:: wikimiki.org ::

Mesker Park Zoo

Mesker Park Zoo

The Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden is a zoo located in Evansville, Indiana. The zoo, which is accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, houses 219 species and 560 animals, most of them grouped - from a still-new rhinoceros to a refurbished petting zoo to exhibits with lions, tigers, camels, mountain lions, kangaroos, wallabees - even a kookaburra sitting on a tree branch. The zoo was founded in 1928 by Gilmour Haynie and other businessmen. A local cartoonist, Karl Kae Knecht, for the Evansville Courier helped popularize the idea of a zoo. The zoo's first Elephant, Kay, came to the zoo in 1929. Mesker Park was one of the first zoo's in the United States to have a cageless exhibit that was first popularized in Germany. In 1954 Kay fatally injured the zoo director, Bob Mcgraw. Kay was then sent to a circus facility and replaced with 4 year old "Bunny." Bunny remained with the zoo until 1999 when she was sent to 900 acre (3.6 km²) elephant sanctuary in Tennessee. Bob McgrawThe zoo's first animal petting zoo opened in 1975. The petting zoo has recently been renovated under the new name "Children's Enchanted Forest." The zoo has continued to grow since its founding and is now home to more than 500 animals, including river otters,and lions. The zoo currently includes exhibits in the sections known as, "Discover Center","Kley Building", "North America", "South America", "African Rift", "African Panorama", "Australia", and "Lake Victoria." The zoo is working on a major $15 million building project, AMAZONIA, which will open in 2007. In addition to serving as the zoo's new main entrance, the see-through dome will allow visitors to see a South American rain forest. There will be thousands of plants, and the animal list will include a jaguar, tapirs, a toucan, macaws, bats, iguanas and more.

External links

- [http://www.meskerparkzoo.com/mpz/index1.html Official site of Mesker Park zoo]
- [http://www.meskerparkzoo.com/mpz/history/ Outline history of the zoo]
- [http://www.evansville.net/user/boneyard/hight01.htm "Brief history of Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden"] Category:Indiana culture Category:Evansville, Indiana Category:zoos in the United States

Zoo

:For other uses of the term Zoo, see Zoo (disambiguation). A zoological garden, or zoo for short, is a place where animals are restricted within artificial environments and exhibited to the public. The first zoos were private menageries, usually belonging to kings. King Charles I started a zoo with a large python snake as the main attraction. The first public zoological garden was created in Vienna in 1752, when the Habsburg Emperors decided to grant public access to the former privately-owned Schönbrunn Palace menagerie, now called Tiergarten Schönbrunn. After the French Revolution, the Paris zoo was opened to the public. Over time, the mission of zoos has shifted from simply displaying animals for the wonderment of the public, to scientific study, and, later, to breeding them, and in particular maintaining populations of animals that are endangered or even extinct in the wild. The first scientific zoological garden in the modern world was founded in London in 1828 by the Zoological Society of London. It was opened to the public in the same year, as a way of funding its scientific work. Londoners soon shortened "zoological gardens" to "zoo." It was the Zoological Society of London, too, which was to be the first to create an open wild animal park, with the establishment of the Whipsnade Wild Animal Park on the Chiltern Hills in 1926. The famous naturalist Charles Darwin enjoyed visiting the London Zoo in order to observe the behaviour of its animals. The first live gorilla to be exhibited there created quite a sensation and reportedly influenced some of Darwin's thinking on evolution and on emotions and intelligence in non-human primates. Some highly developed zoos harbor research groups, which have extremely valuable initiatives in the preservation of endangered species, in the study and reproduction of rare animals (such as white tigers), in the discovery of new techniques for maintaining animals in captivity and feeding them, in veterinary medicine of exotic species, and so on. Most modern zoos keep animals in enclosures that attempt to replicate their natural habitats. Many zoos now have special buildings for nocturnal animals, with dim red lighting during the day, so the animals will be active when visitors are there, and bright lights at night to ensure that they sleep. Special climate conditions are created for animals living in radical environments, such as penguins. Special enclosures for birds, insects, fishes and other aquatic life forms have also been developed and are used in many zoos. A petting zoo (also called children's farms or children's zoos) features a combination of domestic animals and some wild species that are docile enough to touch and feed. Petting zoos are extremely popular with small children. In order to ensure the animals' health, the food is supplied by the zoo, either from vending machines or a kiosk nearby. In addition to independent petting zoos , many general zoos contain one. Sometimes monkeys are not separated from the public, e.g. in the Apenheul Zoo in Apeldoorn. Peafowl are also frequently allowed to roam free in zoos. Most large cities in the world have zoos, though of drastically varying size and quality. Modern zoos are very dynamic, and are always breeding animals, promoting conservation, and building new exhibits. Major zoos are important tourist attractions, sufficiently so that governments may underwrite or subsidize the zoo's operating expenses. Public funding of zoos is also justified by their educational value, and they are a common destination for school field trips. Even so, many zoos have signs that provide little more information than an animal’s species, diet, and natural range. Most zoo funding primarily comes from donations and entrance fees. Zoos vary in size and quality—from drive-through parks to small roadside menageries with concrete slabs and iron bars. Birds’ wings may be clipped so that they cannot fly, and many animals who live in large herds or family groups in nature are kept alone or in small groups. Natural hunting and mating behaviors are virtually eliminated by regulated feeding and breeding regimens. More than 135 million people visit zoos in the United States and Canada every year, but most zoos operate at a loss and must find ways to cut costs or add gimmicks that will attract visitors. The Wall Street Journal reported that “nearly half of the country’s zoos are facing cutbacks this year … [a]ttendance, meanwhile, is down about 3% nationwide.”

External links

- [http://www.zoo-talk.com Zoo-talk] features zoo and animal news from all over the world Category:Landmarks Category:Zoology ja:動物園 simple:Zoo

Evansville, Indiana

For other places named Evansville see Evansville (disambiguation). Evansville is a city located in Vanderburgh County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 121,582, making it the third largest city in the state of Indiana. The city is the county seat of Vanderburgh County. In 2004 Evansville was named an "All-America City" by the National Civic League.. The city is situated on a gentle horseshoe bend on the Ohio River and for this reason it is often referred to as "River City." It was commonly referred to as "Stop Light City" before the city's Interstate 164 bypass was constructed. It serves as a regional hub for the Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois tri-state area.

Geography

Evansville is located at 37°58'38" North, 87°33'2" West (37.977166, -87.550566). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 105.6 km² (40.8 mi²). 105.4 km² (40.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.15% water. The city faces the Ohio River along its southern boundary.

Climate

Evansville has a moderate climate and four distinct seasons. Average temperatures range from 32 degrees Fahrenheit to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Annual rainfall averages 42 inches and annual snowfall averages 13 inches.

