My housemate and fellow Animal Behaviour and Welfare student is conducting a survey for her final year project on how the relationship with your dog can affect human health.
Please take 5 minutes of your time to take a look! It would be much appreciated. All responses will be completely anonymous.
Her only requirements are that you are 18+ and have previously/currently own a dog(s).
TAKE SURVEY
Friday 24 January 2014
Zoo review: Dartmoor Zoological Park
Here it is guys, my first ever zoo review!
Dartmoor Zoological Park, a zoo I have visited a couple of times whilst being at uni in Plymouth, is a 33 acre zoo situated in the Southwest of England. Many of you may have heard of Dartmoor Zoo with it being the subject of the Hollywood movie and book We bought a Zoo that tells the story of Benjamin Mee and his family who bought the zoo in August 2006 and undertook the epic task of refurbishing the site.
Also the winner of the Eden's Channel Top Wildlife Attraction of the year 2011, Dartmoor Zoo has beautiful views and a wide variety of animals including the widest variety of big cats in the southwest! Other animals that can be seen at the zoo include; Bears, wolves, tapir, racoons, meerkats, monkeys and so many more!
Being an animal lover I have been visiting zoos all of my life but, when I first visited Dartmoor Zoo in my first year of University, I was surprised to see that it was unlike any other zoo I'd visited before. Usually large and unrealistically clean, it is easy to see that most zoos' priorities lay with the members of the public that visit them. Dartmoor zoo, being noticeably smaller than other zoos, is situated in woodland and does not appear to have been as commercialized as the other attractions I have visited. Now this may sound like a negative point but I admire the fact that, in this zoo, the animals seem to come first. The enclosures are much more natural looking than in other zoos I have visited and they provide a much more up-close-and-personal experience for visitors. They even offer the chance for some fantastic, unobstructed, wildlife photography.
The zoo has an award winning educational team that provide an excellent Close Encounters experience where visitors can meet some of the really interesting animals such as stick insects, snakes, tortoises and many more!
The zoo also run some fantastic experience days with their Big Cat Keeper for a day being an absolute favourite.
In my experience the keepers and other members of staff are all very friendly and happy to chat, and you can often see them about the zoo, something else I have never really seen at other zoos.
Even Benjamin Mee himself can be seen walking about the zoo, giving the visitors a warm, at-home, feel about their visit. I bet you've never seen the owner of any of the other zoos you've visited?
For those of you that haven't visited Dartmoor Zoo, I strongly suggest that you visit whenever you get the opportunity!
For me, Dartmoor captures exactly what a zoo should be all about and a lot of much larger, more popular attractions, could learn a few things from them!
You can also DONATE here to help save Dartmoor Zoo. Being so small, they rely a lot on their visitors to keep the zoo open so please help if you can!
Dartmoor Zoological Park, a zoo I have visited a couple of times whilst being at uni in Plymouth, is a 33 acre zoo situated in the Southwest of England. Many of you may have heard of Dartmoor Zoo with it being the subject of the Hollywood movie and book We bought a Zoo that tells the story of Benjamin Mee and his family who bought the zoo in August 2006 and undertook the epic task of refurbishing the site.
Also the winner of the Eden's Channel Top Wildlife Attraction of the year 2011, Dartmoor Zoo has beautiful views and a wide variety of animals including the widest variety of big cats in the southwest! Other animals that can be seen at the zoo include; Bears, wolves, tapir, racoons, meerkats, monkeys and so many more!
 |
| One of Dartmoor's Tapir that I had the pleasure of meeting on one of my visits. |
The zoo has an award winning educational team that provide an excellent Close Encounters experience where visitors can meet some of the really interesting animals such as stick insects, snakes, tortoises and many more!
The zoo also run some fantastic experience days with their Big Cat Keeper for a day being an absolute favourite.
In my experience the keepers and other members of staff are all very friendly and happy to chat, and you can often see them about the zoo, something else I have never really seen at other zoos.
Even Benjamin Mee himself can be seen walking about the zoo, giving the visitors a warm, at-home, feel about their visit. I bet you've never seen the owner of any of the other zoos you've visited?
 |
| Myself and some of my Uni course mates with Benjamin Mee on one of our trips to Dartmoor Zoo. |
For me, Dartmoor captures exactly what a zoo should be all about and a lot of much larger, more popular attractions, could learn a few things from them!
You can also DONATE here to help save Dartmoor Zoo. Being so small, they rely a lot on their visitors to keep the zoo open so please help if you can!
Monday 20 January 2014
Happy Penguin awareness day!!
I'm back!!
I know, I know, it's been a whole month since I last posted but I've been extremely busy with my uni work and Christmas etc etc.
Never mind, I'm back now and what a better way to start 2014 than with Penguin Awareness Day!
Now don't lie and tell me you haven't watched Happy Feet and that you didn't fall totally head over heels with that hip-hoppity little fella...but what about real penguins? I'm sure a lot of you love them but how much do you really know about those tuxedo wearing guys?
Well, there are approximately 18 species of Penguin worldwide and sadly 13 of those species are considered at risk. Some species only have a few thousand individuals left and that may sound like a lot but it's really, really not.
When you think about Penguins, I bet your first thoughts are cold, snow, the Antarctic...but Penguins are actually found in many other places around the world. Species can be found in really hot places too! Places like Australia, New Zealand and South Africa all have species of Penguins living there. They can also be found as far north as the Galapagos Islands.
It's no surprise that Penguins becoming endangered was largely down to us humans. Man-made pollution, oil spills, habitat destruction and exploitation of food sources are some of the reasons that Penguins have become endangered but, to my surprise, deforestation is also one of the things causing problems for Penguins!
Other problems such as climate change are also part of the problem. With the ice-caps melting, the poor Penguins habitats are slowly but surely disappearing.
How can we help? I hear you ask!
Well there are many ways in which you can help save the Penguins and I have gathered a few for you here to help you on your way.
Adopt a Pengiun with the WWF - Through the WWF you can adopt a Penguin and your money can help with the following:
- Managing resources and safeguarding Antarctica's wildlife
- Establish protected areas in the Southern Ocean
- Reduce illegal and unsustainable fishing practices
and much more!
For £3, £5 or £10 a month (or whatever you can afford) you will receive an adoption pack with a cuddly toy, bookmark, stickers, a certificate and loads more cool stuff!
You can also donate to other organisations that help penguins -
- Defenders of Wildlife
- Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust
- Oceana
- Penguin Foundation
- Sanccob
Keep the oceans clean -
You can help keep the oceans clean by recycling, cleaning up beaches when you visit, buying organic foods that reduce the use of fertilisers and pesticides and disposing of chemicals correctly! You can read more about how to keep the oceans clean here.
Only eat fish that has been sustainably caught -
Penguins are huge fans of sardines, krill, anchovies and other small fish that us humans also like to eat. The over-fishing of these small fish is using up the Penguins food supplies and without them they cannot survive!
There are many other ways in which you can help save the Penguins. As with all conservation effort, education is key! So why not have a little read up about the different species of Penguin and the other ways that you can help save them from becoming extinct!
I know, I know, it's been a whole month since I last posted but I've been extremely busy with my uni work and Christmas etc etc.
Never mind, I'm back now and what a better way to start 2014 than with Penguin Awareness Day!
Now don't lie and tell me you haven't watched Happy Feet and that you didn't fall totally head over heels with that hip-hoppity little fella...but what about real penguins? I'm sure a lot of you love them but how much do you really know about those tuxedo wearing guys?
Well, there are approximately 18 species of Penguin worldwide and sadly 13 of those species are considered at risk. Some species only have a few thousand individuals left and that may sound like a lot but it's really, really not.
When you think about Penguins, I bet your first thoughts are cold, snow, the Antarctic...but Penguins are actually found in many other places around the world. Species can be found in really hot places too! Places like Australia, New Zealand and South Africa all have species of Penguins living there. They can also be found as far north as the Galapagos Islands.
It's no surprise that Penguins becoming endangered was largely down to us humans. Man-made pollution, oil spills, habitat destruction and exploitation of food sources are some of the reasons that Penguins have become endangered but, to my surprise, deforestation is also one of the things causing problems for Penguins!
Other problems such as climate change are also part of the problem. With the ice-caps melting, the poor Penguins habitats are slowly but surely disappearing.
 |
| Photo Credit: Atmos News. |
Well there are many ways in which you can help save the Penguins and I have gathered a few for you here to help you on your way.
Adopt a Pengiun with the WWF - Through the WWF you can adopt a Penguin and your money can help with the following:
- Managing resources and safeguarding Antarctica's wildlife
- Establish protected areas in the Southern Ocean
- Reduce illegal and unsustainable fishing practices
and much more!
For £3, £5 or £10 a month (or whatever you can afford) you will receive an adoption pack with a cuddly toy, bookmark, stickers, a certificate and loads more cool stuff!
You can also donate to other organisations that help penguins -
- Defenders of Wildlife
- Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust
- Oceana
- Penguin Foundation
- Sanccob
Keep the oceans clean -
You can help keep the oceans clean by recycling, cleaning up beaches when you visit, buying organic foods that reduce the use of fertilisers and pesticides and disposing of chemicals correctly! You can read more about how to keep the oceans clean here.
Only eat fish that has been sustainably caught -
Penguins are huge fans of sardines, krill, anchovies and other small fish that us humans also like to eat. The over-fishing of these small fish is using up the Penguins food supplies and without them they cannot survive!
There are many other ways in which you can help save the Penguins. As with all conservation effort, education is key! So why not have a little read up about the different species of Penguin and the other ways that you can help save them from becoming extinct!
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