Are you fond of pleasing concern of exotic pets? Do you have intensive awareness of animals and breeding it? If you do, you can deem being an exotic pet breeder. There are many advantages you can get from it.

Being an exotic pet breeder would give you the repayment. Read on.

1.  It could be an added mine of salary for you. Imagine earning from your hobby. You can get profits from something you like burden. You can wish to push the breed of animals that you crop to other people.

2.  Breeding could revive you on retail pets. Even if you don’t plan to retail your pets, you can avert a lot from breeding, because you don’t have to buy the animals to add to your unfilled collection, if you are very a pet lover.

3.  You have organized gifts to contacts. If there likewise pet lover people you know of, you can give a pet to them as a gift. You can very well do that as a breeder. No should to find a classy and interesting dowry, as you have the right one at your disposal.

4.  You can help in preserving the species. Although it is unlawful to take an endangered animal as a pet, you can help the environment by taking care and mounting the breed of the ones you own. That way, they will be broadened away from the possibility of extinction.

5.  You will be able to improve your animal awareness. Being the breeder gives you the unplanned to know many effects about animals, even if you didn’t take zoology in school. Paying close awareness to your pets will assuredly instruct you a different thing or two everyday.

6.  You can contribute to kind. Being a breeder enables you to contribute to the environment by propagating the species, or even experimenting on new breeds when applicable. These are certainly good roles to take on.

Being a breeder isn’t austere. You can’t become a breeder overnight. It takes knowledge, experience, and patience. You also may require to consult with a skilled breeder or a veterinarian to help you out.

And it also entails responsibility. You might want to request for a permit especially for that grounds too. Of course, you have to hunt all the legalities surrounding the transport of exotic pets for breeding purposes.

If you have dreams of suitable an exotic pet breeder, open nowadays. Gather all important information about your pet. And learn everything you have to learn. Soon enough, you might just fulfill your goals.

When my wife and I were deciding where to go on our honeymoon, we knew one thing, we wanted to go to Penang in Malaysia, to celebrate with relatives out there, but we knew we wanted to then move on to somewhere else after that, the only thing was where?

The Caribbean or Africa was a no go as the price to fly half way around the world and then back round again would have been monumental. Also the weather was a bit of a problem too. We tied the knot in early September, which ruled out the Maldives, Tahiti and Bali due to monsoon and rainy seasons.

We had been to Thailand the year before so decided we wanted to try somewhere else. We eventually chose to stay in Malaysia, but more precisely, Sabah in Borneo.

Well known for beautiful beaches and tiny islands great for diving, Sabah is also well known for orangutans, and has a world famous orangutan rehabilitation reserve at Sepilok, a short flight from our hotel at Kota Kinabalu.

However, we discovered that the hotel we chose had a nature reserve within the hotel grounds that was affiliated with Sepilok, and took in baby orphaned Orangutans, preparing them for their next stage at Sepilok before eventually being released back into the wild.

The Shangri-La Rasa Ria resort is situated on Pantai Dalit Beach, a beautiful stretch of beach that is sheltered and exclusive to the resort. The hotel was fantastic, and deciding to treat ourselves to a stay in the Ocean Wing, the exclusive wing with its own private pool, breakfast and luxury rooms with sea views and giant soak tub on the balcony, was well worth the extra money.

The hotel had a great choice of restaurants, and deciding to go half-board was a good option. Half-board entitles you to breakfast and dinner at the Coffee Terrace restaurant, or 100RM (about 17 quid) per person towards a meal in one of the other restaurants. This allowance pretty much covered the full cost of a meal in the other restaurants, except for the gourmet Coast restaurant which really is fijne dining at its best.

The culinary highlights for us were dinner at Naan and Tepi Laut ‘Makan Street’.

Naan was, funnily enough, and Indian restaurant and this award winning restaurant served some of the best Indian food I have ever had, food which went perfectly with the Malaysian local brew, Tiger Beer!

Tepi Laut ‘Makan Street’ was a typical Malaysian style food court, offering all the tastes that make Malaysian cuisine so special, with dishes from China, India,  Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Each station offered something different, and the vegetable station featured baskets of uncooked Chinese vegetables and sauces where people could put what they wanted on a plate with the sauces of their choice. The chef would then quickly stir fry these while you wait.

Our favourite was the kangkong belacan, what is basically ung choi fried in garlic and sambal (a fiery hot shrimp paste) with some red chillies – very hot but very tasty.

The real highlight for us was the orangutans. Each day, guests can make a donation to the reserve and trek a short way into the jungle to a pair of viewing platforms to watch the baby orangutans feed. The experience is quite simply amazing.

They are extremely cute and very agile. Some shy, others mischievous it is fantastic to watch their playful antics. We went twice to see them, the first time I filled my camera’s memory card of around 500 photos well before the hour came to an end and was frantically having to delete bad shots in order to take more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thompsons Africa supports Cheetah conservation

 

During a recent visit to the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre, Thompsons Africa’s CEO, Linda Pampallis, was given the opportunity to participate in a unique Adopt-a-Cheetah fund-raising initiative, aimed specifically at cheetah conservation, one of the Centre’s core disciplines.

 

The world’s fastest land mammal is fast losing its race for survival, which is threatened by loss of habitat due to bush encroachment, conflict with humans, as well as its own loss of genetic variation. Now on the endangered species list, only between 12000 and 15000 animals remain in small-pocketed populations, mainly in Africa. Prior to the 20th century, cheetahs were widely distributed throughout Africa and Asia, and were originally found in all suitable habitats from the Cape of Good Hope to the Mediterranean, throughout the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East, from Israel to India, and, who would have thought, through the southern provinces of the former Soviet Union.

