Reasons for hunting tigers

Here are some amazing news and facts about reasons for hunting tigers

Tigers are killed for body parts used in traditional medicines. The biggest threat facing Amur tigers is habitat loss due to logging. As they lose habitat, they lose prey, which means they sometimes turn to domestic livestock for food. This makes them unpopular with ranchers, who may shoot them as pests.

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And tigers are killed for other reasons: they're hunted for their meat and skins as well as their bones, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine. Poaching of tigers has become an increasing problem in recent years, and it's taking a heavy toll on these mighty cats.

Most Siberian tigers are killed for export to China. As a member of CITES, the People's Republic of China (PRC) is (allegedly) committed to stopping the illegal trade of animals, such as tigers, and consequently the decline of their population. However, tiger products are in evidence in China. The State Council of the PRC however reported that existing stockpiles of tiger derivatives in China were obtained before China joined CITES.

Tigers are falling prey to unscrupulous hunters who are indiscriminately killing them for measly amounts on the behest of bigger fishes. The sad part is the protectors of tigers have become hand in glove with the poachers in killing one of the magnificent creations of GOD. The main reason behind killing the magnificent beast is two folds. The first being feeding the insatiable hunger of especially the Chinese in supplying tiger body parts for so called medicinal purpose. They are supposed to produce medicinal products out of the tigers.

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The second part is many a degenerated souls put up a cowardly act of putting on tiger skin adorned garments to pump up their ego. In India many tigers have been poached to satisfy the Tibetans who wear them as traditional dresses. Recently His holiness the Dalai Lama has issued a decree against it. You may be shocked to know that recently in India one national tiger reserve (Sireska) was found to be devoid of tigers as all had been poached. To cut short at this rate of tiger culling our next generation may not be able to look at tigers in real life but in photos only. As some one said the tiger is hemorrhaging, unless we get up & do something positive about it it may be gone for ever.

They are only being killed illegally, Tigers are a protected species, and it is illegal to import any part of them into the UK, however, we in the UK have no say in what goes on in other countries, the ban is world wide and introduced by the UN but there are many curative properties attributed, but not correctly, to products from Tigers and other strong animals such as Lion and Bear. Many primitive cultures, and others not so primitive, believe that eating part of a tiger would mean the person absorbs some of its strength and courage.

Some people feel the fur is an exotic type of clothing. Or a fancy rug. What they don't realize is that they wouldn't be very happy if some animal used a person's skin in the same way (sorry if that's a bit graphic). This makes me especially sad, because I work with tigers, and they're my favorite animal.

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Why are giraffes’ necks so tall?

How amazing it is! Let’s discover below amazing information: Why are giraffes and their baby giraffes' so tall?

If we are talking about height, no animal can beat the giraffe! With an astonishingly long neck, a giraffe can be more than 18 feet tall, making it the world's tallest animal. It is also one of the world's heaviest animals - a male giraffe may weigh up to 4,200 pounds!

Unique genes that affect the skeleton, heart and nervous system may explain how the giraffe evolved into the world's tallest land animal, researchers have revealed.

Scientists now have the genetic instruction book that contains all the secrets of the giraffe, which over the past 12 million years has developed into one of the most bizarre creatures on Earth.

Mapping the giraffe's genetic code, or genome, has highlighted a host of DNA sequences that make the long-necked animal so special.

Standing up to 19ft (six metres) tall, the giraffe's peculiar body is dominated by its stretched out legs and neck.

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Professor Douglas Cavener, from Pennsylvania State University in the US, who led the new study, said: "The evolutionary changes required to build the giraffe's imposing structure and to equip it with the necessary modifications for its high-speed sprinting and powerful cardiovascular functions have remained a source of scientific mystery since the 1800s, when Charles Darwin first puzzled over the giraffe's evolutionary origins."

The animal's heart, built to pump blood vertically a distance of two metres (6.5ft) to its brain, has an unusually large left ventricle chamber.

Taking a giraffe's blood pressure would show a reading twice as high as that of other mammals.

The giraffe can also sprint at speeds of up to 37 mph on its long spindly legs, and despite appearances its neck contains the same number of bones as seen in other mammals, including humans. The big difference is that both the giraffe's leg and neck bones are greatly extended.

The scientists pinpointed unique regions of the genome by comparing it with that of the giraffe's close relative, the okapi.

