The 8^th May 2021 is World Binturong Day.

The aim is to raise awareness of this mammal who lives in the primary and secondary forests of South East Asia in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal and the Philippines (on the Palawan Island).

How much do you know about the Binturong?

Here are 7 facts about binturongs:

1. The binturong uses its tail to balance – they can grab things and hang from branches with their tails.
2. Binturongs are also called bearcats – but they aren’t cats or bears!  They are part of the Viverridae family
3. Their conservation status is Vulnerable (according to the IUCN in 2016

The conservation of binturongs isn’t easy – most of the studies on their behaviour and diet and reproduction are from binturongs in captivity – only three were done in the wild, so it’s hard to get an idea of the size of their territory, their diet and the way they all interact with each other.  In addition, they are mostly active at night and they live 10 to 20 metres high, so it can be difficult to get accurate information on the binturongs.

ABConservation work to protect the binturong

They are based in France and in the Philippines.  They undertake a number of activities:

• They have a BearCat Study Programme to improve knowledge of binturong ecology and try to find out the remaining number of binturongs in the forest of the Palawan Island
  
  
• They have created partnerships with local organisations and also a method of canopy camera trapping from 5 to 20 metres high in the treetops to help detect binturongs.  They also take part in conferences to spread information and they are involving Filipino and French university students in the implementation of various research protocols.
  
  
• They are now mapping the distribution of binturongs on the island with lots of study sites, and undertaking an ecological study of binturongs through camera trapping.
  
  
• They are raising awareness of the importance of nature and the threat it faces, and working to create tangible actions and solutions to face the threats that will impact humans.
  
  
• They also have a wildlife rescue centre as well.

Ways to support ABConservation in protecting binturongs are by donating, becoming a member and/or volunteering.

Visit their website here

I adore horses, so loved to see the happy horses at Northcote Heavy Horse Centre having fun in their field in the morning!

The centre is based in Lincolnshire, near Skegness.   Their main aim is to give a peaceful, rich and rewarding life to the animals in their care, and to give them a forever, loving home. 

They also help educate the public on the legacy and history of the horse, and the impact of the horse on the world today.

The coronavirus has hit them hard

Like so many places, they have had to close during the coronavirus but they say the good news is that they will be opening up soon – we all  need to keep an eye on their Facebook page to watch for news!

This is very good news because the centre needs help if it is to get through at the moment.   The centre was opened in 1988 and it has had many horses and animals through its doors, giving them a loving, caring forever home. 

You can see their current animals here – not just horses and ponies!  There are also ferrets, pigs, alpacas, terrapins and turtles, goats and birds of prey!  One big happy family, needing help.

Ways to help the Northbrook Heavy Horse Centre:

• Make a donation – however small or large
• If you’re buying anything from Newbridge Tack and Feeds, spare a donation or buy a bag of pony cubes, fast fibre, chaff, savings, chicken, pig food, goat, or even straw.  They are dropping donations off weekly.  A huge thank you to them for their wish to help everyone at Northcote.
• Sponsor a horse – this could be a great gift for a horse lover!
• Support their GoFundMe appeal
• Visit when the centre opens up!
• Buy something off their Amazon wish list

Kick up your heels and canter over to their Facebook page.

Gallop off to the Northbrook Heavy Horse Centre's website here

SPANA is an international charity which helps working animals around the world. 

SPANA work in the developing countries of the world where millions of people are dependent on their animals – horses, donkeys, mules, elephants – for a living. 

What SPANA does and where

SPANA treats animals, it teaches the owners about animal care and it trains local professionals and communities.  SPANA works in countries such as Somaliland, Tanzania, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Peru, Liberia, Mongolia, Kenya, and Cameroon.   You can find out more about its work here.

And they know that from their visits in mobile clinics to out of the way places, many of the animals can suffer terribly from tetanus and they can die from it as well.

The problem: tetanus can kill

Just a small scratch is enough for tetanus bacteria to enter their stream.  And then they need treatment immediately – if they don’t get it, the animal is not likely to survive.

The solution:  to vaccinate against tetanus

The simple solution is to vaccinate the animals against tetanus

Introducing Mory

Mory’s story is typical.

He transports waste to rubbish dumps in Mali.  The work is backbreaking, in scorching heat and a hazardous environment.

An open wound on Mory’s back getes worse as the cart knocks his back. His wound is the perfect place for tetanus bacteria to enter his body – and multiply.

But Mory’s owner saw Mory’s wound was getting worse.  SPANA’s mobile clinic was luckily close by. Their vets cleaned the wounds, sprayed them with antiseptic and dressed them.  They gave Mory a vaccine to stop tetanus and gave Mory’s owner advice about harnessing him correctly to stop the cart running into the wound.

How you can help animals like Mory

You can help with a donation to vaccinate many animals like Mory and keep them safe from tetanus.

Please donate here.  Every vaccination makes a difference to a hard-working animal like Mory.

• £20 could vaccinate 8 animals against tetanus. 
• £45 ...could pay for bandages, antiseptics and anti-inflammatory medicine to treat the wound of a working animal at risk of developing tetanus.
• £80 ...could pay for medicines, food and bedding to treat an animal with a mild case of tetanus at the SPANA stables for three days

Mory says THANK YOU on behalf of all his friends!