Disappearing and Reappearing of Asian Giant Softshell Turtle

A softshell freshwater turtle

Asian giant softshell turtle with scientific name Pelochelys cantorii could reach 100 cm or 1 meter (3.3 feet) length size. One of biggest freshwater turtles known.

Pelochelys cantorii lives in South East Asia region, generally in Mekong River, Cambodia. This turtle may be found in the habitats such as:

- lakes

- estuarine

- seacoasts

- streams

The softshell is due to its cartilaginous carapaces which is “covered in leathery skin.”

This turtle has disappeared in 2003, then, scientists thought the animal was extinct. Luckily, turtles reappeared in 2007.

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) enlists Cambodian softshell as endangered species.

Softshell freshwater turtles distribute worldwide, they may be found in the regions such as Asia, Africa and America.

However, the particular species of Asian Giant Softshell Turtle has been observed in the following countries:

- Cambodia

- China

- Bangladesh

- India

- Philippines

- Thailand

- Vietnam

- Malaysia

- Myanmar

- Indonesia

- Laos

Have you seen any Softshell Turtles in your areas?

Do You Know this Kind of Animal? - Greater Vogelkop Superb Bird of Paradise - part 2

You can see the feet (credit to YouTube)

From previous post (Do You Know this Kind of Animal? - part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update), you may see its feet now.

Yes, two prominent characters of birds are able to dance in addition to sing to attract females for mates.

Its English name quite strange for me, “Vogelkop Superb Bird of Paradise,” but recently called as “Greater Vogelkop Superb Bird of Paradise,” and Lophorina niedda as a scientific name.

The fact, birds of paradise inhabit two countries:

- New Guinea (Papua New Guinea)

- Papua, Indonesia.

In Papua, Indonesia, the paradise bird is well known as member of “Cendrawasih,” distributes mainly in the mountains and rain forest, West Part of Papua island. 

“Greater Vogelkop Superb Bird of Paradise”

(credit to Telengana Today).

Both two pictures display of mating dance, where blue eyes mean attractive smiling to a female.

Female usually produces eggs 1 to 3 eggs, then lay them in the nest. The time for hatching is about 2 to 4 weeks.

Many paradise birds in the endanger species list, luckily “Greater Vogelkop Superb Bird of Paradise” considered as population stable.

Do You Know this Kind of Animal? - part 1

Eyes and bright color (credit to News Nation)

The above image shows black thing with sections of two small spots and the blue section. You may guess what group of this animal? Few choices in vertebrate classification:

- fish

- amphibian

- reptile

- birds

- mammals

Just for hints that this animal live the tropical country, endemic to New Guinea. Ernst Mayr, Germany evolutionary biologist discovered this animal in 1930

First, this animal was described as sub species. Then, the animal included as very new species in 2018.

This new species, actually part of 50 species exist in the world. Many species are very rare, and live in certain areas only.

Since, females are very low in number, the males attract a female by distinctive dance. The competitions are very intensely fierce among males to get attention from a female.

Now, can you guess (what kind of animal it is)?

I will post the answer in the part 2.

Old post:

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A Hiker Gave Water to a Thirsty Wild Snake

A thirsty wild snake drinks water (credit to Newsflare)

When I was kid, I often saw a long small snake with green color either nearby or climbing coconut trees. Our family owned coconut and palm plantations.

As far as I remember, I never noticed that snakes drink water. I knew they catches mice and frogs.

Just recently, a hiker found a thirsty snake in drought palm areas, Thailand. Then, he gave water from a bottle. Look like the reptile drank joyfully. The touching moment.

The scientific name for snake is Gonyosoma oxycephalum with some common names:

- the red-tailed green ratsnake

- the red-tailed racer

- the arboreal ratsnake

- red-tailed Ratsnake

- red-tailed Green Climbing Ratsnake

The red-tailed green ratsnake as a pet (credit to Tumblr)

The habitat of red-tailed green ratsnake is South East Asian Countries such as:

- Laos

- Malaysia

- Indonesia

- Thailand

- Vietnam

- Philippines

- Myanmar

- Cambodia

This kind of snake is sold in pet shops both in America and European countries in recent years.

The snake is not dangerous and not aggressive, thus become popular as a pet in American households.

Have you seen this kind of snake in nature or pet shop?

Have you Seen Bizarre Looking Birds Called Sage Grouse?

Sage Grouse Male (credit to Sierra Club)

When I posted a strange animal called as a three-toed Sloth, all of us never saw it in nature. Please re-visit previous post: Have You Ever Seen a three-toed Sloth in the Nature? | Tanza Erlambang Update

Here, we talk about another odd animal, Sage Grouse. As of above photo is male of sage grouse.

The strange and interesting that a male attracts females by popping sound produced from very big air sacs which locate in his front chest.

