Animals

Holy Hallucination Batman! White Giraffes!!

Markozen.com Animals

Conservationists in Kenya have captured footage of two incredibly rare and breathtaking white giraffes.

The unique-looking giraffes owe their odd appearance to a genetic condition known as leucism, where skin cells do not possess pigmentation.

So exceptional are the animals that this marks only the third time that white giraffes have been seen in the wild and this particular encounter is the first instance of the creatures being caught on film.

The giraffes were spotted earlier in the summer by a villager who noticed the seemingly out-of-place animals at the conservancy near his home and reported it to wildlife experts tasked with overseeing the site.

The conservationist who subsequently located the mother and baby giraffe noted that the younger animal appeared to still possess some very light spots on its skin.

This observation left him wondering if the the markings fade over time, since the adult giraffe looked to be almost completely white.

Since the animals seem to be residing in the conservancy, one hopes that they remain there under the protection of scientists who can continue to keep an eye on the creatures and get a better understanding of how their condition develops.

Pet Polar Bear

Markozen.com Animals, Offbeat

Animal trainer Mark Dumas plays with a polar
bear named Agee

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Mark Dumas plays with a 16-year-old polar bear named Agee at his home in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada.

 

Mark has an intimate bond with Agee, and wrestles on the grass with her, kissing
her, and putting his head in her huge jaws.

 

The fearless 60-year-old bear handler even goes for dip in his swimming pool
where he and Agee enjoy a watery cuddle together.

 

Mark and his wife Dawn have owned Agee since she was six weeks old and the
colossal mammal even lived in their home as a cub where she played with the
family dogs and was bottle fed.

 

Mark and Dawn train the 800lb friendly beast – the world’s largest
land predator – to star in TV adverts. She has even performed in movies like
‘Alaska’ in 1995 when she was just a few weeks old.

 

Mark said: “If anyone else tried this they’d end up as Agee’s dinner. The only
people she likes are me and my wife Dawn.”

 

Mark has trained various animals for many films, including Best in Show, Alien
vs. Predator: Requiem and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Falcons on a Plane

Markozen.com Animals, Aviation

Falconry has been popular for many centuries around the world. Falconry is the use of Falcons to hunt other creatures. It is especially popular in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in the Middle East.

The sport of falconry began over 5,000 years ago in Iran, and spread over the centuries to East and West. The sport was introduced to Qatar through Bedouin tribes who used the birds as a tool for hunting. They discovered that it was much easier to allow the raptors to take down birds migrating across the Arabian Peninsula than it was to shoot them down themselves. This Bedouin method of falconry set the basis for the modern version of the sport practiced in Qatar.

 

falco_cherrug_qatar

 

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Although, over the centuries, falconry has virtually disappeared from the European continent, the sport lives on in the Middle East. In Qatar, you can still purchase falcons in downtown Doha at falcon souqs or through private dealers. The best raptors can cost thousands of dollars and may even be issued their own Qatari passports to ensue they are not stolen or taken out of the country without the owner’s permission. Due to these elaborate methods of theft prevention, it is not uncommon for you to be seated beside a full-grown falcon when travelling on a Middle Eastern airliner.

 

In a Qatar Airways economy cabin of a flight between Baku, Azerbaijan, and Doha, Qatar, a group of Qatari men sit on the plane with their treasured birds. The men practise the art of falconry and to escape the heat of Qatar flew for a week to the cooler weathers of Azerbaijan to let the birds fly. The birds cost over US$10,000 each, have micro-chips in their legs so they can find them if they fly off and documents allowing them to travel abroad.

 

falcons-on-a-plane

 

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From Airport Guide Traveller:

Live animal facility

All pets travelling via Hamad International Airport enjoy the comfort of our dedicated live animal facility while they wait for their connecting or departing flights. This is a secure and climate-controlled environment that is supervised by trained animal handlers.

Collecting your pet

An airline representative in  the baggage claim area will deliver your pet to you in person. Please contact the Airline Baggage Service office near Belt 1  (map) if you need any assistance. Once you’ve collected the rest of your checked baggage please proceed to Customs where your pet’s travel documents will be inspected.

Things to remember

  • Please inform your airline well in advance to finalize travel arrangements and documentation for your pet.
  • Please make sure your pet is secured in a suitable container and has access to food and water.

Falcons

Some airlines, such as Qatar Airways, will allow your falcon to travel with you in the passenger cabin (only in Economy Class). Other airlines may accept your falcon for travel but only as checked baggage. Before starting your journey please consult your airline for guidance.

An amazing specimen from Kazakhstan:

 

falconx

Japanese spa offers ‘exorcism’ for your dog

Markozen.com Animals, Religiousness

Rascal, a Chinese Crested, is poses for a portrait after competing in the World's Ugliest Dog Competition in Petaluma, California on June 26, 2015. Quasi Modo went on to win first prize as the ugliest dog in the competition. AFP PHOTO/JOSH EDELSON (Photo credit should read Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images)

A Japanese dog spa has taken pet pampering to a whole new level by offering “exorcisms” for their furry guests.

The D+Kirishima spa not only offers the latest in formal kaiseki doggy-owner dinners and spa baths together (yes, together in the same bath), but also a package called the “Pet Dog Exorcism Plan.”

A senior Shinto priest will come to the spa to conduct a ceremonial blessing to rid your pup of bad spirits and pray for its future health.

The ceremony is especially suggested for dogs in their “unlucky health years.”

“Seven-year-old, 10-year-old, and 13-year-old dogs need to be careful of their health, as it’s easier in those years for them to gets diseases of aging,” according to the spa’s pitch for the package.

“The exorcism for your dog is celebrated along with its owner at the Shingariyu shrine within the hotel.”

It only takes 30 minutes, according to the site. And it costs $430 — room and pet-owner dinner included.

 

dog

This demon dog is levitating.

dogs

Definitely possessed

The Japanese must have something similar for cats. Some need help.

 

cats

 

The Shark Frenzy just keeps Going and Going

Markozen.com Animals, Movies

Shark Week on Discovery Channel sadly has ended. But it’s not over yet. Sharknado 5 is only days away.

Sharknado5Artwork

Getting back to reality, real shark attacks in the world.

A shark attack is an attack on a human by a shark. Every year over 70 attacks are reported worldwide. Despite their relative rarity, many people fear shark attacks after occasional serial attacks, such as the Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916, and horror fiction and films such as the Jaws series. Out of more than 489 shark species, only three are responsible for a double-digit number of fatal, unprovoked attacks on humans: the great white, tiger, and bull. The oceanic whitetip has probably killed many more castaways, but these are not recorded in the statistics.

Confirmed Unprovoked Shark Attacks, 1580–2014
Region Total
Attacks		 Fatal
Attacks		 Last
Fatality
United States
(Excluding Hawaii)		 1104 35 2012
Australia 536 72 2017
Africa 346 94 2015
Asia 129 48 2000
Hawaii 137 10 2015
Pacific Islands / Oceania
(Excluding Hawaii)		 126 49 2016
South America 117 26 2015
Antilles and Bahamas 70 16 2013
Middle America 56 27 2011
Europe 52 27 1989
New Zealand 49 9 2013
Réunion Island 39 19 2017[3]
Unspecified / Open Ocean 21 7 1995
Bermuda 3 0 —
Total: 2,785 439 2017
Sources: Australian Shark Attack File for unprovoked attacks in Australia
International Shark Attack File for unprovoked attacks in all other regions
Last Updated: 19 February 2015