The Difference Between Asiatic and African Lions

7 November 2014 UNDER Blog

The lion is a big cat that is also known as the “king of the jungle.” these large felines used to prowl throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. Now however, lions only remain in two parts of the world and are classified according to two subspecies. The African lion can be found in southern and central Africa, whilst the Asiatic lion can only be found in India’s Gir Forest. Whilst they both look a lot alike, the two subspecies are very different in many ways including, habitat, diet and size.

Try Not To Cry with Monty the Penguin in John Lewis Christmas Advert

6 November 2014 UNDER Blog

The run up to Christmas can now officially start after John Lewis released their seasonal advert – and yes it’s a tear jerker! Last year we had a bear in the woods backed by a Lily Allen tune. This time we have Monty the Penguin in search of true love. Those guys at John Lewis certainly know how to tug at the old heart strings. Check it out and let us know what you think.

Marmosets Able To Learn Just By Watching Video

28 October 2014 UNDER Blog

Brazilian wild marmosets have never watched a movie or seen a television show in their jungle homes until very recently. A scientist showed a group of wild marmosets a short flick of one of their compatriots opening a box in order to eat a slice of banana. The study found that wild marmosets were likely to mimic the behavior they saw in the video and open the box themselves.

This Twerking Turtle Thinks it’s Miley!

21 October 2014 UNDER Blog

This is the funniest video we’ve seen in a while. You may remember Miley Cyrus causing quite a stir with her twerking at the MTV awards with Robin Thicke. Well how about a turtle that loves a twerk? Just add water! Cowabunga dudes!

Study Says Earth Has Lost Half of All Wildlife in the Last 40 Years

16 October 2014 UNDER Blog

According to the results of a new study undertaken by WWF and ZSL, it is estimated that the total number of fish, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians fell by an astonishing 52 per cent between 1970 and 2010. To reiterate that’s 52% of wildlife lost in the last 40 years.

The obvious question to ask is what caused such a massive decline? It may not surprise you that the main culprits are humans. Through hunting, fishing, deforestation, pollution and other types of habitat destruction we have contributed a major part to this loss of wildlife.

Leopards Like To Feed On Domesticated Dogs

14 October 2014 UNDER Blog

Leopards that prowl around rural India have an interesting favourite food: dogs

These large felines seem to prefer eating domestic dogs even in areas where there are goats, cows and other farm animals according to the results of a new study.

Conservationists took a close look at leopard poop to reconstruct their diets. A team of scientists with the Wildlife Conservation Society looked at 85 leopard fecal samples in Western Maharashtra India. When they took the specimens back to the lab, they were looking for claws, hair, hoofs or other indigestible parts of prey.

New Laws Protecting Five Species Of Shark Now In Effect

7 October 2014 UNDER Blog

If you are a shark lover then there is some good news, beginning September 14th, new international laws came into effect that added to protection for five different species of shark that have been threatened by overfishing.

Special permits are now required to export live sharks as well as fins, gills and meat of these five species as well as all species of manta ray. The new regulations were adopted last year at a meeting in Bangkok of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as CITES.

Who Knew? Yawning Is Contagious For Wolves

28 September 2014 UNDER Blog

Have you ever sat in a meeting and looked at a colleague yawning, then had the uncontrollable urge to yawn yourself. We can’t tell you how many times that has happened to us, fortunately most of the time we manage to control it or yawn without the boss seeing! A new study suggests that just as with humans when a wolf sees one of its compatriots yawn it will yawn as well.

Do Big Cats Like Marmite?

25 September 2014 UNDER Blog

We at udopt are split with some loving marmite on toast and others finding it hard to understand how anyone could like it! But have you ever wondered whether big cats like Marmite? If not why not?! Check out this video from Big Cat Rescue to see the marmite effect.

African Elephant Population Reaches Devastating Tipping Point

21 September 2014 UNDER Blog

A new study suggests that the elephant population in Africa has reached a tipping point with more being killed every year than being born. According to the research since 2010, the average number of elephants killed annually on the continent was 35,000.

Orangutans Have The Ability To Plan For The Future

14 September 2014 UNDER Blog

Recently it was International Orangutan Day which came shortly after it was revealed there may be a discovery of a new species of the ape.

Dr. Michael Krutzen of Zurich University who has spent a lot of time studying the southern most population known as Batang Toru orangutans which are located in the Tapanuli region of northern Sumatra said:

“From a genetics point of view we were taken by surprise to see these stark differences compared to other Sumatran orangutan populations further north. Our findings highlight the urgent need for special conservation status for the Batang Toru forests.”

The Illegal Trade In Live Cheetahs Could Be Catastrophic

7 September 2014 UNDER Blog

New research says the growing trend in trading cheetahs as luxury pets in the Middle East is resulting in wild populations of the big cat being driven to extinction. The report adds the fact that nearly two thirds of cheetah cubs that are being smuggled through Africa, die whilst in transit. The good news however is the countries at both ends of the trade have reached an agreement that urgent action is now needed.

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