• Tagged animals, bizarre, cats, dogs, dogs in wedding costumes, Festivals of Numerical Coincidence

Happy Festival of Numerical Coincidence! In the United States and Belize, we do dates differently than the rest of the world by using a month/day/year format. Believe it or not, there’s a mad rush to get married on 11/12/13. For example, San Francisco City Hall is all booked up. David’s Bridal compared the date to the Superbowl but for weddings. There’s a psychology surrounding numerical sequences, other than setting a wedding anniversary date that neither couple should forget. For couples who desire such a date, the next sequential date will be next year in December 12-13-14. Since it’s a big day for marriage-seekers, we thought we’d look at weddings featuring dogs and cats while discussing magical calendar dates that set marriage records. [25 Photos]

• Tagged Africa, animals, environment, nature, UNESCO World Heritage Natural Sites, UNESCO World Heritage Site, World Heritage Sites in Danger

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has designated 129 World Heritage Sites in Africa, but these 36 are listed as Outstanding Universal Value for natural heritage. As you might expect, there is a wide diversity of flora and fauna in each. Sadly, some of these have also been placed on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage Sites in Danger, most often due to poaching of endangered wildlife. The UNESCO committee may inscribe new sites on the list, or it may delist sites if the area no longer meets the criteria, but this is UNESCO’s current list for Africa in 2013 as of the time of publishing.
[36 Photos]

• Tagged animals, baby animals, holiday, mother and child, mother's day

You wouldn’t trade your mom cause there is nothing like a mother’s love . . . but do you remember some of the things she used to say as you were growing up? The type of things you swore that you’d never say to your kids? Moms are often overworked, under-appreciated, and at some point . . . finds herself saying things that her mother used to say. This seems to pass down from generation to generation, but despite the silly things that stressed out moms say, there is no one on Earth who will ever love you as unconditionally as your mother does. The number one thing all mothers say to their children is: I Love You! This is a tribute to moms for Mother’s Day! [53 Photos]

• Tagged animals, fish, leafy sea dragon, pipefish, scuba diving photography, seadragon, seahorse, underwater photography, weedy sea dragon

If you don’t live near an ocean or urban aquarium or even a zoo, then you might not have seen many seahorses and seadragons to realize how stunning these tiny sea creatures are. With a long face like a horse, they have an almost mythical appearance, but are far from immortal as none of the seahorse family are strong swimmers and they often die during storms. They excel at camouflage and many can change colors to hide themselves in their natural underwater surroundings. There are declining numbers as these creatures are used in Asian herbal medicines. Bizarrely, for seahorses, leafy and weedy sea dragons and even pipefish — a relative — males are responsible for childbearing. Here are some fun facts and sensational shots of these tiny “sea monsters” that are truly spectacular! [60 Photos]

• Tagged animals, de-extinction, dinosaurs, Dodo, extinct animals, flightless birds, Jurassic Park, Mastodon, paleontology, Quagga, saber-tooth tiger, science, Steller's sea cow, T-Rex, woolly mammoth

Resurrection of extinct species is no longer science fiction, according to National Geographic in an article about de-extinction. If the science is there, should we bring animals back into living, breathing specimens? But even if they can bring these animals back from extinction, should they? Is it playing God, or the utilization of science? With the Jurassic Park movie coming out 20 years later in 3D, our first thought was a what-if they could create it for real? However even if successful, there is still not the science to eventually give into temptation, resurrect dinosaurs and recreate Jurassic Park. Revive & Restore says it is “working with de-extinction scientists worldwide to build a roster of potentially revivable species.” These are the candidates . . . with a few dinosaurs and Jurassic Park movie clips tossed in just because they are cool. [30 Photos, 5 Videos]

• Tagged animals, black lions, exotic big cats, jaglion, leopons, liger, liliger, lion hybrids, lions, tiglons, tigons, white lions

From mythical black lions, lions made black by mud, to marvelous white lions and mystical lion hybrids, here’s a look at what is myth and what real . . . even if some of these lion hybrids seem like they might not be real like ligers, tigons, jaglion, leopons, and lil-ligers. [49 Photos]

• Tagged American buffalo, animals, animals of Yellowstone, baby animals, bison, buffalo, National Park, wildlife, Yellowstone bison, Yellowstone National Park

