Mystery Animal of the Day

With woeful heart, Mama gnome relates this Mystery Animal is endangered and according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, this animal is "believed to have undergone a decline exceeding 50% over the past 30 years (approximately three generations)."

It is one of the smallest marine mammals and one of the cleverest as well for it is quite adept at using rocks to crack open its favorite meal, the sea urchin.

Unlike other marine mammals which have blubber for protection, this animal relies on its very dense fur for warmth and repelling water.

It is also undoubtedly one of the cutest animals Mama gnome had ever seen up close.

If you guessed sea otter as the Mystery Animal, Mama gnome gives you a big hug and invites you to join her in the annual International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 21, 2013.
 
 photo by : Mike Baird

An adult sea otter can grow up to 1.2 to 1.5 m (3 ft 10 in to 4 ft 10 in) in length and weigh from 22 to 45 kg (49 to 99 lb).

Its fur is usually brown but can also range from yellowish brown to almost black.

The sea otter sheds its fur gradually all year allowing the animal to maintain its thick fur which is vital for survival in the cold ocean waters.

The sea otter has a thick, somewhat flat tail which helps propel it in the water.

The otter can swim up to 5.6 mph or 9 km per hour. When it swims underwater it keeps its body long and streamlined and while above water it usually floats on its back quite easily, thanks to the the trapped air in its thick fur, making it very buoyant.

Besides its power of buoyancy and cuteness, sea otters are vital for maintaining kelp forest ecosystems.

Without sea otters, sea urchins population will grow rampant and what is bad about this?

Sea urchins eat the root systems of kelp forests so if the otters are not there to keep them in check, sea urchins will thrive and eventually kill the kelp forests leading to urchin barrens.

Here is a video of sea otters working hard to save our kelp forests.

 

video by: BBC

Sea otters' population is decreasing. They are threatened by oil spills, predators, disease, and conflict with fisheries.

Mama gnome would like to float in the ocean, buoyed up by her gnomish folds, bang on a rock just for the heck of it, and say, please help our sea otters continue to thrive and live in our kelp forests.

Please help in your own human way every day and stay green.

(c) friendlygnome.blogspot.com

Mystery Animal of the Day

A few days ago, older gnomelet asked, "Mama, can you do a new Mystery animal?"

So on special request by older gnomelet, Mama gnome presents,

"Mystery Animal of the Day."

This animal is a true vegetarian, a creature after Mama gnome's own heart.

It noshes on seagrass all day.

It is shy and unassuming and part of its mystique has led to myths of mermaids and sirens of the deep.

Yes, it has the tail befitting a mermaid and a face befitting a gentle elephant with a short trunk for its closest land relative is the elephant.

If you've guessed the Mystery Animal of the Day is the manatee, please don't forget to

celebrate Earth Day this April 22, 2011 and participate in A Billion Acts of Green.

West Indian Manatee

photo by: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey

Manatees are sirenians or sea cows. Dugongs are also sirenians.

Manatees can grow up to 3 meters or 13 feet in length. They can weigh up to 600 kilograms or 1300 pounds. They use their large upper lip to eat and gather food. Their tail is paddle shaped.

There are three species of manatees: the Amazonian manatee, West African manatee, and West Indian manatee.

All three species are listed vulnerable by IUCN with threats "due primarily to ongoing levels of hunting, sometimes involving new and sophisticated techniques, coupled with increasing incidental calf mortality, climate change and habitat loss and degradation."


The main threat to the Amazonian manatee is illegal hunting. Poachers use nets and harpoons to kill these gentle seacows. The Amazonian manatees are also threatened by
deforestation and contamination of their habitat by mercury, oil, pesticides, and gold mining. Hydroelectric dams are also a significant threat and Brazil for one has planned 400 dams.


The subspecies of the West Indian manatees: the Florida manatees and Antillean manatees are listed as Endangered by IUCN.

Mama gnome doesn't understand why they wouldn't just list the West Indian manatees as endangered when the two subspecies are endangered with less than 2,500 mature individuals and the trend for the population is 20% decline over the next 40 years.

