Polar Bears

Source google.com.pk
Polar Bears
Polar bears roam the Arctic ice sheets and swim in that region's coastal waters. They are very strong swimmers, and their large front paws, which they use to paddle, are slightly webbed. Some polar bears have been seen swimming hundreds of miles from land—though they probably cover most of that distance by floating on sheets of ice.

Polar bears live in one of the planet's coldest environments and depend on a thick coat of insulated fur, which covers a warming layer of fat. Fur even grows on the bottom of their paws, which protects against cold surfaces and provides a good grip on ice. The bear's stark white coat provides camouflage in surrounding snow and ice. But under their fur, polar bears have black skin—the better to soak in the sun's warming rays.

These powerful predators typically prey on seals. In search of this quarry they frequent areas of shifting, cracking ice where seals may surface to breathe air. They also stalk ice edges and breathing holes. If the opportunity presents itself, polar bears will also consume carcasses, such as those of dead whales. These Arctic giants are the masters of their environment and have no natural enemies.

Females den by digging into deep snow drifts, which provide protection and insulation from the Arctic elements. They give birth in winter, usually to twins. Young cubs live with their mothers for some 28 months to learn the survival skills of the far north. Females aggressively protect their young, but receive no help from their solitary male mates. In fact, male polar bears may even kill young of their species.

Polar bears are attractive and appealing, but they are powerful predators that do not typically fear humans, which can make them dangerous. Near human settlements, they often acquire a taste for garbage, bringing bears and humans into perilous proximity.

