Narrated by Iain Glen, this independent natural history documentary investigates the Scottish Wildcat, their endangered status and the conservation efforts being undertaken to prevent their extinction.
Scottish Wildcats are affectionately known as Highland Tigers. The name originates from their striped fur and that they’re not only one of Britain’s largest predators, but the UK’s only “big cat”.
Originally released on Netflix in 2018, this is the first time the full length, unedited version has been published, and in 4K.
Category: World News
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Badgers–Scent Glands
Why you see a badger pop its bottom down on the ground…
Scent plays a pivotal role in group and territory maintenance. Valuable tools in the act of scent-marking are the subcaudal gland (SCG), which is close to the anus, and the paired scent glands located just inside the anus—anecdotal observations suggest that scent glands between the toes (i.e. interdigital glands) may also be used when marking objects, such as trees, near the sett.
Arguably, the most important scent-marking tool is the subcaudal gland, which is used to mark objects in the territory and other members of the clan, which is a process known as allomarking.
The SCG comprises a pouch, the subcaudal pouch (SCP), that’s divided into two sections by a membrane. Several layers of sebaceous glands line the SCP, and these glands secrete an oily lubricant onto the skin and hair, as do apocrine gland cells. It opens to a horizontal slit, two to eight centimetres (about 1-3 in.) wide, between the base of the tail and the anus. The gland secretion is predominantly a composition of unsaturated fatty acids and water, with the consistency of a margarine-like paste. The bacteria partly generated the secretion’s odour in the pouch. Each fatty acid has its own characteristic smell. Chemical analysis of the SCP has shown that the bacterial component and fatty acid composition vary from badger to badger, suggesting each individual has its own unique scent.
What activity occupies them during this season?
Through winter, badgers are a lot less active. Badgers do not truly hibernate, but may enter a state of torpor during freezing or snowy periods. During torpor, the badgers will remain in the sett, often for periods of several weeks, and metabolise fat reserves accumulated during the summer and autumn.
There is usually a marked decrease in a badger’s body temperature during the winter and early spring, being between 2C and 9C (3.6-16.2F) lower from November to April than it is from May onwards. This decrease in body temperature allows for greater “fuel economy,” prolonging their fat reserves when food is scarce or buried under snow.
During periods of exceptionally cold weather, badgers will often use a latrine inside the sett, rather than venturing outside. Though foraging activity fluctuates unpredictably during winter, badgers may forage, even in the snow.
Why Animal Testing is Illogical
Animal testing is illogical. Although humans and many other species have similar DNA, and though most organ systems are similar, subtle differences make using animal models to test food, drugs and cosmetics unreliable. Here are just three ways animals don’t react the same as humans.
Rats are known to be more resistant to a certain mushroom toxin than humans. Some mushrooms, notably the Fools webcap, contain a nephrotoxin called orellanine. Rats can eat mushrooms that are deadly to humans.
Feeding a food to animals is not a valid test.
In 2006 a new immune system boosting drug, TGN1412, which had been successfully tested in animals, went to human trials. The subjects were only given the equivalent of 1/500th the safe dose for “non-human primates,” macaques. A single amino acid difference between macaque and human DNA caused violent immune system reactions in humans. Within 90 minutes of the injection, the test subjects suffered searing pain. Within a few hours they suffered multiple organ failure. On a positive note, all the test subjects survived.
Giving a drug to animals is not a valid test.
Dogs and cats don’t usually get poison ivy. Most humans are highly allergic to the active ingredient, urushiol oil. Non-primate species can walk through poison ivy and at most get some irritation.
Applying cosmetics to an animal’s skin is not a valid test.
Fortunately, modern medicine has a number of alternatives to animal tests. One promising technology is Organ Chips, tiny devices about the size of a USB memory stick that contain living human cells.
Lots of drugs don’t make it through the animal trials, but who knows whether the drug companies have thrown away the Magic Bullet simply because it didn’t work on animals?