 

The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre not only provides a haven for a variety of injured and orphaned animals, but has a successful cheetah-breeding programme, which has resulted in the birth of more than 270 cheetahs, and 20 rare King Cheetahs, most of which have been released into the wild. “We have adopted 4 cheetahs, the cost of which goes towards the upkeep of the cheetahs and their environment, as well as the support of their caregivers and the local community”, says Linda Pampallis. “In return we are able to offer these cheetahs as ‘gifts’ to our overseas clients, whose names will be featured on the enclosures. It’s a win win situation. Thompsons, which offers affordable safaris in Southern Africa, is helping to preserve the environment, but at the same time, we are raising international awareness”, she says.

 

The Centre’s, Manager, Juanita Ungerer, says its wonderful to have Thompsons on board and that the finances raised through adoptions helps them a lot with their expenses as well as the purchase of costly research equipment. They are soon hoping to purchase a sonar machine.

 

11 September 2008

For more information please contact Angela Shackleford on angela.shackleford@thompsons.co.za or Melissa Williams on mellissa.williams@thompsons.co.za or visit www.affordablesafaris.co.za for more information’s on Tours in and around South Africa.

 

 

 

 

I am Nanook. At least that’s what the Eskimos call me. You probably know me better as the polar bear. I also go by the name of ice bear or sea bear.

I’m famous all over the world but especially in Canada where they even have my image on the back of their 2 dollar coin. That’s probably because 60 percent of my extended polar bear family lives there. The rest of them live in Alaska, Norway, Greenland and Russia.

I earn my living in the freezing polar seas and can swim up to 60 miles at a time but recently I’ve had a hard time finding the ice packs I depend on to rest during those long swims. More and more of my brothers have died this way lately, hunting and foraging for food to feed their families.

Unlike you land dwellers, we polar bears are marine animals. We need the ice packs to hunt for ring seals, mate, raise our young and take a break on our forages for food. Ring seals as you may or may not know, also live on the Arctic ice and make up the bulk of our diet. There’s not as many of them as there used to be so we go hungry for longer periods of time. Without them we literally starve since other food is so scare in the Arctic.

It’s getting tougher and tougher these days to find ice packs. I don’t know very much about science but I hear people talking about global climate change or something like that and how it’s causing my Arctic home to shrink. I don’t know about that, but I can tell you that my swims are longer and I’m not as heavy as I once was because of it.

Humans are always trying to take weight off but we polar bears need it to survive the freezing temperatures and cold water we live in so we need large bodies with lots of fat. When we feed ourselves, we purposely eat the blubber of the seals in order to gain lots of weight and add insulation to our bodies. A fat bear is able to survive better in our icy, watery world.

Like you, we’re mammals but we differ in many ways and live in places that most people usually avoid visiting. Maybe that’s why some people don’t seem to care about what’s happening to us. It’s hard to relate to us since you might only have seen us in a zoo and not our natural home where we’re renowned as kings.

We’re having fewer babies too. My mate can only give birth once every three years and since I’m spending more and more time looking for a meal, we’ve been missing the mating season so we haven’t had kids for awhile.

If you haven’t guessed by now, polar bears can’t really speak. But if I could I would stand up for myself in the governments and legislatures of the world and tell them what’s going on in my Arctic homeland.

Bears drowning, bears being hunted for sport, infants starving, pollution of waters and the animals I feed on, polar bear cannibalism, bears so thin you can see their bones through their fur, bears forced to scavenge around human settlements for scraps of food instead of hunting on the ice packs that were so plentiful once upon a time.

All these things I didn’t cause and can’t control add up to a life that’s full of misery and despair. It’s almost not worth living unless something can be done soon to offset the damage from humans and the effects of global climate change.

What can be done about it? I don’t know. I’m only a bear and have no rights in human courts. I don’t read, I don’t write and can’t stand up for myself. I can’t march in a rally or sign a petition. If I could, believe me I would.

Since I can’t do any of of these things myself, would you do it for me?

Won’t you at least sign a petition to let authorities like the government of Canada know that you care about me and want something done about my situation as soon as possible?

If you help me, you’ll be helping lots of other Arctic animals too since they’re feeling the same effects. If something isn’t done now, humans will eventually also face the devastation that global climate change causes.

No one can stop climate change but something needs to be done to reduce the impact and lessen the misery it causes.

Polar bear cubs start their lives as cute and cuddly youngsters.

This is in stark contrast to the majestic kings of the Arctic they will become if they survive to maturity.

Female polar bears have their first set of cubs between the ages of four and eight (usually at age five or six). Females in the Low Arctic wean their cubs as they approach their second birthday, while those in the High Arctic, where conditions are more a lot more harsh and demanding, care for their cubs an additional year

Polar bear cubs are most often born in pairs, but sometimes the litter contains three cubs and possibly only one cub. They’re born between November through January in a den. These snow dens are known as “maternity dens” and are made to protect the newborn cubs from the freezing Arctic temperature extremes.

At birth, the cubs are 30 to 35 centimeters (12 to 14 inches) in length and weigh a little more than half a kilogram (about a pound) . Having no senses, during their first few vulnerable weeks of life, they nurse most of the time and stay as close as possible to their mother to keep themselves warm. The female has special crevices within which the cubs can get the warmth they need to survive.

Polar bear cubs are born small and helpless, with their eyes closed and their fur is very fine at birth, making the cubs look hairless. They get their first glimpses of their mothers after they open their eyes sometime during the first month.

The cubs grow very quickly while they’re in the den, thanks to the calories in their mother’s rich milk, which has a fat content of roughly 31% . Cubs often lie on there mothers belly to nurse while their mother sits back and puts her head back and seems to slightly move back and forth as if to rock the cubs. The cubs begin walking inside the den at roughly two months. During this time, the cubs still spend about 85% of their time in the den, sleeping there at night.

When she finally emerges with her cubs, most often in late March or April, she leads them to the sea ice so she can break her long fast by hunting seals. Cubs begin eating solid food at this time which is at approximately three to four months of age.

