Thanks for reading my posts this year! Enjoy your Christmas!

Yes it does seem like an odd title for a post – “hot” and “dry” and “sandy” are words that tend to come to [my] mind when thinking of camels; whereas “cold” and “frosty” and “snowy” are words that tend to come to [my] mind when thinking about Christmas… however there is logic!

Think of the school nativity play you played a role in (no matter how small) as a child – no room at the inn, Mary and Joseph in the stable, the birth of baby Jesus, and of course the visitors: the shepherds and their sheep, and the three wise men who rode in on their camels!

Interestingly, the Bible doesn’t mention camels as transport for the wise men, or say that there were three – we have just made assumptions and incorporated these into our nativity plays and stories. The wise men may well have travelled on camels, and as there were three gifts we’ve assumed three wise men; but as the bible doesn’t confirm these assumptions I can’t really claim that camels are a Christmas animal on this basis. Still, I’m going to tell you about these amazing creatures anyway!

As Jesus was born in Bethlehem (a town south of Jerusalem), and lived in Nazareth (a city in north Jerusalem) – the camels used for transportation likely would have been dromedary camels as they came from the East (and it took them about two years to get there, so they wouldn’t have actually visited Jesus in the stable).

Camels are even-toed insulated, with a hump or humps. Each hump is a mound of fat – stored up so that the animal does can go travel great distance without stopping to refuel! When the store has been used up the hump(s) will flop and become limp, until the animal has refuelled; the hump(s) will then return to their upright position

The dromedary or Arabian camel (scientifice name: Camelus dromedarius) is the one-humped camel; the smallest of the three remaining camel species. This species is found in the Middle-East and the Horn of Africa; likely the species the wise men travelled on. (The other camel species being the Bactrian.)

Standing between 1.7-2.0m tall and weighing 300-600kg the dromedary has a diet consisting of a range of desert vegetation; including thorny plants, dwarf shrubs, herbs, desert grasses, vines, and trees. They will graze for 8-12 hours each day.

A male camel is known as “bull”, a female is a “cow”, and the young as “a calf” or “calves”. After a 12-15 month gestation period the female will give birth in solitude, usually to a single calf, however on occasion may give birth to twins. The mother will then care for the young for up to two years.

Unfortunately, the dromedary has not naturally existed in the wild for a long time; thought to be around 2000 years. However there are feral camels of this species found, particularly in Australia (where they were introduced around 1840). But with breeding programmes around the world in animal collections, this species is still strong in number [for the time being].

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All images are open source, Google images, or my own – or photos donated for use by the pet owners.

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The Vaquita is the rarest marine mammal in the world; a little porpoise, that wasn’t discovered until 1958. Now, almost 60 years on and they are on the brink of extinction. They are often caught in nets in marine protected areas, within Mexico’s Gulf of California, and drown as a result. Sadly, more than half of the population has been lost in the last three years.

The Vaquita is pale grey along its’ sides, dark grey on the dorsal surface (on top), and light grey/ white ventral surface (along the bottom). They have dark rings around the eyes and lips, and a dark thin line from the lips to the pectoral (front, side) fins. Newborns are darker in colour, with pale grey along the dorsal surface and head.

Since the freshwater River Dolphin species, the Baiji, went extinct in 2006 the Vaquita has taken the title of the world’s most endangered cetacean. As of 2016, there is suspected to be less than 30 left in the wild; a drastic drop in numbers since 1997 when there were approximately 600 in the wild.

The poaching of the endangered Totoaba fish, for its’ swim bladder – a Chinese delicacy, using gill-nets (fixed fishing nets) is the main cause of the Vaquita’s declining numbers. Vaquita’s get caught in gill-nets, and drown, as they cannot get free to get to the surface for air.

Gill-nets, though usually put in place for a single species, do not discriminate – many different species get caught, and often die. Whales, dolphins and porpoises all get trapped – some get away with injuries, whilst most die.

Dr. Anna Hall, of the Porpoise Conservation Society, said, “There is nothing else we need to worry about other than gill-nets. If we remove the gill-nets, we will likely save the Vaquita.”

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All images are open source, Google images, or my own – or photos donated for use by the pet owners.

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If you have any questions or comments; please post a comment below, or contact Ali’s Answers via one of my social media pages…
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Songbirds on the brink of extinction due to being wild caught, and then sold as pets in Java (Indonesia). Markets full of beautiful songbirds bundled into cages. Forests erily quiet as the songbirds that should occupy the trees are being sold in these markets; including protected bird species, being illegally caught and sold. These animals are treated as possessions of status as opposed to being cared for as companions. Songbird species native to Java are headed toward extinction – according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Many species are critically endangered with no signs of improving.

