5 facts about the Spotted Hyena

One of my absolute favorite animals is the Spotted Hyena. These mysterious African creatures have been puzzling scientists and researchers for years. I recently found out five amazing facts about these mammals that I would like to share!  

Number 5

Did you know that the Spotted Hyena is more closely related to a cat than a dog?

Number 4

Female Spotted Hyenas are larger than the males AND lead a matriarchal society (dominated by females). Females are also a lot more aggressive and assertive.

Number 3

Their bite is the strongest in the animal kingdom! Unlike most predators they prefer eating the bones and skin over meat. The only things they can’t digest are horns and fur BUT they still eat them. They regurgitate them up in pellets later.

Number 2

Although they look fierce and intimidating Spotted Hyenas do not hunt humans. Unfortunately they are often shot on site due to fear and their frightening appearance.

Number 1

They can make over 11 different sounds including their famous laugh. The laugh is only used when the hyenas are excited our expressing submission to a dominant member of their clan.

Your pics!!!

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE taking pictures of animals. That's why I asked YOU to send me some of your favorite pics. I received tons of e-mails containing pictures that have been taken all over the world! It was so hard to choose just 5 for today's blog but rest assured...If your picture didn't make it don't worry...I will start posting new pics my readers send me weekly so there is a chance it still might show up!

The picture above was sent by Krissy Poderzwinski in San Diego, CA. It was taken at the world famous San Diego Zoo's Tiger River Exhibit. LOVE the pic Krissy! Thanks for sending it in~

"Hi Corbin- Just received your tweet about wanting our animal pics...well here you go! I'm actually visiting Sea World today with my daughter! We are watching this live dolphin show as I send this...They are SOOOOOO CUTE!!!"  - Marliyan James      Charlotte, SC

"Greetings Corbin from Timesquare in NYC!!! Check out this monster's teeth....AHHHHH!" - Jon Choy  NY

"Maxey- I've lived in Portland for over 30 years and have never visited our zoo. After reading your blog about how wonderful the Oregon Zoo truly is I decided to check it out. It is truly incredible and I want to thank you for putting our zoo in the spotlight"    - Beth Johnson Portland, Oregon

"Corbin- Look how neat this star fish is! I could actually feel him slowly sticking to my hand. It's so wonderful that aquariums like the one in Newport allow hands-on interactions. It teaches people how wonderful sea creatures truly are"       Nick Kolbert       Seattle, WA

Thank you all for sending in your wonderful pics!!!!

- Corbin              

My Gorgeous Birds!

We just finished filming a segment with my three gorgeous emus Cosmo, Ernie, and Napoleon. It was the first time that my emus have EVER seen a camera crew and what can I say? It was an incredible experience! A lot of people know that I love my three birds to death…but what a lot of people DON’T know is that I have had a long history with my emus that started many years ago at an early age.

Ever since I can remember I have always been fascinated with emus. They always reminded me of “modern day dinosaurs.” The way they walk, the way they move, and the shape of their feet all resemble ancient creatures that once roamed this earth. Here at fifteen years old, I am pictured with Cosmo. He was just a little chick when we received him in June of 2005.

Emus are born with stripes. This serves as disruptive camouflage similar to zebras. It confuses any potential predators that would want to make them a snack. Pictured above are Cosmo, Ernie, and Napoleon as chicks. I remember that for several months they were very skittish. It took AT least a year before they gained my trust and became friendly.

Here is Napoleon pictured as a juvenile. Emus lose their stripes after several months and start developing their shaggy feathers. They are naturally found in Australia and can withstand the continents hot dry weather and cool nights. That makes them perfectly adaptable to Idaho’s extreme temperatures.

The first pair of emus brought into Idaho cost a farmer $65,000. People were convinced that the emu would take over the cattle industry. They were used for their meat, eggs, feathers, and oil. The demand was not met and these days you do not see too many around in captivity. Popular or not I still love my birds the same and can expect them to live into their twenties in complete harmony.

Losing an Arctic Icon

Considered one of the most recognizable if not one of the most celebrated animals in this century is the Polar Bear. These magnificent bears have captured the hearts of millions and have been a constant face in international documentaries, movies, magazines, and zoos. So why are scientists predicting that this majestic animal will be gone within a century?

For a while polar bears were constantly killed for trophies. Humans also moved into the polar bear’s habitat limiting the space that these large bears need. Fortunately many countries have set up hunting restrictions and have set aside land just for the bears.

Another factor affecting these bears is pollution. It contains high levels of chemicals that affect the bear’s immune system. Some of the effects include reproductive failure and malformed organs. They ingest the majority of the foreign chemicals from the seals they eat out in the wild that have been affected as well as the bears.

Although all the factors above contribute to the polar bear's demise none is more effective than global warming. Global warming is the increase of earth’s average temperature of the atmosphere and oceans over time. The polar bear’s climate is getting warmer and warmer. The heat is melting away ice sheets which prevent the bears from traveling in search of food. Already many of these bears have literally starved to death.  

Ways people can help the bears:

·         Recycle and Reuse

·         Continue to give the bears enough space

·         Keep the environment free of pesticides and toxic chemicals

For more information on how YOU can help please visit http://corbinmaxey.com/http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/polarbear/polarbear.html

Amazing Great Apes!!!

As a young child I always dreamed of meeting Jane Goodall. This incredible researcher and world-renowned primatologist has always inspired me to make a difference in this world one single step at a time. When I finally had the opportunity to meet Jane her talk really got me thinking…Who are the Great Apes?

Of course we all know about the famous Chimpanzees in Africa that Jane studied for so many years. She was the first researcher EVER to observe wild chimps using and manufacturing tools (like sticks and branches) to poke into termite mounds to collect the tasty morsels.

Don’t get confused…this is NOT a chimpanzee. This is a Bonobo. Bonobos are members of the Great Ape family and until recently most scientists considered them to be “pygmy chimps.” They actually are quite different than their cousins. Bonobos have a smaller head and ears and can walk upright more comfortably than chimps. Believe it or not Bonobos are our closest living relatives sharing 98.9% of our blood. Unfortunately they are the most endangered out of the Great Apes and are disappearing rapidly.  

This is a picture of a Lowland Gorilla. Gorillas are the largest of the Great Apes and have fascinated people around the world for centuries. They live primarily along the equator in Africa in dense tropical rainforests.

Last but not least are the Orangutans. Unlike Chimpanzees, Bonobos, and Gorillas, Orangutans are solitary creatures that prefer a peaceful life above in the rainforest canopy. They also are the only Great Ape that is not found in Africa. They live in Borneo and parts of Sumatra.

All of our gorgeous Great Apes are disappearing at an alarming rate. The rapid depletion of their habitat, illegal hunting, and collection for the pet trade have all added to their demise. For more information on how you can help save these Great Apes please visit http://corbinmaxey.com/http://www.janegoodall.org/