Reptiles as Pets

Did you know that at least 75% of pet snakes, lizards, tortoises and turtles die within their first year in a home? In the wild many of these animals would live between 8 - 120 years, depending on the species.

 Many pet owners mistakenly believe that reptiles are easy to keep and require little maintenance. But snakes, lizards, turtles and tortoises have lots of physical, behavioural and psychological needs. In captivity these pets often do poorly and die much sooner than in the wild.

There are lots of other problems with the exotic pet trade of reptiles too.  Lots of people release unwanted pets into the wild, which causes problems for the native animals. And exotic pets can cause human diseases, like salmonella.

You can learn more about the problems with exotic pets on  Zoocheck's website.

If you love reptiles and want to learn more about them, why not become an Ophiologist? (A scientist who studies snakes!) Check out this new book, Awesome Snake Science! by Cindy Blobaum.

The book has lots of snake facts and figures, but it also has 40 different snake-themed activities, like creating Viper Venom and crafting a Spitting Cobra Fang. You can also create a snake model for dissection, using candies - yum! Best of all, no actual snakes are required for any of these activities.

Japan Dolphins Day

T-shirts available at www.ecojoia.com

Join other animal-lovers on August 31st at the Consulate of Japan to protest the September 1st start of the annual dolphin cull in Japan. Send a positive and peaceful message to Japan to let the dolphins live and be free. The event takes place at the Consulate General of Japan, 77 King Street West.

Japan Dolphins Day was founded by Ric O'Barry and Save Japan Dolphins. Here is a portion of Ric O'Barry's invitation to join the world-wide movement:


Dear Friends and fellow Dolphin Lovers:

I am asking you for your help. On or around Sept. 1, please head to your local Japanese embassy or consulate to voice your concern about the dolphin slaughters!
This time of year always makes my heart heavy. September 1 marks the official beginning of the dolphin drive hunting season in Taiji, Japan, as I helped to show the world in the Oscar-winning movie The Cove. Every year, thousands of dolphins are brutally killed; some are then sold into a lifetime of slavery in captive facilities around the globe, and the rest are used for their flesh – which is highly contaminated with mercury and other toxins, rendering in dangerous for human consumption.
We absolutely must keep the international spotlight on Taiji in order to stop these senseless murders once and for all. This is why I am asking you to lend your voice to the cause and join or organize a Japan Dolphins Day event in your area.

Japan Dolphins Day 2012, Toronto, Canada:
https://www.facebook.com/events/383167135080113/

Marineland In the News

Orca whale in captivity (Zoocheck's website)

The Toronto Star has published a three part series about Marineland, the marine/amusement park in Niagra Falls, Ontario, exposing serious health problems with their marine mammals, as well as lack of proper care due to chronic staff shortages. Check out Zoocheck's twitter for links to the articles and other recent news coverage about Marineland. If you are interested in helping animals at Marineland and other marine parks, Zoocheck's website offers some great suggestions.

Limba the Elephant

Limba is known to be the oldest elephant in Canada. She was born in Vietnam in 1964. At one year of age she was captured and has lived the rest of her life in captivity. Limba is used in the entertainment industry, as part of Cirque Mondo, as well as at fairs, parades, movies, commercials and children's parties.

Learn more about Limba and join a growing movement that wants Limba granted the freedom to retire and enjoy the rest of her years at an elephant sanctuary.
http://www.facebook.com/notes/cara-concordia-animal-rights-montreal/my-name-is-limba/388718027851528

Orcas in Captivity Versus The Wild

Grade 3/4 students at Dundas Street Public School recently learned more about orcas and their habitats. They compared the life of an orca in the wild with the life of an orca in a marine park. 

Their postcards on behalf of Corky show us some of the struggles that orcas face in captivity:

Orcas in marine parks are socially isolated from their family pod: 

Picture by Xin

They live in barren environments: 

Picture by Declan

They are confined to small pools and can't engage in natural behaviours like hunting: 

Picture by Jessica

They suffer high mortality rates: 

Picture by Alex

They have to perform circus tricks to earn food:

Picture by Maxwell

In the wild, their lives are vastly different:

Orcas live their whole life with their family pod:

Picture by Razore

They hunt in a vast and stimulating ocean environment using echolocation:

Picture by Helen

They can swim for many kilometres each day: 

Picture by Jierui

They have freedom: 

Thanks to all the students for their great artwork and comments. Their postcards will be sent to Seaworld, where Corky, who has been in captivity for more than 40 years, lives. Hopefully Corky gets a chance to reunite with her family pod, and swim in the ocean once again. She deserves her freedom after all these years. 

Urban Wildlife

These are some of the cool plaster casts of tracks that students at Dundas Street Public School made recently during their Keep It Wild! workshop. Studying animal tracks is a great way to connect with wild animals and learn more about the wildlife that lives in the city. Tracks are easiest to spot along creek and river beds, and in muddy trails after a recent rainfall. There are lots of resources on the web that explain how to make plaster casts of tracks. Check some of them out this summer and see if you can capture some tracks!