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Showing posts with label wildlife. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wildlife. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Swans with cygnets at Peacock Springs
Today, while taking the vet nursing students around Peacock Springs on our wonderful annual tour, for the first time I have seen a swan sitting on her nest with her cygnets. Only ever managed to see them as an empty nest or swimming with the babies... so this was a real treat. It stretched the limits of my phone camera, but luckily the others with me got some clear pics. We couldn't get any closer - father swan was not happy at us being as close as we were....
We also had some fun with another protective male swan . My partner got some great shots of him, with us all laughing at him from a safe distance, cameras ready for some funniest home video action! Apparently this bird likes to take on the work utes!
Such a beautiful place... on a perfect day.
To read more about their conservation of endangered birds and see more pictures, just visit my last post on them when we visited in 2009 :)
http://fourpawsandwhiskers.blogspot.com/2008/11/beauty-from-construction-peacock.html
Swans with cygnets at Peacock Springs
Today, while taking the vet nursing students around Peacock Springs on our wonderful annual tour, for the first time I have seen a swan sitting on her nest with her cygnets. Only ever managed to see them as an empty nest or swimming with the babies... so this was a real treat. It stretched the limits of my phone camera, but luckily the others with me got some clear pics. We couldn't get any closer - father swan was not happy at us being as close as we were....
We also had some fun with another protective male swan . My partner got some great shots of him, with us all laughing at him from a safe distance, cameras ready for some funniest home video action! Apparently this bird likes to take on the work utes!
Such a beautiful place... on a perfect day.
To read more about their conservation of endangered birds and see more pictures, just visit my last post on them when we visited in 2009 :)
http://fourpawsandwhiskers.blogspot.com/2008/11/beauty-from-construction-peacock.html
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Ringling's Baby Elephants Tied Up and Electro-Shocked by Trainers
.JPG)
Although these pictures are upsetting, I really think this site is worth a look. It will probably put you off circuses for life, especially if they involve live animals.
I stopped going to them years ago... If the pictures are not showing, please go to the site:
http://www.ringlingbeatsanimals.com/bound-babies.asp?c=prbabbf09
Ringling's Baby Elephants Tied Up and Electro-Shocked by Trainers
Although these pictures are upsetting, I really think this site is worth a look. It will probably put you off circuses for life, especially if they involve live animals.
I stopped going to them years ago... If the pictures are not showing, please go to the site:
http://www.ringlingbeatsanimals.com/bound-babies.asp?c=prbabbf09
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Face-Off With a Deadly Predator
via youtube.com
This is an amazing video of a leopard seal... and a job I don't envy as it looks cold, let alone dangerous.
Right now, after a hectic week, my job feels pretty overwhelming... but on reflection, I think I will avoid a swap with this guy.
Meanwhile, I had a great birthday last weekend, with final end of year dinners and exams... our marking pile kept us all head down for a while!
All this was followed by a full on business trip to Wellington, and a weekend of parties for birthdays and neighbours - and a lot of recovering...from being tired, not the drinking!
Anyway - back to work, and finishing all our classes this week, so the interview process starts all over again over the next fortnight. Not much time in there to grieve, but we will miss the leaving students. Good luck everyone.
:)
Face-Off With a Deadly Predator
via youtube.com
This is an amazing video of a leopard seal... and a job I don't envy as it looks cold, let alone dangerous.
Right now, after a hectic week, my job feels pretty overwhelming... but on reflection, I think I will avoid a swap with this guy.
Meanwhile, I had a great birthday last weekend, with final end of year dinners and exams... our marking pile kept us all head down for a while!
All this was followed by a full on business trip to Wellington, and a weekend of parties for birthdays and neighbours - and a lot of recovering...from being tired, not the drinking!
Anyway - back to work, and finishing all our classes this week, so the interview process starts all over again over the next fortnight. Not much time in there to grieve, but we will miss the leaving students. Good luck everyone.
:)
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Whale Watch® - Kaikoura - New Zealand
via whalewatch.co.nz
Congratulations to Whale Watch Kaikoura who have won the supreme prize at this year's Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards in London.
Check out their interactive flash site linked above (needs Flash).
or go here if you aren't able to see that one - http://www.whalewatch.co.nz/index.asp
There is also a great article from the British Telegraph and a video on whale watching on here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/hubs/greentravel/6543760/New-Zealand-Whale-watching-company-wins-Virgin-Holidays-Responsible-Tourism-Awards.html
I first went with them in 1998 - and yes, we saw a whale... and although we now stick to our annual dolphin swims, we often see the whale watching boats out near us. Last week they launched their new boat... The Wawahia is the sixth in Whale Watch Kaikoura's New Zealand fleet. It was designed by Teknicraft Design and built by Q-West Boat builders in Wanganui at a cost of $2.5m, and is the first of a planned new generation fleet of whale watching vessels.
