Dr. Jungle’s Pets and Animal Speak

Photography of Greg Rothschild

People familiar with coyotes of southern climates often mistake the coyote in this photo for a wolf. With that beautiful thick fur it’s no wonder, but coyote (canis latrans) it is. This particular animal was photographed in Yellowstone National Park in the middle of winter (hence the thick coat). I was with a small group of photographer friends that hired a snowcoach to take us into the interior of the park. A snowcoach is like a small bus but instead of tires it has metal tracks like you’d see on a military tank. We traveled into the park early in the morning Read the rest of this entry »

And yet another tidbit from the lives of Victor and Yvonie! It is such a treat to hear from Yvonie about her friend Victor. He sounds like such an interactive bird with so much personality and just soooo much fun! Yvonie and Victor Rule! (Nevermind how many cuteness meters I go through everytime I use one on Victor… its worth it


Victor
"Victor is a great friend!"
2008-08-16

Here’s what Yvonie says about Victor:

"Me and Victor really love picture taking. Look how we make poses like models. He loves the camera and flash of lights, he always looks up everytime the lights switch on and he always looks at me everytime i switch off my lamp coz Victor hates dark places he always screams. Guess what he is also afraid of cockroaches, butterflys, and any crawling thingy but best of all Im glad to have this great pal, I always spend my free time with all my pets when Im free."

Coronet Guinea Pig
"I have attitude, I have the moves, and I have the hair!"
8/14/2008

   The uniqueness of the Coronet Guinea Pig lies in its crest, with a large rosette right on the top of its head!

  The Coronet Guinea Pig is one of the long-haired guinea pig breeds. It is similar to the Silkie Guinea Pig, but the Coronet has with a coronet or "rosette" in the middle of the head. This distinctive whorl of fur is lacking in the Silkie. This emerging breed is quite the showstopper.

   Coronets are playful, curious and affectionate. They crave attention, and between their funny antics and unusual look, they attract it naturally. Whether you want a fun yet cuddly pet or a show animal, the Coronet Guinea Pig is a fine choice.

American Guinea Pig
"Maybe the American colors should be tan, black and white. I mean really, look how well they go together!"
8/14/2008

   The fabulous docile "Guinea Pig" is neither a pig nor is it from Guinea!

   The Guinea pigs we have as pets today are descendents of the Tschudi Guinea Pig from South America. Guinea pigs make great pets and they very rarely bite. They are inexpensive and have lovable personalities. Guinea Pigs can live 8 to 10 years and are easy to house and feed. They also tend to be hardy little animals and don’t contract diseases very easily.

   These are relatively small animals, though through selective breeding a variety of different strains of have been developed. Guinea pigs come in sizes ranging from pets as small as a rat up to pets as big as a small dog. They also come in a variety of colors and hair styles.

Abyssinian Guinea Pig
"Just because I LOOK like I’m having a bad hair day… I’m fine! Really, I’m fine!"
8/14/2008

   You may think the Abyssinian Guinea Pig is having a ‘bad hair day’, but it is the unique coat that makes this guinea pig stand out!

   The Abyssinian Guinea Pig has quite the distinctive look. They have a fur pattern consisting of 8 to 10 hair whorls, called rosettes. You could say that they always look like they’re having a bad hair day, but that is just part of their charm.

   Despite the wild patterning of their coat they tend to keep themselves clean, and they require minimal care. The Abyssinian is often kept as a pet. Many become pets due to the difficulty of finding ones that are suitable for showing.

Angle
"Angle likes popcorn!"
2008-08-03

Here’s what Lala says about Angle:

"Angle likes popcorn"

"Angle is beautiful! Is he what you call a painted horse? (I dont mean the painting, but Angle himself). How did you find out he likes popcorn… did you take him to the movies? Thanks for sharing him here."

Kui
"Kui is the star of a book!"
2008-08-03

Here’s what Stephen D. Lynch says about Kui:

"Kui the famous Kahaluu Tortoise see Kui’s book The Travels of Kui the African Spurred tortoise. Great learning book for children. About family friendship adventure and helping others."

"Sounds like you have a great pet and book with Kui the Kahaluu Tortoise. Thanks for sharing them here."

Jasper
"Loves to play with feet!"
2008-08-03

Here’s what Natalie says about Jasper:

"This is my 1 1\2 old male parekeet. He’s a variety of colors including blue, gray, and white. He is a very loving funny birdy. He loves to play with your feet. He chirps excitedly and jumps all over when he is playing with our feet. One other thing he always loves is mirrors. He’s very happy to fly free and happily he is out of his cage all the time. He’s a great and cute pet."

"Jasper sounds like a fun pet to have around, especially if you like to go barefoot! Thanks for sharing him here."

Princess
"Sleeps and plays with kids!"
2008-08-03

Here’s what Lisa says about Princess:

"She loves to sleep and loves to play with my kids. We are still trying to train her how to use “Her restroom” if you have any good ideas please let me know!"

"She is still young to be potty trained. You can start by placing a mat in her living area. When she starts to go, place her on the mat. You need to be consistent. Pretty soon she will get the idea and go there by herself. Then you can move the mat."

Flemish Giant Rabbit
"Not only do I have big ears, I can be a big bunny reaching up to 22 pounds’!"
8/6/2008

   The Flemish Giant Rabbit can be quite large, even when it’s not stretched out in a leisurely pose!

   If you’re looking for a gentle giant, you can’t go wrong with the Flemish Giant Rabbit. Their large size might seem intimidating, but they are quite calm and sweet natured. This rabbit makes a great pet. Its personality has been compared to that of the most gentle of dog breeds. Flemish Giants usually get along very well with other pets.

   The Flemish Giant is the largest rabbit breed in existence. These loyal pets thrive on attention, and they are gentle and mellow enough to be trusted with children. However its large size means it is not an ideal pet for small children. Small children could injure themselves or the rabbit when attempting to pick it up. But it is great for older children who can handle it properly.