Mystery Animal of the Day

Mama gnome hungs her head low and wrings her hands together for the

Mystery Animal of the Day is predicted to be extinct in fifteen years. Not fifty, but 15 years.

This magnificent animal roams in Africa. It is the largest land animal. Its tusks are actually teeth, tusks developed from its second set of incisors.

And it is because of these tusks, that this animal will disappear from Africa in fifteen years.

If you guessed the Mystery Animal of the Day is the African Elephant,
Mama gnome urges you to visit the websites for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and WWF to read up about the plight of African elephants and other animals and see how you can help.
photo from wikipedia.org

The African Elephant is being wiped out by man because of the ivory trade.

According to IFAW:

"Despite ivory trade being banned 20 years ago, a shocking 104 elephants are still being killed every day for their tusks. This alarming level of illegal hunting could drive the African elephant to extinction across much of the continent in just 15 years."

According to this report:
In 2005 there were 3,885 elephants in Chad's Zakouma National Park. But in 2009 there were only 617. "At least 11 rangers were killed by poachers there over the same period."

So elephants and people are being killed by poachers.

But what exactly will happen if Africa loses all of her elephants?

As it stands, Africa will lose a lot more because African elephants play a vital role in Africa's biodiversity.

According to WWF, elephants help "...maintain suitable habitats for many other species in savanna and forest ecosystems."

Mama gnome nods her head and understands your question for she herself didn't understand just how important elephants are.

WWF states:

"Elephants directly influence forest composition and density, and can alter the broader landscape.

In tropical forests, elephants create clearings and gaps in the canopy that encourage tree regeneration.

In the savannas, they can reduce bush cover to create an environment favorable to a mix of browsing and grazing animals.

Many plant species also have evolved seeds that are dependent on passing through an elephant's digestive tract before they can germinate;

it is calculated that at least a third of tree species in west African forests rely on elephants in this way for distribution of their future generations."

video by: BBCWorldwide


This video shows an orphaned elephant mourning the death of her mother while keepers at an elephant reserve try to take care of her.


video from BBCWorldwide


More than 100 elephants are killed by poachers every day. More than 100.

How many baby elephants are left orphaned or left to die without their mothers?

All these for ivory.

Where are ivories used? Anywhere from pipes, dagger handles, decorations, sculptures, religious figurines or images. For knick-knacks.

Mama gnome is horrified to discover ivory products were being sold even on eBay up until 2008. That's right. You read that correctly. And only because of pressure from IFAW, eBay finally resolved to ban sales of ivory products in 2009.

Mama gnome urges everyone who reads this blog to educate their friends, family, coworkers, even strangers about the plight of African elephants and how ivory trade is literally decimating hundreds of elephants every...single...day.

Mama gnome says, "Please be one with the herd, join Mama elephant and Go Green."

(c) 2009 Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

A grateful gnome

Mama gnome bustled around the aga stove all day. Today the gnome family celebrated a day of giving thanks.

At the table, Mama gnome said, "Family, I wish to say thank you to all of you, to Daddy gnome, to elder gnomelet, baby gnomelet, Auntie gnome. Mama gnome is very thankful for all your love and support, especially when we have to battle Plastic Bag Monster."

At this point, the gnome family stopped eating and went grrrrr... at the thought of Plastic Bag Monster.

Mama gnome continued, "I'm also grateful for our planet Earth, our trees, oceans, polar bears and all creatures big and small. But please tell me, what are you most thankful for?"

Elder gnomelet said, "For water, Mama. And the plants and trees. Because I love trees!"

Auntie gnome said, "Marine life! Marine life! Our oceans especially without pollution are so beautiful."

Daddy gnome said,"I'm thankful for our garden, Mama gnome. Even though we live here where it's quite city like, we have our yard where the trees and plants make me feel quite at home."

Mama gnome said, "Quite right, Daddy gnome. You are quite right."

Baby gnomelet said, "I'm thankful for Mama for giving me all this food!"

Mama gnome smiled.



video by Earthshots.org
music by Sigur Ros, "Hoppipola"

Mama gnome wishes everyone would see the bounty and beauty of our planet and show our gratitude by helping her stay safe. Please Go Green.

(c) 2009 Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

Operation Desert Cleanup

(c) 2009 photo by Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

The gnome family bundled themselves up. They wore their warmest tunics, long pants, sturdy shoes and pointy hats.

"Where are we going, Mama?" asked baby gnomelet.

"We're going to help clean up the desert," said Mama gnome.

"Yehey!!!" The gnomelets shouted in unison while Daddy gnome tried to wrestle them into their special gnomelet seats.

By the by, Daddy gnome drove the gnome car to Prime Desert Woodland Preserve.

Mama gnome slumped in the passenger seat and sighed. The cold turned her breath into a miniature puffy cloud.

She'd seen low turnouts at the beach for Coastal Cleanup Day and at the park for the 350 International Day of Climate Action.