Let's just say it, these animals ARE ENDANGERED.

They are endangered because of watercraft collisions.

"Watercraft collisions are the single greatest cause of human-related mortality."

"In 2005, there were over one million registered vessels in Florida."

If the injured manatees are not killed they are severely mutilated and have a poor chance of survival.

The West Indian manatees are also threatened by loss of habitat,"entanglement (in fishing gear or debris), entrapment in water-control structures and pipes, exposure to contaminants, incidental ingestion of debris, and crushing (in flood-control structures, in canal locks, or between large ships and docks."

In addition to man-made threats, West Indian manatees also face natural threats including red tide, hurricanes, and prolonged periods of cold weather.

West African manatees are found along the warm coastal waters of Africa, and in major rivers and lakes of West and Central Africa.

Poaching is the primary threat to West African manatees. Even though they are "protected", "Manatee meat is openly sold in local markets."

According to IUCN other threats include habitat loss because of "damming of rivers, cutting of mangroves for firewood and destruction of wetlands for agricultural development."
Manatees have been caught up in the turbines with reports of as many as six manatee killed at one time below Kainjii dam, Nigeria.


video by: BBCWorldwide

Mama gnome would like to eat sea grass with a vengeance, flip her large paddle shaped tail and swim after terrible humans who drive their huge speedy boats without remorse killing and maiming gentle sirenians of the deep.

Please be part of the sea cow army and go green.

(c) Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

The Slaughter of the Rhino

Mama gnome strives to stay positive and see the glass half-full.

But it's hard to keep a stiff upper gnome lip and be optimistic when you learn about the slaughter of the Rhino.

Rhinos are being slaughtered for their horns.

Rhino horns are illegally sold and bought in Asia for use for "traditional Chinese medicine" and in the Middle East as handles for ornamental daggers.

Last June 2010, poachers in South Africa killed..."the last female rhinoceros in a popular game reserve near Johannesburg...(it) bled to death after having its horn hacked off."

The rhino was a mother.

"Her distraught calf was moved to a nearby estate where it was introduced to two other orphaned white rhinos."

According to this report, rhino poaching has severely worsened with:

Wildlife officials in...South Africa say 2010 was an extraordinarily bad year, with 333 rhinos poached, nearly three times as many as were lost in 2009. Five more rhinos were killed in the first weeks of 2011.

There are five species of rhinoceros:

First, the White Rhinoceros with two subspecies, the northern and southern white rhinoceros.

White Rhino

photo by: Ikiwaner, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Waterberg_Nashorn3.jpg

Since 2008: "The last four northern white rhinoceros remaining in the wild are feared to have been killed for their horns by poachers and are now believed to be extinct in the wild. "

The second species, the Black Rhino, is listed as critically endangered by IUCN.

Black Rhino

photo by: Ikiwaner

According to the IUCN..."one of the main threats to the population is poaching for the international rhino horn trade."

The third species is the Indian Rhinoceros or the Great One-horned Rhinoceros. IUCN lists the Indian rhino as vulnerable and habitat decline threatens this species.

Indian Rhino
photo by: Fritz Geller-Grimm

The fourth species is the Javan Rhinoceros.

Javan Rhino

1930 photo of Javan Rhino by: Hoogerwerf, Andries, Rhino Resource Center

Mama gnome has featured this rhino sadly as a Mystery Animal of the Day,for it is considered the most endangered of all the largest mammals in the world.

According to this report:
"Last year, a Javan rhino, which is one of the world's rarest mammals, was found dead in a Vietnamese national park with its horn chopped off. Experts believe only three to five animals still exist in Vietnam."


The fifth species is the Sumatran Rhinoceros.

Sumatran Rhinos at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens

photo by: Charles W. Hardin

IUCN lists the Sumatran Rhino as critically endangered with less than 250 mature individuals and their population continue to decline because of illegal poaching and habitat loss.

