the jourknow: Animals

Showing posts with label Animals. Show all posts

Wednesday, 31 October 2012

Old English Sheep dogs deemed 'vulnerable'

I felt a bit sad today to read the news that one of the UK’s most iconic dog breeds, the Old English Sheep Dog, has been deemed a “vulnerable” breed after a significant drop in new born puppies.

Only 316 puppies have been registered with the Kennel Club so far this year, a very small amount when compared to over 128,000 Labrador Retriever puppies that have been recorded (unsurprisingly, Britain’s most popular dog breed.)

The Club said that the popularity of “handbag dogs” such as the Pug or Chihuahua had seen other varieties shunned. Cesky Terrier’s and Field Spaniel’s are also said to be at threat of being wiped out in the UK.

The Old English Sheep Dog is an iconic breed in the UK, mainly because of its long standing association with Dulux Paint. I remember being a little boy watching the paint adverts and longing for my own ‘Dulux dog’. My local hardware shop even has a life-size model of the dog in the window, and I was forever whining at my mother to buy me one.

You see, I take offence at people who only have dogs as some kind of fashion accessory. Like the majority of young mums who seem to have kids just because their teenage friends have one, “handbag dogs” seem to be more fashionable then a Gucci handbag lately. But why? The majority of those dogs look repulsive and yap all the time, like a miniature Katie Price on a lead. Hardly fashionable.

If you’re going to get a dog, get a proper dog. One that you can look after properly, exercise with and spend time with. Yes, you might be able to do this with ‘Princess the Chihuahua’, but Princess will only last one season before you swap her for another designer accessory. A dog is for life remember, not just for Christmas.

I think the problem with society nowadays is that we just do not have time to look after our pets. Anyone who is seriously considering getting a dog needs to appreciate the time it takes to walk, feed, groom and look after your pooch. Ultimately, the Old English Sheep Dog falls foul to this problem. The dogs are so furry and need so much exercise that practically half the day is spent looking after them, whereas Princess can just be shoved in your handbag.

Maybe the decline in the Old English Sheep Dog has something to do with the decline in DIY? We’re painting less, so who cares about Dulux and their dog? Well I certainly do, and it would be a great shame to see an iconic English dog disappear, replaced by dogs which are about as useful as a false eyelash.

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

Friday, 11 May 2012

The New Zealand Diaries: No.12 - A day at the Museum

Whenever you go on holiday or take a trip to a place you haven't been to before, the best way to find out all about the local area, the people and the history behind a town or city is to visit the local museum.

Museums in general, I think, get a bad press from a lot of people. Some claim they're boring, some claim they're too old and outdated. Sadly, this has tarnished the museum culture, but with many families looking for 'free' and 'fun' place to discover, museum's are starting to thrive again.

And the Otago Museum in downtown Dunedin was no different. A fantastic museum with displays, artifacts and exhibits on everything. Whether you wanted to find out more about the Maori tribes that once lived in the area, or more about the extinct wildlife, there is so much to see and do.

With over three floors of exhibitions, we started our way at the top, working our way down. The first few exhibits give you a feel about the industry behind the South Island; beer, mining and fishing. One room had dozens of boat displays on show, complete with the skeleton of a whale - which was truly fantastic.

In other rooms, the Museum offers visitors a glimpse into the South Pacific - the tribes and colonies from places like Samoa. With authentic costumes and instruments used by the tribes, you get a feel for the unique culture of each separate colony.

Moving on, a fantastic stuffed animal collection featuring small mammals to birds and fish, the collection is by far the biggest I have ever seen. Sadly, it was the only chance I got to see a real life Kiwi.

The museum also houses a fantastic interactive section, complete with hands-on science exhibits for children and adults alike. It's not free, but it's certainly worth the money. Here, families can see what the effects of sun stroke and smoking can have on their body with the fantastic 'Your Face Here' interactive exhibition. Elsewhere, the outside butterfly enclosure offers guests the chance to see a colourful collection of butterflies enjoying the sunshine. Be warned, they will land on you!

The museum has so much to offer, and even after a few hours wondering around, I had learnt so much about New Zealand then I thought humanely possible!

Follow me on Twitter: @kieranwatkins

Monday, 30 April 2012

The New Zealand Diaries: No.11 - Who needs Victoria Falls?

If you ever get the chance to experience New Zealand, you'll realise just how breathtaking the landscape is. At times, it felt like I was holidaying in the Amazon rainforest, with the vivid colours, cool climate and dense bush.

And experiencing Purakaunui Falls was like the icing on the cake. A stunning, natural waterfall hidden in the middle of the rainforest.

Like an oasis, the waterfall was magical. Blue, fresh spring water splashing down on to smooth, mountain rock, creating a haze that could match the spray from Niagra or Victoria.

The falls are located a small way down a forest track, making it easy for visitors to find. Yet the walk was fun, offering visitors the chance to look up into the trees for various birds, and watching underfoot for any insects or small mammals. Most of it was untouched, and the whole experience seemed very natural, as if I was the first person to explore this wilderness.

With any falls, the sound is the first thing you notice when approaching. Imagine the relaxing sound of water trickling down onto your window pane, only this time louder and more aggressive. Kind of relaxing really.

Then there's the smell. Hard to explain, it was a mixture of wet wood and the freshest air possible (if that is a smell!?) It was great just to stop and breath the atmosphere in, soak it in if you pardon the pun!

Then you see it. A small footbridge takes you right to the heart of the small stream, as you witness the water cascading down from quite some way up. The waterfall is tiered in several places, making it even more magical.

The chance to see such a creation was rather humbling, and definitely worth the twenty minute walk to. If you get the chance, make sure you bring your camera!

(First photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

Monday, 2 April 2012

The New Zealand Diaries: No.9 - Baaaaaaarmy!

If you were to describe one of the delicacies from New Zealand, a food export which rivals all others, one would say lamb. New Zealand Lamb is world famous, there's no doubt about it. Tender, fresh and high quality.

So would it surprise you if I admitted the only bit of lamb I 'had' was a picture taken next to one? Because, wants you see the beautiful, gorgeous animals strolling across the fields, you find it very hard to contemplate eating one!

The New Zealand sheep are cute and cuddly, surrounding towns and villages across the South Island. Sheep are popular with farmers, despite the government drive to focus farming on dairy. From village to village, you'll find at least half a dozen or so farmers tending to their sheep.

Sheep are big business in New Zealand. Besides the meat which is found and highly regarded across the globe, their wool is world renown too. 'Merino wool' is luxurious and highly expensive, a favourite with tourists who visit the island.

Sheep have something of a high status in New Zealand too. Forget your television or radio presenters, the real celebrities are often New Zealand's animals. We recently had 'Happy Feet' the penguin, but before him, came 'Shrek' the Sheep. Shrek's story is known throughout the world; a sheep who, after 6 years in the wild yet never sheared, was found and became the nation's new hero. He met the New Zealand PM, and was even flown to an Iceberg in the Pacific Ocean. Crazy huh?

But it just goes to show how much New Zealand cherishes their fluffy friends, even if it does sound immature and barmy. Yet, it put me off lamb whilst I was there. There was something deeply unsettling about waking up to a field of sheep, and then anticipating a few lamb chops for lunch. No thank you!

Alas, I am not a born again vegetarian. I just appreciate sheep a little more than I used to. So Father Christmas, the only thing on my list this year is a few fluffy lambs for Christmas! BAAAAA.

The second to last photo is of Shrek, courtesy of the Otago Museum