Asian Elephants In Danger

September 30th, 2010 by Sweetmom

The Asian elephant is an endangered species with less than 40,000 in the world.

The biggest threat facing the Asian elephant is loss of habitat. With the increase of human population in Southern Asia, more and more of the elephant’s habitat is being used for agriculture and human settlements.

Male Asian elephants are killed for their tusks, therefore fewer large tuskers exist.

We feel that it is important to keep a stable and viable population of Asian elephants in North America. African Lion Safari is an active participant in the Asian Elephant Species Survival Program and we work cooperatively with the other zoos and Safari Parks to help preserve the Asian Elephant. So, far eight healthy baby elephants have been born as a result of African Lion Safari’s Asian Elephant Breeding Program.

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Source: The Discovery Centre, African Lion Safari

The Antlers & The True Horns

September 30th, 2010 by Sweetmom

This picture was taken at The Discovery Centre, African Lion Safari, Hamilton, Canada. Just view and enjoy reading.

Antlers

Antlers are bony outgrowths. They develop from and are cemented to two protuberances called pedicles on top of the skull. While antlers are growing they are covered by a furry skin covering called velvet. When they are finished growing the velvet dries up and peels away. After the mating season the antlers are shed and within a few days new begin to grow.

True Horns

One of the permanent paired hollow sheaths of feratin usually present in both sexes of cattle and their relatives. They arise from a bony core anchored to the skull.

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Swimming Elephants

September 29th, 2010 by Sweetmom

Elephants are the largest land animals in the world. I took these pictures at African Lion Safari when we had a tour together with friends and family. During noon time, the elephants are going to take a bath or have their swimming schedule. Thousands of people are there to witness the swimming event of the elephants. They are herbivores, most are plant eaters possess teeth adapted for cutting and tearing off plant materials. However, except for the very young or infirm, elephants always use their trunks to tear up their food and then place it in their mouth. They will graze on grass or reach up into trees to grasp leaves, fruit, or entire branches. If the desired food item is too high up, the elephant will wrap its trunk around the tree or branch and shake its food loose or sometimes simply knock the tree down altogether. The trunk is also used for drinking. Elephants suck water up into the trunk usually up to fifteen quarts or fourteen litres at a time and then blow it into their mouth. Elephants also inhale water to spray on their body during bathing. On top of this watery coating, the animal will then spray dirt and mud, which act as a protective sunscreen. When swimming, the trunk makes an excellent snorkel.

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The Discovery Centre

September 28th, 2010 by Sweetmom

A fabulous series of photos taken inside The Discovery Centre, African Lion Safari. It is located at Flamborough, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. I was there together with my friends and family. Of course I have lots of photos from African Lion Safari, just view the pictures below…

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Tusks are actually very long front incisor teeth which grow during the elephant’s entire life. They are used to dig for water, to peel bark off trees and to push large objects out of the way. Bulls (male elephants) will sometimes use them for fighting.

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Elephants also have four huge teeth on each of the top and bottom jaws. These teeth resemble molars and are used to grind the rough food elephants eat. As the teeth wear down they are replaced by new ones growing behind them, which push the old ones forward to fall out. The elephant’s teeth are replaced six times throughout its life.

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Elephants’ teeth are very different from those of most other mammals. Over their lives they usually have 28 teeth. These are the following: the two upper second incisors and these are the tusks, the milk precursors of the tusks, 12 premolars, 3 in each side of each jaw and 12 molars and 3 in each side of each jaw.

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The feet of an elephant are nearly round. African elephants have three nails on each hind foot, and four on each front foot. Indian elephants have four nails on each hind foot and five on each front foot. Beneath the bones of the foot is a tough, gelatinous material that acts as a cushion or shock absorber. Under the elephant’s weight the foot swells, but it gets smaller when the weight is removed. An elephant can sink deep into mud, but can pull its legs out readily because its feet become smaller when they are lifted.

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The Andean Condor is a species of South American bird in the New World vulture family Cathartidae. It is found in the Andes mountains and adjacent Pacific coasts of western South America and the largest flying land bird in the Western Hemisphere. It is a large black vulture with a ruff of white feathers surrounding the base of the neck and, especially in the male, large white patches on the wings.