What would make this event any different?

She promised herself if more than a dozen humans showed up for Operation Desert Cleanup, a carrot cake baked from scratch would be the centerpiece for that night's supper.

After Mama gnome cleared her head of carrot cake imagery, an ugly picture replaced it, the bane of her existence.

Yes, Plastic Bag Monster.

Plastic Bag monster exists not just in our rivers and oceans but also in our parks, streets and even deserts. Plastic Bag Monster's-not-so-secret-headquarters is at the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, joined by his minions of plastic bottle monsters, styrofoam monsters, bits and pieces of unrecognizable trash monsters.

The gnome car drove into the resting lot for cars at the Desert Woodland Preserve.

Mama gnome pulled down her pointy hat and sat up straight in her seat.

"You ready, Mama gnome?" Daddy gnome asked.

"Yes, let's do it."

Two human ladies waited for the gnome family.

Judy, one of Daddy gnome's colleague and friend, said, "I knew you'd come."

"Of course," said Daddy gnome.

"We have some gloves here for you. You'd probably want some for your young ones, " the other lady human said smiling at the gnomelets. The friendly human lady was a volunteer at the Woodland Reserve.

"Thank you. They have their own gloves," Mama gnome said.

"Very well. I'll show you where you can start."

The gnome family and Judy followed the lady.

Mama gnome admired the Joshua trees and beautiful desert landscape whilst keeping an eye on young gnomelets.

photo (c) 2009 Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

The lady stopped and said, "You can start cleaning over there, by the fence. You probably won't get a lot of trash. Be careful. Don't step into rabbit holes and there are coyotes here so keep your young ones close by."

"Coyotes?" Older gnomelet's voice went up.

Mama gnome watched her, afraid older gnomelet would be frightened at the thought of coyotes.

Older gnomelet threw back her head and said, "Coyotes howl like this, AWOOOOOOOOH!"

Soon baby gnomelet copied her big sister and the two gnomelets howled in unison.

"That's very clever. But now listen, remember the rules. Stay close to Mama gnome and watch where you step," said Mama gnome.

"Yes, Mama." The gnomelets said together.

It hadn't even been two minutes, when the first trash was picked up by guess who?

Yes, Mama gnome's secret weapon, ecowarrior, Older gnomelet.

"Look, Mama," she held up in her gloved hand a discarded cigarette end.

"Good job. Let's put it in the trash bag," Mama gnome said. Older gnomelet dropped the cigarette butt in the bag.

Mama gnome though to herself, "Cigarette and dry desert brush, so-dry-they'll-spark-if you-stare at-them-too-long-dry. Perfect deadly combination for wildfire. Some people are so thoughtful."

The gnome family "combed the desert" and within an hour found: countless pieces of broken glass from beer bottles, plastic bags stuck in thorny brush. Mama gnome yanked them out from their snares with long twigs she found on the ground. They also picked up a rusted spring, an old tab for a soda can Daddy gnome said was from the time when he was a gnomelet.

"Boy, that's really ol...um, let's keep going," Mama gnome said walking away from Daddy gnome.

Older gnomelet lived up to her name as ecowarrior and found styrofoam cups, old soda cans, bits of plastic remnants.

Baby gnomelet found a few pieces of trash and found a treasure in a long stick she'd picked up from the ground. She waved that thing for almost the whole time, creating good practice for Daddy and Mama gnome to duck out of harm's way.

After an hour, the gnome family, combed and rid the desert of these:

(c)2009 photo by Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

Just when Mama gnome thought Daddy's bag was quite full and stretched thin,
older gnomelet pointed to something colorful and quite unnatural under a bramble.

Daddy gnome walked around the thorny bush and yanked out not just one, two or three but four blankets and sheets.

Daddy gnome hauled them out to a clearing. They were heavy, encrusted with dirt and mud.

"Great job, little one. You saw those blankets. Good eye!" Mama gnome said to older gnomelet.

Older gnomelet said, "Yes, Mama. But look there's lots of broken glass here." She was quite unfazed.

After two hours, the gnome family walked back to the car resting lot to meet up with the other volunteers.

Some of the odd trash found included:

• an old microwave
• two slides from a playground set
• a car muffler including the tailpipe
• one of those plastic cones used to cordon off for safety
• "at least thirty year" old rusted tin cans
• lots of metal scrap
• a spoon
• a disembodied hand from a doll

Mama gnome looked at all the trash collected by the volunteers. Operation Desert Cleanup's tally:

(c) 2009 photo by Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

Though the total number of humans who volunteered on that day was less than carrot cake baked from scratch threshold, Mama gnome hugged Daddy gnome and gnomelets and said, "Great job everyone. I'm so proud of you."

Mama gnome said thank you to the kind human volunteers.