Here is a video reporting about rhino poaching. Warning. Some images show the slaughtered rhinos.


video by: AlJazeeraEnglish

Do you think there is any hope for the Rhino? What can we do to help save them?

Visit WWF.

Spread the terrible news about this animal.

Please help save the rhino.

Please help and go green.

(c) 2009-2011 Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

Mystery Animal of the Day

Mama gnome presents the Mystery Animal of the Day.

He's dubbed the "loneliest animal on Earth" for bearing the burden of being the last known survivor of his subspecies.

This animal lives on an island, part of an archipelago made famous by Darwin.

He is a slow moving reptile with a saddleback shell and long neck and limbs.

If your answer is Pinta Island Tortoise or Abingdon Island Tortoise, Mama gnome would like to walk on the beach with you someday to participate at the next Coastal Cleanup Day.

photo from: putneymark

This famous tortoise is called Lonesome George.

He was discovered on the island of Pinta in 1971. Pinta is one of the islets of the Galapagos Archipelago.



photo from: Minglex


Pinta Island Tortoises were severely hunted down by fishermen and whalers to the point of extinction in the wild.

In addition..."the island's vegetation had been decimated by introduced feral goats, and the indigenous Geochelone nigra abingdoni population had been reduced to a single individual."

That single individual is George.

George has since lived in protected confinement at the Charles Darwin Research Center.

They estimate his age to be around ninety years old.

Lonesome George is the last known Geochelone nigra abingdoni or Abingdon Island Tortoise, a subspecies of the Galapagos giant tortoises.

The Galapagos giant tortoise is the largest living tortoise. Adults can measure up to four feet or 1.2 meters long and weigh over 661 pounds or 300 kilograms.

Their normal life expectancy is estimated to be 100 to 150 years.

Since the start of the 17th century, the Galapagos tortoises have been killed by hunters, poachers and predators introduced to the islands by humans.

Their food which is mainly plants and grasses have severely diminished as well.

Although the Galapagos giant tortoise has been listed as a "protected species" since 1936 by the Ecuadorian government, over 120 tortoises have been killed by poachers.

In 2004 the giant tortoises and scientists at the Charles Darwin Research Center were taken hostage by local fisherman as part of their political protest against environmental laws. Some fishermen even threatened to kill Lonesome George.

Today, of the ten remaining subspecies of Galapagos giant tortoises, George is charged with representing his entire subspecies by himself.

Attempts are being made to continue George's genome. Although the resulting offsprings if they are successful will be 'hybrids,' for the female tortoises are different subspecies.

In 2008, one of the female tortoises laid a clutch of eggs but were later found infertile.

Last July 2009, the Galapagos National Park reported a second clutch of eggs were discovered. After an incubation period of 120 days they will determine if the eggs are fertile.

Mama gnome will keep her fingers crossed and root for George.


video from: BBCWorldwide

Mama gnome now feels like stretching her neck high and coming out of her shell to say to the world,

"Lonesome George may be the last of his kind, but he is not alone. I will stand by him and so should you. Be a part of his family and go green."

(c) 2009 Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

Mystery Animal of the Day

Mama gnome is happy to present her favorite land animal,

the Mystery Animal of the Day.

Its scientific name is Ursus Maritimus.

It is native within the Arctic Circle, its surrounding waters and land masses.

Global warming is listed as the most significant threat to this animal.

If your guess is Polar Bear, Mama gnome wants to give you a giant bear hug and she chants her motto, "Save Energy! Save the Polar Bears!"


photo from Alan D. Wilson, naturepicsonline.com

Polar bears share the title of largest bear with the Kodiak bear.

They are excellent swimmers as you can see here:

video from: BBCWorldwide


Polar bears are well insulated by their thick fur, blubber and hide. They overheat if the temperature is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit or 10 degrees Celsius.

According to the IUCN, "If climatic trends continue polar bears may become extirpated from most of their range within 100 years."

Polar bears are also threatened by:

"...toxic contaminants, shipping, recreational viewing, oil and gas exploration and development. In addition to this comes a potential risk of over-harvest due to increased quotas, excessive quotas or no quotas in Canada and Greenland and poaching in Russia."