Demographics

Evansville is Indiana's third largest city and the regional hub for the tri-state area of Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky. According to the census of 2000, there are 121,582 people and 30,527 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,153.4/km² (2,987.0/mi²). There are 57,065 housing units at an average density of 541.3/km² (1,402.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the Evansville is 86.24% White, 10.92% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. 1.14% of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race. LatinoThere are 52,273 households out of which 26.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% are married couples living together, 13.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 41.6% are non-families. 35.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.24 and the average family size is 2.90. In the city the population is spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.1 males. The median income for a household in the city is $31,963, and the median income for a family is $41,091. Males have a median income of $30,922 compared to $21,776 for females. The per capita income for the city is $18,388. 13.7% of the population and 10.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 19.0% of those under the age of 18 and 8.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. Like the rest of Indiana, Evansville has long been noted for its hospitality and generosity. Following the Evansville Tornado of November 2005 the coordinating officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency noted, "I don't think I've ever seen a community of people come out so quickly to help each other. All communities come together after a disaster, but this one is exceptional." [http://www.courierpress.com/ecp/news/article/0,1626,ECP_734_4239245,00.html]

Cultural Features

Points of Interest

Federal Emergency Management Agency]Casino Aztar's entertainment facility includes a 2,700 passenger riverboat casino and a riverfront pavilion that houses pre-boarding facilities, retail shops, restaurants, and lounge area. An enclosed walkway links the pavilion to a first-class 250 room hotel, complete with meeting and banquet facilities. An attached parking garage offers over 1,600 sheltered parking spaces with easy access to the casino, pavilion, and hotel. Evansville's Mesker Park Zoo opened in 1928. Mesker Park is Indiana's oldest and largest zoo. Set on a spacious 40-acre park, the zoo features over 500 animals roaming freely in natural habitats surrounded by exotic plants, wildflowers, and trees. Angel Mounds State Historic Site is nationally recognized as one of the best preserved prehistoric Native American sites in the United States. From 1100 to 1450 A. D., a town on this site was home to people of the Middle Mississippian culture. Several thousand people lived in this town protected by a stockade made of wattle and daub. Because Angel Mounds was a chiefdom (the home of the chief) it was the regional center of a large community that grew outward from it for many miles. It is one of 16 state museums and historic sites in Indiana. Bosse Field (opened 1915) is the third oldest baseball stadium still hosting professional games (#2 and #1 being Chicago's Wrigley Field (1914) and Boston's Fenway Park (1912), respectively). Game scenes in A League Of Their Own were filmed there.

Festivals

A League Of Their Own]The West Side Nut Club Fall Festival is a street fair held in the area west of Downtown Evansville. It is held on the first full week of October. According to the West Side Nut Club, the Fall Festival is the second largest street festival in the United States; it is eclipsed only by the famous Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans. Each July the city plays host to the [http://www.evansvillefreedomfestival.org/index.htm/ Evansville Freedom Festival]. It includes the "Thunder on the Ohio" hydroplane races, a firework extravaganza over the Ohio River, and more. The United States Navy's Blue Angels have also been a big crowd pleaser in recent years. In the last weekend of August the popular Frog Follies takes place, when over 4000 street rods converge on the Vanderburgh County 4-H fairgrounds just north of the city.

Arts & Museums

Blue Angels]The Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra (EPO) is the largest arts institution in the tri-state area. Founded in 1934, The EPO is a professional orchestra comprised of approximately 80 musicians led by Music Director Alfred Savia. Each year, the EPO presents a seven-concert classics series, 4 double pops performances, 2 Casual Classics Series concerts and special event concerts, as well as numerous educational and outreach performances. The Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science is home to one of southern Indiana's most established and significant cultural centers. It holds the Koch Planetarium, the oldest in Indiana. Also on the campus is the The Evansville Museum Transportation Center, which features transportation in southern Indiana from the latter part of the Nineteenth Century through the mid-Twentieth Century. The Reitz Home Museum is Evansville's only Victorian House Museum. It is noted as one of the country's finest examples of Second French Empire architecture. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. During World War II Evansville produced 167 LSTs (and 35 other craft), making it the largest inland producer of LSTs in the nation. In October, 2005 USS LST 325 was moved to an Evansville dock and to turned into a museum. It is the last navigable LST in operation today.

Sports

Although high school athletics are a constant source of local patronage, the University of Evansville and University of Southern Indiana regularly draw thousands of spectators to NCAA Division I and Division II sporting events. The city has had an indoor football team since the 2002-2003 season called the BlueCats which plays at Roberts Stadium, and, since 1995, a baseball team called Evansville Otters [http://www.evansvilleotters.com/index.html] which plays in the Frontier League at Bosse Field. Roberts Stadium, a frequent facility for both sports and concerts, seats 13,232 spectators, features four star locker rooms and a press room. The Goebbel Socer Complex is a $3.4 million project built on 70 acres of land. It features nine Olympic-size irrigated Bermuda grass fields and one $550,000+ Olympic-size AstroPlay turf field, only the second field of its kind in Indiana.

Parks

The city oversees the operation of 65 parks and 21 special facilities encompassing more than 2,300 acres of land in the City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County, Indiana. Among these are three popular 18-hole public golf courses and one 9-hole golf course. Located on nearly 200 acres of rolling hills in western Vanderburgh County, Burdette Park features an aquatic center with water slides, three pools, and a snack bar. It also offers a BMX racing track, batting cages, softball diamonds, miniature golf, tennis courts, and locations for fishing. Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve is a National Natural Landmark with nearly 200 acres of virgin bottomland hardwood forest. The Nature Center features exhibits, events, wildlife observation areas, meeting rooms, library, and gift shop.

Law & Government

Burdette Park]The Mayor of Evansville, Jonathan Weinzapfel, serves as the chief executive officer and a nine-member elected City Council is the legislative branch of city government. The City of Evansville is the county seat for Vanderburgh County. In recent years there has been a considerable push to unify the Evansville city and Vanderburgh county governments. [http://www.citycountystudy.com/] The current proposal calls for a Mayor and Deputy Mayor, who would be appointed by the mayor, and a 15 member Metro Council composed of 15 persons: Three at-large members and 12 members elected by the Voters of the City. Currently the proposal is under review and has not received the necessary support from area state representatives and senators. Vanderburgh County's delegation to the Indiana State House of Representatives is comprised of four representatives: Dennis Avery (District 75), Trent van Haaften (District 76), Phil Hoy (District 77), and Suzanne Crouch (District 78). Evansville and Vanderburgh County are represented by two state senators. In general, the southern third of the county and Armstrong Township are part of District 49, currently held by Larry Lutz. The county's west side is also in District 49. Most of the county is in District 50, which extends to the east, by a seat held by Vaneeta Becker. The region is located in the 8th District of Indiana ([http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/in08_109.gif map]) and served by U.S. Representative John Hostettler.

Education

The city and county are divided into a nationally recognized public school system of 20 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, and five public high schools. In addition there are two Catholic high schools, one private, and a charter school.
- Signature School, Indiana's first Four Star charter high school, is currently seeking to become an International Baccalaureate Programme.
- Evansville Day School offers grades K-12. The school's enrollment including all grades is 258. Though often just two universities are listed for Evansville, the University of Southern Indiana (USI) and the University of Evansville, Indiana University School of Medicine also has a presence in the city. The [http://shaw.medlib.iupui.edu/ecme/ecmepage.htm Evansville Center for Medical Education] is located on the campus of USI. Both Ivy Tech State College and ITT Tech have locations in the city as well.

