Don't forget about tomorrows future!

Nature is a BEAUTIFUL thing! So why not try and keep it clean for future generations?

I have posted before about recycling, but I wanted to take that a step further. I was walking my dog, Sophie, the other day around my campus and I saw so much trash on the side of the road. So I decided to take a trash bag and some gloves with me to pick up the forgotten trash.

These are just a few different pictures I took of the forgotten trash.

All of these items are recyclable! So why not take the time and dispose of them properly? Plastic cups and bottles, as well as cardboard boxes are easily recyclable! So why not do it?

A lot of people depend on people like me to go behind them and clean up after them. They say, "Well some one will do it" But in reality, there are not many people out there walking and picking up trash! Everyone should take part in keeping the environment clean. People should remember that it takes YEARS for things to decompose!

Greenecoservices.com has a list that tells you just how long it take for everyday trash items to decompose.

Plastic Bags - 500 YEARS
Aluminum Cans - 200-500 YEARS
Plastic 6 pack cover - 450 YEARS
Cigarette Butts - 10 YEARS
Cardboard boxes - 4 YEARS

These are just a few of the things listed on greenecoservices.com. If you would like to see the full list click HERE.

For recycling to be so easy, why not do it?

If you blue containers like this one below, PLEASE use it!

I encourage everyone to try and find a way to make a difference in the world. Recycling is one of the EASIEST ways possible! Get a group of friends together from you highschool, college, church or organization, and go for a walk around your community. Pick up the trash that other leave behind and remember, RECYCLE, RECYCLE, RECYCLE!

Here is a really good website to get some ideas on what you can do to recycle! (Link)

Lets leave the Earth a clean place for the next generation to come!

PEACE & LOVE,
Sarah~Beth

Do wild animals make good pets?

Being a former Zookeeper I have been asked several times, mostly in a joking manor, if someone could take a lion or other exotic and wild animal home with them. Some people might think that wild animals would be a great domestic pets, but in reality they should never enter domestic life.

Before we get into why or why not wild animals should be kept as domestic pets, lets define what a wild animals actually is. 

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums define "wild animals" as an animal that have, ”…lived for thousands and thousands of years without the direct influence of humans. They have adaptations that help them survive in their own complex environments."

According to pawnation.com there are several different exotic species that people are trying to transfer over to becoming domestic. The top three that they listed were: Foxes, Wallabies, and Capybaras. (For the complete list click HERE)

So why don’t they make good pets?

AZA listed five really good reasons.

“You can’t provide the right home for them.”
Even though you might think you can, the best place for a wild animal to live is in its natural habitat. This is where they are meant to live, not your back yard. AZA states, “Wild animals have complex behavioral, social, nutritional and psychological needs.”

“Taking them from the wild can endanger the species”
Illegal animal trade is sadly a really large business on the black market. It is also one of the main causes of the decrease of these animals in the wild.

“You could get hurt.”
Wild animals, especially some of the larger ones, are extremely dangerous! They all have natural instincts that can result in them attack you, or someone who is close to you. (Remember the chimpanzee attack a few years back? Click on the LINK if you would like a reminder!)

“You can get sick.”
Numerous wild animals that people are trying to make a pet carry dangerous and sometimes even fatal diseases. Some of the disease that wild animals carry that can be picked up by humans are: rabies, herpes viruses, polio, and several others.

(For the AZAs complete list as to why Wild animals do NOT make good pets click HERE)

So what types of animals make a good pet?
Dogs and cats are the most popular, but if you want something that looks a little more exotic but still legal then you can get a ferrets, or even a rabbit. If you like larger animals, and have room to take care of them, then I would suggest a horse or llama. 

There are several legal and domestic animals that you can get without endangering you or your friends and family.

With that being said I encourage you to think seriously about getting any type of pet! Whither it be something as simple as a cat, or something as unique as a hissing cockroach, ALL pets require an amount of responsibility that you should take into consideration before acquiring your new pet!

 
If you have a question or comment please leave them in the comment box!

Have a wonderful day!
Sarah~Beth

How you can help!

Hello Readers!

For the last few weeks I have been posting in hope of inspiring you to help those who cannot help themselves. Well this blog is dedicated to the different ways you can help.

~ONE~

You can go through the World Wildlife Fund. The WWF is the one of the world’s leading conservation organization focusing on endangered species and how to make poaching illegal. Working in over 100 countries with millions of member’s world wide, they are a great place to start you conservation journey.

“The WWF’s mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to diversity of life on Earth.”

“Our vision is to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature.”

WWF also list several ways for you to help.

            *Take Action

-Send a pre-written letter to Congress to protect tigers and their habitats from illegal logging and poaching!

            *Adopt an animal

-This is where you can symbolically adopt an animal. The money goes to conservation for that animal species

            *Fundraise

-WWF will help you create your own webpage to help raise funds to protect the endangered species.