Despite the efforts of conservationists and breeding programmes, for some species it may be too late. But thankfully, these programmes are still going, still hoping. Maybe some species will recover but the people of Java need to release these birds back into/ stop taking them from the wild, to have them die in cages a stones throw from their natural habitat.

I was made aware of this awful practice by a short segment in between news stories on the BBC – for more information of this on the BBC website please follow this link.

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All images are open source, Google images, or my own – or photos donated for use by the pet owners.

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If you have any questions or comments; please post a comment below, or contact Ali’s Answers via one of my social media pages…
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Actress, Audrey Hepburn had a pet deer named Pippen; artist Frida Kahlo also had a pet deer named Granizo.

Audrey and Pippen

Audrey’s little fawn would lie on the couch with her, and was very docile. She would bottle feed and care for the fawn. Pippen was used on set of the film Green Mansions; where she played a fawn that followed the main character, Rima (played by Audrey), around the jungle in which they both lived. As such, Audrey took the deer home and cared for her – so much so that Pippen would follow Audrey around.

Audrey nicknamed the fawn “IP” and were even photographed shopping (below) and napping (above) together! Unfortunately, after filming, Audrey and Pippen had to say goodbye and part ways.

Frida and Granizo

Frida had an array of animals around her; and it is said that she had a connection with nature. Frida was a Mexican artist, who painted throughout her troubled life; painting often by drawing from her life and pain. Her pets, so it is said, we’re dear to her; her pet deer Granizo is said to have inspired her 1946 painting The Wounded Deer.

Unfortunately there is not much information surrounding Frida’s relationships with her animals – aside from [some of] them being inspiration for pieces of art.

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All images are open source, Google images, or my own – or photos donated for use by the pet owners.

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If you have any questions or comments; please post a comment below, or contact Ali’s Answers via one of my social media pages…
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Tigers are the largest of the big cat species; there used to be nine subspecies, however three are now extinct. The largest subspecies being the Siberian.

Tiger subspecies:

• Siberian (or Amur) Tiger (endangered)
• Bengal Tiger (endangered)
• Indochinese Tiger (endangered)
• Sumatran Tiger (critically endangered)
• Malayan Tiger (critically endangered)
• South China Tiger (critically endangered)
• Javan Tiger (extinct mid-1970’s)
• Bali Tiger (extinct 1940’s-50’s)
• Caspian Tiger (extinct late-1950’s)

Tiger Facts:

• Tigers are a solitary species; maintaining solitary territories, hunting alone – coming together only to mate
• Territory size is largely determined by the availability of prey
• They tend to hunt at night
• Tigers are carnivores – hunting prey species
• Female tigers tend to hit maturity between three – four years of age
• Male tigers reach maturity at four – five years old
• Litters tend to be made up of three – four cubs, however can be up to seven
• The males do not help raise the young
• Young tigers leave their mother at around two years old
• Unfortunately, approximately half of tigers do not live past two years of age
• Unlike a lot of cat species; tigers love water
• The roar of a tiger can be heard almost 2 miles away
• Tigers can reach speeds of around 40 mph
• No two tigers have the same pattern of stripes – like how no two humans have the same finger prints

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All images are open source, Google images, or my own – or photos donated for use by the pet owners.

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If you have any questions or comments; please post a comment below, or contact Ali’s Answers via one of my social media pages…
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So this morning I went for a walk/ training session with a friend and her Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Macy (pictured). Sensibly, Macy is muzzled on walks as she (like many Staffie’s and other breeds) has a particular dislike toward her fellow canine. She will grumble, whine, moan, and often pull on her lead when other dogs are around – and is particularly displeased if coming into contact with another dog.

This morning Macy (and owner) learned that it is okay for other dogs to walk past (on and off the lead), and that large groups of dogs do not have to be an issue either. Macy kept her focus on the person walking her on the lead, and made very little noise or motion toward other dogs on this morning’s walk.

Macy was walked close to heel, with the led loop around the walker’s wrist, and the other hand holding part way down the lead to keep her to heel, while other dogs were around. She was walked on the opposite side of the pavement to the other dog(s), with the walker in between Macy and the other dogs. This kept Macy focusing on what the walker was doing, rather than on who else was walking past, and whether or not she wanted to eat them! 😉

When a more difficult challenge was presented – lots of dogs coming from lots of directions – Macy and her walker stood still, backed up against something (fence/ wall/ tree/ etc.) on a short lead; the walker talked to Macy to keep her focused, and not distracted by all of the other dogs.

These basic method meant for a pleasant walk and a happy Macy (and owner) – her owner feels like Macy has called her a liar due to how well behaved Macy was, with a little bit of direction.

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All images are open source, Google images, or my own – or photos donated for use by the pet owners.

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If you have any questions or comments; please post a comment below, or contact Ali’s Answers via one of my social media pages…
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Over 8 posts, I am going to go through cat breeds, and cover some basic titbits about the breeds; a little bit of history surrounding the breed, including the original use for the breed, and some other interesting facts.

