Two Amur Leopards

Portland, Oregon ~ September 15, 2001

Oregon Zoo

Someone carved a nice image of the extremely rare Amur leopard for the outside of the leopard's enclosure. Can you find the real leopard? Hint: It's sleeping.

This animal is so near extinction, it's scary. To quote Wikipedia, "It is one of the rarest felids in the world with an estimated 30 to 35 individuals remaining in the wild." To quote the IUCN Red List, "The Amur leopard is a very rare subspecies, with a 2007 census counting only 14-20 adults and 5-6 cubs in the southwestern Primorye region of Russia. It faces numerous threats, including encroaching civilization, new roads, poaching, exploitation of forests and climate change. Numbers have fluctuated over recent years - a 2003 census counted 20-21 adults and 4-5 cubs, and a 2000 census counted 13-16 adults with 1-3 cubs (Anonymous 2007). Prior to this, the population had been declining (Pikunov et al. 2000). Its range is estimated at just 2,500 km² (Pikunov et al. 2000). The Amur leopard is extinct in China and the Korean Peninsula (Anonymous 2007)." Giant pandas get the attention, but we need to realize that many species are on the verge of disappearing in our lifetimes. Aside from the wealth we will lose in biodiversity (a survival issue for the planet), we also lose a weath of beauty, fascination, and subjects to delight our eyes, minds, and hearts. We lose something that makes life worth living.

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Pit Bears from Old England

Warwick, England ~ February 17, 2010

Warwick Castle

Bears used in the miserable "sport" of bear baiting can be seen in at least two locations at Warwick Castle. This post shows another of the bear depictions at Warwick and describes the bear-related activities at the castle. For more animals at Warwick castle, click on Warwick Castle in the keywords below. Unfortunately, when I ended this blog and then started it again, the Google search failed to pick up on earlier posts, so the keyword link is the best option. In spite of the sport's cruelty, this lovely ornate piece of carving resulted and can be seen in the castle's great hall. The date carved into the back of it is 1515.

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Too Cool in Colorado

Salida, Colorado

Guest Photographer: Jacob

I am so jealous that Jacob found this bovine (?) in Salida! But he dedicated the post to me and let me use it on "Animal Art Along the Way," so what can I say? Check out Jacob's wonderfully colorful and descriptive photos on "Colorado in Color." Here's a link to the orginal post on Jacob's blog.

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The Lion at Captain Fishhead's

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 19, 2010

See Captain Fishhead's Front Porch

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An Eagle Watches Over Crater Lake Resort

Crater Lake Resort, Oregon ~ May 8, 2005

Someone with carving tools and an artistic bent thought it would be nice to perch one of the local bird species permanently on a living tree in the forested grounds of Crater Lake Resort near the resorts cozy cabins and picturesque stream. Real-life bald eagles enjoy this territory, too. I think what I like best about this photo, though, is the mushrooms growing out of the tree trunk occupied by the eagle. It seems to say, "This is Oregon, and it is wet." I really love all the water we get here. Blue skies are a treat, but a rainy day is a delight as well. Oregon is for wildlife.

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Scales and Snails

Oxford, England ~ February 18, 2010

The scales may be easier to find than the carved wooden snail in this intriguing shop window on The High Street.

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Mama Jaguar

Manaus, Brazil ~ April 25, 2007

Jaguar with Cub, life size

For several days I passed this carved jaguar mother and her cub each time I went in or out of our hotel's main door. I was fascinated by the realism obtained by the airtist with the fur's texture and coloring.

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Deer and Tiger

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico ~ February 3, 2007

Oaxacan wood animals

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The Amazing Salmon Bench

Langley, Whidbey Island, Washington ~

February 2008

Photo by MB, Small City Scenes

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A Cow in the Forest

Long Beach Peninsula, Washington ~ October 30, 2001

This post stands at the entrance to a ranch or estate, but I don't remember what function the post had, if any. This is the only photo I took of it, focusing in on the cow. A friend and I had just been driving around the peninsula, exploring new territory, as we'd both arrived in Astoria over the summer. Nearby were beef cows grazing in the rain in small meadow patches between the pines. Lichens clung to everything. The old, unusued buildings here were falling apart from the wet climate rather than the dry. It was all new experience.

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Beast Holding a Lintel

Paris ~ May 5, 2004

The Cluny Museum

A beast of some date and description bites hard on this lintel from a past age in the Cluny Museum in Paris. I wish I had photographed the placard, but I didn't, so I can't give the age or background of the piece. I believe the wall is from Roman times, or maybe part Roman and part Medieval. The building itself is fascinating, having begun as a Roman bath and evolved through history, being used in the Middle Ages as an abbey, and now as a remarkably fine and unusual museum.

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A Wooden Jaguar at Robert's Grove

Placencia, Belize ~ February 3, 2005

The Inn at Robert's Grove

This beautiful wooden jaguar was an unexpected surprise found lounging at the edge of the brick patio right on the beach. See below. He's being followed by an alligator.

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Fanciful

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico ~ February 3, 2007
Oaxacan wood animals

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Sea-life Gates

Sayulita, Mexico ~ February 6, 2007
At a beachfront home

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Dragons on the Dormer

Banbury, England ~ February 16, 2010
See the rest of the facade

Originally built in 1537

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Tapir Mask?

Manaus, Brazil ~ April 25, 2007

Here's another of those pointy-nosed balsa wood masks we saw in the open-air market in Manaus. In this case, it just may be a tapir.

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Red Head

Warwick, England ~ February 17, 2010

Warwick Castle

A dog's head carved on the arm of a chair in the great hall of Warwick Castle.

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Three Armadillos and Something White with Eyes

Manaus, Brazil ~ April 25, 2007

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.