Many females will choose the most dominant male with sizes (weight and lengths) twice more than their own.

The normal weight for males are 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg) and 3 pound (1.4 kg) for females. The length size is 28 inches (71 cm) for male and 21 inches (53 cm) for female sage grouses. 

A male with a female (credit to Utah Public Radio)

Sage grouse birds occupy shrub-land across North America and Canada. In America, the birds could be found in:

- California

- Nevada

- Idaho

- Montana

- Washington

- Oregon

- Wyoming

- Colorado

- Utah

- South Dakota

- North Dakota

Two species of birds cover about 190 million acres of American 11 states and two Canadian provinces:

- Greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)

- Gunnison sage grouse (Centrocercus minimus).

Unfortunately that population of both species are decreasing in nature. Greater sage grouse is included as near threatened species.

The number of Gunnison sage grouse is extremely low, around 1,700 birds left only in natures, thus categorized as endangered, brink of extinction species.

Finally, have you seen bizarre looking birds called Sage Grouse in nature or in zoo?

Bandit, a Special Need Dog Found His Perfect Adopters

Bandit with his wheelchair (credit to Mother Nature Network)

I never saw a dog with wheelchair in my life. The dog called Bandit with his wheelchair is heartbreaking story for me.

“Jail Dog” in Gwinnett county, Georgia is a program to give opportunity for selected inmate to train homeless dogs. The program has been started in 2010.

After training, the dog usually to be:

- obedience

- friendly

- trust

- compassion

- patience

- love

- understanding

Bandit with his adopt parent, Darrel Rider 

(credit to BanditRider jdp)

Then, hundreds of trained dogs are ready for adoption by carefully selected potential adopters or owners.

In case of Bandit that He has no “permanent” adopters for long time, almost 6 years. It is due his special need which require a lot and tough cares.

Four different adopters returned his back to the Jail Dog Program and many potential adopters feel scary.

Darrel Rider and his wife, Sue “fall in love” with Bandit because Bandit is like a human, cute and friendly.

Darrel Rider himself use wheelchair. The last inmate who take care Bandit believed that Bandit and Darrel family is “a perfect match.”

Have you seen a dog with wheelchair around?

What Cities Have the Highest Dog Parks Per Capita?

Dogs are playing in a park

Tel Aviv, Israel is the city with the highest both dogs and dog parks per capita in the world.

The capital city of Israel has 430,000 population with 30,000 dogs. In addition to 70 dog parks, the city has 4 dog beaches as well.

It is said that Tel Aviv is dog friendly city in which dogs are welcome everywhere:

- in the most restaurants

- most hotels

- cafes

- stores

Passengers are allowed to bring their dogs or other pets into buses, trains and taxis.

In the USA, dog parks are growing in many cities, even faster compared to any kinds of parks.

Two nice dogs in the park

In term of per capita (per 100,000 residents), the cities with highest dog parks ranking in the USA are following:

- Las Vegas, Nevada, 3.9 dog parks per 100,000 people

- Madison, Wisconsin, 3.9 dog parks per 100,000 people

- Oakland, California, 3.7 dog parks per 100,000 people

- Arlington, Virginia, 3.5 dog parks per 100,000 people.

In respect to quantity, the city of Las Vegas is recorded as city with the most number of parks with 25 dog parks.

Are there dog parks in your city? How many dog parks in your city?

Had USA Provided Bomb Sniffing Dogs to other Countries?

A malnourished USA bomb sniffing dog in a foreign country

(credit to Military.com)

USA State Department well known to provides “civilian foreign aid and development assistance” to countries around the globe.

One of aid and assistants is sending “bomb sniffing dogs” to combat terrorism to several countries.

Yes, there are 10 countries had accepted well training sniffing dogs:

- Bahrain

- Egypt

- Indonesia

- Lebanon

- Mexico

- Morocco

- Nepal

- Jordan

- Oman

- Thailand

A bomb sniffing dog in the USA airport (credit to MPR news)

The Transport Security Administration (TSA) said that cost for training a bomb sniffing dog is very expensive.

Cost per dog for training is US$ 218,000, and take care for dog welfare could be US$ 158,00 per year.

More than 180 dogs are sent to at least 10 countries as mentioned above. Unfortunately, these canines are not treated well in certain countries, lead to poor conditions and even death.

In Jordan, bomb sniffing dogs are found the worst. 10 unhealthy dogs are died from 2008 to 2016.

Sniffing dogs are facing skin diseases and overweight in Indonesia. The relate agency in Mexico has no welfare and health records for dogs.

The questions then:

- how the unhealthy and poor condition dogs be able to detect explosive devices and deterring terrorism?

- why US state department had no oversight committee or monitor during dogs deployment in partner countries?

Finally, what do you think? Do you have any suggestions?