This, the sixth, post will cover P-R of cat breeds. In the follow-up posts I will look into cat breeds from S-V, and W-Z… basically I am doing an A-Z of cat breeds, covering 1-3 breeds per letter.

If I do not cover the breed of your cat in this post, and you would like me to; please leave the breed in the thoughts comment box below, or post it via the contact page, or get in touch via any social media pages listed at the end of each post – this way I can include your breed in another post (either the follow up, or a repeat with different breeds). Do the same if you want more information than I have provided on any particular cat breed, or if you would like to share a photo of your cat(s)!

P

Persian

Country of Origin: Persia

Lifespan: 10-15 years Breed Size: Medium – Large

Hair/Fur Length: Longhair Colour(s): All colours/ patterns

Breed History: Brought to western Europe, and bred, for aesthetics – the Persian was (amongst the Siamese, the Manx, and other exotic breeds) in the first organised cat show in London, in 1871. The Persian won “best in show”.

Outstanding Physical Trait: The long fur is a signature trait of the Persian. Unfortunately, due to intensive selective breeding, this breed is now also known for their squashed faces and the breathing difficulties that accompanies this aesthetic breeding choice.

Peterbald

Country of Origin: St. Petersberg, Russia

Lifespan: 10+ years Breed Size: Small – Medium

Hair/Fur Length: Very Shorthair – Hairless Colour(s): All colours/ patterns

Breed History: Bred in St. Petersberg, Russia in the early 1990’s this bald cat by crossing a female Oriental Shorthair with a male Don Sphinx. The litter of four kittens is thought to be the origin of this breed. Bred for the bald appearance.

Outstanding Physical Trait: The lack of hair on this oriental-looking breed is the most outstanding feature of the Peterbald cat. There is a type of this breed known as “ultra bald” which does not even have whiskers!

Q

There are no breeds for this letter; however, here is an interesting fact for you all – an un-neutered adult female cat is called a “Queen”! (Fits in with the personality of cats I think!)

R

Ragdoll

Country of Origin: California, USA

Lifespan: 12-15 years Breed Size: Large

Hair/Fur Length: Semi-Longhair

Colour(s): Tabby, seal, blue, red, tortoiseshell, cream, chocolate & lilac colouration in colour-point, mitted & bi-colour patterns

Breed History: Developed in the 1960’s by a breeder named Ann Baker, the origin of this breed is thought to have consisted almost entirely of stray cats. Ann bred a domestic white longhair (named Josephine), that she found loose in her neighbourhood, to other stray cats and also to cats that she owned. By selecting the individuals with the criteria that she wanted, Ann created the Ragdoll breed.

Outstanding Physical Trait: This breed is known for their blue eyes. They are usually born with blue eyes which often stay for life, however not all Ragdolls have blue eyes into adulthood – some deepen to a golden colour as the cat matures.

Rex (Cornish, Selkirk, Devon and La Perm)

Please click the above link to learn more about the La Perm.

Country of Origin: Cornish Rex – Cornwall, UK / Selkirk Rex – Montana, USA

Lifespan: 10-15 Breed Size: Medium

Hair/Fur Length: Cornish – Shorthair / Selkirk – Shorthair and Longhair

Colour(s): Cornish – Solid colours: white, black, blue, red, cream, lavender, chocolate; patterns: tortoiseshell, calico, bi-colour, pointed. / Selkirk – Any colour and pattern

Breed History: Cornish – In the 1950’s Mrs Nina Ennismore and Miss Winifred Macalister, noticed that Serena (their pet tortishell/white shorthair) had an odd kitten in the her litter. The odd kitten was named Kallibunker and was the only one of the litter (of five) born with a curly coat and whiskers; he was the original Cornish Rex. The father of this litter was unknown but it is likely it was Serena’s brother Ginger (a shorthair red tabby).
Selkirk – This curly coated cat originated from a pet cat named Miss DePesto of Noface or “Pest” for short. Pest was found in a shelter in Montana, and ended up with a Persian cat breeder, Jeri Newman, who bred her with a black Persian. Pest produced a litter of six; three of which were curly coated (Selkirk Rex) kittens.

Outstanding Physical Trait: Cornish – Described as having an egg-shaped head, with a rounded forehead and high cheekbones. However, again, the obvious trait is the short, soft and wavy fur. / Selkirk – Described as having a round head with no flat planes; again the curl of the coat is the main outstanding trait. The curl of the Selkirk loose curled, and shows up more on the longhair than the shorthair.

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All images are open source, Google images, or my own – or photos donated for use by the pet owners.

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If you have any questions or comments; please post a comment below, or contact Ali’s Answers via one of my social media pages…
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