Transportation

Ivy Tech State College] Immediate access to all major forms of transportation makes Evansville an important factor in Indiana's global economy. The city boasts an excellent road, rail, water, and air transportation system. It is bounded on the north by Interstate 64, extending west to St. Louis, Missouri and east to Louisville, Kentucky. Interstate 164 provides a convenient link from Interstate 64 to the city's thriving eastside retail district and a direct route to Henderson, Kentucky. Interstate 69 will soon be extended to Evansville, creating a new international trade corridor from Canada to the Rio Grande Valley. Engineering design began in 1997 and construction schedules are currently being planned. The Evansville Regional Airport, housed in a 140,000 sq. ft. terminal, offers over 50 flights a day to destinations around the country. A complimentary shuttle service is offered from the airport to major hotels. The Metropolitan Evansville Transit System (METS) provides bus transportation to all sections of the city.

Business & Employment

Evansville is the regional center for a large trade area in Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois. Originally a ferry landing, the town was founded in 1812 by Hugh McGary. Later, it was the terminus of a failed Wabash & Erie Canal (1853), a furniture and cigar manufacturing capital (into the early 1900s when German immigrants shaped the city's character), a railroad and refrigerator center, and lately a plastics industry kingpin. During the final third of the 20th century, the transition was made from a small river town to a commerical, medical, and service hub for a tri-state region with 700,000 residents. Many of the city's businesses, including Mead Johnson Nutritionals, a division of Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Whirlpool Corporation are part of multinational operations. A 1990s economic spurt was fueled by the growth of the University of Southern Indiana, which now has 10,000 students, and the arrival of giant Toyota and AK Steel plants as well as Casino Aztar, Indiana's first gaming boat. Evansville is also the corporate headquarters for Accuride, Atlas Van Lines, Berry Plastics, Old National Bank, Shoe Carnival, and Vectren. The City of Evansville also offers a unique pro-business tax structure for companies locating inside the Evansville Urban Enterprise Zone. Established in 1983 as one of only six enterprise zones in the State of Indiana, the 2.1 square mile Evansville Urban Enterprise Zone offers inventory tax credits and other tax credits to eligible businesses.

Media

The principal daily newspaper is the Evansville Courier & Press, which is owned by the E.W. Scripps Company. The newspaper also publishes the monthly Evansville Business Journal for the region. Evansville Living, a bi-monthly city magazine published by the Tucker Publishing Group, showcases the people, businesses, and community. The city has a total of 30 radio stations that include adult contemporary, big band, classical, jazz, rock, country, oldies, and easy listening formats. The University of Evansville's WUEV FM is a non-commercial station that plays a variety of alternative, classical, and jazz music. Evansville is the 100th-largest television market in the United States according to Nielsen Media Research. The local broadcast television stations are:
- WEHT ABC Channel 25
- WEVV CBS Channel 44
- WTVW FOX Channel 7
- WFIE NBC Channel 14
- WTSN PAX Channel 63
- WNIN PBS Channel 9
- WWAZ WB Channel 19

History

Settled by pioneer immigrants some 200 years ago, the city of Evansville is situated on a gentle horseshoe bend on the Ohio River. The first cabin built in Evansville was built in 1809, home of George Miller. As testament to the Ohio's grandeur, the early French explorers named it La Belle Riviere ("The Beautiful River"). Before the pioneers, Evansville was home first to an ancient community of Native Americans called the Mississippians. Evansville was laid out in 1817, and was named in honor of Robert Morgan Evans (1783-1844), one of its founders, who was an officer under then General William Henry Harrison in the War of 1812. It soon became a thriving commercial town, with an extensive river trade, was incorporated in 1819, and received a city charter in 1847. The completion of the Wabash and Erie Canal, in 1843, from Evansville to Toledo, Ohio, a distance of 400 miles, greatly accelerated the city's growth. Evansville's first railroad company, Evansville & Crawfordsville Railroad, was built in 1850. Evansville's main street was paved in 1889. In 1932 the first bridge from Evansville crossing the Ohio River was built. On November 6, 2005, the Evansville Tornado of November 2005 caused 22 deaths in Newburgh and Evansville.

Famous People from Evansville

- Chic Anderson, sportscaster
- Andy Benes, baseball player
- Bud Boetticher, director of western movies and Ohio State University football star
- Avery Brooks, actor - Uncle Tom's Cabin, American History X, A Man Called Hawk, Spenser: For Hire, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
- Calbert Cheaney, NBA basketball player
- Elbert Frank Cox, mathematician
- Neal Doughty, keyboard player, REO Speedwagon
- Louis J. Koch, creator of Holiday World
- Ron Glass, actor "Barney Miller", "Firefly"
- Bob Griese, football player
- Roy Halston Frowick fashion designer (graduated from Bosse High School)
- Bob Hamilton, professional golfer and winner of the 1944 PGA Championship
- Lee Hamilton, former U.S. Congressman
- Kevin Hardy, football player
- Don Mattingly, baseball player
- Walter McCarty, NBA basketball player
- Michael Michele, actress - "ER"
- Marilyn Miller, stage and screen actress of the 1920s - 30s
- Robert D. Orr (1917-2004), former governor of Indiana
- Paul Osborn (1901-1988), playwright, including screenplay for East of Eden
- Scott Rolen, baseball player
- Ray Ryan, oil man, property developer, gambler and multi-millionaire
- Ruth Siems, Stove Top Stuffing creator
- Larry Stallings, NFL linebacker
- Matt Williams TV producer - "The Cosby Show", "Roseanne", "Home Improvement", playwright

Trivia

- The national headquarters Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is located in Evansville.
- The first Sears department store was opened on October 5, 1925 in Evansville.
- The Evansville Crimson Giants were a National Football League team from 1921-2. The MLB Triple A Evansville Triplets played in Evansville from 1970-1984.

External Links

- [http://www.frogfollies.org/ Frog Follies]
- [http://www.evansvillecvb.org Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau]
- [http://www.evansville.net/user/boneyard/index.html The Evansville Boneyard]
- [http://www.emuseum.org/ Evansville's museum]
- [http://www.evansvilleotters.com/ Evansville Otters]
- [http://www.evpl.org/ Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library] Category:All-America City Category:Cities in Indiana Category:Vanderburgh County, Indiana

