They are interested in a sustainable Switzerland!

That’s important to me, as you all know. Being from Canada, we are so environmentally conscious and have been recycling for decades now, since I was about 6 or 7 years old, as well as other environmental measures.

When I travel for vacation, this is also a factor in where we plan to go. Not only do we appreciate being able to have access to organic food to eat, but we enjoy eco-friendly travel and tourism too while we’re away.

Switzerland is a bike friendly nation, the train is easily accessible, and they have green hotels and resorts.

Of course, you know I’m an exotic animal lover! That’s why you’re here and reading this blog. When we are jet-setting, my husband and I are also all about seeing a country’s “green side”…it’s plants and animals!

What Animals Can You See in Switzerland?
Well, if you hike the alpine regions – the Swiss Alps – you will see the marmot, chamois, and ibex.

Photo Right: A chamois in the mountains

In the forests, you’ll see stag and deer, as well as martens and foxes.

Along rivers and lakes, you will now see around 800 beavers – newly reintroduced to the area after having been over-hunted or chased out. A few wolves have also reentered Switzerland’s borders from Italy, that were previously extinct from these parts.

Lynx and bear have been extinct for about 1 century in Switzerland.

What is wonderful, though, is you have the opportunity to see over 200 species of birds in Switzerland.

How important is a “green nation” to you? It’s of utmost importance to me. Our lives and the lives of all animals on the planet depend on us – don’t let them down!

Now, that’s my kind of vacation!

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I hope you enjoyed this Environment post on Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Be sure to Subscribe to Exotic Animal Lover for fabulous up-to-date information!

Technorati Tags: sustainable Switzerland, eco tourism, environment, green travel, eco travel, Switzerland, chamois, organic food, bike friendly nation, Swiss train

Eco-Friendly Travel in Switzerland – An Environmentally Friendly Country is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

…Let’s be real about things – GLOBAL WARMING is REAL!!!

…And the consequences of global warming are REAL!!!

Take a look around you and the happenings going on. Use your own common sense instead of listening to every political person that disputes this fact.

It’s about money – They don’t want you to know it’s real. Why? Because it would cost businesses umpteen millions of dollars to change business practices to actually reduce emissions and other pollutants that contribute to this serious planetary issue.

What’s more important? A wallet-full of money or our precious planet and it’s most precious inhabitants – including us as humans?

The thing is, even if there’s a chance that this is going on, it’s more than worthy of addressing the issue and combating what causes global warming…It’s only to our benefit in the end regardless!

Right now, more than anything, we’re seeing the areas of the planet that are coldest reaping serious consequences from this global warming.

Polar bears can’t get far enough out to sea on the ice sheets to capture enough food to eat (seals that come up through holes in the ice for air), which is unfortunate…These hunting seasons keep them alive the rest of the year.

Without enough food, they won’t have enough energy in fat stores to last the other months…

Desperate for food, these bears are needing to venture further and further out on the ice sheets where earlier and earlier each year, the ice breaks up – often leaving these polar bears too far from land to be able to swim back, especially if the ice breaks and drifts without them being aware of it.

This past spring/summer in Antarctica, on the opposite pole of the world, the ice shelf has shrunken drastically and actually, a huge chunk broke off this past year and every year it shrinks more and more…

It’s the only place on the planet where Emperor Penguins live!!!

Also, as more temperate, tropical waters are heating up more and more around the equator, more of the marine animals are moving towards the poles where they’re more comfortable and adept to feeding on fish in the waters and living in newly warmed environments.

This means more and more competition for the arctic and antarctic whales and porpoises too.

Please, do your part by first of all admitting there is a dire problem with a serious need to address it and combat global warming.

Then, reduce your waste, reuse materials and recycle what you can’t reuse. Car pool and reduce your carbon footprint. Everyone can make a difference!

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I hope you take heed to this Environment post on Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Be sure to mosey on over to get your Exotic Animal Lover Updates delivered to your inbox!

Technorati Tags: global warming, environment, climate change, polar bears, Arctic, Antarctic, emperor penguines, arctic whales

Global Warming is a Real and Imminent Danger is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

I’ve heard of sound pollution and pollution from garbage and things like that, but not light pollution before today!

Why is it considered Pollution?
When you live in a city like Dallas, for instance, how many stars do you see at night? NOT MANY at all!

In fact, I could probably count on 1 or 2 hands how many stars there are.

When we’re in Niagara Falls, there are a few more…

But when we’re “up north” in Ontario, somewhere like Port Franks, it seems like the sky is within arm’s reach! The stars are countless, they twinkle and the sky is as dark as tar…Amazing.

So, What’s the Point?
The point is that wildlife that functions at night absolutely needs that darkness. Animals get disorientated in light when it’s supposed to be dark outside – you know, “like a deer in headlights”.

Plus, the sheer amount of energy we use and byproducts emitted from the lights we have in use all night is bad for the environment and our planet.