Polar Bears

Polar Bears

Polar Bears

Polar Bears

Polar Bears

Polar Bears

Polar Bears

Cow Milk Good For Humans

Cow Milk Good For Humans 
Cow milk occupies a special position among foods in being an animal food that has a vegetarian connotation. Milk carries many nutrients that the infant needs for growth and development. For children, adolescent, elderly people pregnant and nursing mothers, milk plays an important role in meeting the requirements of many essential nutrients, and hence milk is considered as a protective food. Milk helps to balance human diet by supplementing good quality protein, calcium and vitamins particularly, vitamin A, riboflavin, niacin and folic acid. In addition milk contains several bio-protective molecule that ensure health security to humans.
Nutritional quality of milk proteins
Milk proteins are rich in essential amino acids. The Protein Efficiency Ratio (3.1), Biological Value (91) and Net Protein Utilization (82) of milk protein are very close to that of egg proteins (3.8, 100 and 94, respectively). Lactalbumin is superior to casein having Biological Value (BV), Net Protein Utilization (NPU) and Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) 100, 92 and 3.6, respectively. The corresponding value for casein are 77, 76 and 2.5, respectively. Only 14.5g of lactalbumin or 28.5g milk proteins is sufficient to meet the daily requirement of essential amino acids for adult humans.
Supplementary value and digestibility of milk proteins
Because milk proteins contain a surplus of certain essential amino acids (lysine and threonine), they can raise the BV of vegetable proteins. Milk proteins can be added to cereal based products to increase their lysine and threonine content. Whey proteins have even better supplementary value and can raise the BV of soy proteins because of their high concentration of sulphur amino acids. Whey obtained as a by- product in cheese manufacture has thus a great potential for incorporation in cereal based products.
The digestibility of milk proteins is rated higher (96%) then that of plant proteins (74-78%). Because of their high BV, the milk proteins are useful in the diet of patients suffering from liver and gall bladder diseases, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes. Patients with impaired kidney functions rely on protein with high BV for relieving strain on the excretory function of the kidney. The milk proteins are also used in slimming diets.
Milk fat and misconceptions about its role in coronary heart diseases (CHD)
Milk fat has often been implicated in CHD because of its cholesterol content and composition of its fatty acids. It is however, not correct to judge the implication of milk fat in development of CHD solely on the basis of its fatty acid composition and cholesterol content. The average cholesterol content in cow and buffalo milk is only 2.8 and 1.9 mg/g fat respectively. Moreover, humans absorb 10-14% of dietary cholesterol, thus Only 20-40 mg cholesterol will be absorbed from 50g of dietary milk fat. On the other hand, the body itself synthesizes cholesterol (1-4g daily) in much higher amounts than what is absorbed from the diet.
The so called "Lipid hypothesis" states that there is a connection between fatty acid composition of the diet and cholesterol content of serum in that the saturated fatty acids (SFA) increase cholesterol and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) decrease it. Since increased cholesterol levels are believed to play a role in the development of CHD, the demand is often made that the dietary fat having low proportion of PUFA be replaced with oil that are rich in PUFA. The question that naturally arises is should one avoid milk or milk fat because it contains high content of saturated fat. The major saturated fatty acids in milk fat are palmitic acid (24-28%), myristic acid (13-14%) and stearic acid (11-12%), and the major unsaturated fatty acid is oleic acid (23-28%). Milk fat has high proportion of short and medium-chain saturated fatty acids, which do not raise serum cholesterol levels, nor does oleic and stearic acid. Only palmitic and myristic acid has some effect. The idea that excess of SFA and/or cholesterol were associated with the development of CHD arose from epidemiological association between high total and animal fat intake, high serum cholesterol levels and incidences of CHD, in some countries.  The conclusion made from such empirical studies have been criticized by many researchers in that the population that consumed fat with higher PUFA/ SFA ratio also consumed less calories from sugars and total fat.
Regarding the role of PUFA in decreasing cholesterol levels and preventing heart diseases, it has not been proven unambiguously. On the other hand, the recommendations advocating for increasing intake of PUFA have been questioned. There is an increasing evidence that excessive intake of PUFA is harmful in that it may lead to (1) formation of gall stones due to increased production of bile acids (2) increased requirements for vitamin E, (3) increased formation of peroxides which may cause alteration in membrane of blood corpuscles, (4) oxidation of PUFA enriched LDL increasing susceptibility to atherosclerosis and (5) higher incidences of colon tumours due to colonisation of the intestine with bile degrading bacteria, since the excessive intake of PUFA increases the excretion of cholesterol in the form of bile acids. It is, therefore, unjustified to raise the hope that cardiac infracts could be prevented by a diet rich in PUFA. An excessive intake of energy, resulting in excess weight is one of the major reasons of altered cholesterol metabolism and atherosclerosis. Indeed, a diet containing optimum amounts of calorie and essential nutrients, wherein the type of fat has no significance, is a real safeguard against high mortality from atherosclerosis.