Bison (American Buffalo) can weigh up to 2,000 lbs and can sprint or stampede at speeds around 30 – 40 mph. Bison can also jump 6 feet straight up in the air, over fences. They are wild animals in a domesticated setting at Yellowstone National Park, the only free-roaming herds of bison in the United States. There are about 4,000 American Buffalo at Yellowstone and despite the National Park Service warning visitors not to get too close, people get too tempted to capture that awesome photo and instead end up being gored. Yellowstone bison are also famous for ruling the roads, sometimes hip-checking, kicking or charging cars. With males being 2,000 pounds, there’s not much you can do other than wait them out if the bison are blocking the road. This is referred as the bison (or buffalo) traffic jam. Yellowstone National Park is the only place in the U.S. where bison have lived continuously since prehistoric times. Here’s a look at the bison of Yellowstone, buffalo traffic jams, and bison attacking cars and people. [55 Photos, 7 Videos]

• Tagged animals, animals of Yellowstone, bison, environment, Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem., grizzly bears, Yellowstone bears, Yellowstone bison, Yellowstone mammals, Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone wildlife

Not only is Yellowstone National Park the place to go for geysers, NPS said, “A mountain wildland, home to grizzly bears, wolves, and herds of bison and elk, the park is the core of one of the last, nearly intact, natural ecosystems in the Earth’s temperate zone.” There is such huge animal diversity because of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Regarding the mammals in the park, the 2013 Yellowstone Trip Planner (.pdf) states: “Keep your distance. Federal regulation requires you to stay at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards (23 m) away from all other wild animals, such as bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes.” The Yellowstone National Park Service says of the wildlife, “Yellowstone is home to the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states. 67 different mammals live here.” These pictures show the diversity and a wide variety of magnificent animals of Yellowstone. [60 Photos]

• Tagged adventure, Alaska, Alaskan coves, animals, environment, Glacier Bay, Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, glaciers, glaciers calving, iceberg, nature, UNESCO World Heritage Site, wilderness, wildlife

Many of these photos were taken during a cruise to Glacier Bay, others from the air, but Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve offers all kinds of adventures. What starts as a loud crack like a rifle shot is also a sign of icebergs being born at Glacier Bay as glaciers break off or calve. The National Park Service asks, what do you want to do and how much time do you have to do it in? “Covering 3.3 million acres of rugged mountains, dynamic glaciers, temperate rainforest, wild coastlines, and deep sheltered fjords, Glacier Bay National Park is a highlight of Alaska’s Inside Passage and part of a 25-million acre World Heritage Site—one of the world’s largest international protected areas. From summit to sea, Glacier Bay offers limitless opportunities for adventure and inspiration.” Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve also has the 3rd highest elevation of all U.S. National Parks. Here are some of the gorgeous ancient glaciers, photos capturing the glaciers calving and the birth of icebergs, wonderful wildlife, and spectacular scenery of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska. [44 Photos, 5 Videos]

• Tagged animals, art, Christmas, Christmas dogs, dog reindeer, dogs, holiday, puppy

If you have a dog, then you know he or she is a loyal part of your family. When some folks deck the halls, they also deck their dogs in holiday accessories. Luckily, most of us have dogs that will do about anything for treats and possible Christmas gifts. Unlike the sometimes destructive cats vs. Christmas trees, most dog owners capture shots of their beloved pet being cute and sweet. These photographers share their descriptions and their cute doggies’ photos. [48 Photos]

• Tagged animals, Antarctica, Blue Penguin, Emperor penguins, environment, Gentoo penguin, icebergs, penguin chicks, penguins

For people who are animal penguin lovers, besides Tux lovers, here are the tuxedo-wearing waddlers that dwell primarily in Antarctica. While penguins don’t fly, they can spend as much as 75% of their time at sea. All penguins give birth to their chicks on land or on sea ice. Because penguins so incredibly cute, they are often depicted on holiday ornaments and in happy animation movies. We love these penguin pics! [41 Photos]

• Tagged animals, birds, Common Starlings, enivronment, Europe, European Starlings, flocking, flocking behavior, marsh, murmuration, nature, Otmoor, phenomena, phenomenon, science, starling murmuration, starlings, swarming, swarming behavior, swarms, wetlands

In the winter, over Europe, massive starling flocks, from thousands to millions of birds, swarm, swoop, shift, swirl and twirl, moving as one while performing amazing aerial acrobatics. Although a previous Love These Pics post was full of bird flocks and flying swarms that seemed to be attacking like Hitchcock’s The Birds, some were, in reality, a starling murmuration. This extraordinarily beautiful ballet at dusk is a pre-roosting phenomenon known as starling murmuration. Although this is science, the phenomenon is more math and physics than biology. The ‘Black Sun’ is hypnotic to watch as the starlings fill the evening sky, twisting and turning in a incredible and unpredictable waltz. [37 Photos, 13 Videos]