The Dark Sky Festival will be in Harmony, Florida on April 25th from 6:00 – 11:00 pm with Free Admission and Free Parking!

What is the Dark Sky Festival?
It will be held outdoors in low-light conditions on the streets and sidewalks of the Town Square in Harmony. The festival is to expose the general public to the importance of dark skies for not only wildlife and astronomers, but for your own mental and physical health – go to find out why!

They will have an ambient space musician, different speakers illustrating the necessity of dark skies and how it affects your health and the community around you, plus numerous telescopes set up for people to star gaze, or just sit and enjoy the sky with your family!

The festival isn’t just for astronomers or people who enjoy stars. It’s to be able to appreciate the night sky, the way things are supposed to be!

Light pollution may seem like an insignificant thing compared to the other pollution we are encountering on our planet today, but it’s the easiest to solve!

You’ve heard about Earth Hour, which occurrs annually on March 25th – now, why not spread that in to everyday life?

Turn off unneccessary lights at night, change your outdoor lights to ones that reduce glare and be sure your lights are aimed where you want them to shine – don’t waste half the light into the sky!

Our starry sky is a precious commodity! Enjoy it!

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I hope you enjoyed this Environment post on Exotic Animal Lover! Until  next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Exotic Animal Lover Updates are just 1 click away!

Technorati Tags: Dark Sky Festival, Harmony Florida, Harmony, Florida, Dark Sky, astronomy, environment, light pollution, pollution, energy conservation, stars

Dark Sky Festival in Harmony, Florida is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

It is a long video, but so very worth it!

I didn’t have a chance to see this from the BBC when it was on the television…

So, check it out here and really enjoy it!

The BBC always does such an amazing job with their documentaries and cinematography, and I’ve even seen this series for rent at Blockbuster, so I’ll be renting it very soon!

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I hope you enjoyed this post on the Environment on Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Get your own copy of the Planet Earth Series by BBC here:

Planet Earth – The Complete BBC Series Planet Earth – The Complete Bbc Series

Technorati Tags: planet, Earth, planet Earth, BBC, Earth documentary, wildlife, animals

Unbelievable Video of Our Planet & Wildlife is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

It’s called Freecycle.org and it is helping communities all over the globe!

How?
“It’s a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It’s all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills.”

How cool is that? VERY! If you save are working to save the planet, you’re working to save animals, their habitat and the pollution that kills them!

Basically, almost anything, whether big or small, that you want to get rid of that is “lightly used” or unused, that you want to give away (there’s no trading or selling of any kind…in fact, you’ll be suspended or removed from the network), you put an OFFER up, and someone or many people will contact you and usually give you a reason why they want it to.

Then, you decide who you want to give it to, and arrange for them to pick it up or exchange it somewhere neutral (for safety reasons).

If there’s something you want or need, you put an ad up saying WANTED and explain what it is you need and usually why. If people have it, they’ll contact you and voilà…mutual benefit.

You can even put up an ad that says BORROW, if you only need whatever the item is for a while.

Then, out of courtesy, you can put up the ad TAKEN to say what’s been picked up or that you picked something up!

So, if you’re into saving the planet by reducing waste in landfills and reducing production of materials since you don’t need to buy it new, and you’re not encouraging manufacturers to make more “stuff”.

I’ve seen everything on there from furniture, clothing, food, pets…almost anything!

I am a member of 2 groups, as we split time in Niagara Falls and Dallas.

If you live in Niagara Falls, you can sign up directly here:

If not, got to Freecycle.org and find your area of the globe to join your local group!

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I hope you enjoyed this post on the Environment on Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Please be sure to Subscribe to this Blog.

Technorati Tags: environment, Freecycle, recycle, reuse, reduce, reduce waste, go green, recycling program

Improve the Environment & Reduce Your Waste Using This Service is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

I watched on TV tonight that the deadly “Red Tide” algae is toxic and killing animals of all sorts in the St. Lawrence River system in Canada.

Belugas, birds, porpoises, fish, mollusks…you name it, it’s affected.

It moves up the food chain, and in the case of whales, like belugas, they feel it affects their brain and makes them slower and confused, making them more likely to collide with boats.

The red tide algae are common in this area, but usually wash away by this point of the year, whereas this year, it is lingering too long!

Why?

Well, it is believed that it’s lingering due to the serious rain we’ve been having in this region.

What’s Being Done?

Researchers are being diligent to figure out all of the particulars, and there has been a ban on all fishing of mollusks for consumption by humans to ensure local residents are not affected by the red tide toxicity!

Sheesh! What a shame!

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I hope you found this Exotic Animal Newsflash interesting from Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. If you are a whale lover, like I am, check out this great spot for amazing nature gifts:

Technorati Tags: red tide, red algae, algae, belugas, St. Lawrence Seaway, St. Lawrence river, ocean animals, environment, mammals

Red Tide Algae Kills Marine Animals on St. Lawrence Seaway System is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

Basically, the Caledonian Forest is like the “Rainforest” of Scotland. It used to cover 1.5 million hectares of the Scottish Highlands, and now, only about 1% of that remains in 35 isolated areas.