Both animals have a common ancestor but branched off in separate directions along the evolutionary path around 11 to 12 million years ago.

A battery of tests comparing the two animals uncovered 70 giraffe genes that showed multiple signs of adaptation. More than half of these coded for proteins known to regulate the development of the skeletal, cardiovascular and nervous system.

Several genes controlled both heart and artery and skeletal development - raising the intriguing possibility that the giraffe's stature and cardiovascular system were modified together through changes to a small group of multi-purpose genes.

One key gene is thought to be FGFRL1, which regulates a biological pathway critical to bone growth. In addition, four "homeobox" genes were identified that are known to specify the regions of the spine and legs.

"The combination of changes in these homeobox genes and the FGFRL1 gene might provide two of the required ingredients for the evolution of the giraffe's long neck and legs," said Prof Cavener.

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Tigers climb trees to avoid prey

Keep reading for more interesting information about tigers facts and to know why tigers climb trees

In zoos and shows, tigers may sometimes go up the trunk of a tree momentarily for food. In the wild, they may climb trees to avoid hunting dogs or to chase prey. 

Cubs:

Tiger cubs willingly climb trees for about the first sixteen months of life and young tigers have been sighted following langur monkeys up into the trees in an effort to secure a feed. But after this age their increasing weight makes both ascent and descent difficult, and few tree branches have the needed strength to hold their weight.

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Adults:

Adults seldom climb, but are quite capable of doing so; they may do this if being chased by dogs or when after prey. There have been occasions of men climbing trees to escape an attacking tiger, only to be killed when the tiger followed them up. 

This does not mean tigers are willing or efficient climbers. On the contrary, they are not. The white Bengal and Amur tigers shown here are doing something quite unusual for tigers of their age.

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Most tiger subspecies can climb trees

Not everyone know the tigers facts that most tiger subspecies can climb trees. Let's see:

Cubs:

Tiger cubs willingly climb trees for about the first sixteen months of life and young tigers have been sighted following langur monkeys up into the trees in an effort to secure a feed. But after this age their increasing weight makes both ascent and descent difficult, and few tree branches have the needed strength to hold their weight.

Also see elephant facts

Adults:

Adults seldom climb, but are quite capable of doing so; they may do this if being chased by dogs or when after prey. There have been occasions of men climbing trees to escape an attacking tiger, only to be killed when the tiger followed them up. 

This does not mean tigers are willing or efficient climbers. On the contrary, they are not. The white Bengal and Amur tigers shown here are doing something quite unusual for tigers of their age.

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Dragons are more intelligent than humans

Believe it or not Dragons might exist, they could be real, they may have existed in historical times and perhaps their existence isn’t that scientifically and logically impossible! Here are the most amazing animal facts you didn’t know relating to the intelligence of dragons

We are so arrogant that we don’t realize there are beings even more intelligent than us. Dragons might be one of them, in many Asian cultures dragons have been associated with wisdom, intelligence and longevity, according to some legends it was dragons who first taught the savage humans how to use language.

This isn’t that hard to swallow either, think about it, why are Dragons often portrayed to be hoarding gold and riches ? They need the money to pay bills and taxes and to send their children to better Universities !

If such is the case it isn’t hard to imagine how Dragons would be capable of existing right now while hiding their presence from us (also from Djinns and Easter bunnies too). Dragons could simply go into hiding in another dimension using their super advanced technology or magic, they could even be brain washing us into believing they don’t exist. The point is humans dumb, dragons rock.

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Is it true that cockroach can fly?

 Reading and enjoying the more deail about for animal facts question: Is it true that cockroach can fly?

Many of the more than 3,500 cockroach species in the world can fly. The flying capabilities of cockroaches vary according to the particular species, and sometimes sexual category, to which they belong. In Canada, the German cockroach is the most important and prevalent cockroach species in the country. Depending on the region, other significant pest species present are the American, brown-banded, oriental, smoky-brown, and wood varieties of cockroach. Though both males and females of the German cockroach have wings, they do not fly except for short downward gliding. Meanwhile, both sexes of the smoky-brown species of cockroach are strong fliers. Amongst the brown-banded and wood cockroaches, only the males enjoy flying capabilities. Though not regarded as true flyers, both male and female American cockroaches maintain the ability to glide through the air. Both genders of the oriental cockroach lack the capacity to fly. The Canadian cockroach species capable of flying are generally only able to remain in the air for short amounts of time.