Animal Holidays and Observations, January 4-10
The January Monthly Observations are:
Adopt a Rescued Bird Month
National Train Your Dog Month
Unchain A Dog Month
Walk Your Dog Month
The daily holidays/observations during the week of January 4 – 10 are:
• January 5: National Bird Day
• January 6: National Standard Poodle Day
• January 7: National Alaskan Malamute Day
• January 8: National Labrador Retriever Day
• January 8: National Snuggle A Chicken Day
• January 9: National Australian Shepherd Day
• January 10: Save the Eagles Day
Animal Holidays and Observations December 28-January 3
The only December Animal Monthly Observation is:
National Cat Lovers Month
Daily holidays during the fifth week include:
• Dec 28: Endangered Species Act Day
• January 2: National Pet Travel Safety Day
• January 2: Happy Mew Year for Cats Day
Animal Holidays and Observations December 21 – 27
The only December Animal Monthly Observation is:
National Cat Lovers Month
Daily holidays during the fourth week include:
• Dec 27: Visit The Zoo Day
Arctic Birds Migrating–A Spectacle to Enjoy
Guest Post–Angel Alma
Southeast Finland is ideally situated if you want to watch the arctic birds’ spring and especially autumn migration.
For instance, waders nesting in the North migrate in the springtime following the south coast of the country, but also those various species of geese.
Perhaps the best-known migration show for common watchers, besides the “serious” birdwatchers, is the autumnal migration of Barnacle geese. Barnacle geese nest mostly around the Barents Sea, located north of the coasts of Norway and Russia.
They fly over Finland to their wintering areas around the North Sea. (Nowadays, Finland also has their own resident population, filling lawns in the parks of Helsinki, but that’s another story…).
However, in the last 20 years, more Barnacles started taking a stopover in SE Finland, to rest and eat before continuing their journey, usually in October. They changed habits a bit by surprise, landing in front of astonished humans.
Farmers weren’t, nor are joyful, using, for example, streamers, to frighten unwelcome visitors from fields.
Earlier, it was popular for birdwatchers to travel to Northern Karelia near the eastern border, where you could watch migration from a high hill and cover even the Russian side near Lake Ladoga, if the birds took that route.
A small town near the border even organized special Geese Weeks, where they erected a big tent with a stove to grill sausages and keep warm.
In October, the weather can be chilly, and as the Geese Migration needs a northern or northeastern wind, warm clothes are essential. Not to mention the sometimes hours of standing and waiting in wind and rain, watching the empty sky.
Mum has been there to see the phenomenon jokingly called “suffer birding”. However, when the crowd approaches from afar, soaring above your person while honking, one simply admires. Serious watchers, of course, count and mark the species in exact numbers.
Nowadays, you can watch the fall migration more easily. Just walk outside, and if you are lucky, listen to the honking approaching. Observe the sky, and they approach! Or visit the nearby fields, where geese fill their tummies and gather strength.
Then one day the wind turns and starts blowing from the right direction. Birds become restless, flying a bit there and back. Finally, the urge and instinct make them rise and drift into a formation. They fly higher and leave. Until next spring.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), Part Two
This is the second of a two-part series about FIP treatments.
Until recently, no treatment for FIP was possible, and cats with the disease died within days to weeks. Because of the COVID pandemic, interest in coronaviruses increased, resulting in the development and availability of several antiviral drugs. People commonly use four: GS-441524 and its precursor remdesivir, molnupiravir (Lagevrio), and Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir).
The mainstay of treatment is GS-441524. Its mechanism of action is premature RNA chain termination in the virus, preventing viral replication. Doctors give it by mouth once or twice a day. The dose is 15 mg/kg/day given once daily or 20 mg/kg/day divided into two doses if there is neurological or eye involvement. A kilogram (kg) is 2.2 lbs.
In cats that cannot swallow, the veterinarian can administer remdesivir subcutaneously or the medication can replace the first few IV doses. Remdesivir uses the same doses as GS-441524. The optimal duration of treatment is under investigation, but for now, 84 days (12 weeks) of therapy are standard.
There are ongoing studies investigating shorter treatment (6 weeks); the initial results on a group of twenty cats have been favorable. Medication presents substantial costs, and a twelve-week treatment might prove difficult to finance. Therefore, vets plan to assist owners in shortening treatment when they can.
If a cat is clinically doing well (alert, eating) and the lab results have tended towards normal by four weeks, discontinuing treatment at 6 weeks may be reasonable. Once the treatment ends, the veterinarian should examine the cat within one or two weeks, regardless of how long the therapy lasted.