Nutritional benefits of milk fat
Compared to other fats and oils, milk fat is easily digestible. The digestibility of milk fat is 99%, while that of natural palm oil is 91%. The excellent digestibility of milk fat is due to dispersion of fat globules in the aqueous phase of milk forming an emulsion. They are absorbed directly unlike other dietary fats that have to be emulsified by bile, pancreatic enzymes and intestinal lipases before they can pass through intestinal well. Also, milk fat is rich in short and medium-chain fatty acids, which are more easily absorbed than long chain fatty acids. The ester bonds involving short-chain fatty acids are more easily cleaved by lipases. The easy digestibility of milk fat makes it a valuable dietary constituent in diseases of stomach, intestine, liver, gall bladder, kidney and disorders of fat digestion.
In infant and child nutrition, milk fat is of immense benefit. It helps them in meeting their energy requirements by increasing energy density of the diet. A sufficient fat supply is essential for thriving babies, a rosy and smooth skin and also resistance to bacterial infections.
Milk fat has a low content of essential fatty acids (EFA), linoleic and linolenic acid. The EFA requirement is only 3% of total calories, two-third of which is met from invisible fat present in dietary cereals, pulses and vegetables. Therefore there is no justification to replace milk fat with another fat having a higher linoleic acid content.
Milk is a rich source of vitamins
Milk is a rich source of vitamins not only in terms of their contents but also their better bioavailability. Milk is one of the richest natural sources of riboflavin (vitamin B2). A 250 ml serving of cow milk contains riboflavin equivalent to 50% of the daily requirement of a pre-school child. Although milk contains only small amounts of preformed niacin (Vitamin B3), nevertheless, it is a very good source of this vitamin. Niacin can be synthesized in the body from tryptophan, which is present in milk proteins in good amount (480 mg/L). Sixty mg tryptophan is metabolised in the body to give rise to one mg niacin. Indeed, milk is used as dietary ingredient for patient suffering from pellagra, a niacin deficiency disease. For vegetarian, milk is sole natural source of vitamin B12, as this vitamin is present only in animal foods. Milk is also a good source of folic acid. Vitamin A deficiency is a major cause of widespread blindness among children in India. A 250 ml serving of cow milk contain vitamin A sufficient to meet 75% daily vitamin A requirement of pre-school child.
Milk is a richest natural source of calcium
Recent research has shown that poor nutritional status with respect to calcium is related to diseases like osteoporosis, hypertension and colon cancer. The hypertensive patients have shown significant reduction in blood pressure in response to increased calcium intake. The effect of calcium on blood pressure is mediated by (1) increase in urinary excretion of sodium, (2)) preventing the rise in vitamin D hormone which increases blood vessel resistance (3) relaxing smooth muscle cells which lines the blood vessels (4) suppressing the renin-angiotensin system and (5) increasing production of endothelial relaxing factors.
Introduction of increased dietary calcium through dairy products has been shown to reduce incidences in colon cancer and hyper-proliferation in the colonic mucosa in rodents. Calcium produces these effects by neutralizing deconjugated bile acids and free acids, thereby removing their mitogenic/ toxic influence.
Milk and dairy products are the most important source of calcium in readily available form. A 250 ml serving of cow milk contains calcium equivalent to 60% of ICMR’s Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for adults. Incorporation of milk in the diet also improves the bioavailability of calcium from vegetable foods. The factors that contribute to better availability of calcium from milk include lactose, protein and phosphorus.
A part of calcium in milk is associated with phosphorylated casein. The casein phosphopeptides, released in the gastrointestinal tract during digestion, form soluble complex with calcium phosphate salts and improves the diffusion of calcium across the intestine. Milk is rich in phosphorus that reduces urinary calcium excretion, and counter balances, at least in part, the calciuric effect of dietary proteins. Milk and most dairy products, except some processed cheese, have a near 1:1 calcium to phosphorus ratio considered to be ideal for retention of calcium in the body.
Therapeutic properties and extra-nutritional role of milk constituents
Milk proteins have high buffering power; therefore it is useful in the treatment of inflammation of mucous lining of stomach and of stomach ulcers, preventing hyperacidity. Milk and milk products are used as a source of proteins in hyperuricaemia and goat disease. In contrast to other foods, these do not contain purines, which are precursors in the synthesis of uric acid that causes gout when deposited in the joints or may lead to formation of urinary calculi.
Short and medium-chain fatty acids with 4-12 carbon atoms, which occur in a relatively high concentration in milk fat are reported to have antibacterial and fungicidal activity against gram negative bacteria and certain moulds. Milk fat has a protective effect against human tooth decay. This effect has been ascribed in part to adsorption of milk fat onto the enamel surface and in part to antimicrobial effect of milk fatty acids.
Protective effect of milk fat against some types of cancer (colon, breast and skin) has recently been reported. Fat in general is regarded as increasing cancer risk, although not for all types of cancer. However, a specific fatty acid (a cis-trans isomer of linoleic acid) has been identified in milk fat, which appears to be an inhibitor of cancerous growth.

Cow Milk Good For Humans 

Cow Milk Good For Humans 

Cow Milk Good For Humans 

Cow Milk Good For Humans 

Cow Milk Good For Humans 

Cow Milk Good For Humans 

Cow Milk Good For Humans 

Tracking Dogs

Source google.com.pk
Tracking Dogs
Tracking rarely seen wild dogs on the run across the waterways and islands of Botswana’s Okavango Delta was almost impossible. These painted canines are swift hunters and despite our high-powered safari vehicle we had trouble keeping up with them. African wild dogs hunt with formidable speed in tightly coordinated packs that seem to think and act as one.

We first spotted the Lower Chief’s Island pack across the floodplains of the delta on a palm-fringed island. The hunting dogs were stalking through the high grass, their mottled coats blending seamlessly into the surrounding bush. They jumped into the water and began swimming to the next island, before suddenly turning back and disappearing without a trace.
On game drives from Sanctuary Stanley’s Camp, we sought out the pack and followed them on their hunting forays. At the southern tip of Chief’s Island, we travelled around a vast private concession bordering the Moremi Game Reserve. The Moremi is known as the “predator capital of Africa” and keeping track of the hunting dogs across this wetland wasn’t an easy task.

Our guide Kot Basuti maneuvered the game-viewing vehicle with considerable skill through the swamp. We pulled up our feet to avoid getting wet in the deep channels between the islands with small fish swimming past in the clear water. Our perseverance paid off when the pack made a successful kill of an impala after a high-speed chase across the Okavango floodplains.At the end of our stay with Sanctuary, we were completely taken with these smart and sociable animals. We spent hours with the pack, watching them interact with one another, playing and resting in the shade between hunts. It was obvious how close the wild dogs were as they communicated with each other constantly through touch and vocalizations.

Wanting to learn more about these critically endangered canines, we spoke to Dr. “Tico” McNutt, founder and director of the Botswana Predator Conservation Trust. Tico and his wife Lesley have been running a research camp in the delta for the past 18 years. Their ongoing work with wild dogs has greatly increased our understanding of these once maligned animals.

                                                            Tracking Dogs

Tracking Dogs

Tracking Dogs

Tracking Dogs

Tracking Dogs

Tracking Dogs

Wild Tigers Fighting

Source google.com
Wild Tigers 
Siberian (or Amur) tigers are the world's largest cats. They live primarily in eastern Russia's birch forests, though some exist in China and North Korea. There are an estimated 400 to 500 Siberian tigers living in the wild, and recent studies suggest that these numbers are stable. Though their northern climate is far harsher than those of other tigers, these animals have some advantages. Northern forests offer the lowest human density of any tiger habitat, and the most complete ecosystem. The vast woodlands also allow tigers far more room to roam, as Russia's timber industry is currently less extensive than that of many other countries.

Tigers are the largest of all wild cats and are renowned for their power and strength. There were once eight tiger subspecies, but three became extinct during the 20th century. Over the last hundred years, hunting and forest destruction have reduced overall tiger populations from hundreds of thousands to perhaps 3,000 to 5,000. Tigers are hunted as trophies and also for body parts that are used in traditional Chinese medicine. All five remaining tiger subspecies are endangered, and many protection programs are in place. Poaching is a reduced—but still very significant—threat to Siberian tigers.

Tigers live alone and aggressively scent-mark large territories to keep their rivals away. They are powerful hunters that travel many miles to find prey, such as elk and wild boar, on nocturnal hunts. Tigers use their distinctive coats as camouflage (no two have exactly the same stripes) and hunt by stealth. They lie in wait and creep close enough to attack their victims with a quick spring and a fatal pounce. A hungry tiger can eat as much as 60 pounds (27 kilograms) in one night, though they usually eat less.

Despite their fearsome reputation, most tigers avoid humans; however, a few do become dangerous maneaters. These animals are often sick and unable to hunt normally, or live in areas where their traditional prey has vanished.

Females give birth to litters of two to six cubs, which they raise with little or no help from the male. Cubs cannot hunt until they are 18 months old, and remain with their mothers for two to three years, when they disperse to find their own territory.

Wild Tigers Fighting

Wild Tigers Fighting 

Wild Tigers Fighting 

Wild Tigers Fighting 

Wild Tigers Fighting 

Wild Tigers Fighting 

Horses And Humans

Sorce google.com
Horses And Humans
Horses and humans have an ancient relationship. Asian nomads probably domesticated the first horses some 4,000 years ago, and the animals remained essential to many human societies until the advent of the engine. Horses still hold a place of honor in many cultures, often linked to heroic exploits in war.

There is only one species of domestic horse, but around 400 different breeds that specialize in everything from pulling wagons to racing. All horses are grazers.

While most horses are domestic, others remain wild. Feral horses are the descendents of once-tame animals that have run free for generations. Groups of such horses can be found in many places around the world. Free-roaming North American mustangs, for example, are the descendents of horses brought by Europeans more than 400 years ago.