Rhinoceros

:For other uses of the term see Rhinoceros (disambiguation).
Ceratotherium
Dicerorhinus
Diceros
Rhinoceros
Coelodonta (extinct)
Elasmotherium (extinct) A rhinoceros (commonly called a rhino for short) is any of five surviving species of odd-toed ungulate in the family Rhinocerotidae. All five are native to Africa or Asia. Rhinoceros is also one of the genera in this family. A salient feature of this horned mammal is its protective skin formed from layers of collagen with optimal thickness of 4 in. positioned in a lattice structure. A group of rhinoceros is a called a crash.
Family
Family Rhinocerotidae
- Ceratotherium
- C. simum - White Rhinoceros
- Dicerorhinus
- D. sumatrensis - Sumatran Rhinoceros
- Diceros
- D. bicornis - Black Rhinoceros
- Rhinoceros
- R. unicornis - Indian Rhinoceros
- R. sondaicus - Javan Rhinoceros
- Coelodonta
- C. antiquitatis - Woolly Rhinoceros (extinct)
- Elasmotherium
- E. sibiricum - Giant Rhinoceros (extinct) Several rhinoceros species became extinct within geologically recent times, notably the Giant Unicorn and the Woolly Rhinoceros in Eurasia: the extent to which climate change or human predation was responsible is debated. Current evidence indicates that they probably had survived many climate changes when modern man arrived. Rhinoceros-like animals first appeared in the Eocene as rather slender animals, and by the late Miocene there were many different species. Most were large. One, Indricotherium weighed about 30 tons and (so far as is known) was the largest terrestrial mammal that ever lived. Rhinos became extinct during the Pliocene in North America, and during the Pleistocene in northern Asia and Europe. The five living species fall into three tribes. The critically endangered Sumatran Rhinoceros is the only surviving representative of the most primitive group, the Dicerorhinini, which emerged in the Miocene (abut 20 million years ago). The extinct Woolly Rhinoceros of northern Europe and Asia was also a member of this tribe. There are two living Rhinocerotini species, the endangered Indian Rhinoceros and the critically endangered Javan Rhinoceros, which diverged from one another about 10 million years ago. The two African species, the White Rhinoceros and the Black Rhinoceros, diverged during the early Pliocene (about 5 million years ago) but the Dicerotini group to which they belong originated in the middle Miocene, about 14 million years ago. The main difference between black and white rhinos is the shape of their lips. White rhinos have broad flat lips for grazing and black rhinos have long pointed lips for eating foliage, The name White Rhinoceros was actually a mistake for wide because of their lips.
Hybrid Rhino
A subspecific hybrid white rhino (Ceratotherium s. simum x C s cottoni) was bred at the Dvurkralv Zoo (Zoological Garden Dvur Kralove nad Labem) in the Czech Republic in 1977.
Rhinoceros Horn
Rhinoceros horns are used in traditional Asian medicine, and for dagger handles in Yemen and Oman. None of the five rhinoceros species have secure futures: the White Rhino is perhaps the least endangered, the Javanese Rhino survives in only tiny numbers (estimated at 60 animals in 2002) and is one of the two or three most endangered large mammals anywhere in the world. Rhino protection campaigns began in the 1970s, but rhino populations have continued to decline dramatically. Trade in rhinoceros parts is forbidden under the CITES agreements, but poaching is a severe threat to all rhinoceros species. The most obvious distinguishing characteric of the rhinos is a large horn on the nose. The word rhinoceros comes from the Greek words rhino (nose) and keros (horn). Rhinoceros horns, unlike those of other horned mammals, consist of keratin, densely compacted hair.
Nature's firefighter
hair.]] There are a number of legends about rhinoceroses stamping out fire. The story seems to have been common in Malaysia and Burma. This type of rhinoceros even had a special name in Malay, 'badak api', where badak means rhinoceros and api means fire. The animal would come when a fire is lit in the forest and stamp it out. Whether or not there is any truth to this has not yet been proven, as there has been no documented sighting of this phenomenon in recent history. This lack of evidence may stem from the fact that rhinoceros sightings overall in South East Asia have become very rare, largely due to widespread illegal poaching of the critically endangered animal.
References

- Chapman, Jan. 1999. The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China. Christies Books, London. ISBN 0903432579.
- Laufer, Berthold. 1914. "History of the Rhinoceros." In: Chinese Clay Figures, Part I: Prolegomena on the History of Defence Armor. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, pp. 73-173.
External links

- [http://www.rhinos-irf.org International Rhino Foundation]
- [http://www.sosrhino.org/ SOS Rhino]
- [http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/species/our_solutions/endangered_species/rhinoceros/index.cfm Rhinoceros entry] on WWF website. Category:Odd-toed ungulates Category:Rhinos ko:코뿔소 ja:サイ