The cubs usually stay with their mother until they’re 2 1/2 years old, although some bears in the Hudson Bay area wean their young at age 1 1/2 . When the cubs reach a point where they have suitable strength and coordination, and when they are able to walk well and respond to their mother’s motion and sound commands such as stay or come, they are ready to leave their mother and the den.

During the time that the cubs are with their mother, they must learn how to hunt and survive in one of the Earth’s harshest environments by watching their mother. A mother bear’s success at hunting seals directly influences their well-being and determines whether or not the cubs will live or die once they are on their own. A mother will sometimes carry her cubs on her back through areas of deep snow or water if conditions are too hazardous for the youngster.

Once the cubs are weaned, either the mother bear or the male chases the cubs away so that they can begin life on their own.

Polar Bear Cubs and Environmental Issues

As you can see, Polar bear cubs are very vulnerable during their first few months. This period is the time during which most of the deaths from global warming and pollution take place.

Mother bears are feeding on polluted fish and seals. The pollution is stored in their massive body fat and when they have their offspring, they pass the pollution on to the young via there high-fat mother’s milk. Often their cub’s immune systems are too weak to fend off the toxins and the resulting complications, so they die.

Global climate change is shortening the time that bears have to breed and this means that they put off having their children until too far into the season. So, fewer bears are being born.

This double whammy is causing Polar bear populations to decrease dramatically.

One study estimated that only 43 percent of polar bear cubs in the southern Beaufort Sea survived their first year during the year 2000, compared to a 65 percent survival rate in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Clearly, something must be done to maintain polar bear reproduction at a rate that ensures the survival of the species.

Introduction

            India has approximately one billion animals for a billion humans. We need less animals to sustain our present productivity if proper gene propagation and animal reproduction methods used. Our per animal production is much less. Inspite of this weakness our per unit cost of production of livestock products is not only less but is economical. This is why, our livestock farming exists without any subsidy and has great potential to be sustainable. Thus, competitive economic livestock production systems are our strengths. Details of economics of goat management systems have been reviewed (Wani, 2002). Similar evaluation in other livestock species viz. Cattle, buffaloes and sheep do reveal positive trends. The improvements in our traditional and reproductive management of buffaloes have won us the first rank in world milk production. Our grains are however over shadowed by export restrictions to developed and developing countries except Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Our poor zoo-sanitary conditions are responsible for it. Thus our first requirement in future is to provide sensitive, accurate and timely disease surveillance and diagnostics, so as to make our milk or meat surplus areas as disease-fre-zones. Per capita meat requirement as per ICMR recommendations is 25 gms per day. We produce at present only 9 gm per person per day. This critical gap abridgement needs more emphasis on enhancing meat production. These two priorities should be the main objectives of this review.

(2) Zoo-sanitation and bio-safety

            With production of 78 million tones of milk in 1999-2000, India ranks first in global milk production. It has Rs. 113 million worth milk products in export godowns. There are few buyers. Except Sri Lanka and Bangladesh none dares to import our cheap milk and meat productions, for fear of disease transmission. Our poor zoo-sanitary  conditions is our weakness. Our products fail to complete products from other countries, as their products appear to be safer. The lobbing by rich, media hippie world puts our livestock products at disadvantage even with our own Asian neighbours, whose bio-safety measures are more accurate and sensitive than us.

            The use of artificial insemination (AI), embryo transfer(ET) have helped in elite gene propagation. “Dolley” the super sheep is known and many more genetic clones are in offering. Today our concern is bio-safety of germplasm and the animal products. With high risk of new disease emergence all researchers are warned to use their materials with caution. The “mad cow disease” and heavy economic losses in U.K. and Europe are eye openers for all  of us. The future of gene technology lies in bio-safety and fulfillment of international zoo-sanitation regulations. Disease free zones need more emphasis than producing high  yielding livestock from disease infested areas. Thus safe and quality animal material (germplasm) and products is the slogan for tomorrow. Zoo sanitation certifications will demand more trained veterinarians.

(3) Gene propagation and utilization

            For production and utilization of elite gene pool of animals, we need to know our own resources, both biological and material. For example, increasing  meat/milk or fibre production from our small ruminants we need to know them better. We must analyse their gene pool both qualitatively and quantitatively as was done in goats( Gall et al., 1997) use DNA techniques. Once we know merits and demerits of our gene pool, could we preserve them or utilize them for further up-gradation. A small attempt of buck exchange in Ladakh and better use from identified tribes helped in the fine pashmina production, which awaits suitable markets. Mongolia crossed their pashmina goats with Russian “Don goats”. The quantity of pashmina increased but the quality reduced. We are fortunate that due to our criticism, J&K avoided introduction of Don goats in Ladakh, otherwise by now we would have lost the only quality “fine pashmina” of Kashmir (Wani et al., 195; Gall et al., 1997).

(4) Endocrinological advances 

            Ovarian oogenic and endocrine functions are interlocked via Hypothalamo-Hypophysial-Gonadal Axis (HHGA). The cyclicity and its behavioural overt and covert phase are instrinsic to these ovarian functions. The have been thus rightly named as “the Zeitgeber  or biological clock (Baird, 1987). The existence of feedback loops of ovarian steroids with respective gonadotrphin is biphasic phenomenon, where higher concentrations in blood have inhibitory or suppressive effects, low considerations have stimulatory effects (Barac Lough, 1973). Many reproductive mechanisms hang on changes in these ovarian steroids such as labour pains (Csapo, 1981), ovulatory failures (Sancheq-Crado et al., 1990). Interestingly these hormones interact to modify or sometimes antagonize each other. For example P4 appears to be potent antagonist of E2 at a combined ration  of 1:1 (Heap and Flint, 1987). The synergism ,agonistic and antagonistic actions of these hormones combinations are the basis for all reproduction manipulations viz.  Control of oestrus, ovulation, conception, gestation, fertility, infertility, contraception and or abortions. Fish and sheep ovarian extracts were tested to find out interclass sensitivity. It seems it is possible to tap huge fish ovarian extracts for intra and interpolation in mammalian ovary (Najar, 1999). Coming years will see more attempts to use such resources to avoid side effects from chemical and synthetic analogues of hormones.