Wild horses generally gather in groups of 3 to 20 animals. A stallion (mature male) leads the group, which consists of mares (females) and young foals. When young males become colts, at around two years of age, the stallion drives them away. The colts then roam with other young males until they can gather their own band of females.

The Przewalski's horse is the only truly wild horse whose ancestors were never domesticated. Ironically, this stocky, sturdy animal exists today only in captivity. The last wild Przewalski's horse was seen in Mongolia in 1968.

                                       Horses And Humans

Horses And Humans

Horses And Humans

Horses And Humans

Horses And Humans

Horses And Humans

Horses And Humans

Horses And Humans

Lion King

Source google.com.pk
Lion King

In the beggining of last decade, actually 1982, Mike moved from Spain where he lived for three years (originally Danish, moved to Spain at the age of 18) ,to Santa Monica. There he met guitarist Vito Bratta, and decided that the time has come for them. They joined forces with bassist Felix Robinson and drummer Nicky Capozzi and started the story. The story's name was WHITE LION! They had the killer songs, all they needed yet was the contract with the record company. They managed to sign with Elektra Records, and overjoyed went to Frankfurt (Germany) to record their debut FIGHT TO SURVIVE. Everything went great, they had great stuff, the producer was contented, had the great team, the people from record company called every day to say how satisfied they were with their works and how they were ready to give them support of any kind...But that was to ideal to be true. Back then the boys were full of begginer's enthusiasm, and there was no time for any kind of pessimism. Few months before the record was supposed to see the light, they found that they were forgotten. Fired. Kicked out. They had no idea what's going on. Everyone at the company acted like there was no contract. They gave no attention to what will happen with the band or the album. There was the story that the singer of one hi-rated band, which was also under Elektra, was frightened that WL would make success, after which his band will lose (!?!) some because of that. He thought that there was no room for both bands, so he made same moves... WL managed to release the album in Japan, and very soon went gold. One small house brought it to Europe also. The album brought attraction to a lot of American record houses, and very soon the band was in Atlantic Records. Only this time they assured from any kind of breaking the contract, or any kind of bad work.

In the meantime the band had one line-up change. Bass guitarist James Lomenzo replaced Dave Spitz (brother of Anthrax's guitarist Dan Spitz) who was in the band some time, and Greg "Kickin' Ass" D'Angelo, former Anthrax drummer came to WL. Now this formation gave the band new injection to reach out for new horisonts. The result was PRIDE,... the story of the youth..., the album which presented some fresh, untamable, wide kind of sound, with great lines, power drumming and nervous guitar stuff (with the exeption of When The Children Cry, the song closing the album, which was in some softer feeling). The World Tour was on, while as soon as the album came out it was annouced as album of the month in numerous magazines.
The tour ended in november '88 when the band soon went back to studio to record brand new album, which came in the beginning of '89.The album was called BIG GAME, and very soon was on the top of the charts. There were great rocking numers like Living On The Edge, Goin' Home Tonight or a killer version of Golden Earring's Radar Love. But like WTCCry on PRIDE, they touched some touchy themes like Cry For Freedom, Broken Home or Little Fighter (In Memory Of The Rainbow Warrior).

They toured a lot, and when they finished they took a lot more time to create the material for another record. During 1991 they finally released MANE ATTRACTION, the album that brought them back on position #ONE. This time they had Richie Zito producing this album. Ten perfect songs, including Lights And Thunder, the opening tune, which has its specifical intensity, Love Don't Come Easy, which was actually the first single off the album in America (for Europe it was Lights And Thunder), rawer Leave Me Alone, very strong War Song (What Are We Fighting For) with some great tempo change in the middle of it, and two brilliant solos (which Vito's guitar part is bad, by the way? Never heard actually!), one contributor colorfastness in the first part, and after the slowing down one deep blue sensitive solo with great support by the rest of the band.On CD release you can find two bonus songs, contagious She's Got Everything, and Blue Monday, instrumental, in memory of S.R.Vaughan. They re-released the song Broken Heart, which also appeared on their FIGHT TO SURVIVE works, here in different shape and that was their second single off the album.

