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| Acrobatic fox squirrel Judy Jinn pic |
It’s the dog days of summer – had you guessed it? –
and periodicals are filled with advice for “how to beat the heat” and “how to motivate
yourself to work” . . . when you feel much more like napping or reading a novel
by the pool. Here’s a “dog days
collection” of animal stories: oldies but goodies, happy and sad.
Let’s start with a favorite (for me, anyway) neighborhood
animal: squirrels. It turns out that
besides all their other sterling qualities, squirrels are notably
acrobatic.
Researchers at a California university studied wild
fox squirrels to understand decision making, learning and creativity in the
context of physical challenges. Their
being just as smart as they are athletic had made squirrels the easy choice.
They handily showed their adaptive ability to jump
along varied perches (artificial branches, sometimes secretly changed by
researchers for greater challenge), to adjust their leaps at midpoint for more
or less speed and to learn from their mistakes, self-correcting on their
landings.
It quickly became clear that squirrels consider the
stiffness of the launching branch (for a stable takeoff) of greatest importance.
https://tinyurl.com/9vmd8jtc
Maggie: RIP
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| Maggie PAWS pic |
Around 15 years ago, I started hearing about an
African elephant confined in an Alaskan zoo.
On top of that climate, ridiculous for any elephant, Maggie had also
lived alone there for the last 10 years.
(Let’s see, how many humane principles have already been violated here.
. . ).
Born and captured as a calf in Zimbabwe, she then
spent 24 years in the zoo. Her plight came
to the attention of caring and persistent people who worked to get her out of
there. It took them years to do so. I know because I did what little I could to persuade “the powers that be” to free Maggie.
Finally, she was flown to a California sanctuary where
she lived for nearly 14 years with other elephants (and bears and big cats) who
had also been rescued from inhumane living conditions. Her move introduced me to the Performing
Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), an organization easy to admire because of Maggie
and all the other animals it had saved.
Since then, PAWS communications have often included
news of Maggie settling in, making elephant friends and – finally – living the
good life in an appropriate “wide open spaces” habitat, with medical care as
needed and love all the time.
Maggie died earlier this week, with special elephant friend Lulu at her side. She was 41. https://tinyurl.com/2hkfv8x6
It seems fitting that next Thursday, Aug.
12, is World Elephant Day.
Ralph: 1 of many
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| Ralph HSI pic |
Animals suffering and in need include
their myriad numbers used in testing cosmetics for humans. That’s right: needless, frivolous cosmetics! Rabbits are among the animals who are involuntarily
involved in this cruel “science,” and they suffer mightily, often dying from
their “life style.”
Recent efforts to remind
people about this horrific practice took the form of a short film about “Ralph,”
a “tester” rabbit who describes his “job.”
I had missed it till now – but I don’t want you to miss it: https://www.hsi.org/saveralphmovie/
Ahoy, matey!
Cats have long been common on ships,
often serving as “mousers” and diverting company for the crew. But one nautical feline in the news is a
handsome polydactyl who serves as ears for his deaf captain, Paul Thompson.
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| Scatty’s fancy footwork Thompson pic |
“Scatty,” a young Maine Coon – the breed
Thompson long aspired to sail with on “La Chica,” the 32-foot sailboat he built
– has earned his sea legs atop his wide, extra-toed paws. So far, there’s been only one “Cat overboard!”
which Thompson handled with the fishing net he keeps on hand for that purpose.
To get his captain’s attention, Scatty
has only to put a paw on Thompson’s knee for Thompson to rise and follow his crew
member to the visitor at the door or the boat pulling up alongside.
Thompson plans a round-the-world sail with Scatty.
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