Disappointment with Melbourne Zoo

I spent this entire afternoon at Melbourne Zoo and quite frankly, I left feeling disappointed.

Why?

Because it was depressing to see the animals kept in enclosures that are far too small. The lions and bears, for example, were showing clear signs of stress and boredom from being poorly kept in captivity. The animals were continually pacing up and down... up and down... up and down... You get the idea.

Excessive pacing is a strong indicator of stress and a lack of stimulation

Why then have the keepers not included props and toys to promote play and exercise? These animals need an outlet to expand their energy on. Without such an outlet, they will deteriorate mentally and physiologically.

An African Wild Dog stands still like this for about 5 minutes while another paces up and down by his side

A bored Baboon sits in the middle of his concrete enclosure and stares blankly at the floor

A lone bear paces back and forth continuously in a small enclosure

Bears enjoy scratching for food hidden in boxes. Lions enjoy keeping a look out from a high perch. It would benefit the animals greatly if such equipment were incorporated into their enclosures which need to be made larger anyway.

The same lone bear goes round and round in the same circle

Many of the animals were also looking very thin. This seems to me to be another sign of stress. Hip and shoulder bones could be seen sticking out from fur of all colours and patterns. It was truly a depressing sight.

He suddenly stops circling and freezes in this position for about 2 minutes. Note the hollowness in his belly and the sharp protrusion of bone in his shoulder

The two species that appeared to be comfortable in Melbourne Zoo were the lizards and snakes. They were kept in enclosures that were warmed well with numerous heat lamps. However, it must be noted that most of the lizards and snakes in the reptilian exhibit were young (evident from their small sizes). I could not help but wonder why this was the case. Could this be due to a high death rate in the zoo's reptilian population? Maybe. Maybe not. But it is an unfortunate possibility.

A Boa Constrictor stretches up towards the heat lamp


An Iguana looking quite content

Baby blue on a baby snake

A teeny-weeny Indian Star Tortoise

A not-so teeny-weeny Indian Star Tortoise bakes happily under a heat lamp

2 snakes snuggling up together

Is it just me or does this lizard have a diva-ish look?

"I'll hide, but who dares seek?"

A Green Tree Python tucks itself away

Another Green Tree Python all coiled up

Finally, I must say that I found Melbourne Zoo to have too many empty exhibits and enclosures.



While this isn't too big of a deal, it did add to the overall sense of disappointment.

~5-Cat Style

The Graveyard of the Flies

This week I had to conduct a few experiments on vinegar flies to work out their genotypes.

As I anaesthetised them with chloroform, I glanced at the thing I was told to dispose of them in...

... the Fly Morgue.


~5-Cat Style

I have been learning lots...

... from Cesar Millan the Dog Whisperer. I have been devouring his books and feasting my eyes on his TV episodes about reading, understanding and correcting a dog's behaviour.


I feel that these are important lessons for all Vets and Vet-wannabes because day in and day out, there will be non-stop dealings with dogs who are nervous, aggressive or scared.


In order to help make the doctoring experience less traumatic for the dogs, as well as to avoid being bitten and mauled, I feel that being armed with such knowledge is invaluable.


Once I'm done absorbing all of Caesar Millan's wisdom, I'll be on the hunt for more such books on cats, horses, etc etc etc.

~5-Cat Style

I have always wondered...

... if it was man who domesticated the cat or if it was the cat who had domesticated man.

Here's one definition of "domestication" I found...

"I have defined a domesticated animal as one that has been bred in captivity, for purposes of subsistence or profit, in a human community that maintains complete mastery over its breeding, organisation of territory, and food supply. The exception, of course, is the cat which walks by itself."
~ Juliet Clutton Brock (The Unnatural World -- Behavioral aspects of humans and animals in the process of domestication)

~5-Cat Style

Fifty Years of Animals in Space

TIME Magazine (July 31, Thursday, 2008)

On the 50th anniversary of NASA's founding, a small photo tribute to the unsung, furry pioneers who journeyed into orbit, paving the way for human spaceflight.

The First

In 1957, a Soviet dog named Laika became the first living creature to orbit the Earth. Originally a stray, Laika was selected over two other trainees. Though she died a few hours after launch, her trip proved that a living passenger could survive being launched into orbit and endure weightlessness.

Space Dogs

Handlers at the Soviet Academy of Sciences show off some of the dogs in their space program. During the 1950s and 1960s, the Russians launched missions that included passenger slots for at least 57 dogs. The number of animals that actually reached space is smaller, as several dogs went more than once.

Little Guy

A squirrel monkey, his body swathed in protective silicon rubber padding, is strapped into a capsule as part of a training exercise for spaceflight. A comrade of his known as Gordo was similarly secured for a 1958 fifteen-minute flight that ascended to a height of 310 miles. Though it is believed that Gordo survived the entirety of his flight, the parachute on his craft failed to open and he and his capsule were lost at sea.

Able and Baker

The first two monkeys to survive their trip into space are presented at a NASA press conference in 1959. Able, on the left, a seven-pound rhesus monkey, and Baker, an 11-ounce squirrel monkey from Peru, withstood forces 38 times the normal pull of gravity and endured weightlessness for about 9 minutes during their historic flight. Able died four days after returning to earth during a relatively simple surgery to remove an infected electrode. Baker lived until 1984.

Chimp in Training

In early 1961, just a few months before Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin launched into orbit, NASA was using chimps to help iron out the kinks in its Mercury program. Approximately 20 of them were trained at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico on equipment simulating space flight, like the rocket sled, above.

Timed Task

The chimps in the Holloman training program were taught how to do simple tasks in response to electric lights and sounds. Jim, the chimp whose efforts are photographed here, has made a mistake: the experiment calls for him to hit the odd shape, in this case, the circle in the middle.

Capsule Position

The chimps in the Holloman program were prepared for launch in a Mercury capsule, similar to the one above.

In Space

Two chimps from the Holloman program were successfully launched into orbit. A chimp named Ham, whose journey lasted 16 minutes and 59 seconds, took off in January 1961. His comrade, Enos, blasted off ten months later, above, for a journey that circled the Earth two times.

Safe Return

After his brief journey into orbit, Ham splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean and he and his capsule were recovered by a rescue ship. He only suffered a bruised nose during his flight.

Manned Space Flight

Once Ham and Enos had completed their journeys, NASA felt ready to send a human into orbit. On February 20, 1962, John Glenn became the first American to circle the Earth.

~5-Cat Style

C'mon over!

This has been long overdue. But a new blog, MacVet's Pets, has finally been started and I would like to welcome all of you over.

Please let me know if you would like to be linked to this new blog and I will do so.

It is good to be back! :)

~5-Cat Style

Animals in Society

I am most excited about one subject that I am taking in this new semester. It is called Animals In Society. The course has been designed to encourage us to analyse and discuss:

• How and why animals are so integral to human society
• Where human-animal relationships originated
• Animal domestication and where it stands now
• Animals as pets, in agriculture, as research subjects, in educational roles and as pests
• Changing attitudes of humans towards animals throughout time
• Humankind's moral and ethical obligation to animal wellbeing
• Animal welfare science
• Current animal welfare issues in industries around the world
• Where the relationship between humans and animals may be headed
  

In the later part of the course, there will be three round table discussions. The topics are:

• An ethical analysis of animals in research
• An ethical analysis of 'cat ownership' in the community
• An ethical analysis of housing systems for laying hens

I can't wait to get started on this subject proper! But first, I need to make a decision on a topic to research on. Which should I choose?

• Animal impacts on humans
• Human impacts on animals
• Animal rights/liberation
• Animals and education
• Animal behaviour and welfare
• Animal conservation

Any suggestions?

~5-Cat Style

Celebrity Companions

Early this year, I did a research essay on Designer Animals. I focused on the inbreeding problems of trying to mass produce cute Teacup Puppies, the exotic Toygers. and the majestic White Tigers.

To inject a little pop culture into my essay, I used Paris Hilton as an example of inconsiderately using Chihuahuas and Yorkshire Terriers as fashion accessories.