Mama gnome imagines you protest and say,

Global warming? Toxic contaminant? Oil exploration? That's crazy? When did I ever explore for oil or use toxic contaminants or warm a globe?

Mama gnome answers,

Every day we make decisions or perform actions that contribute to or lessen global warming, contribute to or lessen toxic wastes, contribute to or lessen oil exploration and development.

In the near future, our actions and decisions will produce an effect, a global effect that will either "extirpate" the polar bears or support their existence.



video from: NationalWildlife


What can we do today to help save the Polar Bears? I thought you'd never ask.

• Chant daily mantra of "save energy, save polar bears" to guide you
  
• Save electricity (don't use the clothes dryer, use compact fluorescent light bulbs, use energy efficient appliances, turn off lights and appliances not being used, etc.)
• Drive less
  
• Eat less meat
• Use ecofriendly products to lessen toxic contaminants
• Use reusable bags
• Support plastic ban bags
• Visit World Wildlife Federation
• Participate in the annual Coastal Cleanup Day . The next one is on September 19, 2009
• Adopt a Polar Bear
• Give the gift of Trees. For each card you purchase and gift to someone, a tree will be planted in a national forest in their honor
  
• Reduce, reuse, recycle
• Educate your family, friends, neighbors, strangers about these issues

Mama gnome feels like daily consumption of peanut butter has provided her with enough blubber to survive in the cold waters of the Arctic Ocean. There she will help guard the polar bears from hunters and toxic pollution.

You need to thicken your hide and blubber by staying on land and fight off Global Warming.

Go green.

(c) 2009 Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

Mystery Animal of the Day

Mama gnome presents the

Mystery Animal of the Day

It is the most endangered cat species in the world. It has leopard-like spots on its gray or light-brown coat.

IUCN reports only about 84-143 of these cats remain in scattered pockets in Spain and Portugal.

If your guess is the IBERIAN LYNX, Mama gnome would like to shake your hand and say,
"you have the signs of becoming a true environmentalist."


photo by: (c)"Programa de Conservación Ex-situ del Lince Ibérico www.lynxexsitu.es"


The Iberian Lynx has four sets of whiskers. Two on its ears and two on the chin. They use these whiskers to sense for prey.

Their main prey is the European Rabbit. With the Iberian Lynx's habitat severely diminished or destroyed and the rabbit population drastically reduced, the Iberian Lynx is critically endangered.

Sadly SOS Lynx reports,

"...if this species died out, it would be the first feline extinction since the Smilodon 10,000 years ago."

SOS Lynx is a nonprofit organization dedicated to help save the Iberian Lynx. Please visit their website for more information.


video from: chriscarrfilm

Mama gnome feels like brushing her whiskers, ehemm, brushing her hair I mean.

And pouncing on terrible humans who are ruthlessly cutting down trees in the Iberian Lynx's territory.

Raw-raarrr!!!

To help the Iberian Lynx:

• please visit SOS Lynx
• find ways to cut down use of paper or paper products
• recycle paper
• try to use paper or paper products made from post-consumer waste
  

Be one with the Iberian Lynx, clean your whiskers and Go Green.

(c) 2009 Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

Bad dream? Good dream?

Mama gnome dreams in color, psychedelic colors sometimes and wakes up remembering most of the details.

Last night, Mama gnome had a weird dream.

She dreamt of a baby elephant.

It looked like a baby Asian elephant. The one with smaller ears.

photo from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:SuperJew

Here's a picture of a baby Asian elephant with its mother.


The baby elephant Mama gnome dreamt of was lost in a flooded village.

The water was high. High above the elephant's head.

The poor animal stuck its trunk above the water for air.

Mama gnome walked up to the embankment where an old friend/classmate from college was just watching the wandering elephant.

Mama gnome asked, " Hey, -------(friend's name), why don't you help the elephant?"

But the old classmate/friend just shook her head.

Without wasting another moment, Mama gnome jumped in the water.