5. Follicular atresia   

          GnRH- regulates gonadotrpin release from pituitary, but its continuous and prolonged use in natural from or as its potent agonist induces an inhibitory effect on ovarian steroidogenesis , follicular development and ovulation (Kledzik et al., 1978; Srivastawa et al., 1995) GnRH receptor gene encoding is expressed in the rat ovary (Kaiser et al., 1992). A new concept prevails today which postulates that an intrinsic GnRH system competes with receptor. Thus its biological response exist within the ovary. The follicular atresia is brought by this  intrinsic GnRH system (IGS) (Erickson et al., 1994) A new vision of autocrine and paracrine secretion of ovary vis-in-vis GnRH becomes evident.Future modulations in correcting reproductive failure involving hormone thereby needs rational understanding of all endocrine, autorine and related control mechanisms. Ovarectomized ewes when implanted with E2 and P4 implants were maintained in an artificial follicular phase. This speaks of an endocrine model compatible to a natural sequencing hormones of desired levels (Karsh and Evans, 1996).

6. Instrinsic GnRH system (IGS)

            Two theoretical  models called deterministic and permissive models have been put forth to explain of GnRH(Karsch et al., 1977).

Deterministic model

 

            Deterministic model envisages that a surge-like increase in GnRH is needed to induce preovulatory LH surge. This model befits animals whose LH release and ovulation is either time bound (Copulation) or signal dependant (cervical signal, rabbit and neural signal Central circadian pacemaker in rats refers).

Permissive models

            Permissive models explain GnRH in relation to ovulatory LH surge. Here feed back of steroids exert their influence on anterior pituitary gland. This is supported by evidences that LH surge continue in situations where GnRH secretion is apparently abolished. For example in monkeys with hypothalamic lesions, or in women with hypothalamic amenorrhea or congenital GnRH deficiency, normal LH surges (Martin et al., 1990)

7. Hormone Agonists/antagonists 

            Hormone antagonist or anti-hormone are those compounds or elements which prevent an endogenous hormones from exerting its biological efft(s) (Vanlook, 1988). These anti-hormone need to be safe i.e. free from side effects. The hormone antagonists in principal acts in 3 ways.

i)                  Inhibition of hormone synthesis

ii)                Neutralising hormone action by specific antibodies.

iii)             Blocking the receptors of the hormone/

Use of antagonists, agonists have demonstrated their role in ovulation control.

Their cow histamine-releasing activity (Fraser, 1981) support their wider use which needs further extensive studies. More details are reviewed (Najar, 1999).

8. Reproductive failures –GnRH mechanism. 

            The biggest problem in ovarian manipulation faced in the past was due to varied superovulatory response (Wani, 1984). The follicular atresia was postulated to reduce this constrain if induced adequately. As our atresia was postulated to reduce this constraint if induced adequately. As our understanding of (IGS) intrinsic GnRH system was poor them, we could not use it to overcome our problems. Now we know follicular atresia is related to this IGS (Erickson et al ., 1994) and therefore, our later manipulations incorporated GnRH became the subject of discussion. Estrogen alone can induce ovulation but for CNS (Central Nervous System) priming progesterone combination in desired ratio is essential (Evans et al., 1995). Thus future modulations in correcting reproductive failures needs a proper understanding of hormonal inter and intra polation with physical , chemical, biological and neuroendocrine secretion. Pheromones and other phycoemotional factors too need an analysis.

            In our experiments on infertility (anoestrus) in cows of Kashmir (District Budgam) we were puzzled to see better response with low doses (300 µg) of GnRH than the higher dose of 400 µg (Shah, 1996). We are unable to explain our results until the recent studies on permissive and deterministic models of GnRH action came to light (Karsch and Evans, 1996, Karsch et al., 1997).

9. Herbal – biostimulators

Pheromones, sires introduction effects, sensory reflexus and vast other stimulants increase receptivity as well as fertility in domestic animals. Sprays and herbal cure products will be in great demand to increase or decrease fertility in coming years. The use of stimulants or repellents as sprays and sprays and scents may be in need. Herbal cures for various reproductive wastage needs further research. The use of herbal products, fruits, nuts and medicaments in ancient Kashmiri culture after delivery, need to be looked  at. The Cichorium spp, saffron, Cofula anthemoides, Prunella vulgaris, Artemisa and other products in use during post delivery period needs scientific analysis.

The ovarian sensitivity decrease soon after parturition and its resurgence after 14 days in cows, 40 odd days in women and specific periods in other animals, reveal a lot which needs exploration to phase out various sequences of reproduction.

10. Corpora luteal biosensitivity

            Corpus luteum growth and development is the earliest pregnancy signal along with maternal recognition factors discussed (Wani, 1996). The corpus luteum development and receptivity to PGF2 alpha is now known. The ascending and descending corpora lutea are insensitive to PGF2 alpha. What makes them insensitive and what resurges their sensitivity need exploration. May be in future, CL insensitivity might have direct effects on survival of the conceptus. Does conceptus make CL more sensitive to PGF2 alpha? Or in other words, does the gravid CL and non-gravid CL behave similarly or differently toPGF­2 alpha. Many such questions vis-à-vis the ovarian morphology, uterine environment and behavioural patterns need to be studied and co-related to develop a manipulative and curative safe system. In some species CL of pregnancy in necessary till delivery, in others it is needed only till placenta develops. Its complete genesis and biostimulation and bioregulatory role are obscure and needs further research.

