights from this year’s list of grantees include:

Glendale Commons Community Garden, Phoenix Community Development Services, Peoria, IL

Helping formerly homeless families build the skills needed for a healthy and more stable life, Phoenix Community Development Services is partnering with their local Junior League to establish a community garden on a vacant lot adjacent to Glendale Commons Housing Complex. The goal is not only to increase youth access to healthy foods in the short term, but also to provide them with the skills to improve eating behaviors and empower them with the knowledge to grow their own food into the future.

The John C. Holmgreen Center School Garden, Northside Independent School District, San Antonio, TX

Comprised of students enrolled in special education programs and whose life circumstances makes it difficult for them to succeed academically, behaviorally, and socially on their regular school campuses, the garden at the Holmgreen Center will provide opportunities for experiential and social/emotional learning, as well as access to healthy food. With over two-thirds of students considered at-risk, the program will focus on the therapeutic benefits of gardening and be used to help students with the development of skills in teamwork and behavior management that will help them to return to their home campuses.

Bee Kind Community Garden, Salmon Valley Stewardship, Salmon, ID

The Bee Kind Community Garden brings youth and adults together to develop a pollinator habitat pathway to teach about the importance of pollinator friendly landscapes and the part they play in protecting our food systems. In partnership with a diverse group of community partners, the garden will teach participating youth and the whole community about the services that pollinators provide and offer a variety of hands-on learning opportunities and experiences.

Community Action Programs Cayuga/Seneca Early Childhood Garden, Auburn, NY

Community Action Programs Cayuga/Seneca is expanding its Early Head Start/Head Start garden to increase opportunities for hands-on, inquiry-based learning into their academic curriculum while also teaching children and their families about food production and nutrition, including how to grow their own fresh fruits and vegetables at home. The garden will support the organization in reaching the goal of making sure every child is mentally, physically and emotionally ready for school and also provide meaningful parent engagement activities. Through the program, educators hope to teach students how to be stewards of their environment and support families in adopting healthier dietary behaviors.

“We are so impressed by the amazing work being done by this year’s Gro More Good Grassroots Grantees,” said Rachel Stein, executive director of KidsGardening. “KidsGardening strongly believes there is a critical need to support these programs and the work they are doing to get more children into the garden, growing healthy food, and having positive experiences with the natural world.”

Because of the unforeseen challenges due to COVID-19, the uses for Gro More Good Grassroots Grant funds were broadened to allow organizations to use the funding for garden spaces, education and emerging needs in their community due to the novel coronavirus. A full list of the 2020 Gro More Good Grassroots Grantees is available at kidsgardening.org/2020-gromoregood-grassroots-grant/.

For more information on The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation’s Gro More Good initiative, visit www.GroMoreGood.org

For educational garden resources for children from ScottsMiracle-Gro and KidsGardening, visit: http://gromoregood.com/activities kidsgardening.org/garden-ideas-kids-parents-teachers/

About The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation

The mission of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation is to inspire, connect and cultivate a community of purpose. The Foundation is deeply rooted in helping create healthier communities, empower the next generation, and preserve our planet. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that funds non-profit entities that support its core initiatives in the form of grants, endowments and multi-year capital gifts. For more information, visit www.scottsmiraclegrofoundation.org.

About KidsGardening

Our mission is to ensure all kids have access to a garden in which to play, learn, and grow, engaging their natural curiosity and wonder. We offer inspiration and support to educators and families by way of grants, original educational resources, and by cultivating a community of practice. For more information, visit www.kidsgardening.org

source: https://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/44716-More-Children-to-Connect-with-Gardening-This-Spring-through-Scotts-Miracle-Gro-Foundation-and-KidsGardening-Support?tracking_source=rss

#CSR #corporate social responsibility #social good #philanthropy #employee engagement #workplace givi

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dorothydelgadillo · 6 years

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5 Eye-Opening Marketing Takeaways from IMPACT Live 2018

IMPACT Live was one of the best marketing conferences I’ve been to in a long time.

While you may be thinking, “Sure, you work for IMPACT, of course, you’ll say that,” but I’ll be honest with you -- I was an IMPACT Live skeptic.

Seeing the massive amount of time, energy, and money our team was pouring into this event conference for months and months, I wasn’t totally sold on this conference being worth it.

However, as I sit here writing this article, I couldn’t be more grateful to have been a part of it.

The inspiration I took from meeting all the people who came to learn and grow during those two days, the amount I learned from the sessions, the time I spent networking and meeting with people from across the industry, it all was absolutely invaluable.

If I were to boil down what I learned at IMPACT Live 2018 into 5 takeaways, though, they would have to be the following.

1. Marketing is a Game of Assumptions

“The less we assume and the more we ask, the more we succeed.”

It might seem like common sense when you read those words, but when HubSpot’s Kipp Bodnar said them on the stage, they hit me like a ton of bricks.

I immediately thought back to the hours of meetings I’ve been in where strategic choices were hotly debated all in the abstract.

People slammed tables defending their ideas (citing experiences they had in past companies or past campaigns that made them absolutely certain their idea would work this time around but without a single bit of user data to back them up).

Kipp Bodnar’s example of this phenomenon was how they transformed their lead nurturing strategy into a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ novel.

The first email they sent in the nurture campaign asked people what they wanted to learn more about, then triggered branching logic to classify recipients into different categories based off of this.

Once they followed through with giving people what they said they wanted, open rates skyrocketed.

Seems like common sense, but sometimes the simplest conclusions are the hardest at which to arrive.

2. Never Underestimate the Power of a Community

In the opening session of the conference, Marcus Sheridan’s introduced the new ‘Inbound Manifesto’ which included Community as one of the core pillars.

Following this trend, one the most insightful sessions of the conference was IMPACT’s own, Stephanie Casstevens’ “Building and Maintaining an Engaged Online Community.”