This is devastating, not only to Scotland and it’s amazing wildlife, but to the world in general. We depend upon trees to survive…

The species like beaver, tarpan, wild boar and the lynx are that inhabited these forests are gone.

Photo left: Tarpan (wild horse), extinct since 1919 – This is the only known photo of a live tarpan in existence from the late 1800s.

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This forest is a unique ecosystem in the British Isles and is home to some of the rarest wildlife:
1. There are 13 bird species that breed here that are found nowhere else in the British Isles.

2. 8 more bird species breed here that are considered rare in the British Isles.

3. There are 8 mammals still present in the remaining Caledonian Forest.

4. 8 mammals are considered extinct here, including:

• European Beaver
• Wild Boar
• Gray Wolf
• Elk
• Aurochs
• Eurasian Lynx
• Brown Bear
• Tarpan (wild horse)

Photo right: Aurochs, extinct since 1627

What an awful shame!

What do we do now?

Well, programs have been instituted to attempt to reforest the Great Caledonian. You can volunteer in replanting, or support these endeavors. Check out the site, TreesForLife.org.uk, to find out more information on the Caledonian Forest and how you can help with reforestation.

Some of the Scottish landowners have been planning to build game reserves on their estates to release some of the species that are now considered extinct in the area, as listed above.

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I hope you find this post on the Environment and European Animals interesting on Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S.

Technorati Tags: Caledonian Forest, Scottish Highlands, extinct animals, reforestation, environment, British Isles, Scotland, Caledonian

The Endangered Caledonian Forest in Scotland is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

To me, our greatest asset is our bio-diversity of wildlife. One by one, these fantastic animal species are disappearing…extinct…never to be seen again.

What a shame! So, what in the world can you do?

Well, first of all, conserve your resources, such as energy, water and don’t waste your food. Live organically, not only with the food you consume, but with your cleaning products and the means in which you take care of your property, gardens and grass.

Use your car less, walk more. Save the baby robin you find in your back yard. Donate your time to clean up the environment or help out at a local wildlife refuge.

If nothing else, you can donate to help out the planet and it’s animals.

Earth Hour was a huge, and many areas are participating in an Earth Hour every month or week.

I hope that this blog provides you with great information, inspiration, appreciation, and a spark to help save this planet and the animal species in it, one way or another.

This blog post was inspired by reading a blog post: A Blogger Should Be Responsible – Working For Earth

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I hope you enjoyed this post! I hope you check out the page on our Exotic Animal Refuge! Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Let us know what your Green Initiatives are and how you are a Responsible Earthling by Commenting in the Comment Box Below.

Technorati Tags: green, green initiatives, animal refuge, responsible earth, conservation, wildlife preservation, Earth Hour, environment

Are You a Responsible Earthling? is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

*** PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW BEFORE ASKING WHERE THIS EVENT IS TAKING PLACE.

This happens in your home or your workplace at 8pm (your local time) on March 29th WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE WORLD by simply turning off your lights, your TV, your dishwasher, your heating or a/c. You don’t have to be in Toronto (they won’t let me not put something in that spot) or a major city to participate.

On March 29th, 2008 at 8pm local time Earth Hour will commence ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

Created to take a stand against the greatest threat our planet has ever faced, Earth Hour uses the simple action of turning off the lights for one hour to deliver a POWERFUL MESSAGE about the need for action on global warming.

Be part of making Earth Hour 2008 a huge, global success by telling your friends and family. Remember, every single light makes a statement and makes a difference.

Last year, on 31 March 2007, 2.2 million people and 2100 Sydney (Australia) businesses turned off their lights for one hour – Earth Hour. This massive collective effort reduced Sydney’s energy consumption by 10.2% for one hour, which is the equivalent effect of taking 48,616 cars off the road for a year.

* Pledge your support for Earth Hour and find out more about the lights-out campaign at earthhour.org, the official website. http://www.earthhour.org

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I hope you enjoyed this installment of Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. What will you do with your hour? Please Comment in the Box below with ideas!!!

Technorati Tags: earth hour, environment, environmental awareness, green, earth, ecology, conservation, global warming

Earth Hour Tonight @ 8pm-9pm Local Time – Will You Be There? is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

Thank you for visiting our blog. My name is Kimberly Edwards. This blog will be a multimedia blog, and it will contain video, audio, text, pictures, and all kinds of things pertaining to exotic animals, their lives and our love for them.

We are going to have a regular turn of info. Check back often. We look forward to your posts, comments, and interaction.

Thank you for visiting our blog. Have a wonderful and blessed day.

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

Technorati Tags: exotic animals, wildlife, nature, wild animals, conservation, endangered species, unusual pets, biology, science, fauna, environment

Exotic Animals: An Introduction To A Blog About The Wonderful Wild Animals Of The World is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover