Is
The African Lion On The Verge Of Extinction?
Hermit Crabs - Helpful Tips for Care
Is The African Lion On The Verge Of Extinction? by Dean Caporella
Experiencing an African Lion safari is just about the closest thing you'll get to a safari rush. Seeing the king of the beasts in their natural habitat, unhibited and carefree, can leave a lasting impression on even the most hard to please critic. But how much longer will the lion be around for safari seekers to study in the wild.
Believe it or not, this seemingly indestructible creature, whose demeanor exudes such strength and character, is dwindling in numbers so rapidly that at the current rate of decline, the lion may very well become just another statistic in the story of evolution.
Dwindling Lion Numbers
Once the lion roamed the wilds of Africa in numbers. Virtually unchallenged, they ruled with stealth like precision as the "top dogs" in the food chain. There were more than 200,000 lions worldwide two decades ago; now, their numbers have plummeted to under 25,000. An African lion safari in a decades time could literally mean visiting your local zoo and viewing them through iron bars and glass panels.
Did You Know?
African lions are naturally protected. Despite the fact that their numbers have decreased alarmingly through farming expansion and drought they are still a dangerous animal. Reports of people being mauled by lions are not uncommon.
Farming Vs. Lions
Currently, lions are confined mainly to wildlife and national parks as programs are put into place to halt their slide into oblivion. Still, Africa's national parks are an ideal way for the lion to maintain some semblance of it's natural environment and more importantly, they are safe from their biggest enemy, human progress. You see, there has been a clash of difference between lions and the progress of African farming. To put it bluntly, one of them has to go. Unfortunately for fauna enthusiasts, it's the lion.
Lions have been shot in great numbers in recent years as the African farming landscape is extended. Why? Because lions and farming livestock cannot co-exist. Farmers understandably are intolerant to the king of the beasts who innocently view the livestock as fair game, much to their detriment.
Conservation Programs
Re-populating lion numbers has been a contentious issue but some great work has nevertheless been undertaken in this area. Funding for such programs has been a real issue with lion rescue groups often having to rely on public support. For some countries in central and even western Africa, it's almost too little too late as lion numbers have almost completely diminished. There are many difficulties in managing african lion re-population. Breeding programs are fine but the problem is in re-locating animals into new environments among established prides. More often than not, they are not accepted by the existing pride.
An African lion safari sounds like a great adventure on the surface. A great way to get as close as possible to the king of the beasts in their natural habitat. Let's hope that the only place we'll find lions over the next couple of decades is not in nature books.
Dean Caporella is a professional broadcaster. Is an African Lion Safari becoming a thing of the past? Read why the african lion is in trouble plus other safari related news and reviews at:http://www.african-safaris-site.com. More pet articles at www.petarticledirectory.com
Experiencing an African Lion safari is just about the closest thing you'll get to a safari rush. Seeing the king of the beasts in their natural habitat, unhibited and carefree, can leave a lasting impression on even the most hard to please critic. But how much longer will the lion be around for safari seekers to study in the wild.
Hermit Crabs - Helpful Tips for Care by Tonia Jordan
First, remove from your mind the idea that these creatures are very low maintenance. It’s not that they require a huge amount of your time, but they do require weekly bathing, new food every few days, new water every day, heat, and a regularly cleaned environment.
Habitat:
A hermit crab will be very comfortable in a 10-gallon or bigger aquarium with a few inches of sand or stones at the bottom. Two shallow dishes of water are required – one for salt water and one for dechlorinated fresh water. You can buy additives at pet stores in preparing each water dish. Sponges sitting in the dishes work very well to help add humidity to the habitat.
You’ll also need
a thermometer and humidity gauge. The tank needs to be between 72 and
82 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use either an under-tank heater, or low
wattage lighting to provide heat. The humidity must also be between 70
and 80 percent to keep your hermit crabs healthy.
It helps to have a lid on your tank to keep in moisture, and to keep in
your crabs. They can be quite the climbers!
Food:
Commercial hermit crab food can be purchased at any pet stores that sell the animal. Supplement their daily food regiment with assorted fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads, or small pieces of fish and meat. You can also offer some pieces of cuttlebone or boiled egg shells for calcium.
You will need to clean food dishes daily and remove any uneaten bits of food from the tank. Also rinse and refill water dishes daily.
Shells:
Be sure to provide plenty of empty shells in a variety of sizes. Make sure to also have a variety of shells in different shapes and styles, and with various opening sizes. You never know what type of shell a hermit crab may like, and if a good selection is not provided, crabs can fight over the best ones!
Bathing:
Hermit crabs need to be bathed once per week to stay healthy. (This is also a good time to clean the rest of the habitat) Fill a bowl about one inch deep with lukewarm tap water. Very slowly place the hermit crab feet first into the water. Often, the hermit crab will seek shelter inside its shell during this process. As the crab emerges, the water will go into his shell and rinse it clear of any debris. After a few minutes of walking around, take the hermit crab out and place it into his newly clean tank. (This may also be a good time for a treat of fresh carrots or any other type of treat)
Cleaning the habitat:
About once per month, do a thorough cleaning with hot water. Avoid detergents and chemicals as these can be harmful to your pets. Sand can be washed and boiled or baked to sterilize it for re-use, if desired.
Hermit Crabs are very friendly and fun pets. While they do require a good deal of care to keep them healthy, they are very rewarding pets and can be quite the stress reliever. As with any pet, research should be done before you make the decision to adopt it.
The first tip you need to know in order to care for hermit crabs is to remove from your mind the idea that these creatures are very low maintenance. It’s not that they require a huge amount of your time, but they do require weekly bathing, new food every few days, new water every day, heat, and a regularly cleaned environment.