She walked back to the gnome car with an exhausted baby gnomelet in her arms, Ecowarrior older gnomelet by her side, and images of freshly baked, chocolatey fudge brownies danced in Mama gnome's head.

(c) 2009 photo by Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

Please, keep thoughts of a beautiful clean planet Earth in your head and Go Green.


(c) 2009 all photos and post by Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

Mystery Animal of the Day

Mama gnome presents:

Mystery Animal of the Day

It is the largest "arboreal" animal, an animal that lives primarily in trees.

Its hands are similar to human hands with four fingers and an opposable thumb.

This animal is mostly covered with reddish brown hair.

If you guessed the Mystery Animal of the Day is: ORANGUTAN,

Mama gnome shakes your hand with her gnomish hand which also possesses an opposable thumb and she says,

"100% postconsumer paper is one of the best things in the world because it helps to save our forests."


photo from: Oliver Spalt

Orangutans are found in the rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo.

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists the Sumatran orangutan as critically endangered and the Bornean orangutan as endangered.

Orangutans are in dire...yes, dire straits. According to IUCN:

This species is seriously threatened by logging (both legal and illegal), wholesale conversion of forest to agricultural land and oil palm plantations, and fragmentation by roads.

Animals are also illegally hunted and captured for the international pet trade but this appears to be more a symptom of habitat conversion, as orangutans are killed as pests when they raid fruit crops at the forest edge..."

This video is a snippet showing orphan orangutans rescued.


video from: BBCWorldwide

Yes, Mama gnome also has trouble wrapping her mind around this disturbing truth:
Orangutan mothers are killed (either shot down or hacked with machetes) by poachers to take
the baby orangutans to be sold in the black market as pets.

Do the people who paid to have an orangutan pet realize they paid to kill mother orangutans?


The Malay word 'orang utan' translates to "man of the forest."

"In 1994, Carel van Schaik of Duke University became the first anthropologist to document the use of tools among wild orangutans." He observed orangutans in the wild used tools and that this skill was social or "cultural" meaning it was learned by orangutans from watching other orangutans within their group.

An example van Schaik cited was how orangutans extracted seeds from a favorite local fruit "puwin." Puwin is covered with fine hairs as sharp as "plexiglass needles" according to van Schaik. To avoid being hurt or jabbed by the needle like hairs on the fruit, orangutans insert a fine stick inside the fruit to obtain the seeds without handling the puwin directly.

But if you watch this video you will be even more amazed at just how intelligent orangutans are.


video from: BBCEarth

What exactly is the impact of losing the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra? Is it equivalent to just losing the orangutans, the "people of the forest"?

No. The scope of the devastation goes beyond that. According to the WWF:

"The rate of deforestation in Indonesia is among the worst globally, with a staggering 80 percent of the nation's wood supplies thought to come from illegal sources, including nature reserves and other protected areas."

Mama gnome wants to reiterate: 80% of timber comes from illegal logging. Trees supposedly in protected areas and nature reserves are under no protection at all.

WWF also states:

"Conversion of forests into palm oil plantations has been shown to result in the loss of 80-100 percent of the mammal, reptile and bird species in the area."

"...Indonesia accounts for more than 14 percent of global deforestation. This represents almost half of the total global carbon emissions from deforestation and land degradation — almost twice as much as Brazil (the second-largest producer of greenhouse gases from land conversion), and more than three times Malaysia (the third largest)."

"Indonesia ranks fourth in the world in terms of total carbon emissions — behind the U.S., the European Union and China, and ahead of Brazil. Deforestation and forest degradation account for more than 83 percent of Indonesia's carbon emissions."

They are literally destroying rainforests and consequently contributing to global warming in pursuit of financial profit.

What can we do to help the orangutans and other species lost by rainforest destruction?

• Use papers that are made from postconsumer waste. If it's 100% postconsumer waste, that's one hundred percent even better.
• Recycle paper such as junk mail, shredded paper, telephone books, magazines you cannot donate to the library, your old school notes.
• Instead of using paper towels or paper napkins use cloth napkins, cloth rags, old shirts reused as rags. You'll save money as well as save trees.
• Support reforestation efforts.
• Give eco-friendly cards such as these from Arborday.org.
  
• Look for Fair Trade Certified labeling on products such as coffee, chocolate, tea, fruit, sugar and rice when shopping. They endorse products obtained through sustainable practices.

Mama gnome now feels like living in a tree for a while and if she spots illegal loggers trespassing in her forest she will hurl spiky puwin fruits at them to protect her baby and her trees.

If they persist to cut down trees despite being jabbed by the puwin fruit, Mama gnome will use her handy-dandy opposable thumbs and show them the way out of the rainforest, the fastest way out of the rainforest.

Mama gnome hopes you've enjoyed learning about the Mystery Animal of the Day.

In the meantime, please make your opposable thumbs equally handy in the tricky human world full of gadgets and tools and

Go Green.

(c) 2009 Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog