The African bush elephant is the larger of the two species of African elephant. Both it and the African forest elephant have usually been classified as a single species, known simply as the African elephant, but recent evidence has seen the forest elephant classified as a distinct species . Some authorities still consider the currently available evidence as insufficient for splitting African elephants into two species.
Similar species: Elephants
By Christine Young
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Uploaded Jan 1, 2019. Captured Jun 2, 2013 10:15 in 25 Dorrance St, Providence, RI 02903, USA.
comments (11)
Since we're both cat owners, I'll not shy away from the uncomfortable truth that most cats (or so I've read, can't guarantee full accuracy but it sounded credible) are also depressed in one way or another for we take away their entire essence when we feed them. Their essence being a solitary, highly skilled predator. It will of course vary per situation as some cats fully roam free, some roam a little, some are locked up always. Posted 6 years ago
Interesting about cats. I definitely can see that point as being valid. They are definitely moody and often seem depressed. My cats have never been outside except to go to the vet. They love to hunt birds through the window and will attack lint with impressive ferocity, but they love having their food delivered to their dish (I think) and will give me the death stare if their dinner is a few minutes late. I'm not sure they would enjoy hunting, but then again, they don't know what they are missing. I also tend to see cats as all having Asperger's. Posted 6 years ago
As for cats, I can share a personal observation which is of course no basis for a generalization but I did find it telling. Our cat Spyke is a cat Henriette already had when I met her. I moved in with Henriette who lived in a small apartment high up. He was alone most of the day whilst we were at work and his "outside" experience was a tiny balcony from which he never made any effort to escape. An "inhouse" cat, I thought. Always grumpy, moody, never playful or showing much energy or initiative. You know, fitting the internet stereo type of cats being "assholes" and finding that charming.
Then we bought a real house, with a real backyard having some green and from the front door, a whole word to explore. He transformed in 2 weeks into an entirely new creature. Wild, tough, proud, playful and extremely active. He'd spent most of his time outside, establishing a real kingdom. He'd bring back 2 or 3 dead mice per night, and I've read this is usually 1/4th of their actual catch.
Because of this experience, I no longer believer there is such a thing as an inhouse cat. I believe instincts are within every cat, and that instinct is to roam around outside and find their own food. But of course, this is just a single example and another factor is that cats can have wildly different personalities.
I do want to add that letting cats roam free in an urban area is still tolerated where I live but general tolerance is decreasing. People have short fuses these days when cats cause minor disturbances. As such, I think there's already plenty of locations in the world where it's not accepted and you need to keep them in, or on a leash.
So I totally understand if it's not always possible to give them full freedom, in that case experts suggest to keep them mentally happy by stimulating their natural behavior indoors.
Pfff, who would have thought that I'd ever turn into a cat person :) Posted 6 years ago
Your cat story reminded me of a cat that I once had when I was a kid. When we first got him, we lived in a small, urban house where he couldn't safely go outside. He seemed fine with it. But, then we moved to a house with a huge yard and forest. We let him out. He was scared at first, but within a day or so, he loved it - he would zoom across the yard and up trees and his personality changed as well. He became happier and prouder. So, I tend to agree with your assessment that there is always a wild cat within.
Letting cats roam free is frowned upon where I live as they generally either end up run over or killed by wild animals. People also complain because the outdoor cats kill birds and chipmunks that are attracted to people's yards because of bird feeders. Some states and towns will even fine people if they feed stray cats without getting them vetted and sterilized as well. We don't let our cats outside because even though we live in a semi-rural area, there are a lot of foxes, coyotes, and bobcats. Cats tend to disappear pretty quickly when let outside around here and my neighbor lost her cat not too long ago. But, perhaps someday, when we move, my cats will be able to explore their wild side :) Posted 6 years ago
Most complaints here is cats crapping in somebodies' garden, and their preference to always do it in the same garden :) Or not respecting boundaries and just hanging out in somebody else's garden, given their climbing abilities.
I can somewhat understand the crapping complaint, but on the other hand, most earth in gardens is covered in crap. Of birds, insects. People buy "crap" to make their plants grow so not need to obsess over it. This one can easily be solved though with what we call "cat pepper". It's some dusty powder to deposit on a boundary and cats will hate it so much as to never come again. Another tactic is spraying them hard with a garden hose, they won't forget :)
An absolute no-go violation here is cats eating expensive fish. Some people have ponds with decorative fishes in them.
Posted 6 years ago
I agree though, and people are so weird. Like you said, they literally buy poop to spread in their gardens, what is the big deal about some cat poop? I have never heard of cat pepper, but I do know people who have motion sensored sprinklers in their gardens to blast wildlife (and pets) that dare try to walk through. And, I never thought of cats eating koi fish! I have never even heard of them trying to do this. Dutch cats must be more bold than American cats! Posted 6 years ago