She swam towards the elephant.

And just like any dream where Newton's laws or any other physical laws are suspended,

Mama gnome and elephant walked side by side, both submerged in the water.

Mama gnome had no trouble foregoing air.

They made their way around the village until finally they clambered up a path,

out of the water together.

Then Mama gnome woke up.

Was it a good dream or a bad dream?

I think it was good because the baby elephant and Mama gnome made it out of the flood okay.

I think it was a bad dream because in reality Asian elephants are endangered.

According to IUCN:

...an overall population decline of at least 50% over the last three generations (estimated to be 60–75 years, based on a generation time estimated to be 20–25 years) seems realistic.

They are endangered because of the continuing trend of poaching and habitat destruction.

And Mama gnome cannot help them as simply as walking with them up and out of the flood.



video from: www.conservenature.org

Visit elephantconservation.org for more information.

And please, remember, there is no beauty in ivory for an elephant was killed for it.

Go green.

(c) Jenaelha Friendly Gnome's Blog.

Mystery Animal of the Day

Little gnomelet asked me yesterday, "Mama, do you have a new Mystery Animal of the Day?"

And so...

Mama Gnome presents MYSTERY ANIMAL OF THE DAY...

It has a flat, short head, big eyes, long legs and a short tail.

It's the slowest mammal in the world. It moves so minimally algae grows on its fur.

It can hang from tree limbs quite adeptly.

A three-toed species of this animal is critically endangered.


If your guess is Sloth, you win a double high-five and

Mama gnome asks, "Why don't you go volunteer at an animal shelter then?"

Here is a picture of a Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth:
photo from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bradypus.jpg


Sloths are found in Central and South America.

The pygmy three-toed sloths are critically endangered according to IUCN.

And with continuing loss of habitat and poaching, other species are also threatened.

Sloths are grouped into two families, the three-toed sloths and two-toed sloths.

Here is a picture of a two-toed sloth.


photo from nationalgeographic.com

As you can see the three-toed and two-toed sloths are equally cute and awesome.

The only difference is the two-toed sloths have two fingers. And the three-toed sloths have three fingers.

But all sloths have three toes.

Is that confusing or what?

Never mind.

Just remember the cuteness and awesomeness of both groups are equal as proven by the algebraic formula below:

3 toed-sloth = (100 % cute) + (100% awesome) = 2 toed-sloth


Sloths move at a speed of 1.2 miles per hour or .54 meters per second.

And when it's in a super hurry as in running away from danger it moves at a staggering fifteen feet or 4.5 m. per minute.

The main staple of the sloths' diet are leaves.

Sloths' fur is host not only to algae but also to non-parasitic insects.

Here is a video of this fascinating mammal.

video by http://www.youtube.com/BBCEarth

Mama gnome now feels like slowing down, eating edible leaves and looking cute and awesome.

Hope you've enjoyed learning a little bit about Sloths.

Please visit Mama gnome's garden soon for the next Mystery Animal of the Day.

Go green.

(c) 2009 Jenaelha Friendly Gnome's Blog

Thankless Job

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an incredible organization working for the conservation of natural resources. Please check out their website for tons of information concerning nature and the environment: IUCN

The IUCN publishes an analysis every four years. According to their most recent analysis, the "2010 goals set by governments to reduce biodiversity loss will not be met."

Here's a statement made by Jean-Christophe Vié, Deputy Head of IUCN’s Species Programme:

"When governments take action to reduce biodiversity loss there are some conservation successes, but we are still a long way from reversing the trend. It’s time to recognize that nature is the largest company on Earth working for the benefit of 100 percent of humankind – and it's doing it for free. Governments should put as much effort, if not more, into saving nature as they do into saving economic and financial sectors."

I was struck by this: "nature is the largest company on Earth working for the benefits of 100 percent of humankind- and it's doing it for free..."

How would you like to work for free, forever? It's a thankless job for Nature. A thankless job.

I think it's time we give them a promotion, a raise, a vacation package and medical insurance. Don't you?

(c) 2009 Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog