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Creature Features: Snow Leopards

PetSugar — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:15:52 -0800

We can all agree they're mighty and pretty (especially while playing in the snow!), but what do you know about these jumpy felines? Get some facts on their fluffy tails and more when you start the Snow Leopard quiz below.

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Arctic Animals Most Active on Snowy, Winter Days at the Zoo

PetSugar — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 03:00:54 -0800

I wanted to melt when I saw these adoro photos from the Bronx Zoo! Cold weather pros like the Snow Leopard totally love the freezing weather – in fact, this season's a great time to check out these creatures at your local zoo in cold climates. Even though my personal favorite, Gus, lives further downtown at the Central Park Zoo, spot another well-camouflaged Polar Bear (along with a host of other creatures) frolicking in the white stuff in the Big Apple.

See all the snowtime playtime piccys when you

Creature Features: Wombat

PetSugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:00:54 -0800

Remember when I asked which wild animals you favor? Well, this suggestion comes from tummyrot, who shared that these furry fellas are her fave – after reading up on the animals, I'm loving them too. Will you be wooed by wombats? Find out in this quiz!

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Red Listed: New List of Animals Close To Extinction

PetSugar — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 07:00:32 -0700

In an annual "health check for the planet", the International Union for Conservation of Nature has released its list of the most threatened animals on earth. The scary news? Twenty-five percent of all mammals are on the verge of extinction. That's a big number to swallow, considering there are over 44,000 animals on the Red List this year. Check out my slideshow of just a few of the animals that are critically endangered, but also check out Conservation International's website with an educational countdown clock showing us animals that are pushed to extinction every nine to 44 minutes. It's scary stuff, but it really makes you realize how delicate the balance is between safe . . . and extinct. Source

Reader's Choice: What's Your Favorite Wild Animal?

PetSugar — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:30:23 -0700

I've already shared that these guys are my faves so now it's your turn. Lemme know what wild animals you'd love to hear more about and I'll be saving up suggestions for future creature features and searching for more photos of the species you'd like to see as baby animals, too.

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Hiya, Keyah!

PetSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:20:03 -0700

I'm definitely thinking this baby animal, like all others, is pretty adoro even at just five days old. Even though we can only see the start of one horn now, the White Rhinoceros will eventually have two, just like mom. Speaking of, I'm betting she's rather glad to finally have given birth as this species carries babes-in-bellies for 16 months (which is not even the longest of any land mammal).Check out another piccy of lil Keyah exploring the surroundings at Cerza Zoo in France when you

Full Moon Means More Activity in the Animal Kingdom

PetSugar — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 11:00:58 -0700

You know that feeling of anticipation you get during a full moon that makes you want to go out and party? Well, maybe that's just me, but studies show that the "Full Moon Effect" touches other species, too. Not only are those werewolves on the hunt during full moons, but so are sharks, seals, and sea birds.

Since sea birds — like the streaked shearwater — rest on the water's surface, they are especially noticeable on a night with a full moon, where the light penetrating the water is brighter, and the birds cast a shadow below. So the sharks and seals that prey on the birds have a better chance of catching a midnight snack on those evenings. How did researchers first discover this activity? To find out, just

Creature Feature: Giant Pandas

PetSugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:30:40 -0700

Giant Pandas are so cute and cuddly. . . or are they? How well do you know the black and white balls of fur? Take my quiz and find out!

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Guess What Animal?

PetSugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:45:25 -0700

Just hours old, it looks like the babe we saw being born a few weeks back . . .

Guess What Animal?

PetSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:00:04 -0700

I bet he looks nothing like you thought he did when you were a kid!

Awww! Meet Baby Giant, Adolpho

PetSugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:00:27 -0700

With a name as cute as his adoro nose, Adolpho lives in Zoo Berlin (also home to Knut the famous Polar Bear). Born on May 3, this Giant Anteater already loves the keepers at his new home . . . and playing in his enclosure. Looks like the newborn needs no help putting his snout to work, sniffing the grass for ants, of course. Did you know that although these creatures use a long, sticky tongue and a powerful nose to catch insects, they actually don't have any teeth? Instead anteaters use hard growths in their mouths and muscular stomachs to crush bugs – whoa!

Because one picture of a baby animal is never enough, check out more pictures of the adoro Adolpho when you

Meet the First Peninsular Pronghorns Ever Born at a Zoo!

PetSugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 06:00:49 -0700

Born on March 25, these two babes are super cute . . . and super rare. Meet twin Peninsular Pronghorns, the first ever born at a zoo anywhere in the world! The proud parents came to the US from a breeding center in Mexico and were already pretty special themselves – the first of their kind to be seen outside of that country. Only about 200 members of this species are known to be surviving in the wild with hunting, cattle ranching, and agriculture contributing to their decline. The new boys will be hand-reared for now, but when they're old enough, they'll be sent to the Living Desert in Coachella Valley, CA. See them take the bottles when you

Five Fun Zoo Cams to Keep You Occupied!

PetSugar — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:00:54 -0700

I looooove webcams, and I've got some time to kill before the Fourth of July fun gets started. If you're also sitting around waiting for the food to be grilled, now's a great time to check out some live zoo action. To be fair, I've included a variety of creatures as well as three cams with baby animals . . . ummm, adoro. Go ahead, blow kisses at your screen, I'm not telling.

Lions! My current zoo cam of choice, I love to check in to see what the baby lions are up to. Nevermind that I can't understand a single word on the site except for "live" (as this zoo is all the way in Norway), my glimpses of mama lion canoodling and caring for her four cubs are too precious to pass up.
Giant Pandas! Classic cam with lots of action, check out the Giant Pandas live from the San Diego Zoo. There are seven pandas there which makes spotting at least one fairly likely. And don't forget the other cams of the Apes, Polar Bears, and Elephants afterwards.

See three more webcam suggestions when you

Top 10 New Species

PetSugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:15:36 -0700

Each year the International Institute For Species Exploration announces a list of the Top 10 New Species for the preceding calendar year. Even though there are virtually thousands of new plant and animals found each year, an international committee of experts choose these 10 to help draw attention to biodiversity, the field of taxonomy, and the importance of natural history museums and botanical gardens in a fun-filled way. Eight of the 10 named this year are animals, check them all out in this slideshow!

Do You Know Your Antelope?

PetSugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:00:10 -0700

When I think of antelopes, the first thing that comes to mind are their extravagant horns, often curving into beautiful shapes like arcs and helices. Can you recognize any of these unique-looking hoofed, horned creatures? Originally I was gonna ask you to match the name to the antelope pictured but, because even I am not an absolute antelope expert, I decided to make it easier on both of us. For each, you'll see a picture, a description of a trademark feature, and part of the species name (think Wheel of Fortune) – it's up to you to complete the word! Good luck.

Guess What Animal?

PetSugar — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 08:00:25 -0700

Guess What Animal?

PetSugar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:00:19 -0700

What two-day-old primate is clinging to mom here?

Super Cute Gallery: Panda Plane Touches Down in Beijing

PetSugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 08:00:43 -0700

Hungry, hungry pandas! These giant pandas made the trip from China's Sichuan province on Saturday and are settling into their new home at the Beijing Zoo. There were food and (safe) shelter shortages in their original home of Wolong Giant Panda Reserve post earthquake, but they look like they're getting plenty of that leafy green bamboo now. I love watching them eat – seriously check it out . . . adoro – so see a super cute gallery of these pandas when you

The Scoop: Pandas Fly the Friendly Skies Post-Earthquake

PetSugar — Sat, 24 May 2008 09:00:23 -0700

Last week's horrible earthquake in China caused devastation across the country. The area is home to many pandas, both in the wild and at several zoos and reserves. These black-and-white creatures you see here are chomping on their fave diet of bamboo at the Chengdu Research Base in the Sichuan Province. There are eight giant pandas from the Wolong Giant Panda Reserve – about 20 miles from the epicenter of the deadly quake – calling this their temporary home. Today they'll be flying the friendly skies in a special plane. Destination: Beijing, where the creatures will soon make a new home and be on public display at the Beijing zoo! There are more of these cutie pies when you

Adoro Baby Lion Gets Anthelmintic Therapy!

PetSugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 08:00:11 -0700

Yay, it's another beautiful baby lion, this one in Germany! The mother, Shaba, gave birth to the lil guy and two other cubs on April 20. The family currently lives in Osnabrueck, Germany and are being watched over at the zoo they call home. This cub is still unnamed (I bet we can suggest some cute names in our comments below!), but it's not too soon for him to get a special anthelmintic therapy during a medical check on May 16. Sounds like a fancy term but it's actually something many of us have gotten for our household pets. Curious what it is (and to see more piccys) – just

Guess What Animal?

PetSugar — Sun, 18 May 2008 07:00:00 -0700

This animal is a jack-of-all-trades – like several animals in one!

Creature Features: Capybara

PetSugar — Fri, 16 May 2008 03:00:55 -0700

We recently checked out a couple of these wild animals, and I'm still shocked about just how big the world's largest living rodent gets. It's hard to gauge size in this photo of a Capybara family chilln' at a zoo in Germany, but take my quiz and learn a lil more about these big guys!

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Guess What Animal?

PetSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 12:45:39 -0700

It's the largest living rodent . . .

Adoro Baby Otorongo Alert!

PetSugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 08:00:15 -0700

How stunning! I'm still a sucker for baby animals (especially exotic cats) so when I saw a newborn black Otorongo, I had to pass it along. This two-month-old Peruvian jaguar, known as an Otorongo (Panthera onca), was born at the Huachipa Zoo in Lima, Perú making it just the third jaguar ever born in captivity in that country. Look closely and you can see the pattern on this big cat's gallery when you

This Baby Elephant Is Only 33 Hours Old!

PetSugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:45:10 -0700

We've had a crazy week of pachyderm births from the hippos to rhinos to this lil fella. Check out the yet-unnamed male newborn elephant at a zoo in Hanover, Germany . . . umm, seriously, what's in the water at the zoos in this country? Khaing Hnin Hnin delivered this baby on May 7 and he's only 33 hours old at the time of these photos! The mommy actually gave birth au natural – without the help of zookeepers – and already seems comfy watching over her new one and helping him eat. Soooo cute. See them close up when you

This Rhino Cutie Is Only One Day Old!

PetSugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 08:00:03 -0700

Yes, here on PetSugar the baby animals keep getting younger and younger! If you thought that four-day-old fellow I featured last week was absolutely adoro, this newborn will leave you speechless. My fave features of this lil boy are his huge ears and huge feet. This one-day-old rhino makes his home in Krefeld, Germany and was just born on May 7. He's actually a Black Rhinoceros (Manjula was an Indian Rhinoceros) and will grow up to have two horns where those bumps are now! It's hard to get an idea just how tiny he is – about 80 pounds – but see him next to his big mommy when you

Guess What Animal?

PetSugar — Wed, 07 May 2008 03:00:37 -0700

We learned about these large creatures just a couple days ago . . .

Meet Baby Hippos!

PetSugar — Mon, 05 May 2008 08:00:51 -0700

How sweet are these newborn hippos? The two special twins were recently born at the Netherlands' Emmen Zoo. Whether you prefer the term "hippopotamuses" or "hippopotami" to describe the duo, do you know where that name comes from? Click below to learn all about it!

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Guess What Animal?

PetSugar — Mon, 05 May 2008 07:00:18 -0700

Hugh Hefner might want to add this little guy to his zoo!

Creature Features: Sand Cats

PetSugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:15:42 -0700

These two beauties were born about two weeks ago at France's Amneville Zoo. Like me, you may wonder what these precious kittens are doing at a zoo? Well, it turns out these aren't domestic cats at all – they're actually sand cats, one of the smallest wild cats living in the desert regions of North Africa and West and South Asia. I've never seen these kitties before so I hunted down some facts about them – like how they got their names – and made a true-or-false quiz. Learn more by starting below!

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Creature Features: Rhinos

PetSugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:30:41 -0700

Here I am, always looking for an excuse to brush up on wild animal knowledge! In honor of today's holiday, Save the Rhino Day, (and with the recent birth of Manjula), I wanted to see if any of you are game to become rhinoceros experts. Test your knowledge and, hey, maybe you'll learn something!

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Guess What Animal?

PetSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:00:25 -0700

Between the (White) Lions

PetSugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:40:30 -0700

I loooove baby animals so my jaw practically dropped when I saw these rare beauties. Check out the four white lion cubs that were recently bred and born at the Mogo Zoo. Located in Australia, it has an internationally-renowned breeding program now with a pride of 16 white lions . . . and is the only zoo in the country to exhibit the species. The four babes seen here with young keeper Noah Monor are Lika (front) and (from left) Tahba, Makulu, and Apple. White lions get their coloring – or lack thereof – due to a recessive gene. Learn what it is (hint: it's not albinism) when you

Create a Certified Wildlife Habitat in Your Backyard

PetSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:20:42 -0700

The National Wildlife Federation offers some great tips to turn your backyard into a wildlife habitat (and then make it certified). Show your commitment to conserving wildlife and provide elements from each of the five essential areas you'll learn about when you read more. Source

I Need Your Help . . . Raccoons Want In (to My Garbage)

PetSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:45:01 -0700

In spirit of Earth Day, I thought we'd tackle a problem with wild animals. Sonoma b is having a big problem with some masked creatures. The very hungry raccoons seem determined to make a mess of her garbage. It's a company-issued, heavy-duty blue industrial plastic "can" filled with plastic kitchen bags. Even though it's emptied once a week, the pesky critters seem to find their way in before then! To hear what she has to say,

The Scoop: Ancient Elephants Lived in Water!

PetSugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:00:35 -0700

An ancient relative of the modern elephant may have lived in an aquatic environment. Fossilized teeth were found embedded in a rock in northern Egypt's Faiyum region, which is known to have been a coastal system that changed often from swamp to river and back again.

Little did I know that elephants share a common ancestor with manatees and other aquatic animals, so it makes sense that they would have some sort of water connection. Although the teeth that were found indicate that the ancient animals didn't quite look like we know them today – minus the recognizable trunk and much much smaller in stature (about three feet tall at the shoulder) – this creature would have eaten the freshwater plants that grew in the area. "Essentially it's a hippo-like mode of life. That's the closest animal that we can think of today," said Alexander Liu of Oxford University's department of earth sciences, lead author of recent research on the teeth. No wonder elephants are such good swimmers!

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Creature Features: African Wild Dogs

PetSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:00:22 -0700

In honor of the newly-arrived African Wild Dogs in LA, I decided to brush up on my knowledge about these beautiful animals. Their name Lycaon pictus literally means "painted or ornate wolf." And aren't their patterns absolutely beautiful?! Now many of us know about domesticated doggies, but what do we know about these wild creatures? Test yourself with this quiz!

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Flocke's Public Debut of Dancing Skills

PetSugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:15:16 -0700

OK, maybe she's not technically dancing but doesn't she look like she's about to drop it like it's hot?! Flocke already knows how to pose for the camera and it's only her first week of public appearances – she'll be a lil superstar for sure. Because you know I think this bear is the cutest of them all – especially when she busts a move – check out more piccys when you

Guess What Animal?

PetSugar — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 09:00:31 -0700

This is one "ghostly" primate!

Who's Cuter: Flocke or Knut?

PetSugar — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:30:13 -0700

Okay, it's a different way to pick a cutie fave. This time, I'm asking who you think is cuter: Flocke or Knut? To make it fair, I've included pictures of the currently five-month-old Flocke and pictures of Knut when he was just six-months-old. The two top piccys are Flocke, while the bottom two are Knut – tell me can you pick a fave?Source

Who's Cuter: Flocke or Knut?

Flocke

Knut

Other – I'll tell you in my comments below.

Super-Cute Gallery: Flocke's Finally Ready For Her Closeup

PetSugar — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:45:03 -0700

Hello there, Flocke! How nice to see you again! We first caught a glimpse of this polar bear when she was just five weeks old. Well, now she's a whole three months and cuter than ever! Now, we can't forget the world famous Knut, but I bet lil Flocke will give him a run for his money. Check out her media presentation today – the public one doesn't come 'til tomorrow – which I've included in an awwwww-dorable gallery. I don't know about you all, but (about 20 minutes later) I've found my new desktop picture. See pictures of the bear with her blankie (!), swimming, jumping, eating, and more posing when you just

This Penguin Cutie Is Only One Week Old!

PetSugar — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:30:56 -0700

I've already got a soft spot for penguins as is and, added to my love for baby animals, the twofer just melted my heart. I mean this is the teeniest lil penguin I've seen in a while, weighing just 85 grams (three ounces). The adoro chick hatched on March 24 at Chester Zoo in England. Dubbed Aero, he was incubated for 46 days by his parents, Warty and Hislop. The zoo hopes that up to 20 other chicks will be born between now and mid-April, as penguins usually lay a clutch of two eggs (and take turns laying on them) – even Aero has a new sibling yet unhatched! The zoo chose "chocolate-themed" names for all the births near Eastertime. See what sweet snack Aero was named for, and some close up shots of the baby, when you

Feed the Birds: Make Your Own Peanut Butter Suet

PetSugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:45:41 -0700

Chickadee is one of my favorite words to say. Chickadee, chickadee, chickadee! So I know these birds (along with woodpeckers, goldfinches, thrushes, bluebirds, and wrens) like peanut butter suet . . . the problem, what in the heck is suet?! After consulting a dear friend (read: google), I learned that it's raw beef or sheep fat. I eat neither beef, nor sheep, so I was at a standstill about where to find such a thing – and whether or not I'd even want to touch it.

Imagine my delight when I found a recipe for peanut butter suet – sounds a lot less scary, and OMG, I've got tons of PB. To see how to make this treat in plastic containers, little balls, or even rolled in wire mesh for birds to come pecking,

Feed the Birds: Fruit Feeder and Jelly

PetSugar — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:15:45 -0700

There are many birdies that like fruit . . . and not just smoothies! To offer up this treat in your backyard choose a feeder with spikes for actual fruit, trays for jelly and, if you're brave with the squirmies, a spot for mealworms. I like this feeder ($24.95) because once again you can see feathered friends from any treeless home — all you need is a window!

To find out which fruit to use – and who will come to dinner – when you

Feed the Birds: Dew Drop Feeder and Nectar

PetSugar — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 07:00:48 -0700

If you offer sweet sips of nectar, they will come! Hummingbirds usually move too quickly for a solid look but, as a child, they were a fave at our nectar feeder . . . essentially the only time they were still enough for me to get a good glimpse. Now I'll bet not only hummingbirds and other syrupy lovers will adore the design of this Dew Drop Feeder ($34.99), you will too. Each one is hand-blown of beautiful, recycled glass in Mexico and comes in red, blue, or green. Just add water to a "nectar" mix like Nectar Magic ($4.49 for three) or Ultimate Blend Hummingbird Nectar ($5.99 for a two-pound bag) and find out which feathery friends may stop by when you

Feed the Birds: Niger Lantern and Thistle

PetSugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:45:28 -0700

We're still feeding the birds here on PetSugar and it's now onto the thistle treats. I love this feeder ($21) because the prickly seeds are popular with many lovely songbirds that are welcome to chirp at my windowsill anytime! Some of the pricier foods, thistle runs about $16 for five pounds but, trust me, it's worth it – see who'll come to feed when you

Feed the Birds: Pinecone Tube Feeder and Sunflower Seeds

PetSugar — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:30:37 -0700

Although there are many types of sunflower seeds, black oil sunflower seeds ($4.99 for five pounds) are the most popular for wild birds. These are a great source of high quality protein and oil during cooler months that (unfortunately) don't immediately end on the first day of Spring. Just add them to a pretty tube feeder like this one ($41) or use a flexible alternative that attaches right to a window! I'm sure even your kitties would love it . . . but likely scare the birdies away by their peeking.

By themselves, the black oil sunflower seeds will attract goldfinches, chickadees, woodpeckers, nuthatches, titmice, redpolls, and pine siskins. The soft outer shell makes them easy for smaller wild birds to nibble – by adding a tray to the tube feeder, you'll attract a different set of flutters. Find out and

Feed the Birds: Mesh Cling Feeder and Peanuts

PetSugar — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:00:23 -0700

As much as North and I love peanut butter, the real thing, not so much. Still, peanuts aren't just for the lil critters, many wild birds enjoy them, too! You can pick up a bag of unsalted shelled or unshelled peanuts at any local store and add them to a feeder in your backyard to call out a bunch of new flutterers.

To see what kind of birds this nut-filled tube feeder attracts,

Feed the Birds: Recycled Birdfeeder and Corn

PetSugar — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:30:45 -0700

I only wish I had a tree (or backyard) to tempt many birds to come for a visit. Even North loves watching things fly by! For those lucky suburban or rural dwellers, this ecotastic twofer is completely made up of reused materials! The unique Recycled Birdfeeders ($49) are tray-hanging, platform feeders constructed with recycled parts from birdhouses and leftover asphalt roof shingles.

Simply adding corn to a platform feeder like this one will attract a different group of birds than our millet version — if you're curious why (and who)

Feed the Birds: Bird Table and Millet

PetSugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:45:21 -0700

I'm kicking off a Feed the birds extravaganza! I've only got one pet in my family, but it's fun to pretend the birds that come visit my windowsill are like my pets, too. Each day for the next two weeks, I'll share a new feeder and seed combo – and share what kind of feathery friends will likely stop by for a snack!

Start out with a tray feeder like this sleek Eva Solo Bird Table ($154.99) and add some millet. Millet is lower in fat than other seeds and very nutritious with high levels of proteins, carbohydrates, B-complex vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium in addition to a host of other important nutrients. Because it's very appealing to many bird species, switch it up and add some white millet ($5.99 for five pounds) and red millet ($8.99 for five pounds). To see what kind of birds you'll likely attract with this combo,