Hopefully we will get to see it when we go back next March :)
Whale Watch® - Kaikoura - New Zealand
via whalewatch.co.nz
Congratulations to Whale Watch Kaikoura who have won the supreme prize at this year's Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards in London.
Check out their interactive flash site linked above (needs Flash).
or go here if you aren't able to see that one - http://www.whalewatch.co.nz/index.asp
There is also a great article from the British Telegraph and a video on whale watching on here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/hubs/greentravel/6543760/New-Zealand-Whale-watching-company-wins-Virgin-Holidays-Responsible-Tourism-Awards.html
I first went with them in 1998 - and yes, we saw a whale... and although we now stick to our annual dolphin swims, we often see the whale watching boats out near us. Last week they launched their new boat... The Wawahia is the sixth in Whale Watch Kaikoura's New Zealand fleet. It was designed by Teknicraft Design and built by Q-West Boat builders in Wanganui at a cost of $2.5m, and is the first of a planned new generation fleet of whale watching vessels.
Hopefully we will get to see it when we go back next March :)
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Shark's do-it-yourself caesarean
Visitors to Auckland tourist attraction Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World were given a treat on Tuesday - a fishy lesson on how to deliver babies via caesarean section.
Visitors found baby sharks spilling from a large gaping wound in a female shark and told staff.
A large shark had apparently taken a bite into the female school shark's stomach to deliver the four babies, the New Zealand Herald newspaper reported.
Kelly Tarlton's aquarist Fiona Davies said it was common for sharks to take chunks out of each other, even in the wild, but she had never heard of anything like this.
"It had to bite a certain part to let them out and do it without killing the babies or the mother."
She said the unusual delivery had probably saved the baby sharks' lives.
If there had been a natural birth, the babies would have been eaten by adult sharks and stingrays before staff could rescue them.
The young sharks have been put in a "nursery" before they were released into the wild.
The mother shark was doing "surprising well" and was being monitored.
via stuff.co.nz
How amazing... never heard of this before. Just wish it had happened when we were there recently!!!!
Shark's do-it-yourself caesarean
Visitors to Auckland tourist attraction Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World were given a treat on Tuesday - a fishy lesson on how to deliver babies via caesarean section.
Visitors found baby sharks spilling from a large gaping wound in a female shark and told staff.
A large shark had apparently taken a bite into the female school shark's stomach to deliver the four babies, the New Zealand Herald newspaper reported.
Kelly Tarlton's aquarist Fiona Davies said it was common for sharks to take chunks out of each other, even in the wild, but she had never heard of anything like this.
"It had to bite a certain part to let them out and do it without killing the babies or the mother."
She said the unusual delivery had probably saved the baby sharks' lives.
If there had been a natural birth, the babies would have been eaten by adult sharks and stingrays before staff could rescue them.
The young sharks have been put in a "nursery" before they were released into the wild.
The mother shark was doing "surprising well" and was being monitored.
via stuff.co.nz
How amazing... never heard of this before. Just wish it had happened when we were there recently!!!!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Getting up close and personal with the lions at Werribee Open Range Zoo
via dailymail.co.uk
Wow... that is getting up close and personal!!
I grew up near Whipsnade Zoo in England...which was an "open Zoo"... and I remember the feeling of being on the African Plains as we drove though in the car.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whipsnade_Zoo
http://www.zsl.org/zsl-whipsnade-zoo/
Here in New Zealand, we have some wonderful zoos and wildlife parks. Many years ago when I first visited Christchurch, I went to our local Orana Park to see the new lion cubs. It was great, but increased safety laws meant they later closed some of the lion access. Many years later, they have managed to reopen the popular lion encounter rides... which are apparently very exciting...
http://www.oranawildlifepark.co.nz/lions.htm
Both offer a chance to see lions at close quarters...
Me - I will always love the noise... the deep rumble and power of the roar.
I might stay away from the teeth though.
Getting up close and personal with the lions at Werribee Open Range Zoo
via dailymail.co.uk
Wow... that is getting up close and personal!!
I grew up near Whipsnade Zoo in England...which was an "open Zoo"... and I remember the feeling of being on the African Plains as we drove though in the car.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whipsnade_Zoo
http://www.zsl.org/zsl-whipsnade-zoo/
Here in New Zealand, we have some wonderful zoos and wildlife parks. Many years ago when I first visited Christchurch, I went to our local Orana Park to see the new lion cubs. It was great, but increased safety laws meant they later closed some of the lion access. Many years later, they have managed to reopen the popular lion encounter rides... which are apparently very exciting...
http://www.oranawildlifepark.co.nz/lions.htm
Both offer a chance to see lions at close quarters...
Me - I will always love the noise... the deep rumble and power of the roar.