If your cat’s symptoms come back, schedule an earlier check-up, as relapses may occur after 12 weeks of treatment. Research shows that 80% of cats go into remission following treatment. Table 1 shows key milestones for cats undergoing treatment with GS-441524.
| Abnormality | Expected time to resolution |
| Fever/inappetence | 2-7 days |
| Effusions | 1-2 weeks |
| Blood count abnormalities | 2-3 weeks |
| Elevated bilirubin | 2-3 weeks |
| Albumin: globulin > 0.6 | 6-10 weeks |
| Eye and neurologic abnormalities | Improvement by day 5, resolution within 2 weeks |
If cats respond poorly to GS-441524 (failing to reach clinical milestones on time), you can also add Paxlovid. It works differently from GS-441524 and may provide a synergistic effect.
Initially, veterinarians administered Molnupiravir as a rescue drug for cats not responding to GS-441524 (not reaching treatment milestones on time), but recent studies use it as the primary treatment. It works by causing multiple mutations in the replicating virus, resulting in its eradication. The dose is 10-15 mg/kg given twice a day.
Since it’s designed for humans, this dosage form is also impractical and can decrease appetite. As a result, it might be necessary to use appetite stimulants or antiemetics. It causes birth defects in rats and cartilage defects in growing humans. Treated cats exhibit folded ear tips, broken whiskers, and flaky skin.
Cats may also experience muscle wasting and elevation of ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase, present in the liver, muscle, kidneys, and other organs).
Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) is two drugs in one. Nirmatrelvir inhibits RNA copying enzymes, and ritonavir slows the degradation of nirmatrelvir in the body. Doctors use it along with GS-441524 or molnupiravir if the response is incomplete. You must be careful if the cat is taking medications eliminated by the same pathway, and you may need to adjust their doses.
Supportive measures include appetite stimulants, pain meds and even a feeding tube if the cat is unable or unwilling to take medications by mouth.
With effective treatment for FIP, inappropriate use of the drugs has inevitably occurred. Reports show that whole litters of kittens received treatment because a vet diagnosed one kitten with FIP or even administered preventative treatment.
Though a Feline Enteric Coronavirus (FeCV) vaccine is available, the American Association of Feline Practitioners does not recommend it. You must vaccinate the cat before FeCV infects it, but this is impossible because many kittens contract the infection before they can receive the vaccine at 14 weeks old. Further, immunity wanes with time.
There is currently work ongoing on an effective vaccine.
Finally, a word on the FIV on Cyprus. Reports conflict regarding the prevalence, though FIP is more widespread elsewhere. One source estimates that 30% of the feral cats in Cyprus have died of the disease. Twenty-eight percent of the affected cats have nervous system involvement, compared to 14% of FIP cats elsewhere. The malady infects felines of every age, not merely juvenile ones.
DNA sequencing has shown that the virus responsible is a recombination between the feline and canine coronaviruses.
The alarming property of this virus is that it is transmissible between cats. Folks from the United Kingdom and Europe have adopted feline companions while on holiday in Cyprus. At least one cat like that has developed FIP. It presents a risk regarding worldwide, European spread of the mutant virus.
Footnotes and further reading/listening
- Conference Proceedings: Am College Vet Internal Med Forum; ACVIM 2023. Sally J. Coggins
- Pedersen, N. et al., J, Feline Med Surg. 2019 Feb 13; 21(4):271-281. Efficacy and Safety of the nucleoside analog GS-441524 for treatment of cats with naturally occurring feline infectious peritonitis.
- Coggins, S.J. et al., J Vet Intern Med. 2023 Sep-Oct; 37(5): 1772-1783. Epub 2023 Jul 13. Outcomes of treatment of cats with feline infectious peritonitis using parenterally administered remdesivir, with or without transition to orally administered GS-441524.
- Taylor, S., Talk at the International Society for companion Animal Infectious Disease meeting 2024. An Update on Treatment of FIP Using Antiviral Drugs in 2024: Growing Experience but Still More to Learn.
- Coggins, S.J., Talk at the American College of Vet Int Med meeting 2023. Updates in Feline Infectious Peritonitis Treatment.
- Felten, S. et al., J Feline Med Surg. 2017 Apr; 19(4): 321-335. Detection of feline coronavirus spike gene mutations as a tool to diagnose FIP.
