Badlands National Park officials released four bison into a newly expanded range on Friday. And if the way they careened out of their trailer onto the snow-covered plains is any indication, it seems the bison immediately made themselves at home. 

 The new real estate came from a land swap with a local ranch that blocked bison from entering the less rugged side of the park. Park officials worked with the US Forest Service and World Wildlife Fund among others to secure the additional 22,000 acres of land in 2014, according to the National Park Foundation. 

The project also included new fences along the perimeter of the new land to separate bison from local cattle. Find the best national parks for your favorite outdoor activities Around 1,200 bison now live in the 244,000-acre park, and their health secures the health of their ecosystem, the foundation said. 

All that noshing on grassy plains creates the preferred environment for prairie dogs to set up shop, and those populations attract other animals like coyotes and birds of prey that keep the ecosystem in check. Badlands National Park (Lakota: Makȟóšiča) is an American national park located in southwestern South Dakota. 

The park protects 242,756 acres (379.3 sq mi; 982.4 km2) of sharply eroded buttes and pinnacles, along with the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the United States. The Stronghold District of Badlands National Park, co-managed by the National Park Service and the Oglala Lakota Tribe. For 11,000 years, Native Americans have used this area for their hunting grounds. Long before the Lakota were the little-studied paleo-Indians, followed by the Arikara people. 

Their descendants live today in North Dakota as a part of the Three Affiliated Tribes. Archaeological records combined with oral traditions indicate that these people camped in secluded valleys where fresh water and game were available year-round.

This is the first time bison have touched this land since 1877! #OneSmileEachDay pic.twitter.com/P3DnFlR1H0

— WWF UK (@wwf_uk) April 26, 2020

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Nonetheless, this man did it. Thanks to the love he carries for lions, he just became part of the pride, and so he gained the name of Lion Whisperer! Almost his entire life, Kevin Richardson was close to these majestic creatures, in his attempt to better understand and preserve the species. 

He used to live among the lions, to know their habits and to learn just how unpredictable they can be. A few years ago, while he was part of the Lion Park team in South Africa, Kevin came upon a scene that showed him just how tough the life in the wilderness can get. 

A lioness rejected her two newborn cubs and let them be, but Kevin, who witnessed the scene decided to intervene and and help the hopeless cubs. Kevin has taken the two cubs to a sanctuary not far from Johannesburg, and here they get all the help and comfort they needed. 

He named the two tiny lioness Meg and Amy, and over the years they grew into two fearless predators. Kevin – who actually founded the sanctuary, is sure that “through education, outreach and funding,” wildlife can be saved. 

“Our mission is to bring awareness to the rapid decline of large carnivores in Africa due to habitat loss, human-predator conflict or pouching.” 

 The time proved that all of these are possible, and there’s no better proof than the two lion cubs Kevin rescued over seven years ago, and now they fully grown adults! After all those years, Kevin decided to pay a visit to the lioness he rescued. Anyway, he was pretty nervous since he wasn’t sure they will remember him. But he was so wrong. 

As it turns out a wild animal never forgets a kind heart, and neither Meg and Amy did. Kevin recorded the emotional reunion with a GoPro camera and the result is nothing short of sensational. 

 You can watch the moment here:

  Needless to say that Kevin and the two lionesses share an incredible bond, built on love and respect.

  “Meg and Amy are kind of my soul mates. It is kind of like humans, you can meet many many people in your life,” the Lion Whisperer said. “But there are very few that you connect whole heartedly with.” For Kevin is no greater reward than seeing these majestic felines happy! 

“To see the lions doing what lions do for me was exhilarating. It made me realise there was a different way to work with these predators in captivity. Meg and Amy and me have a history that goes to when they were born,” he said.
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Forest Service (USFS) in 30 years. The USFS has targeted Prince of Wales Island, a part of Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, with a 15-year plan to log more than 42,500 acres of temperate rainforest and construct 164 miles of new roads through public lands. 

Most of the trees targeted for logging are old-growth, and may have sprouted as saplings many centuries ago. USFS authorized this massive logging project without disclosing which specific locations would be targeted or what impacts logging would have there, prompting Earthjustice to file a lawsuit on behalf of several organizations in May 2019 challenging the Prince of Wales project. 

 

The Plaintiffs are Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, Alaska Rainforest Defenders, Alaska Wilderness League, National Audubon Society, Defenders of Wildlife, Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, and Natural Resources Defense Council. 

 Today’s ruling, by a federal district judge in Alaska, grants a preliminary injunction blocking an initial sale that would have auctioned off 1,156 acres of old-growth trees. More than 10 miles of new roads would have been constructed along with this sale. If not for this court decision, USFS would have opened timber industry bids on these ancient stands of trees on September 24. 

Next, the judge is expected to issue a final ruling on the merits of the case no later than March 31, before the next logging season starts. 

  “In a victory for the Tongass National Forest, today’s court ruling has spared nearly 1,200 acres of irreplaceable old-growth rainforest from chainsaws and roads — at least for now,” said Earthjustice attorney Olivia Glasscock. 

The area targeted for clearcutting is one of the largest islands in America and home to 12 communities who use it for hunting, fishing, recreation, and a way of life tied to fish, wildlife, and forests. 

The island also attracts visitors who travel to Southeast Alaska from around the world to experience the Tongass National Forest. Prince of Wales’ irreplaceable old-growth stands provide key habitat for wildlife, including Alexander Archipelago wolves, Sitka black-tailed deer and Queen Charlotte goshawks. 

Extensive past clearcuts, however, have destroyed and fragmented important parts of this habitat, leading to struggling wolf populations and restrictions on deer hunting. 

 The areas slated for logging are not roadless areas protected by the federal Roadless Rule — a long-standing policy that restricts logging and roads, which President Trump and his administration is now seeking to undo in Alaska. 

Eliminating the Roadless Rule protections on the Tongass would pave the way for more clearcutting on the forest in the future.

On the one hand, they would surely find it wonderful that we have invited them into our homes and that we treat them not much differently than the rest of our family members. 

On the other hand, they might have a few doubts about the hats, vests and carriers in which we frequently transport them. What they would certainly respect without fail, is the way we embrace their capabilities that go beyond those of humans and use them to shape our societies. 

Their smell and hearing are highly valued by the security services and other local authorities. Their loyalty also makes them the best companions for those who have to deal with dangerous and violent people on a daily basis. 

 It is very likely that the image we have of one of these dogs is a brave German Shepherd or a strong Doberman. How about a cute puppy only a couple of months old? kolmkaru
That’s Säm, the most enthusiastic and energetic puppy of his canine officer school. The puppy lives in Estonia, where he has already been assigned a caretaker. Kristi Pai will guide the puppy in his training.

 Just looking at the pictures we can be sure that this process will not be easy at all. That puppy is capable of melting the heart of whoever is put in front of him. kolmkaru
Säm joined the training with his brother Terror, another puppy of similar lineage and breeding. The northern prefecture will be Säm’s home. 

Luckily for him, he has no problem making friends. kolmkaru
His training will include everything from recognizing illicit substances, to protecting his human companions and even, although we wish he would never have to use them, attack tactics and neutralizing suspects. kolmkaru
Although the truth is that if Säm maintains half of his characteristics when he becomes an adult dog, we are sure that any thief or trafficker will easily surrender to the charms of this little dog. 

And in case he doesn’t, it will be enough to show them pictures or videos of his training. Kindness is much stronger than violence or intimidation. Source

The poor bird had gotten stuck to the fence and couldn’t move. “The tank is heated to keep it from freezing. It is not uncommon for birds to drink from the heated tank. Apparently this unfortunate bird had gotten its feet wet and, while making its exit, had become frozen to the fence in the prevailing near zero Idaho temperatures,” explains Wilson on YouTube. 

The kind-hearted farmer approached the bird in an effort to save it. “First, I attempted to warm the feet of the frightened bird by pressing my palm against both the fence and the birds feet, while also gently restraining the bird’s flapping wings. It then seemed that warming the birds feet with my warm breath would bring quicker success. Gentle sideways motion with my thumb brought freedom for the frightened bird and a smile of satisfaction to my face… a delightful way to start a new year.” 

 Watch Wilson’s act of kindness in the video below:

 
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But unfortunately we’re far from this scenario as countless animals are forced to live a miserable life, far away from their natural habitats. Fortunately many of these animals are being rescued just in time, thanks to some kind, caring animal lovers. 

One of these kind-hearted people is Vicky Keahey – founder of the In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue and Educational Center. 

And one of the countless animals Vicky and her devoted team rescued along the years is Lambert, a lovely majestic lion. When his rescuers found him, back in 2014, Lambert was in a terrible condition. Due to starvation, the poor little soul more like a weak puppy than a strong lion, as he should have been. 

The lion cub was illegally bought by a heartless man who kept him as a pet and then he decided he don’t want the wild animal, anymore. “The previous owners obtained him illegally as a pet for their young children,” Angela Culver, media director at the In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue told Bored Panda. 

“After a short time, the family decided they could not keep him, so we were contacted asking if we could take him, which of course we were happy to do.” When arrived at the rescue center, Lambert was confused and scared, but he soon won everyone’s heart with his routine. Apparently, the lion cub found comfort in a blanket and he could not sleep without it.

  “We had heard from the previous owners that he slept in the bed with the grandfather,” Vicky told The Dodo. “So I got him a blanket, went into the enclosure and put the blanket in one of the corners. 

Thanks to the rescue team efforts, Lambert have made a full recovery and now he’s unrecognizable. But despite getting back on the track, the now adult lion still lives at the center as he would not survive in the wild. 

Even though he’s now a fully grown lion, Lambert still need a blanket to snuggle in it before going to bed. “He has 7,000 sq. ft. worth of space to run around in, which includes a covered den area for shade and protection from the weather and a sunny, grassy playground with the pool he loves to play in,” Angela Culver said. 

Another outcome many times is a sad one, the train continues its path and passengers simply feel a bump on the tracks. 

However, for a train conductor in Santiago, Chile, the second choice – killing the dog on the tracks – was not an option. While the man could have called authorized personnel to remove and rescue the dog, the driver instead stopped the train, descended on the tracks and rescued the dog himself. 

On the video, you can see the hero man approach the scared pooch. The man calls the pet over but when the dog doesn’t move he slowly reaches for the dog and hopes not to get bitten. 

Fortunately, the dog welcomed the rescue and the train conductor grabbed the dog by the skin of the neck and lifted him to safety. Another train worker received the dog and helped saved the pooch. When the driver got back on the train, he made the following announcement: “I apologize for the delay, but I couldn’t just run over the dog.” All passengers applauded the man. He is a true hero!

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It can get frustrating and quite annoying to have to spend your entire day with people staring and point at you, asking you to do stuff Animals at the zoo don’t get a day off, not to mention a vacation. But whenever such a rare opportunity occurs, with the zoo shut down for visitors, they make sure to live every second of it to the fullest. 

Well, at least the polar bear in the video below did it, after the zoo where he currently lives at was forced to shut down due to heavy snow. After a heavy snow, the Oregon Zoo was forced to shut down, but the polar bear alongside a few other arctic animals that actually enjoy the cold and the snow really took advantage of it. 

They had a lot of fun! As you can see from this footage captured by zoo staff, the animals really went all in and made the most out of the everything they had at their disposal to play and have the time of their lives. 

Take a peek:

 
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“His eyelids were sealed shut from infection,” she shared. They were able to safely remove the kitten from the tree and get him to a vet as soon as possible. 

 The doctors had to perform several surgeries on little Wally, since the kitten was born blind but had to have his eye sockets cleaned and surgically closed so the infection from filth and being stray wouldn’t spread, affecting his health any further. 

 But the best part about the rescue, Nikki shares, is that in spite of everything he went through, Wally has the sweetest personality and always shows gratitude for being rescued, dancing around and purring. He will soon be traveling to Charlotte, NC, where his forever home awaits. 

 More info: My Foster Kittens – h/t: LoveMeow Source

We’ve seen stories of dogs stepping up to protect their owners or alert them of danger. Now, one woman is calling her dog a hero after he helped save her baby’s life, alerting the parents in time after the child stopped breathing. 

 Kelly Andrew, from Boston, Massachusetts, is the owner of a Boston terrier named Henry. Recently, the dog started acting up in the middle of the night, and kept breaking into their nursery and waking Kelly’s baby. Twitter/@KayAyDrew
Kelly says she became “fed up” with her dog’s behavior, especially since the baby had been sick. But then, she noticed her baby wasn’t breathing. 

 Her daughter was rushed to the hospital — and Kelly realized that Henry wasn’t causing a disturbance, but was trying to save the baby’s life. Somehow, the dog instinctively knew something was wrong. By keeping the baby awake, and helping to alert the parents, Henry likely saved the child’s life, allowing her to get medical help before it was too late. 

  “I don’t know what would have happened if he hadn’t woken her,” Kelly wrote on Twitter. “We don’t deserve dogs.” Twitter/@KayAyDrew
The baby spent the night at the hospital, and is now “doing much better,” according to the mom. 

 Kelly also says that her heroic dog Henry “bravely held the fort all night even though he is scared of the dark.” Twitter/@KayAyDrew
She also thanked the ER department Connecticut Children’s Hospital for being “literal heroes” and helping her daughter. 

 But it was good dog Henry who got a lot of the attention as the story went viral. People were amazed at the dog’s instincts — and some even shared their own similar stories, showing how life-saving dogs can be… even when it seems like bad dog behavior. 

  “We couldn’t figure out for the longest time why my service dog kept going in to my parents room several times a night sniffing my dad’s face and nudging him repeatedly,” one woman replied. 

“They always pushed her away and she would still circle back. She stopped as soon as he got his pacemaker.” 

  “I’m chronically ill. There’s been many a time I’ve gone to the hospital because one of my dogs has started sniffing and paying attention to a body part and alerting something’s wrong,” another wrote.

 “Dogs are heroes!” 

 We’re so glad this baby is safe now, thanks to the quick-thinking of this heroic dog! Good boy, Henry!
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The surgical removal of a cat’s claws was once commonly done as a way to prevent scratches and furniture damage, but it has been increasingly viewed as painful and inhumane to cats. Thankfully, more and more legislatures throughout the US have been enacting bans on declawing cats, from major cities like Pittsburgh to whole states like New York. 

 Now, another city has joined the effort against declawing: Madison, Wisconsin recently passed a new law that will ban elective declawing surgery. 

 According to WMTV, the Madison Common Council voted on the new law on Tuesday night, and it passed with unanimous support.

The Madison Common Council approved a ban on elective cat declawing in its meeting Tuesday night, putting an end to the practice in the city. https://t.co/DpFhu96MkF

— NBC15 News (@nbc15_madison) December 8, 2021

The move was celebrated by supporters of the ban, including Madison Alder Lindsay Lemmer, who called declawing “cruel and outdated” and hoping their city will set a good example for others. 

  “Today, every cat in Madison lands on its feet as we set an example for the rest of the state and join the numerous cities throughout the country that have already banned this archaic practice,” Lemmer said, according to WMTV. 

We are ecstatic,” added Colin Steinke, executive director of the Madison Cat Project. “This is a big step forward toward a better world for cats, and to see Madison take this step to join the other cities and states who have done so before us is really exciting.” The practice of declawing cats has been one of the most controversial medical treatments for pet owners. 

While there are occasional humane reasons to declaw a cat, such as removing cancerous nail beds, it is more often an elective procedure to prevent scratches and protect furniture. 

 It was once commonplace, and seen as relatively harmless — but activists and vets have warned that it is more like losing fingers than getting a nail trim. 

  “Declawing traditionally involves the amputation of the last bone of each toe,” the Humane Society writes. 

“If performed on a human being, it would be like cutting off each finger at the last knuckle.” “It is an unnecessary surgery that provides no medical benefit to the cat. Educated pet parents can easily train their cats to use their claws in a manner that allows everyone in the household to live together happily.” Due to this, it has been outright banned in many countries around the world, though the US has been slow to adapt: it’s estimated that 20 to 25 percent of American cats have been declawed, and it is still legal in the vast majority of the country. 

 It has been up to individual cities and states to ban declawing themselves, and Madison, Wisconsin is the latest to join the cause.

At least 88 people have died due to the destruction, making it the deadliest December tornado storm on record in the US, and countless others have suffered from property damage. 

 But in the wake of this tragic disaster, survivors are now picking up the pieces and looking for signs of hope. For one Kentucky woman who narrowly escaped death, that sign is her dog. MAYFIELD, KY – DECEMBER 11: Heavy damage is seen downtown after a tornado swept through the area on December 11, 2021 in Mayfield, Kentucky. Multiple tornadoes tore through parts of the lower Midwest late on Friday night leaving a large path of destruction and unknown fatalities. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) 

 Mayfield, Kentucky was one of the worst-hit cities during the tornado outbreak, and resident Deanna Badillo just barely escaped from her home in time, along with her friend. 

  “My friend and I both said we’ve cheated death,” Deanna told WHAS11. 

“I think it’s because of God’s grace and I’m not done on this planet.” She says they were able to escape by crawling out of a hole, but the experience was too sudden and surreal to fully recall. 

  “I didn’t see anything… but what I felt I can’t explain that to you. I can’t explain what it feels like to stand here and tell you what I went through.” While Deanna and her friend miraculously, just barely escaped in time, others were not so lucky. 

Her neighborhood experienced great loss and destruction: according to WHAS, a four-year-old boy died just two blocks away after being trapped under rubble. 

 But in the aftermath, all the survivors are looking to regroup and see signs of hope — and Deanna got one in the form of her own pet dog. After the tornado hit, Deanna assumed that her dog didn’t make it out alive. But two days later, a neighbor found it, and the pet returned home. 

 In the wake of natural disasters like this, the unexpected survival of pets can provide an unexpected sliver of hope. And for Deanna, it meant the world. 

It’s the little things that matter–that little dog every bit of her matters,” she told WHAS11.

  We’re so glad this dog is alive and safe — a little bit of a silver lining during this ongoing tragedy.
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