So you can imagine my horror when I found out last night that Paris had gone out and acquired herself 17 pets. And I am sure that this is just for now!

Paris Hilton and Kimchi

Paris Hilton toted her tiny Pomeranian puppy Kimchi around New York. She had picked up the new addition from a pet store in Korea. "I have 12 dogs, three cats and two bunnies, Marilyn and Monroe," says Hilton. "I had three parrots and two monkeys, but I sent them to my ranch in Nevada. Tinkerbell is in the Hamptons with my parents."

On the other hand, Hollywood actress Selma Blair certainly has the right attitude towards animals. Paris needs a lesson or two from her.

Selma Blair and Wink

Selma Blair just loves her one-eyed Jack Russell mutt Wink. "I adopted her from the Lange Foundation (a non-profit dog shelter in L.A.) that has the most amazing misfit dogs in the world," said the actress. "They're completely the cutest and sweetest dogs, and so, I have Wink and she's playful and wonderful and she saved me from myself many times."

~5-Cat Style

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog called MacVet's Pets.

Admittedly, the title is a little misleading because I have no pets at the moment (this sad situation being entirely the fault of Melbourne's pet-unfriendly rental market). But seeing how much I adore nearly every animal I've come into contact with as if they were my own, I think the blog name holds true.

I have sorely missed blogging. It has been one long year since I last posted an entry. My old blog, jointly owned with my sister, now serves as a sentimental record of my two years being actively involved in the cat welfare scene in Singapore. Those were very inspiring, enlightening and emotional years for me. But for now, that chapter must remain closed for it will be many years before I return home. This new blog will a record of my Veterinary studies and animal welfare in Australia.

The cat in the photo that I have chosen to represent my new blog may be familiar to those of you who were readers of my old blog. She is Tiffy the kitten who lost her life in a family dispute. Tiffy is a powerful reminder to me that for animal welfare to improve, we first need to educate the public and improve their attitude towards animals. It sounds easy, but it isn't. This will be one hell of a struggle.

But I am hopeful.

~5-Cat Style

Big Move Coming Up!

Dear friends,

We are currently working on migrating our blog over to Wordpress.

Kindly bear with us.

~5-Cat Style & The Flyer

ACRES Event: Wild, Green 'n' Rouge

~The Flyer

Bye Bye, Brisbane!

Yes yes, I know I promised to update more often. But as a***e luck would have it, my DSL internet has morphed into dial-up and loves disconnecting whenever I attempt to access any website other than the homepage. Ugh! So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the good luck I'm having now will last long enough for me to finish this post.

Anyway, been busy winding up in Brisbane. Had to make a hundred and one phone calls to notify my change of address plus the loads of packing which I dread doing. Brisbane has been good to me and I'm going to miss it heaps. It seems like not too long ago when I first walked along South Bank, playing paparazzi to the loungin' lizards by the Brisbane River.

Also, can't forget good 'ole Australia Zoo, home of the Irwins. Honestly, I'm not big on most zoos because they seldom deliver what they claim to be advocating i.e. education of animal rights, yadda yadda. There are countless zoos that treat their animals abhorrently so I had always wanted to know if Steve & Terri Irwin were indeed walking the talk. I'm so glad to say that I am all praise for Australia Zoo. The animals were happy, the staff were happy, the visitors were happy... there was not a single sign of any stressed out or traumatised organic being while I was there. It was just happiness vibrating throughout the whole place.

When I first moved into my unit in Brisbane, I didn't know anyone here and I didn't have a tv (which I have not had the whole year), telephone or internet for the first month or so. I would have gone totally off my rockers if not for my books and some amazing little creatures for company. It was moth season when I moved in and now its moth season again.

The only downside to having them around is that they keep putting out every candle that I light. You can imagine how startling it is when you're trying to meditate by focusing on the flame when suddenly you see this gigantic winged shadow come swooping down following by a loud, "ffffvvvvvvoooooott!" as their wings extinguish the flame.

It so happens that the resident giant moth has done that once too many times and now has a gaping hole in his otherwise flawless wings, as you can see in the photographs below. (Mind you, I had to tiptoe precariously on a creaky chair and move as slow and steadily as a sloth just to get these shots.)