I might stay away from the teeth though.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Great White Shark bitten nearly in half by an even BIGGER monster
A 'monster' great white shark measuring up to 20 ft long is on the prowl off a popular Queensland beach, according to officials.
Swimmers were warned to stay out of the water off Stradbroke Island after the shark mauled another smaller great white which had been hooked on a baited drum line.
The 10-foot great white was almost bitten in half.
The fictional shark at the centre of the Steven Spielberg blockbuster Jaws was estimated to be just five feet longer.
Enlarge
We're going to need a bigger boat: The remains of a 10ft great white shark that was bitten nearly in half by what authorities - judging from the size of the bite marks - estimated was a 20ft monster
via dailymail.co.uk
Do duh ..do duh.. do duh do duh do duh do duh
Note to self - abandon plan to holiday in Aussie beach areas...
I do enjoy snorkeling... and spent many hours enjoying it in Fiji, but I do remember swimming at a deep water beach in Northland, NZ, gliding over the rocks at high tide, but hyperventilating with fear because I knew they had pulled one shark out of the water at that beach recently.
Take care if you are over there!
Great White Shark bitten nearly in half by an even BIGGER monster
A 'monster' great white shark measuring up to 20 ft long is on the prowl off a popular Queensland beach, according to officials.
Swimmers were warned to stay out of the water off Stradbroke Island after the shark mauled another smaller great white which had been hooked on a baited drum line.
The 10-foot great white was almost bitten in half.
The fictional shark at the centre of the Steven Spielberg blockbuster Jaws was estimated to be just five feet longer.
EnlargeWe're going to need a bigger boat: The remains of a 10ft great white shark that was bitten nearly in half by what authorities - judging from the size of the bite marks - estimated was a 20ft monster
via dailymail.co.uk
Do duh ..do duh.. do duh do duh do duh do duh
Note to self - abandon plan to holiday in Aussie beach areas...
I do enjoy snorkeling... and spent many hours enjoying it in Fiji, but I do remember swimming at a deep water beach in Northland, NZ, gliding over the rocks at high tide, but hyperventilating with fear because I knew they had pulled one shark out of the water at that beach recently.
Take care if you are over there!
Monday, November 2, 2009
New Zealand - Dolphins and Whales
via stuff.co.nz
WINNING SHOT: This picture won Ray Lovell the wildlife category in the New Zealand Geographic photographer of the year awards.
This lovely photo was taken in Doubtful Sound, New Zealand...
We also had some whales in Milford Sound recently.. look here :)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/3024265/Young-whales-hanging-out-in-Milford-Sound
New Zealand - Dolphins and Whales
via stuff.co.nz
WINNING SHOT: This picture won Ray Lovell the wildlife category in the New Zealand Geographic photographer of the year awards.
This lovely photo was taken in Doubtful Sound, New Zealand...
We also had some whales in Milford Sound recently.. look here :)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/3024265/Young-whales-hanging-out-in-Milford-Sound
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Is this haunting picture proof that chimps really DO grieve?
United in what appears to be deep and profound grief, a phalanx of more than a dozen chimpanzees stood in silence watching from behind the wire of their enclosure as the body of one of their own was wheeled past.
This extraordinary scene took place recently at the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center in Cameroon, West Africa.
When a chimp called Dorothy, who was in her late 40s, died of heart failure, her fellow apes seemed to be stricken by sorrow.
As they wrapped their arms around each other in a gesture of solidarity, Dorothy's female keeper gently settled her into the wheelbarrow which carried her to her final resting place - not before giving this much-loved inhabitant of the centre a final affectionate stroke on the forehead.
Chimpanzees appear to console one another as Dorothy is carried to her final resting place in a wheelbarrow
via dailymail.co.uk
Hard not to feel emotional at this picture... what do you think they are doing?
Is this haunting picture proof that chimps really DO grieve?
United in what appears to be deep and profound grief, a phalanx of more than a dozen chimpanzees stood in silence watching from behind the wire of their enclosure as the body of one of their own was wheeled past.
This extraordinary scene took place recently at the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center in Cameroon, West Africa.
When a chimp called Dorothy, who was in her late 40s, died of heart failure, her fellow apes seemed to be stricken by sorrow.
As they wrapped their arms around each other in a gesture of solidarity, Dorothy's female keeper gently settled her into the wheelbarrow which carried her to her final resting place - not before giving this much-loved inhabitant of the centre a final affectionate stroke on the forehead.
Chimpanzees appear to console one another as Dorothy is carried to her final resting place in a wheelbarrow
via dailymail.co.uk
Hard not to feel emotional at this picture... what do you think they are doing?
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009 won by leaping wolf
via dailymail.co.uk
There are also some other amazing pictures on this page... loved the black and white picture of the massed starlings.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1222063/Wildlife-Photographer-Year-2009-won-leaping-wolf.html
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