Lion

:"Lions" redirects here. For the album by the Black Crowes, see Lions (album). The Lion (Panthera leo) is a mammal of the family Felidae. It is the largest and most powerful living felid with the exception of the tiger. The male lion, easily recognized by his mane, may weigh up to 250 kg (550 lb) Females are much smaller, weighing up to 90 kg (300 lb). In the wild lions live for around 10–14 years, while in captivity they can live over 20. Lions are predatory carnivores who live in family groups, called prides. The family consists of related females, their cubs of both sexes, and one or more unrelated males who mate with the adult females. Although it was once thought that females did most of the hunting in the pride, it is now known that males contribute much more to hunting than the amount for which they had been previously given credit. Both males and females will defend the pride against outside intruders. Typically, males will not tolerate outside males, and females will not tolerate outside females. Males are expelled from the pride or leave on their own when they reach maturity. When or if a male coalition takes over a pride and ousts the previous coalition, the conquerors often kill any cubs even if they did father them. The last remnant of the Asiatic Lion (subspecies Panthera leo persica), which in historical times ranged from Greece to India through Persia, lives in the Gir Forest of northwestern India. About 300 lions live in a 1412 km² (558 square miles) sanctuary in the state of Gujarat. Lions had become extinct in Greece, their last European outpost, by 100 CE, but they survived in considerable numbers in the Middle East and North Africa until the early 20th century. The lions that used to live in North Africa, called Barbary lions, tended to be larger than the sub-Saharan ones, and the males had more extensive manes. They are thought to have been a subspecies of lion (Panthera leo leo), although this has not been confirmed. Other extinct subspecies are the Cape Lion, the European Cave Lion (subspecies Panthera leo spelaea) which coexisted with humans throughout the last Ice Age, and the American lion (subspecies Panthera leo atrox), a close relative of the European cave lion (not to be confused with the mountain lion or puma). Lions are recurring symbols in the coat of arms of royalty and chivalry, particularly in the UK, where the lion is also a national symbol of the British people. Lions appear in the art of China, even though lions have never lived in China. No animal has been given more attention in art and literature. C.A.W. Guggisberg, in his book Simba, says the lion is referred to 130 times in the Bible. The lion can be found in stone age cave paintings. Although they are not often heard of due to their rarity, white lions do exist, in Timbavati, South Africa. There is a recessive gene in white lions that gives them their unusual color (also causing white tigers, many white tigers with this gene are bred for zoos and animal shows). A white lion has a disadvantage when it comes to hunting; their white color can give away their hiding place.
Lions in the wild
recessive gene Like all other cats, lions are superpredators, but unlike all other cats they are social hunters and take prey too large and dangerous to overpower singly, including adult zebras, cape buffalo, giraffes, hippopotamuses, and even sub-adult elephants. Singly, a lion kills with the neck bite that breaks the neck or severs vital blood vessels; several lions may pin a large prey animal while another delivers the lethal neck bite or suffocates the prey by covering the victim's muzzle, preventing breathing. Lions are not averse to scavenging, and they frequently drive off smaller or outnumbered predators from kills and take the prey. Lions too can be driven off from prey by such competitors as hyenas and wild dogs in overwhelming numbers. Like other cats they have superb night vision that makes them more effective at night. They can sleep as many as 20 hours in a day. As a rule, all of the females of a pride are related (grandmothers, aunts, mothers, sisters). Both males and females defend the pride. wild dog Most prey animals remain calm if they spot a lion beyond a certain distance; the lion lacks the stamina for a sustained chase, in contrast to wild dogs. Natural enemies include such competitors as crocodiles, hyenas, and wild dogs, but especially other lions. Some of the prey animals (zebras, hippopotamuses, and elephants) can deliver crippling or killing blows by kicking or stomping. Lions are one of the most sexually active cats. During a female's oestrus cycle, a male and female will mate unabated every 10 to 20 minutes for 5-7 days. However, it takes 6-9 oestrus cycles for the female to become pregnant. Lions are found throughout South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique. They are mainly found in woodland type areas but can survive in semi desert or bush areas. In August 2005 a group of scientists proposed introducing lions into North American wildlands in order to replace ancient populations and to curb the danger of extinction. Baby or young lions are called cubs. Females give birth to 1-5 youngsters, after a gestation period of three months. The cubs can suckle for as long as 18 months but are normally weaned by 8 weeks. They face a high mortality rate from starvation, attacks by other large predators, and especially by male lions killing the younger ones while taking over a pride.
Lion Subspecies
The major differences between lion subspecies are size, mane appearance and location. Some of forms listed below are not regarded as distinct subspecies by the majority of taxonomists. Genetic evidence suggests that all modern lions derived from one common ancestor only ca. 55,000 years ago, so all African lions might be lumped into one subspecies. gestation
- Panthera leo azandica - North East Congo lion.
- Panthera leo bleyenberghi - Katanga lion.
- Panthera leo hollisteri - Congo lion.
- Panthera leo krugeri - South African lion.
- Panthera leo leo - Barbary lion; extinct in the wild. This was the largest of the lion subspecies, which ranged from Morocco to Egypt. The last wild Barbary lion was killed in Morocco in 1922 due to excessive hunting. Barbary lions were kept by Roman emperors, who ordered the capture of literally thousands of individuals to fight in the gladiator arenas. Roman notables, including Sulla, Pompey, and Julius Caesar, often ordered the mass slaughter of Barbary lions - up to 400 at a time. [http://www.pothos.org/alexander.asp?paraID=103&keyword_id=6&title=Lions]
- Panthera leo massaicus - Massai lion.
- Panthera leo melanochaita - Cape lion; extinct in 1860.
- Panthera leo nubica - East African lion.
- Panthera leo persica - Asiatic lion. 200 currently exist in the Gir Forest of India. Once widespread from Greece and Turkey to Bangladesh, but large prides and daylight activity made it easier to poach than tigers or leopards.
- Panthera leo roosevelti - Abyssinian lion.
- Panthera leo senegalensis - West African lion, or Senegal lion.
- Panthera leo somaliensis - Somali lion.
- Panthera leo verneyi - Kalahari lion.
Attacks on humans
While a hungry lion will probably attack a human that passes near, some (usually male) lions seem to seek out human prey. Some of the more publicized cases include the Tsavo man-eaters and the Mfuwe Man-Eater. In both cases the hunters who slew the lions wrote books about their exploits and how much it scared them. In folklore, man-eating lions are sometimes considered demons. The Mfuwe and Tsavo incidents did bear some similarities. The lions in both the incidents were all larger than normal, lacked manes and seemed to suffer from tooth decay. Some have speculated that they might belong to an unclassified species of lion, or that they may have been sick and couldn't have easily caught prey. There have also been recorded attacks on humans by lions in captivity, most probably due to their reputation as proud, strong and dangerous animals, and the subsequent circus attractions such as lion taming which have developed from this.
Cross-breeding with tigers
Lions have also been known to breed with their close counterparts, tigers (most often Siberian), while in captivity to create interesting mixes. These two new breeds are called ligers and tigons. The liger originates from mating a male lion and a tigress. Because the lion passes on a growth-promoting gene, but the corresponding growth-inhibiting gene from the female lion is not present, ligers are larger than either parent. It is said that ligers do not stop growing and will grow constantly through their lifespan, until their bodies cannot sustain their huge size any longer, reaching up to half a tonne. Ligers share some qualities of both their parents (spots and stripes) however they enjoy swimming, a purely tiger activity, and they are always a sandy colour like the lion. Male ligers are sterile, but female ligers are often fertile. The tigon is a cross between the lioness and the male tiger. Because the male tiger does not pass on a growth-promoting gene and the lioness passes on a growth inhibiting gene, tigons are often relatively small, only weighing up to 150 kilograms (350 lb), which is about 20% smaller than lions. They can best be described as "housecat-like" in appearance, although with round ears. Like male ligers, male tigons are sterile, and they all have both spots and stripes, with yellow eyes. Female ligers and female tigons are fertile and can produce offspring if mated to either a pure-bred lion or a pure-bred tiger. kilograms]]
Lions in sculpture
Lions have been widely used in sculpture and statuary to provide a sense of majesty and awe, especially on public buildings, including:
- Nelson's column in London's Trafalgar Square.
- The entrance to the Britannia Bridge crossing of the Menai Strait, Wales.
- Patience and Fortitude, the large stone lions outside the main branch of the New York Public Library, also the mascots of the New York and Brooklyn Public Library system.
- Chinese lions are frequently used in sculpture in traditional Chinese architecture. For instance, in the Forbidden City in Beijing, China, two lion statues are seen in almost every door entrance.
Lions in culture and media

- Tezuka Osamu made an anime called The White Lion about a little lion cub who grew up without parents and had to rely on his friends to survive from hunters and other prey.
- Disney made a successful animation called Lion King during the height of Disney animation in the mid 90's
- Although lions are not native to China, the Chinese people believe that Lions protect humans from evil spirits, hence the Chinese New Year Lion Dance to scare away demons and ghosts.
- The lion is adopted by the British people as their mascot together with the bulldog. It is used like the mascot for the FIFA World Cup in 1966 and the European Football Championships in 1996.
Lions in heraldry
FIFA World Cup]] The lion is a common image in heraldry, traditionally symbolizing bravery, valor and strength. The following positions of heraldic lions are recognized: rampant, guardant, reguardant, passant, statant, couchant, salient, sejant, dormant.
Morphology of the lion skull
heraldry View 3D animations of juvenile and adult lion skulls -- both inside and out -- at [http://digimorph.org/specimens/Panthera_leo/adult/ Digimorph.org]
External links and references

- [http://www.lairweb.org.nz/tiger/conflict.html Lion/Tiger Encounter]
- [http://www.wild-about-you.com/AfricaGame.htm Africa Animal Database]
- [http://www.fleurdelis.com/lions.htm Lions In Heraldry]
- [http://www.rarebooks.nd.edu/digital/heraldry/charges/lions.html Heraldic dictionary. Positions of Beasts as Exemplified by Lions]
- [http://www.jhom.com/topics/lions/art.htm Lions in Jewish art]
- [http://www.abcog.org/glover13.htm THE HERALDIC BLAZON. THE LION RAMPANT OF SCOTLAND]
- [http://www.junglephotos.com/africa/afanimals/mammals/lion.shtml Lion photos and information] Category:Wildlife of Africa ko:사자 ja:ライオン th:สิงโต

