UPDATE: My Housemates

Hello again everyone! Did ya miss me? ☺
I sure did miss all of you. Sorry if I was gone for a while. Anyway, let's proceed to what I really came here for. I blogged before that I'll introduce you to my friends who I share my home with. As promised, here they are!

Let's start with the guinea pigs.

First off is Pochacco, a.k.a. Pochie.

 

Originally, Pochie's name was Smoochie. However, a certain family member of my Human had a hard time pronouncing the name so my Human had to choose a new name. Upon seeing a photo of Pochacco, the dog from Sanrio, on the internet, my Human knew that Smoochie is destined to be a Pochacco! So the name stuck and the rest is history. Pochie arrived here on February 2009 so he is around 4 years old now. He is currently the oldest of the group.

Next up is the only girl of the herd, Frappé. 

Frappé got here in March of 2009. My Human chose Frappé because her colour reminds my Human of Frappé coffee. When Frappé was younger, she had a very light, almost dusty, black spot on her nose. No matter how many times my Human tried to wipe that spot off Frappé's nose, it just wouldn't go away. Over time, it went away on its own. 

 Now we have Copper Yin.

 

Copper Yin is one half of Pochie's babies. Yin's twin sister, Tuxedo Yang, has sadly passed away on February 26 of this year. Their mother, Mallows, is also at the Rainbow Bridge. She joined her daughter on May 16, 2013. Yin and Yang were born on July 3 and 4, 2009. I know you must be wondering why there are two dates. Yin came out first at around 11:56pm on July 3. Yang, on the other hand, came a few minutes after so she was born on July 4. He looks a lot like his mom while Yang is a carbon copy of her dad. Copper Yin is the biggest of them all! Even bigger than his daddy! ☺ 

We have got a new addition to the gang! Meet Spencer.

The baby of the group, Spencer arrived on August 26. My Human thought that Frappé needed a new roommate after the previous one passed away (Frappé and Yang used to live together). Spence, as my Human adoringly calls her, has a black spot on her nose - the left side. See the darker colour on the other side of her nose? That's the spot! Spencer is very lively and would sometimes run around her and Frappé's abode even while Frappé is resting. She has learned to trust my Human a few days ago and would accept food by hand. The two ladies are getting along great! They would snuggle and eat together. When Spencer is taken out of their home, you would see Frappé sniffing up in the air as if trying to sense where her little roomie has gone. We can't wait to see Spencer grow up.

Now that we have covered the guinea pigs, let's move on to the hamsters.

This lil cutiepatootie is Madison. She is one of the 6 pups of loving parents, Ash and Twister. She was born on January 6, 2011.Unfortunately, her family are all gone now. Madison is a Campbell's dwarf hamster. She has beautiful red eyes just like her mom. Madison likes Sunflower seeds, eggs, and carrots. My Human knows that Campbell's dwarf hamsters aren't supposed to eat too much sugar because of the risk of diabetes so sweet food like carrots are given in limited amounts. Madison also likes tissue paper because of its softness. When my Human gives her a piece that is rolled up like a newspaper, Madison carries it in her mouth looking like a tiny puppy.

The second hamster in our home is Tubby Tat.

Tubby was given to my Human by her nephew. Before becoming Tubby, his name was Chubby Jr. because he looked like his dad when he was younger. Tubby was born in a brood of 12 - 9 boys and 3 girls. He is a  long haired Syrian hamster. His eyes are like little black buttons. They're really cute! Tubby was rehomed because he and his brothers are getting bigger and are already starting to fight. See Tubby's ear? That was the result of those fights. When he is being fed by hand, he never pulls hard to get the food. Tubby is such a sweet and gentle fellow.

I know I mentioned some of my dear friends who have already gone to the Rainbow Bridge. I'll create a post about them someday so you'll meet them as well.

So, what can you say about my current housemates? They're just as cute as me, right? ☺
Talk to me in the comments section!

Gotta go for now. I smell my food being served!

World Elephant Day

On August 12, 2012, the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation declared the first World Elephant Day. The goal of this is to "bring attention to the urgent plight of Asian and African elephants." During this day of awareness, the foundation asks people to "express your concern, share your knowledge and support solutions for the better care of captive and wild elephants alike."

To show my support for this day, I am going to talk about the plight of the Philippines' lone elephant, Mali. 

Mali, an Asian elephant whose full name is Vishwamali, was transferred from Sri Lanka to Manila Zoo in 1977 when she was orphaned at the young age of 3 (other sources say 4). Since then, she has lived in captivity in the said zoo.

Animal rights activists such as PETA have been voicing their concerns about Mali's situation, saying that female elephants go together in groups. They are known to stay with their families and are happy to be around the company of others. Since Mali has been living alone in her small enclosure, activists say that she has been living a life of loneliness, boredom and isolation.

In May 2012, an examination on Mali was performed by Dr. Henry Richardson, an elephant expert. Dr. Richardson diagnosed Mali with foot problems. These foot problems, including cracked nails, overgrown cuticles, and cracked pads are the leading causes of death in captive elephants. Other known personalities who have expressed their support and appealed for Mali's freedom include Paul McCartney, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Morrissey.

However, Deogracias Manimbo, head of Manila’s Public Recreation and Parks Bureau, which oversees the Manila Zoo, said that Mali is already used to her environment in the zoo and that she might not be able to handle an environment dissimilar to what she has gotten used to. Manimbo also added that Mali might not survive in the wild. Meanwhile, the chief veterinarian in Manila Zoo, Donald Manalastas told Agence France-Presse that Mali is well and fit. He also mentioned that the zoo "expanded the enclosure of Mali and increased her food with more nutrients."

Last July 31, newly-elected Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said that Mali will be transferred to the Zoobic Safari park in Subic and will return to Manila Zoo after renovations to her enclosure is completed.

Based on the arguments given by the two sides, what do you think is the best thing to do with Mali?