So bad that this was actually their last tour together. The band broke apart in the middle of it. After that they continued in different line-up, with Tommy T-Bone Caradonna on bass, and Jimmy De Grasso on drums, but not for long.

Lion King

Lion King

Lion King

Lion King

Lion King

Lion King

Lion King

Lion King

Lion King

Lion King

Elephant Love Humans

Source  google.com.pk

Elephant Love Humans

The most important thing in the world to a baby elephant is its mother and its extended family. Female elephants are particularly vulnerable to psychological despair having lost their natural family. Young bulls are more resilient, mainly because female family members will be bonded together for life by emotional attachments that are lasting and strong. Young bulls leave their natal family at puberty, preferring the company of other young bulls, and emulating the example of high ranking dominant males within the elephant society. That said, however, bulls will never forget their female elephant family, even though it is very normal for young bulls to develop a "hero-worship" on the dominant males within their society, to learn from them what elephants need to know in order to limit conflict. Elephants fight seriously only when evenly matched in age, rank and tusk size. Such encounters between such powerful contestants often prove fatal to one, and sometimes both parties, so it crucial therefore for a bull elephant to understand his place within the male rank hierarchy.

In infancy, the family lost to the orphaned elephants must be replaced by a human equivalent i.e. enough Keepers to represent a “family”. It is imperative to take care of the mind of the orphan as well as the physical aspect, so that they grow up psychologically stable. If they are psychologically unstable and neurotic they will not be welcomed into the wild herds and risk rejection. The psychological aspect of hand-rearing elephants is just as crucial as everything else, the human Keepers substituting for the orphan’s lost elephant family, with the babies 24 hours a day, traveling with them as a group during the day, and sleeping alongside them within their stable at night. During early infancy the Keepers must be in physical contact at all times, replacing the contact the baby would have enjoyed from its elephant family. It is also important to rotate the Keepers so that a different Keeper sleeps with a different elephant each night in order to avoid any strong attachment to just one person. This proves counter-productive and plunge the elephant into grieving when that person has to take time off. Psychological grief can trigger life threatening physical problems such as diarrheoa in the infant elephant orphans, who are essentially extremely fragile during their milk dependency.

Elephants are tactile and highly social animals, so the human "family" is encouraged to fondle the babies gently, talk to them and demonstrate genuine heartfelt affection, as would their elephant family. Elephants can read a person's heart and mind, so it is important that such affection is sincere and not just a facade.

Elephant

Elephant

Elephant

Elephant

Elephant

Elephant

Cute Rabbits

Source google.com.pk
Cute Rabbits
Biology of the Rabbit

Taxonomy

    Order: Lagamorpha

        Family: Leporidae (rabbits and hares)

Genus: Lepus, hares

Cylvilagus, cottontail rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus, European or true rabbit

Origin and Habitat

    The European rabbit is native to western Europe and northwestern Africa. It was introduced by humans into Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia, South America and North America.

    Rabbits are gregarious animals that live in burrows in open fields and along hedgerows. They are nocturnal, coming out of the burrows in the evening and retiring in the early morning. Grasses and other herbaceous plants are foods of choice; the bark of woody plants are eaten if herbaceous plants are not available.

Uses

    Food: Rabbits are important as food because of their ability to utilize foodstuffs that humans are unable to use. Fryers are young rabbits, usually less than 12 weeks old, and weigh between 1 ½ and 3 ½ pounds. Roasters are mature rabbits, usually greater than 8 months old, and weigh over 4 pounds.

    Fur: Rabbit pelts are very minor by-products of the rabbit meat industry. Angora rabbits have been produced for wool, which is spun pure or sometimes mixed with fine sheep wools. Rabbit hair, other than Angora wool, is used for producing high grade felt, such as the felt used in making hats. Rabbit furs may be grouped into three categories, Rex furs, Normal furs, and Satin furs. Rex and Satin furs are the most popular and finest furs and they have either no projecting guard hairs (Rex) or altered hair fibers (Satin); they are used in the natural state. The Satin breed is relatively rare and is used much less than the Rex. Normal furs are often pulled or sheared to remove guard hairs, then dyed. Forty rabbit pelts are needed to make a full-length coat.

    Research: Approximately 440,000 rabbits are used annually by biomedical research organizations. This figure represents approximately 2% of the total number of laboratory animals used annually. The breed of rabbit most commonly used in research is the New Zealand White, an albino. Research uses include ophthalmology, atherosclerosis, teratology, cosmetics testing (eye and skin) and antibody production.

    Pets and Fancy: Rabbits come in several sizes and colors. Dwarf or small breeds, such as the Netherland Dwarf, Dutch, and Polish breeds, weigh less than 2 kg; medium breeds, such as the New Zealand and Californian, weigh 2-5 kg; large breeds, such as the Flemish Giant and Checkered Giant, weigh greater than 5 kg. Within a given breed, several color varieties often exit. The English and Dutch breeds are very popular fancy breeds, as is the Lop family (English, French, and Dwarf).

    Pests: In areas where no natural predators exist, rabbits can cause considerable economic loss by depleting the vegetation.

Handling

    To lift a rabbit, one should grasp a large fold of loose skin over the shoulders with one hand and either support of grasp the rear feet with the other hand. Failure to grasp or support the rear feet may result in injury to the rabbit and/or handler. Rabbits are capable of inflicting injury (scratches and small gashes) to the handler with their claws, particularly the rear claws, as rabbits have powerful rear limbs. Proper handling and common sense will usually prevent such injury. Aggressive behavior in the forms of floor stomping and biting may be displayed by rabbits, although this is the exception rather than the rule.

    To carry a rabbit, it is useful to support the animal’s body between the forearm and abdomen of the handler, with the rabbit’s face "hidden" under the handler’s elbow. Frightened or so-called nervous rabbits are usually easily carried by this method.

Anatomy and Physiology

    Adult body weight: NZW: female: 2-6 kg, male: 2-5 kg

    Life span: 5-6 years

    Respiratory rate: 32-60 breaths/minute

    Heart rate: 130-325 beats/minute

    Normal average rectal temperature: 102.5 0F

    The dental formula is 2 (I 2/1, C 0/0, P 3/2, M 3/3) = 28. All teeth are open rooted and grow continuously.

The rabbit cannot vomit, like the rat and horse.

    The cecum is large, thin-walled, coiled, and terminates in the thick-walled light-colored vermiform process or cecal-appendix. This appendix contains a large amount of lymphoid tissue. Just proximal to the cecum is another gastrointestinal structure containing a large amount of lymphoid tissue, the sacculus rotundus.

    The left lung consists of two lobes, the right lung consists of four lobes.

    The right atrioventricular valve of the heart, called the tricuspid valve in human, has two cusps.

    The rabbit possesses a well-developed nictitating membrane, the third eyelid.

    The uterus is duplex with separate cervical and uterine openings.

    There are usually four pairs of mammary glands.

    The bones are relatively lightweight and represent only 8% of the body weight of the rabbit, compared to 13% in the cat. The rabbit has strong musculature.

    The highly vascularized ears are important in thermoregulation.

    Rabbit neutrophils contain eosinophilic granules and are termed heterophils. These heterophils may be confused with eosinophils and are distinguished by their cellular size and granule size (smaller than eosinophils), and the intensity of the granule staining (less intense than eosinophils). The larger granules of eosinophils often obscure the nucleus.

    The normal urine pH is 8.2. The urine of young rabbits is free of precipitate but albuminuria is normal; the urine of mature rabbits is cloudy due to the presence of ammonium magnesium phosphate and calcium carbonate crystals. The color may vary from tan to reddish-orange, the latter color being due to the presence of porphyrin and bilirubin derivatives. This reddish-orange color is intensified during dehydration or by certain pigmented or high calcium diets, and must be differentiated from hematuria (blood in the urine).

Nutrition

    Rabbits should be fed a commercial pelleted rabbit diet; water should be provided ad lib. Diets such as these are nutritionally complete and do not require supplementation. If supplements are offered, they should not consist of more than 15% of the diet.

    Food intake is approximately 5g/100g BW; water intake is approximately 10ml/100g BW/day.

    Rabbits are coprophagous. They consume soft, moist fecal pellets produced at night. Since this "night stool", rich in vitamins and protein, is consumed directly from the anus, housing on wire-bottomed floors will not prevent coprophagy.

Reproduction

    Female rabbits are called does, male are called bucks. Breeding onset in the medium-sized breeds is 5-6 months for does, and 1 month later for bucks.

    Rabbits are induced ovulators; ova are released 10-13 hours following copulation. Domestic rabbits have no regular estrus cycle. They may have periods of anestrus and 1-2 day periods of non-receptivity every 4-17 days.

    The most common breeding system is quite simple - take the doe to the buck’s cage and leave them together for up to 30 minutes. If the doe is receptive, mating will occur soon after pairing. The vulva of the receptive doe is congested and purplish in color; this observation is useful for estimating maximum receptivity.

    The average gestation period is 32 days. Shortly prior to parturition (kindling), the doe builds a nest, pulling large amounts of hair from her mammary region and forelimbs. The average litter size is 7-8. The young weigh 30-100 grams at birth, are hairless, and have closed eyelids. Cannibalism is rate. The doe normally nurses her young only once a day, usually in the morning. Eyes open at about 10-12 days, the young begin to eat solid food at about three weeks, and weaning occurs at 4-6 weeks.

    Immature rabbits are sexed by observing the external genitalia. Females have an elongated vulva with a slit opening, whereas males have a rounded protruded penile sheath with a rounded urethral opening.

    Sterile postpartum mating occurs. An infertile mating, excitement by nearby bucks, or mounting by other does may occur, resulting in pseudopregnancy lasting 15-17 days.

Diseases of the Rabbit

   Bacterial Diseases

-Pasteurellosis (sniffles) - Pasteurella multocida

-Tularemia - Francisella tularensis

-Tyzzer’s Disease - Bacillus piliformis

-Colibacillosis - E. coli

-Salmonellosis - Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis

-Treponematosis (rabbit syphilis) - Treponema cuniculi

-Blue fur disease - Pseudomonas aeruginosa, water in crocks, poor husbandry, sitting against sipper tubes.

   Viral Diseases

-Myxomatosis

-Viral Hemorrhagic Disease

   Parasitic Diseases

-Hepatic coccidiosis - Eimeria stiedae

-Intestinal cocidiosis - Eimeria spp.

-Encephalitozoonosis - Encephalitozoon cunicili

-Passalurus ambiguus

-Dermatoxys veligeria

-Baylisascaria procyonis

-Taenia pisiformis

-Taenia serialis

-Psoroptes cuniculi - rabbit ear mite, lesions appear as dry whitish-gray to tan crusty exudate, needs treatment by your veterinarian

-Cheyletiella parasitivorax

    Fungal Diseases

-Trichophyton mentagrophytes

   Miscellaneous Diseases

-Mucoid Enteropathy

-Traumatic vertebral fracture, broken back: The rabbit has powerful pelvic limbs and lumbar muscles. If allowed to kick and trash during restraint (failure to support rear end), a self-inflicted fracture or, less commonly, dislocation of the lumbar vertebrae may occur. The L7 vertebra is the most common site of injury. Clinical signs include a posterior paresis or paralysis and urinary and fecal incontinence.

-Ulcerative pododermatitis (sore hocks): This condition is due to pressure necrosis of the affected weight-bearing metatarsal (rear legs) skin with a secondary staphyloccal infection. It is found primarily in heavier, male rabbits, with rabbits that stamp their hind feet, and associated with rabbits housed on wire floors or rough floor surfaces.

-Malocclusion, overgrown teeth: This is usually an inherited congenital trait. In the guinea pig and the rabbit, all the teeth (not just the incisors) can be affected.

-Antibiotic-associated enterocolitis: This syndrome is not yet as severe a problem in rabbits as in hamsters and guinea pigs. Lincomycin, erythromycin and clindamycin should not be used in rabbits.

                                                                         Rabbit

Rabbit

Rabbit

Rabbit

Rabbit

Rabbit

Rabbit