Despite possessing four wings, each flying cockroach uses just a single pair for air travel. Thick and protective, the front pair of wings displays the same coloration as the body of the cockroach and rests against the back of the insect when not in use. The back pair of wings remains hidden and protected beneath the front pair until the cockroach takes flight. When preparing to fly, cockroaches lift the front wings to expose the back wings. The insects keep the front wings lifted while flying and move through the air by using the back pair. In contrast to the front pair, the back wings of cockroaches that fly are membranous, thin and clear.

Even though many cockroaches can fly, the insects boast highly effective legs and prove more adept at running than flying. The body of a cockroach features three legs extending from each side of the thorax. Covered with setae and pointy spines, each leg varies in length and fulfills different yet interrelated functions that enable the physical act of running. With a total of six legs working together to propel the insects forward, cockroaches can cover a distance equal to roughly 50 body lengths in a single second. For a human to run the same distance as 50 of his or her own body lengths in one second, he or she would have to reach a speed of about 200 miles per hour.

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How much do do you about penguins?

So without further ado, here are penguin factsproviding you for widen you knowledge about them. Let's see.

Where do penguins live?

Considered marine birds, penguins live up to 80 percent of their lives in the ocean, according to the New England Aquarium. All penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere, though it is a common myth that they all live in Antarctica. In fact, penguins can be found on every continent in the Southern Hemisphere. It is also a myth that penguins can only live in cold climates. The Galapagos penguin, for example, lives on tropical islands at the equator.

What do penguins eat?

A penguins diet consists primarily of fish, squid and krill.

Depending on the species of penguin their food preference can vary which also helps reduce competition for food.

Large colonies are able to consume millions of pounds of food on a daily basis.

Penguins rely on their eyes to find food while underwater.

Most dives for food do not exceed 60 feet, although some species are capable of diving nearly 2,000 feet for when hunting for prey.

They capture their prey by grabbing it with their bill and swallow their food whole.

Penguins are known to fast (stop eating) annually during breeding periods when they must watch their eggs, keep them warm and prevent them from being attacked by predators.

Before fasting they stock up by consuming large quantities of food so that they can build up enough energy from fat to last them throughout their fasting period.

Penguin tail

A penguin tail is short and in the shape of a wedge. There are 14 to 18 stiff tail feathers. Adelie, Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins have longer tails than the other species, and these are sometimes used as a prop on land or when climbing a steep hill.

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Some facts about owls can surprise you

While many people know a little bit about animal facts these birds of prey, some facts about owls can surprise even the most experienced birders.

1. Size of the owl depends on the species. Smallest owl (Elf Owl) reaches weight of only one ounce and length of 5 inches. Largest owls (Eurasian Eagle-Owl and Blakiston's Fish Owl) can reach weight of around 10 pounds and a wingspan of 6.6 feet.
2. All owls can be divided in two large groups: barn and true owls. Barn owls are medium-sized birds with heart-shaped face, long legs and strong talons. Of all known owls, only 19 species belong to this group. True owls are more diverse group of owls with around 190 species that vary in size, color and appearance.
3. Owls are carnivores. They eat rodents, small mammals, fish, birds and insects.
4. Owls do not chew their food because, just like all other birds - they do not have teeth. If the prey is too large, owl uses its sharp beak to tear the prey apart.
5. Several owls species have ear tufts on their heads but they aren't ears at all. These tufts of feathers may indicate the bird's mood, help keep it camouflaged mimicking branches or leaves or be used to show aggression.
6. The flattened facial disk of an owl funnels sound to the bird's ears and magnifies it as much as ten times to help the owl hear noises humans can't detect.
7. An owl's eyes are supported by bony eye sockets and they cannot turn their eyes. Instead, owls rotate their heads up to 270 degrees (135 degrees to either side), but they cannot turn their heads all the way around.
8. An owl has three eyelids: one for blinking, one for sleeping and one for keeping the eye clean and healthy. The third eyelid is also called the nictitating membrane, and many other birds also have it.
9. A barn owl can eat up to 1,000 mice each year, usually swallowing them whole. Many farmers try to attract barn owls to help control rodent populations in agricultural fields.
10. Since owl eats the whole prey, it regurgitates (vomits) undigested material composed of bones, feathers, fur and teeth, in the form of hard pellets. Ornithologists (scientists which study birds) collect and examine these pellets when they want to investigate the type of diet characteristic for the owls that are living in certain area.
11. Barn owl is very beneficial for the farmers because it eliminates rodents in the barns and fields. It can eat up to 1000 mice each year.
12. Owl is very successful hunter because it can fly silently. Special kind of soft feathers muffle the sound of the moving wings, allowing the bird to approach the prey unnoticed.
13. Feather coloration is species specific. It can be brown, rust, gray, white and black. Mix of the colors provides nice camouflage for both predators and prey.
14. Some species of owls have ear-like structures on their head. They cannot detect sound, but serve as structures which provide camouflage. They can be also used to show aggression.
15. Owls have excellent sense of hearing. Ears are located on the both sides of the head, behind the eyes. They are often located on different heights, providing better reception of the sound, which is important for detection of the prey.