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The head and neck are nearly featherless, and are a dull red color, which may flush and therefore change color in response to the bird’s emotional state. In the male, there is a wattle on the neck and a large, dark red comb or caruncle on the crown of the head. Unlike most birds of prey, the male is larger than the female. Usually they lay one or two eggs. It is one of the world’s longest-living birds, with a lifespan of up to 50 years.

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Next are the carnivores animals such as the African Lion, The Siberian Tiger and the cheetah. The lion is one of four big cats in the genus Panthera and a member of the family Felidae. It is the second-largest living cat after the tiger. They were found in most of Africa, much of Eurasia from western Europe to India, and in the Americas from the Yukon to Peru.

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The Siberian tiger is also known as the Amur, Manchurian, Altaic, Korean, North China or, Ussuri tiger. It is the biggest of the eight recent tiger subspecies and the largest living felid. The cheetah is a typical member of the cat family that is unique in its speed, while lacking climbing abilities. It is the fastest land animal, faster than most super cars.

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The last but not the least are the huge ostrich eggs, emu egg and rhea egg.

Gorgeous Peonies

September 14th, 2010 by Sweetmom

I don’t remember the exact date when I captured this beautiful flower at Riverside Park. All I remember that it was last year during summer time. This gorgeous peonies blooms during summer only. I love the color it’s light purple or light pink and the other one is white. To view more awesome flowers around the world, click on the badge of today’s flowers and see you there!

I Miss Her

September 13th, 2010 by Sweetmom

This is Adie, one of my granddaughters in the Philippines. At the age of 5 she can read both English and Filipino. She’s so smart, can read books alone with comprehension. Aside from books at school, her parents provide with many books at home like story books, bible story books and many more. I like her she’s so smart, cute, adorable kid and very talented. As of now she is a kindergarten at Casa Amazing School, one of the private school in the Philippines. I miss her already and I wish I can visit them on December or before the end of the year.

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Jasper National Park

September 10th, 2010 by Sweetmom

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Three months ago my sister, friends and I had the privileged to travel to Jasper National Park, Canada. It is the largest and most northerly Canadian rocky mountain national park, part of a spectacular World Heritage Site. Jasper National Park spans 10,878 square kilometers of broad valleys, rugged mountains, glaciers, forests, alpine meadows and wild rivers along the eastern slopes of the Rockies in western Alberta. Jasper National Park offers over 1,200 kilometres of hiking trails, with scenery ranging from cascading waterfalls to alpine meadows carpeted in wildflowers.

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A very exciting cable car runs to the top of Whistler’s Mountain just outside the town of Jasper. Do you wanna try? It’s awesome! We explore both night and day trips with a number of spectacular mountain drives. It’s awesome, fabulous beauty of nature and of course we enjoyed the stunning landscapes and amazing activities.

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Panoramic View Of Jasper National Park

September 9th, 2010 by Sweetmom

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The panoramic view of Jasper National Park located in the province of Alberta, Canada. The park includes the following: glaciers of the Columbia ice fields, hot springs, lakes, waterfalls and of course Rocky Mountains. We explore the natural beauty of nature and I took a lot of pictures. I’m so happy and it was one of the most wonderful experiences we’ve ever had in Alberta. Words can not express how happy I was when I reached this great amazing place.

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The amazing view of waterfalls

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The natural beauty of nature

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Thousands of people were there to explore the breathtaking views

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It’s so beautiful. I really love it…

Be Safe

September 6th, 2010 by Sweetmom

It is said that when the sun`s away the mosquito and other insects will play. So, if you to to picnic area or barbecue at the backyard, make sure to use mosquito protection. Just use free outdoor protection formula that are safe, effective chemical that can protect your friends and family from mosquitoes, ticks, and flies while all of you had fun.

Summer Is Fun

September 3rd, 2010 by Sweetmom

To make sure that your skin will remain gorgeous and glowing, don’t forget to lather on sunscreen with minimum SPF 15 before you frolic in the sun. Summer is wonderful and very enjoyable. You can be happy with your friends and have fun with our nature. You can tour to all over the world, enjoy the tourist attractions and protect your skin with sunscreen. Keep it basic but lovely, put a shades also to become more glamorous and lovely. It can add beauty and charm too. So, be happy and enjoy the beauty of the world.

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