Camel

Camelus bactrianus
Camelus dromedarius A camel is either of the two species of large even-toed ungulate in the genus Camelus, the Dromedary (Single hump) and the Bactrian Camel (Double hump). Both are native to the dry and desert areas of Asia and northern Africa. The name camel comes via the Greek kamelos, the Arabic jamal or the Hebrew gamal, "camel". The term camel is also used more broadly, to describe any of the six camel-like creatures in the family Camelidae: the two true camels, and the four South American camelids: Llama, Alpaca, Guanaco and Vicuna. For an overview of the camel family, see camelid. For more information on the two true camels, see Dromedary and Bactrian Camel.
- Family Camelidae
- Genus Lama:
- Llama Lama glama
- Alpaca Lama glama pacos
- Guanaco Lama guanicoe
- Genus Vicugna:
- Vicuna Vicugna vicugna
- Genus Camelus
- Dromedary, Camelus dromedarius
- Bactrian Camel, Camelus bactrianus Camels are well known for their humps. They do not store water in them as is commonly believed. Their humps are a reservoir of fatty tissue, while water is stored in their blood. This allows them to survive days on end without food and water. Bactrian camels have two coats: the warm inner coat of down and a rough outer coat which is long and hairy. They shed their fiber in clumps consisting of both coats and is normally gathered. They produce about 5 pounds of fiber annually. The fiber structure is similar to cashmere. The down is usually 1-3 inches long. Camel down does not felt easily. The down is spun into yarn for knitting. Humans first domesticated camels approximately 5000 years ago. The Dromedary and the Bactrian Camel are both still used for milk, meat, and as beasts of burden—the Dromedary in northern Africa and western Asia; the Bactrian Camel further to the north and east in central Asia. Although there are almost 13 million Dromedaries alive today, the species is extinct in the wild: all but a handful are domesticated animals (mostly in Sudan, Somalia, India and nearby countries), as well as South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. There is, however, a substantial feral population estimated at 700,000 in central parts of Australia, descended from individuals that escaped from captivity in the late 19th century. This population is growing at approximately 11% per year and in recent times the state government of South Australia has decided to cull the animals using aerial marksmen, the reason being that the camels use too much of the limited resources needed by sheep farmers. For more information, see Australian feral camel. The Bactrian Camel once had an enormous range, but is now reduced to an estimated 1.4 million animals, mostly domesticated. It is thought that there are about 1000 wild Bactrian Camels in the Gobi Desert, and small numbers in Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey and Russia. A small population of introduced camels, Dromedaries and Bactrians, survived in the Southwest United States until the early 1900s. These animals, imported from Turkey, were part of the US Camel Corps experiment and used as draft animals in mines, and escaped or were released after the project fell through.

Camel Hybrids

Bactrian camel have 2 humps and are rugged cold-climate camels while Dromedaries have one hump and are desert dwellers. Bactrian/Dromedary hybrids are called Bukhts, are larger than either parent, have a single hump and are good draft camels. The females can be mated back to a Bactrian to produce three-quarter bred riding camels. These hybrids are found in Kazakhstan. The Cama is a camel/llama hybrid bred by scientists who wanted to see how closely related the parent species were. The Dromedary Camel is a Llama, hence artificial insemination was required to impregnate the Llama female (Cam Parker to Dromedary female have proven very successful). Though born even smaller than a Llama calf, the Cama had the short ears and long tail of a camel, no hump and Llama-like cloven hooves rather than the Dromedary-like pads. At four years old, the Cama became sexually mature and interested in Llama and Guanaco females. A second Cama (female) has since been produced using artificial insemination. Because Camels and Llamas both have 37 pairs of chromosomes, scientists hope that the Cama will be fertile. If so, there is potential for increasing size, meat/wool yield and pack/draft ability in South American camels. The Cama apparently inherited the poor temperament of both parents as well as demonstrating the relatedness of the New World and Old World camelids. The South American Camelids can be hybridized:
- A male Alpaca/female Llama results is a Huarizo.
- A male Vicuna/female Alpaca results is a Paco-vicuna.
- A female Alpaca/male Llama results is a Misti.
- A male Vicuna/female Llama results is a Llamo-vicuna.
- A male Alpaca/female Guanaco results is a Paco-guanaco.
- A male Guanaco/female Llama results is a Llama-guanaco (unusual in that the sire's name should form the first part of the hybrid's name).
- A Llama/Alpaca cross which resembles the Llama parent is also known as a Warilla; but if it resembles the Alpaca parent it is called a T'aqa.

External links

- [http://abbott-infotech.co.za/kalahari-use-of-camels-by-south-african-police.html Use of camels by South African police]
- [http://www.icar.org.in/nrccm/home.html National Camel Research Centre, Bikaner (Rajasthan), INDIA] Category:Camelids Category:Livestock ko:낙타 ja:ラクダ simple:Camel

Kangaroo

Macropus rufus
Macropus giganteus
Macropus fuliginosus Macropus fuliginosus] A kangaroo is any of several large macropods (the marsupial family that also includes the wallabies, tree kangaroos, wallaroos, pademelons and the quokka: 45 species in all). The term kangaroo is sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to all members of the macropod family. Kangaroos are native to the continent of Australia, while a number of tree kangaroos are found in New Guinea. The word kangaroo is said to derive from the Guugu Yimidhirr (an Australian Aboriginal language) word gangurru, referring to the Grey Kangaroo (see photo to the right). The name was first recorded as kangaru by Joseph Banks on James Cook's first voyage of exploration, when they were beached at the mouth of the Endeavour River in the harbour of modern Cooktown for almost 7 weeks repairing their ship which had been damaged on the Great Barrier Reef. Kangaroo soon became adopted into standard English where it has come to mean any member of the family of kangaroos and wallabies. The belief that it means "I don't understand" is a popular myth that is also applied to any number of other Aboriginal-sounding Australian words. Male kangaroos are called bucks, boomers or jacks; females are does, flyers, or jills and the young are joeys. The collective noun for kangaroos is a mob.

Overview

There are three species:
- The Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus) is the largest surviving marsupial anywhere in the world. Red Kangaroos occupy the arid and semi-arid centre of the continent. A large male can be 2 metres (6 ft 6 in) tall and weigh 90 kg (200 lb).
- The Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) is less well-known than the red (outside of Australia), but the most often seen, as its range covers the fertile eastern part of the continent.
- The Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus) is slightly smaller again at about 54 kg (119 lb) for a large male. It is found in the southern part of Western Australia, South Australia near the coast, and the Darling River basin. In addition, there are over 41 smaller macropods that are closely related to the kangaroos:
- Tree kangaroos are arboreal relatives of the true kangaroo which are found in the dense rainforests of north-east Australia and New Guinea. Several tree kangaroos are endangered, largely because of habitat destruction.
- Wallabies are smaller, usually more thick-set, macropods.
- A wallaroo is a very large wallaby or a small kangaroo.
- Pademelons are small, forest living macropods of around 4 to 6 kg (9 to 13 lb).
- The Quokka is a small wallaby-like macropod of Western Australia.
- Rat kangaroo is a term loosely applied to any of several very small kangaroo-like marsupials, some from the family Macropodidae, some not.
- Kangaroo rats, in contrast, are rodents. rodent] Kangaroos have large powerful hind legs, large feet designed for leaping, a long muscular tail for balance, and a small head. They are the only large animals to use hopping as a means of locomotion. The comfortable hopping speed for Red Kangaroos is about 20–25 km/h (13–16 mph), but they can hop as fast as 70 km/h (43 mph) over short distances. Kangaroos are large herbivores, feeding on grass and roots, and they chew cud. Their heads in fact look much like those of llamas. All species are nocturnal and crepuscular, usually spending the days idling quietly and the cool evenings, nights and mornings moving about and feeding, typically in groups called mobs. The life expectancy of a kangaroo is about 18 years. Kangaroos have few natural predators. One of the major natural predators, the Thylacine, is now extinct. However, humans arrived in Australia at least 50,000 years ago and introduced the dingo about 5,000 years ago. The use of dingoes, and later hunting dogs by Europeans, to hunt kangaroos has resulted in most kangaroos having an enmity for dogs. The mere barking of a dog can set a full-grown male boomer into a wild frenzy. In extreme circumstances, one or more wedge-tailed eagles will attack and sometimes kill a kangaroo (even an adult Red), but only when no more suitably-sized food is available. Goannas and other carnivorous reptiles also pose a danger to the smaller kangaroo species when other food sources are lacking. Along with dingoes and other canids, introduced species like foxes and feral cats also pose a threat to kangaroo populations, as they do most native populations. Kangaroos and wallabies are apt swimmers, and often flee into waterways if presented with the option. If pursued into the water, a large kangaroo may use its forepaws to hold the predator underwater to drown it.

