The Electrifying Power of Elephants

November 4, 2011 Animal
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It’s being called “poo-power” by most Germans and it is taken the country by storm. The Munich Zoo has come up with an innovative way to recycle elephant feces and converting it to biogas. So if you have a chance to visit the Munich Zoo at night, it would be a thrill to know that the lights and music that make your visit enchanting is being generated from animal waste, specifically the Indian elephants.



The zoo has 3 vats that can host about 100 cubic meters of animal poo and water in each container. According to zoo officials, one week’s collection of animal waste will be sufficient to fill up the three vats. Then the vats, completely sealed, are left alone for a month to allow the waste to decompose.

The biogas which is carbon dioxide and methane is collected in a large balloon-like structure just a methane-filled balloon. This balloon is connected to the engine that powers the zoo with electricity. The electricity that comes from the animal waste can only generate 5% of the zoo’s power requirements. Still, it is a start and one day, the zoo official sees biogas being used to power and heat homes. What they have in the zoo is good enough for 25 homes’ heating needs.

And would you believe that even with this milestone in power generation, there are still the critics who have nothing good to say. Instead they turn down the idea as being “too small” to help cities, much more the world. Biologists and scientists however say that as a start, it is encouraging. More projects should be done using animal waste as a source. It is an approach that is applauded by environmentalists and animal conservationists as one good reason why they should continue to protect animals and stop many of our animals from becoming extinct.

In fact, the Munich Zoo already has plans to add most “green projects” to help them lower their costs and overhead. They have decided to put in solar panels that are photo voltaic on each of the animal cages by 2012. It’s an ambitious project that, if successful, will encourage other facilities around the world to follow suit.

The Trauma Animals Have To Endure Because of Humans

November 1, 2011 Animal
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It isn’t enough that we pollute the environment, cut down trees and destroy forests; we also have to be one of the most abusive of all to animals. Asian endangered animals are killed for food because it is believed that some of these animals have aphrodisiac powers. They also are supposed to be able to extend life and cure rare diseases.  They are also bought as pets and stored in un-natural habitats complete with air-conditioning and store bought commercial food.

 

 

Last week in Ohio, halfway across the world from Asia, a house was raided because of complaints from neighbors. Supposedly the house was an animal rescue facility but authorities were shocked upon entering the house. They found 41 skinny dogs kept in cages, 10 cats that were barely alive, and one horse. Walking further into the house, they found 5 snakes, fish living in dark, dirty water, and dead carcasses.  Fortunately, in a highly developed country like the US, there are procedures in place to remedy this situation. Also, it isn’t something you see often because animal rescue facilities are well run and clean.
All across the world, animals have to endure much hardship just to survive. Those that are unable, end up dying and becoming extinct. Some of the animals we will never see are the Long-Tailed Hopping Mouse from Australia, Darwin’s Galapagos Mouse, Chadwick Beach Cotton Mouse from Florida, the North African elephant, Queen of Sheba Gazelle, Caribbean Monk Seal, and the Japanese Sea Lion. In the last few years alone, the Pyrenean Ibex was declared extinct in 2000, as was the Saudi gazelle in 2008. Just this year, the Eastern Cougar from Eastern US was added to the list.
People like those who owned that Ohio “animal rescue facility” is just as guilty as poachers and smugglers because they give animal rescuers a bad name. Imagine not feeding or cleaning the animals and allowing them to eat their own feces and live in cages that have maggots is unbelievable.
The animals that were rescued from that facility are now in good hands being treated for worms and poor nutrition. Carmen Wallace, the woman who owned the facility was misguided and thought she was doing good, just lacking in funds. Unfortunately, she will be facing a case of animal abuse.

 

Reference: Illustrated Encyclopedia of endangered animals.

http://www.konicaminolta.com/kids/endangered_animals/