11. Dominant follicle dynamics 

            The dominant follicle dynamics may be in focus for ovulation control. Dominant follicle or would be bride at each ovulation appears around day 7 of cycle in women. It occurs much earlier on day – 1 to 0 in ruminants (cow, sheep, goats). This time point may be the focus to try future selective interferences in ovulation control. Antagonist use during this phase has shown decreasing levels of oestrogens in serum thereby indirectly hinting at dominant follicle alteration, as it is one of chief source of this hormone during this phase (Fraser, 1987). Dominant follicle in its sojourn to freedom and release at ovulation seems to attain some specific qualities. Why? It alone releases itself of bondage’s in ovary (Ovulation) and rest of its competitors are hindered through the process as atretic follicles. What makes this dominant follicle to attain these qualities among a vast pool of follicles needs further study. In coming 50 years one shall possibly understand and interlock a pre-determined messenger system triggering dominance in one or few follicles destined to become the new offspring of that species. This system when decoded shall offer new opportunities in controlling ovulation both for contraception (women) or augmentation (animals). New genepool of dominant follicles from dead high yielding animal ovaries would help to propagate and multiply the elite.

12. Development of conceptus – in vitro foetus

            The lean meat production needs more studies on development of conceptus. We know that prenatal development undergoes in three stages. During early pregnancy skeletal & nervous tissues grow, on priority. During mid-gestation the hind and fore-limbs develop. During late gestation muscular development along with peripheral extremities including hair develop. In order to increase lean meat production, research in needed to investigate relationship between hard and soft tissues. Maternal and foetal interactions needs a probe. Some basic studies 9Mufti, 1996) indicated prospects of manipulating lean meat production (Wani, 2001, 2002 a) by bio-stimulators during late gestation, which may help, the production of muscular lambs/kids at birth, besides, increasing birth weights. More details have been described (Wani, 2001, 2002a)          (Fig. 1-5). More studies in future are  needed to reveal the exact mechanism involved in critical transition of power control from maternal to embryonic genome. Application of recent techniques of reverse transcription, PCR and other may reveal the details (Schultz et al., 1990).

13. Slaughter house follicle pool

            A good number of our endangered species die in wild , where climatic conditions are hard and harsh. Under temperate climatic conditions dead bodies are entrapped in snow for long. It gives a hope to revive their follicular pool. Our studies on resumption of life using follicles from slaughtered sheep and fertilizing them with epididymal ***** was an pioneering attempt in this direction (Wani, 1996) (Fig 6-8). The protein content of unfertilized ovum is around 100 mg in rabbit, 27 mg in mouse (Brinster, 1967,1971). This small genetic material needs extensive analysis to unveil vast information in its condans and anticodnas. Further ovum maturation or resumption of merosis is initiated during birth or shortly before birth and thus the pool of follicles remains fixed at birth. Therefore, foetal ovary has to be the subject of further manipulations especially in view of its immunological insensitivity (Guraya, 1985).

14 Gamete biosafety

            Bacterial counts in ***** in unprecedented numbers effect ***** fertility (Kher and Dholokia, 1985), The contaminational hazards have increased due to environmental pollution, water and air contamination. Above all the development of resistance of known bateria and other micro-organism to antibiotics (Gupta and Maurya, 1993). We have examined the ***** of about 40 bulls maintained at the Frozen ***** bank, Rambirbag, Kashmir for bacterial loads in ***** and tested antibiotic sensitivity (Koul, 2002).

            Presence of bacteria in large numbers in semen, effects its quality and fertility (Kher and Dhololkia, 1985). The source of contamination of ***** vary from inflammatory foci and lesions on penile apparatus, contaminations on equipments, appliances, diluters, extenders air and laboratory environment. These contamination hazards have increased with environmental pollution. Many bacteria having developed resistance of routine antibiotics used (Gupta and Maurya, 1993) in ***** extenders has made inseminations more critical and vulnerable. More studies in this direction are needed to develop a bio-safe and infection free germplasm pool of frozen and fresh in future.

15. Foetal muscular development

            Genetics, hormonal and environmental factors influence foetal growth and development. The proper in-utero maturation and growth of foetus signify proper care and management of gravid nannies. The pre-natal development of foetus is exhibited at birth weight. The head and skeletal tissues grow and mature earlier, followed by fore and hind limbs. The muscular development of foetus occurs during late gestation. Thus, during early pregnancy nervous and skeletal tissues are having priority for nutritive requirements in-utero (Mufti, 1966). Maternal nutrition is important for growth and development of meat in off spring in-utero. Muscular growth stimulants may thus help production of quality meat lambs or kinds in future.

16. Foeto-maternal interaction

      The role of endometrial stromal cells during pre-implantation stage needs further research. Some studies on ultrastructure  of endometrium (Brinsfield et al., 1974) are still not sufficient to answer the questions. What is the role of immune cells and endometrial cells in building of the immunological barrier to protect the foetus. Foetal biology is a barren field of research in the world. After few initial steps by Dr. Moris Young in UK and Dr. Srivastava in India, only a scattered information is available on the subject (Wani and Buchoo, 1990; Mufti, 1960). Much is still to be unveiled. The placental hormone influence mammary development and milk production of the dam. This needs further research . Foetal membranes serve as chief source of nutritive exchange (Fig. 9). The arrangement of cotyledons, caruncles, positioning of single (Fig. 10) and twin (Fig. 11) conceptus, indicate complex mechanisms with common roots. These mechanisms of foeto-maternal  interactions and relationships emphasize proper foetal number diagnosis and corresponding materno-nutritional management strategies.

17.  Small ruminant reproduction

            There is a need of ovulation, pregnancy and foetal number detection by methods described (Wani, 1981, 1982; Wani and Sahni, 1980,1981; Wani and Buchoo, 1991, 1993). These reports demonstrated successful results ovulation detection, multiple ovulation predictions, early pregnancy and foetal numbers. The induction of multiple ovulation, in-vitro fertilisations, embryo collections, embryo collections, embryo culture, conservation, micromanipulation, splitting, cloning and sexing are some of the reproductive high-tech applications used to increase reproduction rates (wani, 1996; wani et al., 1990; Wani et al.,2000 a,b; Buchoo et al ., 2000). These techniques have put a little application under field conditions in small ruminants especially under extensive management system. However, their use has already revolutionized propagation of elite germplasm and can be used under buck mother farms to produce quality sires.