If you’re interested in building trust and helping people (which every organization should be in some respect), investing in a community is a no-brainer.

Need ideas for content? Ask the community. Need feedback on a new campaign idea? Ask the community. Need intel on your competition? Ask the community.

Investing in a robust and active community where all you’re looking to do is help will pay off in spades.

It helps people learn from each other in an environment built and influenced by you and your brand.

It will give you a rare opportunity to observe your customers in their natural habitat, which will help you learn how to better solve for their needs.

It will also help them feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves, boosting their loyalty and your likelihood of retention (and according to HubSpot’s recent customer acquisition study, it costs anywhere from 5 to 25 times more to acquire a new customer than to retain an existing one.)

Our Facebook Group, IMPACT Elite has been a massive success story for us, and it’s all because we decided to commit to fully supporting it.

Stephanie outlined several key tactics to make a community successful such as being present, responding to the community’s needs and questions, and using tools like video to humanize the entire experience.

3. Video is the Future Present

During our block of sessions about video and its place in the modern marketplace, the message couldn’t have been more clear: Incorporating video into your sales and marketing efforts is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity.

If you’re not investing in video as a core part of your marketing efforts to build awareness of your brand, be helpful to your customers and prospects by giving them valuable information, and engage with them during all sections of the sales process, you’re going to get left behind by the competition.

Tyler Lessard from Vidyard broke down the essentials of what kinds of video you should be creating —Hype, Help, HOLY SH*T—and the effect empowering your sales and marketing teams to create their own videos can have.

IMPACT’s Zach Basner broke down ’The Video 6,’’, and Marcus Sheridan hit the audience with some compelling stats around how prolific video will be by as early as 2019 – 80% of all online content consumed will be video—as well as that social video content is 1200% more likely to be shared than text and images.

And if Tom DiScipio’s session on how our team uses GoVideo didn’t make attendees want to immediately spin up a trial version of GoVideo for their sales teams, I don’t know what could. Check out this article from him on the topic if you don’t believe me.

4. Content Marketing Favors the Bold

"Your story is the start of what sets you apart.”

If I took one thing from Ann Handley’s keynote on content marketing, “The Big, Bold, Brave New World of Content Marketing,” it was doing the same old boring content won’t connect with customers like it used to.

The world is an increasingly competitive place when it comes to the fight for attention (and it’s getting worse every day).

The marketing messages that will ultimately stand out are the ones that aren’t afraid to grab people’s attention. Whether they be funny, surprising, thought-provoking, revelatory, or simply emotional, those are the messages that connect, are remembered, and talked about.

Ann referenced the Humane Society of Silicon Valley’s campaign around Eric and Peety that got 75 million views and the ultimate in brave marketing campaigns, ‘Do Your Partner’ by Plum Organics.

Both campaigns broke through the noise to leave a lasting impression on their target audiences generating millions of impressions and building immeasurable brand loyalty because of their bold narratives.

They touched upon controversial or emotional subject matter people may not always feel comfortable talking about (i.e. couples’ sex lives after having children) and started a conversation. People felt they could relate to these brands because they understood their pain points and didn’t shy away from addressing them.

A core piece of any strategy to create viral moments is giving people a story to tell about your brand. These two campaigns knocked that out of the park.

5. Helpfulness Should Be In Every Value Prop

One thing I heard on the Live stage that really resonated with me deeply was when IMPACT CEO, Bob Ruffolo, responded to the idea that agencies in the crowd might be ‘stealing’ IMPACT’s ideas or try to steal our clients.

Bob’s response? Steal away.

Bob’s conclusion (and this is a HUGE reason why I love working at IMPACT) was if what we do for our clients is so easy to replicate, and our product is so undifferentiated, we need to do better.

If what we’re offering to the marketplace is so easy to find that us simply talking about it on stage at a conference lets our competitors beat us out for new business as a result, we’re doing something terribly wrong.

The reason why I found this so impactful is transparency and helpfulness are two core components of any successful inbound culture at any company.

If a company isn’t willing to share information to help their core audience of prospects and customers succeed, they’ll never get anywhere with inbound marketing.

Helping people succeed is what inbound is all about. Once people genuinely trust that you’re here to help them, that’s where the real sales process begins.

When companies claim it’s not in their interest to share what makes them special, they’re only preventing themselves from gaining new business.

….

All five of these points speak to the inbound manifesto:

As inbound professionals, we share four main beliefs:

Trust is the most important currency in business.

There is power in community.

There is always room for growth.

By doing our best to make people and their organizations successful, we will:

Make the world a better place

Enrich the lives of those around us

Inspire others to pay it forward

Achieve long-term success for ourselves

Inbound is a culture, a philosophy that all of us are constantly helping grow and evolve. IMPACT Live was an opportunity to rally behind this movement of like-minded individuals and help contribute to something big.

IMPACT Live 19 will be the next chapter of that evolution. Will you be there?

from Web Developers World https://www.impactbnd.com/blog/marketing-takeaways-from-impact-live-2018

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why-animals-do-the-thing · 6 years

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Hiya! I have a question. Why is there seemingly such a difference in "quality" between marine mammal enclosures and land mammal enclosures? I've always found it confusing that, for example, tigers in zoos usually have enclosures that mimic their natural habitat, but often all dolphins have is concrete/glass + water. Even fish often have more "natural" enclosures than they do! So I was just wondering if there's any reason for this difference? Thank you for any help, Have a great day :)

There are actually a bunch of reasons, so that’s a really good question!

Let’s start with the simplest. Think of the major nature documentaries you’ve probably seen - the wide-angle shots of cetaceans underwater probably have looked something like this:

Large, deep marine mammal exhibits are trying to replicate this sort of habitat - the open water column. For a lot of cetacean species, even if they do dive deep, they don’t generally spend a ton of time interacting with things on the bottom of the ocean, so that hasn’t been built into the design. Exhibits for cetacean species that tend to spend more time around reefs (which I’ll touch on a bit later) and non-cetacean marine mammals who live in shallower or more coastal habitats will have more rock-work and haul out areas. With terrestrial mammals, there’s all sorts of unique terrain features that can be replicated in a habitat, but for pelagic cetacean species… you’ve just got a lot of water. You see this with fish, too - reef fish have super complicated tank furniture with lots of nooks and crannies, because they use them, but pelagic fish like the tuna at the Monterey Bay Aquarium are just in a big open tank because they need the space to move. All of the other types of stimuli pelagic animals would encounter in deep open water are much more successfully supplemented through enrichment, rather than structures that are built into the design.

Now, horizontal space is just one part of enclosure design - there’s a ton more that goes into designing marine mammal enclosures.The Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums has some pretty intense standards for the exhibits at their member facilities (they appear to me to be much more stringent than even AZA accreditation standards), including things like minimum depth and surface area requirements. Here’s a snippet from their general habitat standards that gives you an idea of what goes into it:

“Space is one aspect of successfully managing an animal collection. It has historically been usedas the surrogate measure of the quality of an animal enclosure. However, quantitative spatialdimensions alone do not adequately describe overall quality of an enclosure nor always directlycorrelate with animal welfare. Variations in enclosure depth can be an important aspect ofenclosure quality for some species while surface area may be for another. Environmental design ismultifaceted, incorporating, but not limited to, depth, shape, sightlines, substrate, interconnectivity,water quality parameters and more. These designs, in tandem with animal management practices,lend to overall animal welfare that is tailored to the species, sex/age composition, and socialdynamics of the animals in the enclosure.”

When you’re seeing very “bare” or “boxy” marine mammal exhibits these days, you’re probably looking at older designs (or show pools, more on that later). It’s much harder to renovate or even just modify big aquatic habitats - not that it’s not possible, but the logistics are much more complicated, and it tends to require prolonged animal moves to other facilities. Terrestrial animals can be put in another yard during renovation, but if you have to drain an entire pool system for a prolonged time, marine mammals generally have to have somewhere else to go. This requires finding another facility which has the space, staff, appropriate specialists, and compatible social groupings of similar species to take the animals. Maintenance is done on multiple-space exhibits by draining one section at a time, or moving the animals to a medical / alternate pool at the same facility temporarily, but that’s not a feasible solution for large-scale renovations given the time it takes for construction to occur, for built rockwork and exhibit features to dry or cure, and to make sure that there are no issues with the construction once it’s exposed to water (not even counting how long it takes for big pools to drain and dry completely in the first place) - and all that has to happen before the animals can be allowed back into the space.

Here’s an example of one of the oldest exhibits I know of that’s still housing bottlenose dolphins: the Top Deck at the Miami Seaquarium. It was built in the 60′s, and it’s a deep cylinder with minimal internal features. (I can’t find an underwater viewing photo for it).

Now, likely part of why this exhibit is so deep and empty is because it was designed to be used for shows. If animals are doing high energy behaviors, rock-work gets in the way and becomes a safety hazard. (If you have people in the water, that’s doubly true - it’s really hard to gauge distance to obstacles when you have your eyes open underwater without goggles.)

One of the things that the cetacean management world has learned since this exhibit was built, too, is that most species of dolphins have very different space needs. This is where the AMMPA provisions for tailoring exhibits to species-specific needs come into play. Bottlenose dolphins do tend to spend more time around reef systems than some of the more totally pelagic species, and so more recent exhibits have incorporated aspects of those ecosystems into their habitat design. Here’s some photos of Discovery Cove at SeaWorld Orlando, which was built in the mid 1970′s- you can see how much the design has changed from the barren deep round pool design characteristic of earlier dolphinariums.

It’s much shallower, but has lots of varied depth areas, rock-work, waves, a beach, and multiple interaction areas (both trainer stations and points where public interactions are proctored). It actually used to have even more features, but things had to be taken out because they were falling apart or being destroyed.

Which brings us to the next topic: anything in a marine mammal exhibit has to be not only animal-proof, but able to stand up to prolonged immersion in saltwater. That actually severely limits what types of things can be permanent fixtures in marine mammal exhibits, and is part of the reason so much removable enrichment is utilized in those situations. You can leave a ball in with a tiger until the tiger destroys it, or a platform until it eventually starts to rot - but immerse those same objects in saltwater constantly and they’re going to start falling apart a lot more quickly.

You know how cetaceans have a reputation for being the jerks of the ocean, because they chew on pufferfish to get high and try to sex up everything? They’re equally inventive in human care, and it’s not just cetaceans that challenge their keepers with their destructive tendencies. Sea lions, walrus, even manatees - they’ll totally mess with and eventually destroy anything that’s not 100% animal-proofed. If there’s something that isn’t screwed down or tied on as tightly as humanly possible in a marine mammal exhibit, congratulations, there is now a new enrichment item for the animals.

TL;DR: Tanks look empty because pelagic animals often spend a lot of time in open water, exhibit design has changed a lot over the years, remodels / renovations are expensive and logistically complicated, and because it’s often easier to utilize enrichment that can be removed / cleaned / repaired than to install permanent fixtures that require a lot of in-situ maintenance.