- Sorrell, S., Tasker, S., Taylor, S., Barker, E., Gunn-Moore, D.: Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) Information for Cat owners. Stokes Pharmacy website: https://www.stokespharmacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pet-Owner-Brochure-Printable-Version.pdf
- Thayer, V. et al., J Feline Med Surg. 2022 Sep; 24(9):905-933. 2022 AAFP/Every Cat Feline Infectious Peritonitis Diagnosis Guidelines.
- https://bova.vet/
- https://www.stokespharmacy.com/stokes-bova-partner-for-feline-infectious-peritonitis-treatment/
- https://www.stokespharmacy.com/fip/cat-owner-resources/
- https://bova.vet/fip-resource-page/#FIP-Webinars
- https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/feline-infectious-peritonitis
- https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=11618072
- https://www.merckvetmanual.com/cat-owners/disorders-affecting-multiple-body-systems-of-cats/feline-infectious-peritonitis-fip
16.Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th edition, 2016, pp. 782-790
17.https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/tags/feline-infectious-peritonitis/ - https://ccah.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk4586/files/inline-files/Inappropriate%20use%20of%20GS.pdf
- https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.11.08.566182v3.full.pdf . Attipa, C., Warr, A. et al. BioRxiv preprint 3 Sep 2024: Emergence and spread of feline infectious peritonitis due to a highly pathogenic canine/feline recombinant coronavirus.
- https://thewebinarvet.com/videos/what-you-should-know-about-fcov-23-and-the-outbreak-of-fip-in-cyprus
- Gao, Y. et al: Virus Research V 326, March 2023: An updated review of feline coronavirus: mind the two biotypes
Badgers
A little intro to the European Badger……our black and white stripy friend.
| Life Span: | 5 – 7 years (typical in wild). Have been known to live up to 13 years. |
| Body Length: | 75cm (30″) head to tail. 90cm (35″) max. |
| Weight: | 10 – 12kg (22 – 26lbs) average. 23 – 27kg (51 – 60lbs) heaviest recorded. |
| Distribution: | Found throughout Europe with sub-species present in all continents except the Arctic and Antarctic. Particularly abundant in Britain and Ireland with the majority found in southern England. |
Badgers are stocky, short-legged animals that are easily recognisable by the black and white stripes that run from their nose to shoulders. They have small heads and eyes with a thick short neck and long wedge-shaped body that ends with a short tail.
Their powerful short legs end with paws, each having five digits, which are tipped with long, thick, sharp claws. This makes them very efficient diggers.
Black and white hair covers the badger’s body, making it appear grey from a distance. They have black chests and legs, a highly distinguishable black-and-white striped head with black ears that are tipped with white. Some badgers have different colour variations, such as ginger (erythristic) instead of black (melanistic). Also, some can be white (albino).
It’s difficult to tell male from female badgers. Males are slightly larger and heavier than females and normally have a wider head and a longer, thinner and lighter coloured tail.
Badgers are nocturnal animals that spend most of their lives underground in burrows called setts. They have highly social behaviour and live in family groups of up to 12 individuals. These groups display signs of hierarchy, with a dominant boar and sow leading the group.
Around dusk, they usually leave their setts to forage for food throughout the night until dawn, when they return to the safety of their sett.
Badgers can live in a wide range of habitats. Badgers mainly live on the edges of woodlands and pastures. They also live in scrubland, under hedgerows, in old quarries, on moorlands and open fields. Sometimes, they even live in gardens on housing estates.
The badger must select habitat offering plentiful food year-round. The site also must be secluded and well covered to allow inconspicuous emergence from setts. It also needs to be free from disturbance.
What are they up to this time of year…
Badgers have spent October fattening up for winter and, weather dependent, will continue this in November.
People may see increased activity in gardens where badgers visit and more snuffle holes in their lawns.
Badgers are omnivores. Their diet consists mainly of earthworms and grubs but can also include frogs, small mammals, birds, eggs, lizards, insects, plant bulbs, seeds and berries. They love peanuts and jam sandwiches as a treat.
Animal Holidays and Observations December 14 – 20
The only December Animal Monthly Observation is:
National Cat Lovers Month
Daily holidays during the third week include:
December 14 – January 5, 2026: Christmas Bird Count Week
• Dec 14: Monkey Day
• December 15: National Cat Herder’s Day
The Anipal Times 