Courtship

Courtship behavior in most species of kangaroos includes the male "checking" the female's cloacal area. The males are often rejected by the females for their smaller size, but in the case of a larger kangaroo, the female may instead simply move away. Often, when the female is being checked, it urinates. The male kangaroo will then make a practice of sniffing the urine multiple times until it is satisfied, then proceed to the mating cycle.

Adaptations

mating Kangaroos have developed a number of adaptations to a dry, infertile continent and a highly variable climate. As with all marsupials, the young are born at a very early stage of development after a gestation of 31-36 days. At this stage, only the forelimbs are somewhat developed, to allow the newborn to climb to the pouch and attach to a teat. In comparison, a human embryo at a similar stage of development would be about 7 weeks old, and premature babies born at less than 23 weeks are usually not mature enough to survive. The joey will usually stay in the pouch for about 9 months or (for the Western Grey) 180 to 320 days, before starting to leave the pouch for small periods of time. It is usually fed by its mother until the age of 18 months. A female kangaroo is usually pregnant in permanence, except on the day she gives birth; however, she has the ability to freeze the development of an embryo until the previous joey is able to leave the pouch. The composition of the milk produced by the mother varies according to the needs of the joey. In addition, she is able to simultaneously produce two different kinds of milk for the newborn and the older joey who still lives in the pouch. Kangaroos and wallabies have a unique ability to store elastic strain energy in the tendons of their large hind legs. As a consequence, most of the energy required for each hop is provided by the spring action of the tendons rather than by muscular effort. There is also a linkage between the hopping action and breathing: as the feet leave the ground, air is expelled from the lungs; bringing the feet forward ready for landing fills the lungs again, providing further energy efficiency. Studies of kangaroos and wallabies have demonstrated that, beyond the minimum energy expenditure required to hop at all, increased speed requires very little extra effort (much less than the same speed increase in, say, a horse, a dog, or a human), and also that little extra energy is required to carry extra weight. For kangaroos, the key benefit of hopping is not speed to escape predators — the top speed of a kangaroo is no higher than that of a similarly-sized quadruped, and the Australian native predators are in any case less fearsome than those of other continents — the benefit is economy: in an infertile continent with very variable weather patterns, the ability of a kangaroo to travel long distances at moderately high speed in search of fresh pastures is crucial. A sequencing project of the Kangaroo genome was started in 2004 as a collaboration between Australia (mainly funded by the State of Victoria) and the NIH in the USA. The genome of a marsupial such as the kangaroo is of great interest to scientists studying comparative genomics because marsupials are at the right "distance" from humans: mice are too close and haven't developed many different functions, while birds are already too far away. The dairy industry has also expressed some interest in this project.

Kangaroos and humans

Unlike many of the smaller macropod species, kangaroos have fared well since European settlement. European settlers cut down forests to create vast grasslands for sheep and cattle grazing, added stock watering points in arid areas, and have substantially reduced the number of dingos. There are more, probably many more, kangaroos in Australia now than were present in 1788. Along with the Koala, the kangaroo is regarded as the signature animal of Australia. The kangaroo and the emu appear on the Australian coat of arms. Kangaroos are often represented in toys and souvenirs. The kangaroo is part of the logo of Qantas, the largest Australian airline. The Australian national rugby league team is nicknamed the Kangaroos. Australian national rugby league team]]

Eating

The kangaroo has been historically a staple source of food for native indigenous Australians. Kangaroo is a red meat with a strong flavour and is low in fat compared with other red meats. It is best cooked a little rare. Whilst kangaroo was once limited in availability, comsumption in Australia is becoming more widespread. Most supermarkets now stock various cuts of kangaroo including fillets, steaks and 'kanga bangas' (kangaroo sausages). There has been recent discussion from the kangaroo meat industry about attempting to introduce different nomenclature for kangaroo meat, similar to the reference to pig meat as ham and pork. Kangaroo meat has been quite successful on the European market, particularly in Germany. It is also processed into dog food. Culling is closely monitored by the RSPCA and state authorities. Kangaroo farming is a substantially more environmentally friendly meat industry than present sheep or cattle farming: kangaroos require less feed than placental stock, are well-adapted to drought, do not destroy the root systems of native grasses in the way that sheep do, and have much less impact on Australia's fragile topsoils. However as of 2004, the traditional regulatory restrictions on the sale of kangaroo meat in the Australian domestic market make kangaroo farming economically unattractive. Nevertheless, the industry is worth around A$200 million annually.

Kangaroo culling

Today, in some areas, kangaroos are culled by licenced professional hunters. Both the meat and the hides are sold. Some animal rights activists and conservationists argue that the selective hunting of kangaroos for meat (targeting young adult males) has put the population at risk, but there is no evidence of a decline. Some activists have undertaken campaigns to prevent the culling or farming of kangaroos, sometimes using the slogan "Tourist drawcard – Not dead meat". Arguments center on the cruelty of shooting a national emblem. Major conservation organisations, on the other hand, point out that none of the three species of kangaroo is remotely threatened, and focus on the plight of smaller macropods, many of which are threatened or endangered. These campaigns have had some success in the United States, where few people know the real status of the kangaroo population, in preventing the establishment of an export market for kangaroo meat. Many people outside Australia mistakenly believe kangaroos to be an endangered animal, when in fact there are probably around 50 million kangaroos in Australia [http://www.yptenc.org.uk/docs/factsheets/animal_facts/aus_wildlife2.html]. In 2002 the number of kangaroos allowed to be shot by commercial hunters was increased from 5.5 million to 7 million per year. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1834061.stm] While animal rights activists protested the move, Australian farmers said that there was a "plague" of kangaroos after a huge increase in their numbers. [http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2002/s641771.htm] In July 2003 animal activists protested a planned cull of 6,500 kangaroos near the Puckapunyal army base. [http://lists.envirolink.org/pipermail/ar-news/Week-of-Mon-20030721/004087.html] In July 2004 the ACT government began a program of shooting kangaroos around the Googong Dam near Canberra while animal activists, many who had come from overseas, protested against it. [http://www.australianfauna.com/news/kangaroocull.php] It was ordered because of fears of the dam becoming contaminated after a large downpour of rain if the kangaroos ate away all the grass. Kangaroos are shy and retiring by nature, and in normal circumstances present no threat to humans. Male kangaroos often "box" amongst each other, playfully, for dominance, or in competition for mates. The dexterity of their forepaws is utilized in both punching and grappling with the foe, but the real danger lies in a serious kick with the hindleg. The sharpened toenails can disembowel an opponent, and this is the fate of many dogs that wrestle with a boomer. Boxing Kangaroos have been portrayed in popular culture, especially Bugs Bunny cartoons. cartoon] There are very few records of kangaroos attacking humans without provocation, however several such unprovoked attacks in 2004 spurred fears of a rabies-like disease possibly affecting the marsupials. The only reliably documented case of a fatality from a kangaroo attack was New South Wales, in 1936. A hunter was killed when he tried to rescue his two dogs from a heated fray. Other suggested causes for erratic and dangerous kangaroo behaviour have been extreme thirst and hunger.

