Learn more about the last ~100 wild red wolves that roam only 5 counties of North Carolina and how they are related to Pocahontas and Captain John Smith!
Threatened By Association July 24, 2012
Throughout the month of July, I along with the incredible assistance of Ya’axche Conservation Trust and Project Runway Season 7 winner, Seth Aaron have been protecting the Blue Morpho butterfly (Morpho peleides). But wait! That butterfly isn’t endangered? By golly, the butterfly isn’t even threatened! So why am I protecting it? Together we are protecting it because its home, the rainforests of Central and South America, are imperiled. With an estimated 1.5 acres of rainforest destroyed every second, time is ticking on the remaining 6% world coverage of rainforest left. And if there’s no forest, there will be no more wild blue morpho butterflies… But who cares? (more…)
The Humane Society of Schuyler County October 28, 2011
Let’s face it: the Humane Society is one of the premier, most influential animal rights/welfare, and adoption organizations in the country, with hundreds of affiliations across the United States.
We took a peak into the Humane Society closest to me, and learned of how much good they do for the community but how much they need the community to still help them- especially during this economic crises!
Enjoy this video about the Humane Society of Schuyler County! Learn more about them at: http://www.schuylerhumane.org/
Also, if interested in adopting them, please contact: HSSC Phone: (607) 594-2255 Shelter Phone: (607) 535-9960
Stay Wild,
Gabby Wild
Purpose of “Luck of the Horseshoe” Horseback Ride Across Ireland July 2, 2011
Image retrieved from www2.guidestar.org
My mission is to promote animal rights, welfare, and wildlife conservation. So while it is all fine and dandy to be horseback riding across Ireland, it is imperative to ensure that you know that this adventure is to raise funds and awareness for The American Horse Heritage Fund (AHHF), a active campaign of The Humane Society of the United States. In a nutshell, this fund is serving as the engine of a Humane Society’s version of an M1 Abrams Main Battle tank that hopes to crush equine cruelty and slaughter throughout the United States.
The projects receiving the greatest attention are to protect Tennessee Walking Horses from soring, to advocate for new horse protection laws and greater enforcement of existing ones, and to offer aid to the horse rescue community by rescuing horses in need.
It’s with horses that we can help horses. Thus I am riding well cared for agile horses in this fundraiser adventure that I am titling “Luck of the Horseshoe”. As you enjoy and have been enjoying the vicarious thrill of my “prancing about on ponies”, remember that the mission is greater than the enjoyment. In future articles I’ll be writing about the various issues that together we are helping the Humane Society’s Equine Division combat. And, of course, every day, you’ll hear about the journey experienced that day.
Wish me some Irish luck!
Stay Wild,
Gabby Wild
Last Day in Donegal =(…
Voodoo and Gabby Wild above Tra Mor
Yesterday as I watched the tide come in and out with its rise and fall, I couldn’t help but feel awe-inspired and terribly sad all at the same time. I would be leaving the charming province of Donegal for Dingle in the morning, and though quite excited for the journey ahead, I so desired to stay. The town that I was based out of, Dunfanaghy, was perfectly parochial. The people were real: they didn’t try to be nice, they simple were. They, for the most part, were carefree, hardworking, and covered with smiles. Everywhere I went people would say “hello!”, and even those who didn’t know me would ask me when I walked or horseback rode down the streets “How are you?” or “Are you well?” (more…)
Luck of the Horseshoe: Donegal Day 5 July 1, 2011
Voodoo and Gabby Wild flying across the beach
Yesterday Voodoo and I really needed to take a break. Although we didn’t go on any trails through the country, I began itching for anything horsy. After going to the stables and hearing chit-chat about jumping, I decided to get on a jumper and give it a go. After an awesome lesson at Dunfanaghy Stables, I took the evening to chill out in anticipate for today’s long and arduous ride. Little did I know of the complete adventure to come on this seemingly endless though beautiful ride. (more…)
Luck of the Horseshoe: Day 2 in Donegal June 27, 2011
Gabby Wild on Voodoo Cantering Below Mucking Mountain
Today was 6 hours of peaceful bliss that resonated the clippity clop of horses on sand, cobblestone, marsh, and grass. The day started on the beach, sand flinging about in the air as the horses pounded the earth with their wide-hooved drumbeats. The sky started off ominous, but no rain did we anticipate today since the farthest mountains were visible through the mist since the early morning.
Why Jeff Kremer from Big Cat Rescue is Amazing April 28, 2011
Jeff Kremer & Gabby Wild before entering the haven
It was Jeff that welcomed me so kindly to the Big Cat Rescue centre. Without him, all my BCR posts could not be! Jeff introduced me to the cats individually at length (no hand-paw shaking, of course). In detail he shared with me their stories, the donor appreciation engraved plaques, and the history of the centre. He filled me with even greater desire to excite the public about wild cat rescue so that we could better promote their conservation. Hopefully I’ve been pumping you guys up, too!
For those of you who do not particularly know everyone from BCR, who is Jeff? Jeff is a super-sonic, gold-hearted, 1/8 full-time and highly accredited employee at the Big Cat Rescue. He specifically is in charge of donor appreciation, but it’s evident from his record he is more than just that. And each and everyone of you are more than just “that” (or whatever it is that you think defines “you”) by the fact that you care, as Jeff cares, for such creatures. But why is Jeff really so special?
Wacky Wednesday: The Red Panda April 27, 2011
Red Panda (photo from Wikipedia)
It’s the only one of its kind. Literally. The red panda is not part of the bear family and is not a strange variant to the giant panda. The red panda is alone in its genus, making it the only species in the family Ailuridae. Everyone has had trouble truly deciding where in the “evolutionary tree” it belongs because of its similarities to the raccoon family (Procyonidae), bear family (Ursidae), and the giant panda (Ailuropodidae). But do you know which “panda” was discovered first?
The “Dwarf Leopard” April 19, 2011
Ocelot (photo generously supplied by Big Cat Rescue)
Also known as the dwarf leopard, the ocelot is one of ten “small cats”. The in-crowd of small cats consists of a posse of 1) the ocelot; 2) the Tiger cat; 3) the Jaguarundi; 4) the European wildcat; 5) the African wildcat; 6) the Black-footed cat; 7) the Sandcat; 8 ) the Jungle cat; 9) the Leopard cat; and last but certainly not least, 10) the Asiatic golden cat. And what makes a small cat different from a big cat is, well, the obvious (i.e. their size) and the fact that they can’t roar. The rest of the differences are genetic…
Our showcase small cat, the ocelot, has gotten quite a bit of attention over the past fifty years. In the 1960′s and 1970′s, small cats such as the ocelot were in such high demand for their fur that ~250,000-600,000 small cat pelts each year were being distributed. The cats with the heaviest hit were the Geoffroy’s cat and, of course, the ocelot, with its beautiful jaguar/clouded-leopard-like colouration. From 1980 to 1990, the number of pelts fell from 450,000 to 100,000. In the 1990′s the fashion trends changed, and popular pelts swapped from being ocelot to lynx and leopard cat. Fortunately the ocelot species as an entirety is not an endangered species, though subspecies of ocelot are endangered. Regardless, endangerment shouldn’t be a criteria for keeping fur on their backs!
So where can you find one of these beauties in the wild? They range from Arizona to Argentina with some being spotted in Trinidad and the Caribbean. They are kitties that prefer living out in leafy vegetation (especially that found in rainforests). But because these ocelots deceptively appear like our domestic cat, many people think that they make phenomenal and loving housecats. Those people who were so duped find out the hard way that these are no purring Persians. Once the angry behaviours from mere tearing up the house to urinating on the furniture like its going out of style take shape, the next thing to fear is their bite. They are WILD! They may purr, but there is no cuddly kitten in the heart of that creature. It longs to breathe in the warm, dew-dropped air of freedom, catch small animals, climb trees, and swim in freshwater lakes.
Some people who did find out the hard way at least had Big Cat Rescue to turn to. At the time they had space for these ocelots, but only so many people can make this grave mistake!
More to come of other small cats and Life ‘O Wild!
Until then, Stay Wild,
Gabby Wild