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Some amazing pig facts

Here are some animal facts and news about pigs:

Newborn piglets learn to run to their mothers’ voices and to recognize their own names. Mother pigs sing to their young while nursing.

According to Professor Donald Broom of the Cambridge University Veterinary School, “[Pigs] have the cognitive ability to be quite sophisticated. Even more so than dogs and certainly [more so than human] 3-year-olds.”

A pig's squeal can be as loud as 115 decibels – that’s 3 decibels higher than the sound of a supersonic airliner.

Professor Stanley Curtis of Penn State University has found that pigs can play joystick-controlled video games and are “capable of abstract representation.” Dr. Curtis believes that “there is much more going on in terms of thinking and observing by these pigs than we would ever have guessed.”

Pigs do not “eat like pigs” or “pig out.” They prefer to eat slowly and savor their food.And when they’re not squealing, they’re talking. Pigs communicate constantly with each other, and more than 20 different vocalisations have been identified; from wooing a mate to saying ‘I’m hungry!”

And when they’re not either squealing or talking, pigs will eat almost anything – including human bones. In 2012, a farmer in Oregon, America, was eaten by his pigs after having a heart attack and falling into their enclosure. By the time a concerned relative came looking for him, only his dentures were left.

Pigs appear to have a good sense of direction and have found their way home over great distances. Adult pigs can run at speeds of up to 11 miles an hour.

Suzanne Held, who studies the cognitive abilities of farmed animals at the University of Bristol’s Centre of Behavioural Biology, says that pigs are “really good at remembering where food is located, because in their natural environment food is patchily distributed and it pays to revisit profitable food patches.”

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List of amazing facts about tiger

Get tiger facts for kids. Our animal facts site has tiger information from tiger pictures, tiger facts and tiger videos.

• Tigers are the largest members of the cat family and are renowned for their power and strength.
• The tiger is capable of killing animals over twice its size; it is one of nature’s most feared predators.
• Like its ancestor, the sabre-tooth cat, the tiger relies heavily on its powerful teeth for survival. If it loses its canines (tearing teeth) through injury or old age, it can no longer kill and is likely to starve to death.
• Tigers live alone and aggressively scent-mark large territories (up to 100sq km in size) to keep their rivals away.
• They are powerful nocturnal hunters that travel many miles to find buffalo, deer, wild pigs, and other large mammals. A Bengal tiger can eat 21kg of meat in a night and can kill the equivalent of 30 buffaloes a year.
• The roar of a Bengal tiger can carry for over 2km at night.
• Although tigers are powerful and fast over short distances, the Bengal tiger cannot outrun fleet footed prey such as deer. Instead it uses stealth to catch its victims; attacking from the side or the rear.
• Tigers use their distinctive coats as camouflage (no two have exactly the same stripes).

• If the kill is large, the tiger may drag the remains to a thicket and loosely bury it with leaves, then return to it later.
• As well as game animals, it preys on wild boar, monkeys, lizards and occasionally porcupines.
• Females give birth to litters of two to six cubs, which they raise with little or no help from the male. Cubs cannot hunt until they are 18 months old and remain with their mothers for two to three years, when they disperse to find their own territory.
• Like domestic cats, all tigers can purr. Unlike their tame relatives, however, which can purr as they breathe both in and out, tigers purr only as they breathe out.
• Unlike other cats, tigers are good swimmers and often cool off in lakes and streams during the heat of the day.

Also see: penguins facts for kids

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