            The futuristic attempts in this direction should include in vitro post implantation and foetal development experiments. These future manipulations at organogenesis level may help to induce desired quality changes in offspring so that dressing percentages could be increased from present 40-50 percent  to 55-60 per cent or more.

18.  Reproductive management

The reproductive management strategies to enhance meat production could safely be divided into two kinds:

i.                   Traditional management : Animals are still managed under zero-input/migratory / tribal or extensive management system. Here the application of above described methods will be limited. The may indirectly help in this system by better sire availability.

ii.                 Modern management : Zero-grazing, stall-fed or semi-intensive, commercial small ruminant farming system may use the above methods more and more to produce high quality germplasm. They use variety of improved   reproductive   techniques     described    or     reported    (Wani,

1966; Wani et al ., 2000a; Wani et al .,1998; Mufti et al., 1997; Wani and Sahni, 1981; Wani et al., 1986, 1987, 1988; Wani and Buchoo, 1991; Buchoo and Wani,1991; Wani, 1989; Wani,1995; Wani, 1984a and b; Wani and Sahni, 1980a).

 

19.  Enhancement of fertility

            Desired fertility objectives have been discussed (Wani,2001). Increased prolificacy, early rebreeding, safe/clean parturition, set-time animal crop, elite gene introduction are some of the desired fertility enhancement goals. The constraints in achieving desired objectives in small ruminant livestock sector are the problems of inbreeding, reproductive losses (Wani, et al., 1980; 1994), pre-pubertal mating, indiscriminate or illicit mating, venereal diseases, nutritional and other stresses. These above referred factors reduce fertility status of our ruminants especially under trans-humane migratory systems.

            These constraints mentioned could be overcomed by adopting enhancement strategies (Wani, 2001), which include exchange of sires by tribal, Gujjar, Bakarwals and Chopans to reduce inbreeding. This could be ensured through legislature or forced castrations and introduction of sires from outside the flock. The pregnancy detection methods described (Wani, 1981) and lateron used extensively in J&K under farm condition (Wani et al., 1998; Wani, 1989) needs adoption as a routine in each flock for better care of offspring and dam.

20.  Nutritional bio-conversion

            The nutritional status of dams before mating could be improved by grazing them in pastures having 4-5 cm sward height herbage, yielding 1500 kgs and above of dry matter per hectare. Such pasturing shall increase ovulation. Reduced sward height pastures needs supplementation and introduction of nutritional block atleast 4-5 weeks before mating. Thus proper feeding 100 days prior to mating and parturition may help in healthy and heavy weight lamb/kid crop.  

            The pasture nutrient analysis and its supplementation as per requirement may help to avoid losses due to such deficiencies as cobalt, iron, phosphorus etc. which effect herbage and through herbage the animal health. The sire fertility test and use of disease free ***** is the foremost requirement  towards increased productivity from small ruminants.

            The nutrition plays important role in maintaining fertility status of animals. With decrease in land for fodder cultivation, alternate sources and technologies to utilize agricultural waste for animal food is needed. The biotechnological intrervention in converting crop residues and other agri-horticulture waste into animal feed needs further research.

Bengal has rich cultural heritage and a glorious past dates back to 3rd century BC. The region has been ruled by Mauryas, Guptas, Palas, the Muslims and finally the British. Bengal is the birth place of many great personalities, philosophers, scientists, patriots, and home to five Nobel laureates – Ronald Ross, Sir C.V. Raman, Rabindranath Tagore, Mother Teresa and Amartya Sen. During British imperialism, this region was divided into two provinces of West Bengal and East Bengal followed the policy of “divide and rule” to curb the rising of national movement in India. Present Bangladesh is the region of East Bengal and West Bengal is one of the 28th states of Indian Union.

GEOGRAPHY

West Bengal is bordered by Nepal and Bangladesh and the states of Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar, Sikkim, Assam, and Meghalaya in different directions. From north to south, it stretches from Himalayan Mountain to the Gangetic plain and the Bay of Bengal. The land is mostly plain except the northern region, which comes under the Himalayan mountain range. On the basis of landforms, the state can be divided into the following regions: Darjeeling Himalayan hill region, Terai region, North Bengal plains, Rarh region, Coastal plain, Sunderbans, Western plateau and high lands and Ganges delta.

CULTURE

The rebirth of Indian culture has taken place in this region of West Bengal which added a new chapter in the evolution of Indian history as Bengal Renaissance. This region is the land of Subhash Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananda, Mother Teresa, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, Jagdish Chandra Basu, Dr. C. V. Raman, Satyendra Nath Basu, U. N. Bhramcharya, Meghnath Saha, G. D. Birla, Girendra Sekhar Basu, P. C. Mahalanabish, Sishir Kumar Mitra, Debendra Mohan Basu, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Saorjini Naidu, Amartya Sen, Saurav Ganguly and many more. The culture of Bengal is deep rooted in its soil and is distinguished by festivals, music, cinema, drama and literature. Festivals in a multidimensional scale are observed in spiritual ecstasy in the state especially during Durga Puja.

CUISINE

Bengalis are fond of Bhaat (rice) and Machher jhol (fish curry). There is a wide range of dishes and cuisines with variety of tastes. Most of the typical Bengali sweets have their origin in traditional household kitchens. The most famous of all Bengali sweet is the rasogolla (a kind of sweet) which is best eaten chilled.

PLACES OF INTEREST

There are three distinct types of landscape in West Bengal. First is the Red Soil famous for its rich color to the terracotta temple of Bishnupur, second is the Ganges Delta in lower Bengal where the Bengal tigers meander and the third is the charming Rajera Hill Stations of Darjeeling and Kalimpong lies in the foothills of the Himalayas in the northern part of West Bengal. Some of the famous India Tours and tourist destinations of West Bengal are Kolkata the capital of the state offers Birla Planetarium, Fort William, Botanical Garden, Zoological Garden, Eden Gardens, Nehru Children’s Museum, Howrah Bridge, Victoria Memorial, Indian Museum, Nakhoda Mosque, St. Paul’s Cathedral Church and Kali Mandir of Kalighat. Some other excursions are Digha, Diamond Harbor, Haldia, Barrackpore, Chandernagore, Bandel, Sunderban Wildlife Sanctuary etc. Darjeeling one of the most magnificent hill resorts in the world with breathtaking beauty crowned by the majestic Himalayas. Siliguri the gateway of Eastern India as it is the main transit point for going to Darjeeling hill region, Sikkim, Bhutan, Eastern Nepal and Assam. Kurseong a quiet township between Siliguri and Darjeeling noted for its secluded charm and Eagle’s Crag. Kalimpong secluded and tucked away in the corner under big Darjeeling umbrella, offers a quiet and relaxed holiday, against the backdrop of the Kanchenjunga. Mirik a nest in the hills, a long lake, a floating fountain and the glory of Kanchenjungha reflected in the lake waters. Dooars Valley forms a gateway to the hill stations of North Bengal and Bhutan and famous for unending stretch of virgin forests. Lava commands panoramic view of Jelep La and Rechi La passes, also the gateway to the Neora National Park. Lolay Gaon gives panoramic view of Kanchenjunga. The East Himalayas land of infinite charm with scenic views of Kanchenjunga, bewildering greenery, tea gardens, adventure spots, trekking and lots more.

BEACHES

The coastal trip of West Bengal extending from the Gangetic delta land to the border of Orissa offers breathtaking and eye-catching beaches of Digha, Shankarpur, Junput, Bakkhali, Frazergunj and Sagardwip.

WILDLIFE OF BENGAL

West Bengal’s wild life offers a fascinating diversity of terrain, flora and fauna. It is a delight for nature lovers. It is the home to the World Heritage Site – Sunderbans. Other major wildlife sanctuaries and parks are as under:

1. Neora Valley National Park

The Neora Valley National Park is located in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal bordered on the east by Western Bhutan. The forest of Neora Valley is one of the least tracts of virgin wilderness in the country harbors a wealth of flora and fauna.

2. Buxa National Park

The Buxa Tiger Reserve is located in the north eastern corner of West Bengal bordering Bhutan and Assam. It comprises of deciduous forests which are densely wooded and grasslands and is home to some of West Bengal’s most varied flora and fauna.

3. Sunderban National Park

It is located in 24 Paraganas district, has been designated as a World Heritage Site in 1985 and is a part of the Project Tiger.

4. Singalila National Park

This National Park is famous for Rhododendron, Magnolia, Oak, Hemlock, Silver Fir, Juniper, Mailing Bamboo, Buk, Kawla, Bhujpatra etc. Fauna are leopard, serow, pangolin, elephant, chinkara takin, red panda, barking deer etc.

5. Gorumara National Park

Gorumara National Park is located in the Dooars region of Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal famous for its natural population of the Great Indian one horned Rhinoceros.

6. Jaldapara Wild Life Sanctuary

The sanctuary located in the Mountains of Bhutan and the confluence of river Torsa and Malangi is the home of several wild lives like one horned Indian Rhinos, Swamp Deer, wild boar, leopard and tigers.

WEST BENGAL FESTIVALS

The common and popular Bengali saying ‘Baro Mase Tero Parban’ which means thirteen festivals in twelve months that signifies the umpteen number of fairs and festivals that take place. Some of the famous festivals of West Bengal are Gangasagar Mela in South 24 Pargana, Kenduli Mela in Birbhum district, Jalpesh Mela in Jalpaiguri district, Vasanta Utsav in Birbhum district, Naba Barsho throughout West Bengal, Rathayatra in Hooghly district, Jhapan in Bankura district, Bera Utsav in Murshidabad district, Durga Puja and Deepavali throughout West Bengal, Rash Mela in Cooch Behar district, Jagaddhatri Puja in Hooghly district, Teesta Tea and Tourism Festival held in a series at Darjeeling, the Dooars and in Sikkim, Poush Mela in Birbhum district, Vishnupur Festival in Bankura district, Eid throughout West Bengal, Dol Purnima and Noboborsho.

CLIMATE

West Bengal has a tropical climate. The plains are hot except during the short winter season while the mountainous region in the north is cold. Generally there are six seasons – springs, summer, the rainy, autumn, mild winter and severe winter.

Have you ever heard of a toy that sold more than one million units in it first fourteen months without the parent company ever spending any money to advertise it? How about the fact that it is only sold in certain specialty stores (and cannot be purchased in many popular toy stores) yet these toy pets are selling at the rate of over ten thousand each week. When I last checked Ebay, the site had over ten thousand of these toys for sale. As you can see, this toy pet is wildly popular with the more than five hundred thousand customers who have “adopted” it for children between the ages of five and twelve. The name for this toy is Webkinz.

I first discovered Webkinz several weeks ago. After a day of teaching first grade, my wife returned home with that gleam in her eye that tells me that she has thought of a new and unique way to educate her first graders. She told me that her classroom had adopted a pet frog called “Froggie” and that the children were very excited. I thought a pet frog would be great in a first grade classroom and wanted to know who would feed it. She told me that feeding “Froggie” would require money that the children could raise online through the pets interactive website. I was confused until she told me that the frog was really a toy pet called a Webkinz.

Since I had never heard of a Webkinz, I was interested in learning more. Webkinz is produced by the Ganz company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. It is a small stuffed animal somewhat larger than the size of a beanie baby. There are about thirty five different types of Webkinz that can be purchased /adopted as pets. You can adopt pets that include pandas, cats, poodles, pigs, monkeys, and frogs. Webkinz pets can only be bought for adoption through specific independent gift and toy stores. The adopted Webkinz comes with a secret code that is used to register the toy pet and gain access to its highly interactive world in cyberspace. In this world in cyberspace you can name and feed the pet, design its room and raise cash through interactive games that can be used to develop the toy pet’s life and story. The online activities are designed to teach children to be responsible, nurturing pet owners and to save and budget. The Ganz company also now sells Webkinz charms ,clothing and playing cards.

My wife certainly proved to be correct in the adoption of the toy pet frog for the classroom. Her first graders loved playing and learning with “Froggie” their adopted class mascot . Some of the educational activities in her class room that used the Webkinz included writing about the frog using descriptive paragraphs with illustrations, researching the red eye tree frog as well as math activities that sometimes utilized the Webkinz interactive website. The class even wrote a letter to the Ganz company suggesting ideas for future Webkinz toy pet designs.

However, it was her final class activity that astounded me the most. She asked the class how many of these adopted toy pets that they owned at home. When the counting had stopped, her twenty five students told her that they owned four hundred twenty one Webkinz.

That unadvertised small toy pet certainly has huge grass roots appeal.

It’s Christmas time again; time for over-eating, relaxing and exchanging Christmas presents. But leading up to the festive period, the magic of Christmas can sometimes be hard to find when fighting your way through bustling crowds to try and find appropriate presents. Well, no more. Through the help of online shopping, buying Christmas presents that will make an impression is thankfully now becoming easier.

When shopping in stores it’s hard to find Christmas presents with presence because a lot of gifts are the same from shop to shop. One way of giving a statement gift is to give them something personalised that will make the present unique to them. By simply uploading photos and dates you can create personalised calendars and diaries which are a great way to give a practical and yet special gift. You can also choose a themed calendar, such as romance, golf or film and place the recipient’s name in the calendar to make them feel like a star. You can also engrave special photo frames and trinkets. Other more unusual personalisation options include writing something on a doormat for them, creating a personalised jelly mould or a walk of fame star with their name on it.

For kids, presents like the radio-controlled spider and helicopters are a great idea to keep them busy. Other creative presents like designing your own pyjamas or creating your own memory book with personalised photo albums are great ways of inspiring children. You could also adopt an animal on behalf of a child, which is not only interesting for young wildlife lovers but also encourages an interest in animal welfare and endangered species. With an adopt-an-animal gift set you get a cuddly toy, certificates, stickers and an information pack and you can feel good because it will contribute to the maintenance and care of different endangered species. If they are interested in the way the world works, getting a grow-your-own plant kit would be a great Christmas present enabling them to learn about nature and have fun too.

If you are really looking to surprise children, why not book them on a child’s fun photo-shoot or even book them into an hour of a recording studio session to make them feel like superstars! An experience like a makeover day or time in a recording studio is a fantastic present too for teenagers and adults alike; a great way to give people the chance to try something completely different.

If buying presents for a couple, there are lots of romantic options for Christmas presents that will stun and surprise. If getting married during the holiday season, buying a deluxe engraved wooden box holding a bottle of champagne and a bottle of wine is the perfect present. Not only personalised and of a high quality, the champagne is perfect for celebrating now and the bottle of wine will be perfectly matured in time for their fifth wedding anniversary. Other romantic ideas could be personalised flutes or glasses or even a personalised photo frame or photo album to capture their happy memories as they make them. Another idea could be an experience day like a wine-tasting day at a vineyard, a lunch in Paris for two trip or a ballroom dancing lesson; a novel way for them to spend well-spent time together.

Men are often so hard to buy for as they tend to just buy what they need when they see it. For a man in your life, experience days driving fast cars or watching premiership matches are a sure-fire way to get in their good books and are a way for them to let off some testosterone. Women always like a bit of pampering and pamper days out are a great way to help them relax and show you care. Options available are hot stone massages, spa days, hydrotherapy and oil treatments. Other experience days like Indian cooking lessons, belly dancing, garden design courses are excellent statement Christmas presents that can be tailored to be the perfect present and a way of giving someone something they wouldn’t necessarily think of to buy themselves.

Some experience days can be catered for a whole family, like trips out to a stately home, tickets to a theme park or west-end show. Another perfect family Christmas present would be a session with a professional photographer or portrait artist to capture the spirit of their family as well as the spirit of Christmas!

From personalised calendars to experience days to engraved objects, the perfect personalised gifts are just waiting to be created, ensuring that you give Christmas presents with presence.

In this article we will discover some facts about polar bears.Polar bears are carnivorous animals and largest among the bear family.They are the residents of north Arctic,northern Alaska and green land.They are well adapted to frozen climate.The skin of the bear is black and can absorb a large amount of heat.They have a double layer of fur for protection from frozen climate.The fur of the bear also provides camouflage and insulation.Most of the times the they suffer from the problem of over heating.The ears and tail of the polar bears are smaller as compared to the other species of bears.The feet are very large and are adapted to walk on snow.These animals practically don`t drink water.

The main food of these bears include seals,walrus,whales,birds,vegetation and kelp.Polar bears are mainly dependent on pack ice for their survival.Polar bear is a polygamous animal and spends lot of time in mating and denning.Male and females live separately and come together for mating.Females eat a lot while preparing for pregnancy.

Polar bear is a unique animal at high risk of extinction.The population of these animals is rapidly decreasing due to global warming effects.Because of the rapidly melting snow polar bears are dying nowadays.The polar bears are already listed in the list of endangered species.

This unique species of bear is known for their hunting skills.They are aggressive,curious and extremely dangerous for human beings.