Emotional Support Peacock

 
So this week, American Airlines, United, Delta and most other major carriers no longer accept "emotional support animals" on their airlines (they will accept service animals for people with disabilities). And you know, I don't blame them.  Part of the trouble is that there is no regulation or criteria about who needs an emotional support animal so people took advantage. The nadir was that lady who wanted to bring her emotional support peacock. Apparently, she lives with this peacock in her loft in Brooklyn and says he doesn't like riding public transportation and probably was worried about him being left alone. The real issue is that Peacocks shouldn't live in New York City lofts.

Chad Blue Heron vs. Virgin Alligator

Recently a Facebook video revealed a disconcerting fact: "A bird can eat an alligator! If it is savage enough," at least according to Shellie Gilliam who captured this Great Blue Heron eating a juvenile alligator in Florida. She wrote: "I spotted it just after it had captured the alligator a few hundred yards away and then the heron flew off with the alligator in his jaws to this spot where he consumed it and I shot the video and took photos. " Amazing. (pic above from Audubon; video from facebook)

White Cougar hanging out in Brazil: Big Cat Color Variations

 

Featured Animal of the Week

 In an attempt to be a better balker and because of the fact that I really like this platform so much more than kinja, I am introducing an occasional (maybe weekly) feature called featured animal of the week where I will outline one great animal and their accomplishments.  Today's featured animal is Baba the Cat who is featured on Smithsonian magazines website. Baba is the narrator of Paul Kondounaris's book "A Cat's Tale: A Journey through Feline History" which can be found as an ebook here and probably a nice gift for your local balker.  Baba narrates this walk through history and demonstrates his sartorial flourish through his historical costuming. Baba shows us all the historians and travelers can come from humble beginnings (a local shelter) and achieve great heights.  This sweeping view of history starts in prehistory and ancient Egypt, continuing through Asia cat migration, the Roman Empire, the Age of Navigation and ends in our present day. Baba should truly be considered among the greats.  Like he's the Mary Beard of cats. Or maybe Mary Beard is the Baba of Humans. 

An excerpt:

Those of you who see us as meek little creatures shall find that notion dispelled in no uncertain terms within these pages. I will introduce you to cats who have not just traveled the globe, but traveled all the way into space (so much for not letting the cat out, eh?); others who have stood fast during the world’s great conflicts, choosing sides among the armies of man, and earning for themselves medals of valor; and still other cats whose exploits garnered great adulation. Why, in honor of Trim, who sailed the Seven Seas in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and is remembered as the world’s most famous maritime cat, there have beenerected four statues. How many of even the most heroic humans can match that?

Koudounaris, Dr. Paul; Cat, Baba the. A Cat's Tale (p. xvi). Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.