Danger to cars

1936 Arguably, the greatest threat kangaroos pose to humans is the danger of car accidents on outback roads. Kangaroos blinded by headlights or startled by engine noise have been known to leap in front of cars. Since kangaroos in mid-bound can reach speeds of ~50 km/h(31 mph) and are relatively heavy, the damage to vehicles can be severe. Small vehicles may be destroyed, while larger vehicles may potentially suffer engine damage. If thrown through the windscreen, the risk of harm to vehicle occupants is greatly increased. For this reason, vehicles that frequent isolated highways where roadside assistance may be scarce are often fitted with "roo bars" to protect from the damage caused by such accidents. (See also Roadkill)

Famous Kangaroos

- Kangaroo Jack
- Skippy the bush kangaroo
-

References

- Dawson, Terence J. 1995. Kangaroos: Biology of the Largest Marsupials. Cornell University Press, Ithica, New York. Second printing: 1998. ISBN 0-8014-8262-3.
- Flannery, Timothy Fridtjof, et al. 1996. Tree Kangaroos: A Curious Natural History. Reed Books, Melbourne. ISBN 0-7301-0492-3
- Underhill D (1993) Australia's Dangerous Creatures, Reader's Digest, Sydney, New South Wales, ISBN 0-86438-018-6
- Weldon, Kevin. 1985. The Kangaroo. Weldons Pty. Ltd., Sydney. ISBN 0-949708-22-4

External links

- [http://kango.anu.edu.au/ The Kangaroo Genome Project] at Australian National University
- [http://www.abc.net.au/science/features/skippysizeme/ Skippy Size Me] 2004 ABC report on kangaroo industry
- [http://www.nwf.org/internationalwildlife/kangaroo.html Interesting facts on kangaroos]
- [http://rubens.anu.edu.au/student.projects/kangaroos/court-mate.html Courtship and Mating] Category:Australian animals Category:Macropods ko:캥거루 ja:カンガルー

Kookaburra

- Dacelo gaudichaud
- Dacelo leachii
- Dacelo novaeguineae
- Dacelo tyro Kookaburras are very large terrestrial kingfishers native to Australia and New Guinea. Kookaburras are best known for their unmistakable call which is uncannily like loud, echoing human laughter — good-natured if rather hysterical merriment in the case of the well-known Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), maniacial, almost insane cackling in the case of the slightly smaller Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii). This sound is often used as background noise for movies set in jungles. Kookaburras occupy woodland territories in loose family groups, and their laughter serves the same purpose as a great many other bird calls: to demarcate territorial borders. The Laughing Kookaburra also "laughs" to greet its mate after periods of absences. It can be heard at any time of day but most frequently shortly after dawn, and especially when the colour drains from the forest after sunset. jungle One bird starts with a low, hiccupping chuckle, then throws its head back in raucous laughter: often several others join in. If a rival tribe is within earshot and replies, the whole family soon gathers to fill the bush with ringing laughter. Hearing kookaburras in full voice is one of the more extraordinary experiences of the Australian bush; something even locals cannot ignore, and that visitors, unless forewarned, can be quite terrified by. Kookaburras hunt much as other kingfishers (or indeed robins) do: by perching on a convenient branch or wire and waiting patiently for prey to pass by: mice and similar-sized small mammals, large insects, lizards, small birds and nestlings, and most famously, snakes. Small prey are preferred, but kookaburras not infrequently take surprisingly large creatures, including venomous snakes a good deal longer than the bird itself. Unusually for close relatives, the Laughing and Blue-winged species are direct competitors in the area where their ranges overlap. This suggests that the two species, though having common stock, evolved in isolation (possibly during a period when Australia and New Guinea were more distant — see Australia-New Guinea) and were only brought back into contact in relatively recent geological times. During mating season, the Laughing Kookaburra indulges in behaviour similar to that of a Wattle Bird. The female adopts a begging posture and vocalises like a young bird. The male then offers her his current catch accompanied with an "oo oo oo" sound. They start breeding around October/November. If the first clutch fails, they will continue breeding into the summer months. The male Laughing Kookaburra can be easily distinguished from the female by the blue hues on his wing feathers and darker blue on his tail feathers. The female on the other hand has a small amount of aqua on her wing feathers, but no blue on her tail feathers. The Laughing Kookaburra frequently inhabits suburban gardens and are so accustomed to humans that they will quite often eat out of your hand. It is not recommended to feed them however as it interferes with their basic dietry requirements and can lead to disease.

In culture

A popular song about kookaburras goes: :Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree, :Merry merry king of the bush is he, :Laugh, Kookaburra, Laugh, Kookaburra :Gay your life must be. :Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree, :Eating all the gumdrops he can see, :Stop, Kookaburra, Stop, Kookaburra :Leave some there for me. Local Sydney AFL team [http://www.muafc.com Macquarie University] utilse the Kookaburra as their mascot. Category:Birds of Australia
- Category:Heraldic birds

Mesker Park Zoo

External links

Zoo

See also

External links

Evansville, Indiana

Geography

Climate

Demographics

Cultural Features

Points of Interest

Festivals

Arts & Museums

Sports

Parks

Law & Government

Education

Transportation

Business & Employment

Media

History

Famous People from Evansville

Trivia

See Also

External Links

Rhinoceros

Family

Hybrid Rhino

Rhinoceros Horn

Nature's firefighter

References

External links

Lion

Lions in the wild

Lion Subspecies

Attacks on humans

Cross-breeding with tigers

Lions in sculpture

Lions in culture and media

Lions in heraldry

Morphology of the lion skull

External links and references

Camel

Camel Hybrids

External links

Kangaroo

Overview

Courtship

Adaptations

Kangaroos and humans

Eating

Kangaroo culling

Danger to cars

Famous Kangaroos

See also

References

External links

Kookaburra

In culture

Lions

Lions in the wild

Lion Subspecies

Attacks on humans

Cross-breeding with tigers

Lions in sculpture

Lions in culture and media

Lions in heraldry

Morphology of the lion skull

External links and references