Up close and personal with Bruisey Bruce the Giant Moth. See the crescent-shaped gape in his wing? That's evidence of his naughtiness!

Bruisey Bruce again in his full glory. Under normal light i.e. without flash, he looks almost black. Who would've thought he had all these shades and colours hidden on his wings...

This is Little Tucker sitting on the carpet beside my desk.

I love his cute furry head!

This is Little Tucker helping me with the vacuuming!

In other news, there hasn't been any response to Kitty. Please continue to help spread the word and do leave a message if you know anyone who might be interested. Thanks heaps! Hope you all have a splendid weekend!

~The Flyer

Two pigs in the pot...

Howdy again, Folks!

I am writing to you with a dual offering of relief and melancholy. Bad news first:

A friend recently found a kitten abandoned in a flooding drain. After waiting from morning to night to see if perhaps its mother might return to no avail, she decided that her home is afterall big enough for another feline companion. 

Alas, the resident cat did not take to the new addition and despite several weeks on, the war does not seem to be ending anytime soon. So to halt any trauma that might haunt any kittenhood, here’s the SOS message: Would anyone be interested in adopting Kitty, or know anyone who might be interested? Kitty is probably a month or two old. She’s been dewormed and the V.E.T. has given the all-clear with two thumbs up. Anyone who would like to have more details please feel free to leave a message in the comment box and I will be glad to furnish you with more details. In the mean time, here’s more information from the lady:

8 week old female. tortoise shell colour - black with brown bits, three brown paws and one black paw. active, loving, playful, always gets up to mischief and absolutely fearless of my hissing, spitting older cat - it just wants to be friends but resident cat won't have it. 

Healthy appetite, dewormed, eats wet and dry food. purrs constantly, happy to curl up and sleep on or next to you. 

It's really quite adorable. Was hoping my cats would learn to get along or i'd have to give up the little one - which is why i'm looking to do so now. The hostility in the house is driving me nucking futs! hahaha

Now the better news:

MY ACADEMIC YEAR IS OVER!!!!! Woo hoo! \m/ 

I’ve handed in my thesis. 21, 137 words in all after 7 months of blood, sweat and tears. Final exams are over as well and its time to smell the roses and roll with the kitties once more. You know what this also means? BACK TO BLOGGING!!

No more waiting a thousand and one years for updates and random musings of the meaningless kind from The Flyer, for I am now here! Muahahahah! So to get on with it...

What’s been up with 5-Cats, I hear you say? Well, the sister has been busy with preparing for her finals as well. She currently preparing a report/expose on genetic modification in the pet trade, a.k.a. designer pets. From teacup doggies, stunted cats and zebra-horsies, to white lions and tigers and what not, and the untold horrors behind it. I can’t wait to read it when she’s done!

5-Cats and I will also be headed back to the sunny island in a coupla weeks, with me heading home first. I’ve got plans to lend a toe or two to the new sanctuary that should be opening soon (if they’ll have me) and I’ve also gotta find a part time job (ugh!) and some professional volunteer work (will I ever be paid to do what I do?). Also, have got to catch up with the community cats, and this time I promise not to lose the photos and will definitely be putting up profiles on the furlebrities!

For now, I’m gonna unwind a bit with a good scrub and a dabble with clay. See you in a while, feline erotophiles! ;)

~The Flyer

Dita Does the Peta Tease

Just came back from visiting 5-Cats in Melbourne and I'm totally swarmed with work. (My thesis is due in 10 days and I'm so dead!) 5-Cats is doing great and she's excited about studying genetics this semester.

Apart from pigging out on Krispy Kreme's with 5-Cats, I also made a trip back to my alma mater on a shiveringly cold, spring Sunday afternoon. Found a dog tied to the tree, but other than that, everything still looks and smells the same at uni.

Beautiful tree bark that litters that uni walkways.

My feline companion before philosophy classes.

Belles in front of the Botany Building.

In other news, I found out that the gorgeous Dita Von Teese has done a campaign for Peta. Marilyn Manson was a fool to have let this one go!

Learn More at PETA.org

~The Flyer