To learn more about how you can help visit their webpage HERE

~TWO~

Another great conservation organization is the Wildlife Conservation Society. This is an organization much like WWF. They fight to preserve endangered animals, and to keep other species from reaching the endangered list.

WCS has been around since the 1900’s and have helped recover the number of Bison in Americas Western Plains.

Mission Statement:

“WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature.

The WCS has several ways you can help. Donations, volunteer work, and sending messages to Congress

If you would like to know more about the WCS and what they do, you can go to their website HERE

These are just two options as to how you can help. I encourage you to find other organizations that interest you.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day,

Peace & Love

Sarah~Beth

Skeptics

Being a former zookeeper, I have been met with many questions as to why I chose that profession. My first thought is that I love animals. By being a zookeeper, not only do I get to form a special bond with some of the world’s greatest animals, but I get to inform the general public as to why these animals are worth saving.

I also have met my fair share of skeptics.

Such as:

Why don’t you just leave the animals in the wild?

Zoos do nothing but mistreat their animals!

I have heard all of these statements numerous times over my years as a zookeeper. Well let me set the record straight.

Why don’t you just leave the animals in the wild?

WE WOULD LOVE THAT, but unfortunately most of the “wild” habitats that these animals use to call home, are gone now thanks to the human race. We have taken over almost of the wild territory for our own, and with no respect for the animals that use to call it home as well. Therefore, there isn’t a “wild” for us to send them back to. So we created zoos. A safe haven for animals, and a way for the general public to learn about them.

Zoos do nothing but mistreat their animals!

Now this is a straight up lie! Every zookeeper can attest to the fact that we are not zookeepers for the money. I, alongside every other zookeeper, love animals. That’s why we became zookeepers! Our love for animals is the reason we work 8-12 hour days, sometimes overnight, and in the boiling heat of the summer, and the freezing temperatures of the winter. We love our animals and would do absolutely anything for them.

Although I love all animals, there are a few animals that have my heart. A Malaysian Tiger, named Kumar is one. I first met him when I was a volunteer. Once I got hired I made it a point to see him every day before I left. Tigers have always fascinated me, and I hope that one day the tiger population in the wild will grow back to where it was 15 years ago. This is my hope for all endangered animals. Being faced with reality, I know it is a long shot. But I hope that one day the world can work together and save all of the endangered species, before it’s too late! 

Kumar asleep after eating his lunch

Being caught eating the bark of the tree. 

Introducing....

Last week I talked about why we should help save animals of all different species from becoming extinct. Well this week I want to introduce to you why I got into conservation.

When I was 17 years old, a woman by the name of Carla Thompson took a chance and hired me as an African Zookeeper at The Birmingham Zoo. I had been doing volunteer work with Carla and the African Department for a few months, and some how I got lucky enough to make it a full time job.

It was through this amazing opportunity that I was able to have a personal relationship with some of Mother Nature’s beautiful animals. It is also through this job, as well as my co-workers that I learned about the urgency that we not face to help save these animals.

My hope is that by you learning about some of these animals on a more personal level that you will feel somewhat of a bond to them. As I have stated earlier, I worked at The Birmingham Zoo, therefore all of these animals live there. (Just incase you want to go visit)

Last week I talked about elephants, so to kind of play off that I figured I would introduce to you a father and son pair Bulwagi and Tamani. They are both African Bull elephants and live at the zoo with two other elephants, Ajani and Callee.

(Bulwagi and Tamani playing in their pool)

The Birmingham Zoo started the first all male herd in Zoos, also known as a Bachelor herd. In the wild elephants live in a matriarchal society. Meaning that an older female elephant is

the one who leads the herd across the grasslands and forest of Africa.

Male elephants spend about 95% of their lives alone or in loose connections to a bachelor herd, like the one at the Zoo. In a bachelor herd there is one dominant male who takes on the role of a teacher. Bulwagi is the leader of this particular bachelor herd.

Why have a bachelor herd at a zoo? What good does this do for conservation? Like I stated before, elephants live in a very matriarchal society. When a female gives birth to a young bull, they will only keep him in the herd until he reaches maturity. Once the bull elephant reaches certain maturity it will leave their mother herd, and will learn to live on his own.

But seeing how most of the elephant populations now live in zoos, where can we move the male elephants once they are ready to leave their mother herd? This is the reason why the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and The Birmingham Zoo decided to put together an all male herd with the hope of setting, “a new benchmark for the care and breeding of elephants in United States.” (http://www.birminghamzoo.com/events/trails-of-africa/)

Also, Zoos and conservationist across the world are teaming up with an organization called The Wildlife Conservation Society and their campaign called “96 Elephants”. To learn more about their story, and to find out how you can help go to www.96elephants.org !

I also encourage you to go to your local zoo, and learn about the different animals they have there. As a Zookeeper I always loved to be asked questions about the animals I worked with. I loved sharing my knowledge and the passion I have for these animals.

Every little thing helps!

Thank you for reading, and remember TOGETHER WE CAN SAVE THEM!