#rice-chex #marine mammals #cetacean captivity #cetacean management #dolphins

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leyhejuhyunghan · 7 years

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The Met Diamond Mountains Jeong Seon (Korean, 1676–1759) General View of Inner Geumgang, Mexico Mask, Egyptian Face from Statue, museum, library, Landscape architects, GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, environmental architect, Rembrandt https://www.facebook.com/juhyung.han.5/posts/1699280493464451 https://artnouveau19com.wordpress.com/2018/02/14/jeong-seon-korean-1676-1759-general-view-of-inner-geumgang-mexico-mask-egyptian-face-from-statue-museum-library-landscape-architects-green-infrastructure-environmental-architect-rem/

Jeong Seon (artist name: Gyeomjae) (Korean, 1676–1759), 謙齋鄭敾金剛內山全圖 (謙齋鄭敾畫帖) 朝鮮 General View of Inner Geumgang; One leaf from the Album of Gyeomjae Jeong Seon, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910), ca. 1740s, Album leaf; ink and light color on silk, Image: 8 11/16 × 21 3/8 in. (22 × 54.3 cm), Lent by Waegwan Abbey, North Gyeonsang province (National Museum of Korea)

https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/view?exhibitionId=%7b819ce136-609d-427a-9d49-2d5ddd39ac7f%7d&oid=761908&pkgids=472&pg=0&rpp=20&pos=5&ft=*&offset=20

This overview composition was an innovation of Jeong’s to which he returned throughout his career. His repeated experimentation with the format—varying the size, orientation, sites included or accorded prominence, complexity of brushwork, and degree of stylization—evidences the depth of his artistic and intellectual interest in its inherent possibilities. The horizontality of this piece presents a looser and less compacted experience, encouraging the eye to meander through the scenery. Here, the dark shading around the rocky peaks gives a more pronounced chiaroscuro effect. This album had been in the collection of St. Ottilien Archabbey in Germany for some eighty years until its return to South Korea in 2006. As with all works in the exhibition, this painting is making its North American debut.

The Met‏Verified account @metmuseum Feb 7

More "Diamond Mountains: Travel and Nostalgia in Korean Art" opens to the public today. The exhibition is part of a celebration marking the 20th anniversary of the establishment of The Met's Arts of Korea Gallery. http://met.org/2nLK1rb

https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2018/diamond-mountains?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=tweet&utm_content=20180207&utm_campaign=diamondmountains

The Met‏Verified account @metmuseum Feb 8 Lacking holes for eyes and nose, this mask could not have been worn over a living face, but there are attachment holes along the edges by means of which it might have been used as a costume element or adhered as a face to a mummy or a sacred bundle. http://met.org/2E96nOn

Mask, 900–400 B.C., Mexico, Mesoamerica, Olmec, Jadeite, H. 6 3/4 x W. 6 5/16 in. (17.1 x 16.5 cm), Stone-Sculpture, Jade, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/310279?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=tweet&utm_content=20180208&utm_campaign=collections

The Met‏Verified account @metmuseum This quartzite head once belonged to a composite statue made of several different materials. Based on the color of the stone (red being the conventional color for men), the owner was originally identified as Akhenaten. http://met.org/2F2dXaV

Face from a Composite Statue, probably Queen Tiye, New Kingdom, Amarna Period, Dynasty 18, reign of Amenhotep III-Akhenaten, ca. 1353–1336 B.C., From Egypt; Probably from Middle Egypt, Amarna (Akhetaten), Quartzite, H. 13.3 cm (5 1/4 in.); W. 12.5 cm (4 15/16 in.); D. 12.4 cm (4 7/8 in.) H. of face 11 cm (4 5/16 in.), The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/544693?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=tweet&utm_content=20180214&utm_campaign=collections

From Sight to Light The Passage From Ancient To Modern Optics A. Mark Smith The University of Chicago Press, 2015 https://www.instagram.com/p/BfKwUQdBrkg/

IFLA‏ @IFLA Jan 20 Congratulations @Valletta2018, European Capital of Culture 2018! With #libraries, everywhere has the potential to become a capital of #culture #ECoC #Valletta2018

https://twitter.com/IFLA/status/954639637489770497

https://www.ifla.org/node/25586

American Society of Landscape Architects‏ @NationalASLA Feb 1 More Landscape architects plan, design, and build green infrastructure systems. GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE: CITIES

Cities need as much green infrastructure as possible, given how dense and impermeable they tend to be. In the urban environment, green infrastructure covers everything from parks to street trees and green roofs to bioswales -- really anything that helps absorb, delay, and treat stormwater, mitigating flooding and pollution downstream. Green infrastructure also creates oxygen, sequesters carbon, and creates wildlife habitat. Urban greenery has also been proven to improve mental health and well-being.

Every city should have its own green infrastructure strategy and actionable plan to make it happen. Philadelphia and New York City are leading the way with model-breaking green infrastructure plans. In Philadelphia, a comprehensive green infrastructure approach is estimated to cost just $1.2 billion over the next 25 years, compared to over $6 billion for "grey" infrastructure, a term used for the concrete tunnels created to move water. With this plan, 250 people are expected to be employed annually in green jobs. The city is expecting up to 1.5 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emission to be avoided or absorbed through green infrastructure each year, the equivalent of removing close to 3,400 vehicles from roadways. With improved air quality due to all the new trees, green roofs, and parks, communities will benefit on the social or health side, as well. The city estimates 20 deaths due to asthma will be avoided, and 250 fewer work or school days will be missed. Deaths due to excessive urban heat could also be cut by 250 over 20 years. Lastly, the economic benefits are also outstanding: the new greenery will increase property values by $390 million over 45 years, also boosting the property taxes the city takes in.

New York City’s green infrastructure plan is projected to cost $1.5 billion less than a comparable grey infrastructure approach. Green stormwater management systems alone will save $1 billion, at a cost of about $0.15 less per gallon. Also, sustainability benefits in NYC range from $139-418 million over the 20 year life of the project, depending on measures implemented. The plan estimates that “every fully vegetated acre of green infrastructure would provide total annual benefits of $8.522 in reduced energy demand, $166 in reduced CO2 emissions, $1,044 in improved air quality, and $4,725 in increased property value.”

Spotlight on urban forests

Cities have forests, too, which are an important component of urban green infrastructure systems.* Smart urban policies are needed to increase the use of appropriate or native tree and plant species and reduce the presence of noxious and invasive ones. Using native plant communities contributes to place-making and identity; native vegetation also generally requires less maintenance and irrigation. In all cases, urban trees should be chosen for durability and resilience, character, growth habit, and aesthetic value. Urban forests should also include a diversity of species to avoid mono-cultures, which reduce biodiversity and are less resilient to pests and other environmental factors that can harm or kill trees. Plant and tree professionals, advocacy groups, and government agencies can facilitate sound plant selection and planting practices. Good design blends artistic and scientific best practices to create a healthy growing environment.

Recent federal legislation recognizes the many benefits of urban trees. The Energy Conservation Through Trees Act, authored by Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA) of Sacramento, would establish a grant program with electricity providers to plant shade trees to insulate residential buildings and minimize home heating and cooling costs. The legislation would require an education and information campaign to encourage residents to maintain their shade trees over a long term; require monitoring and reporting of tree survival, growth, overall health, and estimated savings; and require tree recipients to provide stewardship and care of the trees.

*They are not, of course, the only component of urban green infrastructure. Be sure to see our sections on constructed wetlands, green streets, and green roofs & walls.

https://www.asla.org/ContentDetail.aspx?id=43535

FEB 2, 2018 Get to know Dr Phillip Roös, world-leading environmental architect

Dr Phillip Roös hopes to see more architecture embrace 'deep sustainability', where design enriches place, considers people, responds to local character and culture, and creates a healthy environment.

Dr Phillip Roös has worked all over the world, including in Africa, Europe and Australia. He now teaches architecture at Deakin University, where he had developed a unit called 'Ecological Cities and Futures' that examines ecological urbanism and design that considers the relationship between humans and nature. Roös hopes to see more architecture embrace 'deep sustainability', where design enriches place, considers people, responds to local character and culture, and creates a healthy environment.

As a senior lecturer in Architecture at Deakin University, what research projects that you are involved with could have a positive impact on the future of architecture?

A research project called ‘Biophilia and a Regenerative Pattern Language’. This research looks at the human-nature relationship (biophilia) to inform optimised design processes based on a regenerative pattern language system. This potentially can result in a new architecture and planning method that re-establishes our wholeness with nature, creating healthy built environments, and considering the vulnerabilities of a changing landscape.

https://www.therealestateconversation.com.au/profiles/2018/02/02/get-know-dr-phillip-roos-world-leading-environmental-architect/1517522364

Museum Rembrandthuis‏ @RembrandthuisMore Happy Valentine’s Day to all lovebirds from Rembrandt and his Saskia! #ValentinesDay

https://twitter.com/Rembrandthuis/status/963686943514091520

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instantlycoolturtle-blog · 7 years

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Sun Conure - Species Food, Personality & Care

New Post has been published on https://www.birdsandblossom.com/sun-conure/

Sun Conure - Species Food, Personality & Care

The Sun Conure is a medium-sized, one of the most popular brightly colored parrot habitat in the relatively small region of northeastern South America. They also occur in north Brazil, southern Guyana, and Venezuela, most travelers to coastal French Guiana.

These birds lived alongside the Amazon River in Brazil are now well-known to the sulfur-breasted parakeet. They’re very social birds, normally found in flocks. Sun conures form monogamous pairs for breeding, and nest in cavities of palm in the tropical areas.

The sun conure found in tropical inland habitats may live dry savanna forests and coastal woodlands. They typically inhabit trees with fruits and palm plantations. Cross more open savannah territories only when traveling between areas of forest.

The sun conures are one of the most popular birds of their size due to their stunning plumage, fantastic disposition and excellent quality as a companion bird. They’re active, vocal, and communicative; these birds are known for their beautiful nature.

Sun Conure Description

There are various types of sun conures, which have many colors and size, such as the Nanday Conure is the more abundant species with green plumage and black head. First feathers of sun conures are olive green, change to the yellowish-orange about at the age of 6 months.Black beaks; feet are grey, bare white rings around their eyes and a long olive-green pointed tail with a blue tip.

The males are a little brighter, flatter, square, and females have smaller and round head. Mostly birds have golden-yellow feathers with orange-red around the eyes and underparts.The wing-coverts are yellow, and green; below all the flight plumages have dark grey colors. An average sun conure weigh is about 110 grams or 4oz and 12 inches or 30 cm long. The sun conure lifespan is 30 to 35 years in captivity with an excellent diet and proper care.

Sun Conure Talking Ability

They can mimic human voices, not as some larger parrots like African grey parrot and macaw. The sun conures haven’t much-talking ability but prefer imitating sounds such as whistles, doorbells, telephones rings and perform different tricks.

Sun conure talking does not usually develop broad vocabularies, tending to learn only a few words and sentences. Talking skill and learn various tricks are quite moderate in captivity. Some sun conure never mimics any sounds, and prefer the normal range of vocalizations for their species.

Sun Conures are not very loud

Sun conure my beautiful fluffy companion bird is not very loud. Birds curious personality, they demand very much of attention from their family members, with whom they can affectionate and cuddly.

They’re extremely loving and loyal, an easy to keep and thrive in your family as a beautiful pet. Sun conures are very smart and inquisitive, require constant social interaction and mental stimulation. You should never Keep them with other bird species, make sure you have provided safe areas to walk and explore around.

The loud, high-pitched call commonly is they used to get attention to important situations or particularly at dawn and dusk. Honestly, I never find my sun conure is shrilled at these specific times.

Behavior & Personality

Like other Conure species, sun conures are very sociable and occurs typically in large groups about 25 to 30 birds. They occasionally leave the group, but when they become apart from the flock, they screech in a high-pitched call, allowing birds to talk with their group and return to them. In the wild, their call is used to communicate with other birds miles away.

These birds are relatively quiet while eating, but well-known to be very loud and make shrill sounds when in traveling. They can fly many miles in a day, and they are rapid and nonstop flyers.

The sun conure in a flock roost, feed each other, preen, and bath throughout the day. They move on the trees with their beaks for additional support. They also have the skill to use their feet to help hold, observe, or eat foods.

During molt sun conures are uncomfortable, so can easily short-tempered. Regular bathing, warm rains, and humidity allow the covers of each pin feather to open more efficiently and reduce their irritation.

Sun Conure Diet

In the wild, they mainly eat fresh fruits, seeds, berries, flowers, blossoms, nuts, and insects. You should offer an excellent balanced diet, with a large variety of fruits and vegetables.

Different foods that including fresh fruits, vegetables such as leafy greens and root vegetables.

Sun Conure loves to eat throughout the day; also give the small amounts of fortified bird’s seeds and nutritional balanced pellets diet.

They also eat red cactus fruit, legume pods; feed ripe, seeds half-ripe both berries and fruits.

Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, Seeds & other Foods

Adding a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables to your bird’s diet is an excellent way to supplement their nutrients intake everyday. Make sure to chop into small, easily edible pieces before placing into your bird’s food dish.

Some good fruits are apples, oranges, bananas, papaya, strawberries, grapefruits, raspberries, gooseberries, blackberries, rowans, currants, elderberries, cucumbers, tomatoes and rose hips.

Sun conure care is important, many types of vegetables include Spinach, kale, Chinese cabbage, broccoli, cress, carrots, peas, endive, alfalfa, dandelions, and sweet potatoes.

Give beans, sprouted sunflower seeds, grass seeds, chickweed, soaked corn, spray millet. Sun conures likes to feed fruits tree buds like willows, elderberry bushes, aspen, and hawthorn.

Make sure to wash the fruits and vegetables thoroughly before feeding your conure to eliminate pesticides. If the fruits or vegetables have a thick outer shell, you should remove this before giving to your bird. You may also need to consider getting organic fruits and vegetables. Give clean, filtered, fresh, chlorine-free water and change daily. Fruits and vegetables should be discarded after a few hours.

Add Pellet Food Seeds, Grains, & Nuts

Pellet food should be the main of your bird’s diet, and this food creates the base of a nutrition diet for your birds.

Offer a pellet food that is all natural so that you can prevent your birds from any dangerous additives.

You can find bird’s high-quality pellet diet at any pet store.

Include the pellet food with seed mixes that you feed the bird most of the time, but grains and nuts should be provided in small amounts.

You can offer healthy, non-sugar grains like cooked brown rice, barley, or crackers.

Supplement Diet with More Vitamins & Minerals

They require more protein consumption during the breeding season, more carbohydrates when raising young, and more calcium during the production of eggs.

Foods are included cuttlebones, ground oyster shells, hard-boiled eggs, low-fat cheese, biscuits, nuts, bread, and mineral blocks.

The females are laid eggs can be prone to calcium deficiency and the problem of egg binding.

Add Seeds, Grains, & Nuts

These foods are the best way to add a little variety and extra nutrition to your bird’s diet.

You can include seed mix with the pellet food that you feed the bird most of the time, but grains and nuts should be given in little amounts.

You can provide your bird healthy, non-sugary grains like cooked brown rice, barley, and crackers.

Add low-salt, unshelled nuts; shells of peanut can be toxic to birds.

Avoid some Toxic Food

Avocado, fruit seeds, chocolate, onion, salt, sugar and high-fat foods, caffeine, and other unsafe drinks.

Avoid feeding your birds sugary cereals or grains, processed foods of any type, or non-vegetarian food.

Health & Common Conditions

Like other conures and parrots, the sun conure can be prone to feather plucking. It may be a medical cause, or lack of proper mental stimulation and boredom can be the reason. Offer your bird enriched environment with lots of opportunities for foraging and safe toys for play and chew. Visit an avian veterinarian for their regular health checkups, as they can help diagnose and treat many illness growths before time.

Health Symptoms

Feeds and drinks water during the day

Active and sociable

Dry, bright eyes and nostrils

Smooth, and neat feathers

Legs, feet, beak are normal

Symptoms of Sickness

Plucked, fluffed or soiled feathers

Inactive and sitting on the floor of the cage

Coughing and wheezing

Beak swelling

Runny poops

When not sleeping supporting one foot

Loss of appetite

Discharge from eyes or nostrils

Swollen eyes

Breeding Season

In the wild, they usually nest in Maurita flexuosa palm cavities. Mature birds form monogamous pairs about one or two years of their age. Before breeding, they love feeding and grooming each other. Usually, size of clutch size three or four white eggs, and the female may lay intervals of two to three day.

The females have responsibility for the complete incubation period from 24 to 27 days, and only leave the nest for small feeding times. The males aggressively defend the nest from predators. Both parents take part in feeding the young.The chicks depended on their parents for 8 to 9 weeks and fledged the nest after 10 to 12 weeks.

Sun Conure as Pet

The sun conure is a playful and entertaining bird that enjoys different antics, very affectionate, and cuddly to all family members.Hand-reared birds can be very sociable to people, they may be aggressive with visitors and even territorial with guests. Like other pet birds, they require training, you need to have an encouraging and entertaining bond with them. Kind support techniques can be used to train your bird to many athletic antics. Make sure the bird will not respond and never scold or any negative reinforcement.

The sun conures are very active, they will be happiest in a large cage. Provide conditioning perches, birds rub their beaks and keep them accurately in shape and clean. Perches are available in different sizes and colors to keep birds stimulated. Sun conures are strong chewers and need treats and toys often. Give 4 to 5 toys like organic wood blocks, rope, or pieces of coconut to chew.

Due to dangers around, they should not be allowed to move and fly unsupervised.Fill a shallow dish with room temperature or lukewarm water and allow your bird for the bath. Never use soap for bathing.

Like many parrot species, the sun conure requires safe areas out of their cage to explore around. The sun conures are affectionate and playful, they need attention and make the stable companionship.

#Finch Bird Breeding #Finch Bird Food #House Finch #Pet Finches #White Finch Bird #Yellow Finch Bird #Zebra Finch Bird

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williamemcknight · 7 years

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Mayor offers £1 million green grants to improve air quality

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan today visited the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, in Richmond, as he encouraged community groups to apply for his £1 million Greener City Fund to help deliver more air quality improving trees, plants and green play areas in every neighbourhood.

Trees and plants play an essential part in reducing London’s dangerously polluted air, as well as being a vital part of our landscape. The Mayor wants to protect London’s Green Belt and help make the capital the world’s first National Park City. His £1 million Greener City community fund is part of his wider £9 million funding to help schools, boroughs and local groups improve their local environments.

Grants of between £5,000 and £50,000 are available for groups to apply for now and details are on the website www.london.gov.uk. Grants can be used for a range of projects from lining walking routes to schools with air quality boosting trees, to creating mini play spaces and community gardens in built-up areas.

The Mayor today met Kew Gardens horticultural students and scientists to hear more about Kew’s world class research that is helping the environment and improving Londoners’ health. Kew scientists have been involved in research into the traits of different tree species to identify which are best at surviving a climate-altered future environment because of their deep roots, leaf shape and size. Pollution-busting street trees could help to cut climate change but also improve air quality – particularly by London’s busy roads.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “In London we are battling a toxic air health crisis which is contributing to over 9,000 premature deaths every year and damaging our children’s lungs. That’s why the scientific research being done at Kew is so important in helping us look after our environment. Kew’s amazing work is further evidence for why it’s so important to invest in and protect our parks and woodlands, as well as help support this world-class research.

“Kew Gardens and its 14,000 trees, tropical plants and palms is one of the many outstanding green spaces in London and highlights why we should become the world’s first National Park City.

“We need more greenery across all of our communities and I want everyone – young and old – to be able to get involved in helping make local areas greener. That’s why I’m announcing £1 million in green grants for local groups to help create the community gardens, play areas and allotments needed to improve our air and enrich our daily lives.”

Richard Deverell, director of Royal Botanic Gardens Kew said: “Plants are the foundation of all life but they need people to be their champions. Plants can be squeezed out of our lives, but everyone gains when we welcome them back into the heart of our towns and cities. Kew’s Grow Wild project has for many years encouraged people around the UK to turn grey into green, pink and yellow by planting wildflowers, bringing benefits to their communities in the process. We applaud any efforts to get more people into this kind of activity so the future is more secure for everyone.”

As part of his plans to make more than 50 per cent of London green by 2050, the Mayor wants to help fund thousands more trees and improvements to community green spaces, and help London’s boroughs invest in our much-loved parks, playing fields and woodland.

Earlier this month the Mayor launched his draft London Environment Strategy which set out his plans to make London the first National Park City. The Mayor aims to launch London as a National Park City at an international summit in Spring 2019 and is working with partners across London to set criteria for a National Park City, which will include:

Protecting and increasing the amount of green space in the capital

Increasing access to green spaces for Londoners of all ages, particularly in areas where there is currently a deficiency

Increasing the quality of green spaces, ensuring they are well maintained and create healthy habitats for wildlife

Valuing London green spaces, accounting for the health, environmental, social and economic benefits it brings to London

The Mayor will publish a natural capital account for London later this year to highlight the economic value of London’s green infrastructure.

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csrgood · 5 years

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TD Bank Group Named as Launch Sponsor for ALUS Canada’s New Acre™ Project

TD Bank Group named as launch sponsor for ALUS Canada’s New Acre™ Project, an innovative corporate sponsorship program that spurs investment in naturalization projects across Canada

ALUS Canada, A Weston Family Initiative (ALUS) is delighted to announce TD Bank Group (TD) as the launch sponsor of ALUS’ innovative corporate-sponsorship program.

“Nature is one of the most powerful tools we have to help communities become more resilient to the impacts of climate change,” says Nicole Vadori, TD’s Head of Environment. “By using what already exists in nature we can help preserve the health of the environment, while also generating positive social and economic benefits. We're proud to be the first sponsor of this initiative, as part of our corporate citizenship platform, The Ready Commitment.”

With a two-year commitment of $220,000, TD will help ALUS roll out the New Acre™ Project, expand its bilingual materials, and raise awareness across the country.

TD will also contribute to 300 acres of naturalization projects in eight ALUS communities across Canada: ALUS Lac Ste. Anne and ALUS Red Deer County in Alberta; ALUS Saskatchewan Assiniboine Project in Saskatchewan; ALUS Little Saskatchewan River in Manitoba; ALUS Elgin, ALUS Middlesex and ALUS Peterborough in Ontario, and ALUS Montérégie in Quebec.

In this way, TD’s support for New Acre™ Project will help ALUS’ network of farmers and ranchers enhance wetlands, improve riparian buffer zones and expand wildlife habitats to produce cleaner air, cleaner water and more biodiversity in increasingly resilient Canadian communities.

“We thank TD for their leadership in becoming the New Acre™ Project’s first corporate sponsors,” said ALUS Canada’s CEO, Bryan Gilvesy. “Their investment is a clear recognition of the important environmental benefits ALUS Canada’s farmers and ranchers produce for Canadians. TD’s support will encourage purpose-driven corporations to invest in nature-based solutions that produce cleaner air, cleaner water, biodiversity and climate action.”

