This summer I met several fascinating people from around the world, below are three stories that I recently wrote for other sites including a Botanical Illustrator, Anthrozoologist and Parahawker: For the Love of Plants Meet botanical illustrator Mindy Lighthipe, who practices environmental activism through art. and From Anthropologist To Anthrozoologist: Meet Patricia K. Anderson Her love for birds started this
Read moreHello everybody! I am extremely excited and appreciative to join DANTA as another blogger! My whole life I always wanted to make an impact on some type of way. Growing up as an athlete it was easy to think I could become a physical therapist (PT) and help individuals improve so they can enjoy life to the fullest with minimal
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Often, I find myself wrapped up in those whirlwind days where you don’t even have time to be tired until you actually fall onto your pillow. Because a lot of people I know are curious about how I spend my time here in Ithaca, I thought I’d share it with you. —- 6:45AM- It’s wakeup time! Did I mention this is
Read moreAfter nearly two weeks of backpacking around Thailand, my trip was coming to an end where it all began: Bangkok. During my trip around Thailand, I witnessed picturesque beaches and islands, dramatic mountainous landscapes and charismatic indigenous people at zoos, elephant conversation centers, national parks, night markets and food stands. I must confess that since I studied animal behavior and
Read moreSummer is winding down. Children are going back to school, young adults are off to college and adults are winding down vacations and getting back to the grind. I relocated 1300 miles last week and I think everyone needs to relax and take a break. It’s always nice to reconnect with old friends and bond with new ones – and
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By Lisa Barrett This summer, one of my goals as a 1st year Ph.D. student was to determine if I wanted to do work with wild Asian elephants. My dissertation will look at personality and problem-solving in elephants, and it is an extension of my work with Think Elephants International in Thailand. After months of planning and discussing with my
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So here I am in beautiful Costa Rica, doing my best to finish this post before the power goes out! I thought I would make this a personal post describing my time here. I arrived in Costa Rica on June 15th to assist in the DANTA field school for two weeks before beginning data collection for my thesis on July
Read moreThe top of my head is tingling, so I rub it. Then my lower left jaw feels numb. I scratch it just once. I then feel the back of my knees get tight and the hairs rise. I have goosebumps on my legs. I rub and I scrape a little. The inside of my nose is now supersensitive. I flick
Read moreRelating toys to what your pet does naturally is the best way to brainstorm new ideas for enrichment. Listening to a radio podcast on parrots, enrichment guru Robin Shewokis discussed the different categories toys and devices can fall into. Below I have included examples for all types of pets, in each of the categories. Enrichment is not just a buzzword;
Read moreExotic pets, especially in North America, are becoming very common. Hedgehogs which are small, spiny coated, energetic animals are gaining popularity because of their uniqueness and relatively easy care. Most hedgehogs that are kept as pets are the African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris), weighing between 300 and 600 grams. Autumn Syracuse, a full time aquarist at the Aquarium of Niagara,
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