Unusual Pets: Macaws

Macaws belong to the family of New World Parrots. They are extremely colourful and are the largest in the Parrot family. These birds inhabit the rainforests in Central America, tropical South America and Mexico. Some of them even live in savannas and woodlands. They are very intelligent birds. Macaws are known to live up to one hundred years, but on an average they live from fifty to seventy-five years. Mini Macaws live up to thirty years. The lifespan of a captive Macaw totally depends on the nutrition and care provided to it.

Although there are many species of Macaws, the most popular in the pet trade are Scarlet Macaws, Military Macaws, Blue and Gold Macaws and Hyacinth Macaws. Their size can vary from twenty inches to forty-two inches, which includes their long tail.

Macaws feed on fruits and nuts. In the wild they also eat clay, which neutralizes the effect of poisonous nuts and seeds, which they accidentally eat. In captivity, the bird can be fed vegetables, fruits, grains, dry fruits, nuts, ice cream, cheese, etc. Care should be taken that the total fat shouldn’t exceed ten percent, as that can be harmful for the bird. They are also known to chew on objects. Because of their intelligence and curiosity, they should be monitored constantly. Macaws make partners for life but the ones that are kept in captivity and don’t have a mate, usually bond with their owner. They feel the need of communication and hence, the owner should talk to the bird constantly. This is also a technique used for bonding with the bird. Macaws that aren’t interacted with suffer mentally and physically. They are not shy to new people. If a stranger is accompanying the owner, they do not hesitate to accept the new face and be friends with them. Macaws normally only bond with one person at a time. If for some reason the person they have bonded with is no longer available, they will bond with a new person. If at a later time the person they had previously bonded with returns, the bird will not have anything to do with that person. It is not known if this is “holding a grudge” or if it is just that they are only capable of bonding with one person at a time.

Sometimes, Macaws have some behavioural problems when kept in captivity. Because of stress development they start to pluck their feathers, bite and even scream. They also have a large beak, which they sometimes use to harm people around them. Their voices are quite loud and when they screech it can be heard over a mile away. Sometimes, when they get excited, even their vocalizations can be quite loud. Macaws can be taught to talk. “Bucko” mom and dad’s Blue and Gold Macaw had a large vocabulary. He even learned “Yabba-Dabba-Doo and a few other terms from watching the “Flinstones” cartoons on television. The best talking birds are the African Grey Parrots, closely followed by Amazon Parrots. However, some Macaws are very good talkers and so are some Cockatoos and some Cockatiels. Mom and dad have a Cockatiel that is more than twenty-eight years old and he can talk very well.

Macaws are extremely playful and active. For this reason their cage needs to be very big and strong as well. It should be big so that the bird can move around freely and it should be strong because the bird is very intelligent and stands a chance of escaping. They have a very strong beak and can snap a metal “Hot Wheels” toy car in half with one bite. The material used to make the cage should be stainless steel and the dimensions should be at least forty by forty-eight by sixty inches high. A cage of this size will cost from $500 to $800 depending upon where you live. The bird is very fond of chewing things, so the cage should have a number of wood pieces or toys, which the Macaw can chew on. Hanging toys and toys on which the bird can climb are also a good choice.

Macaws are considered an endangered species and five of the species have become totally extinct. The problem is deforestation, killing them as farming pests and illegal capture for the pet trade. Therefore, in some states in the United States it is only legal to sell Macaws which have been born in captivity. In other states, they are banned completely. In Canada, you can only have Macaws which have been born domestically. Macaws are great pets, but they require a lot of attention and a lot of work. It is like having a hyperactive one and one-half year old child. Mom and dad eventually had to find a new home for “Bucko” because as they got older, he was just too much for them to handle.

Until next time,

Teia

Unusual Pets: The Clouded Leopard

The fantastic pattern of the Clouded Leopard's fur is more striking than the stripes, spots and shades of other animals. The pattern of its fur looks like marble blotches and as a result, the Clouded Leopard is often referred to as the marbled cat. Each blotch is different from all the others. While the small blotches are exquisite, the larger ones are even more beautiful. Because of their unique fur, the Clouded Leopard has been hunted almost to extinction. Fortunately they are now protected under the Endangered Species Act, however, poachers still keep the species on the verge of extinction.

The major difference between the males and females is the weight of the animals. The males weigh up to sixty pounds and the females seldom exceed thirty pounds. Since their natural habitat includes spending a lot of time in tall trees, their long, thick and furry tail provides excellent balance. They have the longest canine teeth among the cat family. Their body structure is compressed and powerful. Clouded Leopards have short but muscular legs with huge front paws.

Since the animal comes from forested regions, it is very found of climbing. Therefore, in captivity, its cage should be built as tall as possible. It must be at least ten feet high and it would be even better if were up to forty feet high with trees provided within the cage. Climbing trees and reaching great height is a must exercise for them to satisfy their psychological needs. If the cat is taken outdoors to climb trees, be very careful because if they escape they are very quick and difficult to catch. Their cage should also be equipped with hanging toys, which they can leap to catch. Other toys can also be included.

Clouded Leopards can be fed live chickens, pigeons, rabbits, rats and even chunks of fresh beef. Before consuming their food Clouded Leopards do a ritual which aids in the digestion process. The prey is killed and then the Clouded Leopard plays with the dead prey for more than an hour. When it has finished playing, then it eats what it has killed. If a tree is provided in its living habitat, it will take its dead prey up the tree and eat it there. Other than their regular food they should also be given daily vitamin supplements and the giblets of chickens or turkeys. Their daily diet should consist of at least one chicken, a rabbit and a rat. Clouded Leopards can make up to forty different sounds. They mimic many birds and monkeys in order to lure them into striking range. Once the prey is nearby they pounce on them and subsequently kill them. In the wild they frequently drop on their prey from overhanging tree branches.

In the wild Clouded Leopards bond when they are quite young and keep the same mate for life. Unsuccessful attempts have been made to breed them in captivity by introducing the pair to each other post adolescence, which is too late. In order to be successful, the pair should be introduced very early so that they can take time to develop a comfort level with each other. Once they bond, the pair shouldn’t be separated, as separation will cause one or both to die prematurely.

After a baby Clouded Leopard is born, it can be kept with its mother for six weeks, after which it should be paired with one of the opposite sex for bonding. If the cub is separated earlier than that, it can be fed with bottled milk, which also helps to develop a relationship with the owner.

Clouded Leopards in the wild do not live in prides like other wild cats, and they avoid inhabited areas. Therefore, in zoos, these animals shouldn’t be exposed to the public for long periods of time because it causes them extreme stress, which will eventually cause untimely death. Also, they shouldn’t be transferred frequently as this also causes them stress.

Some states in the USA will not allow you to have Clouded Leopards as pets and even in states where they are allowed, they come at a huge price. Because of their rarity and the fact that they are easily stressed, keeping Clouded Leopards as pets is not encouraged.


Until next time,

Teia

Unusual Pets: Cheetahs

Cheetahs have been kept as pets for more than five thousand years and can be traced back to ancient Egypt where they were initially used for hunting.. They originated in Africa, but can now be found in other parts of the world such as Central Asia and Iran. Scientifically known as Acinonyx Jubatus, they are the fastest of all land animals. However, they aren’t good at climbing trees like other cats. Their acceleration rate is phenomenal, as they are capable of reaching a speed of seventy miles per hour within three seconds. (That is faster than most super cars.)

The length of the cheetah’s body is between forty-five and fifty-five inches and their weight ranges from ninety to one hundred and forty pounds. They have an elongated body with a small head and narrow waist, which gives them the aerodynamics needed for quick acceleration and high speed. Cheetahs have semi-retractable blunt claws which help them to get a good grip during fast pursuits. The colour of the cheetah’s coarse fur is tan with small black spots which provides it with some camouflage when hunting. Its tail, which is thirty-three inches long, is encircled with five to six black stripes. This long tail helps it take sharp turns because it acts like a rudder. Black lines which start from its eyes and run along the sides of the nose toward the mouth are called tear marks. These lines enable the Cheetah to see long distances and minimize the glare of the sun.

Cheetahs are very easy to train. They are also very caring animals. They make noises such as chirps, yowls, yips, growls and hisses and their purr is very noisy. Unlike other big cats, they do not have the ability to roar. Cheetahs are diurnal, whereas all other wild cats are nocturnal. They are carnivorous animals and mainly hunt for small mammals. Cheetahs usually hunt at dawn and dusk when the air is cooler. They hunt not by smell but by vision. Nearly 50 percent of their attempts to catch prey end in failure as they give up fast. One of the reasons could be the immense heat generated while running, which seriously fatigues them. As a result, they rest for at least half an hour after an intense chase. Cheetahs have the ability to make the sounds of some birds and they use it to lure these birds to within catching distance.

Cheetahs always watch for animals which stray a distance from the herd. They will chase this animal and trip it. After the animal falls, the Cheetah suffocates the animal by biting out its throat because it does not have the strength to break the animal’s neck. For some reason they do not hunt weak or old animals. During high speed chases, Cheetahs use their big nostrils to get enough oxygen. They also have an enlarged heart and lungs which utilize the oxygen to the maximum by increasing the respiratory rate while running.

Cheetahs are now considered an endangered species. Many organizations and laws have been implemented to help save them. One of the reasons for their demise is that they are environmentally sensitive and their natural environment is disappearing.

When held in captivity, they should be provided with a habitat as close to their natural habitat as possible or else they will not survive. Studies have proven that there is a lack of genetic diversity in Cheetahs which are held in captivity. They don’t reproduce regularly like other felines and find it difficult to breed. Also, their life span decreases and their rate of survival is low.

In developed areas, Cheetahs have been killed on a large scale by farmers protecting their cattle. These farmers are now being provided with dogs that can guard the livestock and scare away the wild Cheetah. Poachers have also been hunting the Cheetah for its fur, which has a beautiful pattern.

To obtain a permit to keep Cheetahs as pets is not only a big problem for individual owners, but also for zoos. People who have a passion for Cheetahs and haven’t got permission to own one, can donate generously to preserve the species.

Until next time,

Teia