Saturday, June 2, 2012

The 5 Best Zoos in the World

 

Animal Kingdom, Orlando


Kilimanjaro Safari at Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom is part of the Disney Theme Park collection in Orlando, Florida. While it’s obviously a commercial zoo, the zookeepers do their best to make sure each animal feels as though he is in a realistic habitat, with plenty of space and as little human distraction as possible. The goal is to make sure that the park promotes conservation as much as possible. Animal Kingdom is home to over 1,500 exotic animals, plus hundreds of fish and bird species!

 

 

Basel Zoo, Switzerland


Cheetahs at the Basel Zoo

Basel Zoo in Switzerland was opened in 1874, allowing it to rank as one of the oldest zoos in operation today. The zoo is, in fact, the second most visited attraction in all of Switzerland. There are more than 6,000 animals in this popular Swiss destination, including Somolian wild donkeys and dwarf hippopotami!

 

  

Berlin Zoological Garden, Germany


Elephant Gate at the Berlin Zoo

 

The Berlin Zoological Garden in Germany originally opened in 1844. It is considered a historical landmark because it survived World War II and was then rebuilt to a better state of existence. Even architects will enjoy the incredible structures contained within the zoos walls! The Berlin Zoo is acknowledged around the world because of the rare species it contains and because it successfully breeds animals on a regular basis.

 

 

Singapore Zoo


Singapore Zoo

The Singapore Zoo is famous for their incredible landscape design, with habitats simulating life in the wild for each of their animal species. The zoo features dozens of fun and unique attractions, including the famous Jungle Breakfast! Enjoy your breakfast with the animals in the distance. You may get to feed the elephants, but more often than not you’ll find yourself entertained by the orangutans as they mingle throughout the crowd!

 

 

Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Washington, DC


Bald Eagle at Smithsonian Zoo

The Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington DC has rightfully earned the title of the country’s National Zoo. The zoo can be found in Rock Creek Park and houses over 400 species totaling at least 2,000 animals. The coolest thing about the zoo is that regular admission is free. One of the most exciting features is the Snore and Roar tour – it involves a night-time tour of the zoo and a camp-out – if you dare!

 


 

 

Did you know ? Interesting facts about animals

 

 

Interesting things about animals ... Short video in Did you know section!

 

  

 

 



 

Top 4 Fierce Animal Fight Photos

 

African lion Jambo fights with female Kuchani at the 2006 opening of a savannah-themed makeover of the lion enclosure at Taronga Zoo in Australia.

 Fierce animal fight photos 

 

 

Arachnid Attack, 1950

Fierce animal fight photos 

 

Zebra Becomes a Pain in the Neck, 1961 Fierce animal fight photos 

 

 

The Feathers Fly Photo

Fierce animal fight photos

Top 20 Cutest Animals

 

20. Clownfish

 Clownfish   

 

 

19. Clouded Leopard

Clouded Leopard  



18. Frilled Neck Lizard

 Frilled Neck Lizard

 


17. Prairie Dog

Prairie Dog

 


16. Antechinus

Antechinus

 


15. Capybara

 Capybara 

 

 

 14. Macaque

 Macaque 

  

 

13. Adelie Penguin

Adelie Penguin 

 

 

 12. Harp Seal

Harp Seal 

 

 

11. Binturong, also known as Bearcat

Bearcat 

  

 

10. Meerkat

Meerkat 

 

 

9. Dunnart

Dunnart 

 

 

8. Red Panda

 Red Panda 

 

 

7. Ring-tailed Lemur

Ring-tailed Lemur

 

 

6. Rock Hyrax

Rock Hyrax

 

 

5. Dog

Dog 

 

 

4. Fennec Fox

Fennec Fox

 

 

 3. Giant Panda

Giant Panda

 

 

2. Cat

Cat 

 

 

 1. Sea Otter

 Sea Otter

Amazing Stories of Animals Saving Men

 

The Dolphins who saved a fisherman

  The Dolphins who saved a fisherman

Ronnie Dabal was fishing for tuna in the choppy waters of Puerto Princesa Bay when a squall came upon him and turned his boat upside down. After battling with punishing waves for the next 24 hours on top of a piece of styropor, Dabal was losing his strength as darkness was coming. From out of nowhere, a pod of around 30 dolphins and a pair of whales came and started to flank him on both sides. The dolphins started alternately to nudge his tiny life raft using their pectoral fins towards the direction of land. Dabal said he passed out while the dolphins were doing their slow chore of nudging him to shore, and woke up on the beach of Barangay where he was finally assisted by local residents there.

 

 

The Beluga whale who saved a drowning diver

  The Beluga whale who saved a drowning diver

Terrified Yang Yun thought she was going to die when her legs were paralysed by crippling cramps in arctic temperatures. She had been taking part in a free diving contest without any breathing equipment. Competitors had to sink to the bottom of an aquarium's 20ft arctic pool and stay there for as long as possible amid the beluga whales at Polar Land in Harbin, north east China. But when Yun, 26, tried to head to the surface she struggled to move her legs. Beluga whale Mila had spotted her difficulties and using her sensitive dolphin-like nose guided Yun safely to the surface.

 

 

 The cat who tried to save his owner from an attempted theft

 The cat who tried to save his owner from an attempted theft

Peter Choyce, wheelchair-bound by a bad spine, was enjoying a sunny afternoon in the driveway of his neighbor's house. He was typing on his laptop, his cat by his side. Two men in a car drove by, apparently saw what they thought would be an easy mark and stopped. In the space of a second or two, the assailant punched Choyce in the face, grabbed the laptop directly out of his lap — and was attacked by little Unshkins. Unshkins, a black cat with white paws, flew up in the face of the attacker, clawing frantically and bloodying the criminal's face.

 

 

Untamed and Uncut-Zebra Escapes Lion's Jaws



When the lioness loosens her grip, the zebra wrestles itself away.




Untamed And Uncut Leopard Attack



 

 

New Species Discovered in Papua New Guinea

 

 

More than 200 new species of insects, amphibians and mammals were recently found in the rainforest of Papua New Guinea. So how were all these animals discovered? Conservation International scientists explain their techniques.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The Rarest Animals In The World


Endangered, hunted, smuggled and now some would say abandoned, these animals have the smallest chances of recovery out off all the Earth’s creatures. Last year, studies shown  that there are at least 35 different animals with world populations of under 1000. But which are the rarest, the animals on the brink of extinction? We have rounded up a list of the rarest animals in the wild. These animals are so rare, they might disappear forever, and they’re not alone!


The Pinta Island tortoiseWithout argument, this turtle is one of the few species of Giant Galapagos tortoises and the rarest animal in the world since there is only one left alive. Lonesome George is the sole surviving member of the Pinta Island race, the giant tortoise being a symbol for the fragility of the Galapagos islands, and a constant reminder for vigilence and conservation of the species. The species was considered extinct until 1971, when a lone example was located by rangers. Since then, the Charles Darwin Research Station has been searching for a female tortoise, even posting a reward of $10,000 to those that find one.

                     

Baiji (Yangtze River Dolphin)With no more than a few tens of individuals, Yangtze River Dolphinthe dolphin is one of the world’s rarest mammals, and a victim of China’s breakneck economic growth, competing for food with the human beings. It has been driven to extinction due to the activity in 50 years, this being the fourth time when an entire evolutionary line of mammals has vanished from the face of the Earth since the year 1500. The main reason for this fact are the numerous dams and barrages, built starting in the 1930’s, that have fragmented the population and reduced the amount of available habitat. There are news that the species is functionally extinct, experts still searching for members of the species. Fingers crossed!

                      

The Vancouver Island MarmotThis marmot is found only in the high mountainous regions of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, the Canadian Species at Risk Act listing it as endangered in May 2000. In 1998, the population reached an all-time low of 75 individuals, a captive breeding programme being started during that time. In captivity, there are around 90 Vancouver Island marmots in four breeding facilities, while an estimated 30 members of this species live in the wild ibn 2004. The ultimate goal is to restore a sustainable population of 400-600 Vancouver Island marmots in the wild, so there’s still much to be done. 2005 was a successful year, with 150 individuals in captivity and over 44 pups born.

                       

Seychelles Sheath-tailed BatInhabiting the central granitic islands of the Seychelles Islands north of Madagascar,Seychelles Sheath-tailed Bat the bat is part of our list, being one of the most endangered animals since fewer than 100 are believed to exist in the world. It was once commonly found in Seychelles, but the species has undergone a dramatic decline in population during the mid to late 20th century. More research needs to be done in order to understand how the species behave and what needs to be done in order to save them. Scientists believe that, with a heavy amount of effort, 500 individuals may be sufficient to guarantee long-term persistence of the population.