The New Acre™ Project is an environmental, social and governance (ESG) solution that enables businesses to make a positive impact on the natural environment in a way that speaks to all Canadians.

ABOUT ALUS CANADA ALUS Canada, A Weston Family Initiative, helps farmers and ranchers produce cleaner air, cleaner water, more biodiversity and other ecosystem services in their communities. ALUS Canada has disbursed nearly $8.1M in funding to 25 ALUS communities, an investment that is multiplied by 750 farmers, ranchers and communities on the ground in six provinces. Through the New Acre™ Project, ALUS Canada empowers caring Canadian corporations to produce lasting benefits for the communities they serve. For more information, visit ALUS.ca.

ABOUT TD CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP TD has a long-standing commitment to enriching the lives of its customers, colleagues and communities. As part of its corporate citizenship platform, The Ready Commitment, TD is targeting $1 billion towards community giving by 2030 in four areas critical to opening doors for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow – Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. For further information, visit www.td.com/thereadycommitment.

CONTACT:

Katherine Balpataky, Director of Corporate Partnerships and Business Development, ALUS Canada — C: 519-222-1178 E: [email protected]

Bridget Wayland, Director of Communications, ALUS Canada — C: 514-770-3001 E: [email protected]

STAY CONNECTED @ALUSCanada on Twitter Instagram Facebook YouTube ALUS.ca

source: https://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/42953-TD-Bank-Group-Named-as-Launch-Sponsor-for-ALUS-Canada-s-New-Acre-Project?tracking_source=rss

#CSR #corporate social responsibility #social good #philanthropy #employee engagement #workplace givi

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instantlycoolturtle-blog · 7 years

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Sun Conure - Species Food, Personality & Care

New Post has been published on https://www.birdsandblossom.com/sun-conure/

Sun Conure - Species Food, Personality & Care

Sun Conure Description

Sun Conure Talking Ability

Sun Conures are not very loud

Sun conure my beautiful fluffy companion bird is not very loud. Birds curious personality, they demand very much of attention from their family members, with whom they can affectionate and cuddly.

The loud, high-pitched call commonly is they used to get attention to important situations or particularly at dawn and dusk. Honestly, I never find my sun conure is shrilled at these specific times.

Behavior & Personality

These birds are relatively quiet while eating, but well-known to be very loud and make shrill sounds when in traveling. They can fly many miles in a day, and they are rapid and nonstop flyers.

Sun Conure Diet

In the wild, they mainly eat fresh fruits, seeds, berries, flowers, blossoms, nuts, and insects. You should offer an excellent balanced diet, with a large variety of fruits and vegetables.

Different foods that including fresh fruits, vegetables such as leafy greens and root vegetables.

Sun Conure loves to eat throughout the day; also give the small amounts of fortified bird’s seeds and nutritional balanced pellets diet.

They also eat red cactus fruit, legume pods; feed ripe, seeds half-ripe both berries and fruits.

Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, Seeds & other Foods

Some good fruits are apples, oranges, bananas, papaya, strawberries, grapefruits, raspberries, gooseberries, blackberries, rowans, currants, elderberries, cucumbers, tomatoes and rose hips.

Sun conure care is important, many types of vegetables include Spinach, kale, Chinese cabbage, broccoli, cress, carrots, peas, endive, alfalfa, dandelions, and sweet potatoes.

Give beans, sprouted sunflower seeds, grass seeds, chickweed, soaked corn, spray millet. Sun conures likes to feed fruits tree buds like willows, elderberry bushes, aspen, and hawthorn.

Add Pellet Food Seeds, Grains, & Nuts

Pellet food should be the main of your bird’s diet, and this food creates the base of a nutrition diet for your birds.

Offer a pellet food that is all natural so that you can prevent your birds from any dangerous additives.

You can find bird’s high-quality pellet diet at any pet store.

Include the pellet food with seed mixes that you feed the bird most of the time, but grains and nuts should be provided in small amounts.

You can offer healthy, non-sugar grains like cooked brown rice, barley, or crackers.

Supplement Diet with More Vitamins & Minerals

They require more protein consumption during the breeding season, more carbohydrates when raising young, and more calcium during the production of eggs.

Foods are included cuttlebones, ground oyster shells, hard-boiled eggs, low-fat cheese, biscuits, nuts, bread, and mineral blocks.

The females are laid eggs can be prone to calcium deficiency and the problem of egg binding.

Add Seeds, Grains, & Nuts

These foods are the best way to add a little variety and extra nutrition to your bird’s diet.

You can include seed mix with the pellet food that you feed the bird most of the time, but grains and nuts should be given in little amounts.

You can provide your bird healthy, non-sugary grains like cooked brown rice, barley, and crackers.

Add low-salt, unshelled nuts; shells of peanut can be toxic to birds.

Avoid some Toxic Food

Avocado, fruit seeds, chocolate, onion, salt, sugar and high-fat foods, caffeine, and other unsafe drinks.

Avoid feeding your birds sugary cereals or grains, processed foods of any type, or non-vegetarian food.

Health & Common Conditions

Health Symptoms

Feeds and drinks water during the day

Active and sociable

Dry, bright eyes and nostrils

Smooth, and neat feathers

Legs, feet, beak are normal

Symptoms of Sickness

Plucked, fluffed or soiled feathers

Inactive and sitting on the floor of the cage

Coughing and wheezing

Beak swelling

Runny poops

When not sleeping supporting one foot

Loss of appetite

Discharge from eyes or nostrils

Swollen eyes

Breeding Season

Sun Conure as Pet

Like many parrot species, the sun conure requires safe areas out of their cage to explore around. The sun conures are affectionate and playful, they need attention and make the stable companionship.

#Finch Bird Breeding #Finch Bird Food #House Finch #Pet Finches #White Finch Bird #Yellow Finch Bird #Zebra Finch Bird

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